Clinton County, Indiana - Chapter 6: Civil History, 1886

Chapter 6: Civil History

AoT Creating Clinton County. - Supplement art Aot. - Before 1830. - Selection of the County Seat. - First Election. - First Meeting of Commissioners. - Principal Acts of the Commissioners AT Their Early Sessions. - County Seal. - Licenses. - Creating Townships. - Laying Out Frankfort and Selling Lots. - First Tax Lej&t. - Clearing the Square. - Temporary Court House. - First Report of County Treasurer. - Division OF County Into Commissioners' Districts. - Additional Town-

The civil history of Clinton County dates back nearly fifty-seven -years. The General Assemby of Indiana which met in December, 1829, passed an act in January, following, for the formation of a new county east of Tippecanoe. The act was approved January 29, 1830, and is as follows:

"Section I. Be it enacted hy the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That from and after the first day of March, next, all that tract of country included within the following , boundaries shall form and constitute a inew county, to be known and designated by the name of the county of Clinton, to-wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of section 19, in township 23 north, range 2 west, on the east boundary of Tippecanoe County, where the southwest corner of Carroll County strikes the same; thence south seventeen and one-half miles to the half-mile stake in section 18, in township 20, range 2 west; thence east to the halfmile stake on the east side of section 13, township 20, range 2 east; thence north seventeen and a half miles; thence west to the southeast corner of Carroll County; thence west with the south boundary of said county to the place of beginning.

"Sec. II. That the said new county of Clinton shall from and after the said first day of March next enjoy all the rights, privileges and jurisdictions which to separate or independent counties do or may properly belong or appertain. r337)

" Seo. III. That Robert Taylor, of Montgomery County, Henry Ristine, of Tippecanoe County, Hugh B. McKeen, of Cass County, John Gary, of Carroll County, and Jeremiah J. Corbaly, of Marion County, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners, agreeable to the act entitled 'An act fixing the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off.' The said commissioners shall meet on the second Monday of May next, in the town of Jefferson, in said county of Clinton, and shall immediately proceed to discharge the duties assigned them by law. It is hereby made the duty of the sheriff of Montgomery County to notify said commissioners, either in person or writing, of their appointment, on or before the second Monday of April next; and for such service he shall receive such compensation from the county of Clinton as the Board of Commissioners thereof may deem just and reasonable, to be allowed and paid as other county claims are paid.

" Seo. IV. At the time and place of holding election in the county aforesaid, under the writ of election from the Executive Department, the electors of said county shall elect three commissioners, in and for the said county, who shall meet as a board at the house of Matthew Cunnel, in said county, on the first Monday of May next, or as soon thereafter as they may be enabled to do after being commissioned, and then and there proceed to transact all business, and discharge the duties devolving on county commissioners, at the organization of a new county, as well as all the duties required of Boards of Commissioners at such session. The circuit courts of the said county of Clinton shall meet and be holden in the town of Jefferson, in said county, until suitable accommodation can be had at the county seat of said county.

"Seo. y. The agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots, at the county seat of the county of Clinton, shall reserve 10 per cent, out of the proceeds of all lots sold, either by the county or proprietor or propriotors; also 10 per cent, of all donations made to the said county, and pay the same over to such person or persons as may be appointed by law to receive the same, for the use of a library for said county; which he shall pay over at such time as directed by law. Provided always, That nothing shall be construed out of any section of this act, so as to interfere or effect the justices of the peace who have been commissioned heretofore within the bounds of said new county.

' ' Be it enacted hy the Oeneral Assembly of the State of Indiana, That the commissioners that may be elected to do the county business of the said county of Clinton, shall be allowed the sum of $1.50 per day, for each and every day they may be employed in doing the business of said county, out of the county treasury of said county."

Before 1830

Previous to the taking effect of this act, Boone and Clinton counties were united under the name of "Washington Territory," and attached to Tippecanoe County for judicial purposes. In 1828 and '9 the population of Clinton was rapidly increasing, and when the number had increased to more than a thousand, the citizens deemed that they were entitled to representation in the Legislature. Accordingly they presented a petition to that body to this effect, which was approved and resulted in the passage of the act given above.

Oountt Seat

The commissioners named in the organic act, met at the public house of Charles I. Hand, in Jefferson, on the second Monday in May, 1830, and proceeded at once to view and examine the several places suggested. The principal struggle was between Jefferson and the land of John Pense. The objection being urged against the former, that it was not centrally located, her citizens conceived the idea of alleviating this trouble by attaching to Clinton a small strip along the eastern border of Tippecanoe.

