The next election was held August, 1857, at which there were 894 votes cast for County Judge. L. W. Griswold was the successful candidate for this office over S. A. Tupper.

J. B. Smith was re-elected Sheriff over E. M. Farnsworth.

Nelson Burdick was re-elected Recorder and Treasurer over J. Oleson.

L. W. Ludlow was elected County Surveyor over David Gorsuch.
Amos Hoag was elected Coroner over George Cooney.
There were 345 majority for the new State Constitution.

In the October election following, E. E. Cooley was elected State Representative by a majority of 512, over William F. Kimball.

Dryden Smith was elected Prosecuting Attorney by 481 majority, over S. A. Tupper. Dryden Smith was an Indianian. He early came to the county, and figured quite prominently in political affairs.

The spring election of 1858 was held on the 14th of April. The only county officer elected in this contest was that of Superintendent of Public Instruction. It was the first office of this character elected in the county, and H. C. Bulis was the man on whom this honor was conferred by the people.

Hon. H. C. Bulis was born in Chazy. Clinton County, New York, on the 14th of November, 1830. He studied medicine in Vermont, with Dr. A. C. Butler, and graduated at the Vermont Medical College, Woodstock, Vt. He came to Winneshiek county a young man, in October, 1854, and taught the first month of the second term of school that was taught in the village. Politically, the doctor was a strong Clay Whig, and latterly as ardent a republican. Previous to his being elected County Superintendent he had been appointed commissioner for the sale of intoxicating liquors, by Judge Reed. At the expiration of his term this office was discontinued. He was next elected a member of the Board of Supervisors, and was made its president. In 1865 he was elected State Senator, and served his constituency four years in this capacity, during which time he was elected a trustee of the lowa State University. In 1869 he was returned to the State Senate. He served one year of his second term, during which time he was elected President pro tem. by the House of Representatives. In 1871, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of the State. His thorough knowledge of parliamentary rules peculiarly fitted him for this new responsibility. He discharged the duties of this office honorably, efficiently and faithfully. August, 1876, he was appointed by President Grant a member of the Indian commission, whose duty it was to treat with the Sioux Indians for the purchase of the Black Hill sterritory. Dr. Bulis was absent five months on this mission. The object of the commission was, finally, successfully accomplished.

In

Dr. Bulis, was elected to the office of Mayor of Decorah, in 1880, holding that position for two successive terms, performing the duties with honor to himself and with credit and benefit to Decorah, of which he is ever an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, his wife being an active helper in every good work."

In the October election of 1858, there were 1,305 votes polled for Clerk of the District Court. S. W. Paul was declared elected to the office, over K. K. Buckman, by 190 majority.

J. E. Simpson was elected County Surveyor, over David Gorsuch. In the elections of 1859, the following officers were elected: Erick Anderson, Sheriff; S. W. Matteson, Clerk; T. W. Burdick, Recorder and Treasurer; A. K. Averill, County Surveyor; John R. Howard, Coroner; W. F. Coleman, County Superintendent of Public Instruction.

In the fall election of 1860, which took place on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, S. W. Matteson was re-elected Clerk of the District Court.

With 1860 was inaugurated a change in the administration of County affairs, a Board of Supervisors, one from each organized township, taking the place of the County Judge in these matters, in January, 1861, although the County Court continued to exist for probate and some other matters till the foundation of the Circuit Court, referred to in succeeding pages.

This Supervisor system gave place in 1870 to the County Commissioner system, the officers still being termed, as they now are, Supervisors, of which there were three. In 1872 the number of Supervisors was increased to five, the County being divided into five districts-the number at present existing.

And as the Courts of the county form a prominent part of its history, we here briefly trace their successive Judges, completing first the roll of County Judges till that office was abolished by the organization of the Circuit Court, about the close of the year 1868.

COUNTY JUDGES.

Our previous record shows that L. W. Griswold was elected. County Judge in 1857. He held the office to January 1st, 1860. His successors were as follows:

D. H. Hughes, who held the office two years, commencing Jan. 1st, 1860.

Jno. DeCow, two years, commencing Jan. 1, 1862.

G. R. Willett, four years, commencing Jan. 1, 1864.

E. Cutler assumed the office Jan. 1, 1868, and held it till the close of that year, when it gave place to the Circuit Court, (referred to a little later), which attended to Probate business. The duties of the County Auditor had hitherto been performed by the County Judge, and Mr. Cutler therefore became County Auditor, ex-officio, to the end of his term and was then twice re-elected Auditor, as referred to hereafter.

DISTRICT AND CIRCUIT COURTS.

Winneshiek county is a part of the 10th judicial district, the balance of the district being comprised of Howard, Chickasaw, Fayette, Allamakee, and Clayton counties. The territories of the district and circuit courts coincide, or in other words, they have concurrent jurisdiction, in all the judicial districts throughout the State.

The District Court exercises general and original jurisdiction, both civil and criminal, where not otherwise provided, and appellate jurisdiction in all criminal matters; and it has a general supervision over all inferior courts and officers in all criminal cases, to prevent and correct abuses where no other remedy is provided. One district judge elected by the people, holds court alternately at each county seat at times specified by the district and circuit judges, and a clerk of the District Court, who is ex-officio clerk, also of the Circuit Court, is elected once in two years in each county.

The Circuit Court exercises original jurisdiction concurrent with the District Court in all civil actions and special proceedings, and exclusive jurisdiction in all appeals and writs of error from inferior courts, tribunals and officers, and has a general supervision thereof in all civil matters. All probate business is also done by the Circuit Court.

