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Political History & Official Record

"There is a mystery in the soul of state, Which hath no operation more divine Than breath or pen can give expression to." From  1831 to 1840 party politics wielded but a slight influence in the local government of the county. While it is true that many of the first settlers, from the earliest days, possessed well-defined political views and tenets, and were thoroughly partisan upon all questions pertaining to national or State elections, an indefinite number of candidates were usually permitted to enter the race for the county offices, and the one possessed of superior personal popularity generally led the field and passed under the wire in advance of all opponents. In the olden time it was not at all unusual to meet the energetic candidate for the sheriff's office, the treasurer's office, or the candidate who aspired to represent the people in the State Legislature, astride his horse, going from settlement to settlement to meet with the voters at their own firesides, to sleep beneath their humble roofs and sup with them at their family boards, to compliment their thrifty housewives and to kiss the rising generation of little ones.

The historian would not dare draw upon his imagination to supply the stock of rich, rare and racy anecdotes molded and circulated by these ingenious canvassers, or to describe the modes and methods by them adopted to increase their popularity with the people. There was then but a few newspapers to perpetuate daily events as they transpired. Many of the maneuvers and capers, successes and failures, with their pleasures and sorrows of more than 40 years ago, in Monroe county, are hidden from us by the shadows of time. Darkness intervenes between us and the sayings and doings of bygone days, and could we but penetrate that darkness and gather them in, they would shine out upon the pages of this history " like diamond settings in plates of lead."

In vain have we tried by the lens of individual recollection or tradition to ferret them out. We could not do it. Our discouraged fancy dropped the pencil and said 'twas no use. We could not paint the picture. A little consolation may be found in these lines: " Things without all remedy Should be without regard; what's done is done."

In some of these early campaigns the various candidates for a single office, and sometimes those running for the different county offices, would travel together from settlement to settlement throughout the county. Every camp meeting, log-raising, shooting match, and even horse race occurring in the county during the season preceding election, was a favorite resort for the electioneerer, and every honorable device was adopted by each candidate to develop his full strength at the polls. For many years after the settlement of the county no political conventions were held, and the result was, a number of candidates entered the race for the same office. This has been the case during the past 10 years. A nominating convention, however, will be held this year, 1884.

Until 1854, or until the organization of the Native American party, the Whigs generally controlled the elections in the county--their majorities ranging from 50 to 200 votes. After the Native American party came into existence the Democratic party gradually became the dominant political organization of the county. During the late Civil War, because of the " Ousting Ordinance, " the Drake Constitution and the test oath, which were enforced by the State government, at that time in the hands of the Radical party, the Democratic party was not in power. With this exception the county has been Democratic since the war--in fact, Monroe county rolls up a larger majority for the Democratic candidates than any other county in the State. At the presidential election in 1880 the majority of Gen. Winfield S. Hancock over James A. Garfield was 2,817, in a total vote of 4,159. Garfield's vote was 671; the Republican vote in the county now (1884) is about 700. 

ELECTION OF 1840.

Although the county of Monroe was not so densely populated as a few others in 1840, yet that election was one of remarkable political excitement between the Whigs, with Gen. W. H. Harrison as their 1 Charles W. Flannigan was the first Democrat elected to the Legislature. He was a member of that body from 1844 to 1846. James F. Botts was a Democrat and elected in 1850. John N. Parsons and William Coulter were also Democrats, the former elected in 1858 and the latter in 1864. presidential candidate, and the Democrats who were wildly excited in behalf of Van Buren, who had beaten Harrison in 1836. At no time in the history of the United States were the people generally roused to such a pitch of political excitement as during this memorable campaign. A reference to the newspapers of that period will convey some idea of the frenzy which raged; but the actual scenes witnessed beggar description. Men, women and children for some months before the election, which occurred in November, seemed to have little else to engage their attention. Every village had its log-cabin and tall Whig pole, representatives of the Whig party, whilst the hickory poles also loomed up emblematic of Gen. Jackson and the Democratic party. Mighty crowds were assembled in the log-cabins to hear inflammatory speeches and indulge in potations of hard cider, while the Democrats met in council at their headquarters, heard and made speeches, etc. All parties sang and drank during the campaign quite as much as was necessary and considerably more. It was the commonest event to meet hundreds of farmers' wagons loaded with from 15 to 20 of both sexes, singing and roaring as they wended their way to some point agreed upon, where they were to listen to the eloquence of some great party leader and exhibit their patriotism. Tippecanoe and Tyler, too, "  was the Whig watchword, accompanied by promises of " $2 per day and roast beef, " to every workingman under Harrison's administration.

