Category Archives: Switzerland County Voting Records

Switzerland County Republican Convention – Feb 1876

The Switzerland County, Indiana, Republican Convention report appeared in:
Vevay Reveille – 12 Feb 1876 – Page 4, Column 1

Republican County Convention.

A Convention of Republican voters of Switzerland County was held in Vevay, at the Court House, last Saturday afternoon.

[more details in article]

John D. Works, Chairman of the County Central Committee
Dr. P. S. Sage, Cotton Township, President
W. J. Baird, Secretary

Delegates and members of the Central Committee:

Posey Township—Committee, Jas. Stevenson and Capt. B. C. Mead. Delegates, Hon. Jacob R. Harris and Capt. B. C. Mead; alternates, Geo. H. Keeney and Maj. Selar Mead.

York—Committee, Lemuel Bledsoe and John W. Howard. Delegates, W. J. Keeney and R. A. Harris; alternates, Simeon Beymer and John Cunningham.

Jefferson—Committee, Eli T. Ogle, J. C. Long and A. C. Weaver. Delegates, W. H. Adkinson and W. B. Owens; alternates, Esquire M. W. Tague and Charles Norisez.

Pleasant—Committee, R. L. Mercer and W. H. Voris. Delegates, James M. Scott and Jacob J. Goodner. Alternates, Esquire W. S. Towers and David C. Gardner.

Craig—Committee, Wm. Anderson and Fletcher Bellamy. Delegates, Augustus Hatton and Wm. Anderson; alternates, Wm. H. Lamb and John H. Cotton.

Cotton—Committee, Esquire James McHenry and Capt. Thomas F. Adams. Delegates, W. J. Gibbs and James McHenry; alternates, Esquire David Lee and Joseph G. Mellick.

Delegates for County at Large—David Scott, Charles O. Hastings and Thomas Works. Alternates, Walter S. Francis, John Dickason and R. O. Moore.

Wesley H. Adkinson, choice of this Convention as the Republican candidate for Congress for the 4th Congressional District.

Will M. Smith for Supreme Court Reporter.

Patriot Temperance Protest – June 1856

The Patriot, Switzerland County, Indiana Temperance Protest appeared in:
The Weekly Reveille – 11 June 1856 – Page 3, Column 2.

A PROTEST.

WE, the citizens of Patriot, having for a long time witnessed the evils resulting from the free use of intoxicating liquors, and as law abiding people, wishing to promote the good of society,–do solemnly protest against the selling of all kinds of intoxicating drinks, to be used as a beverage; and ask the retailers, in the name of virtue, and everything dear to society, to desist from such an unholy and demoralizing business, and engage in some calling less detrimental to the inhabitants of our town and vicinity;–and, as forbearance has ceased to be a virtue with us in this matter, we are determined, for the good of our town, to abate this evil first, and then attack others, which some of us think are of greater magnitude. If the vigor of the law should fail to protect us, we must protect ourselves.

Sylvanus Howe
W. P. Campbell
E. H. Johnson
Wm. A. Johnson
Solomon Hicks
B. F. Herrick
Asahel Carpenter
C. W. Munger
Wm. R. Vandorin
S. R. Bradley
Josiah Herbert
Reuben Berry
Ira Keeney
S. J. Herrick
Geo. Werkerly
A. Gazley
Wm. Mead
H. R. Herbert
Bela Herrick
Mrs. Ellen Wade
Elizabeth Gazley
Amanda Faulkner
Phebe Fletcher
H. D. Gibson
C. C. Johnson
Frances Larison
M. N. Scott
Elizabeth Fortune
Ann Love
M. O. Watts
Sarah James
Ann F. Carpenter
Charlotte Hedrick
Ann Johnson
Sarah E. Herrick
Sarah B. Bradley
Julia Scranton
Eliza A. Gale
Ann M. Ormsby
S. A. Coffin
Maria Hicks
Mary E. Chandler
S. A. Campbell
Eliza Vanhouten
Emily Mead
L. Dean
Miss Mary Baxter
M. Donaldson
Ellen Herrick
Fannie G. Hoyt
Polly Vanhouten
M. A. Carpenter
S. Q. Howe
Andrew Hobbs
Jesse Brookway
Wm. Gibson
Charles Carpenter
A. G. Herrick
E. H. Vandorin
Jabes Vandorin
James Buck
Cheney Munger
Jacob Hunsiker
John Allen
Samuel Wade
S. B. Baxter
Wm. Taylor
Collin McNutt
E. S. Gale
James Faulkner
Mrs. Amy Emerson
Lucy Gill
Margaret Heston
Esther E. O’Brien
M. J. Wiley
A. S. Reidell
Pallace Green
Catharine King
M. A. Facemire
Mary Taylor
Hannah Watts
Elizabeth Ross
Alice Herrick
Elizabeth Yarnell
Mary J. Moredock
Mary Newton
Hannah Munger
Rachel Deewese
N. Tait
Polly Gray
M. A. C. Jackson
S. Lee
Sarah A. Herrick
Sarah Gage
E. F. Campbell
Abigail McHuron
Martha M. Keeney
Charlotte S. Foster
Miss Hattie Emerson
M. A. Hutchinson
Martha Herrick
Grinke Gage
M. W. Carpenter
Lizzie Mead
Mary A. Tait

