Linn County, Missouri - Chapter 13: Agricultural Unity and Political Amalgamation, 1882

Chapter 13: Agricultural Unity and Political Amalgamation

The Grange - Object and Aima - The First Organization - Rapid Progress - Names and Number of Granges in the County - Organization Countg Grange - Constitution - The End - The First Election - Campaign of 1S40- Songs - Presidential Election 1844 - 54-40 or Phlght - Fun and Free Whis\-ij - Whigs and Democrats, Local Fights - Linn Count// Democratic up to the Drake Constitution - Also after Its Repeal-Close Figures- Vote County, State, and Congressional - Coiinfy Officials 1832.

Patrons Of Husbandry

This order took its rise in the early part of the year 1873. It flourished exceedingly for a couple of years, and then waned. It faded almost entirely from view in 1875, yet it still has a sort of organization and a few men meet in annual conclave who claim to represent it, but as above remarked, for all practical purposes, ends, or aims, it ceased to exist in 1875. It did not deserve its fate. It was founded upon principles that should never die in the breasts of American freeman, and its rapid growth for the two 3' ears of its life was a wonder to the whole country. This banding together of the yeomanry of the land caused the great railroad kings to tremble, and monopolies in genei-al to lower their banner of fraud and robbery and crawl at the feet of tliose whom they had so ruthlessly robbed and defiantly challenged to provide a remedy. LInfortnnately for the farmer and the working man, the skilled mechanic and the artisan, traitors wormed tiiemselves into the order, brazen political harlots succeeded in getting a foothold, and the order which had promised so much, which had caused fraud of every kind to tremble, had but a few months of life and then was gone forever. But it is not and will not be forgotten, and the day may come when the order will again arise, assert its power, and cause the organized bands of robbers, under the names of different monopolies, to hang their heads with fear.

The order was indeed a power, and for nearly three years caused a halt among those who, under the guise of law daily plunder the people. Five States in this central belt were for a time in the hands of the Grangers, and for a while held monopolies by the throat until they made them feel their power.

The number of patrons in these five States numbered their thousands, Missouri led, and on January 1, 1875, these States had the following number of orders, all correct excepting Wisconsin:

Its Object

The order in all respects was one to be proud of. Its object and aim was the elevation of the great working classes of the country and to show them their rights, and how those rights could be secured by a unity of action and a concentration of purpose. Not only this, but the education and culture of all was one of its cardinal features. To enhance the comforts and attractions of their homes, to foster and encourage neighborly feeling, to lessen expenses by cooperation, to purchase cheaper by combining and purchasing in large quantities, to avoid litigation, and to earnestly work to allay all sectional strife and make ours indeed one people and one country, were links in the chain which bound together those who had united with the order.

There was enougii in these desires to found an organization as durable as the rocks, but fraud t;nlisted the thousands that are ever ready to sell their souls to the devil for gain, and what they could not and dare not do openly to oppose this organization was done by treachery and deceit.

While it flourished it did a large amount of faithful and earnest work. The granges will ever hold a green spot in the memory of all who were and innocent members, and there were uone who were but what will regret its downfall. Its principles, however, will live, and it may aoain blossom, and perhaps live until the fruition of its noble work.

At the time the grange movement struck this county there was organized what was called a Farmers' Club. There was a central organization, and numerous au.xiliarics all over the count}'. This, at first, retarded the grange in the count}'.

First Grange

The first atten)pt to organize a grange was at Meadville, in March, 1873, and some members of the Farmers' Club objected on the ground that it would interfere with their organization, or injure it. It was, however, organized in due time. Union Grange, of Bucklin, seems to have been the first in the county of the grange organization, and eventually swallowed up the Farmers' Club, the latter generally joining the granges. By the fall of the above year sixteen granges had been organized in the county, and the prospects for a rapid increase were flattering. A convention of the Farmers' Club was called April 19, 1873, at Linneus, and delegates from every township were present, fully five hundred people meeting to take into consideration the good of their organization and its future. J. P. Witherow was elected president, E. W. Gamble and H. H. Hazen, vice-presidents, And Lyman Smith, secretary. The meeting was harmonious and resulted in a satisfactory interchange of opinions.