A petition was prepared for presentation to the Legislature, and Abner Baker selected to secure the names of the inhabitants living in said strip in Tippecanoe. This being in the spring of the year, all the streams were running very high, so that Mr. Baker, in crossing the "Wild Cat, came near losing his life. But as the securing of the county seat was of much importance, he pressed vigorously on, and, we are informed, secured the names of every person, with a single exception, living in the strip it was proposed to attach to Clinton. The petition was placed in the hands of a

John Pence proposed to the commissioners to donate sixty acres of land and $100 in money, if they would locate the county seat on his farm. In those days this was a very liberal oflFer, one which the commissioners readily accepted, locating the county seat at Frankfort.

The first election was held at the house of Matthew Bunnell, on Monday, May 3, 1830. The officers elected at that time were: Probate Judge, William Douglass; Clerk, Samuel Maxwell; Eecorder, Beal Dorse? ; Treasurer, John Pence; Sheritf, Solomon Young; Surveyor, I. D. Armstrong; Commissioners, John Douglass, Joseph Hill, ^nd Mordecai McKinsey.

On the same day that these officers were chosen and declared elected, Commissioners Hill, Douglass and McKinsey held their first meeting at the house of Matthew Bunnell. This first meeting of the "County Legislature" was short, but by reason of its being the first, it possesses historic interest enough to warrant the reproduction here of the ofiicial record entire.

"The commissioners elected in and for the county of Clinton and State of Indiana, this day met at the house of Matthew Bunnell for the first time to do business in and for said county, and each of them, to wit: Joseph Hill, John Douglass, and Mordecai McKinsey, produced the certificate of the sheriff of said county of his having been elected a commissioner for said county, with the proper indorsement on each of them. Having taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Indiana, and the oath of office, they formed the board and proceeded to transact business^'"

" Ordered by the board, that Benjafcrli Abbott be and is hereby appointed assessor for the county of Clinton for the present year, and that he give bond to the board in the sum of $100, conditioned for the faithful discharge of his duty as assessor, and that he complete his assessment roll and submit the same to this board at the next term, to-wit: on the first Monday in July next.

" Ordered by the board, that so much of the State ro id leading from Newcastle to Lafayette as lies between the county line southeast of Nathan Kirk's and the section line dividing section No. 21 from 22, in township No. 21*'north, of range No. 1 west, where said road crosses said liny^e and the same is hereby made one road district, and Hiram^Harrison is hereby appointed supervisor on said road.

" Ordered by the board, that all that part of the county which lies east of the above described section line is embraced in the above district.

" Ordered by the board, that so much of the above described State road as lies west of the above described section line, and the southwest corner of section 3, in township 21 north, of range west, be and the same is hereby made one road district, and David Kilgore is hereby appointed supervisor in and for said road district, and he is also appointed supervisor on each of the county roads leading from Jefferson westwardly to the section line dividing section 3 from 4, in township 21 north, range 2 west, and all of the county east of said line and west of said section line dividing section 21 from 22, township 21 north, range 1 west, is embraced in said road district.

" Ordered by the board, that all of thatpartof the county lying west of the section line dividing section 3 from 4, in township 21 north, range 2 west^be and the same is hereby made one road district, and Eobert Miller is hereby appointed supervisor on said district, and all of the county west of said line is embraced in said district.

" Ordered, that this board stand adjourned until Monday, the 12th inst., at 10 a. m., and that it meet at the house of John Eoss, in the town of Jefferson. ^

" Ordered by the board, that John Ross obtain a license to vend domestic merchandise, foreign and domestic liquors, for the term of six months, upon his entering into bond as the law directs.

"Ordered by the board, that Abiier Baker and A. H. Southard receive a license to vend foreign and domestic merchandise for the term of six months in said county.

" Ordered by the board, that John McCain and Pleasant Field receive a license to vend foreign and domestic merchandise for the term of six months in said county."

" Ordered by the board, that John Pence be ana he is hereby appointed treasurer of said county of Clinton, and that he give bond to be approved of by this board in the penal sum of $5,000, conditioned for the faithful discharge of his duty as treasurer according to law. I y

" Ordered by the board, that William Douglass be and he is hereby appointed county agent in and for the county of Clinton, and that he enter into bond with security, to be approved by this board, in the penal sum of $8,000, conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties as agent of said county, and that he execute said bond previous to his entering upon the duties of his said agency. "

"Ordered by the board, than the report of the commissioners appointed by the Legislature to locate the seat of justice in and for the county of Clinton and State of Indiana, be received as presented, together with the other papers appertaining to the said location, whereupon said report and papers are received.

