Politics and Election Returns

(BY FRED L. STEPHENSON)

At the time Woodson County was organized and for a number of years afterward, locality and personal popularity seemed to have more to do with the selection of the county officials than party politics. The Republicans were so largely in the majority that not until about 1880 or 1881 did the Democrats place a county ticket in the field. However the regular nominee on the Republican ticket was not always successful as almost every year there were some independent candidates, and occasionally a Democrat would be elected by reason of his personal popularity or some local strife. From the beginning the Republicans have maintained their organization and have been the dominant party in the county.

Some of the active workers among the Republicans in the 60's and 70's were: I. W. Dow, W. B. Hogueland, W. W. Sain, W. H. Jones, W. B. Stines, W. A. Atchison, D. W. Finney, T. W. Wilson, W. H. Slavens, David Phillips, A. B. Mann, Joseph Bishop, W. S. Lockard, O. S. Woodard, J. H. Bayer, William Stockebrand, J. W. Turner, Fred L. Arnold. Henry Gregory, J. W. Jewett, J. A. Freer, G. C. Snow. In the 70's and 80's the following came into honorable prominence: Seth Kellogg, J. B. Prutzman, J. A. Gregory, F. M. Henly, Geo. D. Carpenter, I. N. Holloway, I. S. Jones, Geo. E. Faler, J. B. Fry, H. S. Trueblood, R. A. Hurt, J. W. Depew, J. E. Pickett, J. A. Hale, T. J. Eagle, W. P. Stephenson, S. E. Porter. G. W. Davis, B. P. Baker, G. W. Rogers, W. E. Hogueland, G. R. Stephenson. J. B. Stockton, Dexter E. Clapp, A. C. Gordy, L. L. Byington, W. C. Willie, B. F. Everett, T. L. Reid, Eli Jackson, Jno. O. Dow, N. B. Buck, J. N. Stout, W. L. Parsons, Jas. Dutro, I. M. Jewett, R. M. Phillips, W. P. Dickerson, Chas. Starrett, A. Singleton, S. C. Guston, A. A. Keck, E. W. Naylor, Geo. W. Shepard, James Davidson, J. J. Layton, H. H. McCormick, R. P. Hamm, J. F. Bayless, J. J. Puckett, A. H. Schnell, D. T. Shotts, A. T. Woodruff, G. H. Lamb, J. L. Martin, J. W. Quick, Thad Parsons, S. G. Paris, D. M. Ray.

In 1873 what was known as the Reform party was organized by Democrats and former Republicans. Among those prominent in the movement were G. W. Hutchinson, W. J. Houghawout, Hud Houghawout, Mike Reedy, Dan Fulimer and Frank Butler. This party nominated a ticket in 1873 and succeeded in electing Frank Butler Representative.

The Democratic party was the next to form a county organization and placed a ticket in the field, selecting their candidates in mass convention. In 1882, E. V. Wharton, their nominee for Representative was elected, he

being the only successful candidate on their ticket that year. Among the leading Democrats of the county were: Frank Butler, W. J. Houghawout, A. Hamilton, O. P. Houghawout, Mike Reedy, Mike Heffren, Hud Houghawout, Geo. Yohon, Owen Diviney, H. D. Dickson, Phillip Hefflenger, C. H. Goodrich, E. V. Wharton, A. F. Palmer, Henry Ashley, C. C. Mills, R. R. Wells, M. C. Smith, E. K. Kellenberger, T. W. Plummer, H. H. Winter, G. W. Highbargin, A. A. Newman, William Cooper, John Cannon, Geo. McGill, Wm. Reedy, M. E. Hunt, Wm. Wyse, James Drain, W. D. Wingrave, M. L. Lynch, Fred Stewart, W. B. Wooside, H. C. Rollins.