The summer of 1873 was passed, and though in the financial world there was a cralh thai made millionaires beggars, the farmers of the great central valley were prospering, and the future was bright in the outlook for good crops. The first grange picnic held in the county was in Jackson township, some three miles west of Browning, September 17, 1873. It was a beautiful day, and will be remembered by those present as long as life lasts. The gathering of the bone and sinew of the land was immense, there being fully three thousand people present, the largest gathering which had ever congregated upon the soil of Linn county. The Linneus -cornet band furnished the music, and sj)eeches were delivered by Elder Mc- Inturf and H. M. Patterson. The picnic dinner was a grand success, and this grand concourse of noble men and women returned to their homes fully satisfied with themselves and all the world. Nearly a month later, to be precise, on October 15th, 1873, the Grangers once more rallied in full force, this time at Linneus, and held their picnic at the fair ground. Nosuch sight had ever greeted the good people of Linneus before, nor has there since. The procession numbered three hundred wagons, tilled with as rugged, healthy, and independent a crowd as was ever before congregated upon the soil of Linn county. It was a day to be remembered. The old farmer and the young ones brought in their baskets well tilled, and a good many half-starved people whose life in town was not always one of plenty, got a good square meal that day, and, like the story of the olden times, there were many baskets full left after the people had eaten their till. Th& dinner and the speeches were the grand features of the occasion. C. W. Kilpatrick, of Chariton county, gave the farmers a splendid home talk, and he was followed by L. B. Searles, H. H. Hazen, A. P. Dobson, and Beverly ]N"eece, who with earnest words and eloquent tongues, spoke of the great future of the agricultural interests of the country, and the immense power the grangers could wield, not only for their own benetit, but that of the whole people. Linneus was dressed that day in holiday attire, and joined the throng with both pleasure and protit to itself.

This ended the picnic season for 1873, but it had served to unite the far-^ mers in the work of caring for their own interests and educated them to realize their position as the working force of the country, not puppets to be controlled by scheming demagogues and banded monopolists. They had combined to resist extortion, to secure a right at least to a part of the fruits of their own labor.

The tirst meeting of the county council was November 15, 1873, and the Farmers' Club of the county met the same day, the latter still keeping up its separate organization, though the members of one were generally members of the other. At this meeting sixteen granges were represented. Previous to this, on October 18th, 1873, the Brooktield Grange had called a meeting to take into consideration a central organization, to eftect more concentration in the work before them, and to employ an agent to look after the tinancial department, and aid the farmers in buying their supplie& more cheaply by taking larger quantities. The meeting at Brooktield favored this course, and the county council which met November 21, as before spoken of, agreed, by appointing Mr. William Garrett tinancial agent. Just when this county council first met was not found among the records.

Tue Number And Names

The granges continued to increase and by the tirst of April, 1874, numbered twenty-seven, and by the tirst of July, thirty-three. That seems to have been the highest number organized in the county, and the membership roll numbered nearly, if not quite, one thousand, the ladies holding about one-third of the membership. Every township in the coiinty was represented in this organization, and could they have held together, leaving politics alone, simply exercising their individual rights as American citizens to cast their votes for good men without regard to politics the order might have stood to this daj', a terror to organized monopolists and usiirers, and a power for good to the workingmen of the county, let them have been farmers, laborers, merchants, mechanics, or artizans.

St. Catharine Grange - Master, Jonathan Ilaney; secretary, W. M. Bruner. Post-office, St. Catharine. Regular meetings every Wednesday on or after full moon.

Calhonn Grange - Master, William 13. Calhoun; secretary, J. M. Stone. Post-office, Linneus. Meets every Saturday night at the Hooker schoolhouse. Visiting patrons cordiall}'^ invited to attend.

Farmers^ Home Grange - Master, R. J.Allen; secretary, G. C. Highbaugh. Post-office, Linneus. Regular monthly meetings fourth Saturday in each month at six p. m.

Eurelca Grange - Master, W. H. Lewis; secretary, George F. Lewis. Hold regular meetings at the Ilallenburg school-house on the first Friday after full moon, at seven o'clock p. m. Post-office, St. Catharine.

Forest Floiver Grange - Master, Martin Foss; secretary, Geo. D. Kelsey. Post-office, New Boston. Regular meetings Saturday on or before full moon.

Economy Grange - Master, Jordan Sights; secretary, J. J. Hendricks. Regular meetings, Thursday before full moon. Post-office, St. Catharine.

Brookfield Grange - Master, L. B. Searle; secretary, Simeon Wilson. Hold their regular meetings on the first Saturday of each month, at two o'clock p. M., from October Ist to April 1st. Post-office, Brookfield.

Benton Grange - Master, James W. Gooch; secretary, J. D. Jenkins- Post-office, Browning. Regular monthlj' meetings tirst Saturday after full moon.

