In view of the heated political events of after days, we reprint, in full, the comments of the editor of the Mirror upon the foregoing record. He wrote:

"We have more than once expressed our views in regard to party organizations in this new country. We consider them impolitic, and with this view we must condemn the one noticed above, and we believe the majority of the people will coincide with us. And in making these remarks we do not infringe upon the strict line of neutrality we have adopted. These objections we should apply to the organization of any party here."

COUNTY OFFICERS, ETC.

From the organization of the county, in the spring of 1849, to August, 1851, the management of county affairs was vested in a board of three commissioners, chosen by the people, and recognized as the Board of County Commissioners. The system of county management originated in Virginia, whose early settlers soon became large landed proprietors, aristocratic in feeling, living apart in almost baronial magnificence on their own estates, and owning the laboring part of the population. The county organization, where a few influential men managed the whole business of the community, was, moreover, consonant with their recollections or traditions of the dignities of the landed aristocracy of England, in their descent from whom the Virginia gentlemen felt so much pride. This system spread from Virginia through the South, and into some of the northern states.

In 1851 a County Court was created (see Code of Iowa, 1851, chap. 15). The act creating this Court gave the County Judge jurisdiction of probate affairs, and clothed him with all the powers previously exercised by the Board of County Commissioners. In short, it legislated the Commissioners out of existence.

On the 22d of March, 1860, the Legislature passed an act "creating a Board of Supervisors, and defining their duties." (Rev. of Iowa, p. 48). This law went into effect July 4, 1860, and provided for the election of one Supervisor from each civil township. When assembled together for the transaction of county business, these town representatives were known as the Board of County Supervisors. The township system had its origin in Massachusetts, and date backs to 1635. The first legal enactment concerning this system provided that, whereas, "particular towns have many things which concern only themselves, and the ordering of their own affairs, and disposing of business in their own town," therefore "the freemen of every town, or the major part of them, shall only have power to dispose of their own lands and wards, with all the appurtenances of said towns, to grant lots, and to make such orders as may concern the well-ordering of their own towns, and not repugnant to the laws and orders established by the General Court." They might also impose fines of not more

than twenty shillings, and "choose their own particular officers, as constables, surveyors for the highway, and the like." Evidently this enactment relieved the General Court of a mass of municipal details, without any danger to the powers of that body in controlling general measures of public policy. Probably, also, a demand from the freemen of the towns was felt for the control of their own home concerns.

Similar provisions for the incorporation of towns were made in the first constitution of Connecticut, adopted in 1639, and the plan of township organization became universal throughout New England, and came westward with the emigrants from New England into New York, Ohio and other western states. There being a large New England element among the population of Iowa, it is fair to presume that their influence secured the adoption of this system in Iowa, as created in the act already quoted.

It seems, however, that the township system did not continue in general favor with the people of the State. Objections were made that the body was unwieldy and expensive, and that the thinly populated townships, wielded an undue proportion of power in the Board compared with their actual voting strength, and in 1871, the system was so modified as to vest the powers of the former Board in a body to be composed of three or five Supervisors (Code, Title IV, Chapter 2). From the time of this law going into effect, the affairs of this county have been under the control of a Board of Supervisors consisting of three members, one of whom is elected annually, at the general election, for a term of three years.

With these preliminary remarks we present as complete a list of our county officers, from the organization of the county to the present time, as it is possible to produce at this day, it being borne in mind that the early records are very incomplete and unsatisfactory in this point:

County Commissioners-James M. Sumner, Joseph W. Holmes, 1849 (April election). August election, 1849, James M. Sumner, Thomas A. Van Sickle, Daniel G. Beck. Whether any others served as Commissioners before the system gave way to that of a County Judge in 1851, we have been unable to ascertain.

Clerk of Commissioners' Court-Daniel G. Beck, 1849; Grove A. Warner, '49 to '51.

Clerk of District Court-Stephen Holcomb, 1849-50; Thos. B. Twiford, 1850-51; Leonard B. Hodges, 1851-53; Lewis W. Hersey, 1853-56; C. J. White, 1856-64; J. G. Orr, 1864-66; Giles P. Ellis, 1866-68; John W. Pratt, 1868-74; H. O. Dayton, 1874-80; L. M. Bearce, 1880-82.

Sheriff-Lester W. Hays, 1849-51; William C. Thompson, 1851-53; John Laughlin, 1853-55; John A. Townsend, 1855-59; W. C. Thompson again, 1859-61; James Palmer, 1861-65; J. A.

Townsend again, 1865-67: Robert Bathan, 1867-71; Jas. Palmer again, 1871-73; Geo. Hewit, 1873-81; Chris. A. Leithold, 1881-82, and present incumbent.

