Knox County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 14 of those read), 1878

In the early history of Knox county the political views predominant among the people were those promulgated by the Democratic party. The old Whig party always fought hard and often successfully for nominees placed upon its ticket.

During the first few years party lines were not drawn nor conventions held, and no organized mode of placing candidates in the field. The following incident illustrates the manner of running' candidates, and occurred shortly after the organization of the county. Henry D. Bell and Peter Prans were candidates for the office of sheriff. The contest between the two gentlemen was not based upon political differences, but each one claimed he was a candidate before the other. They were neighbors, and everybody was surprised to see them running for the same office in opposition to each other. They traveled over the county together, on an electioneering tour, basing their claims for votes upon the argument that each was in the field before the other. Election day came. All the voters in the county assembled at the old log court-house in Knoxville, to cast their ballots. Bell was victorious, having a majority of two. It took but little time to run up the tally sheet and announce the result. All the voters had remained to learn this, for if they should return to their homes in various portions of the county, it might be days and even weeks before the result would reach them. "While they yet stood around the old building (there being about 250, which was then considered a large crowd), and after the result was announced, Peter Frans stood in the only door of the old court edifice and made the the following announcement: "Oh, yes! oh, yes! I now announce myself candidate for High Sheriff of Knox county at an election to be held two years hence, lest again it be disputed that I am not the oldest candidate in the field." Frans had then an undisputed claim upon the priority question for the next campaign, and accordingly at the next election he was chosen for the office of High Sheriff.

The only person that voted for the first Free Soil candidate (Martin Yan Buren) for President at Henderson was Amos Wilmot. There were other Free Soilers in the vicinity, but they went to Galesburg, as at that time a person could vote any where in the county. Votes were given viva voce, and the judges objected to receiving Wilmot's vote as it would make too much extra work to write a single vote. William Riley, learning the state of affairs, urged them to accept this vote. After much discussion his vote was taken and recorded.

1836. - We have no record of a party caucus or convention being held previous to the year 1836. During this year the Democratic party held a convention at Henderson. Hon. Julius Manning delivered one of those interesting and telling SDeeches which almost he alone was capable of doing. Hon. William McMurtry was put in nomination to represent this and Warren counties in the Legislature, and was elected. The Whig party held no convention until some time after this.

An incident illustrating the strong feelings held against Abolitionists at an early day is related by I. M. Wetmore, who came to the county in 1836. He says the first general election he attended was at Henderson. The candidate's name and office were announced by the person voting, and written down by the clerk. This, of course, revealed the principles of the voter. A few Abolitionists came to vote, when they were informed that they " didn't allow the d - - d Whig Abolitionists to vote there." One of the judges even arose, pulled off his coat, shook his fist in their faces, declaring they could not vote for such candidates in that place. The five however cast their ballots as they desired, and were not harmed. John Denny was the first Whig Representative elected from this county. This occurred in 1840.

The first county Anti-Slavery Society was formed late in 1838, or in the winter of 1838-9. J. M. Holyoke writes that he very distinctly remembers this meeting, which was held at Knoxville, as he with several others went to that place for the purpose of organizing such a society one very bitter \iold, stormy day in that winter. William Holyoke presided at this first meeting. He afterwards was one of the six presidential electors of this State on the first Liberty party ticket brought out, which was in 1840, when James G. Birney ran for President at the head of the Liberty ticket. Col. Matthew Chambers was elected president of this society. Among those who dared to come out boldly and make a firm and decided stand in opposition to slavery in every form at that time were Samuel Metcalf and his son Michael, Abel 0. Thomas, who afterwards^ ran for Representative, Nehemiah West, Rev. G. W. Gale, Rev. John Waters, Rev. John J. Miter, William Holyoke, and others, mostly from Galesburg. That city was known far and wide as an Abolition town, in fact most of the inhabitants at that date, especially the women, were Abolitionists.

But few, however, joined the political movement known as the. Liberty party till after 1840, the feeling prevailing generally among the people that the time to take the matter into politics had not yet come. There were only 13 in Knox county who voted for James G. Birney, candidate for President on the Liberty ticket in 1840. We are truly glad to be able to present the names of these brave men. The present and the future generations may never fully appreciate the stand taken by them, for at present even it is looked upon as the only rational and humane one possible. The 13 were the following: William Holyoke, Levi Spencer, Patrick Dunn, John Mc- Mullin, Deacon Samuel Metcalf, Thomas Simmons, John G. West, Loren C. Conger, G. A. Marsh, George Avery, Abram Tyler, Leonard Chappell, and Horatio Foote. Conger was a Democratic Abolitionist. Almost all of the Galesburg Abolitionists had been Whigs and insisted on voting for " Tippecanoe and Tyler too," as the heads of the Whig ticket were styled.