"Ordered by the board, that Eobert Taylor be allowed the sum of $24 for his services as commissioner in locating the seat of justice in the county of Clinton, out of the first money that comes into the treasury."

" Ordered by the board, that all that part of the county which is embraced in the following metes and bounds be and the same is hereby made one township, viz. : Commencing at the northeast corner of section 19, township 23 north, range 1 west; thence south on said section line to the south boundary of the county ; thence east with said line to the southeast corner of the county; thence north to the northeast con»^r of the county; thence west to the place of beginning. y

" Ordered by the board, that all that part of the county which lies within the following metes and bounds be and the same is hereby considered one township, viz. : commencing at the northwest corner of the county, thence south with the county line to the southwest corner of section 18, township 22 north, range 2 west, thence east to the southeast corner of section 18, township 22 north, range 1 west, thence north to the northeast corner of section 19 on the county line, thence west with said line to the place of beginning.

" Ordered by the board, that the following described land or part of the county embraced in the following metes and bounds be known and designated by the name of "Washington Township, viz. : commencing at the northwest corner of section 19, township 22 north, range 2 west, thence south to the southwest corner of the county, thence east to the half-mile stake on the east side of section 18, township 20 north; range 1 west, on the county line, thence north to the northeast corner of section 19, township 22 north, range 1 west, thence west to the place of beginning.

" Ordered by the board, that John P. Benson be and he is hereby appointed inspector of elections in Washington Township for the present year.

" Ordered by the board, that John Henricks be and he is hereby appointed inspector of elections in^irfid for the township of Eoss for the present year. i/^

" Ordered by the board, that there be an election held in the townshijj of Jackson at the house of Samuel Mitchell in said township on the second Saturday in June next for to elect two justices of the peace for said township, and that the sheriff give notice of the same by setting up at least three written advertisements in said township.

Solomon Miller, to elect one justice of the peace for said township, and that the sheriff give notice of the same by setting up in said township at least three written advertisements of said election.

"Ordered by the board, that there be an election held in Washington Township in the town of Jefferson and at the house of John Ross on the second Saturday of June next, for the purpose of electing a justice of the peace for said township, and that the sherift give notice of the same by setting up at least three written advertisements in said township."

" Orderd by the boar(i(^hat the agent, William Douglass, proceed immediately to lay off the town lots in the town of Frankfort after a certain plan which has been devised and adopted by the board, and that the clerk furnish the agent with said plan or plat immediately.

" Ordered by the board, that the agent cause to be advertised a sale of lots in the town of Frankfort to take place on the second Monday in July next, and that he cause said advertisements to be inserted in the State Gazette at Indianapolis, also to have handbills struck and circulated as he may think best.

" Ordered by the board, that the agent proceed immediately to survey or cause to be surveyed the sixty acres of land donated for the seat of justice of the county of Clinton, according to the description laid down by the commissioners who located the same, and that he receive of John Pence, tlie donor, a good and sufficient warranty deed for the said sixty acres of land.

"Ordered by the board, that the agent sell the town lots in the town of Frankfort on the following terms, to-wit; one-third of the purchase money in advance, one-third in twelve months, and the other third in two years, with the following condition: if the purchaser fail to make payment according to the above conditions, he shall pay interest from the date of purchase."

cents; each work steer over three years old, 18| cents; eacli twowheel pleasure carriage, $1.00; each four-wheel pleasure carriage, $1.50; each silver or pinch-back watch, 25 cents; each gold watch, $1.00; each horse, mare, mule or ass above three years old, 37^ cents.

" Ordered by the board ,?jl(lfat the agent cause to be sold to the lowest bidder the clearing of the public square and the four streets around the square, the work to be done in the following manner, namely: The grubs to be cut off level with the ground, the timber of the size of one foot and under cut down, and the stumps of the same not to exceed the tliickness of three, and all the timber above that size to be taken down and the stumps in no case to exceed in hight one foot from the level of the ground. Said square is to be completely cleared, as new ground is usually cleared, to make it ready for the plow, said work to be completed on or before the 15tb day of October next, and the agent is hereby authorized to take such assurances of the purchaser or purchasers of said job as he may think best so as to cause the said work to be done according to the above time and description. -^,.-

