
HENDRICKS COUNTY INDIANA
POLITICAL HISTORY AND
OFFICIAL ROSTER
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS
The year 1824 is
the first year in Hendricks county in which politics entered, and
thirty seven votes were cast for President, as follows: Jackson, 6; J.
Q. Adams, 1; Clay, 30. At that time there were no party alliances;
personal popularity, ability and influence were the main factors
determining the failure or success of a candidate. Jackson carried the
county .in the campaigns of 1828 and 1832, the first time by a majority
of forty over John Quincy Adams and the second time by one hundred and
nine over Henry Clay. In the year 1836 the Whigs were victorious.
Martin Van Buren was the Democratic candidate for President and William
Henry Harrison, the Whig. There were one thousand one hundred and
twenty one votes cast in Hendricks county that year, and of this number
the Whigs received seven hundred and thirty one, a majority of three
hundred and forty two.
The campaign of i860, just prior to
the opening of the Civil war, was a hot one in this county. Abraham
Lincoln was the nominee of the Republican party, Stephen A. Douglas of
the Northern Democrats, John C. Breckenridge of the Southern Democrats,
and John Bell of the Constitutional Union party. The campaign was an
exciting one and, as history records, Lincoln was the victor, although
he received only two fifths of the popular vote in the United States.
The split in the Democratic party made this result possible. A heavy
vote was polled in this county, Lincoln receiving two thousand fifty
votes; Douglas, one thousand eighty three; Breckinridge, two hundred
forty four, and Bell, forty one. Eight of the townships voted for
Lincoln; Eel River, Middle and Union townships gave their pluralities
to Douglas.
In the
presidential election of 1864 George B. McClellan, the first commandeer
of the Army of the Potomac, was placed in the field against Lincoln.
McClellan received in Hendricks county but eight hundred thirty two
votes, against two thousand six hundred and twenty two for
Lincoln. Much excitement and bitter feeling existed in
Hendricks county during this election. Many threats were made by ardent
supporters of the war and it was deemed necessary for the polls to be
guarded to prevent violence against some voters supposed to belong to a
treasonable order. Two townships, Brown and Union, gave a majority for
McClellan.
In an uninterrupted series the
elections proceeded every four years until 1912 with the Republicans in
the lead. The campaign of 1912 and the split in the Republican ranks is
fresh in the mind of the reader. In this year Woodrow Wilson, the
Democratic nominee, received the plurality of votes cast in Hendricks
county.
Following is a summary giving the
vote in the different Presidential elections from 1828, also a roster
of the county officials from the date of the organization of the county:
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
In 1828 the Democratic ticket, Andrew
Jackson and John C. Calhoun, received 204 votes in Hendricks county,
and John Quincy Adams and Richard Rush, Whigs, received 164.
In 1832 Andrew Jackson and Martin Van
Buren, Democrats, received 483 votes, and Henry Clay and John Sergeant,
374.
In 1836 the result was: William H.
Harrison and Francis Granger, 731; Martin Van Buren and Richard M.
Johnson, 389.
In 1840 the county gave a substantial
majority to William Henry Harrison over Martin Van Buren, the vote
being: Harrison, 1,189; Van Buren ,651.
In 1844: Henry Clay and Theodore
Frelinghuysen, Whigs, 1,262; James K. Polk and George M. Dallas,
Democrats, 844; James G. Birney and Thomas Morris, Liberty, 26.
In 1848: Zachary Taylor and Millard
Fillmore, Whigs, 1,158; Lewis Cass and William O. Butler, Democrats,
775; Martin Van Buren and Charles A. Adams, Liberty, 173.
In 1852: Winfield Scott and William
A. Graham, Whigs, 1,252; Franklin Pierce and William R. King,
Democrats, 980; John P. Hale and George W. Julian, Free Democrats, 156.
In 1856: John C. Fremont and William
L. Dayton, Republicans, 1,680; James Buchanan and John C. Breckenridge,
Democrats, 1,378; Milliard Fillmore and Andrew J. Donelson,
Americans, 72.
In 1860: Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal
Hamlin, Republicans, 2,050; Stephen A. Douglas and Herschel V. Johnson,
Northern Democrats, 1,083; John C. Breckenridge and Joseph Lane,
Southern Democrats, 244; John Bell and Edward Everett, Constitutional
Union, 41.
In 1864: Abraham Lincoln and Andrew
Johnson, Republicans, 2,622; George B. McClellan and George H.
Pendleton, Democrats, 832.
