December, 1870, he resumed the practice, and is still a successful member of the Appanoose bar.

A good story is told of the Judge's early experience in the practice of his profession, which he occasionally related when upon the bench. Among the first jury cases he had in the early days of Appanoose county was one which he had given considerable attention, and the facts and testimony so largely preponderated in his favor that he felt very confident of gaining the verdict of the jury. His solicitude for such a result was great, not only for the interest of his client, but for the aid it would afford him in building up a reputation and practice.

In concluding his closing argument to the jury, he said: "Now, gentlemen of the jury, I submit this case to your hands. You are the sole judges of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight of the evidence; and if you find the weight of evidence to be with my client, you must return him a verdict."

The jury retired to their room, and after deliberating half an hour, they returned a verdict against the Judge's client. Accosting one of the jurors soon after, the Judge says to him: "How in the world did you find such a verdict, when the evidence was all on the side of my client?" "Why, Mr. Tannehill," said the juror, "you told us in your speech that we must find according to the weight of evidence; and we figured up the weight of the witnesses on both sides, and found that them what was agin your client weighed the most. Why, there was one witness agin ye that weighed two hundred and fifty pounds.”

The Judge had no more to say, but retired to his quiet little office and meditated upon the intelligence of the average early day jurors. Ever after he was careful, whether as advocate or judge, to explain what the 'weight of evidence" meant.

The next occupant of the bench of this district was M. J. Williams, of Ottumwa, Wapello county, who was elected without opposition as a republican, in October, 1870, and who served one term of four years with general acceptance to the bar and people. He was some forty-five years of age when he came on the bench, and at the close of his judicial career he retired to the practice of his profession in Ottumwa, where he enjoys a prominent reputation as an able and successful practitioner.

In 1874, the judicial robe fell upon Joseph C. Knapp, of Keosauqua, Van Buren county, whom the people chose at the October election of that year, as a democrat, over his predecessor, M. J. Williams. Judge Knapp is one of the oldest settlers of the state, and is classed high as a lawyer and a jurist. He was some sixty years of age when he came upon the bench, and while he was clear and prompt in his rulings, and firm in integrity, there was a sternness about his manner which did not brood popularity with all. He retired at the close of his judicial term

in December, 1878, to the practice of his profession at his home of many years in Keosauqua.

The present incumbent of the district bench is Hon. E. L. Burton, of Ottumwa, where he had resided and practiced law since 1859, with a marked degree of success, and was classed as a sound lawyer when chosen to succeed Judge Knapp, in October, 1878, over T. M. Fee, a republican. He has a sound legal mind, makes an efficient judge, and is popular with the bar and people of his district.

CIRCUIT COURT.

This court is of quite modern creation. It came into existence by enactment of the Twelfth General Assembly, approved April 13, 1868, and took effect on the first Monday of January, 1869. It divided each judicial district then existing, into two circuits, and provided for the election of a circuit judge for each circuit. These, together with the district judge, constituted a higher court, called the "general term," to which all appeals from the district and circuit courts had to be taken. This "general term " court, however, proved unsatisfactory, and was abolished at the following session, the Thirteenth General Assembly, 1870; but left the two circuits in each district undisturbed. But this too, was short lived, as the Fourteenth General Assembly, 1872, changed this, and provided for the election of one circuit judge in each judicial district, whose courts and jurisdiction should be co-extensive with those of the districtjudges in all matters; except the district courts should have the grand jury and retain exclusive jurisdiction of criminal matters. In the first instance, all matters of probate of wills, administrators, executors, guardians, estates of decedents, lunatics, and such other matters that were within the jurisdiction of the probate side of the old county court, were transferred to the circuit court, where they still remain.

The first term of this court was held at the court house in Chariton, on Monday, February 8, 1869, Hon. Henry L. Dashiel, of Monroe county, judge of the second circuit of the second judicial district, composed of Appanoose, Monroe, Lucas and Wayne counties, presiding. The first proceeding was the confession of judgment. When, in 1872, the Fourteenth General Assembly consolidated the two circuits of each judicial district into one, Robert Sloan, of Van Buren county, was elected sole judge, who held until December, 1880, when he was superseded by Hon. H. C. Traverse, of Davis county, and who still presides.

Lucas county, after its organization, was first included in the fifth judicial district. In 1853, it was included in the ninth district; and in 1859, it was included in the second district, composed of Davis, Wapello, Van Buren, Appanoose, Wayne, Lucas and Monroe, and thus remains.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

This organization, succeeding in part, to the jurisdiction of the county court, properly follows in this connection. The "County Board of Supervisors" was created by an act of the Eighth General Assembly, approved March 22, 1860, and took effect July 4 the same year. It provides that the board should be composed of one member from each civil township, to be chosen by the voters thereof at the October election, 1860, for the term of two years; and at the first meeting of the board thus chosen, held on the first Monday of January, 1861, the members should divide into two classes-one holding for one year, and the other for two years. This was done by drawing lots, and thus left only one half of the board to be elected every year. The first board was organized by the election of Rufus D. Keeney, of Otter Creek township, as chairman; N. B. Gardner, clerk of the courts, was ex-officio clerk of the board. The board was composed of the following persons, being one from each of the twelve townships: Daniel Holmes, of Benton township; Hugh Larimer, Chariton; James Stumbaugh, Jackson; H. A. Webb, Pleasant; J. W. Sprott, Union, J. H. West, Washington; Douglass Allen, Cedar; Milton Keys, English; S. D. Wheeler, Liberty; Rufus D. Keeney, Otter Creek; J. W. Barnett, Warren, and A. Moak, White Breast. Of these, the first six were allotted the term of one year, and the remaining six the full term of two years.

The first business of this new county legislature was the approval of the official bonds of N. B. Gardner, clerk of the courts, and ex-officio clerk of the board of supervisors; of Robert McCormick, as county judge who was then judge of probate only; of George W. Hopkins, as sheriff; and of James B. Custer, as county treasurer. Also, the adoption of rules for the government of the board; and the appointment by the chairman of the standing committees for the year.

The succeeding boards, under the township system, were as follows: 1861-R. D. Keeney, re-elected chairman, Otter Creek township; A. Moak, White Breast; S. D. Wheeler, Liberty; Milton Douglass, Chariton; H. A. Webb, Pleasant; J. W. Sprott, Union; James Stumbaugh, Jackson; L. M. Duckworth, Warren; Daniel Holmes, Benton; Wm. Faulkerson, Washington; Douglass Allen, Cedar; Milton Keys, English.

1862-R. D. Keeney, re-elected chairman, Otter Creek; John McDuckworth, Cedar; Jesse Spray, English; W. T. Wade, Union; Milton Douglass, Chariton; A. Moak, White Breast; Milton J. Burr, Warren; S. D. Wheeler, Liberty; Wm. Fulkerson, Washington; Daniel Holmes, Benton; H. A. Webb, Pleasant; James Stumbaugh, Jackson.

1863-D. H. Roland, Benton; Milton Douglass, Chariton; Wm. S.

Hughes, Jackson; Geo. Courtney, Pleasant; Samuel McKinley, Washington; James Harden, Union; R. D. Keeney, Otter Creek, re-elected chairman; John McDuckworth, Cedar; M. J. Burr, Warren; A. Moak, White Breast; S. D. Wheeler, Liberty; Jesse Spray, English.

1864-S. D. Wheeler, Liberty, elected chairman; W. H. Ashby, Otter Creek; S. G. Rose, Warren; George Mitchell, White Breast; Joseph (X, his mark) McMullen, English; James Hixon, Cedar; D. H. Roland, Benton; Milton Douglass, Chariton; William S. Hughes, Jackson; Nathan Keeney, Pleasant, appointed in place of James Harden, removed from the township; A. H. French, Washington, appointed in place of Samuel McKinley, deceased; George Courtney, Union.