Recorder and Treasurer-Elias Topliff, 1849-51; James M. Sumner, 1851-52; James Bell, 1852-53; Thos. C. Linton, 1853; John J. Shaw, 1853-55; L. O. Hatch, 1855-57; Elias Topliff, 1857-60; A. H. Houghton, 1860-61; L. H. Howe, 1861-died summer of '63; James Duffy, appointed to fill vacancy, 1863; Michael Healy elected 1863-65.

Judge of Probate Court--Stephen Holcomb, 1849-.

Inspector of Weights and Measures-G. A. Warner, 1849-; in January session of Board of Supervisors, 1863, on motion, L. H. Howe was appointed Sealer of Weights and Measures for Allamakee County.

Coroner-C. P. Williams, 1849-; M. F. Luark, 1857-58; F. W. Nottingham, 1858-59. J. W. Granger, 1859-61; John Ryan, 1861-63; John Farrell, 1863-65; David Harper, 1865-66; Fred Bartheld, 1866-67; J. Farrell, 1867-69; A. G. Collins, 1869-71; L. B. Adams, 1871-73; W. D. Morgan, 1873-75; John Farrell, 1875 -77; D. H. Bowen, 1877-81; W. D. Morgan, 1881-2, present incumbent.

Surveyor-James M. Sumner, 1849. Between this date and 1857, L. B. Hodges, S. P. Hicks, John M. Cushing, Joel Dayton, and H. O. Dayton. W. W. Hungerford, 1857-59; John Ryan, 1859-61; H. Ŏ. Dayton, 1861-65; Henry Dayton, 1865-69; John G. Ratcliffe, 1869-71; H. O. Dayton again, 1871-74; James McAnaney, 1874-77; A. R. Prescott, 1877-79; Harvey B. Miner, 1879-82, and present incumbent.

Prosecuting Attorney. John W. Remine appointed in November, 1851, to "serve until his successor be duly qualified after the April election of 1852;" Sewell Goodridge, 1852-54; John T. Clark, 1854, resigned June 30, 1857; Geo. W. Camp, appointed July 2, 1857, and elected that fall.

School Fund Commissioner.-Wm. F. Ross, 1851, until the office was discontinued in 1858.

County Judge.-Elias Topliff, 1851 to 1857; Geo. M. Dean, 1857-59; John A. Townsend, 1859-61; O. S. Conkey, 1861-67; M. B. Hendrick, 1867 to '68, when the office of County Judge was discontinued and Judge Hendrick became ex-officio Auditor until the close of his term, December 31, 1869.

Drainage Commissioner.-A. J. Hersey, 1853-; G. W. Gray, 1857-58; J. W. Merrill, 1858-59; Geo. L. Miller, 1859–69.

Superintendent of Schools. This office was established in 1858, and J. W. Flint was elected that year. In 1859 R. C. Armstrong was elected, and served until he departed in 1861; J. Loughran appointed 1861; A. H. Houghton in 1861-62; John O. Havens, 1863; T. C. Ransom, 1863-65; Theo. Nachtwey, 1865-69; Lenthel Eells, 1869–71; Thos. F. Healy, 1871–73, died May 31st, and the Board

of Supervisors appointed John W. Hinchon, who was elected at the following election, October, 1873, and served until September 23, 1876, when he resigned and L. Eells was appointed, elected at the next election to fill vacancy; J. Loughran elected 1877-79; Amos Row, 1879-81; Lenthel Eells again elected in 1881, and the present incumbent.

Treasurer.-M. Healy, 1865-67; H. H. Stilwell, 1867-69; James Duffy, 1869-73; John Ryan, 1873-77; George H. Bryant, 1877-82, and present incumbent.

Recorder. Patrick Ryder, 1865-68; D. W. Reed, 1868-78; Ed. D. Purdy, 1878-82.

Auditor. The office of County Auditor was created by act of Legislature at its session of 1868, and the duties of the office began January 1st, 1869, and were performed by the ex-County Judge the first year; M. B. Hendrick, 1869-71; W. C. Thompson, 187179; Samuel R. Thompson, 1879-82, and present incumbent.

County Supervisors-The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors convened at Waukon on January 7, 1861. In accordance with the new system the following persons were elected as Supervisors from the respective townships:

Center, W. Bacon; Fairview, P. O'Malley; Franklin, Selden Candee; French Creek, Hugh Riley; Hanover, Erick Ellefson; Iowa, Martin Moore: Jefferson, Geo. N. Burger; Lafayette, James Duncan; Lansing, G. Kerndt; Linton, Wm. Mosher; Ludlow, Isaac Greer; Makee, Moses Hancock; Paint Creek, James Bryson; Post, Wm. H. Carithers; Taylor, Michael Healy; Union City, J. Everett; Union Prairie, John Goodykoontz; Waterloo, A. Schwartzhoff. Moses Hancock was elected chairman.

