CHAPTER XIII

POLITICAL RECORD

FIRST ELECTIONS COUNTY OFFICERS, 1821-31- DAWN OF POLITICAL ENTHUSIASM-ELECTIONS 1832-40-OFFICIALS 1840-50— LAST ASSOCIATE JUDGE ELECTIONS 1850-60-POLITICS AND ELECTIONS 1860-80-Vote on PIKE ROADS-COUNTY OFFICERS, 1881-6— COMMON PLEAS JUDGES 1888-1910-PROBATE JUDGES 1886-1910COUNTY OFFICERS 1891-1910-STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES 1902-10.

From 1824 to 1832 county elections were held according to law in Seneca county, but political party lines were not drawn, and but small interest was taken in political affairs, the elections being carried out somewhat on the principle of sport and frivolity. Election precincts were far apart, and men had to travel considerable distances to reach the polls, and there, after they had voted, they had their "fun;" many drank whiskey, smoked, swore, wrestled and fought, and that usually wound up the sport of the day. In 1832 this free and easy method began to disappear, and the campaign of that year called forth all the energies of the people and their standard bearers, and gave to political life a stimulus which won for it an important place in the minds of the people. Since that time party interests have been carried out.

The first elections held in the county (Thompson and Seneca townships) were in October, 1820, when twenty votes were polled for the offices of Sandusky county. In September, 1821, nominating caucuses were held at Lower Sandusky, and in October of that year the following were elected in what is now Seneca county: Commissioner, David Smith; senator, Eben Merry; representative, Lyman Farrel; auditor, Josiah Rumery.

The Sandusky county candidates of 1822 and 1823 received a full vote from the settlers of Seneca; but beyond the total number of votes polled there is no record.

A special election for officers of Seneca county was held in April, 1824, when Agreen Ingraham received nineteen votes for sheriff and was elected; Leverett Bradley, two hundred and six votes for coroner, and was elected; and William Clark, Jesse O.

Olmstead and Benjamin Whitmore were elected county commissioners.

The elections of 1825 show a severe fight for member of the legislature, Josiah Hedges being elected. The contest for county commissioner was carried on between Thomas Boyd and William Clark; the other officers of the county were re-elected, held over or re-appointed.

In 1826 Abel Rawson was appointed prosecutor; Timothy P. Roberts and James Gordon elected county commissioners, and all the other officers re-elected. Eber Baker was elected representative in the state legislature.

There were no less than seven candidates for the legislature before the people in 1827. Josiah Hedges was elected. The others, however, received many votes in the representative district, which then comprised Crawford, Marion, Sandusky and Seneca. counties. The annual election of 1827 resulted in the choice of Samuel M. Lockwood. Case Brown was elected commissioner, Agreen Ingraham, treasurer, and David Risdon, county assessor; senator, David Campbell. Abel Rawson was elected recorder; William Patterson, sheriff; Jacob Plane, treasurer; David Smith, auditor; James Gordon, commissioner; and William Toll, coroner. In 1829 Timothy P. Roberts was elected commissioner, the other officers holding over.

The elections of 1830 resulted in the election of Sam M. Lockwood, state senator; Josiah Hedges, representative; David Bishop, sheriff; Abel Rawson, recorder and prosecutor, and Case Brown, commissioner. Joseph Howard was appointed clerk.

The elections of 1831 may be considered the dawn of political enthusiasm in Seneca county. Whigs and Democrats made. regular nominations, and swore by their party platforms. Harvey J. Harmon was elected representative; David Risdon, commissioner; John Wright, county assessor; Benjamin Pittinger, Selden Graves and Agreen Ingraham, associate judges. David E. Owen, elected auditor, was proposed by Daniel Dildine, Sr., as fully qualified to fill that office. He was the first Democrat ever elected in Seneca county.

Senator, Daniel Tilden; Representatives, Jeremiah Everett and Thomas McMullen; sheriff, William Toll; auditor, George W. Gist; commissioner, Enoch Umsted; coroner, Francis Bernard were elected in 1832.

Jeremiah Everett was elected representative; John Goodin, treasurer; Sidney Smith (Sea), prosecutor; John Crum, Marcus Y. Graff and John Seitz, commissioners; Reuben Williams, assessor, and David Owen, auditor. Mr. Owen was appointed receiver of the Ohio Canal Land Office, at Tiffin, August 27, 1833. In

June, 1838, President Van Buren appointed him receiver of the Wyandot Indian Land Office. In May, 1840, he was succeeded by John Goodin.

In March, 1833, the auditor was appointed clerk of the commissioner's board by nature of his office.

The elections of 1834 resulted in the choice of Joseph Howard, state senator; Jacques Hulburt, representative; Luther A. Hall, clerk; David E. Owen, auditor; Joel Stone, sheriff; Lorenzo Abbott and Benjamin Whitmore, commissioners; and Eli Norris, coroner.