Willov) Vale Grange - Master, C. W. Trumbo; secretary, J. L. Jones. Post-office, Linneus. Regular meetings, second Thursday in each month at six o'clock p. M.

Meadville Grange - Master, R. E. Tower; secretary, A. L. Loomis. Postoffice, Meadville. Regular monthly meeting the fourth Saturday in each month at seven p. m.

New Enterprise Grange - Master, James Anderson; secretary, W. T. Gooch. Post-office, Northcott. Regular monthly meetings, first Saturday after full moon.

Oah Grove Grange - Master, A. Moyers; secretary, G. B. Miller. Regular monthl}' meetings, Friday evening before full moon. Post-office, Brookfield.

Strawberry Grange - Master, N. S. Libby; secretary, W. W. Peery. Post-office, Linneus. Regular monthly meetings the first Saturday after the full moon.

Industry Grange - Master, J. P. With row; secretary, James Turner. Post-office, Sebago. Regular monthly meetings on Friday before the full moon.

West Liberty Grange - Master, E. Carrier; secretary, J. P. Weston. Postoffice, Linneus. Regular meetings Friday before the full moon in each month.

Prospective Grange - Master, George Anderson; secretary, A. C. Moore. Post-office, Laclede. Regular meetings, first Saturday in each month, at seven p. m.

Jefferson Grange - Master, Nelson Howe; secretary, Joe A. Horn. Time of holding meeting, second and fourth Saturday of each month. Post-office, Laclede.

Waverly Grange - Master, E. Spokesfield; secretary, Thomas J. Guier. Regular meetings, second and fourth Saturdays in each month. Post-office, Bear Branch.

Union Grange^ No. 102 - Master, M. Herri man; secretary, Hiram Long. Meets the first Saturday of each month at Locust Ridge, and the third Saturday of each month at Bucklin. Post-office, Bucklin.

The organization of tlic County Grange was effected November 1, 1873, the subordinate granges in the county sending each their delegation. The result of this meeting was the establishment of a county council, with the following officers:

A series of resolutions and by-laws were brought before the convention and adopted. The constitution, which was unanimously adopted, is given; but the by-laws, being subject to changes, are not.

The Constitution Article One Name

Section 1. The objects of this association shall be the promotion and attainment of the united and uniform action of granges of which it is composed, in all matters affecting their interests and welfare, in bringing the producers and consumers of agricultural implements and products closer together by buying and selling through this association, or through such parties as may make arrangements with it to buy or sell such article? or implements as we may need, and to transact such other business as may be necessary to secure these ends.

Section 1. This association shall be composed of subordinate granges in regular working order, who have complied with the rules and regulations of this association.

Sec. 2. All ijranges in rciyular workino order may become members of this association by tlie payment of one dollar to the secretary, and may retain such membership by the payment of annnal dues in a sum equal to five cents for each of its members.

Article Four Representation

Section 1. The officers of this association shall be a president, vice-president, secretar3% treasurer, steward, doorkeeper, and five trustees whose powers and duties shall be fully defined in the by-laws of this association.

Sec. 3. These officers shall be elected annually by ballot at the first regular meeting in each year, to be held on the first Tuesday in September. A majority of all the votes cast shall be necessary to a choice.

Article Six Laws

Section 1. This association shall have power to make all laws necessary for its government, provided that such laws shall not conflict with State or national. Also to alter, repeal, and modify such laws as may be found objectionable or inoperative; and to alter and amend this constitution whenever it shall be deemed necessar}"^ by a two-third majority of its delegates; proposed amendments, alterations, or modifications to be presented in writing and to lay over three months.

Section 1. The regular meetings of this association shall be as follows: An annual meeting and three quarterly meetings to be held at such places as may be designated by the association and its trustees - the annual meeting on the first Tuesday in September at ten o'clock a. m., and the quarterly meetings to be held on the first Tuesday of December, March and June of each year, at ten o'clock a. m.

Sec. 2. Special meetings may be called by the president and secretary whenever it is deemed necessary for the good of the association, and the secretary shall give each grange at least ten days' notice of such special meeting.

its officers, followed by how to fill vacancies, compensation and the order of business. The secretary and treasurer were required to give bonds.