For nearly seventeen years the District Court had charge of the business now transacted by both courts. But the business here, as well as in other districts of the State, became so great as to be burdensome and cause delay; and the 12th General Assembly enacted a law signed April 3d, 1868, creating Circuit Judges, the act taking effect Jan. 1st, 1869, except that the judges should be elected in November, 1868.

The first term of District Court for this county was held in Decorah on Friday, the 9th day of July, 1852. Present-Hon. Thomas. S. Wilson, Judge; Geo. Bachel, Sheriff; and Wm. F. Kimball, Clerk; Reuben Noble, B. W. Poor, Jno. McKay, and Jno. W. Ramine were admitted to practice as attorneys. They had previously been admitted to the bar in other States. Jno. D. McKay, on application and examination was admitted for the first time to practice as an attorney and counselor-at-law. The first grand jury empanneled consisted of the following named persons: Nathan S. Gilbert, foreman; Isaac Callendar, J. H. Gilliband, Omri Emery, Rupel Dean, D. W. Carrier, Henry McSwain, Wm. Campbell, Levi Moore, Adam Heckart, Wm. Clark, Lewis Eddy, Dwight Rathburn, David Frazier and Philip Howe. Judge Wilson continued in office till the commencement of 1855, when Samuel S. Murdock, of Clayton Co., having been chosen at the regular election the latter part of the preceding year, took the bench and occupied it for a term of four years. The District Judges since that time-the opening of the year 1859-have been:

Elias A. Williams of Clayton county, two terms, to 1867. Milo McGlathety, of Fayette County, two terms, to 1875. Reuben Noble, of Clayton County, held the first session of his first term in Feb., 1875. He was elected to a second term at the fall election of 1878, and held the office till the latter part of 1879, when he resigned.

E. E. Cooley, of Decorah, was appointed by Gov. Gear to fill the vacancy till the election the following year. He took his seat in December, 1879.

At the election in the fall of 1880, Mr. Cooley was chosen to fill the remainder of the unexpired term, and still occupies the bench.

The first Circuit Court Judge was chosen at the election in November, 1868, his term commencing, according to the law previously referred to, on the 1st of January, 1869.

The Judge chosen was M. V. Burdick, who has been previously referred to in this history, and to him belongs the honor of being the first Circuit Judge of the Tenth District. He was an early resident of Decorah, and has been here much of the time since, though now living at Lansing, Allamakee County. He held the office for one term of four years.

The second Circuit Judge was C. T. Granger, of Waukon, Allamakee County, who came upon the bench at the opening of the year 1873, for a term of four years. He was re-elected in the fall of 1876 for a second term, and again in 1880 for a third term, in which he is now serving.

The preceding record of elections shows who were Clerks of Court for Winneshiek County up to 1860, when S. W. Matteson held the office. He was re-elected in 1861, again in 1862, and again in 1864. The following is the date of election of Clerks of Court for this county since that time:

Dan Lawrence in 1866.

M. P. Hathaway in 1868.

S. E. Tubbs in 1870 and 1872.

A. W. Brownell in 1874.

E. B. Hutchinson in 1876 and 1878.

M. W. Harden in 1880, being the present incumbent.

The important office of District Attorney for the Tenth District has been held successively for the last two terms by Winneshiek County men. Orlando J. Clark, elected in 1874, and whose term expired January 1st, 1879, was succeeded by the present incumbent, Cyrus Wellington, elected in the fall of 1878.

STATE LEGISLATORS.

Our State Senators since Dr. H. C. Bulis, with whom our previous record leaves off, have been:

M. V. Burdick, elected in 1861.

H. C. Bulis, again elected in 1865; was re-elected 1869, and resigned in 1871, when he was elected Lieutenant Governor of the State.

Hon. G. R. Willett was chosen to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dr. Bulis, and was in 1873 re-elected for a four years term.

"Hon. G. R. Willett was born in Lacadie, Province of Quebec, November 11, 1826. Though born in Canada, yet both his parents were Americans. He spent the early part of his life in Canada, and received his education there. He studied law at Champlain, New York, and graduated at the Albany Law School. He was admitted to the bar in that city in 1856. He practiced law in Champlain until 1857, when he came west and settled in Decorah. He raised the first company of volunteers to fight for the Union, namely, Company D, Third Iowa Infantry. He was wounded in the knee in 1861, which so disabled him that he was obliged to resign and return home. In 1864 he was elected County Judge. During the winter of 1874 he was elected President pro tem. of the Senate. He was Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, and during the session of 1875 he was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He was also a member of the Committee on Railroads, Insurance and Judicial Districts. From 1868 to 1872 he was President of the Winneshiek Woolen Manufacturing Company. He was married at the age of 21 to Miss Alinda C. Kellogg, in Champlain, New York. Mr. Willett has occupied many high positions within the gift of the people, and has always discharged his trust honorably and faithfully. His legal ability is recognized abroad as well as well as at home. As evidence of this fact, the reader is referred to his appointment as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee."

Mr. Willett and wife can now be reckoned as comparatively old residents, as they are among our most active, liberal and publicspirited ones. Their oldest son, Mahlon, is a successful minister to a church on the Pacific coast, while the second son, Norman, is a partner of his father in the law business, and reliable and successful.

M. N. Johnson was elected in 1877. Mr. Johnson is a son of Nelson Johnson, an old pioneer previously referred to. He graduated at the State University in 1873, and at the law class there in 1876. He was elected State Representative in the fall of 1875, and a presidential elector in 1876. He is now in partnership with his younger brother in the law business in Decorah.

H. A. Baker was elected in the fall of 1882. He is a prominent young business man of Ossian, popular, enterprising, and thriving. His present term will hold through the next session of the legislature the winter of 1883-4.