It was during the campaign of 1878 that the Greenback wave swept over the country, and the Republicans, who theretofore had a large majority in both the Congressional and Judicial Districts, were defeated, the fusion candidates for Judge and member of Congress being elected. Polk county gave a majority for Cummings, the Republican candidate for Congress, but elected Gardner, the fusion candidate for County Recorder. vote on these two offices run as follows:

The

3,664

3,469

3,425

3,639

We conclude the discussion of this subject by giving the vote of the county on Governor last year:

In 1846 the following officers were elected : Probate Judge-John Saylor. Sheriff-Thomas Mitchell. CoronerJames Phillips. Surveyor-A. D. Jones. Recorder-Thomas McMullen. Treasurer-W. T. Ayers. Assessor-G. B. Clark. Collector-Addison Michael. Commissioners-Benj. Saylor, W. H. Meacham, G. W. Fouts. After this first election there was no record of elections kept till the year 1852. From some documents in existence we learn, however, that during this time there were the following officials:

1847.

Sheriff-Peter Myers. Prosecuting Attorney-L. D. Winchester.

1848.

Clerk of Court-Henry Early. Commissioner-J. D. McGlothlen.

1849.

Clerk of Court-Hoyt Sherman

From 1852 the record is complete, and shows the following:

1852.

County Judge-Byron Rice. Clerk of Court-Wm. T. Morris.

School

Fund Commissioner-R. W. Sypher. Prosecuting Attorney-J. M. Perry.

Senator-A. Y. Hull. Representatives-Benj. Green and J. F. Rice.

1853.

Treasurer and Recorder-Samuel Gray. Sheriff-Wm. H. McHenry. Surveyor-John McClain. Coroner-Walter Oyler.

1854.

Clerk of Court--R. L. Chrystal. Prosecuting Attorney—Barlow Granger.

1855.

Treasurer and Recorder-John E. Groom.

Coroner Noah Devault.

Surveyor-John H. Millard. County Judge-T. H. Napier. SheriffD. B. Spaulding.

1856.

Representatives-William P. Davis and Benj. Green. Clerk of CourtH. M. Hoxie. Prosecuting Attorney-J. H. Gray.

1857.

County Judge-T. H. Napier. Treasurer and Recorder-S. M. Dyer. Sheriff-D. B. Spaulding. Surveyor-J. C. Booth. Coroner-G. W. Conner. Representative-Thomas Mitchell.

1858.

Clerk of Court-H. M. Hoxie. Superintendent Schools-Samuel Bell.

1859.

Representative-Stewart Goodrell. County Judge.-John H. McClel land. Treasurer and Recorder-J. B. Tiffin. Sheriff-John Hays. Superintendent Schools-C. C. Dawson. Surveyor-N. R. Kuntz. Coroner -James Stanton. Drainage Commissioner-John Hartman.

Clerk of Court-J. M. Laird.

1860.

1861.

Senator J. H. Hatch. Representative-John Mitchell. Sheriff-I. W. Griffith. Treasurer and Recorder-J. B. Tiffin. County Judge J. H. McClelland. Superintendent Schools-E. D. Hawes. Surveyor-B. Callan. Drainage Commissioner-A. C. Bondurant. Coroner-Thomas

Elliott.

Clerk of Court-J. M. Laird.

1862.

1863.

Representative-N. Baylies. County Judge-J. H. McClelland. Sheriff H. M. Bush. Treasurer and Recorder-J. B. Tiffin. Superintendent of Schools-S. Borrows. Surveyor-J. P. Foster. Coroner-J. M. Reicheneker. Drainage Commissioner-William Van Dorn.

1864.

Clerk of Court-H. H. Griffiths. County Recorder-John Jack.

1865.

Senator Jonathan Cattell. Representatives-Hoyt Sherman and G. S. Godfrey. County Judge-W. G. Bentley. Sheriff-Nathaniel McCalla. Superintendent of Schools-Leonard Brown. Treasurer-Jeremiah B. Tiffin. Surveyor-J. B. Bausman. Coroner-William F. Tate. Drainage Commissioner J. N. Newell.

1866.

County Judge-John G. Weeks. Clerk of Court-H. H. Griffiths. Recorder-I. N. Thomas.

1867.

Representatives-J. H. Hatch and John A. Kasson. County JudgeJ. B. Miller. Treasurer-C. G. Lewis. Sheriff—P. H. VanSlyck. Superintendent of Schools-C. A. Mosier. Surveyor-J. B. Bausman. Coroner -Madison Young. Drainage Commissioner-James Brumdigi.

1868.

Clerk of Court-H. H. Griffiths. Recorder-I. N. Thomas.

1869.

Senator B. F. Allen. Representatives-John A. Kasson and G. W. Jones. Auditor-John B. Miller. Treasurer-C. G. Lewis. Sheriff-P. H. VanSlyck. Surveyor-P. B. Reed. Superintendent of Schools—J. A. Nash. Coroner-A. G. Field.