Rev. Horatio Foote, now of Quincy, was pastor of the First Church, Galesburg, during this period. He made a stirring speech in favor of the Liberty party movement. He was opposed by Hiram Marsh and others, and the consequences were that all votes were polled for Harrison, save the 13 above alluded to. From that period the votes of the Liberty party increased until they numbered enough to hold the balance of power, and in 1854-6 was merged into the Republican party and followed its standard to victory in 1860.

We are unable to trace the political history year by year until w» come to 1849, or to give the returns of elections held prior to that time. There were no county papers published previous to 1848, and the poll-books and abstracts of the early elections were burned, leaving not a vestige from which we could glean any information. -

1849. - In the fall of 1849 there was *but little interest manifested in the election, although the people were to choose officers for four years' service and vote on township organization. The Knoxville Journal, a neutral paper, was issued the day after the election, but had not one word about the matter. The next number, however, gave the official returns. A majority of the votes cast was given for township organization, but the question was soon afterward raised whether the law did not require a majority of all the voters in the county, and it was again submitted at a subsequent election, and carried by a large vote.

1851. - In 1851 there was also very little excitement. The mutual confidence of the pioneers was so prevalent that there was no thought of introducing personalities into the canvass, if indeed it can be said that there was any "canvass" at all. E. T. Byram, however, was so popular that, after lie had failed of a nomination by either of the parties for the office of County Surveyor, and had nominated himself, he received more votes than both the regular candidates together. The Knoxville Journal, in giving the proceedings of the Democratic county convention, mentions the name of but one candidate nominated, namely, David Edgerton for Treasurer. A Democratic convention (of the senatorial district, we believe) met at Henderson and nominated a candidate for State Senator, and the next week a similar convention of the same party met at Cambridge and superseded the former action by nominating another man ; and signified a preference for Stephen A. Douglas for President of the United States.

1852. - At a Democratic convention, held April 3 of this year, at the court-house at Knoxville, a very strong love was expressed for Senator Douglas. It was resolved "That Senator Douglas' political and official life is stainless and pure; that his statesmanlike and original mind can embrace in one view all the varied interests of this mighty nation, from the Atlantic waves to the golden shores of the Pacific. As Chief Magistrate he would be the ruler of a free people, commanding respect at home and abroad, and would bind this great confederacy together with the cords of affection, fraternity and peace." No local question of note was raised this year.

1854. - The Whigs and Republicans fused this year, and, with the many Democrats who joined them, elected their entire ticket by a large majority.

1855. - In the autumn of 1855 the Republican party was under full headway and excitement raised to a white heat on the slavery question, each party nominating its own candidate for every office, no matter how small. The Republicans succeeded in electing one candidate, - William McGowen, for Treasurer, by 327 majority. The Democrats elected all the other officers.

1856. - On the death of the Whig party there sprang up two parties, * neither of which could really claim to possess any of the vital principles that gave power to the old party. The American party, believing the country in danger by the influx of foreigners and the [alarming growth of the Roman Catholic power, emblazoned on their banners, "Americans must rule America;" "Put none but Americans on guard." Republicans pleaded for "Equal rights to all;" "Free press and free speech." The American party made very rapid growth in many of the States, particularly in the South, while the Republican party only secured a foothold in the North, its principles being deemed antagonistic to some of the peculiar institutions of the South. In 1856 we find both of these parties in this county in very considerable numbers, each striving for power, and both battling against a common enemy, the Democratic party. A partial alliance was formed between them for the purpose of securing local offices.

In the campaign of 1856 the question of removing the county seat to Gales burg was agitated, as also the charter of a railroad from Bath to Rock Island. The strife between Knoxville and Galesburg compelled all the citizens of the county to take sides; and one of the questions now forced upon them was whether this railroad should go through the one place or the other.

