| Other County Histories | Civil War | 1913 Vol. 1 | 1913 Vol. 2 | 1916 | Depression | | |||
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History of Livingston County from The History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties, Missouri. 1886 |
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Adoption of the Drake Constitution - The Third Section of the Drake
Constitution - November Election, 1866.- The Presidential Election of 1868 - The
Political Canvass and Election of 1870 - The Presidential Election of 1872 -
Election April 29, 1873 - The " Tadpole " Campaign - Special Election
in 1875 - Presidential Election 1876 - 1878 - 1880 - 1882 - 1884.
On the 18th of April the State Convention, by a vote of 38 to 14,
adopted an entirely new Constitution of the State, which was to be presented to
the voters for adoption on the 6th of June. The canvass, which succeeded, was
one of great bitterness. Although the war was practically over, all of the
regular Confederate armies having surrendered, and the Confederate President,
Jefferson Davis, a close prisoner, yet a few guerrillas and bushwhackers
continued in existence in this State, to the detriment of the peace and safety
of the sections which they infested. The presence of these villains furnished an
excuse for keeping bands of the military in the field in many counties to
"preserve the peace," hold the guerrillas in check and punish them for
disorders.
All those who had participated in, or given any sort of voluntary aid or
encouragement, to the rebellion or the Confederate cause were, by the third
section of the proposed new Constitution, debarred from voting or holding
office, as well as from teaching, preaching, practicing law, etc. And all such
were prohibited from voting for or against the adoption of the Constitution! A
spirit of unrest and malevolence, hatred and ill-will prevailed among our
people, and the character of the issues discussed, to say nothing of the
discussions themselves, was not calculated to restore an era of good feeling, or
cause the two factions to make haste to clasp hands over the bloody chasm.
Hundreds of our tax-payers, many of them old and honored citizens,
non-combatants during the war, and men of education and influence, were
disfranchised by the third section, and denied the privilege of the ballot in
the decision of the great issue before the State - that issue being the adoption
or rejection of an organic law, which was to govern them and their children
after them.
On the other hand, the Radicals and friends of the new Constitution
maintained that citizens who, by overt or covert acts, had attempted to destroy
their Government, "committed treason," or in deeds, words and
sympathy, given encouragement to those who had, were not and could not be proper
recipients of the ballot. It was further alleged that had the Confederate armies
succeeded, and Missouri become in fact and in deed one of the Confederate
States, then every Union man in the State might have considered himself truly
fortunate if he had been allowed to live in Missouri; that no Union soldier, or
militiaman, or those who had sympathized with either, would have been allowed to
vote, and that in all probability, Gen. Price's threat, made in the fall of
1861, would have been carried out, and the $250,000,000 worth of property
belonging to the Union people of the State would have heen confiscated for the
benefit of those who had reniained loyal to the Confederate cause, and suffered
thereby, etc., etc.
In the whole State only 85,478 votes (including soldiers' votes) were cast at
the election adopting the new Constitution, as follows: For, 43,670; against,
41,808; majority for, 1,862 - a very small majority, indeed, to decide so
important a question. The Constitution went into effect on the 4th of July
following.
The vote in Livingston on the adoption of the Constitution was 431 for and
155 against. There were only 30 votes cast against adoption outside of
Chillicothe, as follows: Chillicothe, 119; Spring Hill, 9; Grand River, 8;
Mooresville, 7; Monroe, 5; Cream Ridge, 3; Blue Mound, 3; Greene, l.
" The third section," frequently mentioned in these pages, referred
to section 3, of article 2, of the Constitution known as Drake's Constitution,1
or the Constitution of 1865. This section was as follows: -
1 So called because the leading spirit in its construction was
Hon. Chas. D. Drake, .of St. Louis, who, prior to the war, was a strong
pro-slavery man.
3. At any election held by the people under this Constitution, or in
pursuance of any law of this State, or any ordinance or by-law of any municipal
corporation, no person shall be deemed a qualified voter who has ever been in
armed hostility to the United States, or to the lawful authorities thereof, or
to the Government of this State; or has ever given aid, comfort, countenance or
support to persons engaged in any such hostility; or has ever, in any manner,
adhered to the enemies, foreign or domestic, of the United States, either by
contributing to them, or by unlawfully sending within their lines money, goods,
letters, or information; or has ever disloyally held communication with such
enemies, or has ever advised or aided any person to enter the service of
such enemies; or has ever, by act or word, manifested his adherence to the
course of such enemies, or his desire for their triumph over the armies of the
United States, or his sympathy with those engaged in exciting or carrying on
rebellion against the United States; or has ever, except under overpowering
compulsion, submitted to the authority, or been in the service of the so-called
"Confederate states of America;" or has ever left this State, end gone
within the lines of the armies of the so-called "Confederate States of
America" with the purpose of adhering to said States or armies, or has ever
heen a member of, or connected with, any order, society or organization inimical
to the government of the United States, or to the government of this State; or
has ever been engaged in guerrilla warfare against loyal inhabitants of the
United States, or in that description of marauding known as
"bushwhacking;" or has ever knowingly or willingly harbored, aided or
countenanced any persons so engaged; or has ever come into, or has ever left
this State for the purpose of avoiding enrollment for, or draft into, the
military service of the United States; or has ever, with a view to avoid
enrollment in the militia of this State, or to escape the performance of duty
therein, or for any other purpose, enrolled himself, or authorized himself to be
enrolled, by or before any officer as "disloyal" or as a
"Southern sympathizer," or in any other terms indicated his
dissatisfaction to the Government of the United States in its contest with the
rebellion, or his sympathy with those engaged in such rebellion; or having ever
voted at any election by the people of this State, or in any other of the United
States, or in any of their territories; or held once in this State, or any other
of the United States, or in any of their territories; or under the United States
shall thereafter have sought or received, under any claim of alienage, the
protection of any foreign government, through any consul or other officer
thereof, in order to secure exemption from military duty in the militia of this
State, or in the army of the United States. Nor shall any such person be capable
of holding in this State any office of honor, trust or profit under its
authority; or of being any officer, councilman, director, trustee, or other
manager of any corporation, public or private, now existing or hereafter
established by its authority; or of acting as a professor or teacher in any
educational institution, or in any common or other school; or of holding any
real estate or any property in trust for the use of any church, religious
society or congregation.