Closing Remarks

The order flourished, as has been said, for a few years, and then it waned. Why, would be hard to tell. The schemers got a foothold in its organization in time, but still they were in a vast minority, and with proper efforts could have been driven out. At this time, in the year 1882, there is no life, but a time may come when it. or a similar one, may be organized - may be demanded of the people if they would not submit to be robbed by extortion and monopoly, and when that time comes, it will be of value to those who direct and lead in the move to know something of the wonderful order that for two years made fraud and rascality take a back seat, and the money power and railroad magnates quail before what they believed for a time to have been an avenging Nemesis. It flashed like a meteor and was gone, but its works will live after it, for the grange has shown to the people what they can do to defend themselves against oppression by concert of action and harmony of feeling. Another such move inaugurated, with the light of the previous one before it, may last longer and survive even the underhanded work of traitors, or the open opposition of a combined monopoly.

The grange organization was a wonderful effort of the people, and well worth the space given to it in this history. It will not die out in the memory of the people of Linn county, but will ever be a beacon light of hope, of what man has done man can do, when oppression again lays it hands, heavy with extortion and crime, upon the people. They will know that another combination, a unity of strength and action, will right the wrong and that oppression cannot last if the people have the will to act, and the nerve to carr}' out the work of reform. This much the order of the Patrons of Husbandry has accomplished, and it should be remembered. The light of freedom dawns only when a people knowing their rights dare maintain them, and the heavy hand of oppression is ever ready to tighten its remorseless gri]) when the people falter in their manhood or sink in listless apathy. It is the fact that the Patrons were so successful, which will give hope and comfort to the people for all time, knowing that wrong can be righted when it becomes the seal of oppression.

Why It Flourished And Why It Failed

The declaration of purposes of the Patrons of Husbandry, that which caused the order to spread so rapidly over the country was of that spirit of brotherly love, and opposition to all manner of oppression, which has gained the heart of a people reared in the cradle of liberty, and staunch defenders of a republican form of government. Could the order have prevented the politician from becoming a feature in its organization, and the efforts of a few aspirants for power and pelf to make it a stepping-stone to their political ambition, it would have flourished to-day as it did a few years ago. As a political party, its successes were of a transitory natui-e and local effect, yet what reforms they did succeed in carrying out were of essential benefit to the great agricultural interests of the country, and it is to be regretted that the order to this day is not enlarged and united for the work of reform, as declared in its public profession of faith. Future generations may look back with pride to their ancestors who made these declarations the groundwork of their civil and political actions. It will show them that the true spirit of brotherly love and noble manhood inspired their forefathers of this day and generation.

The declaration of principles and purposes by the National Grange was a grand and noble one and gave strength and encouragement to the order throughout the country and caused it in a few short months to become a power for good in the land; to cause monopolists to tremble and extortionists to shake with an apprehension of coming doom. That it should so soon loose its power is much to be regretted, but that its good work lives after it, is seen even to this day. The farmers, the mechanics, and the laboring men have found that they were strong enough to rule when joined together in the cause of right, and the same organization will again come to the front when monopolists become tyrants and would oppress and rob those who aire their real benefactors. That it checked the railroad cormorants in their insatiable greed is certain, and that the monej' power felt that the Patrons of Husbandry had rights that the money kings were bound to respect was more than once illustrated by the lack of that defiant tone so common to those who have secured wealth and usurped power.

The political history of Linn county is not an exciting chapter. In her early days she was strong in Jeffersonian and Jacksonian Democracy. The Whigs boasted of very little strength in the county, and at one time David Muilins was credited with being the only Whig in the county. Of course local considerations would sometimeschange votes, and men were elected that were not Democrats, but this was the exception and not the rule. Andrew Jenkins seems to have been the first Whig elected to the legislature from Linn county, and the next was Judge Jacob Smith.

The elections in the early days were generally a sort of holiday. The voters went early, took their guns along and proposed to have a good time* Excitement most always ran high and plenty of hard work was done by the candidates and their friends. In the county elections, there was not any very great excitement. A few men had got on the right side of the people and they generally secured the loaves and fishes pertaining to the local offices of the county. And, singular as it may seem to those unacquainted with the wealth that comes to a man by being a public officer, most all of the men who held the offices and received the official pap, are to this day pretty well off in this world's goods. Still, it was the State elections, or the presidential elections which called forth the true patriotic fervor in these pioneer days, and song and st jrj', with here and there a well filled jug, would raise the enthusiasm of the old settlers to the highest pitch. And it was genuine enthusiasm, too. There was nothing sordid about it, but they went in to win for their side, and until the polls closed at sundown they kept the ball rolling lively. When the battle of the ballot ended, the victors were cheered and the slain decently interred, to be resurrected, perhaps, at some future day.

