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CHAPTER XXXVI.
POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL.
During the early history of Bates County her citizens did not trouble themselves much about political matters. They seemed to care more about the settlement of the country and the increase of worldly goods than they did for office. One reason, doubtless, for this was, the pay was nothing extraordinary. Men were expected in those days to administer the duties of the office in many instances gratuitously, and in many others their charges were hardly sufficient to compensate them for their ability and fidelity. The greatest difficulty was to get men to take office, as will be seen by looking over the early records of the county. Now, however, it is still more difficult to keep dishonest and incompetent men out of office. For several years after the organization of the county, persons were elected to office more on account of their qualifications and popularity than for political reasons. The office emphatically sought the man, and not the man the office. We find in some instances, when the opposing candidates belonged to the same party, where two were to be voted for a division was made and a Democrat and Whig were elected.
We should be pleased to present to our readers the early political history of Bates County, but the record giving the names of all the different candidates and the result of each election has been destroyed. The official record of the vote in the county has been preserved since 1866, and it is from that date we will write the' political history.
As there were only a few over 300 votes cast in the county in 1866, and as about two-thirds were Republican, little interest was manifested in the election. The Drake constitution of 1865 was in force, which prohibited those who bore arms against the government or sympathized with the rebellion from voting. At this time there were not many disfranchised in the county, as very few of the former citizens had returned.
An official abstract of the votes cast in Bates County, Tuesday, November 6, 1866.
OFFICIAL VOTE OF NOVEMBER 3, 1868.
Democrats marked with D, Republicans R.
President: Grant, R 782; Seymour, D 620
Governor: Phelps, D 632; McClurg, R 775
Lieutenant Governor: Standard, R 776; Coleman, D 630
Secretary of State: Rodman, R 777; Poepping, D 629
Treasurer: Dallmeyer, R 777; Hundhausen, D 629
Auditor: Draper, R 777; Rozier, D 629
Register of Lands: McGee, R 777; Reagan, D 629
Attorney General: Johnson, R 777; Hockaday, D 629
Judges of Supreme Court: Currier, R 778; Bliss, R 778; Wagner, R 778; Newton, D 622; Lewis, D 622; Adams, D 622
Congress: Hazell, D 629; Phillips, D 629; Stover, R 778; Burdett, R 776
Circuit Judge: Allen, D 648; Emerson, R 748
Circuit Attorney: Outhwaite, R 754; Masters, D 629
Representative: Bassett, R 716; Benefiel, D 663
Sheriff: White, R 741; Smith, D 654
County Treasurer: Christian, D 626; Donahue, R 763
Superintendent of Public Schools: Henry, D 629; Allison, R 769
County Court Justices: Hill, D 637; Slayback, R 632; Hall, R 749; Crigler, R 771
Public Administrator: Burnside, D 633; Hartwell, R 752
Supervisor of Registration; Wright, D 629; Foster, R 770
Surveyor: Lucas, D 627; Fillbrick, R 764
Assessor: Wheaton, D 641; Willard, R 758
Coroner: Watts, D 623; Thomas, R 768
Constitutional Amendment: No 605; Yes 622
Court House: No 557; Yes 768
OFFICIAL VOTE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1870.
Governor: McClurg 889; Brown 1,022
Lieutenant Governor: Gamble 897; Harlan 1,022
Secretary of State: Weigel 897; Stover 1,018
Treasurer: Hays 1,019; Filley 897
Auditor: Draper 1,019, Moser 893
Attorney General: Baker 1,020; Johnson 895
Register of Lands: Solomon 1,018; McGee 897
Superintendent Public Schools: Divolli 1,013; Beard 932
Judge Supreme Court: Wagner 1,911
Congress: Smith 977; Burnett 893
State Senator: Wornell 1,014; Twiss 899
State Representative: Walker 1,047; Page 839
Clerk of Circuit Court: Geisel 974; Boreing 921
Sheriff: Newberry 1,022; Smith 836
County Treasurer: Holloway 1,030; Thomas 884
County Assessor: Howell 842; Aldridge 983
Superintendent Registration: Smith 895
Coroner: Carter 994; Shelton 916
County Superintendent Public Schools: Wilson 1,013; Allison 896
Public Administrator: Burnside 1,026; Betz 871
Constitutional Amendment 1: Yes 1,592; No 164
Constitutional Amendment 2: Yes 1,272; No 482
Constitutional Amendment 3: Yes 1,487; No 216
Constitutional Amendment 4: Yes 1,302; No 458
Constitutional Amendment 5: Yes 1,232; No 460
Constitutional Amendment 6: Yes 1,551; No 120
This election was warmly contested; there having been a bolt in the Republican state convention under the leadership of John B. Henderson, Carl Schurz, B. Gratz Brown and others and who nominated what was called a "liberal " ticket with the latter named gentleman the candidate for governor. The amendment to the constitution enfranchising those who who had taken part in the rebellion was voted on by both parties and adopted by a large majority.