Patriot, Ind., June 2, 1856.

Switzerland County Election Returns – May 1856

The April election returns for Jefferson, Craig and Cotton Townships in Switzerland County, Indiana appeared in:
The Weekly Reveille – 14 May 1856 – Page 1, Column 1

APRIL ELECTION RETURNS.

Below will be found the official vote of Jefferson, Craig and Cotton Townships. These three townships are the only one which the contest is ever close. Pleasant township always goes American by an overwhelming majority; and Posey and York townships go largely for the old liners, though they do not offset Pleasant by about 100 votes.

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

	American candidates	Old Line candidates
For Justices of Peace – 2 to be elected	James Brown, 216 John G. Anderson, 196	Zadig Rous, 157 Daniel Cole, 146 Henry Boyd, 138
For Constables—5 to be elected.	John Roberts, 208 James F. Morris, 208 Eri G. Carington, 207 Daniel Wilcox, 207 Chris. Peelman, 155	A. J. Montanye, 154 Thos. Leezenbee, 133 Geo. Adkinson, 133 Henry Sockwell, 129 Wm. Peelman, 123
For Township Trustee.	John W. Sturnes, 186	A. J. Ferrar, 156
For Township Clerk.	Enos Littlefield, 210	Jos. Dalmazzo, 140
For Road Supervisors	Joseph Todd, 192 Richard Nash, 202 Robert Miller, 201 Geo. Markland, 200 John Luster, 199 Jas. M. Cotton, 199 John G. Cotton, 199 John Sullivan, 199 J. J. P. Schenck, 1 Robert A. Knox, 199 Sol. Walden, 2 M. Schoonover, 199 Sam. Durnall, 198 Robert Hatton, 198	Jacob Boyd, 14 John C. Rails, 1 Royal Aldrich, 1

COTTON TOWNSHIP

For Justice of the Peace.	David Lee, 167	Wm. McMellen, 51
For Constables.	Samuel Tinker, 163 Thomas Robbins, 135	Heath C Picket, 47
For Township Trustee	E. B. L. Ford, 99	William Barkis, 46
For Township Clerk	Wm. H. Dolby, 145
For Township Treasurer	James Likely, 115

CRAIG TOWNSHIP.

For Justice of the Peace.	Martin Higgins, 133	Daniel Ramseyer, 87
For Constables	Harrison Adams, 134 Joseph Gray, 132	Fleming Jones, 84 Charles Martford, 1
For Township Trustee	Robert Weaver, 132	Wm. H. Roberts, 86
For Township Clerk	Noble G. Walters, 133	George Walters, 82
For Township Treasurer	Jacob Banta, 133	Zachariah Cotton, 83

Switzerland County Temperance Convention – April 1856

The minutes of the Switzerland County, Indiana Temperance Convention appeared in:
The Weekly Reveille – 9 April 1856 – Page 2, Column 2.

Temperance Convention.
MT. STERLING, April 5, 1 o’clock.

