Lindsey township shows a decrease of 191, although Warsaw which
is included, increased 187, from 515 in 1880 to 702 in 1890. '
***
January 8, 1885
W. J. Huse was Qualified as county treasurer January 1 for a term of
two years, with the following individuals as bondsmen to the amount
of $60: George Gallagher, James H. Lay, A. N. Bush, L. S. Naftzger,
S. K. Crawford, H. A. Tompkins, Henry Mahnken, A. B.' Keiffer,
Joseph Schwald, G. S. Keiffer, T. M. Berry, A. J. Huse, John P.
Ficken, William Nickle, G. Huse, John W. Payton, Alonso Rouse,
M. D. Moore, Jr., M. D. Moore, Sr., J. M. Hunter, Samuel Henry,
John Henry, R. H. Melton, Geo. W. Campbell, A. C. COCkburn, Dale
Pierce, Charles Harvey, Samuel Orr and William Schwettman.
The county court has granted a dram-shop license to A. J. Harris
and Wm, H. Howard to be used at Fairfield.
Our courthouse sqaare is being enclosed by a substantial fence--no
iron fancy fixing or frail imported pine--but made of the native oak,
"pig tight, horse high and bull strong."
Dee Reese, county clerk, reports that the county paid out, in the year
of 1884, $2,223.50 for the care of paupers and insane persons.
April 17, 1885
John A. Baldwin, the well-known ex-surveyor of Benton County, was
in attendance at circuit court this week. Mr. Baldwin has been in Benton
County for 45 years and he remarked to us that of the population of
Warsaw at that time only James Donald and J. G. Phillips remain. The
older a county grows the more interesting is its early history, and that
of Benton County has been a varied one.
May I, 1885
Deputy Sheriff Bibb is superintending the building ofa fence to enclose
the whole of the courthouse yard, extending from the public well to the
west boundary of Commercial Street, opposite the residence of Samuel
-27d-
Eyerly. The unsightly mass of brick and timber, which has given the
city an undeserved delapidated appearance, since the old courthouse was
torn down, has been removed, and the property will be put in a respectable
condition at a light expense.
MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR PRESIDENT GRANT
Memorial services for President Grant were held in Warsaw on
August 8, 1885.
Bells of the various churches started tolling at 1:30 p.m., continuing
until 2 o'clock, the hour of service. All members of the Grand Army
of the Republic and other old soldiers were requested to take part,
trimming their badges with mourning emblems.
The Missouri Enterprise carried the following story on the event:
Last Saturday, the day appointed for the funeral services of the late
General Grant, was made the occasion of demonstrations of a character
to show respect for the dead.
The flags floated at half-mast and a number were trimmed with
mourning emblems. Business houses and private residences were
trimmed in black and but little business was transacted.
Shortly before 2 o'clock, there was an old soldiers' meeting at the
Masonic hall, from which the veterans, with mourning badge decorations,
marched to the Baptist Church, which had been handsomely decorated
by the ladies, for the purpose of hearing the funeral services.
The church was filled to overflowing, with people from town and
country, quite a number being present from Lincoln and Fairfield,
the recently organized "U. S. Grant" Post, G. A. R., of Lincoln,
being largely represented.
In the absence of Rev. Sparks, Judge Smith offered the prayer
and the Rev. T. C. Chapman preacheda brief sermon from I Corinthians
IV. chapter and 55 verse: 0 death, where is thy sting; 0, grave where
is thy victory. The sermon dealt entirely with the moral and religious
character of Gen. Grant and the moral lessons to be drawn there from.
It was an able and interesting discourse and was listened to with marked attention.
Dr. Crawford then delivered the oration on the life and services of
General Grant. It was prepared with care, the language was well-chosen
and expressive and delivered distinctively and deliberately and was
listened to attentively by the large audience, notwithstanding the excessive heat.
The oration was entirely eulogistic, and with the sermon demonstrated
that both speakers were sincere admirers of Grant. '
The following ladies furnished the music for the occasion, which was
appropriately selected and well-rendered: Mrs. Blythe, organist:
Mrs. Wisdom, Mrs. Naftzger, Mrs. Chas, T. Clark, Mrs. Anna O'Neil
Mrs. Lingle and Miss Myra Melton. '
The memorial committee request us to express their warmest thanks
to the ladies of Warsaw for their kindness in decorating the Baptist
Church and for the beautiful and appropriate music furnished by them
for the memorial service.