During the existence of this system of township representation, which continued until December 31, 1870, the townships were represented as shown by the following record:

Center-W. Bacon, 1861; F. B. Hale, 1862-64; Adam Cavers, 1864-67; P. Soderstrom, 1867-70.

Fairview-Peter O'Malley, 1861-65; Nicholas Drumm, 1866-67; J. S. Deremo, 1868-69; P. O'Malley, 1870.

Franklin-Selden Candee, 1861-66; D. W. Lyons. 1867-68, D. Dickerson, 1869; S. Candee, 1870.

French Creek-Hugh Riley, 1861-66; Porter Bellows, 1867-68; Hugh Riley, 1869–70.

Hanover-Erick Ellefson, 1861-66; John C. Barr (appointed), 1866; Oscar F. Ferris, 1867-68; Hans G. Hanson, 1869; W. H. Reid, 1869-70.

Iowa-Martin Moore, 1861-63; William Cox (appointed), 186365; Michael Gabbett, 1866-69; Martin Moore, 1870.

Jefferson-Geo. N. Burger, 1861-65; Robert Bathan, 1866-67; H. S. Cooper, 1868; James Bryson, 1869-70.

Lafayette James Duncan, 1861-65; Philip Byrne, 1866; H. O. Dayton, 1867; P. Farley, 1868–70.

Lansing-Gustav Kerndt, 1861-61; C. J. White, 1865-66; G. Kerndt, 1867-69; John Haney, Jr., 1870.

Linton-Wm. Moshier, 1861; John B. Sutter, 1862-64; N. Davis, 1865; H. H. Stilwell, 1865-67; Jeremiah Leas, 1868–70.

Ludlow-Isaac Greer, 1861-63; P. G. Wright, 1864–65; Thomas Feeley, 1866-68; Jas. C. Smith, 1868-69; Wm. J. Jones, 1870.

Makee Moses Hancock, 1861-62; Sidney Burlingame, 1863; L. M. Bearce (appointed), 1863-64; Richard Wilber (appointed), 1865-66; D. W. Adams (appointed upon Wilber's resignation, September), 1866-69; H. H. Stilwell, 1870.

Paint Creek-James Bryson, 1861; James Duffey, 1862–63; Reuben Sencebaugh (appointed), 1863; Wm. S. Cooke, 1864; T. M. Van Horn (appointed), 1864-65; James R. Conway, 1865-67; Hans Smeby, 1868-70.

Post-Wm. H. Carithers, 1861-63; S. McArthur, 1864; E. Higby, 1865; Wm. H. Carithers (appointed), 1865-67; S. F. Goodykoontz, 1868-70.

Taylor-Michael Healey, 1861--63; John Ryan (appointed), 1864-66; Bernard Finegan, 1867-68; Michael Barry, 1869-70.

Union City-Josiah Everett, 1861-62; Wm. Yeoman, 1863-64; Josiah Everett, Jr., 1866; John Gilchrist (appointed), 1866; Wm. Yeoman, 1867--70.

Union Prairie-John Goodykoontz, 1861-63; G. P. Eells, 186466; A. L. Grippen, 1867; John Goodykoontz, 1868; A. J. Eells, 1869; G. P. Eells, 1870.

Waterloo-A. Schwartzhoff, 1861-62; T. C. Smith, 1863-66; S. H. Haines (appointed), 1866-70.

During the existence of this system the following named members were each president of the body, in this order:

Moses Hancock, Makee, 1861. Michael Healy, Taylor, 1862 and '63. P. G. Wright, Ludlow, 1864 and '65. C. J. White, Lansing, 1866. D. W. Adams, Makee, 1867, '68 and '69. G. P. Eells, Union Prairie, 1870.

By the change of system in 1870 to that of three supervisors, now in vogue, the new Board was to organize in January, 1871, since when it has been composed of the following:

1871-Thomas H. Barnes, Chairman, Gustav Kerndt, Selden

Candee.

In

1872-T. H. Barnes, Chairman, G. Kerndt, T. C. Smith. June Mr. Kerndt tendered his resignation on account of poor health, and Abner Wood was appointed to fill the vacancy. 1873-T. H. Barnes, Chairman, T. C. Smith, Martin Moore. 1874-T. C. Smith, Chairman, H. S. Cooper, Martin Moore. 1875-Martin Moore, Chairman, H. S. Cooper, Henry Bensch. 1876-H. S. Cooper, Chairman, Henry Bensch, Robt. Craw

ford.

1877-Henry Bensch, Chairman, Robert Crawford, Joseph Schwartzhoff.