Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-08-25
EARLY POLITICAL HISTORY
OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY


might be written concerning the ear
ly political history of Winneshiek
county. Condensed, however, as
briefly as it is possible, it was as fol-
lows:
In 1850 Judge Price of Clayton
county was here taking the state GEN.
sus, and upon the petition of the
pioneers promised to take up the
matter of county organization for
them. Accordingly, Jan. Is, 1851,
the organization act became law,
and after March /, 1851, Winnie
shiek became regular county, with
John L. Carson appointed organizing
sheriff. He was directed to set the
stakes, one at Louisville, on the
Turkey river, another near Nc
SWANS mill, on the Turkey; and
third near DEBORAH, on the Iowa, as
points that might contend for the
county seat, at an election to be held
the first Monday in April. The cleo
tion was held, and DEBORAH was SER
titled to as the County Seat, although
there has always been story OF
shady" transactions in connection
with this election, and it is quite
probable that DEBORAH was not the
choice of a majority of the electors.
It has always been claimed, and
probably justly, that a proper count
ing of the vote and return of the
election would have given the coun-
ty seat to Moneek. Since then, the
county seat matter has often been a
bone of contention. From then to
1867, the location was the subject
of much scheming and dispute. Mo-
meek began to wane in 1858 and
gave up hopes; Louisville soon lost
it's identity, but Freeport began to
loom up as black cloud upon the
horizon. The rivalry eliminated
in 1856. when a law was passed un-
der which Freeport became an appll-
cant for a vote on reelection. In
the fall before 420 votes were polled,
and the petition was signed by 400
petitioners, but was met with a
remonstrance bearing 500 sigma
lures. Judge Reed, presiding in
court. decided to grant no vote. The
next July a petition of 451 names
was presented. followed by a remon-
STRANGE of us names, and this met
with fate similar to the first. The
case went to the District Court on
writ of certiorari, and Judge Muir
dock affirmed the decision OF the
lower court. Next year the erection
of the court house began in Deco
rah, and Freeport gave up the strug-
gle.
The first caucus. was held at the
log cabin of Nels Johnson, Esq, i'll
the southeast corner of DEBORAH
township, and nominated the follow
ing ticket, which was elected Aug
ust 4th: David Reed over j. r.
Morse, County Judge; George Ba-
chel over James F. Moore, Sheriff;
Francis Rogers over William Vail,
John N. Kline over H.
G. Nuvland, Surveyor; Daniel Kuy-
kendall over p. Morse, Recorder and
Treasurer; e. w. Aldrich over ID.
Bender, Coroner. SO ballots were
cast at the election. The following
April John Mckay was elected
School Fund Commissioner and w.
r. Kimball Clerk of the Courts. I'm
til taxes were levied and collected,
salaries were paid as follows: The
Judge, Clerk and Treasurer would
each report the fees collected, and
divide them equally; the Treasurer
would then report the cash in the
treasurer, and this would be equally
divided, and then the County Judge
would issue warrants to each for the
balance due them.
We regret that we cannot print
much more concerning the early po-
liticaI history of the county that
would be found very interesting.