In 1868: Ulysses S. Grant and
Schuyler Coif ax, Republicans, 2,973; Horatio Seymour and Francis P.
Blair, Jr., Democrats, 1,462.
In 1872: U. S. Grant and Henry
Wilson, Republicans, 2,834; Horace Greeley and B. Gratz Brown,
Democrats, 1,626; Charles O'Conor and John Q. Adams, Straight-out
Democrats, 4.
In 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes and
William A. Wheeler, Republicans. 3,014; Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A.
Hendricks, Democrats, 1,912; Peter Cooper and Samuel F. Carey,
Greenback, 231.
In 1880: James A. Garfield and
Chester A. Arthur, Republicans, 3,196; Winfield S. Hancock and William
H. English, Democrats, 1,994; James B. Weaver and B. J. Chambers,
Greenback, 218; Neal Dow and H. A. Thompson, Prohibitionists, 4.
In 1884: James G. Blaine and John A.
Logan, Republicans, 3,003; Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks,
Democrats, 2,069; BenjaminF. Butler and Alanson M.
West, Greenback Nationals, 162; John P. St. John and William Daniel,
Prohibitionists, 88.
In 1888 Benjamin Harrison and Levi P.
Morton, Republicans, received 1,211 majority over the Democratic
candidates, Grover Cleveland and Allen G. Thurman.
In 1892: Benjamin Harrison and
Whitelaw Reid, Republicans, 3,020; Grover Cleveland and Adlai E.
Stevenson, Democrats, 2,028; John Bidwell and J. B. Cranfill,
Prohibitionists, 215.
In 1896: William Jennings Bryan and
Arthur Sewall, Democrats, 2,365; William McKinley and Garret A. Hobart,
Republicans, 3,409; Joshua Levering and Hale Johnson, Prohibitionists,
33; John M. Palmer and Simon B. Buckner, National Democrats, 18; Rev.
Charles E. Bentley and James H. Southgate, National, 46; Charles H.
Matchett and Matthew Maguire, Social Labor, 1.
In 1900: William J. Bryan and Adlai
E. Stevenson, Democrats, 2,359; William McKinley and Theodore
Roosevelt, Republicans, 3,426; John G Woolley and Henry B. Metcalf,
Prohibitionists, 154; Eugene V. Debs and Job Harriman, Social
Democrats, 1.
In 1904: Theodore Roosevelt and
Charles W. Fairbanks, Republicans, 3,434; Alton B. Parker and Henry G.
Davis, Democrats, 2,174; Silas C. Swallow and George W. Carroll,
Prohibitionists, 215; Thomas E. Watson and Thomas H. Tibbies, Peopks,
18; Eugene V. Debs and Benjamin Hanford, Socialists, 5; Charles H.
Corrigan and William W. Cox, Social Labor, 2.
In 1908: William J. Bryan and John W.
Kern, Democrats, 2,546; William H. Taft and James S. Sherman,
Republicans, 3,231.
In 1912: Woodrow WTilson and Thomas
R. Marshall, Democrats, 2,337; William H. Taft and James S. Sherman,
1,439; Theodore Roosevelt and Hiram W. Johnson, Progressives,
1,495 Eugene W. Chafin and Aaron S. Watkins, Prohibitionists, 142.
STATE SENATORS.
1826-28-Josiah
F. Polk.
1868-72-John V. Hadley.
1828-31-Calvin Fletcher.
1872-76-Addison Daggy.
1831-33-Willis G. Condit.
1876-80-William H. Ragan.
1833-36-Lewis Mastin.
1880-84-Simpson F. Lockridge.
1836-42-Alexander Little.
1884-88-Leander M. Campbell.
1842-450Archibald
Alexander.
1888-92-Silas A. Hays.
1845-48-Samuel A.
Verbrike.
1892-96-Albert W. Wishard.
1848-51-Jonathan S.
Harvey.
1896-00-Enoch G. Hogate.
1851-52-John Witherow.
1900-04-James M. Barlow.
1852-56-John Witherow.
1904-08-Empson T. Lane.
1856-60-Solomon Blair.
1908-12-Horace L. Hanna.
1860-64-Solomon Blair.
1912-16-Thomas L. Neal.
1864-68-Thomas J. Cason.
REPRESENTATIVES
1826-28—Thomas
J. Matlock.
1835-36—Christian C. Nave.
1828-29—Thomas J.
Matlock.
1836-37—Thomas Nichols.
1829-30—Samuel Wick.
1837-38—William T. Matlock.
1930-31—Lewis Mastin.
