HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY, KANSAS

by Frank S. Sullivan

Copyright, 1916


POLITICAL

Pages 43-60

While the political complexion of Meade County has always been strong Republican, with the exception of a brief period of time during the days of Populism, in local affairs the people have generally exercised their best judgment and voted without regard to party lines, considering the general fitness of the candidate as of more importance than his party affiliations. As a result there has never been a time when all of the county officers were of the same political faith, and the public has been unusually fortunate in securing capable officers. In the tables which follow, the name appearing first is the one elected to the designated office, and the names following are the unsuccessful candidates. The party affiliation is indicated by the abbreviation following each name, and the year of election by the figures preceding each list.

1886

Representative M. J. O'Meara, D.
  R. M. Painter, R.
Probate Judge W. D. Hudson, R.
  O. J. Loofbourrow, D.
Clerk District Court Fillmore Hudson, R.
  W. H.Willis, D.
County Clerk W. H. Young, R.
  Matt B. Peed, D.
Sheriff George F. Eckert, R.
  Thomas G. McAuliffe, D.
Treasurer C. S. Rockey, R.
  J. W. Taylor, D.
Register of Deeds C. W. Adams, R.
  J. W. Jamison, D.
Superintendent N. H. Mendenhall, R.
  N. B. Clark, D.
County Attorney S. R. House, R. *
  A. F. Hollenbeck, D.
Surveyor Moses Black, R.
  J. A. Dupree, D.
Coroner H. Chaney, R.
  E. E. Buchecker, D.
Commissioner 1st District J. H. Randolph, R.
  James Vaughn, D.
Commissioner 2nd District Chris. Schmoker, R.
  Ed. McDaniel, D.
Commissioner 3rd District E. M. Mears, R.
  F. J. Beckwith, D.
*In September, 1888, Mr. House resigned and R. W. Griggs was appointed to fill the unexpired term.

1887

Sheriff George F. Eckert, R.
  E. B. Summers, D.
Treasurer C. S. Rockey, R.
  E. T. Hughes, D.
Register of Deeds Jesse Summers, R.
  Wm. McKim, D.
County Clerk L. E. Brown, R.
  T. C. Bonham, D.
Surveyor K. P. Smith, R.
  John Werth, D.
Commissioner 1st District J. H. Randolph, R.
  D. K. Griffin, D.
Coroner I. N. Graves, R.
  Benjamin F. Cox, D.

1888

Representative A. H. Heber, R.
  Robert E. Steele, D.
  H. F. Caldwell, Union Labor
Probate Judge W. D. Hudson, R.
  E. T. F. Thompson D.
  C. F. Cahoon, U. L.
Clerk District Court D. B. Stutsman, D.
  E. B. Russell, R.
  C. T. White, U. L.
County Attorney R. W. Griggs, R.
  M. L. Brown, D.
  J. M. Holcomb, U. L.
Superintendent N. H. Mendenhall, R.
  James B. High, D.
  Mary Dalgarn, U. L.
Coroner William Lake, R.
  O. J. Loofbourrow, D.
Commissioner 2nd District E. D. Smith, R.
  D. Barragree, D.
  R. P. Cooper, U. L.

1889

Surveyor John G. Fonda, R.
  John Werth, D.
County Clerk L. E. Brown, R.
  J. R. Graves, D.
Coroner William Lake, R.
  Dennis Callaghan, d.
Commissioner 3rd District C. M. Plymell, D. *
  John H. Ellis, R.
  M. H. Howard

* C. M. Plymell at the time of his election was City Clerk of the city of West Plains, which office he continued to hold after he had qualified as County Commissioner. On April 29th, 1890, L. B. Kellogg, Attorney-General, commenced proceedings in quo warranto against Plymell in the Supreme Court. The opinion, filed in May, 1891, ousted Plymell from the office of Commissioner, for the reason that the law forbids a county Commissioner from holding any other office. The other two members of the Board, with the County Clerk, elected W. F. Newhouse to fill the vacancy, Mr. Newhouse receving two votes and E. J. Graves one vote.