County Temperance Convention met. The President and Secretary being present, the meeting was called to order. The minutes of the last meeting not being present, were not read.

The following resolution was passed:

Resolved, That in conformity with the recommendation of the State Convention, we organize this county by the appointment of a committee of five from each Township—the Chairman of each to constitute a Central Committee for the County—and said Committee shall see that Temperance meetings are held throughout the county in every school house, and all convenient places, until after the election.

The meeting resolved itself into a committee of the whole, and appointed the following Township Committees:

Craig.—John Weaver, George Muer, Walter Scott, Perry Cotton, Wm. R. Cotton.

Jefferson.—Wm. Shaw, Enos Littlefield, R. N. Lamb, Jas. M. Cotton, James Brown, Geo. McCulloch.

Pleasant.—Hugh Adkinson, John Orem, P. Vannuys, Dr. Perdy, Luther Hotchkiss.

York.—Dr. Cheever, Ibzan Jackson, Benj. Robinson, James Campbell, R. T. Goddard.

Posey.—Peter L. Davis, J. A. Powel, Collin McNutt, Bela Herrick, A. Gazley.

Cotton.—L. Wiley, C. H. Stow, D. Lee, S. Washer, P. S. Sage.

It was moved and carried that should vacancies occur in the committees, they shall have power to fill such vacancies.

It was Resolved, That the Secretary forward a copy of the above appointments to the chairman of each committee, with a request to organize immediately.

Resolved, That the Secretary forward a copy of the proceedings of this meeting to the Editor of THE WEEKLY REVEILLE, with a request to publish.

There were several speeches made, and the convention adjourned with the best of feeling.

JAMES BROWN, President.
H. A. TINKER, Secretary.

Vevay Temperance Protest – February 1856

The protest of women in Vevay, Switzerland County, Indiana for temperance appeared in the following newspapers:
The Weekly Reveille – 27 Feb 1856 – Page 3, Column 3; 5 Mar 1856 – Page 3, Column 5; 12 Mar 1856 – Page 3, Column 5

A PROTEST.

HAVING learned that it is in contemplation to set up in our midst an establishment for the vending of intoxicating liquors, for purposes which we conceive to be highly inimical to the morals, the peace, and the prosperity of the community, we, the undersigned, Mothers, Wives, Sisters and Daughters of Vevay and vicinity, in the name of virtue and religion, –as we would preserve the peace and happiness of our homes, the virtue and security of our Fathers, Husbands, Brothers and Sons, SOLEMNLY PROTEST AGAINST ANY SUCH PROCEEDING. And we furthermore declare, that, if in the face of our protest, such an establishment should be set up, we shall not fail to employ every proper means to destroy and hurl it from the community:

Mrs. S. Harwood
Mrs. Julia L. Dumont.
C. Gerrard
D. Goldenburg
C. S. Chafee
Eliza Durnall
I. R. Dumont
E. S. Armstrong
Jemima Protsman
Margaret Kincaid
Mary A Miller
Eliz. Knox
C. Crutcher
R. Littlefield
Marietta Lamb
Eliza Kessler
Eliz. Clarkson
K. M. Dufour
Justine Schenck
Mary L. Detraz
Mary A. Turner
M. A. Moxley
Sarah A. Smith
J. Craig
K. Aldridge
–. Faulkner
Mary A. Shaw
Lizzie Courvoisier
J. C. Teats
M. J. Lemmon
L. A. Boyd
Euphemia Lindley
E. B. Sullivan
A. Stowe
A. Gilbert
Z. C. Grisard
H. A. Malin
Ann E. Dufour
Lucy Nutler
Mary Torrence
Ann Pleasants
Charlotte Pleasants
M. Rutherford
M. Peelman
Eliza Patton
J. Mansfield
A. S. Hathorn
L. Hall
Hannah Armstrong
Miss Mary E. Sparks
Eliza B. Kincaid
Lizzie Durnall
Louisa Poindexter
Julia L. Dumont
Maggie Shaw
Celestine A. Golay
Sallie A. Tague
Eliza M’Cord
Louisa J. Sullivan
Lou. Golay
E. Newkirk
M. Patton
M. A. Rous
Mary Stowe
Izolene Leclerc
Char. L. Keeney
Martha E. Waldo
B. R. Wason
C. Kincaid
S. Anderson
J. F. Dufour
Margaret Wiley
Nancy Price
Mary J. Detraz
Lucilla Jagers
Mary A Roberts
H. M. Tardy
E. J. Malin
Sarah J. Rous
Effy Stewart
C. A. Henderson
M. D. Campbell
M. Tibby
C. A. Northcott
M. A. Eblin
Sarah Eblin
Jane Moen
Clara Morerod
Ann M. Todd
N. W. Gale
Ellen McCallum
E. White
M. A. Mansfield
S. A. Patton
M. J. Torrance
J. A. Doan
A. A. Noble
E. A. Goodwin
Belle D. Grisard
S. W. Webb
Mary Rous
Mary Todd
Eliza Vandever
Sallie Hall
M. Brison
M. A. Hatch
S. Bornand
Mary S. Knox
Lucretia Roberts
M. Adams
Eliz. Danner
Sarah Tague
M. J. Morerod
Miss Caroline Protsman
Jane E. Kincaid
Hetty Goldenburg
Irene R. Miller
Julia Wiley
Collumb. Kessler
Josie L. Schenck
Ann E. Anderson
Manora Vanbriggle
E. Henderson
Zelia C. Grisard
E. Patton
Lizzie Rous
Caroline Wooley
Hattie Henderson

