Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-03-25

where most of them were going. And
yet, what was being done at New
Castle or Webster City, was scarce
ly up to the average ballot stuffing
was over it was found that about
three times as many votes had been
cast as at any previous election and
Fort Dodge succeeded by vote of
407 against 264. The Homer people
felt very confident that they were
carrying the election for they were
polling within about 20 votes Of as
many as the whole vote of the coun-
ty had ever been before. They
knew, too, that by an honest vote,
they could not count much more
than half that number. Imagine
their surprise, when the returns
were brought in to find themselves
so far outdone at their own game.
That game, which they fondly be-
lieved they were playing alone, had
been more than discounted at Fort
Dodge and New Castle.
Had an honest vote and fair
| count been had, it is more than
probable that Homer would have re-
tanned the county seat; however, the
record of both sides was too rotten
to bear inspection, and no contest
was made over the election. Indeed
it is doubtful whether anyone desir-
ed. the matter brought before the
courts where an investigation might
| involve so many in personal difficult
, ty on account of illegal voting. In
stead of a contest, a good many
Homer people declared that the cleo
ton was a monstrous fraud and the
county records should not be NOV
ed Guns We're cleaned up and no
| little amount of large talk INDUCED
in, but it all amounted to nothing
and the books were removed and
nobody hurt.
At this election, some of the HON
er people thought it would be a
good joke on John F. Duncombe to
elect him coroner and 10 of them
voted for him for that office. Hav-
ing in view, perhaps, Homers prob
able triumph at the election, they
no doubt thought that puncombe
i would be a proper person to sit up
on the remains of the dead town OF
i Fort Dodge. But Rev. John Johns
received 420 votes and was elected.
} Granville Burnley was elected pros
, ecuting attorney at this election and
the question of restraining stock
: was defeated.
i Another election was held on the
first Monday of August following
and while perhaps two hundred vot-
ers had been added to the population
since the county seat contest, only
} 565 votes were polled, of which
Elias Pecock had 800 votes and w
!, c. Wilson 275.
q S. B. Rosencrans was at this elec.
ton selected for district clerk. He
: did not personally take charge No'
his office, but on the 18th day Of
August appointed Hezikiah BccChel
, as his deputy. This arrangement
= did not prove satisfactory however
5 and on the 29th day of August. NJ
t revoked that appointment and ap
, pointed Chas. 4. Sherman as hi:
t deputy.
S Among the new corners this yea
!, who have reported to have signet
t in the Old Settlers Register are
1 Gil Perry. +. j. Mcconnell, c. T
e Fenton. Morg Everts. w. II. Rich
z ardson. Thos. Bonebright. W. b
Howard A. keplar, S. B, Rosen
Y Grams. f. A. Harris. II. c. Hillock
t s. l.. Richardson, A. Mclaughlin
e Simon Day, W. L. Clark, VIM. How
S ell, NJ. w. Rowland, Chas. Stoddard
G VIM Oleson, Geo. Ship. w. II
: Bates. G. II. Daniels, J. p. Tucker
v w. II. Frasier. VIM. Willis, J. NJ
d Jones. S Richard, G. w. Perry. job
v Whaley, W. S. Worthington, \. +
:. HELEN. Robt. W. Martin, lsaia
/ Doane and Theodore Phillips.
pl One-third of these have held o.
i'll fees OF some kind. county, TOWNSHIP
s or school, and the reader of toda.
,tl looking over this list will be struc
n by the very important part in til
re county development SO many {