"And the agent is hereby further ordered to have the lot cleared reserved for the purpose of erecting a temporary court house thereon, and that he cause to be sold publicly to the lowest bidder the J)uilding of a house of the following description, to-wit: To be built of hewed logs, made of good timber, to be eighteen feet wide and twenty -four feet long, one story and a half high, to be covered with good oak clapboards, to have one door six feet high or more if necessary, and two twelve-light windows in the front, one on each side of the door, and one window in the back side of the house, sash and glass to be put in, a good battened 'door to be made and hung, the lower floor to be laid loose with good oak plank and the upper floor to be laid with good poplar flooring, the corners to be sawed down, the house to be chinked on the inside and daubed on the outside, a good cat and clay chimney to be built, all of said work to be completed in a good workmanlike manner on or before the first day of November next, and the agent will take such assurance as he may think best from the purchaser 60 as to insure said work to be completed against the time above specified.

town of Frankfort all that part of the donation which is yet to be laid out into lots on the north, on the south, on the west of the square, parallel with the east edge of the present survey, and that he cause the same to be offered at public sale on Monday, the 25th day of October next, and he is hereby authorized to have a sufficient number of cards struck giving notice of the same and circulated as extensively as possible."

At the March term, 1831, it appears that Guthery, Ferguson & HoUiday were paid §50 for clearing the square and streets, and Alley & Michael received $20 as a last payment for building the $200 log court house, near the site of the present $200,000 structure.

In the same frugal policy John Hood was allowed 75 cents for the use of a room for the grand jury at the April term, 1830, and John Ross w^as allowed the sum of $1.00 for the use of a room for the use of the Clinton Circuit Court at tiie October term, 1830.

At this March term, also, a report of fines collected for breaches of the law was made by each of the two justices, Zabina Babcock and Samuel dinger. The former had imposed four fines during the first year of Clinton County's organization. Henry Harshman, assault and battery, $1.00; J. T. Wilds, afiray, $2.00; J. T. Wilds, assault and battery, $1.00; John Kavanaugh, assault and battery, $1.00; 'Squire dinger reported two fines: Josepli Hill, assault and battery, $1.00; Daniel Young, profane swearing, $5.00.

The first annual report of the county treasurer, made in May, 1831, was as follows: Eeceived from sundry individuals, $81:. 25; received from the collector of the county revenue, $232. OIJ; total, $316.26}; county orders canceled, $291.28}; treasurer's "commission for receiving and paying out," $5.66; balance in treasury, $19.32; received into the building fund, $573.06; orders canceled, $289.25; treasurer's commission, $8.62; balance unexpended, $275.19.

Commencing at the coumy line where the range line between townships 1 and 2 west crosses the same, thence west with the county line to the northwest corner of the county, thence south with the county line to the southwest corner of the county, thence east on the county line to where the same range line crosses the county line, thence north with the range line to the place of beginning. The above shall be known as District No. 1. District

No. 2 commences at the northeast corner of the other district, running thence east five miles, theuce south to the countj line; and all the remaining part of the countv-shall be known and designated as District No. 3. ^V^

" At the September term following, a jail was ordered built, according to specifications given in the chapter devoted to public buildings. It was constructed in the northeast corner of the public square, in 1832, by Philip Kramer. It was of hewed timber, (timbers one foot square) two stories in height. The walls were triple, a vertical row of logs being placed between two walls of logs placed horizontally. There were no doors in the lower story, the entrance being by a flight of stairs on the outside of the building which led to the second story. Thence one descended to the lower story by means of a trap door. A prisoner placed in such a box, with solid timber a foot thick below and above him, and with walls three feet thick around him, ought to be comparatively safe.

At the March term, 1832, the county agent reported the sales of town lots in Frankfort. This list is given elsewhere in this volume, in the chapter on Frankfort City. This report seems to have been made too tardily to suit the commissioners, for on account of this delay and other causes of dissatisfaction, Mr. Douglass was summarily removed from the office of county agent, and Jesse Carter appointed in his stead.

The above are the most important and interesting of the early proceedings of the board of commissioners, whose acts we will not follow further. Their doings fill seventeen or eighteen folio volumes in the auditor's office. For fifty-six years the sessions of the board have been held with regularity and punctuality.

Townships were added to the first four erected as follows: Perry and "Warren, 1834; Madison, 1835: Kirklin, 1837; Sugar Creek, 1841; Johnson and Owen, 1843; Center, 1872; Forest, 1882.

In 1841, Honey Creek Township, now apart of Howard County, was organized and included within the boundaries of Clinton. Clinton having a greater number of square miles than was required by law, and Howard having less, and the citizens of Honey Creek being much nearer to Kokomo than to Frankfort, a petition was presented to the Commissioners of Clinton praying to be attached to Howard. This prayer was granted at the March term of the Commissioners' Court, 1859.

