Buffalo County, Nebraska - Chapter 48: Organization of the Republican Party in Buffalo County in 187i George, 1916

Independent Ticket Elected Probate Judge

It is a matter of tradition that when Patrick Walsh, Sergt. Michael Coady and Martin Slattery sent to Governor David Butler a petition for the organization of Buft'alo County in December, 1869, that in the body of the petition they declared that the petitioners are "good and true republicans," but it must be remembered that all three petitioners were born in Ireland, and those who enjoyed the privilege of an acquaintance with Patrick Walsh will also bear witness that "Paddy," as Mr. Walsh was called by his friends, had surely kissed the "Blarney stone" before leaving "Auld Ireland," and as Governor Butler was a republican, he doubtless thought it "wise" to belong to the governor's political party during the negotiations for an organization of the county. As a matter of fact, party lines cut no figure in the county until the coming of the colony to Gibbon in 1871.

Mr. George H. Silvernail has happily preserved a record of the birth of the republican party in the county. Under date of September 15, 1871, he wrote: "The republicans gathered at LaBarre's Hall (the LaBarre Building, a store with a hall on the second floor, stood where is now located the Babcock Opera House) and organized, elected an executive committee of five (5) who are to arrange a caucus for the nomination of a county ticket." The names of this executive committee are not given.

On September 23, 1871, Mr. Geo. H. Silvernail again wrote: "Went to county convention (the convention was held in LaBarre's Hall, at Gibbon) ; had quite a spirited time; (Jacob) Booth, chairman; S. C. Bassett, secretary. The ticket nominated was: (Rev. J. N.) Allen, probate judge; (Aaron) Ward, county clerk ; Ed Oliver, county treasurer ; C. Putnam, county superintendent ;

C. Clifton, sheriff; B. F. Sammons and W. F. McClure, commissioners; (A.) Collins, county surveyor. Dr. I. P. George, coroner. Precinct (Gibbon) ticket,

The "spirited time" to which Mr. Silvernail refers to, was a fight, led by Mr. Ashburn in opposition to the nomination of Rev. J. N. Allen as probate judge.

There was already considerable feeling against Mr. F. S. Trew, who had taken an active part in the colony affairs and it was charged, had assisted his personal friends to hie on claims along Wood River and adjoining the town site of Gibbon, making the land office records show that these claims had been previously taken and thus depriving other members of the colony of an equal chance to secure these most desirable claims, when choice was determined by lot; also ]\Ir. Trew was either deputy or acting county treasurer, having the use, as it was charged, of the county funds (there was no bank in the county at that date), Mr. Ashburn charged that the nomination of Mr. Allen was not being made in good faith; that Mr. Allen was then in Pennsylvania and would not return for some months, and therefore could not qualify and that the plan was for Mr. Trew to be appointed by the county commissioners to fill the vacancy. The office of probate judge was, with the possible exception of county treasurer, the most lucrative in the county for the reason that acknowledgments of legal papers were made before the probate or county judge, the bond required of a notary public that bondsmen should be freeholders and each sworn to be worth $2,000 above all exemptions, made it practically impossible to give such a bond, for there were there very few freeholders and a much less number that could qualify for such an amount as $2,000.

At that date, 1871, all voters were required to register in advance of the election, which for state and county was held on the second Tuesday in October.

There was some question as to whether some members of the colony could vote at this election, as they had not been residents of the state for the required six months, especially those who did not arrive at Gibbon on April 7th, but Judge Maxwell, to whom the question was referred, advised that a voter leaving another state with the intention of making settlement in Nebraska, and actually making such settlement, could reckon his date of citizenship in Nebraska from the date of leaving his former home. Under this ruling voters who drove through from Wisconsin and even more distant states and who did not arrive in the county until June, 1871, registered and voted.

The election was held on Tuesday, October loth ; an independent ticket had been placed in the field. On this ticket was Patrick Walsh for probate judge, Oliver E. Thompson for sheriff and A. Collins for county surveyor. In those days candidates or their friends wrote the ticket, and early in the day it was discovered that the Trew party was fighting Ashburn for justice of the peace, and it also appears that the Ashburn party had placed A. Collins on the ticket for probate judge, and left his (Collins) name off the ticket as county surveyor. There was, as recalled, about one hundred and fifty votes polled and resulted in the election of Patrick Walsh, probate judge; Aaron Ward, county clerk; Ed. Ohver, county treasurer; O. E. Thompson, sheriff'; B. F. Sammons and W. F. McClure, county commissioners, and Dr. I. P. George, coroner. In Precinct No. i, D. P. Ashburn and J. M. Bayley were elected justices of the peace; William McKinley and, as is recalled, J. S. Chamberlain, constable, and George H. Silvernail. assessor. The county commissioners appointed C. Putnam county surveyor, and before the next election Patrick Walsh resigned as probate judge and A. Collins was appointed or elected to fill the vacancy.

can be learned, the first meeting of republicans on September 15th, was entitled to be termed a caucus and the executive committee selected was delegated to select and present a ticket to be voted for at the county convention held on September 23d, and that the county convention was not a delegate convention but a mass convention of republicans of the whole county, and therefore was not only the first political convention held in Bufl^alo County, but also the first republican convention held in the county.