The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1907-10-18

W. : mythical placs and existed 4,
on paper. IT, suppossd location Nh
on the south bank Of the west Graham
lake, and had been placed thsre ~ I
railroad company which had nor il
road.
Mobiles county remained unsettled
until 1867 and unorganized until 1870
The federal census of the last nance
year gave the county q population o.
III, and these thought the time ipe
for the establishment of a county gov
eminent. Settlement at the time was
confined almost exclusively to the
present townships of Graham Lakes
and Indian Lake. About the first Of
Octo, or, 1870, there was house rsis.
ing at the home of II. G. Hellett, in
Graham Lakes township, at which
was present almost the whole popula
ton of the county. The question OF
the organization of the county was
brought up in an informal way. and
it was decided to choose three men to
actas committee to bring about the
desired action. The men selected
were B. W. Woolstencroft, present
Judge of probate of Murray county,
Charles H. Drury and Benjamin Har-
rison. Mr.. Woolstencroft wrote to
Governor Austin, asking that he take
the necessary action to bring about
the organization. The governor re-
sponded promptly by naming the
three gentlemen already mentioned
as board of county commissioners,
whose duty it should be perfect the
organization and name the other coun-
ty officers.
This board met for the first time
little later in October at the home of
Chas. Drury, in Graham Lake town
ship. Mr.. Drury was chosen chair
man of the board and B. W. Wool
stencroft was made secretary. Other
county officers we're appointed az fol-
lows: S. R. Harris, auditor and coun-
ty attorney; Johu Cunningham, treas
urer; Stephen Howell, register of
deeds; E. W. Hesselroth, Judge of
probate; Richard Morton, clerk. of
court; Captain Miller, county sur
veyor.
Preparations were at once begun
for the holding of the first election
early in November. Three election
p' ecincts were established, two in
Graham Lakes township and one in
Indian Lake. A mass convention
was held in the log house of Edward
Berreau on section II, Hersey town
ship, in the last days Of October, and
was participated in BY nearly all the
settlers. A ticket was placed in the
field; then came a bolt, and 4 second
convention was held at the home Of
B. W. Woolstencroft a few days later.
The same nominees were selected with
the exception Of nominee for auditor,
the name S. R. Harris being replaced
by that of Mr.. Woolstencroft. s.
The election was an exciting one.
Polling places were at the residences
of S. r. and Fl. L Wallace in Ora
ham Lakes and Isaac Horton in 1ndi-
an Lake. About 81 votes were polled
and there was a possibility II or a
more electors who did not cast their
ballots. At the Harris polling place
a cigar box served the purpose ola
ballot box, the lock Of which was a
huge jack knife stuck into the open
ing made to receive the votes; when
the knife was withdrawn the polls
were open. There was considerable
rivalry between the two factions, and
knife and gun "plays" enlivened the
occasion, although no injurywas done.
When the ballots were counted it
found that Mr.. Woolstencroft had de.
feated Mr.. Harris for auditor. The
other officers elected were John Gun
ingham, treasurer; Stephen Howell,
register of deeds; E. W.sHesselroth,
judge of probate; Richard Morton,
clerk OF court; II. L. Wallace, sheriff;
Muck, coroner. Mr.. Harris,
who held the Office of auditor by ap.
pointment, but who had been defeat
ed for election, refused to canvass the
vote. As there was no salary connect
ed with tho various Offices, the matter
was not pressed, and there was no