HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF UNION AND THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF UNION ELECTIONS

First Town Officers

Union, the northwestern town in the county, was organized by an act of legislature approved February 14, 1842, and at that time included what is now Union, Porter and the north half of Magnolia. Its present limits are identical with those of township 4 north, of range 10 east.

The first regular election of town officers of which we find any record occurred at the house of Charles McMillan on April 5, 1842, and the minutes of this first town meeting read as follows: Minutes of the town meeting held in the town of Union, Rock Co. W. T. (meaning Wisconsin Territory) April 5, 1842, at the house of Charles McMillan. On motion, Hiram Griffith was elected chairman and Isaac Andrus was chosen clerk of said town meeting.

On motion, voted that the supervisors, assessors and highway commissioners have one dollar per day pay for their official services.

On motion, voted that the school commissioners have 75 cents per day for official service.

On motion, voted that the town clerk’s and treasurer’s official services be audited by the board of supervisors.

On motion, voted that the fence viewers have 75 c per day for official services.

On motion, voted that John Griffith, Stephen Jones, David R. bent, Lemmel Warren and David Johnson be said committee.

On motion, voted that the town raise one fourth of one per cent for school purposes.

Committee reported that $145 be raised as the aggregate of the town expenses.

On motion, voted that the report of said committee be accepted.

On motion voted that the next annual town meeting be held at the house of Joseph Osborn.

On motion, voted that a fence five feet high, made of good sound materials be a lawful fence, provided the first two feet from the ground shall have no aperture over 4 ½ inches in width.

On motion, voted that no boar over two months old shall be allowed to run at large, under a penalty of $3 for every time it can be proved that said boar shall have done damages.

On motion, voted that all cattle, horses, sheep and hogs except boars, and stallions be free commoners,

Hiram Griffith, Chmn.

Isaac Andrus, Clerk

Results of the election held at the house of Charles McMillan in and for the town of Union, April 5, 1842; Supervisors, Ira Jones, chmn, Allen Miner, David R. Bent; Town clerk, John T. Baker; Assessors, David Bent, John F. Sale, David Johnson. Highway commissioners, Wm. J. Webb, Isaac Andrus, Washington Higday; School commissioners, Isaac Andrus, Levi Leonard, Samuel Warren; Treasurer, John Griffith; Collector, Adam W. Uline; Constables, Wm. D. Brown, Adam W. Uline, Hamilton Higday; fence viewers, Ira Jones, Allen Miner, David R. Bent; Sealer of weights and measures, Joseph Osborn; Overseer of roads, Charles McMillan

Hiram Griffith, Chmn.

Isaac Andrus, Clerk

Records of oaths administered by the town clerk, I, Isaac Andrus, do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States and faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of commissioner of highways in and for the town of Union. April 5, 1842, Isaac Andrus.

Each officer elected signed a like oath, which completed the first election and their qualification.

Immediately following this election the records are as follows: Record of road districts in the town of Union, as set off by the commissioners of highway of said town, April 19, 1842.

District No. 1 shall include the west half of sections No. one, twelve, thirteen, twenty-four, including section No. two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, fourteen, fifteen and the north half of twenty-three in town 4 north, range 10 east.

District No. two including sections sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two and the south half and include twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty, thirty-one, thirty two, thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty-five, thirty-six in town 4 north, range 10 east and the north half of town 3 north and range 10 east, and thus went on the laborious work of laying out roads for this new country by road commissioners, Isaac Andrus, Washington Higday and Wm. J. Webb at $1 per day each. Harrison Stebbins doing the surveying.

