| POLITICAL AND OFFICIAL. |
GENERAL observations concerning the great presidential campaigns, as affecting the political sentiment of this portion of Indiana, are given in the political chapter of the history of Adams County, in this work. We here append a few miscellaneous items of interest, prefatory to the election returns of this county on the following pages. The votes on the school law, and the various amendments to the State Constitution, referred to in these returns, generally excited but little popular interest. The vote in 1851, on the Constitution, was on its adoption, and at the same time a very decisive vote was given for the "exclusion of negroes from the State and their colonization"—588 to 97. Even on this point the excitement was not great, as public sentiment was so uniform.
From the old files of the Bluffton papers, we notice that apparently modern questions were before the public as early as 1848—'50, one column in the Republican Bugle, for instance, being headed "Capital vs. Labor;" another article headed, "News from South Carolina favoring Secession;" another, "Land Monopoly," etc. The Bluffton Lyceum, in the winter of 1848—'49, debated whether the dissolution of the States under any circumstances would be proper, etc. Hon. T. W. Borden, representing this district in Congress, delivered a speech there on the "necessity of limiting the amount of land which one should own."
The following little incident was characteristic of pioneer times: During the presidential campaign of 1856, when the Republican party was running their first candidate, John C. Fremont, for President, against James Buchanan, William A. Garver, Democratic candidate for Congressman from this district, came into Bluffton afoot, dusty, shabby and weary, on his electioneering tour. John P. Greer, a resident lawyer, concluded to meet him in a public debate and "flax him out," which appeared to be as easy as "rolling off a log." Garver accepted the challenge, and the event proved that he was an invincible "singe-cat," far too strong for Greer. The occasion was an exciting one. Every citizen, being interested in the attack on the unpresentable, dust-begrimed denizen of the Indiana forests, turned out to see what they thought would be a very unequal contest; and "unequal," indeed, it turned out to be, but, to the astonishment of all, the heaviest weight was on the other side. In the report for 1874 we have James P. Hale indicated as "Temperance—Democrat—Republican." This curious feature may be accounted for by the temperance "crusade," headed by Newton Burwell and others. In the sketch of Mr. Burwell, elsewhere, will be found a brief account of his movement. [See also "Temperance," under head "Miscellaneous".] The temperance people, who concluded it was time to be doing something, and something that was effectual, undertook that year to reform each party "within itself" ; and as the Democrats were in so great majority that a nomination by them was equivalent to an election, the "crusaders" undertook to reform their ticket for that year. Mr. Hale, who was first placed on the ticket for county surveyor, joined the temperance movement, and thus lost his place on that ticket, the Democrats nominating Mr. Rhodes in his place; then the Republican and temperance people fused, uniting on Mr. Hale, with the result as there given.
Very few independent candidates have run for office in Wells County, as party nominations came into vogue throughout the Northern States previous to the settlement and organization of this county, and have been the system ever since. The county being largely Democratic, and the members of that party being famous for pulling well together, very few of them have felt at liberty to set themselves up as independent candidates, and, of course, no member of any other party would have any object in becoming an independent candidate. In those districts where the Republicans have a heavy majority, there are generally many independent candidates.
OFFICIAL DIRECTORY.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
1837.—Solomon Johnson, James Scott, Robert C. Bennett.
1838—'39—'40.—Solomon Johnson, James Scott, John Higgins.
1841.—William Prillaman, James Wright, Amos Townsend.
1842.—William Prillaman, James Wright, Thomas T. Smith.
1843—'44.—James Wright, Samuel Decker, Levi Young.
1845.—James Wright, Levi Young, William Studabaker.
1846—'47.—Levi Young, William Studabaker, Nathaniel Batson.
1848.—William Studabaker, Nathaniel Batson, Henry Miller.
1849.—William Studabaker, Henry Miller, James Bell.
1850.—Henry Miller, James Bell, John A. Deam.
1851.—James Bell, John A. Deam, James Fulton.
1852.—John A. Deam, James Fulton, James Dailey.
1853.—James Fulton, William Kirkwood, James Dailey.
1854.—William Kirkwood, William Studabaker, John Ogden.
1855.—William Studabaker, John Ogden, James Bell.
1856—'57.—John Ogden, James Bell, Gabriel H. King.
1858—'59.—John Ogden, Samuel B. Arnold, William Linn.
1860.—Samuel B. Arnold, William Linn, Leonard S. Walker.
1861.—William Linn, Leonard S. Walker, Joseph Meredith.
1862.—Leonard S. Walker, Joseph Meredith, John W. Davenport.
1863—'64.—Leonard S. Walker, John W. Davenport, Alexander Lee.
1865.—Leonard S. Walker, Alexander Lee, Bowen Hale.
1866.—Alexander Lee, Bowen Hale, Jacob Farling.
1867.—Bowen Hale, Jacob Farling, Benjamin Lowry.
1868—'69.—Jacob Farling, Benjamin Lowry, Lewis Prillaman.
1870.—Lewis Prillaman, William W. Smith, Burket M. Elkins.
1871.—Burket M. Elkins, M. C. Blue, I. J. Covault.
1872.—Burket M. Elkins, Emanuel Popejoy, Leonard S. Walker.
1873.—Leonard S. Walker, William Kirkwood, Emanuel Popejoy.
1874.—Leonard S. Walker, William Kirkwood, Peter Studabaker.
1875.—William Kirkwood, Peter Studabaker, Samuel L. Riddile.
1876—'77.—Peter Studabaker, Samuel L. Riddile, J. D. Goodin.
1878.—Peter Studabaker, J. D. Goodin, John Sowards.