1890
Representative A. H. Heber, Ind.
  S. M. Bennett, Peo.
  James Wilson, R.
Probate Judge W. D. Hudson, R.
  H. F. Caldwell, Peo.
County Attorney Geo. S. Selvidge, Peo.
  R. W. Griggs, R.
Clerk District Court D. B. Stutsman, Peo.
  Minor Weightman, R.
Superintendent Mollie Dalgarn, Peo.
  Carrie B. Campbell, R.
Commissioner 1st District William Beaty, Peo.
  Gamaliel Rogers, Peo.
Coroner C. P. Fletcher R.

1891

Treasurer Len Follick, R.
  R. L. Sawyer, Peo.
County Clerk J. F. Armstrong, R.
  U. G. Park, Peo.
Register of Deeds Moses Black, R.
  J. E. Mccall, Peo.
Sheriff A. J. Bryns, R.
  Geo. B. Allen, Peo.
Surveyor John Werth, Peo.
  J. H. Ellis, R.
Coroner C. Button, R.
  J. M. Riney, Peo.
Commissioner 2nd District Frank Lohr, R.
  E. P. Boyle, Peo.
Commissioner 3rd District H. E. Hayden, Peo.
  J. N. Stamper, R.

1892

Representative James Wilson, Peo.
  R. M. Painter, R.
Probate Judge Andrew Graham, R.
  D. H. Bryant, Peo.
Clerk District Court F. W. Fick, R.
  N. R. Bishop, Peo.
Superintendent D. P. Wysong, R.
  J. A. Porterfield, Peo.
County Attorney A. T. Bodle, Jr., R.
  Geo. S. Selvidge, Peo.
Coroner A. Kessler, R. (to fill vacancy).
  G. W. Umbarger, Peo.
Commissioner 3rd District H. E. Hayden, Peo.
  Rhees Singley, R.

1893*

County Clerk J. F. Armstrong, R.
  J. R. Graves, d.
Register of Deeds Belle M. Peed, D.
  B. F. Stivers, R.
Sheriff S. D. Adams, d.
  Richard Buis, R.
Treasurer Geo. W. Wiley, R.
  J. C. Mclean, D.
  E. J. Graves, Peo.
Surveyor John Werth, D.
  J. H. Ellis, R.
Coroner A. Kessler, R.
Commissioner 1st District William Beaty, D.
  John B. Innis, R.

*There were three tickets - Republican, Democratic, and People's Party. The same candidates were nominated by the Democrats and the People's Party in 1895, and the same in 1894 except that the People's Party had a different candidate for County Treasurer.

1894

Representative R. M. Painter, R.
  S. N. Butts, People's Party
Clerk District Court F. W. Fick, R.
  H. G. Marshall, P. P.
Probate Judge Andrew Graham, R.
  X. B. Sawyer, P. P.
County Attorney F. M. Davis, P. P.
  A. t. Bodle, Jr., P.
Superintendent Jennie Kessler, R.
Commissioner 2nd District B. H. Cordes, P. P.
  Benjamin White, R.

1895

Treasurer Geo. W. Wiley, R.
  F. G. Hamilton, D.
County Clerk E. F. Rieman, R.
  J. F. Armstrong, D.
Register of Deeds Belle M. Peed, D.
  Carrie B. Campbell, R.
Sheriff S. D. Adams, D.
  Geo. W. Potter, R.
Surveyor John Werth, R.
  Oliver Norman, D.
Coroner C. Button, D.
Commissioner 3rd District H. E. Hayden, D.
  E. N. Sharp, R.

1896*

Representative John Wehrle, D.
  R. M. Painter, R.
Probate Judge Andrew Graham, R.
  X. B. Sawyer, D.
Clerk District Court Effie Coon, R.
  Etna Dalgarn, D.
County Attorney A. T. Bodle, Sr. R.
  Geo. B. Allen, D.
Superintendent Jennie Kessler, R.
Commissioenr 1st District John B. Innis, R.
  Jacob Heape, D.