In 1886 the Prohibition party held their first county convention that nominated a full ticket. J. N. Shannon was the nominee for Representative receiving 288 votes. In 1888 Pusey Graves was the Prohibition candidate for Representative and received 368 votes, the largest vote ever cast in the county for that ticket, and their last complete county ticket. Some of the prominent workers in this party were: J. N. Shannon, A. VanSlyke, W. S. Shippey, Pusey Graves, O. P. Houghawout, M. V. B. Pearsall, H. H. Petty, T. B. Noland, J. W. Grimes, E. J. Troyer, John Taylor, John Young, At this time all of the minority parties were more or less interested in the so-called Reform movement.

In 1888 the Union Labor party, which had already been organized in the county, nominated a complete county ticket with H. H. Petty for representative, The Knights of Labor were well organized at that time giving all the assistance they could to the Union Labor party. Some of the leaders in this new reform party were, E. V. Wharton. H. H. Petty. J. G. Kellenberger, Frank Hall, Wm. Walker, J. Z. Dysert, E. B. Moore, W. A. Bailey, J. H. Sturdivan, H. T. Chellis, S. C. Geary, W. H. Talbot, and Chas. Pollard. This party only continuel[sic] their county organization for a year or two, when nearly all of them with some dissatisfied Democrats and Republicans formed the Alliance party, and in 1889 and '90 they effected their county organization.

Although the Democratic party lost many of its members they kept up their county organization. The organization of the Alliance was soon followed by fusion which was successfully effected with the combined opposition to the Republicans in this county.

In 1892 the Peoples' or Populist party as the result of fusion reached its zenith in this county and for several years succeeded in electing one or two county officers, by the assistance of some free silver and dissatisfied Republicans, but the Republicans have always been considered the strongest political organization in the county.

A few of the organizers and leaders of the Populist party in this county were, E. V. Wharton. H. H. Petty, J. G. Kellenberger, B. A. Macoubrie, Frank McGill, J. Z. Dysert, Sam Jones, J. H. Sturdivan, A. Hamelton, C. B. Goodale. H. T. Chellis, D. S. Park, Geo. Mentzer, Fred Wilkinson, Alex. Baxley, Alec Linder, S. C. Geary, Thomas Watson, Chas. Bauersfeld and C. C. Mills.

At a meeting of the supervisors of Woodson county, Kansas territory, held at Neosho Falls, May 22, 1858, I. W. Dow was chairman and W. Phillips and G. J. Cavin constituted the board with Chas. Camron their clerk. Among other business they made a call for an election of county officers the first held in the county, at which time there were less than one hundred votes cast. At the general November election in 1859, Marcus J. Parrott received a majority of the votes cast for delegate to congress and N. S. Goss for member of the council of the 12th. Council district. P. G. D. Morton was elected a Representative of the 24th district, over E. J. Brown. The county officers elected were: Peter Stevens, Supt. Common Schools; Jonathan Keys, Probate Judge; Hiram McConnell, Sheriff. For Register of Deeds, Emeric Chase and H. Groesbeck each received 84; for County Clerk, J. M. Leech and M. Smith Austin received 81 votes each; A. Vernam elected county attorney: G. J. Gavin, treasurer; David Reynolds, Coroner; John Woolman, Surveyor.

At an election held under the Wyandotte constitution, December 6, 1859, Charles Robinson received 60 votes and Samuel Medary 37 votes in the county for Governor, 97 being the total number of votes cast in the county that year.

At a special election in March, 1860, T. D. Bodman was elected county clerk and H. Groesbeck register of deeds to fill vacancies, there being no choice for those offices at the previous election.

In November, 1860, the county officers elected were: James Crane, probate judge; A. W. Pickering, county clerk; Joel Moody, county attorney; Osbone Ewing, county assessor, and William Phillips, E. Chase and Lewis Thompson, commissioners.

At a special election in March, 1861, E. J. Brown was elected representative, and John Stansbury probate judge to fill vacancies.