But the foregoing provisions in relation to acts done against the United
States shall not apply to any person not a citizen thereof who shall have
committed such acts while in the service of some foreign country at war with the
United States, and who has since such acts been naturalized, or may hereafter be
naturalized under the laws of the United States; and the oath of loyalty
hereinafter prescribed, when taken by any such person, shall be considered as
taken in such sense.
The "oath of loyalty" to be taken pursuant to the foregoing section
was as follows: -
I, A. B., do solemnly swear that I am well acquainted with the terms of the
third section of the second article of the Constitution of the State of
Missouri, adopted in the year 1865, and have carefully considered the same; that
I have never, directly or indirectly, done any of the acts in said section
specified; that I have always been truly and loyally on the side of the United
States, against all enemies thereof, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true
faith and allegiance to the United States, and will support the Constitution and
laws thereof as the supreme law of the land, any law or ordinance of any State
to the contrary notwithstanding; that I will, to the best of my ability, protect
and defend the Union of the United States, and not allow the same to be broken
up and dissolved, or the government thereof to be destroyed or overthrown, under
any circumstances, if in my power to prevent it; that I will support the
Constitution of the State of Missouri, and that I make this oath without any
mental reservation or evasion, and hold it to be binding upon me.
The following are other choice extracts from article II. of the
"Draconian Code," referring to the oath of loyalty: -
Sec. 9. No person shall assume the duties of any State, county, city, town, or other office, to which he may be appointed, otherwise than by a vote of the people; nor shall any person, after the expiration of sixty days after this Constitution takes effect, be permitted to practice as an attorney or counselor at law, nor, after that time, shall any person be competent as a bishop, priest, deacon, minister, elder, or other clergyman of any religious persuasion, sect, or denomination, to teach, or to preach, or solemnize marriages; unless such person shall have first taken, subscribed and filed said oath.
Sec. 11. Every court in which any person shall be summoned to serve as grand
or petit juror, shall require him, before he is sworn as a juror, to take said
oath in open court; and no person refusing to take the same shall serve as a
juror.
No wonder the ex-Confederates and those who sympathized with them hated
intensely the Drake Constitution, and still retain vivid and bitter memories of
the days when it was in force. Happily those days have passed, and with them
nearly all of the bitterness and animosities then engendered.
By another section of article II. every person holding any office of honor or
trust or profit in this State, whether under the authority of this State or any
municipal corporation, was required to take the oath within 60 days after the
adoption of the Constitution.
May 15, 1866, a special election was held to consider the question, Shall
Livingston county take stock in the Chillicothe and Brunswick Railroad? The vote
resulted: Yes, 451; No, 536.
Congress - Ben. F. Loan, Rep., 687; G. A. Hawley, Dem., 486.
State Senator - John H. Ellis, of Livingston, R., 683 Capt. R. B. Ballew, of Grundy, D., 487.
Representative - S. B. Deland, R., 684; John Stone, D., 492.
Sheriff - Garrison Harker, R., 678; R. B. Williams, D., 492.
Circuit Clerk - Z. N. Goldsby, R., 680; A. J. Swain, D., 492.
County Clerk - John DeSha, R., 711; J. S. Wilson, D., 462.
Anthony Rogers and N. Matson were elected county judges; J. A. Trumbo, treasurer; John T. Moss, assessor; W. Hildreth, superintendent of schools; J. W. Toppass, supervisor of registration. John H. Ellis was elected State Senator, carrying the district by 1,600 majority. Every county in the district was Republican, and owing to the disfranchisement of so many citizens, the vote was very small, comparatively. For purpose of comparison, the vote in this Senatorial district at this election, is here given: -
Counties |
Ellis,
Rep. |
Ballew,
Dem. |
| Livingston | 683 | 487 |
| Grundy | 840 | 114 |
| Mercer | 774 | 303 |
| Carroll | 671 | 459 |
| 2,968 | 1,363. |
This was the first Presidential election since the war, and although hundreds
of men were disfranchised it was largely participated in by all classes. The
Republicans, owing to the operation of the Drake Constitution, were largely in
the majority, but the Democrats were zealous and plucky. The Democratic
candidates were Horatio Seymour and Gen. Frank P. Blair, and the Republican
nominees were Gen. U. S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax. The Democratic National
Convention had resolved in favor of the payment of the 5-20 bonds of the
Government in "lawful money," or greenbacks, and this idea, called
"the Pendleton plan," from its author, Hon. Geo. H. Pendleton, was
combated by the Republicans.