Chaptee Vii

Clinton Always Democratic. - Local Independence of Parties IN Early Days. - Drawing of Party Lines. - "Whigs and Democrats. - Republican Party. - Clinton County Close During War Times. - Cursory Yiew of Elections, Especially Presidential. - Abstract of Election Returns, with Majorities AND Pluralities, 1830-'84.

Clinton County has from its formation been a reliably Democratic county, and its political history therefore presents few interesting features. The early Democratic majorities ranged from 100 to 300. After 1850 these figures were somewhat reduced, and the issues of the civil war operated to the advantage of the Republican party to such an extent in this county that the county went Republican at the presidential elections from 1860 to 1872. At State elections the county has always gone Democratic, and the county offices have been filled with Democrats ac all times, with only individual exceptions. The first clerk was a Whig, and occasionally, since, some popular Whig or Republican has been given an office. For the first twenty years of the county's history we had no rigid party affiliations; no machine conventions under the iron rule of " bosses," and no disciplinary caucusses, whose decrees must be followed under penalty of political death. Candidates were run almost entirely on personal popularity for local and county offices, and so free was the expression of opinion that a man who received the almost unanimous vote of one township would not have a single follower in any other township. It was sometimes the case that no candidate for a given office carried more than one township, each of the diff'erent townships giving its vote to a different favorite. This independence continued until about 1850, since when it has not been so general, although it prevails to a certain extent even now.

The citizens of Clinton County first voted for president in 1832, which was a memorable time in the history of American politics. Andrew Jackson had been.president for.four years, and his followers were known as the Democratic party, of which organization he is more deserving to be called the father than Jefferson. As the "opposition" in the mother nation, England, were known as Whigs, so in this country the opponents of the administration were in 1832 named Whigs, under the leadership of the great Henry Clay, whom they put forward for President. Jackson was very popular, however, and was easily re-elected. He received a handsome majority in Clinton County, but the precise vote is not recorded. In 1833, '4 and '5 the Democratic majority ranged as high as 201, and as low as 61.

In 1836 Martin Van Buren was the nominee of the Democracy, and the Western hero. General William Henry Harrison, was put forward by the Whigs, in opposition. Tiie former was successful. His majority in Clinton County was, however, not large, being but 96 in a total vote of 758. The Democratic majorities in 1837,' '8 and '9 were variable, in the latter reaching 270.

Van Buren and Harrison were again the nominees in 1840, a year which will always be memorable as that of a bitterly personal and intensely exciting campaign. There was mfich singing and speaking and hurrahing, and from certain Incidents of General Harrison's life, which were prominently dwelt on in the contest, the latter was thereafter known as the " log cabin and hard cider campaign." For the first time in a national elestion the Whigs were triumphant, and Harrison was elected. In Clinton County Van Buren received 698 votes, and Harrison 582; Democratic majority, 116. The Democratic majorities on State and county tickets were larger. In the elections of 1841, '2 and '3 the relative strength of the parties was about the same.

The chief issue in 1844 was the annexation of Texas, and on this platform James K. Polk was elected by the Democrats, though it was a very close election. Henry Clay, for a third time a presidential candidate, would probably have succeeded if it had not been for either one of two seemingly trifling matters. One was a misconstrued letter, which Clay wrote to a friend, regarding his position on the annexation question. The other was the presence in the campaign of a disturbing element - a third party. This was the Free Soil, or Liberty party, which nominated James Birney, and polled 15,000 votes in New York State. Had Clay received but one-third of these, he would have carried the Empire State and become President. In Clinton County the vote was: Polk, 944; Clay, 645; Birney, 12; Polk's plurality, 299, the largest hitherto given to any candidate.

The next presidential election occurred in 1848. The Democrats nominated General Lewis Cass, of Michigan, and the Whigs General Zachary Taylor, whose popularity as a General in the recent war with Mexico gave assurance of hi& election. In this county Cass received 964 votes, or 238 more than Taylor.

By the new constitution which took effect in 1882, general elections were directed to be held in October of the even numbered years, thereafter, instead of in August of every year. This was a presidential year. Franklin Pierce was nominated by the Democracy, and the Whigs, appearing for the last time as a national party, championed Winfield Scott. Pierce was elected by a very large majority. Never was a candidate so overwhelmingly beaten who had entered the race with fair prospects of succeeding as General Scott. In Clinton County this was the result of the election: Pierce, 1,260; Scott, 929; Hale (Free Soil), 75; Democratic plurality, 321. At the October election, preceding, a full State and county ticket was before the voters, and a very full vote was polled, the Democratic majority on State ticket being over 300, while the county officers received all sorts ot votes, ranging from a tie to no opposition at all.