*There were three tickets in the field - Republican, Democratic, and Populist, but the nominees of the Democratic and Populist Parties were the same.

1897*

County Clerk E. F. Rieman, R.
  S. D. Adams, D.
Treasurer Geo. B. Cones, R.
  D. B. Stutsman, D.
Sheriff F. C. Judd, D.
  A. J. Byrns, R.
Register of Deeds Nettie Bonham, R.
  Belle M. Peed, D.
Surveyor Moses Black, R.
  Oliver Norman, D.
Coroner Ed. Otto, R.
  Theodore Wolfley, D.
Commissioner 2nd District John F. Conrad, D.
  R. W. Campbell, R.

*There were three tickets in the field - Republican, Democratic, and Populist, but the nominees of the Democratic and Populist Parties were the same.

1898*

Representative Geo. W. Wiley, R.
  John Wehrle, D.
Probate Judge David Truaz, r.
  T. B. Petefish, D.
Clerk District Court Effie Coon, R.
  Lottie Snyder, D.
County Attorney A. T. Bodle, Sr., R.
  Geo. S. Selvidge, D.
Superintendent J. A. Porterfield, R.
  James T. Walter, D.
Commissioner 3rd District H. E. Hayden, D.
  B. F. Bisbee, R.

*There were three tickets in the field - Republican, Democratic, and Populist, but the nominees of the Democratic and Populist Parties were the same.

1899*

Treasurer Moses Black, R.
  James Wilson, D.
County Clerk Frank Wehrie, D.
  N. B. Peck, R.
Sheriff F. C. Judd, D.
  A. J. Byrns, R.
Register of Deeds Winnie Bonham, R.
  Ormond Hamilton, D.
Coroner Wm. F. Fee, D.
  Claus Borger, R.
Surveyor John H. Ellis, R.
  Oliver Norman, D.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.†
  John O. Keith, R.
Commissioner 1st District John B. Innis, R.
  J. R. Keith, Pop.

* In 1899 there were three tickets-Republican, Democratic, and Populist, but the nominees of the last two were identical.

† In August, 1899, the Clerk of the District Court, Effie Coon, resigned, and John O. Keith was appointed to fill the vacancy until the next general election. In this election he was defeated by John Elliott, who was inducted into office on Nov. 14th, 1899, thus completing by more than one year the term for which Effie Coon had been elected in 1898.

1900*

Representative S. D. Adams, D.
  A. O. Edmunds, R.
Probate Judge E. W. Jenkins, R.
  W. J. Woodard, D.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
  F. Sourbeer, R.
Superintendent Maggie Martin, D.
  J. A. Porterfield, R.
Commissioner 2nd District John F. Conrad, D.
  W. C. Schmoker, R.
County Attorney Geo. S. Selvidge, D.
  F. M. Davis, R.

*In 1900 there were three tickets - Republican, Democratic and People's Party, the last two having the same nominees.


1901
Commissioner 3rd District H. E. Hayden
  Albert Hemple

†The canvassing board found that the candidates for County Commissioner had each received 43 votes. Straws were drawn to decide the tie. Mr. Hayden, having drawn the long straw, was declared the winner. Thereafter Mr. Hemple instituted a contest. He was represented by attorneys A. T. Bodle, Sr., R. W. Griggs, R. M. Painter, F. M. Davis, and E. D. Smith. Attorneys for Mr. Hayden were A. B. Reeves, A. T. Bodle, Jr., Geo. S. Selvidge, and Geo. B. Allen. The contest was heard by E. W. Jenkins, Probate Judge, with Darius Skinner and R. W. Campbell as associate judges. The contest board decided in favor of the con-testee, Mr. Hayden, and assessed the costs, taxed at $165, against Mr. Hemple.