Vevay, Ind., Feb. 27, 1856.

Switzerland County Democratic Meeting – September 1855

Report of a Democratic meeting in Switzerland County, Indiana appeared in:
The Weekly Reveille – 12 September 1855 – Page 2, Column 2.

“Democratic Mass Meeting.”

On Saturday, the first day of September, 1855, the leaders of the old-line party met at Centre Square and nominated candidates to be defeated at the ensuing October election. About one hundred persons were present, one-third of whom were members of the American party. No enthusiasm prevailed, and but little interest was manifested in the proceedings. “Sam’s” strength in this county is a damper to all old-line countenances. They remember last October, with tears in their eyes. Mr. Case, Bishop of the Patriot Clique of Sag Nichts, and Mr. Dufour, Bishop of the Vevay Clique, had some sharp words at each other, but not blood was spilt. The former thought whisky was one of the principles of the party, while the latter thought the party should have nothing to say on the subject.

The following ticket was the choice of the Vevay Clique, which is certainly better and stronger than the one selected:

For Clerk, George. H. Kyle.
For Auditor, Benjamin L. Simmons.
For Recorder, Chauncy Aldrich.
For Commissioner, Thos. A. Haskell.

But the Vevayites couldn’t quite come it, so after caueusing and wire-working awhile, the following “cut-and dried” ticket was “put through,” and declared the choice of the “mass meeting” of less than six dozen old liners:

For Clerk, George H. Kyle.
For Auditor, John J. Jack.
For Recorder, James H. Patterson.
For Commissioner, Samuel Butler.

At a future time, when we have more time, we may have something to say of these office-seekers.

Switzerland County Election Returns – April 1855

The April 1855 election results for Jefferson and Cotton Townships in Switzerland County, Indiana appeared in:
The Weekly Reveille – 11 April 1855 – Page 2, Column 3.

April Election.

The township elections came of in this county on the 2d instant. In this township a much larger vote was polled than usual. We give the result:

Jefferson Township.

American. Opposition

For Justice of the Peace.

J. W. Murphy, 237 Daniel Cole, 93.

For Township Trustee.

W. W. Smith, 228 Julius Dufour, 93

Robert Hatton, 232 Samuel Butler, 99

For Township Treasurer.

E. Littlefield, 230 F. L. Grisard, 99

For Township Clerk.

J. W. Banta, 231 J. L. Thiebaud, 91

For Constables.

John Roberts, 230 T. Leezenbee, 100

Jas. T. Nelson, 230 A. J. Farrar, 87

Daniel Wilcox, 230 W. Peelman, 84

For Supervisors—politics not known.