At the election of 1854 there was a similar inclination to "ticket scratching," even on the State ticket. The Democratic majorities were mostly between 69 and 399. In 1855 a clerk and auditor were elected by 223 and 399 majorities, on a two-thirds vote.

The causes of the defeat of the Whigs in 1862 are well known. The anti-slavery people were suspicious of the party leaders, and finally were completely alienated; and the party of Clay and Webster, falling into weaker hands after the death of those statesmen, was not only defeated, but killed for all time. In 1854 and '5 the Republican party arose on its ruins and absorbed the strength of the Whigs, the Free Soilers, and after a few years many Northern Democrats. In the first national campaign the Republican party put forward as its first standard bearer General John C. Fremont, the popular Western hero, who was, however, defeated by the veteran statesman and politician, James Buchanan, nominated by the Democratic convention. A very large vote was polled in this county, 2,659; of which Buchanan received 1,364; Fremont, 1,261; and Fillmore, 3i; Buchanan's plurality, 103. Millard Fillmore was the candidate of the American, or "Know Nothing" party, an organization whose tenets included that of opposition to the giving of suffrage and franchise to recently arrived foreigners, and also hostility to the Roman Catholic church. The Democratic plurality of 103 was not very large, and was discouraging to the party which had so long been dominant in the county, but it was better than that given the State and county ticket the month before, which averaged but 60.

At the election of 1858, the average Democratic majority was 180; but Henry Y. Morrison received a majority of 507 for county treasurer. In 1859 the majorities for clerk and auditor were 295 and 122.

In the memorable campaign of 1860, just before our civil war, the voters of the United States were called upon to choose between Abraham Lincoln (Republican), Stephen A. Douglas (Northern Democrat), John C. Breckinridge (Southern Democrat) and John Bell (Union). Through the disagreement of the Northern and Southern Wings of the Democracy Lincoln was elected, though he received but two-fifths of the total vote. The vote in Clinton County was remarkably close: Lincoln, 1,454; Douglas, 1,437; Breckinridge, 61; Bell, 6; Lincoln's plurality, 17. For the first time at a presidential election the Democratic ticket failed to carry Clinton County. At the October election the Democratic majority on State ticket ranged from 50 to 60, and on the county ticket the range was from 30 to 147.

As usual in " off" years, or years in which only State and local tickets were before the people, the Democracy fared better in 1862 than in 1860. The average majority on State officers was 131. The majorities for treasurer, sheriff, surveyor and representative were 215, 93, 140 and 119, respectively. For coroner, there was no contest.

The next presidential election fell in the last year of the war. The Democracy placed in the field George B. McClellan, in opposition to Lincoln, who was renominated. The sentiment of the North being emphatically with the administration, Lincoln was re-elected. In this county he received 1,413 votes to 1,501 for McClellan; majority for the latter, 88. The Democratic majority in October on State ticket averaged between 50 and 60, and on

The election of 1866 was the closest ever held in this county, and the result was mixed. The vote for Secretary of State was a tie (1,706 votes each); Auditor of State, 5 laajority; Treasurer of State 6; Attorney General, 5; Superintendent of Public instruction, 7; Congressman, 3; District Prosecutor, 3; Treasurer, 5; Sheriff, 30; Surveyor, 1. In 1867 a Judge, Prosecutor, Clerk and Auditor were elected by Democratic majorities ranging from 130 to 150.

The reconstruction era brought another presidential contest in 1868. The Republicans nominated their war hero, Ulysses S. Grant, while the Democrats selected as their standard bearer the eminent New York Governor, Horatio Seymour. Tiie result was a Kepubllcan victoiy. This county went for Grant by 30 majority, as follows: Grant, l,79i; Seymour, 1,764. At the October election the result was still closer, the Democratic majority for Governor being 8, but greater on county officers.

From this on Democracy increased in strength for a time in Clmton County. They carried the county in 1870 by nearly 250 majority on the State ticket, and from 200 to 400 on county officers.