1879.—Peter Studabaker, John Sowards, Sylvester Lounsbury.
1880—'81.—Peter Studabaker, Sylvester Lounsbury, Ephraim M. Middaugh.
1882—'83.—Peter Studabaker, Ephraim M. Middaugh, George L. Warner.
1884.—George L. Warner, William H. Rupright, Isaac Fishbaugh.
1885—'86.—William H. Rupright, Isaac Fishbaugh, William Carner.
NOTE—The new board held their first session in December of each of the
years above mentioned.
Hence the last mentioned above are in office until December, 1887.
AUDITORS.
Bowen Hale, 1837—'41; Lewis S. Grove, 1841—'50; James Dailey, 1850—'59;
John McFadden, 1859—'63 ; Theodore Horton, 1863—'67; Samuel M. Dailey,
1867—'71; Michael C. Blue, 1871—'75; George E. Gardiner, 1875—'79; Elmore
Y. Sturgis, 1879— '83; Naaman T. Miller, 1883.
TREASURERS.
Adnah Hall, 1837—'48; Henry Courtney, 1848—'50; William H. Deam, 1850—'55;
John Wandle, 1855—'59; Peter Studabaker, 1859—'62; Elijah A. Horton, 1862—'64;
Jacob V. Geary, 1864—'66; William H. Deam, 1866—'70; John Ogden, 1870—'74;
Lemuel Bachelor, 1874—'78; Lawson Popejoy, 1878—'82; James P. Deam, 1882—'86;
John E. Sturgis, 1886.
CLERKS.
Bowen Hale, 1837—'55; George McDowell, 1855—'59; Thomas L. Wisner, 1859—'67;
James R. McCleery, 1867; William J. Craig, 1875—'83; J. H. Ormsby, 1883.
RECORDERS.
Bowen Hale, 1837,—'51; Wilson M. Bulger, 1851—'59; Samuel M. Dailey,
1859—'63; Wilson M. Bulger, 1863—'71; James R. Bennett, 1871; David E.
Bulger, 1879; E. B. McDowell, 1882—'87; John G. Baumgardner, 1887.
SURVEYORS.
John Casebeer, 1837; Sylvanus Church, -------; Samuel G. Upton, 1853;
George P. Mann, 1853—'57; Elijah A. Horton, 1857— '62; James A. Gavin,
1862—'67; Michael C. Blue, 1867—'71; Finley H. Rhodes, 1871—'73; James
P. Hale, 1873—'77; John E. Beil, 1877—'83; T. W. Barton, 1883—'87; Gabriel
T. Markley, 1887.
SHERIFFS.
David Bennett, 1837; Isaac Covert, 1837—'41; Lewis Linn, 1841—'43; Isaac Covert, 1843-'45; Lewis Linn, 1845—'47; Isaac Covert, 1847—'49; Amza White, 1849—'53; Michael Miller, 1853—'57; Evan H. Phillips, 1857—'59; Michael Miller, 1859—'61; Nathaniel De Haven, 1861—'65; Manuel Chalfant, 1865—'67; Isaiah J. Covault, 1867—'69; Manuel Chalfant, 1869—'71; Isaiah J. Covault, 1871—'73; William W. Wisell, 1873; James B. Plessinger, 1877—'81; M. M. Justus, 1881—'85; Henry Kirkwood, 1885—
JUDGES OF PROBATE.
Thomas Wallace, W. H. Parmalee, Nun McIntyre and Bowen Hale. These served in the order named, from the organization of the county until about 1851, when, under the new State Constitution, the probate business was merged into the circuit court.
PERSONAL REMINISCENCES.
Besides the many old settlers noticed in a previous chapter, many will query what has become of the old-time candidates for office. We therefore append some items in answer to their inquiry.
Amza White, elected sheriff in 1848, died many years ago. His widow and children are still living in Bluffton.
Joshua R. Randall, candidate for Representative in 1848, lives six miles northeast of Bluffton, on a farm.
James Bell, county commissioner 1849—'51, is station agent at Keystone.
James L. Warden, prosecuting attorney in 1851, afterward circuit and supreme judge, was an able and honorable jurist. He died at Fort Wayne, when he was judge of the Superior Court of Allen County.
Thomas L. Wisner, who has been in office much of his life, is still living, in Bluffton.
Ellison Covert resides at Ossian.
Nun McIntyre and Joseph A. Williams are not living.
Joseph Gorrell is still living, at Ossian.
James Fulton died a few years ago.
John Ogden is still alive, in Bluffton.
William A. Deam lost a great deal of property here, but is now doing well in Wichita, Kansas.
William Kirkwood, father of the present sheriff; lives south of Bluffton ten or twelve miles.
George P. Mann, surveyor, died many years ago.
George T. Riddile: see medical chapter. John Wandle, Sylvanus Church and Samuel Decker have been dead many years.
Lewis Prillaman moved to his farm three miles above Bluffton, where he now resides.
Wilson M. Bulger, David Peppard, Nelson Kellogg and Michael Miller are living in Bluffton, retired from the activities of a business life.
David Truesdale lives five miles north of Bluffton.
James Dailey, father of Hon. Joseph S. Dailey, is still living, northeast of Bluffton.
Samuel B. Arnold, of Jackson Township, and George McDowell, are deceased.
Henry Prillaman died many years ago. Evan H. Phillips, R. C. Bennett, Jr., Herod S. True, Elijah A. Horton and Mahlon Elwell are all deceased.
Gabriel H. King is living at La Gro. Henry Thoma is a furniture dealer in Bluffton.
James Burwell: see chapter on the Bar. John R. Coffroth is a prominent lawyer in Lafayette, Indiana.