ELECTION OF 1844.

Another exciting political contest that occurred in Monroe county in the early days was the election of 1844, when Henry Clay and James K. Polk were the candidates of their respective parties for President of the United States. Lofty hickory poles were raised in Paris, and barbecues were given by the Whigs and Democrats at different points in the county. A barbecue was given by the Whigs in Thomas Conyer's pasture near Paris. Thomas L. Anderson, of Palmyra, was the orator of the occasion, and was considered the wheelhorse of the Whig party in this section of the country. An old settler who attended the barbecue and heard Anderson's speech, said that Anderson during the delivery of his speech would occasionally ask the question, "Who is James K. Polk?" Apropos to that period will be found the following, which we have taken from an old copy of the Paris Mercury of 1844:-

Clay pole raising! "Old men for counsel. " " Young men for action!" 

The Whig young men of Monroe county will hold a county meeting in the town of Paris on Saturday, the 27th day of July instant, for the purpose of effecting a more thorough organization of the Whig young men of the county, and for the purpose of raising a Clay pole. Every young man who feels an interest in the good old Whig cause, and who desires the success of the Whigs at the approaching contest, and the elevation of Henry Clay to the Presidency, is requested and urged to attend. The opponents of Henry Clay are using every means in their power to defeat his election; and they will leave no means untried to accomplish their object. In order to thwart their purpose and gain a decisive victory over our opponents, it behooves the young, as well as the old Whigs, to engage heart and hand in the good work. Our fathers in the Whig cause are marching forward in a solid column and with a firm and steady step to rescue our Government from the grasp of the spoiler - and they have given us their counsel and call upon us to follow their noble example. Arouse, then, young Whigs, and come to the meeting; let every young Whig in the county be present. Remember, " Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." All are requested to come in as early as possible. G: The old Whigs and the ladies of Monroe county are requested to favor us with their attendance. Speeches will be made by young Whigs of Monroe county. George B. Gough, J. C. Parrish, Basil Bounds, James T. Martin, S. G. Styles, W. Styles, Drury Ragsdale, J. W. Ragsdale, James Cox, F. Williamson, W. Lasley, R. N. Martin, Samuel Bowlin, Robert Bowlin, Caleb Wood, Jr., J. W. Fowler, George Fowler, Richard Poage, R. H. Powers, James Worland, George Greenwell, J. M. Lasley, W'. M. Long, H. L. Frary, William Bowman, Richard B. Burton, A. P. Moore, Ambrose Burton, W. M. Broom, Thomas J. Palmer, William Buckner, John S. Covington, J. H. Fox, James T. Glenn,

B. E. Harris, H. W. Rockwood, Milton Crutcher, Lewis M. Coppedge, Joseph H. James, John M. James, J. C. Foreman, John Curtright, Charles Carter, D. Curtright, George W. Threlkeld, W. B. Davis, P. H. Noonan, W. T. McGee, D. L. Boyd, James W. Wills, R. D. Wills, F. Helm, James Shoot, D. T. Bryan, John Coppedge, Samuel M. Sprowl, Hugh J. McGee, J. J. McGee, A. C. Goodrich, E. A. Goodrich, James Vaughn, John Vaughn, Thomas Noonan, John M. Moore, Joseph Hill, Edward Holloway, James Holloway, Richard E. F. Moore, Simeon Sparks, Irvin Poage, S. W. Bryan, Thomas Moss, John H. Trimble, Wesley Wilson, John D. McCann. William T. Coppedge, William B. Withers, Andrew Caplinger, Edward J. Hollingsworth, Franklin A. Poage, Nicholas Davis, John W. Beatty, N. H. Marders, D. Ray, J. G. Grove, S. Mallory, T. Greening, J. Barker, B. E. Cowherd, George W. Stewart, James E. Poage, W. H. Violett, John D. Lyon, F. B. Powell, John H. Moyer, Josiah T. Dickson, Thomas M. Reavis, Abraham Riggs, John Stewart, James A. Quarles, Alexander Kenson, John Daniel, W. C. Smith, Gustavus Banister, D. T. Cowherd, Samuel Leake, Burnard Lewellen, John Bryant, B. Quarles, J. Greening, Henry Davis, James S. Davis, John M. Ray, E. W. Boone, John M. Howell, James M. Bean, Robert D. McCann, D. H. Moss, F. Hollingsworth, W. A. Mason, Thomas C. Moore, James I. Sparks, A. E. Gore, William H. H. Crow, Joseph Miller, Rufus Poage, E. Thompson, William Arnold, Thomas Hurd, W. Lewellen, J. W. Harris, J. Alexander. Having given above a list of names, among which may be found a number of prominent Whig politicians, we will now mention the names of a few of the leading Democrats of Monroe county in 1844:- William Armstrong, W. K. Van Arsdall, James Botts, Granville Snell, C. W. Flannagan, P. H. Higgins, John S. Buckman, Alexander Winsette, James A. Elder, Joseph Forest, William Streeter, Moses Parris, Clement Pierceall, Robert Lewellen, Robert Miles, William Lawrence, William H. Gough, I. L. And, James F. Riley, A. Gillmore, James Dale, James C. Parsons, William Sterman, Joseph Hagan, Philip Williams, William W. Williams, A. G. Williams, John Wright, Richard D. Austin, William M. Leake, William A. Buckman, John Short, Thomas Forest, T. S. Ireland, Clement Parsons, Henry R. Parris, Henry Miller, Leonard Green, Francis E. Yeager, Vincent Yates, A. R. Morehead, David Yates, James M. Parris, William M. Priest, J. T. Gilmore, John D. Green, J. Pierceall, R. Yates, William W. Penn.