One interesting little incident of a personal character occurred this fall. In order to draw votes away from George W. Enke, Republican candidate for Sheriff, some one published in the papers that he was a Spiritualist, - which charge, however, was promptly denied for him by a friend.

1857. - In the autumn of 1857 the Democrats and Republicans had another square fight over the "county offices, both parties being proud of the men on their ticket. The Republicans claimed that the Democrats made up their ticket by a very secret caucus, and put two " Know- Nothings" into the field to catch the votes of that party. David Sanborn, who had but a short time before been removed from the Galesburg post-office, " because [as was alleged] he wouldn't help get subscribers for the Chicago Times" was also placed in nomination by the Democrats, without his knowledge, for Treasurer. On the Republican ticket was John S. Winter for County Clerk, who had in Zelotes Cooley a foeman worthy of his steel. Mr. Cooley had held the office for four vears, and was nominated for re-election. In this campaign the Republicans won by an average majority of about 500.

Having spoken of Mr. Winter, we may as well in this connection relate an incident showing the importance of preserving papers. The Board of Supervisors met at Knoxville in January, 1856, and seeing 'a lot of old documents on hand for which they could see no use, concluded they would relieve the office of cumbersome material by ordering them burned. Accordingly they were taken, - two or three wheelbarrow loads, - dumped into the street, and set on fire. Mr. Winter, seeing the conflagration, hastened to the place and rescued all the papers that he could. The}7 were mostly election returns, of which there was no other record. Hence we are unable to give in this history the election returns previous to 1849, as they were consumed in that fire. The destruction of papers, which might possibly be valuable at some future time, is nearly always sure to be a source of .trouble, and these perplexities seem to increase with the lapse of time. As another instance inculcating the same lesson, there was once a case in this county where an estate worth several thousand dollars was in dispute, the settlement of which depended upon an advertisement in a newspaper which could not be found.

1858. - The contest during this campaign has but few equals in the interests manifested. Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, candidates for the United States Senate, made their famous tour through the State, holding joint discussions. On Thursday, October 7, thej7 held a debate in Galesburg, and there were gathered to hear these champions of the two great political parties of the nation, from 20,000 to 25,000 people. This was one of the largest, if not the largest, number of people that ever assembled in Knox county. The extension of slavery was almost the sole question at issue during this campaign. The contest was national, yet upon it the local light was based. The Democrats evinced their love for, and confidence in, their President by very laudator}7 resolutions passed at a convention held at Knoxville, April 16. Concluding, they said, "that the President's message on the Kansas question was one of the ablest documents ever emanating from the Chief Magistrate of this nation; and this convention concurs in the belief that James Buchanan possesses the wisdom of a Washington and the firmness of a Jackson, as clearly portrayed in every line, and cannot fail to carry conviction to every honest mind possessed of ordinaiy sagacity."

1859. - The campaign of 1859 was a continuation of the battle between the Democrats and the Republicans - on national issues only. As it was the " off year," the candidates all good men and no personalities afloat, and the people generally not seeing the necessity or appropriateness of introducing national issues into local affairs, less than half the usual number of votes were polled. The Republican majority ranged from 480 to 5b8. No incidents occurred worthy of relating here. Thomas S. Yaill, of Knoxville, while absent in Chicago, was nominated for School Commissioner, but on his return he ordered his name withdrawn, saying that he did not believe the office should be sought or obtained through the process of any political contest.

1860. - We now come to the memorable campaign of 1860, one during which there was an intense excitement throughout the country, not equaled even by the "hard-cider" contest of 1840. The two favorite sons of Illinois were now rival candidates for the Presidency, and such an effort was put forth by the friends of each to carry the

State as was never witnessed before or since. Both State and county tickets, of each of the parties, were claimed to be unexceptionable. A vast amount of money was spent, and the final result was the Republicans carried the county by large majorities. Abraham Lincoln ran for President against three pro-slavery candidates. Excitement upon national issues was so high as to overwhelm personal differences between candidates for local offices. It is claimed that the Republicans of Knox county 'were the first to nominate Mr. Lincoln for the Presidency.