At the general election in November, 1861, George A. Crawford received a majority of the votes in the county for governor. E. J. Brown was elected representative. David Reynolds, sheriff; Peter Yohon, county clerk; M. W. Alexander, treasurer; J. D. Coulter, register of deeds; J. S. Askren, county assessor; James Crane, probate judge; J. B. Pickering, superintendent public instruction; W. B. Stines, surveyor; Allen McCartney, district clerk; Jackson Lewis, Owen Diviney and H. J. Gregory, county commissioners.

For state capital the vote stood: Lawrence, 71; Topeka, 5, and Emporia, 1.

NOVEMBER, 1862.

There were 101 votes cast for governor of which Thos. Carney received 61 and W. R. Wagstaff received 50.

A. McCartney was elected representative; J. B. Pickering, probate judge: A. L. Hathaway, clerk of district court; Geo. L. Wait, county clerk; A. Johnson, sheriff; Michael Collins, coroner; J. M. Baldwin, treasurer; John Woolman, surveyor; Peter Yohn, register of deeds; Isaac McConnell, county assessor, and E. J. Brown, superintendent public instruction.

NOVEMBER, 1863.

A. W. Pickering was elected representative; J. P. Tucker, clerk district court; G. L. Wait, county clerk; D. H. Miller, sheriff; H. J. Gregory, coroner; Wm. Phillips, Thos Sirid and J. Foster, commissioners; J. Baetie, treasurer; John Woolman, surveyor; J. D. Coulter, register of deeds and D. Askren, county assessor.

NOVEMBER, 1864.

The total number of votes cast for president was 102. Lincoln and Johnson securing 67 and McClelland and Pendleton 35 votes. Saml. J. Crawford carried the county for governor and John Nathan Foster elected representative; Thos. Arnold, county attorney; Pusey Graves, probate judge; N. Keller, clerk district court; J. D. Coulter, treasurer; Enoch Fencler, county assessor; W. B. Stines, superintendent public instruction and J. S. Lobough, commissioner.

NOVEMBER, 1865.

I. W. Dow was elected representative; Pusey Graves, clerk district court; Geo. L. Wait, county clerk; David H. Faler, sheriff; David Reynolds, treasurer; W. B. Stines, county surveyor; Geo. L. Wait, register of deeds; O. P. Haughowout, county assessor; J. D. Coutler, county attorney; Chas. Ostermeier, coroner and Jno. S. Lobough, Michael Reedy and H. J. Gregory, commissioners.

NOVEMBER, 1866.

Again Gov. Crawford carried the county for governor. H. J. Gregory, Republican, was elected representative; Jas. Crane, probate judge: Pusey Graves, clerk district ourt;[sic] S. J. Williams, superintendent public instruction: A. K. Philon, treasurer; D. Reynolds, commissioner; O. P. Houghawout, democrat, county assessor and M. V. B. Pearsall for coroner.

NOVEMBER, 1867.

The Republicans were successful and elected D. W. Finney representative. Thos. A. Blanchard, sheriff and treasurer; W. B. Stines, county attorney and surveyor: W. W. Sain county clerk and register of deeds; C. B. Graves, county assessor; A. Brush, coroner and J. L. Lobough, D. Reynolds and H. J. Gregory, commissioners. D. W. Finney, W. W. Sain and W. B. Stines are still citizens of the county and have from that time been active in the political field. The vote on the constitutional amendment to strike out the word white stood 149 against, and 88 for.

NOVEMBER, 1868.

Jas. M. Harvey carried the county for governor by 183 majority over G. W. Glick; B. F. Johnson was elected representative; Pusey Graves, probate judge; S. J. Williams, superintendent public instruction; W. E. Graves, county attorney and E. Fender, coroner.

NOVEMBER, 1869.

H. J. Gregory was elected representative over C. B. Graves; I. W. Dow, treasurer; W. W. Sain, county clerk and register of deeds; D. Reynolds,

sheriff; J. M. Leach, coroner; D. V. Dow, surveyor and J. W. Jewitt, P. W. Yohon and H. C. Leonard, commissioners.