The Republican candidate for Congress in this district was Hon. Joel F. Asper,
of Chillicothe, who was elected; his opponent was Hon. Mordecai Oliver, of St.
Joseph. The gubernatorial candidates were Hon. Joseph W. McClurg, Republican, of
Camden county, and Hon. John S. Phelps, Democrat,, of Greene. The vote for
leading candidates in Livingston was as follows; Republicans in Italic, Democrats
in Roman: -
TOWNSHIPS. |
Grant. |
Seymour. |
McClurg. |
Phelps. |
Asper. |
Oliver |
| Chillicothe | ||||||
| Mooresville | ||||||
| Fairview | ||||||
| Medicine | ||||||
| Blue Mound | ||||||
| Cream Ridge | ||||||
| Grand River | ||||||
| Greene | ||||||
| Wheeling | ||||||
| Monroe | ||||||
| Jackson | ||||||
Total |
||||||
On county officers the vote stood: -
Representative - R. S. Moore, R., 1,057; George A. Hawley, D., 813.
Sheriff - John P. Toppass, R., 1,010; Samuel L. Harris, D., 896.
County Judge - D. F. Rohrer, R., 1,083; Augustine Wiley, D. 806.
Other county officers elected were: J. A. Trumbo, treasurer; F. M. Hicks,
supervisor of registration: J. D. Roberts, county superintendent; E. B. Park,
surveyor; H. M. Pollard, public administrator; William S. Anderson, assessor;
Bluford West, coroner - all Republicans.
No more exciting or important political contest ever came off in the county,
not even in Presidential years, then that in 1870. The contest was between the
regular Republicans or "Radicals" on the one side and the Liberal
Republicans and Democrats on the other, and this contest extended throughout the
State.
The questions of universal amnesty and enfranchisement, of the repeal of the
Missouri "iron-clad" oath for voters, jurors, ministers, lawyers,
teachers, etc., were rapidly sowing the seeds of discord and disintegration in
the Republican party of the State, and dividing it into two wings, the Radicals
and Liberals. The former, led by Charles D. Drake, maintained the extreme and
harsh policy, and the latter, headed by R. Gratz Brown and Carl Schurz,
contended for the more magnanimous policy in regard to those who, by word or
deed, or both, had held complicity with the rebellion.
There was a growing sentiment among the people that the war was over; that
the time for expurgatory oaths of all sorts had passed; that taxation without
representation was unjust; that since, by the adoption of the Fifteenth
Amendment this year negroes who formerly were slaves, were allowed to vote, it
was but equitable that their former white masters should be given the same
privilege; that public sentiment, inside and outside of the State, was making
largely against the condition of things in Missouri, as illiberal, proscriptive,
unjust and tyrannical, and that circumstances demanded a change.
Owing to the test oath prescribed by the Drake Constitution, and the very
stringent registry laws passed to enforce it, the Democrats were in an almost
hopeless minority at the polls, and therefore had little or no voice in the
direction of public affair. As was natural, few ex-Confederates or their
sympathizers were Republicans; their disfranchisement by the Republicans kept
them from becoming voters, and embittered them, of course, against the authors
of their condition. There being but two parties, they were forced, therefore, to
sympathize with the Democrats, even had many of them not been at heart of that
faith for years before the war.
Hoping to gain the ascendancy in the State by the acquisition of the
disfranchised Confederates, rehabilitated with the elective franchise, through a
repeal and destruction of the constitutional and legal barriers which interposed
between them, the policy of' the Democrats was first to divide and then to
conquer the Republicans. To accomplish this, no way seemed so hopeful of
favorable results as "the passive policy," - or, as it was popularly
called, "the 'possum policy," - which signified the withdrawal of the
Democratic party as an organization from the canvass of 1870, and the
co-operation of its members individually with the Liberal Republicans as allies.
It was apparent that, once the disfranchising clause of the Constitution should
be removed, the Democratic party would come speedily into power, and once in
power and place, it would be secure in the possession thereof for an indefinite
period, intrenched behind the huge majority it would have.
The Democratic State Central Committee, Hon. D. H. Armstrong, chairman,
refused in March to call a State Convention, tacitly binding the party to the
support of the Liberal Republican nominees, whoever they should be. The counties
were to be left to take care of themselves.
The Republican State Convention met August 31, and of course there was a
split. The Liberals, headed by Carl Schurz, withdrew from the convention and
organized another, nominating B. Gratz Brown for Governor and Col. J. J.