Samuel Durnell, 59 R. Jackson, 4

J. G. Cotton, 37 H. Bright 29

John Hollcraft, 16 J. Bosseau, 15

E. Luity, 3 E. Phillips, 3

Lester, 1

Cotton Township.

The contest was warm in this township, and some of the opposition were confident of the defeat of the American candidate for Justice of the Peace. The result astonished everybody:

American Opposition

For Justice of the Peace.

H. M. Ayres, 101 James Downey, 43

For Constables.

Samuel Tinker, 102 Thos. Downey, 35

Isaac Robbins, 103 Ostram Bright, 3

For Township Clerk.

J. Richmond, 104

When we got these returns, no other townships had made their returns at the Clerk’s Office.

Ohio and Switzerland Counties Temperance Convention – December 1853

Details of the Temperance Convention for Ohio County and Switzerland County, Indiana appeared in:
Weekly Reveille (Vevay, Indiana) – 1 December 1853 – Page 2 – Column 2.
See newspaper for full details.

Temperance Convention.

At the Convention of friends of Temperance from Switzerland and Ohio counties, assembled at Mt. Sterling, Nov. 26, 1853. Dr. P. S. SAGE was called to the Chair, and Rev. H. WASON appointed Secretary pro tem.

On motion, Messrs. J. B. Lathrop, S. Washer and A. S. Kingsley were appointed a committee to nominate permanent officers.

On motion, the following persons were appointed to draft resolutions to be presented to the convention, viz: Messrs. J. C. Bunham, R. Cotton, J. Dumont, H. Littlefield, W. French and W. Speakman.

On motion, Messrs. Wm. French, U. H. Stow, Dr. Gillespie, R. N. Lamb and E. Hafford, were appointed to nominate delegates to the State Temperance Convention, to be held in Indianapolis the second Tuesday of next January.

The Convention then took recess until one o’clock, P.M.

—

1 O’CLOCK, P.M.

Convention met, and called to order.—Prayer offered by Rev. J. B. Lathrop.

The committee on permanent officers reported as follows:
P. S. SAGE, President.
RALPH COTTON, Vice President.
WM. FRENCH, Secretary.

The following persons were reported by the committee, and chosen by the Convention as delegates to the State Temperance Convention, viz:

From Switzerland County,–J. R. Harris, Bela Herrick, E. M. Cheever, B. Robinson, T. Armstrong, Jas. H. Campbell, P. S. Sage, U. H. Stow, S. Washer, J. C. Bonham, H. A. Tinker, John Dumont, J. B. Lathrop, H. Wason, Enos Littlefield, George McCullough, A. S. Kingsley, Wm. Shaw, F. H. Stewart, James Stewart, Wm. Hewitt, James Ferguson, Walter Scott, E. Purdie, John Weaver, David Cain.

From Ohio County,–J. C. Powers, S. R. Record, Benj. Dennis, E. M. Gould, Ezra Lampkins, Dr. Medaris, D. H. Jessup, W. F. White, Allen Wilbur, W. S. Speakman, W. M. French, B. F. Shelden, W. Gillespie, T. H. Gilmore.

[Various resolutions passed]

The committee to nominate township committees reported as follows:

SWITZERLAND COUNTY.

Jefferson Township.—J. B. Lathrop, H. Wason, J. J. P. Schenck, J. M. Cotton, E. Littlefield, G. McCullough, E. G. Carrington, Wm. Gleason, R. Hatton, G. Markland, J. B. Sparks.

Cotton Township.—P. S. Sage, S. Washer, U. H. Stow, J. C. Bonham, H. Tinker, C. A. Garey, H. Littlefield, L. W. Mallett, W. McMillen, A. S. Downey, David Lee, H. Bane.

Posey Township.—E. M. Cheever, Jacob Harris, Ira Keeney, Bela Herrick, A. Gazlay, Harris Keeney.

Craig Township.—John Weaver, Walter Scott, E. Hafford, John Cowan, James Shaw, David Cain, James Brindle, B. Goddard, E. Keervis, John C. Cotton.

Pleasant Township.—Dr. E. Purdy, James Stewart, J. C. Claighorn, James Furguson, T. H. Stewart, Wm. Hewitt, John Oran, L. Atkinson, John J. Adams.