In 1835, W. B. Craighill was elected representative; Luther A. Hall clerk; John Goodin, treasurer; Seelah Chapin, prosecutor; Benjamin Whitmore, commissioner, and John Webb, assessor.

Elected in 1836: Senator Joseph Howard; representative, William B. Craighill; sheriff, Elam Lock; auditor, Levi Davis; recorder, Daniel Dildine; commissioner, Lewis Seitz; assessor, John W. Eastman; surveyors, George W. Gist, David Risdon; coroner, Levi Keller.

This was the first time a county recorder was elected, previously he was appointed.

In 1837, Senator, William B. Craighill; representative, John Welch; sheriff, Levi Keller; auditor, Levi Davis; commissioner, John Terry; assessor, Samuel S. Martin; coroner, Henry MeCartney.

The first regularly organized temperance meeting, held at Tiffin, was that of July 4, 1838, after the great celebration of that day.

Henry C. Brish was elected associate judge, and David E. Owen state librarian, in January, 1839. Other officials-elect: Representative, W. H. Kessler; commissioner, Andrew Moore; surveyor, Jonas Hershberger. Joshua Seney defeated Levi Davis and John Park for treasurer of the county.

1840, Senator, John Goodin; representatives, McAnelly and Wood; sheriff, Levi Keller; commissioner, George Stoner; auditor, Gabriel J. Keen; assessor, Benjamin Carpenter; coroner, Daniel Brown; clerk, C. F. Dresbach.

The office of county assessor expired about 1840, when a law was passed creating the office of township assessors. The county assessors in early days had no more work to perform than the township assessors now have. The land that was bought at the government land offices was exempt from taxation for five years from the date of sale.

1841: Representatives, Geo. W. Baird and Amos E. Wood; commissioner, John Terry; treasurer, Joseph Seney.

1842: Senator, Moses McAnelly; commissioner, James McClelland; auditor. G. J. Keen; recorder, W. H. Kessler; sheriff,

U. P. Coonrad; representatives, H. C. Brish and Geo. W. Baird; coroner, Geo. H. Show; prosecuting attorney, J. W. Wilson; surveyor, Thomas Heming. Richard Williams was commissioner of the bankrupt court for Seneca county in May, 1842.

1843: Representatives, Samuel Waggoner and W. B. Craighill; treasurer, Richard Williams; commissioner, Norris P. Skinner; coroner, Geo. H. Show; prosecuting attorney, J. W. Wilson; surveyor, Thos. Heming.

1844: Representative, Henry Cronise; senator, Amos E. Wood; sheriff, Uriah P. Coonrad; auditor, Fred W. Green; coroner, George H. Show; prosecuting attorney, Wm. Lang; commissioner, Jacob Decker.

1845: Representative, Daniel Brown; commissioner, Joseph McClellan; treasurer, Richard Williams; recorder, W. H. Kessler; surveyor, Thomas Heming.

1846: Senator, Henry Cronise; representative, Warren P. Noble; commissioner, Morris P. Skinner; auditor, Fred W. Green; sheriff, Eden Lease; coroner, Sam Herrin; prosecuting attorney, William Lang.

1847: Representative, Warren P. Noble; treasurer, George Knupp; recorder, R. M. C. Martin; commissioner, Jacob Decker.

1848: Senator, Joel W. Wilson; representative, John G Breslin; commissioner, Samuel Saul; auditor, Fred W. Green; sheriff, Eden Lease; coroner, Sam Herrin; surveyor, George H. Heming; prosecuting attorney, Warren P. Noble.

1849: Representative, John G. Breslin; treasurer, George Knupp; commissioner, Barney Zimmerman.

1850

Poor house vote. For, 1031; against, 1315.

The office of associate judge was abolished by the legislature this year. Thomas Lloyd, chosen to fill vacancy, was the last

associate judge elected in Seneca county.

1850: Representative, Jacob Decker; sheriff, Stephen M. Ogden; auditor, Richard Williams; recorder, R. M. C. Martin; senator, Michael Brackley; prosecuting attorney, W. P. Noble; commissioner, David Burns; coroner, George Ransburg.

1851 Judge of common pleas, Lawrence W. Hall; senator, Joel W. Wilson; representative, Jacob Decker; probate judge, William Lang; clerk of courts, Philip Speilman; treasurer, Thomas Heming; commissioner, Samuel Saul; prosecuting attorney, William M. Johnson; surveyor, Geo. H. Heming.

1852: Auditor, John J. Steiner; sheriff, Stephen M. Ogden; commissioner, Calvin Clark; coroner, George Ransburg; senator, Robert Lee.

1853: Representative: John D. Paine; treasurer, Thomas Heming; commissioner, David Burns; prosecutor, Wm. M. John