1838-42—Samuel Brenton.
1831-32—Lewis Mastin.
1842-43—Henry H. Marvin.
1832-33—Lewis Mastin.
1843-44—Benjamin M. Logan.
1833-34—Thomas Nichols.
1844-45—William T. Matlock.
1834-35—Christian C.
Nave.
1845-46—Jonathan S. Harvey.
1846-47—Jonathan S. Harvey.
1847-48—Jonathan S. Harvey.
1848-49—David Wade.
1849-50—Samuel A. Russell.
1850-51—George Fleece.
1851-52—Ebenezer S. Watson.
1852-54—Joseph H. Ballard.
1854-56—Henry G. Todd.
1856-58—John Davis.
1858-60—Levi
Ritter.
1860-62—James Burgess and Thos.J.
Cason.
1862-64—James M. Gregg.
1864-66—Charles F.
Hogate andJohn T. Burns.
1866-68—Leander M. Campbell and B. F.
Thomas.
1868-70—Allen Furnas and Milton A.
Osborn.
1870-72—Allen Furnas and Milton A.
Osborn.
1872-74—Jesse S. Ogden and Allen
Furnas.
1874-76—William H. Ragan and J. W.
Morgan.
1876-78—Edwin T. Lane and James W.
Morgan.
1878-80—Jonathan Burch and Geo. W.
Snoddy.
1880-82—W. M. Ridpath and James
G.Miles.
1882-84—Enoch G. Hogate and J. H.
Fleece.
1884-86—Silas A. Hays and J. H.
Fleece.
1886-88—Jacob H. Fleece.
1888-90—Cyrus L. Stanley.
1890-92—M. G. Parker.
1892-94—James W. Hamrick.
1894-96—James W. Hamrick.
1896-98—James M. Barlow.
1898-00—James M. Barlow.
1900-02—William B. Vestal.
1902-04—John T. Hume.
1904-06—Horace L. Hanna.
1906-08—Horace
L. Hanna.
1908-10—Mord Carter.
1910-12—Mord Carter.
1912-14—John J. Dugan.
CIRCUIT JUDGES
1852-53—Fabius
M. Finch.
1853-59—Stephen Major.
1859-65—Fabius M. Finch.
1865-66—John Coburn.
1866-72—Cyrus C. Hines.
1872-78—Livingston Howland.
1878-82—Jacob B. Julian. .
1882^88—Joshua G. Adams.
1888-94—John V. Hadley.
1894-00—John V. Hadley.
1900-06—Thomas J. Cofer.
1906-12—James L. Clark.
1912-18—George W. Brill.
COMMON
PLEAS JUDGES
1852-56—James
M. Gregg.
1862-65—Charles A. Ray.
1856-60—Joseph H. Farley.
1865-70—Solomon Blair.
1860-61—John Coburn.
1870-73—Solomon Blair.
1861-62—John A. Beale.
In 1873 the business of this office
was transferred to the circuit court of the county.
PROBATE JUDGES
1829-32-William H. Hinton.
1843-50-George P. Ellis.
1832-35-Levi Jessup.
1850-Abraham Bland.
1835-43-Henry H. Marvin.
The business of this office was
transferred to the common pleas court.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES
1827-30—Samuel Jessup.
1844-50—James McCown and James
1830-32—Samuel Jessup.
Green.
1832-34—Thomas Lockhart.
1850-51—William Tomlinson.
1834-37—Gideon Wilson.
1851 (vacancy)—Jonathan Cope.
1837-44—James McCown and Gideon
Wilson
1851 (full term)—Peter Curtis,
At this time the business was taken
over by the circuit court of the county, of the new constitution.
PROSECUTING
ATTORNEYS
1844-46—Abraham A.
Hammond.
1862-64—William W. Leathers.
1346-47—William Herod.
1864-66—William W. Leathers.
1847-48—Wyatt A.
George.
1866-68—Joseph S. Miller.
1848-49—Wyatt A. George.
1868-70—Daniel W. Howe.
1849-51—Henry H. Marvin.
1870-72—Jesse S. Ogden.
1851-52—David Wallace.
1872-74—Thomas J. Cofer.
1852-56—Hiram Brown.
1874-76—Thomas J. Cofer.
1856-58—P. S. Kennedy.
1876-78—Joshua G. Adams.
18=8-60—William P.
Fishback.
1878-80—Richard B. Blake.
1860-62—William P.
Fishback.
1880-82—Newton M. Taylor.
1882-84—William T. Brown.