York Township.—B. Robinson, James Campbell, T. Armstrong, J. Robinson, H. Kelso, Wm. D. Finton, Garrett Kelso, J. Froman, B. Stoops, E. Stoops, G. Stoops, John Gullion.

OHIO COUNTY.

Randolph Township.—Wm. French, I. Kelso, W. Gillespie, W. Speakman, Thomas Plummer, Dr. Haines, Rev. Mr. White, B. F. Morris, B. F. Sheldon, Jas. Hastings.

Cass Township.—J. K. Read, Israel Lampkins, John Scranton, John Vanausdoll, E. W. Gould.

Union Township.—J. C. Powers, Dr. Lamb, J. R. Kent, Moses Turner, S. Record, Samuel Walker, R. J. Milligan, S. Kittle, T. Milligan.

Pike Township.—Peter Pate, Joseph Johnson, Darius Ford.

It was moved and carried, that the names of the committees, so far as reported to the Convention, be published with its proceedings; and the fractional committees be requested to complete their number, and all of them to fill their own vacancies.

On motion, a committee of three in each county was appointed to examine their records for the purpose of learning and publishing the amount of tax each county has had to pay within five years on account of the liquor traffic.

Committee for Switzerland—John Dumont, H. Wason, and J. B. Lathrop.

For Ohio—John R. Ross, W. French, and J. J. Hayden.

[Final Resolutions]

Pleasant Township, Switzerland County Democratic Meeting – April 1840

Details of the Pleasant Township, Switzerland County, Indiana Democratic meeting appeared in:
Vevay Times and Switzerland County Democrat – 18 April 1840 – Page 3, Column 1.
See newspaper for full details.

PLEASANT TOWNSHIP
Democratic Meeting.

Pursuant to notice, the Democratic citizens of Pleasant township, met at Moorefield, on Saturday last, the 11th day of April, 1840.

The meeting was organized by appointing JAMES S. LONG, President, and SQUIRE HULLEY, Secretary.

[Resolutions passed.]

Resolved, That the President and Secretary appoint a suitable number of delegates to represent Pleasant township in the Switzerland County Democratic Convention. Whereupon the following delegation were reported:

William Hannis
James Gray
Garret Rickets
Abraham Adkinson
Andrew Shuck
Robert Rickets
John Manford
William Grimes
John Francis
Francis Adkinson
Levi Adkinson
George W Headey
A H Grimes
George Anshutz
James S Long
John Anshutz
Squire Hulley
Noah Martin
John Shaddy

York Township, Switzerland County Democratic Meeting – April 1840

Details of the York Township, Switzerland County, Indiana Democratic meeting appeared in:
Vevay Times and Switzerland County Democrat – 11 April 1840 – Page 3, Column 2.
Consult newspaper for full details.

YORK TOWNSHIP
Democratic Meeting.

Pursuant to a call, a very large and respectable meeting of the Democratic citizens of York township convened in the town of New York, on Saturday, the 4th inst., for the purpose of appointing delegates to represent said township in the Switzerland County Convention, to be held in Vevay, on the 25th day of April, 1840, to nominate a candidate for Senator and Representative, to be supported by the Democratic party at the ensuing August election.

The meeting was organized by appointing JESSE V. DAILEY, President; WILLIAM SCUDDER and RICHARDSON WILES, Vice Presidents; and GEORGE LAND, Secretary.

[Various Resolutions passed]

Resolved, That thirty delegates be appointed to represent this township in the County Convention, and that the following gentlemen compose said delegation:

William R. Wiley
R. Wiles
James A Waugh
James Campbell
N. H. Keith
David Scudder
Elijah Rayles
John Ruggles
Robert Phillips
George Land
James H. Scott
Atwell David
Jesse Guard
Samuel Russell
James Phillips
John W Howard
Thomas Loney
Elisha Henry
William Nicholas
William Lostutter
James Johnson
Samuel Lampton
John Beaty
John Cline
William White
Harrison Henry
Robert Waugh
Josiah Woodruff
Jesse V Dailey
Thomas Rayles.

Indiana's Gore – Genealogy Resources

Genealogy Resources for Southeastern Indiana