NOVEMBER, 1870.

Again Gov. Harvey carried the county for governor. G. A. Bogart was elected representative; W. E. Graves, county attorney; Pusey Graves, probate judge, and J. S. Gilbert superintendent public instruction.

NOVEMBER, 1871.

B. F. Everett, republican, was elected representative; J. A. Burdett, county clerk; W. J. Houghawout, democrat, county treasurer; Samuel Cook, register of deeds; D. V. Dow, surveyor; E. Fender, coroner and A. Hamilton, democrat, sheriff.

NOVEMBER, 1872

Gen. U. S. Grant received 782 votes for president and Horace Greeley received 247; Wm. Peck republican, was elected representative; I. S. Jones probate judge; T. J. Petit, county attorney; Dan Tollner, clerk district court and J. L. Gilbert, county superintendent. Although the Republicans seemed at this time to have a large majority, in November, 1873, so the story goes, an independent ticket was selected the night before election known as "the Midnight ticket" and was in a measure successful. Those elected were: Frank Butler, democrat, representative; Wm. Cozine, sheriff; W. J. Houghawout, democrat, treasurer; I. N. Holloway, republican, county clerk; I. S. Jones, republican, register of deeds; J. W. Driscoll, coroner and S. Michner, W. P. Stephenson and L. G. Porter, commissioners.

NOVEMBER, 1874

J. C. Cusey, democrat, carried the county for governor; A. B. Mann, (R) was elected representative; I. S. Jones (R) probate judge; G. I. Carpenter (R) clerk district court; W. H. Stares (R) county attorney; A. F. Palmer (D) superintendent public instruction and D. M. Ray, county surveyor.

SEPTEMBER 12, 1875.

Yates Center was selected as the county seat and for a number of years afterward the prejudice aroused during the county seat contest was a factor in the county politics.

NOVEMBER, 1875.

H. D. Dickson, democrat, was elected representative; I. N. Holloway, (R) county clerk: R. A. Hurt, (R) treasurer; I. S. Jones, register of deeds and A. Smith, coroner.

NOVEMBER, 1876.

For president, R. B. Hays received 673 votes in the county and Saml J. Tilden 306; Geo. T. Anthony carried the county for governor; S. R. Kellogg (R) was elected representative; J. E. Pickett, (R) county attorney; Geo. D. Carpenter, clerk district court; I. S. Jones, (R) probate judge and A. F. Palmer, (D) superintendent of instruction.

NOVEMBER, 1877.

Complete Republican ticket elected. R. A. Hurt, treasurer; I. N. Hollo-

way, county clerk; I. S. Jones, register of deeds; A. Smith, shriff;[sic] Jos. Webb, surveyor; E. Fender, coroner and S. Michner, T. J. Eagle and J. H. Bayer, commissioners.

NOVEMBER, 1878.

Jno. P. St. John carried the county for governor; Gen. D. E. Clapp, (R) elected representative; Geo. D. Carpenter, (R) clerk district court; I. S. Jones, (R) probate judge; H. D. Dickson, (D) county attorney; A. F. Palmer, (D) superintendent public instruction and G. C. Snow, (R) commissioner.

NOVEMBER, 1879.

Full Republican ticket elected. J. W. Depew, county treasurer; H. S. Trueblood, county clerk; I. S. Jones, register of deeds; Geo. W. Davis, sheriff; Jos. Webb, surveyor; J. L. Jones, coroner and J. H. Bayer, commissioner.

NOVEMBER, 1880.

County gave a majority for Jas. A. Garfield for president, John P. St. John for governor and D. W. Finney for lieutenant-governor. D. E. Clapp was elected representative; I. S. Jones, probate judge; W. E. Hogueland (R) clerk district court; J. W. Richardson, superintendent public instruction and Levi Robbins, commissioner.