1902

Representative R. B. Campbell, R.
  S. D. Adams, D.
County Attorney Geo. S. Selvidge, D.
  A. T. Bodle, Sr., R.
Treasurer Moses Black, R.
County Clerk D. P. Wysong, R. ‡
  Frank Wehrle, D.
Probate Judge E. W. Jenkins, R.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
  J. I. Stamper, R.
Sheriff Samuel B. Givler, R.
  Samuel P. Bunch, D.
Register of Deeds Winnie Bonham, R.
  John W. Russell, D.
Superintendent Maggie Martin, D.
  Bertha Campbell, R.
Surveyor J. H. Ellis, R.
Coroner C. B. Leslie, R.
  Wm. F. Fee, D.
Commissioner 1st District T. V. Pinnick, R.
  J. H. Randolph, D.

‡Mr. Wehrle contested the election, alleging that the election boards had rejected numerous legal ballots, which, if counted, would have resulted in the election of Mr. Wehrle. The principal point of contention was as follows: The Democrats had failed to make nominations for some of the offices, and where this occurred there was printed in the space intended for the candidate's name the words, "No Nomination," followed by a voting square. Many who voted for Mr. Wehrle also placed a cross in the square opposite the "No Nomination." This was held to vitiate the whole ballot, and it was accordingly thrown out. Mr. Wehrle contended that these ballots were legal, and should have been counted. Mr. Wehrle was represented by attorneys F. C. Price, A. T. Bodle, Sr., and A. T. Bodle, Jr.; Mr. Wysong by attorneys R. W. Griggs, F. M. Davis, E. D. Smith, S. S. Ashbaugh, and R. M. Painter. The case was heard by E. W. Jenkins, Probate Judge, R. A. Harper and John W. Ellis, associate judges, and F. G. Hamilton, clerk. The contest board sustained the election boards, declared Mr. Wysong elected, and taxed the costs, $130.64, against Mr. Wehrle.

1904

Representative Geo. B. Cones, R.
  H. E. Hayden, D.
County Attorney Frank S. Sullivan, D.
  J. R. Griggs, R.
Treasurer Ormond Hamilton, D.
County Clerk D. P. Wysong, R.
  Frank Wehrle, D.
Probate Judge A. T. Bodle, Sr., R.
  William Jobling, D.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
  E. O. Palmer, R.
Sheriff Samuel B. Givler, R.
  Sam Conger, D.
Register of Deeds Florence Smith, R.
  Charles E. Tally, D.
Superintendent Ruth Bennett, D.
  Frilla DeCow, R.
Surveyor J. M. Robinson, D.
  J. H. Ellis, R.
Coroner Wm. F. Fee, D.
  C. B. Leslie, R.
Commissioner 2nd District John F. Conrad, D.
  Geo. M. Edwards, R.
Commissioner 3rd District J. W. King, D.
  B. H. Cordes, R.

1906

Representative S. D. Adams, D.
  Geo. B. Cones, R.
County Attorney Frank S. Sullivan, D.
  F. P. Marshall, R.
Treasurer Ormond Hamilton, D.
  Edward Desmarias, R.
County Clerk W. W. Pressly, R.
  W. H. Dalgarn, D.
Probate Judge J. H. Randolph, D.
  S. O. Ball, R.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
  Ira Scott, R.
Sheriff J. S. Price, D.
  J. F. Pinnick, R.
Register of Deeds Florence Smith, R.
  Charles E. Tally, D.
Superintendent Ruth Bennett, D.
  E. B. Reay, R.
Surveyor Moses Black, R.
Coroner Wm. F. Fee, D.
  Geo. A. Nickelson, R.
Commissioner 1st District William Jobling, D.
  T. V. Pinnick, R.