OFFICIAL RECORD.

Senators.-Joshua Gentry, Samuel Drake, James M. Bean, Theodore Brace.

Representatives in the Legislature. -Joseph Stevens, 1832-36; William N. Penn, 1836-40; Jonathan Gore, 1836-40; Jonathan Gore, 1840-42 ; Joseph Stevens, 1840-42 ; William J. Howell, 1842-44; Charles W. Flannagan, 1844-46; Anderson W. Reid, 1844-46; William Vawter, 1846-48; Waltour Robinson, 1848-50; William A. Scott, 1850-52; James F. Botts, 1850-52; James M. Bean, 1852-54; Gabriel Alexander, 1852-54; James M. Bean, 1854-56; Samuel Drake, 1854-56 ; Samuel Rawlings, 1856-58 ; John N. Parsons, 1858-60; William R. Giddings, 1860-62; George W. Moss, 1862-64; William Coulter, 1864-66; James C. Fox, 1866-68; T. T. Rodes was elected in 1868 but was denied his seat in the Legislature on the ground of illegal registration in the county. The county was not represented again until 1870. M. C. Brown, 1870-74; P. H. Mc-Leod, 1874-76; M. D. Blakey, 1876-78; Thomas P. Bashaw, 1878-84.

Circuit Judges. -Priestly H. McBride, 1831 to 1833; David Todd, 1833 to 1836; Priestly H. McBride, 1836 to 1844; A. Reese, 1844 to 1855; John T. Redd, 1855 to 1862; Gilchrist' Porter, 1862 to 1866; John I. Campbell; William P. Harrison, 1866 to 1871; John T. Redd, 1871 to 1881; Theodore Brace, 1881 to 1887. Circuit and County Attorneys. -Ezra Hunt, John Hurd, James R. Abernathy, J. J. Lindley, Thomas V. Swearengen, John Anderson, David H. Moss, William F. Hatch, Waller M. Boulware, J. H. Hollister, A. M. Alexander, Robert N. Bodine, J. H. Rodes. 

County Clerks.- Ebnezer W. McBride, 1831 to 1848; William N. Penn, 1848 to 1859; J. R. Abernathy, 1860 to 1866; William Bowman, 1867 to 1871; William N. Penn, 1871 to 1873; Thomas Crutcher, 1873 to 1886. 

Circuit Clerks. -Edward M. Holden, 1831 to 1833; Thomas S. Miller, 1833 to 1840; John G. Caldwell, 1840 to 1854; George Glenn, 1854 to 1859; Henry Davis, 1859 to 1867; Elisha G. B. McNutt, 1867 to 1871; J. M. Crutcher, 1871 to 1875; George C. Brown, 1875 to 1883; Charles A. Creigh, 1883 to 1887. 

Sheriffs.-William Runkle, 1831 to 1832; Pleasant Ford, 1832 to 1836; Thomas Pool, 1836 to 1840; Thomas Crutcher, 1840 to 1844; Joel Maupin, 1844 to 1848; Daniel M. Dulaney, 1848 to 1852; Marion Biggs, 1852 to 1856; Preston Swinney, 1856 to 1860; John C. Mc-Bride, 1860 to 1862; E. G. B. McNutt, 1862 to 1866; James Ownby, 1866 to 1870; William H. Ownby, 1870 to 1872; F. L. Pitts, 1872to 1876; G. W. Waller, 1876 to 1878; R. F. West, 1878 to 1880; James A. Jackson, 1880 to 1884.