June 1, 1888
A number of Warsaw youngsters are wearing Cleveland hats. The
hats are of light weight, neat and cheap and are calculated to keep the
brain cool and in a reflective mood.
POLITICS
June 15, 1888
All day Saturday, the Democratic ladies of Warsaw were engaged in
decorating the hall for the Cleveland-Thurman ratification rally at the
courthouse. Staging included flags, wreaths and portraits of Cleveland
and Thurman, which made the hall a scene of beauty.
At four 0' clock in the afternoon, the artillery (anvils) thundered forth
a salute that re-echoed over the hills and prairies, and its meaning was
well-understood by thousands -- that the Democracy were jubilant over
the selection of their standard bearers.
After music by the Warsaw Orchestra, Dr. J. S. Wilson, the club
president, introduced J. H. Lay, and old lawyer as he is, and used to
speaking impromptu to audiences of men only, he was evidently much
abashed at the brilliant array of ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls
that were before him. But he recovered sufficiently to do himself credit
and he will be in demand during the campaign.
From The Enterprise
Friday, June 22, 1.888
RAMPANT DEMOCRACY
A Cyclone of Candidates and Workers
Gov. Morehouse Opened the Battle at Ionia on Tuesday
He Seizes Cole Camp, Lincoln, Warsaw, Palo Pinto
And Fairfield
His Workers Appear in All Precincts
The Governor Shows the Farmers How He "Us'ter" Work
In Nodaway County
And Wipes The Sweat from the Brow in the Harvest Field
The Ladies Praised, Babies Kissed, Buttermilk Quaffed
The Francis Men Scared Out of Their Boots
PRESTO CHANGE!
Mayor Francis Arrives at Warsaw Friday Afternoon
He Drives 60 Miles, Makes Four Speeches and,
In 24 Hours, Snatches Victory from the
Jaws of Defeat!
A well -Fought But Good-Natured Contest
On Monday of last week, the people of Benton County were in that
condition of rural quiet that would have been happiness, but for the
knowledge that the chintz-bugs were at work and that rain was badly needed.
There was no expectation of domestic turmoil or foreign invasion.
No visitors of any kind were expected, unless from those who know the
superior quality of our medicinal springs or others who want the longest
railroad ride, in time, for the least money, of any road in the State.
Suddenly, without any knowledge to his friends in Benton County,
Governor Morehouse, accompanied by Col. Pace of Butler, and David
Roach of Camden, appeared at Ionia City, just over the border in Pettis,
and was announced for a speech, which was listened to, with good effect,
by a number of farmers. Col. Pace is an experienced politician, welladapted
to reach theheartoftheprairiefarmer. Mr. Roach is a Camden
County man, whose native skill has been quickened by holding a State
office at Jefferson City.
He is adapted to the politics of what is called the "Brush" counties
and knows perfectly well, that when no houses are in sight, from the
main road, that to go over a hill, and up a hollow and through a neck of
woods will bring him to one.
Tuesday, the cavalcade reached Cole Camp. Their approach had been
heralded and the population turned out with music to hear the governor
and were highly pleased with his speech and good looks.
Wednesday, they appeared at Lincoln and the governor again spoke
and the hosts of Francis men disappeared like the morning dew.
Wednesday evening, the governor and workers came like a conquering
army to the county seat. Men, women and children turned out with the
Warsaw Silver Band, to greet him, and the courthouse was densely packed
to hear his speech, which was admitted to be a good one by everybody.
Thursday, he spoke at Grange Hall, near Palo Pinto, and he seemed
to number amorig his supporters the entire population, the Republicans
themselves taking sides for him. The governor saw a great many people
traveling about.
Friday afternoon, the governor spoke at Fairfield, in company with
his competitor. The governor returned to Warsaw Friday, attended
the Francis meeting in the evening and, having made a canvass entirely
satisfactory, was anxious to leave the county at once, but was obliged
to stay until the departure of the train at 2 p.m, on Saturday.
He was visited by many citizens and was found to be jovial, with a
knack of making friends easily and he had plenty of leisure to do so.