1884-86—William N. Harding.
1886-88—Joseph B. Kealing.
1888-90—Harrison T. Tincher.
1890-92—Thad S. Adams.
1892-94—David F. Hill.
1894-96—Otis E. Gulley.
1896-98—Otis E. Gulley.
1898-00—John McCormick.
1900-02—Everett Cooper.
1902-04—Charles V. Sears.
1904-06—Charles V. Sears.
1006-08—Edgar M. Blessing.
1898-TO—Edgar M. Blessing.
1910-12—Charles V. Sears.
1012-14—James P. Snodgrass.
COMMON PLEAS
PROSECUTORS
1852-56—Joseph S. Miller.
1856-57—James A. Crawley.
1857-60—Richard H. Litson.
1860-64—John C. Bufkin.
1864-66—William W. Waller.
1866-68—William W. Woollen.
1868-70—William Irin.
1870-72—David V. Burns.
1872—Robert E. Smith.
At this time the business was taken
over by the circuit court of the county.
CLERKS
1830-37—Simon T. Hadley.
1837-44—James M. Gregg.
1844-51—Joshua D. Parker.
1851-55—John Irons.
1855-59—John Irons.
1859-63—Levi Ritter.
1863-67—Levi Ritter.
1867-70—A. M. Luke.
1870-74—Lotan W. Jenkins.
1874-78—William Irvin.
1878-82—William F. Haynes.
1882-86—William R. McClelland.
1886-90—E. G. Hogate.
1890-94—David Hadley.
1894-98—Melville C. Masten.
1898-02—Zimrie E. Dougan.
1902-06—John C. Taylor.
1906-10—James M. Adams.
1910-14—Charles E. Edwards.
TREASURERS
1844-47—James S. Odell.
1847-50—Edmund Clark.
1850-52—Harmon Brittain.
1852-54—Harmon Brittain.
1854-56—Nicholas T. Hadley.
1856-58—Daniel B. South.
1858-60—Daniel B. South.
1860-62—Stephen W. Hardin.
1862-64—Oliver W. Hill.
1864-66—Erastus F. Hunt.
1866-68—Erastus F. Hunt.
1868-70—John H.' Lewis.
1870-72—John H. Lewis.
1872-74—Hiram T. Storm.
1874-76—Lewis S. Watts.
1876-78—Alfred Welshans.
1878-80—Wyatt Osborn.
1880-82—Enos C. Hornaday.
1882-84—Rodney Jeger.
1884-86—Henry Hadley.
1886-88—Marion Eaton.
1888-90—George W. Nave.
1890-92—Joseph K. Little.
1892-94—John Z. A. Maltern.
1894-96—Perry R. Tulley.
1896-98—Oliver M. Piersol.
1898-00—William N. Lakin.
1900-02—Oscar Hadley.
1902-04—John E. Vestal.
1904-06—James A. Clay.
1906-08—James W. Dempsey.
1908-10—Jacob E. O'Neal.
1910-12—George W. Macomber.
1912-14—George W. Macomber.
AUDITORS
1844-50—Allen Hess.
1850-55—Allen Hess.
1855-59,—Allen Hess.
1859-63—Francis R. Crawford.
1863-67—Lawrence S. Shuler.
1867-70—W. M. Hess.
1870-74—W. M. Hess.
1874-78—Elisha H. Hall.
1878-82—William H. Nichols.
1882-86—John Kendall.
1886-90—J. T. Barker.
1890-94—N. C. Brewer.
1894-98—William H. Nichols.
1898-02—Charles M. Caviness.
1902-06—David Mills.
1906-10—W. N. Nichols.
1910-14—Lewis W. Borders.
RECORDERS
1830-37—Simon T. Hadley.
1837-44—Simon T. Hadley.
1844-51—Simon T. Hadley.
1851-55—Simon T. Hadley.
1855-59—Simon T. Hadley.
1859-61—Jacob H. Fleece.
1861-62—Daniel B. South.
1862-66—Jesse Ogden.
1866-70—John L. Brown.
1870-74—William Patterson.
1874-78—George Rawlings.
1878-82—John A. Osborn. .
1882-86—Adrian A. Parsons.
1886-90—T. B. Kinnan.
1890-94—James E. Humston.
1894-9.8—William L. Wilson.
1898-02—William L. Wilson.
1902-06—Ellis M. Weaver.
1906-10—John S. Duckworth.
1910-14—John S. Duckworth.
SURVEYORS
1847-52—Job Hadley.
