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CHAPTER XXIV
The 1896 Canvass
The political canvass for the election of
county officers for the year 1896 brought into the field the following named
gentlemen as party nominees on the Republican ticket: For Auditor, Josiah
T. Young; Clerk of the District Court, J. W. H. Griffin; Recorder, Robt. O.
Clapp; Member of the Board, J. K. Watson; County Attorney, Jerry Wright.
The Democrats and Populists united their forces and brought
out: For Auditor, John Welsh; for Clerk of the District Court, Geo. Stamm;
Recorder, A. E. Dille; County Attorney, J. T. Clarkson; Member of the Board,
John W. Shahan.
Any one of the above candidates would make a capable and
efficient officer to discharge the duties of his office, but at the date of this
writing it cannot be definitely prophesied who will be elected in the general
election in November.
Hon. Josiah T. Young is a self made man, and climbed up from
obscurity and poverty. He was elected to the office of Secretary of State,
and served two terms, during Governor Carpenter's incumbency as chief executive
of the State. Later he was elected to the General Assembly, and has filled
other offices of public trust in a satisfactory manner. He was a good
soldier and a victim of a Southern rebel prison pen.
J. W. H. Griffin has discharged the duties of Clerk of the
District Court for so many years that the Monroe County bar, irrespective of
party lines, looks upon him as an indispensable fixture. He usually
receives considerable support from the opposition and is universally popular.
Robt. O. Clapp is a candidate for reelection. He has
made a good officer, and receives considerable support through sympathy, he
being a cripple with but one leg.
Jerry Wright is a young attorney of Albia, just feathering
out in the legal profession. He is full of enterprise, and will no doubt
be competent to discharge the duties of his office, if elected.
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J. K. Watson is one of Monroe County's most
staunch farmers, and will make an excellent Member of the Board if elected.
Mr. Welsh is a very popular farmer from the west side of the
county. He formerly served as a member of the Board of Supervisors, and he
just as capable and deserving of the office of Auditor as any man in his party.
George Stamm was a Union soldier, has always lived an honorable,
upright life, and well deserves some official recognition at the hands of his
party. He is a Populist at heart, but was formerly a Republican.
Welsh is a Democrat.
E. A. Dille is a well educated young married man, and is a
good penman. He was formerly a Republican, but some years ago espoused the
third party cause.
J. T. Clarkson is a rising young attorney with two or three
years' experience at the bar. He is climbing up from humbler walks of
life, and bids fair to reach an exalted rank in the profession. His first
vocation was that of a coal miner, but he has selected the law as his life
profession. He is a Populist or third party man, and a few years ago
acquired some prominence through his connection with organized labor movements.
Geo. W. Shahan is a well to do and practical farmer of Mantua
Township. He well understands the needs of the county, and has its
interests at heart, and would no doubt make a safe and efficient Member of the
Board if elected.