FINANCIAL.
In 1853 the earliest record of the County Court of Bates County, shows what the taxable wealth of the county was for that year. We find an order of the court which reads as follows:
"The assessor's books of Bates County for the year 1853, being taken up by the court this day and examined and corrected, it is ascertained by the court that the total amount of taxable property in the county for the year 1853, real, personal and mixed is $324,877, and that the state tax therein, including the poll tax, amounts to the sum of $867.25, and the court doth hereby levy the sum of thirty-seven and one-half cents as a poll tax, there being 850 polls, and the sum of $1,517 as an ad valorem tax upon property, it being four mills to the dollar, as a county tax for the said year 1853."
The assessment of 1862, shows 207 slaves valued at $44,450. Number of polls, white, 1,113.
Assessed valuation for 1871:
Lands: $3,958,658
Town lots: 266,058
Personal property: 1,089,886
Total valuation: $5,314,602
Assessments were higher in 1871, than they are now. Property now is assessed at its two-thirds value.
Assessment for 1873:
number of horses: 8,898, valued at $365,312
mules: 1,497, valued at $69,193
cattle: 28,985, valued at $375,145
sheep: 13,193, valued at $17,237
hogs: 43,196, valued at $99,869
all other personal property: $451,701
total personal property: $1,375,457
Assessment for 1872, both real and personal: $4,957,962
Assessment for 1880: $6,019,191
Assessment for 1881: $8,000,000
The last item includes merchant's tax and railroad bonds.
The rate of taxation for all purposes is 40 cents on the $100 valuation. The levy for county expenses is 20 cents.
Average county expenditures during the years 1878-9, 1880, 1881, have been from $14,000 to $18,000 per annum, the deficiency of the levy being made up from back taxes.
The county warrants have been at par since 1875.
RAILROAD BONDS.
The county never issued any railroad bonds as a county. January 18, 1871, the county court issued in behalf of Mount Pleasant Township, ninety bonds of 1,000 each, bearing ten per cent., payable semi-annually, on first days of January and July, running ten years. The vote of the people authorized the subscription to be made to the Lexington, Chillicothe & Gulf Railroad, but before the bonds were issued, said railroad company had sold out or organized again under the name of the Lexington, Lake & Gulf Railroad, and the bonds were issued to the last company, stating upon their face, that they were issued in lieu of bonds voted to the first named company. The Supreme Court of the United States, held, that bonds voted to one company could not be issued to another and were void.
The county issued forty bonds of $1,000 each, in behalf of Grand River Township, which were issued under the same circumstances. The bonds are now considered in the light of the above decision, worthless.
The county court on the 15th day of June, 1871, issued for Prairie City Township, fifty bonds of $500 each, to run ten years, bearing ten percent, interest, payable semi-annually, on the 15th of February and August. They were issued to the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company (now the Missouri, Kansas & Texas). There has been one judgment rendered against said township, in favor of Theodore Harris, for $7,000;, this was in 1879. But a small amount of same has been paid. Township will doubtless pay judgment.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
State of Missouri.
County of Bates.
May term, 1882:
In the county court of of said county, on the 6th day of May, 1882, the following, among other proceedings, were had, viz: Ordered that the following financial statement be placed upon the court records, and that a copy of the same be published in the Bates County Democrat. Abstract of the receipts and expenditures of Bates County from the 1st day of March, 1881, to March 1, 1882.
CONTINGENT FUND -- RECEIPTS.