A statement of expenditures of the town of Union from April 5, 1842, to April 4, 1843. Paid G. H. Williston for town plat $1.50; paid road commissioners, $32.25; paid H. Stebbins for surveying roads, $12.00; Paid school commissioners, $9.00; paid assessors, $12.00; paid treasurer, $1.95; paid collector $2.00;paid support of the poor $2.; paid town clerk, $30; paid town supervisors; $9.75; paid Joseph Osborn for stationery, $1.12 ½. Total $113.66

A statement of the expenditures of the town of Union from April 4, 1843 to April 1, 1844. Paid I. Prentis, school commissioner $1.48’ Paid L. Warren, school commissioner $3.37 ½; paid Geo. Darrance, road commissioner, $ .50; paid Wm. J. Webb, road commissioner, $2.; paid J. Griffith, moderator town meeting, $1.00; paid David Johns, Supervisor, $2.50; paid Ira Jones, supervisor $1.50; paid John Winston, assessor, $10.75; paid H. Stebbins, for surveying, etc. $2.50; paid J. L. Lone, visit and med for poor, $4.00; paid Ira Jones, Dr. Lone’s bill to Vinson’s child, $5.50; paid John Curtiss for board, etc. of poor, $5.00; paid J. T. Baker, town clerk stationery, etc. $3.20 ; Total $79.75

John Griffith, treasurer, in account with the town of Union, $18.42, Oct. 1. To amount of town tax, $145.00; to amount of school tax, $187.48; Total $332.48; to am’t of delinquent taxes for 1841. $4.25 total $336.73.

1843 April; to amount received from county treasurer, town funds, $82.21; to amount received from county treasurer, school funds, $105.38;

1842, Nov. 22.

By order in favor of J. Osborn; $1.12 ½; By order in favor of J. F. Sale, $6.00; by order in favor of Ira Jones, $1.75; By order in favor of A. Miner, $1.75; By order in favor of D. R. Bent, $7.75; By order in favor of J. T. baker; $7.93; by order in favor of W. Higday, $5.00; By order in favor of W. J. Webb, $3.36.

1843, April 3.

By am’t of uncollected school tax $133.14; By amt uncollected town tax, $118.15; By 2 per cent, commission on am’t of taxes. $9.95

Total $272.90 ½

By amount of orders issued April 3, 1843, $76.43

April 17, By am’t orders issued by the school commissioners $136.76 ½; by com. On $84.86 town funds at 2 percent $1.68 ¾; By com. On $105.38 school funds, $2.10; by collector’s fees on $43.37, $2.17; by collector’s fees on $53.99 school funds, $2.60; By amount uncollected, town and school., $47.53

The next town meeting was held on April 5, 1843 at the house of Joseph Osborn; Hiram Griffith was chosen chairman. The report of the supervisors was read by the clerk and a committee appointed to examine the same. Committee reported in favor of the report. On motion the report of the committee was accepted.

On motion it was voted that $100 be raised for town purposes, the ensuing year. On motion voted that one-half of one per cent be raised for the support of schools. On motion voted that $20 be raised for the support of the poor.

On motion voted that the compensation for town officers be the same as last year. At this election the following officers were elected. For Supervisors, Ira Jones, chairman, David Johnson and D. K. Bent; Town clerk, John T. Baker; Assessor, John Winston; treasurer, John Griffith, Collector, Almon Osborn; Highway commissioners, Wm. J. Webb, Geo. Darrance and John Cook. School commissioners, Lemuel Warren, Levi Leonard and Joseph Prentiss; Constables, Almon Osborn, John Dimmick and John A. Griffith.

Sealer of Weights and Measures, Joseph Osborn.

Hiram Griffith Chairman and John T. Baker, Clerk.

The next year of 1844 the supervisors were Ira Jones, Chmn,; Willis T. Bunton and John Winston; Town clerk, John T. Baker; Treasurer, John Griffith; School commissioner, Isaac Andrus, Joseph Prentiss and Alanson B. Vaugh; Collecotr, Almon Osborn; Constables, Almon Osborn, Allen Miner and Nelson Winston; Assessors Hiram Griffith, John Cook and Alfred Pierce; Justices of the Peac, John F. Sale, Isaac Andrus and Joseph Prentiss; Overseers of roads, appointed April 14, 1844, Wm. Winston for Dist. No. 8; Edmund Basey for Dist. No. 9; Willis T. Bunton for Dist. No. 12, Douglas Briggs for Dist. No. 13.