Hon. R. W. Miles, of this county, sat on the floor by the side of Abraham Lincoln in the Library room of the Capitol in Springfield, at the secret caucus meeting held in January, 1859, when Mr. Lincoln's name was first spoken of in caucus as candidate for President. When a gentlemen, in making a short speech, said, "We are going to bring Abraham Lincoln out as a candidate for President," Mr. Lincoln at once arose to his feet and exclaimed, " For God's sake let me alone! I have suffered enough!" This was soon after he had been defeated in the Legislature for United States Senate by Stephen A. Douglas, and only those who are intimate with that important and unparalleled contest can appreciate the full force and meaning of these expressive words of the martyred President. They were spontaneous, and prove beyond a shadow of doubt that Abraham Lincoln did not seek the high position of President. Nor did he use any trickery or chicanery to obtain it. But his expressed wish was not to be complied with; country needed a savior and a martyr, and Fate had decreed that he should be the victim.

After Mr. Lincoln was elected President Mr. Miles sent him an eagle's quill with which the Chief Magistrate wrote his first inaugural address. The letter written by Mr. Miles to the President, and sent with the quill, which was two feet in length, is such a jewel of eloquence and prophecy we gladly give it a place in the History of

Bear Sir : Please accept the eagle quill I promised you, by the hand of our Representative, A. A. Smith. The bird from whose wing the quill was taken was shot by John F. Dillon, in Persifer township, Knox county, Illinois, in February, 1857. Having heard that James Buchanan was furnished with an eagle quill to write his Inaugural with, and believing that in 1860 a Republican would be elected to take his place, I determined to save this quill and present it to the fortunate man, whoever he might be. Report tells us that the bird which furnished Buchanan's quill was a captured bird, - fit emblem of the man that used it; but the bird from which this quill was taken yielded the quill only with his life' - fit emblem of the man who is expected to use it; for true Republicans believe that you would not think life worth the keeping after the surrender of principle. Great difficulties surround you; traitors to their country have threatened your life; and should you be called upon to surrender it at the post of duty, your memory will live forever in the heart of every freeman; and that is a grander monument than can be built of brick or marble.

The most noticeable thing in Knox county appears to have been Bob Ingersoll's speech at Maquon. Said he: " Any man that will vote for Lincoln is worse than a d - d dog and should be kicked out of the State." Also: " If you don't wish to vote for Bob [himself] you can go to hell and be d - d." He was drunk at the time. He ate at the hotel table without using knife, fork or spoon. Contrast his Maquon speech with the eloquence with which he nominated Mr. Blaine for the Presidency two years ago at Cincinnati!

This fall is the first time we read of torchlight processions in this county. They were made by the " Wide- Awakes " and " Ever- Readies," or '' Hickories." Many speeches were made and political discussions held. Bev. Mr. Smithett preached a sermon at Ivnoxville on the question, "How far the religious maybe political.1' Hon. Arthur A. Smith, Republican candidate for Representative, and Sidney Myers, Democratic candidate for Circuit Clerk, held a discussion at the court house in Ivnoxville. T. J. Pickett, of Peoria, and A. C. Mason, of Galesburg, also held public debates. These gentlemen were candidates for Representative in the State Legislature, the former Republican and the latter a Douglas Democrat.

Republicans were all very highly pleased with the success of their champions. Of the three Gale brothers, of Galesburg, Josiah was a Breckinridge man, George was for Douglas, and W. Selden for Lincoln. The Knox Republican said " they so arranged it that whoever may be elected President, the Gale family would get the post-office."

1861. - In the campaign of 1861 there was a disaffection in the Republican ranks, the minority being led by Hon. Arthur A. Smith, T. G. Frost, Thomas Harrison, W. S. Gale and others. They held a convention at Knoxville, which the Knox Republican denominated the "lobscouse " convention, and nominated a county ticket. There was intense excitement over the distribution of the spoils of office between the old line Democrats and the "sore-headed" Republicans. W. Selden Gale, of Galesburg, became a candidate for the State Constitutional Convention, and was opposed mainly for his (alleged) partiality to Galesburg and vicinity. They said he was opposed to bridging Spoon river, and to other improvements in the eastern parts of the county. In a week or two, however, they claimed that he had turned and was in favor of " bridging Spoon river lengthwise, so that one could cross anywhere! " Thomas A. E. Holcomb, for Treasurer, was opposed on the ground that he was employed in Dunn's bank at.Galesburg, and would deposit in that bank all the funds of the county. In two years from this time, sure enough, Dunn failed. At this election the Republicans elected but two of their men, - -John S. Winter for Clerk, by 136 majority, and James H. Knapp, for School Commissioner, by 232. The Democrats elected their candidates by majorities ranging from 200 to 500.