Dissatisfied with Grant's administration, a number of Republicans calling themselves Liberals met in convention in 1872, and nominated the distinguished editor and 'philanthropist, Horace Greeley, Grant having been renominated by the Republican convention. Disheartened, or rather hoping to achieve success by fostering a division in their rival party, the Democratic leaders, in convention assembled, indorsed Greeley. This was very unsatisfactory to a large percentage of the Democratic voters, who accordingly refused to vote on election day. A few cast their ballots for Charles O'Conor, the "straight out" Democratic candidate, but they were not sufficiently numerous to influence the result. Grant received an overwhelming majority, not so much by his own popularity, as from the half-heartedness of the Democrats in supporting Greeley. In Clinton County, for instance. Grant received 1,993 votes; Greeley, 1,847; O'Conor, 20; Republican plurality, 146. At least 500 Democrats abstained from voting, for at the October election that many more votes were cast, and the Democratic candidates for State offices received nearly 300 majority. Most of the majorities on county officers were much higher.

The year 1874 was a good one for the Clinton County Democrats. They reported to headquarters 350 majority for State officers, and elected their full county ticket, by figures averaging as high. The lowest majority was 179, Samuel P. Fisher for clerk, and the highest was 569, Cyrus Clark for auditor.

The centennial year brought witli it a political race, unequaled in history for closeness, and doubtful results. The choice was between Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican), Samuel J. Tilden (Democrat) "and Peter Cooper, the candidate for a new political element styling itself the Greenback,- or ix"ational party. This was never very strong in Logan County, its heaviest vote being two years later. The vote in Clinton County was: Samuel J. Tilden, 2,- 656; Rutherford B. Hayes, 2,236; Peter Cooper, 149; Democratic plurality, 320. At the October election 340 majority was rolled up on State officers, and 116 to 378 on county officers.

The year 1878 saw the biggest majorities in Clinton County that have been won by any ticket, before or since. 700 was the figure on State officers. The county candidates were not so favored, but the majorities were: On Clerk, 605; Sheriff, 461; Treasurer, 772; Auditor, 458; Surveyor, 379; Coroner, 476; Commissioners, 469, 437 and 420; Representative, 450.

General James A. Garfield, of Ohio, and Winfield S. Hancock, of Pennsylvania, represented the two great parties in the presidential campaign of 1880. The National party put forward General James B. Weaver, of Iowa, and the Prohibitionists nominated Neal Dow, of Maine. Once more, but for the last time in a continuous line, the Republicans triumphed, and Garfield was inaugurated to enjoy for a few months the highest office in the land, before his vigorous life was cut short by the assassin's bullet. The vote in Clinton County was: Hancock, 3,015; Garfield, 2,565; Weaver, 110; Democratic plurality, 450. This was abetter figure than that obtained by the State ticket at the October election, when the majorities were about 275. The county officers received less majorities, but generally over 200.

No marked change in the political situation was discernible in 1882. What there was, counted to the advantage of the Democracy. The majorities were mostly between 300 and 400, throughout the list.

The warmly contested campaign of 1884, with its disagreeable episodes and its many candidates, is fresh in the minds of all. First nominated was General Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachu- setts, by the National party, and afterward by the Anti-monopoly and Labor conventions. The Republican convention at Chicago in the month of June, nominated James G. Blaine, of Maine, for President, and John A. Logan, of Illinois, for Yice-President. In the same city, a month later, the Democratic convention selected as its nominee for President, Grover Cleveland, of New York, and for Vice-President, Thomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana. The Prohibitionists put forward John P. St. John, of Kansas, and played a very important part in the campaign, to the delight of the Democrats, and the chagrin of the Republicans. In the State of New York they drew to St. John twenty times the number of votes by which Blaine was defeated in that the pivotal State. The campaign was warmly fought in Clinton County, and when the smoke cleared away, it was found that the Democrats had carried everything but county treasurer, but by reduced figures. The vote for President was: Cleveland, 3,250: Blaine, 3,007; Benjamin F. Butler, 77; John P. St. John, 26; Democratic plurality, 243. This was about the size of the State ticket's strength, too. The county officers fell a little short, and the majority for Staley, Representative, was but 45; and for Given, the successful Republican candidate for treasurer, the majority was 72.

Of the thirteen townships in Clinton County, four are strongly Democratic - Michigan, Owen, Madison and Johnson; four are reliably Republican - Kirklin, Jackson, Perry and Forest; and five have varied in their political leanings, but of these Center is usually Republican, and Washington, Ross, "Warren and Sugar Creek are usually Democratic.

On the following pages is given an abstract of elections in Clinton County since its organization, showing the vote for county officers, so far as obtainable, and also for district, State and National candidates. The figures are strictly correct, and were compiled at considerable expense and pains from the State archives at Indianapolis, as the election papers in the court-house, at Frankfort, are incomplete and fragmentary, especially for early years.