There was not that wild excitement over the presidential election of 1840 as was found further east where the country was older and more thickly settled, but the financial crash of 1837 told fearfully upon the people, and the Whigs opened the campaign with song, and also beu:uiled the people of that day with something like the forty acres and a mule story that fooled the ebony race of the South at a later day.

The log cabin feature touched the hearts of the people, for such were their homes, and the songs had the eflect of clinching reason and fancy and securing their votes. "For Tippecanoe and Tyler, too, for Van, Van is a used up man," and the chorus rang out with a heartiness that boded no good for the Democracy. In touching up the extravagance and promise of relief which had been circulated, but never realized, one verse of a song is still in tlie memory of the writer. It ran:

" In the year eighteen hundred and forty, The times of promised relief, Which was sung to the poor by the haughty. Two dollars a day and roast beef."

It was claimed that the panic of 1837 was due to the administration of Andrew Jackson in crushing the United States banks, and that of Martin Van Buren, and was brought on by the hitter's extravagance, and that " Old Tippecanoe," AViiliam Henry Harrison, who was not only a soldier boy but a farmer, would give the country a farmer's administration, which meant ecotunnv and good times. The Whiijs had decidedlv the best of the fight and the campaign was "immense " with its grand barbecues, speeches, and songs. The lavish expenditures of Van Buren were harped upon with wonderful elFect, and many songs were composed and sung of the way lie got away witli the people's money in aristocratic living. One verse which was sung with a wild enthusiasm in the campaign, was as follows, speaking as coming from the president:

" Bring forth, he cries, the glittering plate, We'll dine to-day in royal state; He speaks; and on the table soon They placed the golden fork and spoon. Around him bends a servile host, And loud they shout the welcome toast,

Henry (^lay, of Kentucky, was the leader of the Whig party of those days, and he was made the target of Democratic thunder. The songs were not all on one side; but the charge of royalty was the winning card of the Whigs. However, the Democrats got off a good many songs against Clay and his party, and a verse is given to show the tactics of the opposition. Here it is:

" There 's Harry Clay, a man of doubt, Who wires in and wires out; And you cannot tell, when he's on the track. Whether he 's going on or coming back."

The election came off and the songs of the old log cabins " did the business." " Old Tip " was elected, and Tyler, too, and the people once more settled down to a quiet life. »

At this da}^ the campaign of 1840 would be a farce. There is too much bargain and sale. They would not chime in with an innocent song, for there is very little innocence in the elections nowadays. Principles have very little to do at present with elections. High sounding words, plenty of promises to be broken, capital to the front, labor to the rear, monopolies to roll in wealth, the people to live and work. This is the present outlook of parties so far as their love for the dear people is concerned.

The political struggles of those days were as full of wrangling and bitterness as those of the present, but it was a square fight for principle only. Money was not the mighty power which has controlled the elections of the last decade. It did not rule Congress, buy legislatures, or elect presidents.

Political meetings, conventions, etc., were generally held at the county seat, and while the population of the count}' did not warrant the largest of turnouts at these assemblies, they made up in enthusiasm what they lacked in number.

The campaign of 1844, while not so exciting as that of 1840, was enough to give botli sides plenty of work. Harrison dying soon after his inauguration, the United States State-bank party, ^hich Jackson had so" roughly handled, met a stern opposer in the vice-president, Tyler. This had caused -considerable dissatisfaction in the Whig ranks, and they failed to rally their forces, [n fact, the ])opular cry that year was decidedly with the Democi-acy. ''Fifty-four, forty, or fight," was the battle cry of the Democracy^ and as it rang out a note of defiance against the hereditary foe of the country, Great Britain, it took with the people.

The Democratic nominees were Polk and Dallas; the Whigs, Clay and Prelinghuysen. The Democratic majority in those days, in Linn county, made it pretty much all one way; but the Whigs, though in the minority, went into the fiijjht undismayed.

At a big meeting at the county seat, Linneus, the Democrats raised a hickory pole, and a beautiful banner was given to the breeze, upon which was inscribed, "Polk and Dallas. Texas, Oregon - all or none. 54-40 or fight." This last had reference to the Oregon boundary question, then in process of settlement between the United States and Great Britain, and meant that the Democracy of Liim county favored not only the acquisition of Texas, but the extension of Uncle Sam's dominion far enough to the north to include the greater portion of the Puget Sound country, now belonging to Canada.