NOVEMBER, 1881.

H. S. Trueblood (R) elected county clerk and J. W. Depew (R) treasurer, with no oppositon; C. W. Davis, sheriff; W. A. Bailey, Independent candidate elected register of deeds; Jos. Webb, surveyor and G. C. Snow, commissioner.

NOVEMBER, 1882

Gov. St. John again carried the county for governor; E. V. Wharton (D) was elected representative; I. S. Jones, (R) probate judge; W. E. Hogueland, (R) clerk district court; J. E. Pickett, (R) county attorney; Miss L. J. Stephenson, (R) superintendent public instruction and R. D. Webster, (R) commissioner

NOVEMBER, 1883.

Those elected were J. W. Turner, (Ind.) county treasurer; I. M. Jewett, (R) county clerk; W. A. Bailey, register of deeds; D. M. Ray, (R) surveyor; C. H. Phillips, (R) coroner; Jas Cannady, (Ind.) sheriff and J. C. Puckett, commissioner.

NOVEMBER, 1884.

For president, Jas. G. Blaine, received 1,143 votes, Grover Cleveland, 635 votes, Benj. F. Butler, 135 votes and Jno. P. St. John, 51 votes. For governor Jno. A. Martin carried the county by a large majority. W. H. Slavens (R) was elected representative; I. S. Jones, (R) probate judge; W. E. Hogueland ,(R) clerk district court; G. R. Stephenson, (R) county attorney; Lizzie Stephenson, (R) superintendent public instruction and C. C. Mills and W. D. Windgrave, commissioners, making the board Democratic.

NOVEMBER, 1885.

I. M. Jewett (R) elected county clerk; Fred Stewart, (D) treasurer; Jos. Cannady, (R) sheriff; P. H. How, (R) register of deeds; D. M. Ray, (R) surveyor; C. R. Jones, (R) coroner and C. C. Mills, (D) county commissioner.

NOVEMBER, 1886.

Gov. John A. Martin again carried the county for governor; W. H. Slavens, (R) elected representative; C. C. Clevenger, (R) probate judge; W. E. Hogueland, (R) clerk of district court; G. R. Stephenson, (R) county attorney; Kate Rhea, (D) superintendent public instruction and A. C. Gordy, (R) commissioner.

NOVEMBER, 1887.

M. F. Stewart, (D) elected county treasurer; R. M. Phillips, (R) county clerk; A. A. Keck, (R) sheriff; H. B. McHugh, (R) register of deeds; G. E. Carpenter, (R) surveyor; A. H. Mann, (R) coroner and J. W. Quick, commissioner.

NOVEMBER, 1888.

For president, Benj. Harrison received 1,148 votes; Grover Cleveland, 595 votes; A. J. Streetor, 363 votes and C. B. Fish, 104 votes. L. U. Humphrey carried the county for governor and J. H. Hale (R) was elected representative; C. C. Clevenger, (R) probate judge; J. H. Sticher, (R) county attorney; W. P. Dickerson, (R) clerk district court; J. C. Culver, (R) superintendent public instruction and Wm. K. Rogers, (R) commissioner.

NOVEMBER, 1889.

W. C. Wille, (R) elected county treasurer; R. M. Phillips, (R) county clerk; A. A. Keek, (R) sheriff; Geo. B. Carpenter, (R) surveyor; A. H. Mann, (R) coroner; H. A. Nichols, (R) commissioner and H. B. McHugh, (R) register of deeds.

NOVEMBER, 1890.

L. U. Humphrey again carried the county for governor; J. H. Bayer, (R) elected representative; A. J. Jones, (R) probate judge; W. P. Gregory, (Peoples' party) county attorney; W. P. Dickerson, (R) clerk district court; Kate Rhea, (D) superintendent public instruction and Wm. Moorehead, (Peoples' party) commissioner.

NOVEMBER, 1891.