"I Charles J Hand Sheriff of the county of Gliaton do hereby Certify that at an election held at the house of Capt John Koss in the Town of Jefferson in the county of Clinton on the Third Monday in April being the 19 Day thereof in Pursuance of a writ of election from his Excellency James B Kay Gov. of the State of Ind the followiug persons were duly elected to serve for the term of seven year (To Witt) John iloss and Samuel Mitchell Esqs. associate Judges of the circuit court & Samuel D Maxwell Esq Clerk of the Circuit court and Beal Dorsey Eecorder for the County of Clinton

November 1, 1830, Clerk Maxwell certified to the State the election of William Douglass, Probate Judge, Solomon Young, Sheriff, and Henry M. Ross, Coroner. He also wrote a letter explaining the delay in sending the certificate, a part of which letter is reproduced here, mainly to show the mail facilities of Clinton County in 1830.

" I would be glad if you could send the commissions by some safe private conveyance, if it can be had shortly, as our mail will arrive here on next Thursday, and then we will have no mail for two weeks. Mr. Hand, our Sheriff P. T. has removed to your Town & we now have no Sheriff, for want of the commissions, which ought not so to be."

Official Register

L18T OF Incumbents of the Several County Offices, with Years OF Service, Since the Okwanization of the County. - District Judges. - Associate Judges. - Probate Judges. - Clerks. - Auditors. - Eecorders. - Treasurers. - Sheriffs. - Surveyors. Commissioners. - Senators. - Representatives. Below are given the names of the incumbents of the several offices of Clinton County since it organization in 1830, with years of service:

Samuel Mitchell, 1830-'7; John Ross, 1830-4; Joseph Wood, 1834-'7; John Brown, 1837-'44; J. F. Aughe, 1837-'44; Thomas Kennard, 1844-'7; C.B. Pence, 1844-'52; James Purdnm,1847-'52. At the April term of court, 1852, the associate judges were discontinued, nnder the new constitution, the presiding judge thereafter continuing as circuit judge.

William Douglas, 1830-'l; Nathan Kirk, 1831-'9; William Douglas, 1839-'51; N. T. Catterlin, 1851; E. Winsbip, 1851-'6; J. C. Applegate, 1859-'60; John Green, 1860-'5; William Garver, lS65-'7; T. J.Cason, 1867-'71; T. H. Palmer, 1871-'3. In 1852 the new constitution changed the office of probate judge to common pleas judge, and, in 1873 the office of common pleas judge was abolished, the business thereof being transferred to the Circuit Court.

Previous to organization, Leary Stogdon, of Tippecanoe County, acted as surveyor for the present limits of Clinton County. Up to 1841 the surveyors served by appointment; thereafter, by election. I. D. Armstrong, 1830-'6; S.B.Thompson, 1836; W.V. White, lS36-'44; J. W. Blake, 1844-'51; Norman jSTewton, 1851-

Official Kegistek

1830-'l. - John Douglass, Joseph Hill and M. McKinsey. 1832. - J. Blinn, Joseph Hill and M. McKinsey. 1833. - J. Blinn, D. Einehardt and M. McKinsey. 1834. - J. Blinn, D. Einehardt and Jesse Cook. 1835. - Philip Kramer, D. Einehardt and Jesse Cook. 1836-'7 - Philip Kramer, David Clark and Jesse Cook. 1838-9. - John Douglass, David Clark and Jesse Cook. 1840. - John Douglass, David Clark and James Morrison. 1841-'3. - W. Breckenridge, David Clark and James Morrison. 1844. - Jos. "Wood, David Clark and James Morrison. 1845. - Jos. "Wood, J. Anderson and James Morrison.

During 1830-'l the Senatorial district was composed of Montgomery, Putnam, Tippecanoe, Carroll, Clinton and other counties. From 1831-'6 the district included Montgomery and Clinton; from 1836-'71, Clinton and Carroll; and from 1871-'85, Clinton and Boone. At present, Clinton, Boone and Montgomery form a senatorial district, and are represented by two - senators. Senators Bryant and Peterson, elected under the old law, are holding over, and representing the new district.

Clinton and Montgomery counties formed one district until 1836. Clinton was then alone until 1846. For five years it was then joined with Tipton, and since 1851 it has been alone except 1872-'4, when besides its own representative it and Boone County were entitled to a joint representative. By act of the Legislature of March, 1885, Clinton and Tippecanoe are entitled to a joint representative.