1852-54—Eldred Huff.
1854-56—F. M. Johnson.
1856-58—Joseph H. Dennis.
1858-60—Cyrus Rogers.
1860-62—Cyrus Rogers.
1862-64—Cyrus Rogers.
1864-66—Cyrus Rogers.
1866-67—Homer C. Carpenter.
1867-70—Job Hadley.
1870-72—Job Hadley.
1872-74—Joseph A. Clark.
1874-76—Joseph A. Clark.
1876-78—Joseph A. Clark.
1878-80—Joseph A. Clark.
1880-82—Joseph A. Clark.
1882-84—Charles M. Griggs.
1884-86—Charles M. Griggs.
1886-88—John W. Trotter.
1888-90—John W. Trotter.
1890-92—Joshua Hunt.
1892-94—John W. Trotter.
1894-96—John W. Trotter.
1896-98—John W. Trotter.
1898-00—W. F. Franklin.
1900-02—W. F. Franklin.
1902-04—W. F. Franklin.
1904-06—John W. Figg.
1906-08—John W. Figg.
1908-10—John O. Kain.
1910-12—John O. Kain.
1912-14—Theodore W. Garrison.
CORONERS
1826-28—William Faught.
1828-30—Robert Williams.
1830-31—Read Case.
1831-33—William Gregory.
1833-35—C B. Naylor.
1835-44—Wesley McKinley.
1844-45—Christian C. Nave.
1845-47—Pemberton S. Dickens.
1847-48—J. S. Harvey.
1848-50—Jonathan Irwin.
1850-51—Elijah Huff.
1851-52—Edward S. Meek.
1852-54—Henry W. Hackley.
1854-56—John J. McMullen.
1856-58—Thomas N. Jones.
1858-60—Thomas N. Jones.
1860-62—Samuel L. Hawkins.
1862-64—Samuel L. Hawkins.
1864-65—John R. Armstrong.
1865-66—John Harrison.
1866-67—John Harrison.
1867-68—S. L. Hawkins.
1868-70—George W. Wayland.
1870-72—C. Ohaver.
1872-74—Warren Ohaver.
1874-76—Elias D. Johnson.
1876-78—William P. Ayers.
1878-80—Benjamin Hayden.
1880-82—Eldridge C. Wills.
1882-84—William M. Hutchings.
1884-86—Mit Phillips.
1886-88—R. F. Harper.
1888-90—B. M. Tomlinson.
1890-92—B. M. Tomlinson.
1892-94—Eldridge C. Wills.
1894-96—O. H. Barnhill.
1896-98—William White.
1898-00—Henry S. Curtis.
1900-02—Henry S. Curtis.
1902-04—Henry S. Curtis.
1904-06—Henry S. Curtis.
1906-08—Henry S. Curtis.
1908-10—George G. Allred.
1910-12—George G. Allred.
1912-14—John D. Hendricks.
SHERIFFS
1826-27—John Dunn.
1827-28—Samuel Jessup.
1828-31—Thomas Nichols.
1831 -33—Thomas Nichols.
1833-35—James Siggerson.
1835 -36—James Siggerson.
1836-43—Edmund Clark.
1843-44—J. D. Parker.
1844-46—Thomas Nichols.
1846-48—Thomas Nichols.
1848-50—James Stutsman.
1850-52—Samuel Melogue.
1852-54—Samuel Melogue.
1854-56—Cornelius Ohaver.
1856-58—Cornelius Ohaver.
1858-60—Reuben S. Ward.
1860-62—Thomas Nichols.
1862-64—Thomas Nichols.
1864-66—Edmund H. Straughan.
1866-68—Edmund H. Straughan.
1868-70—William H. Calvert.
1870-72—William H. Calvert.
1872-74—Samuel L. Hawkins.
1874-76—Samuel L. Hawkins.
1876-78—Asbury Bryant.
1878-80—James M. Emmons.
1880-82—James M. Emmons.
1882-84—Abraham Douglass.
1884-86—William P. Ayers.
1886-88—Woodson Bryant.
1888-90—Jonathan S. Marshall.
1890-92—William C. Clements.
1892-94—John T. Taylor.
1894-96—John T. Bell.
1896-98—William B. Bryant.
1898-00—Henry I. Eaton.
1900-02—A. A. Figg.
1902-04—A. A. Figg.
1904-06—I. J. Mendenhall.
1906-08—I. J. Mendenhall.
1908-10—John C. Robbins.
1910-12—John W. Ader.
1912-14—James N. Gentry.
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