County Court Judges.- 1831 - Andrew Rogers, John Curry, William P. Stephenson, appointed in February. 1831 - Andrew Rogers, Robert Simpson, Reese Davis; Curry and Stephenson resigned, and Simpson and Davis were appointed in May. 1832 -Robert Simpson, Reese Davis, Edmund Darnrell. 1833- Reese Davis, Edmund Damrell, Samuel Curtright. 1834--Edward Shropshire, Robert Margruter, Samuel Curtright. 1836 - Samuel Curtright, Jonathan Gore, Edward Shropshire. 1837 -Jonathan Gore, Samuel Curtright, John M. Clemens. 1838 -Robert P. Stout, John M. Glenn, Granville Snell. 1841 - Granville Snell, Thomas J. Crawford, John M. Glenn. 1842 - Thomas J. Crawford, W. R. Stephens, Granville Snell. 1842 -Caleb Wood, William G. Moore, Richard D. Austin. 1845 - Richard D. Austin, William G. Moore, Thomas Pool. 1847 -William G. Moore, George Williamson, Samuel M. Quirey. 1849 - Samuel M. Quirey, George Williamson, David W. Campbell. 1850 - Samuel M. Quirey, David W. Campbell, John A. Quarles. 1853 -Samuel M. Quirey, David W. Campbell, James W. Herndon. 1855 - David W. Campbell, E. W. McBride, Joseph D. Moore. 1858 -David W. Campbell, Joseph D. Moore, Peyton Botts. 1859 -Joseph D. Moore, Peyton Botts, Joel Maupin. 1860- Peyton Botts, Thomas Barker, Daniel M. Dulaney. 1862--Thomas Barker, Alfred Warner, Samuel Pollard. 1864-Thomas Barker, James Speed, Jacob Kennedy. 1865-James Speed, Jacob Kennedy, Mahlon Harley. 1866 - James Speed, William R. Newgent, S. M. Quirey. 1870--Samuel M. Quirey, William K. Newgent, Stephen M. Woodson. Quirey, S. M. Woodson, H. P. Batsell. son, William Lightner, Henry Dooley. Henry Dooley, John D. Curtright. 1872 Samuel M. 1875--Stephen M. Wood- 1877 - William Lightner, 1879--James M. Pollard, 1881--James M. Pollard, 1883 -William K. New- Henry Dooley, John D. Curtright. William K. Newgent, James D. Evans. Henry Davis, James D. Evans. 

Surveyors. -John S. McGee, 1831 to 1836; John Burton, 1836 to 1843; George Glenn, 1843 to 1847; Samuel Pollard, 1847 to 1851; George Glenn, 1851 to 1853; John McCann, 1853 to 1855; William L. Combs, 1855 to 1861; F. A. Whitescarver, 1861 to 1868; William L. Combs, 1868 to 1884. 

Collectors. -The sheriff was ex-officio collector until 1872, when the two offices were separated. George W. Waller served from 1872 to 1876; F. L. Pitts, from 1876 to 1882; W. A. Miller, from 1882 to 1884.

Probate Judges.-The county court had jurisdiction of probate matters until 1872, when it was made an independent tribunal. The first person elected to that office was William N. Penn, in 1873; he died in August, 1873, and in September Thomas P. Bashaw was elected to fill his unexpired term. Bashaw held the office until 1878. Thomas Brace, elected in 1878, served till 1880; James M. Crutcher, elected in 1880 and served till 1884.

Treasurers. -James R. Abernathy, C. H. Brown, John N. Parsons, Jesse H. McVeigh, John W. Mounce, George W. Moss, William F. Buckner, W.. H H. Crow, I, A. Bodine.

Assessors. John S. McGee, John Burton, Milton Wilkerson, Levi Shortridge, Thomas J. Gillespie, Newton Adams, William Lightner, Dr. Fitts, William N. Penn, John B. Smith, Daniel East, Samuel H. Smith, Samuel Hardy, John D. Stephens, Robert P. Stout, William H. Holliday, James M. West, J. D. Jackman, J. D. Poage, Robert H. Buchanan. Buchanan was elected in the fall of 1874, died in February, 1875, and William Bowman was appointed to fill the vacancy.