Gravelly for Lieutenant-Governor, on a platform unequivocally in favor of the
adoption of the amendments proposed to the Constitution by the previous
Legislature, to be voted on at the coming election, and commonly called the
suffrage and office-holding amendments. The Radicals nominated Joseph W. McClurg
for re-election on a platform favoring "re-enfranchising those justly disfranchised
for participation in the rebellion as soon as it can be done with safety to
the State," and recognizing the right at any member of the party to
vote thereon as he pleased. McClurg personally favored re-enfranchisement.
After an exciting canvass the Liberals and Democrats carried Livingston
county for their combination ticket. The majority of the candidates on the
county ticket were Liberal Republicans, the Democrats counting on future
successes to make amends for their self-sacrifice. The vote was as follows: -
Governor - Brown, 1,410; McClurg,1,111.
Congress - John H. Ellis, of Livingston, Lib. Rep., 1,363; I. C. Parker, Rad., 1,132.
Representative - Robt. S. Moore, Lib. Rep., 1,385; David Rathbone, Rad., 1,132.
Sheriff - R. M. Graham, Lib. Dem., 1,252; J. W. Toppass, Rad., 1,227.
Circuit Clerk - Chas. R. Berry, Lib. Rep., 1,339; J. M. Alexander, Rad., 1,172.
County Clerk - W. H. Gaunt, Lib. Rep., 1,238; John DeSha, Rad., 1,233.
Common Pleas Judge - E. J. Marsh, Rad., 1,181; Frank Blenis, Lib. Rep.,
1,329.
The vote on the most important Constitutional amendments resulted: for the 2d
(abolishing the "oath of loyalty for jurors "), 2,430; against, 67.
For the 4th (abolishing test oath for voters) 2,160; against, 328. For the 5th
(removing certain disqualifications on account of " race, color, or
previous condition of servitude," and on account of "former acts of
disloyalty"), 2,358; against, 114.
In the State the amendment carried by overwhelming majorities. Brown was
elected over McClurg by a majority of 41,038. In this Congressional District,
Isaac C. Parker, Radical, of Buchanan county, defeated Mr. Ellis, of this
county, by a considerable vote.
As the political campaign of 1872 was the first in Missouri after the removal
of the proscriptive clauses of the Drake Constitution, which left all voters
free to vote that had ever been entitled to the privilege, there was great
interest manifested. The nomination of Gen. Grant and Henry Wilson was
acceptable to the great mass of the Republicans, and they were enthusiastic for
them. The Liberal Republicans, at Cincinnati, in May, nominated for President,
Horace Greeley, the veteran editor of the New York Tribune, a life-long
enemy of the Democratic party, and perhaps its most caustic assailer.
Not all the Democrats could be induced to vote for Horace Greeley. His bitter
denunciation of them and their party for years and years, in season and out of
season, could not so soon be forgotten and so easily forgiven as that they could
recognize him as a proper Democratic candidate for President. A great many voted
for him, under protest; many hurrahed for him faintly, and others tried
to, but the "hurrah," like Macbeth's "amen," stuck in the
throat, and never came out. Many Democrats would not go to the polls; some who
did go voted only for county officers, while others voted the
"straight" Democratic ticket, headed by Charles O'Conor for President
and John Q. Adams, Jr., for Vice-President.
For Congress in this district the Democratic candidate was Hon. Chas. H.
Mansur, of Livingston, and the Republican nominee was Hon. Ira B. Hyde, of
Mercer. Following was the vote in this county - Democrats being named first: -
President - Greeley, 1,745; Grant, 1,571; O'Conor, 14.
Governor - Silas Woodson, 1,757; John B. Henderson, 1,600.
State Senator - E. J. Broaddus, 1,838; M. T. C. Williams, of Carroll, 1,516.1
Representative - J. E. Cadle, 1,751; Judson K. Cole, 1,599.
Sheriff - Sam'l L. Harris, 1,824; John W. Toppass, 1,536.
1 The total vote for State
Senator in the district was: For Williams, 5,626; Broaddus, 4,936.
Hyde was elected to Congress, the district being largely Republican at the
time.
A special election to choose a county court - which was to be composed of five judges, one at large and four district judges - was held April 29, 1873, with the following result (Democratic candidates named first): -
At Large - R. B. Williams, 1,007; J. E. Terwilliger, 766.
First District, Chillicothe Township - James Graham, 371; Wm. Knouse, 68.
Second District, Mooresville and Jackson Townships - Adam Black, 202; John Hudgins, 165; both candidates were Democrats at the time.
Third District, Medicine, Cream Ridge, Rich Hill, Wheeling and Grand River
Townships - Augustine Wiley, 223; Jacob Iberg, 225.
During the political canvass of 1874 the opposition to the Democratic party
in Missouri took on the name of "People's party," or "Reform
party," but was termed by the Democrats " The Tadpole party,"
because some of the members, the Democracy said, were old Democrats who were
gradually changing to Republicans, as a tadpole changes to a frog. The "
People's party," whose leading champion was Carl Schurz at its State
Convention, composed chiefly of Republicans, and held at Jefferson City
September 3d, nominated a full State ticket, headed by Hon. Wm. Gentry, of
Pettis county, for Governor, and Hon. S. W. Headlee, of Greene, for
Lieutenant-Governor.
The Democratic Convention, August 26th, nominated Charles H. Hardin, of
Audrain, and Col. Norman J. Colman, of St. Louis, for Governor and
Lieutenant-Governor. Full tickets of both parties were in the field in this
county on both sides, and Judge R. A. DeBolt, of Grundy was the Democratic
candidate for Congress against Ira B. Hyde.
In Livingston the county ticket in opposition to the Democratic candidates
was made up of former straight-out Democrats and Republicans in about equal
numbers, and each candidate was called a "Tadpole " Democrat or
Republican, according to his former party affiliations. The vote in Livingston
resulted as follows (Democratic candidates named first): -
Governor - Hardin, 1,599; Gentry, 1,256.
Congress - DeBolt, 1,530; Hyde, 1,258.
Circuit Judge - E. J. Broaddus, Dem., 1,715; L. H. Waters, Tad.-Rep., 898; Jonas J. Clark, Ind., 253.
Representative - H. C. Ireland, 1,641; H. B. Saylor, Tad.-Rep., 1,148.
Sheriff - S. L. Harris, 1,905; E. A. Packer, Tad.-Rep., 900.
Circuit Clerk - James Wright, 1,830; D. J. M. Roe, Tad.-Rep., 1,035.
County Clerk - J. R. Middleton, 1,554; A. W. Walker, Tad.-Dem., 1,302.
Treasurer and Collector - J. C. Minteer, 1,755; H. J. Hammond, Tad.-Dem.,
1,094.
January 26 two delegates were chosen from this district to the Constitutional
Convention which prepared the present Constitution of the State. The Democratic
candidates, Cols. John H. Shanklin and John B. Hale, were elected over the
Republicans, Capt. W. N. Norville and Aug. K. Sykes. Following was the vote in
the county and district: -
| Candidates
J. H. Shanklin, D. John B. Hale, D. W. N. Norville, R. A. K. Sykes, R. |
In Livingston County.
750 839 534 486 |
In District.
2,896 2,917 1,806 1,857 |
The vote on the adoption of the Constitution, October 30, in this county was:
For, 788; against, 113. In the State: For, 91,205; against, 14,517.
At a special election held Apri1 6, to consider the question of restraining
sheep and swine from running at large, the vote resulted: For restraining, 608;
against, 998.
The Presidential election of 1876 engaged considerable attention in this county. The leading candidates were Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A. Hendricks for President and Vice-President, John S. Phelps for Governor, and R. A. DeBolt, of Grundy, for Congress, on the part of the Democrats, and R. B. Hayes and W. A. Wheeler composing the Presidential ticket, Gustavus A. Finkelnburg for Governor, and Henry M. Pollard, of this county, for Congress, on the part of
the Republicans. The Greenbackers, for the first time, had a ticket in the
field headed by Peter Cooper and Samuel F. Cary, for President and
Vice-President; Jesse P. Alexander for Governor, and F. H. Smith, for Congress.
Following was the vote in Livingston: -
TOWNSHIPS |
Tilden | Hayes | Cooper | Phelps | Finkelnburg | Alexander | DeBolt | Pollard | Smith, G. |
| Grand River | |||||||||
| Fairview | |||||||||
| Blue Mound | |||||||||
| Monroe | |||||||||
| Wheeling | |||||||||
| Chillicothe | |||||||||
| Greene | |||||||||
| Mooresville | |||||||||
| Medicine | |||||||||
| Cream Ridge | |||||||||
| Rich Hill | |||||||||
| Sampsel | |||||||||
| Jackson | |||||||||
| Total | |||||||||
1 The " American Reform
Ticket," with Walker and Klrkpatrick as candidates, received 13 votes in
Fairview, 1 in Chillicothe, and 1 in Wheeling.
State Senator - G. W. Newman, Dem., 2,013; A. H. Burkholder, Rep., 1,582; J. W. Greene, G., 158. In the district the vote was: Burkholder, 6,819; Newman, 6,519; Greene, 177.
Representative - H. C. Ireland, D., 1,844; Jacob Iberg, R., 1,621; John W. Donovan, G., 152.
Sheriff - M. H. Smith, Jr. D., 1,976; J. W. Toppass, R., 1,655: Isaac Leeper, G., 120.
Treasurer - J. C. Minteer, D., 2,035; Geo. F. Smith, R., 1,581; R. C. Rynex, Gr., 153.
C. H. Mansur was chosen prosecuting attorney; Peter Markey, surveyor; George
P. Pepper, coroner.
The political contest in 1878 in Missouri and in this Congressional district
was triangular, or three-sided. There were three tickets in the field,
Democratic, Republican and Greenback. The latter party made its first appearance
in the field as a distinct political organization in 1876, and that year cast
150 votes in Livingston county. In 1878 it more than quadrupled this number, and
was still rising. It was able to dictate terms to the Republicans and did so,
forming a fusion ticket in opposition to that nominated by the Democrats.
The Congressional contest was peculiar. This district was then
anti-Democratic, and if all the elements opposed to the Democratic party could
be united in the support of a candidate, his election would be certain. The
Greenbackers nominated the Hon. E. J. Broaddus, of this county, confidently
anticipating his indorsement by the Republicans, whose motto seemed to be,
"anything to beat the Democrats." But Judge Broaddus had formerly been
an active Democrat, and many Republicans wore opposed to him and declared that
they had no choice between Democrats, and rather than contribute to his election
would vote for a straight Republican, and let the results be as they might.
A majority of the Republicans, however, favored a quasi-indorsement of
Broaddus, by nominating no candidate of their own, citing his high character as
a citizen and a man, his ability and learning in the law, and his admitted
qualifications as considerations commending him to the support of all good
citizens. Matters were looking well for the success of the Greenback candidate,
when certain shrewd and wily Democratic politicians in the district concocted a
scheme for his defeat and successfully carried it out and elected their own
candidate.
It is said that the first steps in this scheme were taken by certain
Democrats in Chariton county, who, by the use of money and other means, procured
as delegates to the Republican Congressional convention at Brookfield, certain
men who were opposed to supporting Judge Broaddus and in favor of nominating a
straight-out Republican. Enough of this kind of Republicans were procured
throughout the district as delegates to the convention to capture it and control
it, and the result was the nomination of a straight Republican candidate in the
person of Hon. H. M. Pollard, of this county, the then Representative from this
district.
Having their enemies divided, there was nothing left for the Democrats, in
order to achieve a victory, but to stand by their nominee, Hon. G. F. Rothwell,
of Randolph. They did so, and he was elected, receiving a plurality over Mr.
Pollard.1 In this county the vote resulted as follows: -
Supreme Judge - E. H. Norton, D., 1,631; A. L. Gilstrap, G., 1,499; A. F. Denny, R., 650.
Congress - Rothwell, D., 1,559; Broaddus, G., 1,488; Pollard, R., 746.
1 Vote in the district: -
Rothwell, 14,793; Pollard, 10,875; Broaddus, 5,682.
In Livingston county the Greenbackers and Republicans united on the county
ticket against the Democrats, and were generally successful. Following was the
vote. Democratic candidates are first named: -
Representative - M. L. Smith, 1,667; Abel S. Cloud, 2,041.
Circuit Clerk - James Wright, 1,905; R. A. Spears, 1,822.
County Clerk - J. R. Middleton, 1,894; J. M. Hale, 1,848.
Recorder - B. B. Smith, 1,749; Willard Hawkins, 1,966.
Collector - J. C. Minteer, 1,964; J. B. Kirk, 1,647.
Sheriff - M. H. Smith, 1,848; Isaac Leeper, 1,899.
Treasurer - Jas. W. Glenn, 1,782; J. W. Green, 1,935.
Probate Judge - Sam'l W. McDowell, 1,827; J. L. Johnson, 1,867.
Prosecuting Attorney - B. B. Gill, 1,670; J. M. Davis, 2,039.
Public Administrator - W. H. H, Baxter, 1,692; James May, 2,016.
Coroner - T. W. McArthur, 205; David Gordon, 2,082.
Assessor - T. B. Brookshier, 1,714; W. M. Hudgins, 2,013.
County Judge at Large - R. B. Williams, 1,746; W. G. Davis, 1,946.
County Judge, 1st District - J. R. Houx, 901; J. W. Donovan, 1,156.
County Judge, 2d District - Arch. Thompson, 822; Chas. McAlear, 819.
In 1880, a Presidential year, the leading candidates of the National
Greenback party, Weaver and Chambers, received more votes in Livingston county
than did those of the Republicans, Garfield and Arthur, although the Greenback
plurality was not so large as it had been in 1878. Livingston was the banner
Greenback county of the State, and the party in the district was strong,
sanguine and aggressive. The Republicans were content to become its allies and
supported its candidate for Congress, Joseph H. Burrows, of Mercer, and in this
circuit its candidate for judge, Hon. J. M. Davis, of Livingston, and both were
elected. In the county the Greenback-Republican fusion ticket was successful.
The Democratic ticket was headed by Hancock and English for President and
Vice-President, Thos. T. Crittenden for Governor, Chas. H. Mansur for Congress,
E. J. Broaddus for Circuit Judge and F. M. Davis for Representative. D. P. Dyer
and L. A. Brown were respectively the Republican and Greenback Gubernatorial
candidates, and John W. Donovan the fusion candidate for Representative.
Following was the vote by townships for President, Governor, Congressman,
Circuit Judge and Representative: -
TOWNSHIPS |
Hancock | Garfield | Weaver | Crittenden | Dyer | Brown | Mansur | Burrows |
| Grand River | ||||||||
| Fairview | ||||||||
| Blue Mound | ||||||||
| Monroe | ||||||||
| Wheeling | ||||||||
| Rich Hill | ||||||||
| Chillicothe | ||||||||
| Greene | ||||||||
| Mooresville | ||||||||
| Medicine | ||||||||
| Cream Ridge | ||||||||
| Sampsel | ||||||||
| Jackson | ||||||||
TOWNSHIPS |
||||
| Grand River | ||||
| Fairview | ||||
| Blue Mound | ||||
| Monroe | ||||
| Wheeling | ||||
| Rich Hill | ||||
| Chillicothe | ||||
| Greene | ||||
| Mooresville | ||||
| Medicine | ||||
| Cream Ridge | ||||
| Sampsel | ||||
| Jackson | ||||
The aggregate vote for county officers and State Senator is given below.
Democratic candidates are named first, and the antecedents of the Greenback
candidates are indicated by abbreviated affixes: -
State Senator - Joel H. Shelby (of Mercer), 1,845; W. A. Jacobs, Rep., 2,204; J. K. Clark, 23.
Sheriff - Saml. L. Harris, 2,120; Isaac Leeper, Gr.-Rep., 2,131.
Recorder - C. W. Asper, 1,960; J. M. Hale, Gr.-Dem., 2,270.
Collector - E. L. Taylor, 2,024; A. A. Sportsman, Gr.-Dem., 2,206.
Treasurer - J. W. Wallace, 2,012; J. W. Green, Gr.-Rep., 2,241.
Prosecuting Attorney - B. R. Smith, 2,010; T. H. Kemp, Gr.-Dem., 2,136.
Assessor - O. F. Butler, 1,988; R. A. Spears, Gr.-Dem., 2,220.
Surveyor - Peter 3larkey, 1,946; J. Y. Powell, Gr.-Rep., 2,273.
Public Administrator - D. P. Williams, 1,921; James May, Gr.-Dem., 2,321.
Chas. Stewart and Joseph Patton were elected county judges, and John Garr,
coroner. At this election the system of township organization was adopted in the
county by a large majority - for, 2,608; against, 939. On restraining swine from
running at large the vote was - for, 2,086; against, 1,563.
In the district the Congressional race was a close one. Hon. C. H. Mansur,
the Democratic candidate, made what is termed in political parlance a hard
fight, but was defeated by the small majority of 65. The vote in the district
stood: -
| Counties. | Mansur. | Burrows. | Op. Maj. for Prest. |
| Randolph | 2,936 | 1,662 | 1,185 |
| Chariton | 2,945 | 2,077 | 784 |
| Linn | 2,040 | 2,126 | 24 |
| Sullivan | 1,737 | 1,775 | 163 |
| Mercer | 999 | 1,055 | 914 |
| Grundy | 1,096 | 1,975 | 939 |
| Livingston | 1,878 | 2,354 | 574 |
| Daviess | 1,997 | 2,064 | 36 |
| Harrison | 1,564 | 2,195 | 750 |
17,219 |
17,284 |
1,481 |
It will be noted that while the majority of the opposition party on the vote
for President in the district was 1,481, yet Burrows' majority over Mansur was
but 65. The former lacked 800 votes of receiving the full opposition strength in
his own county, Mercer, while Mansur ran a few votes ahead of his ticket in
Livingston. The race on the whole, therefore, was very creditable to Mr. Mansur,
and it is claimed (not by himself, however,) that had the Democratic State
Central Committee done its duty he would have been elected.
There was general complaint among Missouri Democrats this year of the
inefficiency of their central committee (whose chairman it is perhaps needless
to say was not Hon. John O'Day) and its conduct of the campaign, whereby
four Congressional districts were lost and three Greenbackers - Burrows in this,
Rice in the Boonville, and Hazeltine in the Springfield district - and one
Republican - Van Horn, of Kansas City - were elected in the room of such stanch
Democratic partisans as Mansur, John F. Philips and James B. Waddell.
The total vote in the State was: Hancock, 208,609; Garfield, 153,567; Weaver,
35,045. Hancock's plurality, 55,042; majority, 20,000. Crittenden received 1,000
fewer votes than Hancock.
In the political campaign in this county and also in the State, in 1882,
there were three tickets in the field - Democratic, Republican and Greenback.
The Congressional districts had been rearranged in the interest of the Democrats
and Livingston was now in a district, solidly Democratic. The result in this
county was a victory for the Democracy, the following being the vote: -
Supreme Judge - Dem., Thos. A. Sherwood, l,706; Rep., David Wagner, 926; Gr., T. M. Rice, 1,204.
Congress - A. M. Alexander, Dem., 1,708; D. B. Dorsey, Rep., 916; W. M. Quayle, Gr., 1,201.
Representative - L. T. Collier, Dem., 1,580; Henry Bushnell, Rep., 1,187; B. B. Peck, Gr., 1,082.
Circuit Clerk - Wm. P. Monroe, Dem., 2,170; P. J. Dixon, Gr., 1,480.
Recorder - Nat. Cooper, Dem., 1,016; John M. Hale, Gr., 1,819.
County Clerk - T. B. Brookshier, Dem., 1,510; John DeSha, Rep., 1,155; Wm. C. Wood, 1,143.
Sheriff - Saml. L. Harris, Dem., 1,971; J. H. H. Kinkead, Rep., 651; W. M. Hudgins, Gr., 1,190.
Prosecuting Attorney - Jas. G. Wynne, Dem., 1,431; L. A. Chapman, Rep., 889; Frank Henry, Gr., 1,076; T. H. Kemp, Ind. Gr., 396.
Presiding Justice - R. B. William., Dem., 1,673; S. F. Boyce, Rep., 817; Chas. Stewart, Gr., 1,308.