1862. - The contest was as usual quite animated. The Democratic party put their county ticket in the field under the head of the " Union," or " Union Democratic." The Republicans elected their entire ticket by a large majority.

1S63. - As the election of 1863 approached, the Galesburg Free Democrat headed its editorial columns with the " Unconditional Union Ticket." The general outlook for the national cause in the South being rather dark and gloomy, the opposition cared not to do much lest their actions be misinterpreted. The Republicans of the county gave about 1,000 majority.

1864. - This was another Presidential campaign, and naturally much feeling was manifested. Abraham Lincoln again ran for the Presidency, his opponent being George B. McClellan. The local fight was greatly animated.

1865. - The local election of this year presents a singular phase. There was no direct contest between the Republicans and Democrats, but the conflict was based on purely personal grounds. Soldiers returning home from the war had the sympathy of the mass of the voters of the county. It will be noticed in the returns of election that Allen received only 7 votes, while his opponent received 3,455. This is without a parallel in the political history of the county. Allen was not beaten so badly because he was a Democrat or because of unpopularity, but because Harrison was a soldier.

1866. - The efforts made in 1865 were continued this year, when the county went Republican by the largest majority ever obtained for an entire ticket.

1867. - But little interest was manifested in the election this year. From the returns it appears that the Democrats polled only about three-fourths the number of votes cast the previous year, and the Republicans about, two-fifths the number cast in 1866.

interest and excitement. The Republicans won an easy victory in the county, Grant receiving a majority of 2,605 over Seymour. The " bloody shirt" was a strong weapon used against the Democrats, and it was freely shook by their victorious opponents.

1869. - Politics were almost entirely ignored this year. The conflict was purely sectional. It was Galesburg against Knoxville, or vice versa, and not a political contest, although the Democrats managed to elect a Treasurer by a handsome majority. The real question at issue was the removal of the county-seat from Knoxville. Clark and Miles, two recognized Republican leaders, were arrayed against each other in the contest for Judgeship.

1870. - In the selection of a candidate for Congress by the Republicans, a different mode was adopted than was customary. The contestants for the nomination were E. C. Ingersoll and T. J. Henderson. An election was held throughout the District September 8, Ingersoll receiving the nomination. He received 800 majority in this county.

1872. - The Democracy of the county united with the Liberal Republicans, and nominated Horace Greeley for President. This nomination was endorsed by the Democracy of this, county, the great mass of the party heartily supporting the ticket, though there were a few who did not support Greeley. The returns present a singular appearance, beiug composed of Republicans, Democrats, Liberal and Independent. The county ticket nominated by the Republicans was a good one. The candidates were all young, being men of vigor and eminently capable for the positions, as is evinced in the fact that all of them were elected and re-elected, and hold the same offices at the present time, except Slater, who is the Republican nominee this fall for the same office he formerly held.

1873. - This year's campaign was a repetition of the one four years previous. The same vital question was the issue; the same candidates were put forward; a. larger vote was cast, and the Galesburg party, led by Clark, Winter and Elliott, received a much larger majority than they did in 1869. As showing the strong sectional feeling prevalent, we need but record the fact that Clark received 1,655 votes in the city of Galesburg, while there was only 6 polled for Miles. In four of the wards not a ballot was cast for him. Winter received only 29 votes in Knox township, where a few years previous he could have received nearly every ballot cast.

1875. - A very light vote polled. Burkhalter demonstrated his popularity at home, which was at Maquon, by changing materially the eustomary returns from that place.

187fi. - Success in various States for two years gave the Democracy increased hope of again coining to the front. We find them this year thoroughly reorganized, and under the old party name. Certain abuses in the administration of the civil service of the country gave the party a chance to demand a change, and under the cry of " Reform" they went into the canvass with a determination to win. In this county there were again three tickets, the Independent party making their tight upon the financial question. The local tickets of all parties were unexceptionable, and on personal grounds each tried to obtain votes. The principal candidates for local offices ran ahead of their tickets in their respective towns, which certainly speaks well for them.

With this the political history of the county is- brought down to the present time, when again candidates are in the field, but no enthusiasm, or even any degree of interest, is apparent. Below will be found a carefully compiled record of election returns for the years of which there are any records extant: