EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster
Continuing . . .
by Bela Foster
Continuing . . .
In the spring of 1868, the voters assembled in the schoolhouse in Dist. No. 2 for the first time to elect the officers for the town. They chose their temporary officers and as they looked around, as I surmise, to see whom they would vote for, for Supervisor. (In those days every man prepared his own ballot and of course made it to his liking.) Their eyes fell upon Samuel Woodward, a tall, raw-boned, smooth-shaven man, wearing a tile hat, a little faded, which bespoke of much wear. Perhaps he reminded them of one Abraham Lincoln, who had so recently given his life for his country; I know not. At any rate they elected for the first Supervisor of the Town of Lyman, a newly born political unit of Ford County.
There was not much kicking on the election. Mr. Woodward was a Republican and had shared his boys for the defense of his country in the late war. He was educated and was never known to forget the Sabbath. It is not recorded whether he wished to hold the office another year or not. In 1869 the voters turned their eyes to another man for Supervisor. He was not a tall man. He was about five feet and ten inches tall. He was rather fleshy, wore a full beard, always dressed neatly, carried a watch with black silk braid with gold fastenings. He always looked like he had just stepped out of the band box. He had been very successful in making money. He was a fluent talker and had a little of the New England accent. He had a college education and in his nation state, Connecticut, had had much to do with the modes of government. His advice was sought on many occasions. Everything around his home was neat. He had served as the first Town Clerk, so was in position to know about the needs of the Town. This man was A. M. Haling.
In 1870 Peter Gose was elected for Supervisor. He had been active in Town matters. He was poor when I knew him. Though he seemed to eat plenty, he was very thin. He was well educated. He and a young school teacher, William Graham, the first teacher in Dist. No. 5, now 40, went into the mercantile business in Roberts in the early days of our town.
In 1871 Peter Gose was again elected to the office of Supervisor.
There was not much kicking on the election. Mr. Woodward was a Republican and had shared his boys for the defense of his country in the late war. He was educated and was never known to forget the Sabbath. It is not recorded whether he wished to hold the office another year or not. In 1869 the voters turned their eyes to another man for Supervisor. He was not a tall man. He was about five feet and ten inches tall. He was rather fleshy, wore a full beard, always dressed neatly, carried a watch with black silk braid with gold fastenings. He always looked like he had just stepped out of the band box. He had been very successful in making money. He was a fluent talker and had a little of the New England accent. He had a college education and in his nation state, Connecticut, had had much to do with the modes of government. His advice was sought on many occasions. Everything around his home was neat. He had served as the first Town Clerk, so was in position to know about the needs of the Town. This man was A. M. Haling.
In 1870 Peter Gose was elected for Supervisor. He had been active in Town matters. He was poor when I knew him. Though he seemed to eat plenty, he was very thin. He was well educated. He and a young school teacher, William Graham, the first teacher in Dist. No. 5, now 40, went into the mercantile business in Roberts in the early days of our town.
In 1871 Peter Gose was again elected to the office of Supervisor.
In 1872 O. D. Sackett was elected Supervisor. He was a jovial man. He entered the political arena early in our town's history. He had filled several offices in the Town of Lyman with satisfaction to all.
In 1873 O. D. Sackett was again elected to the chief office of the Town and in 1874 he surrendered it to his brother-in-law, H. B. Ferguson, who lived on what is known as the Iler farm. He was an ex-teacher. He was bookkeeper for J. B. Meserve, grain merchant in Roberts. He was a quiet man and resembled Rutherford B. Hayes, he was a clean man.
In 1875 A. V. Burchaus, a farmer living two miles southeast of Roberts, was chosen Supervisor. He had held offices in the town ever since its organization.
In 1876 Joseph Hurst was elected to the office of Supervisor. He lived one mile west of Roberts. He had held many offices in the Town of Lyman and was acquainted with the most of the citizens. He had helped in the development of the township. He had seen the country when it was nearly all raw prairie land. He like many others, depended on his gun of meat for meat for his table. He had 1280 acres of land, but when the crops were a failure as they were in excessive wet and dry years, acres did not mean much to him. When the officer took his gun from him on execution he was very low in spirit. But as the officer repented of his act and returned, it was the sunshine after a storm. The wild meat did not cease to come to his table. The venison and crane geese, ducks, prairie chicken and rabbits with smaller game, gave them a meat supply for the family. He persevered and made a successful farmer.
He served as Supervisor in 1876, 1879, 1800 and 1881.
W. B. Flora was elected Supervisor in 1877. He was a business man in town. He came here in 1871 and carried on a successful business. He was held in good repute by the people. He had filled other offices to the satisfaction of all.
In 1873 O. D. Sackett was again elected to the chief office of the Town and in 1874 he surrendered it to his brother-in-law, H. B. Ferguson, who lived on what is known as the Iler farm. He was an ex-teacher. He was bookkeeper for J. B. Meserve, grain merchant in Roberts. He was a quiet man and resembled Rutherford B. Hayes, he was a clean man.
In 1875 A. V. Burchaus, a farmer living two miles southeast of Roberts, was chosen Supervisor. He had held offices in the town ever since its organization.
In 1876 Joseph Hurst was elected to the office of Supervisor. He lived one mile west of Roberts. He had held many offices in the Town of Lyman and was acquainted with the most of the citizens. He had helped in the development of the township. He had seen the country when it was nearly all raw prairie land. He like many others, depended on his gun of meat for meat for his table. He had 1280 acres of land, but when the crops were a failure as they were in excessive wet and dry years, acres did not mean much to him. When the officer took his gun from him on execution he was very low in spirit. But as the officer repented of his act and returned, it was the sunshine after a storm. The wild meat did not cease to come to his table. The venison and crane geese, ducks, prairie chicken and rabbits with smaller game, gave them a meat supply for the family. He persevered and made a successful farmer.
He served as Supervisor in 1876, 1879, 1800 and 1881.
W. B. Flora was elected Supervisor in 1877. He was a business man in town. He came here in 1871 and carried on a successful business. He was held in good repute by the people. He had filled other offices to the satisfaction of all.
--Roberts Herald. 4 December 1935. Bela Foster.
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