County Judges - Eastern Dist. - Wm. J. Littrell, Dem., 1,076; Henry L. Bancroft, Rep., 879. Western District - A. A. Stone, Dem., 731,- O. Vadnais, Rep., 295; T. E. Jenkins, Gr., 545.
Probate Judge - Henry Cowgill, Dem., 1,966; John L. Johnson, Gr., 1,691.
Treasurer - Thos. McNally, Dem., 2,126; J. W. Green, Gr., 1,530.
Coroner -- Ed. D. Taylor, Dem., 1,941; John Garr, Gr., 1,598.
Swine - Restraining, 1,929; against, 1,377. At a special election August 22,
1881, the vote on restraining swine was: For, 1,285; against, 1,474.
In the Presidential canvass of 1884 the Republicans and Greenbackers in
Missouri united in fusion electoral and State against the Democrats, and the
same policy was adopted in this county. The Gubernatorial candidates were John
S. Marmaduke, Democrat; Nicholas Ford (Greenbacker) Fusion, and John A. Brooke,
Prohibitionist. Congressional candidates were John B. Hale, of Carroll,
Democrat, and Wm. N. Norville, of Livingston, Fusion. The Democratic national
candidates were Cleveland and Hendricks; the Republican, Blaine and Logan; the
Greenback, Butler and West, and the Prohibition, St. John and Daniel. Following
was the vote in Livingston: -
PRESIDENT. |
GOVERNOR. |
|||||
TOWNSHIPS |
Cleveland, D. | Blaine
& Butler |
St. John, Pro | Marmaduke, D. | Ford, Fusion | Brooks, Pro |
| Chillicothe | ||||||
| Grand River | ||||||
| Wheeling | ||||||
| Medicine | ||||||
| Cream Ridge | ||||||
| Rich Hill | ||||||
| Fairview | ||||||
| Blue Mound | ||||||
| Monroe | ||||||
| Monroe | ||||||
| Mooresville | ||||||
| Sampsel | ||||||
| Jackson | ||||||
| Total | ||||||
CONGRESS. |
SEN. |
|||
| Chillicothe | ||||
| Grand River | ||||
| Wheeling | ||||
| Medicine | ||||
| Cream Ridge | ||||
| Rich Hill | ||||
| Fairview | ||||
| Blue Mound | ||||
| Monroe | ||||
| Monroe | ||||
| Mooresville | ||||
| Sampsel | ||||
| Jackson | ||||
| Total | ||||
| John F. Jackson, D. | W. Donovan, F. | Samuel L. Harris, D. | J. M. Hale, F. | J.G. Wynne, D. | J.E. Wait, F. | |
| TOWNSHIPS | ||||||
| Chillicothe | ||||||
| Grand River | ||||||
| Wheeling | ||||||
| Medicine | ||||||
| Cream Ridge | ||||||
| Rich Hill | ||||||
| Fairview | ||||||
| Blue Mound | ||||||
| Monroe | ||||||
| Monroe | ||||||
| Mooresville | ||||||
| Sampsel | ||||||
| Jackson | ||||||
The total vote in the State was: For the Cleveland electors, 235,988; for the
Fusion electors, 202,929; for the St. John electors, 2,153. For Governor -
Marmaduke, 218,885; Ford, 207,939; Brooks, 10,426. Cleveland's majority over
all, 30,906; Marmaduke's majority over all, 520. In this Congressional district
the vote stood: -
Counties. |
Hale. |
Norville. |
H.'s Maj. |
N.'s Maj. |
| Sullivan | 1,774 | 1,884 | 0 | 110 |
| Grundy | 1,214 | 2,144 | 0 | 930 |
| Livingston | 2,071 | 2,321 | 0 | 250 |
| Linn | 2,144 | 2,250 | 0 | 106 |
| Carroll | 3,046 | 2,526 | 520 | 0 |
| Chariton | 3,284 | 2,06b | 1,218 | 0 |
| Randolph | 3,181 | 1,778 | 1,403 | 0 |
| Monroe | 3,490 | 780 | 2,710 | 0 |
Total |
20,204 |
15,749 |
5, 851 |
1,396 |
Hale's net majority, 4,455.
Other county officers were chosen by the following vote: -
County Judges - E. District - Wm. J. Littrell, D., 1,183; Thos. F. Scott, F., 1,347. W. District - Arch. Thompson, D., 917; Jos. Patton, F., 941.
Treasurer - Thos. McAnally, D., 2,285; Wm. T. Davis, F., 2,092.
Coroner - Jas. N. Byrd, D., 2,040; David Gordon, F., 2,334.
Surveyor - Alex. Robinson, D., 2,082; H. M. Ambrose, F., 2,257.
Public Administrator - Flavian Bonderer, D., 2,047; J. N. Boyd, F., 2.274.
Restraining Stock - Yes, 1,825; No, 1,842.
Repealing Township Organization - For, 1,261; Against, 2,254.
Error of 100 votes in Chillicothe, precinct No. 2, which should be added to Fusion electors, making their vote 688. Clerks, in precinct No. 2, reported 347 instead of 447.