He departed with the assurance that he would carry the county beyond
peradventure. His workers from abroad were reinforced on Thursday
by John H. Davidson of Wheatland, who rs an old-time and competent
clerk in the office of the State Board of Equalization. Mr. Davidson is
well-acquainted in the southern part of the county and was a valuable
ally. The regular workers called to their aid a number of influential
local workers who had all the well-nigh irresistible zeal of new- recruits.
The principal cause for the activity of Governor Morehouse's friends
was the charge made against Mayor Francis that his business life as
grain dealer had been against the interests of the farmers. While
we are certain that this charge cannot be sustained, yet it had its
effect and it rallied to the governor's standard as good a class of
citizens as any candidate could ever boast of.
On Thursday, the Warsaw friends of Mayor Francis concluded to
send for their favorite. They were reluctant to do so, because they
knew that during the week previous, he had performed arduous duties
as mayor, citizen and candidate in caring for the great throng of
delegates and people attending the Democratic national convention.
Since then, he had been very busy in his duties as mayor and also
was prohibited by his physician from public speaking until he had
thoroughly rested.
Friday, at one p.m., he arrived at Warsaw, having on his trip down
from Sedalia learned enough to know that public sentiment was pretty
solid for Morehouse. At Lincoln, in company with the editor of the
Enterprise (Thomas Benton White) and Mr. Lingle, of the Clinton
Democrat, he made a hasty call around the town in a carriage and
such veteran Democrats as Dr. Rhodes and Sam Orr said that Morehouse
had reversed White township, although they had a faint hope
that something could be done. The fact is, the whole county was as a
army, utterly 'routed, horse, foot and dragoons, and had there been
any plunder, the Morehouse forces would have been fighting over its division.
Friday afternoon, after a hasty dinner, Francis was driven to Fairfield,
where he addressed a crowd after the governor. The meeting had
been advertised for both speakers.
Friday night, Mr. Francis spoke in Warsaw to a full courtroom. That
night, the plan of the next day's battle was made and local workers were
sent to the several precincts. Saturday morning, Mr. Francis was
driven to Lincoln, where he made a speech at 10 a.m, The vote at the
close was Francis, 54, Morehouse, 33. He arrived at Fort Lyon at 2 p.m.
The vote cast at that time was Morehouse, 25, Francis, 10. The polls
were closed and Francis spoke from a wagonin the sun for over an hour
and his speech appeared to be very satisfactory to the farmers. Voting
was resumed and the result of the poll was 47 for Francis and 38 for
Morehouse. Mr. Francis went to Windsor and, in the morning, was
home in St. Louis.
Mr. Francis is a plain and dignified public speaker. He attempts no
flight of oratory. His success is owing to his ability to convince his
hearers that he is a sincere and straightforward businessman. The
county was for him overwhelmingly. They had read of hi~ success ~n
the intricate duties of mayor of a great city; they were delighted at hIS
efforts to get President Cleveland to visit St. Louis, and in getting the
National Democratic Convention for that city. When he appeared In the
county, many of his former friends, who had become lukewarm, if not
hostile, returned to their first choice.
Gov. Morehouse, who is a popular man, pleased our people and his
partisans did effective work in his behalf. Their canvass was admirably
planned. Anticipating that no tickets issued by the county committee
would be distributed until the morning of election, they brought tickets
with them, printed according to regulations, with the blank for governor
written in and they were distributed in the pilgrimage through the
county. That they did not notify any Morehouse men of their coming
was probably because they did not intend to take any chance on their
surprise being complete. They evidently intended to drive the Francis
men into their "holes" so badly scared that they would stay there,
which they almost succeeded in doing. And while the Francis men
can quote the lines--
"Glover's the man from Bitter Creek,
Morehouse is dull and tame
Francis is neither bitter nor dull
But he gets there, just the same." --
--a little change would have made the reversal of names necessary.
Both candidates expressed their gratification at the manner of their
reception throughout the county. They talked the Democratic faith in no
doubtful tones and the Democracy are proud of them. Should either be
nominated, they will receive the full vote of their party friends and also
the support of some Republicans. Democracy at best!
Returns of Saturday's Primary
Francis -- 348 Morehouse -- 280 68 Majority for Francis
Francis carried Alexander, North Fristoe, South Fristoe, West
Lindsey, Tom, South Union, East White, West White. In East Lindsay,
Morehouse carried, 65 votes, to 64 for Francis. Francis also carried
Missouri in the primary, ..and in the November general election.
From The Enterprise
July 6, 1888

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