1908

Representative J. E. McNair, R.
  S. D. Adams, D.
County Attorney D. P. Wysong, R.
  Geo. B. Allen, D.
Treasurer Moses Black, R.
  J. C. Hall, D.
County Clerk W. W. Pressly, R.
  W. J. Woodard, D.
Probate Judge J. H. Randolph, D.
  J. H. Ellis, R.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.*
  Frank Ellis, R.
Sheriff J. S. Price, D.
  A. J. Byrns, R.
Register of Deeds W. T. Gray, R.
  C. H. Burford, D.
Superintendent Mattie Haigh, R.
  Lou McCrellis, D.
Surveyor N. C. Galway, R.
  G. W. Dalgarn, D.
Coroner E. W. Fletcher, R.
  Wm. F. Fee, D.
Commissioner 2nd District James Wilson, R.
  F. I. Bennett, D.
Commissioner 3rd District F. M. Paul, Sr., R.
  T. B. Novinger, D.

*In this election the two candidates for Clerk of the District Court each received the same number of votes. The tie was decided by lot. At the suggestion of Mr. ellis six straws, three long and three short were placed in a book, the ends projecting and the candidates drew alternately. Mr. Elliott drew two long straws and was declared elected.

1910

Representative Geo. B. Cones, R.
  H. Llewellyn Jones, D.
County Attorney Frank S. Sullivan, D.
  D. P. Wysong, R.
Treasurer John F. Sweet, R.
  H. Albertson, D.
County Clerk W. W. Pressly, R.
Probate Judge j. H. Randolph, D.
  M. S. Gillidett, R.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
  John O. Keith, R.
Sheriff Thos. Martin, D.
  E. W. White, R.
Register of Deeds W. T. Gray, R.
Superintendent Mattie J. Haigh, R.
  Jessie M. Chase, D.
Surveyor N. c. Galway, R.
  George Hockaden, D.
Coroner E. A. Twist, Ind.
Commissioner 1st District A. B. Roberts, R.
  Wm. Jobling, D.

1912

Representative E. L. Watt, R.
  H. J. Sloss, R.
  Isaac Covalt, So.
County Attorney Frank S. Sullivan, D.
Treasurer J. F. Sweet, R.
  J. D. Dalgarn, So.
Probate Judge J. H. Randolph, D.
  A. J. Paden, R.
  Newton Snyder, So.
County Clerk W. W. Pressly, R.
  J. D. Golliher, So.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
  John Lusk, Jr., So.
Sheriff Thos. Martin, D.
  J. A. Spencer, R.
  R. J. Walk, So.
Register of Deeds W. T. Gray, R.
Superintendent Pearl Wood-Smith, D.
  Frank Carlson, R.
Surveyor Moses Black, R.
Coroner Wm. F. Fee, D.
  G. A. Nickelson, So.
Commissioner 2nd District John Cordes, D.
  H. N. Holderman, R.
Commissioner 3rd District T. B. Novinger, D.
  S. T. Frederick, R.

1914

Representative H. Llewellyn Jones, D.
  Geo. W. Day, R.
  C. B. Leslie, Progressive
County Attorney Frank S. Sullivan, D.
  F. M. Davis, R.
  E. D. Smith, Prog.
Treasurer R. W. Campbell, R.
  Frank Wehrle, D.
  C. M. Gates, Prog.
County Clerk W. W. Pressly, R.
  F. W. Calvert, Prog.
Probate Judge C. A. Marrs, R.
  J. H. Randolph, D.
  Blanche Love, Prog.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
  Efie Sandusky, R.
Sheriff L. G. Krisle, D.
  Frank Ellis, R.
  H. E. Hoon, Prog.
Register of Deeds Ira Scott, R.
  W. H. Dalgarn, D.
  Jennie Crocker, Progressive
Superintendent Pearl Wood-Smith, D.
Surveyor Moses Black, R.
  Chas. Havens, Prog.
Coroner Wm. F. Fee, D.
  E. W. Fletcher, Prog.
Commissioner 1st District A. B. Roberts, R.
  John Staples, D.
  Charles Haskins, Prog.


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