1865-George W. Hopkins, Benton; Joseph Best, Chariton; James Hixon, Cedar; H. H. Day, Jackson; R. P. Meek, Pleasant; W. H. Ashley, Otter Creek; George Mitchell, White Breast; Isaac H. West, Washington; S. G. Rose, Warren; Joseph McMullen, English; S. D. Wheeler, Cedar; Alex. Poston, Union.

1866-S. D. Wheeler, Liberty; Milton Keys, English; N. W. Stover, Otter Creek; Lot Curtis, Warren; David M. Funk, White Breast; Geo. Weaver, Cedar; Joseph Best, Chariton; H. H. Day, Jackson, elected chairman; G. W. Hopkins, Benton; Alex. Poston, Union; J. H. West, Washington; R. P. Meek, Pleasant.

1867—H. H. Day, Chariton, re-elected chairman; G. W. Redlingshafer, Cedar; Alex. Poston, Union; Geo. W. Platts, Washington; Cyrus A. Walker, Pleasant; Geo. W. Weaver, Cedar; M. Keys, English; D. S. Wheeler, Liberty; N. W. Stover, Otter Creek: Lot Curtis, Warren; D. N. Funk, White Breast.

1868-G. W. Redlingshafer, Benton; Hugh Larimer, Chariton; G. P. Turner, Jackson; Wm. H. Ashley, Otter Creek; Alex. Poston, Union; G. W. Platts, Washington; David J. McCoy, Cedar; Samuel Stewart, Liberty; C. A. Walker, Pleasant; Lot Curtis, Warren, elected chairman; D. M. Funk, White Breast; James H. Brown, English.

1869-G. W. Redlingshafer, Benton; D. J. McCoy, Cedar; Hugh Larimer, Chariton; J. H. Brown, English; G. P. Turner, Jackson; Samuel Stewart, Liberty, elected chairman; W. H. Ashley, Otter Creek; F. H. Boggess, Pleasant; Lot Curtis, Warren; Thomas Hellyer, Washington; D. M. Funk, White Breast; Stanford May, Union.

Thus the board of supervisors continued until 1870, when the Thirteenth General Assembly reduced the membership from one, chosen by the electors of each township, to three, chosen from the county at large at the general election, for the term of three years, no two of whom should be taken from the same township.

At the October election of 1870, the first board was thus chosen, con

sisting of H. H. Day, of Jackson; J. W. Sprott, of Union, and Jacob Myers, of Benton townships. At its first meeting held on the first Monday in January, 1871, H. H. Day was chosen chairman, and the members determined the tenure of their terms of one, two and three years, by lot. The following are the succeeding boards under the reduced county system of three members, of which one is chosen each year.

1871-H. H. Day, Jackson township, elected chairman; J. W. Sprott, Union; R. P. Meek, English.

1872-J. W. Sprott, Union; R. P. Meek, English; H. H. Day, Chariton, re-elected chairman.

1873-H. H. Day, Chariton, re-elected chairman; R. P. Meek, English; Stephen Julian, Cedar.

1874-H. H. Day, Chariton, re-elected chairman; Stephen Julian, Cedar; John Murray, Warren.

1875-Stephen Julian, Cedar, elected chairman; John Murray, Warren; Hugh Larimer, Chariton.

1876-John Murray, Warren; Hugh Larimer, Chariton; Stephen Julian, Cedar, re-elected chairman.

1877-Hugh Larimer, Chariton; Stephen Julian, Cedar, re-elected chairman; James G. Woodard, Otter Creek.

1878-Stephen Julian, Cedar; J. G. Woodard, Otter Creek, elected chairman; Isaac Kinsey, English.

1879-James G. Woodard, Otter Creek, re-elected chairman; Isaac Kinsey, English; H. H. Day, Chariton.

1880-Isaac Kinsey, English; H. H. Day, Chariton, elected chairman; Sidney Wells, Cedar.

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONS.

The township system is a very old sub-division of a county. It originated in Massachusetts as far back as 1635. "The first legal enactment concerning this system," says Mr. E. M. Haines, in his comprehensive work on 'township organization," "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 majority part of them, shall only have power to dispose of their own lands and woods, with all the appurtenances of said town, to grant lots, and to make such orders as may con