To amount on hand at last statement: $7,393.15
To amount received on tax book, 1881: 13,441.36
To amount received on back tax, 1880: 147.89
To amount received on back tax prior to 1880: 843.94
To amount received on dram shop licenses and ad valorem: 1,471.51
To amount received on billiard and other table licenses: 242.72
To amount received on wine and beer licenses: 34.95
To amount received on peddler's licenses: 30.69
To amount received on auctioneers' licenses: 15.30
To amount received on merchants' ad valorem tax: 512.08
To amount received on ferryman's license: 5.00
To amount received of E. A. Henry, overplus salary: 950.63
To amount received on Smith suit: 291.15
To amount of sale of land east of square: 519.00
To amount of old tin roofing: 5.00
To amount of lumber: 3.60
To amount of pump: 2.00
To amount refunded on insane person: 3.85
To amount M.K. & T. R. R: 109.38
To amount W. U. Telegraph Co: 1.17
To amount of back tax, personal: 20.50
Total receipts: $26,044.93
CONTINGENT FUND -- EXPENDITURES.
Amount drawn upon the contingent fund between the 1st day of March, 1881, and the 1st day of March, 1882:
Amount paid for assessing for the year 1881: $1,198.01
Amount paid for bridges from contingent fund: 1,669.92
Amount paid for road and bridge commissioner: 347.30
Amount paid for circuit clerk's fees: 67.70
Amount paid for county treasurer's fees and salary: 1,159.11
Amount paid road overseer: 75.79
Amount paid for support of paupers: 1,263.94
Amount paid for furnishing and repairing court house and county buildings: 2,599.91
Amount paid for books and stationery, printers: 1,084.79
Amount paid for wolf scalp rewards: 33.00
Amount paid for support of insane poor: 1,729.76
Amount paid field notes to register of lands: 20.70
Amount paid on county farm and improvements: 1,445.07
Amount-paid for public well sw. cor. court house square: 166.75
Amount paid county judges per diem and mileage: 391.94
Amount paid prosecuting attorney, salary and fees: 809.98
Amount paid county clerk, fees: 2,450.89
Amount paid as criminal costs: 1,106.27
Amount paid sheriff and county seat commissioner's fees: 792.02
Amount paid election costs: 185.00
Amount paid for abstract of county lands: 17.50
Amount paid on roads: 113.50
Amount paid costs of board of equalization: 13.02
Amount paid county school commissioner's salary: 40.00
Amount paid mine inspector, services of: 125.00
Amount paid grand jury, March term, 1881: 88.85
Amount paid petit jury, March term, 1881: 521.30
Amount paid witnesses before grand jury, March term, 1882: 56.25
Amount paid grand jury, July term, 1881: 103.20
Amount paid special jury, July term, 1881: 18.00
Amount paid petit jury, July term, 1881: 197.80
Amount paid witnesses to grand jury, July term, 1881: 151.75
Amount paid grand jury, July term, 1881: 125.80
Amount paid petit jury, July term, 1881: 645.80
Total: $20,904.32
Total receipts $26,044.93
Amount of warrants and circuit court scrip issued between the first day of March, 1881, and the first day of March, 1882: $20,904.32
Amount of outstanding warrants March 1, 1881: 778.68
Amount of warrants paid during the year: 19,420.72
Amount of outstanding warrants March 1, 1882: 2,262.28
Amount in county treasury March 1, 1882: 6,624 21
Amount in county treasury, less outstanding warrants: 4,361.93
BRIDGE FUND.
To amount on hand March 1st, 1881: $5,612.50
To amount collected on back taxes: 421.42
Total: $6,033.92
By amount of warrants drawn on bridge fund: 6,265.28
Amount overdrawn: 231.36
TOWNSHIP FUND.
To amount received on tax of 1881: $2,849.83
Amount paid to treasurer of each of the following townships:
Mingo: 74.56
Spruce: 118.49
Deepwater: 113.32
Hudson: 151.34
Rockville: 71.12
Prairie: 78.58
Pleasant Gap: 139.04
Summit: 131.20
Shawnee: 110.16
Grand River: 74.20
Deer Creek: 92.61
Mound: 91.69
Mount Pleasant: 365.55
Lone Oak: 81.15
Osage: 112.73
New Home: 132.87
Charlotte: 122.53
Elkhart: 75.93
East Boone: 98.73
West Boone: 74.68
West Point: 51.12
Homer: 66.22
Walnut: 126.13
Howard: 93.18
By amount in county treasury, April 22, 1882: 202 70
Total $2,849 83
ROAD DISTRICT FUND.