Officer elected were: H. H. McCormick, county clerk; W. C. Wille, treasurer; F. L. Stephenson, register of deeds; T. L. Reid sheriff; O. P. Augustine, coroner; Arthur Moffat, surveyor and Henry Ashley, commissioner of 2d district, all Republicans but Henry Ashley.

NOVEMBER, 1892.

This county gave Benj. Harrison a majority of 40 votes over Weaver for president and A. W. Smith a majority of 49 over Lewelling for governor. Chas. F. Scott received a majority of 42 for state senator. J. H. Bayer was elected representative; A. J. Jones, probate judge and Wm. Reedy,

clerk district court; A. M. Kannard, (R) superintendent public instruction; G. H. Lamb, county attorney; H. A. Nichols, commissioner of third district. All Republicans except Wm. Reedy.

NOVEMBER, 1893.

Those elected were R. D. Webster, treasurer; H. H. McCormick, county clerk; T. L. Reid, sheriff; F. L. Stephenson, register of deeds; O. P. Augustine, coroner; Arthur Moffat, surveyor, and Wm. Moorehead, commissioner of 1st district; all republicans except Wm. Moorehead.

NOVEMBER, 1894.

For governor, E. N. Morrill received a majority of 55 votes in the county. The suffrage amendment was defeated by 175 votes. Wm. Stockebrand was elected representative; James Dutro, probate judge; G. H. Lamb, county attorney; A. M. Kannard, superintendent public instruction and Wm. Reedy, clerk district court; all Republicans except Wm. Reedy and W. P. Lytle who was elected commissioner of second district.

NOVEMBER, 1895.

There was only one vote against Judge Stillwell in the county for district judge. R. D. Webster, elected treasurer; J. L. Martin, register of deeds; W. O. Eades, county clerk; M. E. Hunt, sheriff; D. M. Ray, surveyor; O. P. Augustine, coroner and Henry Peter, commissioner of 3d district; all Republicans except M. E. Hunt.

NOVEMBER, 1896.

For president, Wm. McKinley received 1,288 votes and W. J. Bryan, 1,189 votes. E. N. Morrill carried the county by 138 majority. W. W. Finney was elected representative; James Dutro, probate judge; A. J. Huff, clerk district court; Lucy Ellis, superintendent public instruction. G. W. Cox, commissioner 3d district and J. R. Vice, commissioner 1st district; all Republicans except Lucy Ellis and J. R. Vice. A. J. Jones elected county attorney.

NOVEMBER, 1897

J. C. Culver, elected treasurer; W. O. Eades, county clerk; M. E. Hunt, sheriff; J. L. Martin, register of deeds; L. N. Tallman, surveyor; Otis Orendorff, coroner, and S. C. Gustin, commissioner 3d district.

NOVEMBER, 1898

W. E. Stanley carried the county for governor by 123 votes. H. A. Nichols was elected representative; S. C. Holcomb, county attorney; W. L. Parsons, probate judge; E. E. Kelley, superintendent public instruction; A. J. Huff, clerk district court, and G. W. Cox, commissioner of 3d district; all Republicans except S. C. Holcomb.

NOVEMBER, 1899.

J. P. Kelley, elected county clerk; J. C. Culver, treasurer; Silas Naylor, register of deeds; S. L. Patterson, sheriff; L. N. Tallman, surveyor; Otis Orendorff, coroner and J. W. Quick, commissioner of 1st district; all Republicans except L. N. Tallman.

NOVEMBER, 1900.

For president, Wm. McKinley received 300 majority in the county. W. E. Stanley received a majority of 290 for governor and Chas. F. Scott's majority in the county was 295 for congressman-at-large H. A. Nichols was elected representative; W. L. Parsons, probate judge; A. C. Woodruff, clerk district court; S. C. Holcomb, county attorney; E. E. Kelley, superintendent public instruction and S. G. Paris, commissioner 2d district; all Republicans except S. C. Holcomb.