The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas

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two miles east and five miles south of Norton but when the crops failed he with many others went back so he returned to his old home at Chradon, Ohio, late in the fall of 1880, where he still resides.  He was a minister in the Christian church and preached at Norton and Logan during his residence here.

When the republican county convention met in 1880, everyone except the candidates was uncertain whether he would remain here that winter or not; and even some who had been mentioned as available candidates in June and July had already started back "to see their wives people."  The candidates for representative were Albert Graves and William Grant, but Grant withdrew before the convention was organized and was made chairman.  James Lobsitz was chosen secretary Ed Hooverson was sprung as a candidate after Grant withdrew but only received eight votes, Graves receiving the balance and the nomination on first ballot.  L. H. Thompson was nominated for county attorney.  Wilson Adams was chosen as probate judge, Samuel Means county superintendent, clerk of the court W. E. Case, commissioner from third district H. C. Davis of Almelo.

Two weeks later the democrats met at the courthouse and organized their convention by electing Jerome Babcock chairman and Jake Richard as secretary.  A voluminous set of resolutions were presented by A. L. Hereford and adopted by the convention.  They among other things, demanded that Rutherford B. Hays immediately vacate the high office of president of the United States, and turn it over together with the salary to Samuel J. Tilden, "who had been legally elected, "and that a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to Mr. Hays at Washington."  They proceeded to nominate the following ticket: 

Representative A. S. Burroughs, county attorney W. B. Rogers, probate judge D. H. Lower, clerk of the court Jake Rickard, commissioner J. C. Babcock.  

The Greenback party met and nominated the following ticket:  Representative John Gishwiller, probate judge L. B. Davis, county superintendent P. H. Loomis, commissioner Frank Sproul.

A. L. Hereford was a young democrat who had settled here early in the spring of 1880.  He was a graduate of some law school and was considered a rising young attorney.  He had been nominated by the democrats for attorney general, but recognizing the hopelessness of being elected on the state ticket, a few days before the election, announced himself as an independent candidate for county attorney.  He received 420 votes for county attorney and 279 for attorney general, but of course was defeated for both offices.  He ran considerably ahead of his ticket as county attorney and received his full party vote in the state for attorney general.  He left this country in the spring of 1881.

On October 13, 1880 the board met in special session at the request of county Attorney Pettigrew to investigate the charge of forgery against M. J. FitzPatrick, county clerk.  Pettigrew, J. W. Vining and J. W. Logan were appointed by the board to assist them in making an examination of the county clerk's books.  The committee soon discovered irregularities in the books and so stated in a public report.  FitzPatrick tendered his resignation which the board promptly accepted.  On the same day they appointed W. T. Shoemaker as his successor.  The republican central committee met on October 24 and nominated Shoemaker for county clerk there not being time enough to call a convention.  Granville Reeves was his only opponent before the committee and 

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