Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-06-05
AN OLD-TIME ELECTION.

THERE is an old man living near me (says
a Western correspondent who came into
this section of the country fifty years ago,
when he was young man of thirty. He
is now quite as vigorous at eighty as most
men are at sixty; has a rosy, full face, and
a bright eye; and has been known on Oc-
casiOns to 90 out into the harvest field and
help his grandsons to get in the wheat. 1t
is easy to see from his massive form and
limbs that he must have been athletic and
powerful in his youth; and the very few
who still survive, who were his neighbOrs
then, say that he was as strong as a horse,
fleet as deer, quick as panther, and
brave as a lion. But when Enoch Page
first came here and commenced to clear a
patch Of ground, all this was not SO well
known to the people as it was afterward
L am writing now OF times half century
past when instead of all these t1ourishing
cities and villages, these productive farms
and orchards, and these railroads and can
ais, there were dense forests, a few little
settlements at the crossings of roads, and
the roads themselves few in number and
indifferent in condition. The population,
sparse as it was, had buried itself in the
| woods, and by judicious and energetic use
of the AK was fast solving the first prob
lem of civilization. But the people were
coming in rapidly, and at Blunts, which
was central point, the settlement was fast
increasing to the proportions of village
This was the condition Of things when
the first election in the new coun-
ty took place. 1t was held at Blunt's ;
and, being a novel occasion, it called out
a large crowd. Several hundred voters
were present, besides many who were not
voters The election was for sheriff, which
in new county is always an office Of
great importance. 1t was felt to be doublv
important here, for threatening element
of scoundrelism had lately been added to
the population, which could be suppressed
or held in check only by a firm and deter
mined administration of the laws. The
printing press within hundred miles the
ballots were all written out.
The candidates, by common consent
(for there were no caucusses), were two
Col. Walton and DIR. Reed. The former
was, perhaps, the most substantial man in
the county, possessing education, expert
ence, and integrity and was supported by
the best men, those who were anxious to
have law and order prevail. The latter
was quiet, inefficient person, wholly un-
fitted by nature and habit for the office;
but he had been put forward by a clique
of idle, dissolute fellows, who considered
it decidedly for their interest to get man
elected who would not execute the laws
And knowing that they could not COM
mand sufficient votes to elect one of them
selves, they did the next best thing in
putting up man who they knew thsy
could control if successful and for whom
they hoped to catch some respectable
votes
The ringleader of this precious set was
one Ham Perkins-a great brawnv ruffian
who delighted in affrays and combats of
all kinds; and he rallied his peculiar fol-
lowers on election day, and they all put
forth united effort to elect Reed The
votes of this gang were all in within two
hours after the opening of the polls and
they next began to exercise their terror
ism over respectable voters. Many who
detested them were compelled to vote for
their candidate merely from fear of per
sonal violence or injury to their property
and so many there were who were willing
| to pursue this weak course, that at noon
one Of Perkins party, who had kept a
tally, announced that Reed was then five
ahead. The intelligence was received
with whoop and yell of exultation,
andshe roWdles became more insolent
than ever
The leaders of the Walton party were
in anxious consultation, which seemed as
hopeless as it was anxious; and affairs
bore this aspect when Enoch Page, who
had just arrived on the ground, came up
to vote. AS he approached the window,
ballot was handed him by one of Colonel
Walton's friends. He took it and read
the name, nodded approval to the man
from whom he had received it, and step
ped up to deposit it.
Ham Perkins had witnessed the Incl
dent, and Familiarity accosted the young
man as he approached
Il say, my boy, you've made a mistake
IN the paper you've got there in your fist.
This here is the ticket you want"