To amount received on taxes $2,104.73
Amount paid to the treasurer of the following named townships:
Mingo: $41.47
Spruce: 65.20
Deepwater: 45.66
Hudson
Rockville: 45.39
Prairie
Summit: 44.13
Shawnee: 63.66
Grand River: 45.74
Deer Creek: 89.85
Mound: 132.80
Mount Pleasant: 147.43
Lone Oak: 37.98
Osage: 152.18
New Home: 55.90
Charlotte: 56.91
Elkhart: 85.44
East Boone: 93.60
West Boone: 90.90
West Point: 14.96
Homer: 99.69
Walnut: 71.57
Howard: 115.25
Total: $1,595 71
Balance on hand: 509.05
PRAIRIE CITY TOWNSHIP RAILROAD TAX.
Amount on hand March 1, 1880: $866.28
Amount collected on back tax book: 19.37
Total: $885.65
By amount paid on Harris' judgment: $885.65
Balance on hand: 19.37
Total: $886.65
ROCKVILLE TOWNSHIP SCHOOL FUND.
Amount on hand March 1, 1881: $1,079.70
Balance on hand March 1, 1882: 1,079.70
HUDSON TOWNSHIP SCHOOL FUND.
Amount on hand, March 1, 1881: $279.01
Balance on hand March 1, 1882:279.01
STATE RAILROAD LEVY OF 1876 AND 1877.
Amount on hand March 1, 1881: $455.23
Amount on hand March 1, 1882: 455.23
PRINCIPAL COMMON SCHOOL FUND.
Amount of principal March 1, 1881: $42,176.37
Amount received on fines: 1,149.82
Amount received on strays: 169.06
Amount received for show licenses: 63.05
Amount received on sale of swamp lands: 5,110.75
Total principal $47,669.05
Amount of interest collected to June 1, 1881: $4,056.57
By amount apportioned: 3,934.90
Balance on hand June 6, 1881: 121.67
Total: $4,056.57
TOWNSHIP SCHOOL FUND.
Township No. 1
Amount of principal: $760.80
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $87.50
Township No. 2
Amount of principal: $1,393.00
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $153.22
Township No. 3
Amount of principal: $940.73
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $76.62
Township No. 4
Amount of principal: $1,510.00
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $151.48
Township No. 5
Amount of principal: $2039.81
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $116.80
Township No. 6
Amount of principal: $842.00
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $83.70
Township No. 7
Amount of principal: $760.80
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $76.78
Township No. 8
Amount of principal: $6,042.64
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $225.01
Township No. 9
Amount of principal: $1,872.30
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $120.57
Township No. 10
Amount of principal: $1,402.00
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $139.96
Township No. 11
Amount of principal: $1,388.17
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $107.24
Township No. 12
Amount of principal: $1,121.72
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $112.70
Township No. 13
Amount of principal: $7021.16
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $946.88
Township No. 14
Amount of principal: $1,784.40
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $36.01
Township No. 15
Amount of principal: $2,246.00
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $153.22
Township No. 16
Amount of principal: $2,562.00
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $139.37
Township No. 17
Amount of principal: $618.63
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $42.68
Township No. 18
Amount of principal: $1616.33
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $158.44
Township No. 19
Amount of principal: $1212.00
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $110.40
Township No. 20
Amount of principal: $2,304.00
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $219.80
Township No. 21
Amount of principal: $1,834.00
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $180.00
Township No. 22
Amount of principal: $239.00
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $37.83
Township No. 23
Amount of principal: $1,561.54
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $104.97
Township No. 24
Amount of principal: $767.31
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $88.85
Township No. 25
Amount of principal: $5,328.00
Amount of interest collected and apportioned: $254.38
State of Missouri.
County of Bates.
I, E. A. Henry, clerk of the county court in and for said county, hereby certify the above and foregoing to be a true copy of the proceedings of our said county court, on the day and year above written, as the same appears of record in my office. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court, at office in Butler, this the 12th day of [seal] May 1882. -- E. A. Henry, Clerk of County Court.
The county is out of debt. Its financial condition is, therefore, excellent. |
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