1870.

Clerk of Court-H. H. Griffiths. Recorder-I. N. Thomas. County Supervisors-P. D. Ankeny, Brian Hawley and Edwin Oakes.

1871.

Representatives-John A. Kasson, J. M. Tuttle. Auditor-John B. Miller. Treasurer-F. R. Laird. Sheriff-D. M. Bringolf. Superintendent of Schools-J. A. Nash. Supervisor-G. W. Baldwin. SurveyorFrank Pelton. Coroner-A. M. Overman.

1872.

Clerk of Courts-John H. McClelland. Recorder-J. C. Read.

1873.

Senator-Thomas Mitchell. Representatives-Isaac Brandt, W. G. Madden. Auditor-Geo. C. Baker. Treasurer-William Lowry-Sheriff D. M. Bringolf. Surveyor--Frank Pelton. Superintendent of SchoolsD. G. Perkins. Coroner A. M. Overman. Supervisor-Nathan Par

menter.

1874.

Clerk of Courts-J. H. McClelland. Recorder-J. C. Read. Supervisors-T. T. Morris, William Christy, William B. Butler, H. L. Young.

1875.

Representatives-Josiah Given, William G. Madden. Auditor-Geo. C. Baker. Treasurer-William Lowry. Sheriff-George Lendrum. Surveyor-Frank Pelton. Superintendent of Schools-R. S. Hughes. Coroner-I. W. Griffith. Supervisor-James Porter.

1876.

Clerk of Courts-J. L. Keyes. Recorder--J. C. Read. Supervisors-N. Parmenter, Wm. Ellison.

1877.

Senator-R. C. Webb. Representatives-C. S. Wilson, J. B. Tiffin. Auditor-G. W. Bristow. Treasurer-William Lowry. Sheriff-George Lendrum. Surveyor-Frank Pelton. Superintendent of Schools-James H. Koons. Coroner--I. W. Griffith. Supervisors--Geo. W. Baldwin, Wm. Christy, Samuel Britton.

1878.

Clerk of Courts-James L. Keyes. Recorder--George H. Gardner. Supervisor--James Porter.

1879.

Representatives-J. C. Jordan, J. A. Harvey. Auditor--G. W. Bristow. Treasurer-Richard K. Miller. Sheriff--A. D. Littleton. Surveyor-Frank Pelton. Superintendent of Schools-J. H. Koons. Coroner-I. W. Griffith. Supervisors--G. W. Miles, Levi Krysher.

CHAPTER VIII.

Schools-Churches-Old Settlers' Association.

THE following chapter is one which we have found most difficult to write, owing to the difficulty in obtaining full and accurate information. It should be the most interesting of all the chapters of the book. We have endeavored to remain in the realm of the real, and deal as little as possible in the ideal and imaginative. Very little has been made a matter of record relat ing to the early schools and churches of the county; what little has been made a matter of record and is remembered by the old settlers whom we have seen is here narrated, and unless what of history and tradition there is be faulty, the following may be regarded as authentic:

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The schools of the county are sharing with the contents of the newsboy's bundle the title of the universities of the poor. The close observation of working of the public schools shows that if the induction of facts be complete, it could be demonstrated that the public schools turn out more better fitted for business, and for usefulness, than most of our colleges. The freedom and liberty of our public schools afford less room for the growth of effiminacy and pedantry; it educates the youth among the people, and not among a caste or class, and since the man or woman is called upon to do with a nation in which people are the only factor, the education which the public schools afford, especially where they are of the superior standard reached in this county, do fit their recipients for a sphere of usefulnessnearer the public heart than can be attained by private schools and academies.

The crowning glory of American institutions is the public school system; nothing else among American institutions is so intensely American. They are the colleges of democracy, and if this government is to remain a republic, governed by statesmen, it must be from the public schools that they must be graduated. The amount of practical knowledge that the masses here receive is important beyond measure and forms the chief factor in the problem of material prosperity; but it is not so much the practical knowledge, which it is the ostensible mission of the public schools to impart, that makes this system the sheet anchor of our hope; it is rather the silent social influence which the common schools incidentally exert.

It is claimed for our country that it is a land of social equality, where all have an equal chance in the race of life; and yet there are many things which give the lie to this boasted claim of an aristocracy of manhood. Our churches are open to all, but it is clear that the best pews are occupied by the men of wealth and influence. The sightless goddess extends the scales of justice to all, but it will usually appear that there is money in the descending scale. It requires money to run for office, or, at least, it takes money to get office.

The first experiences of the American citizen, however, are in the public school. If he is a rich man's son his class-mate is the son of poverty. The seat which the one occupies is no better than that occupied by the other, and when the two are called to the blackboard the fine clothes of the rich