An incident of this campaign of 1844, which happened in Linneus, will bear reading. Judge James A. Clark was holding court in the old log courthouse some time in the fall of that year. The representative of the county, a, Democrat named Molock, came to Linneus and partook of the corn whisky there to be found, to such an extent that he was overcome thereby. In plain words, Mr. Molock got drunk. He started to find a lodging place, and near Colonel Flournoy's tumbled off his horse by the roadside, and there lay unconscious of his plight, and "o'er all the ills of life victorious." The dogs licked the sores of Lazarus and a blind steer belonging to Colonel Flournoy came along and licked the face of the boozy Molock

News of the condition of the honorable member from Linn soon spread over town, and, as he was a leading Polk and Dallas man, the Whigs were greatly tickled. One of them, a waggish old fellow with considerable talent and education, although rather careless in his manner of living, named Amos A. Moore, went to the court-room and aiinounced to Judge Clark that Molock was dead, and, said he, " I will preach his funeral sermon in front of this court-house, under the Democratic banner which bears the inscription. ' Polk atid Dffllas. Texas, Oregon - all or none.'' The services will begin right away."

Accordingly Moore mounted the rostrum and began a burlesque funeral oration over the "dead (drunk) body of the mighty Molock of Linn," as he called him. A large crowd of all parties gathered, so large that Moore was compelled to adjourn his meeting to the northwest corner of the square, or near wliere Brandenburger's store building now stands, and where he finished his "funeral oration" which was so replete with wit, humor, and satire that it kept the crowd roaring with laughter and cheering throughout its delivery and was long remembered by all who heard it.

Linn county Democracy though generally numerous enough to have it all their own way used to, occasionally, turn around and go the other way if the nominee suited them. It was that way in 1842, and also in 1850, in regard to the member of the General Assembly. The Democracy had elected James A. Clark in 1838, and Ervin Ogan in 1840, but in 1842 enough of them voted with the Whigs to elect Mr. Jenkins to the legislature. Just so in 1850, Judge Jacob Smith was elected, also a Whig. These were not considered Whig victories at the time. They were personal ones for it was the personal popularity of both these candidates that elected them. Thus it will be seen that the Whig party had some talent and ])opularity in its ranks,^ and when brought forth it was recognized by the Democracy.

This seemed to have ended the success of the Whig party in Linn county. In 1862 the Radical party carried the county and continued to do so until 1870. The Democrats claimed that during the war they all enlisted and therefore the Republicans carried the county and after that the Drake constitution disfranchised them. This in some respects was a plausible excuse for their defeat, and if they had added the important fact that they did not have votes enough, the three reasons would fully have covered the ground of their failure. Since 1870 but one Republican representative has been elected, and some of the county officers have been of the same party, notably the circuit clerk. Still, while the Democracy have generally got away with their opponents in the matter of supplying offices generally, the county is really only from forty-five to sixty Democratic.

The Vote

This is too small a margin to brag on, and so this brings forth the good result of only putting up capable and honest men on both tickets, to be sup^ ported by the people. In a half century of existence, or rather since settled;. Linn county can show less than $2,000 loss by defdlcatioos. The closenessof the vote can be seen from the following:

Governor Tenth Congressional District

1878 - The vote for congressman was, Rotliwell, Democrat, 14,793; Pollard, Republican, 10,875; Broadus, Greenback, 5,682. The Democrat was elected but the Republicans and Greenbackers saw that their combined vote was 1,764 majority. Tiiis led the Republicans to decline to nominate in 1880 and combine to beat the Democrats. Joseph H. Burrows, Greenback, 17,284; Mansur, Democrat, 17,219; Greenback-Republican majority 65.

This gives five scattering votes over the gain of the two parties. The following shows the political complexion of the counties composing this

There will be a general election the fall of this year - congressmen. State senators, representatives, and a portion of the county offices are to be tilled. The following represents the officers who, on Januarj'^ 1st, 1882, held the respective offices in the county, and their post-office address: E. D. Harvey, representative, Meadville; G. D. Burgess, circuit judge; J. B. Wilcox, probate judge; Marion Boles, sheriff; Thomas H. Flood, treasurer; James Tooey, collector; F. W. Powers, circuit clerk; B. A. Jones, county clerk; J. A. Craio-, recorder; J. D. Shiffiett, public administrator, all of Linneus; C. G. Bicfer, surveyor; J. C. Scott, coroner, St. Catharine; J. T. Nickerson, school superintendent, Bucklin.