In this season of 1844 a great many roads were laid out under the supervision of James Anderson, Geo. Darrance and John R. Boyce, highway commissioners, of which there was great need for up to this time and even for some time after there were but very few regular laid out and traveled roads, but people drove and traveled in any direction they chose, there being no fences and but very little land under cultivation and as the country became settled and farms improved, of course this had to be stopped and some regular system of roads established.

At the election of 1845 it was voted that territorial taxes for the years 1843 and 1844 be applied in liquidation of the debts against the town, and the compensation of town officers be 50 cents a day.

The election resulted as follows:

Board of Supervisors; David R. Bent chmn; John Cook and Alfred Pierce; Treasurer, Wilbur Potter; Town Clerk, John T. Baker; Assessors, A. J. Sutherland, John Winston and David Johnson. Commissioners of Highway, a. B. Vaughn, Geo. Darrance and Philander Davis; School commissioners, Isaac Andrus, Harrison Stebbins and Warren Foster; collector; Almon Osborn; Constables, Nelson Winston, Allen Miner and Almon Osborn.

The next town meeting was held at the schoolhouse near the Union Post office on April 7, 1846 and officers elected as follows: Supervisors, Ira Jones, chrm; A. J. Sutherland and Leander Hoskins; Town Clerk, John T. Baker; Treasurer, no choice; collector, Leander Hoskins, Assessor, Hiram Griffith; Commissioners, A. B. Vaughn, John Curtis and Erastus Quivey; School commissioners, Levi Leonard, A. B. Vaughn and Wm. Dudley; Constables, J. West, John Curtis and J. Temple;

John Cook, Moderator; John T. Baker Clerk.

The following is a sample of the interesting description of highways as laid out in those days, using trees, etc. to designate certain points: This day surveyed by the direction of the commissioners of highways of the town of Union, the following described highway commencing in the center of the Beloit and Madison highway upon the west line of section No. 16 in town range north of range 10 east; 80 rods north of the s e corner of said section and run thence east 26 chains to a stake standing s 73 degrees, w 89 links from a burr oak tree 14 inches through; thence north 51 deg. 3 min. 30 chains to stake standing n 9 deg.30 min. e, 12 chains and 51 links to a burr oak tree 10 inches through marked H; thence n 34 deg. 30 min. e 71 chains to stake standing s 62 deg. 30 min e, 82 links from a burr oak tree 8 inches through; thence n 69 deg. 30 min. e 10 chains 55 links to the center of the Janesville and Madison road. The courses and distances are the center of the road. Given under my hand this 19^th day of December 1847. Anson Vaughn, Surveyor.

The following town officers were elected in 1847: Supervisors, Ira Jones, Chmn, Hiram Griffith and James Allen; Town Clerk, Wm. Dudley; Treasurer, Leander Hoskins; Collector, Jacob West; Assessors, Alanson B. Vaughn, Andrew J. Sutherland; Highway commissioners, A. B. Vaughn, John A. Griffith and John T. Baker; School commissioners; Wm. Dudley, Amza B. Lewis, Levi Leonard; Constables, Allen Miner, Lemuel Lewis; Sealer of weights and measures, Dan’l O. Chapel.

In 1848. Supervisors, Ira Jones, chmn, Aaron Rowley, John A. Griffith; Clerk, Wm. Dudley; Treasurer, Edward P. Clark; Assessors, Miron A. Rowley, A. B. Vaughn and Solomon Simpkins; Highway commissioners, Thomas Robinson, Leander Hoskins and Willis T. Bunton; School commissioners; Newman C. Rowley, Wm. Dudley, Levi Leonard. Collector, Alason Chapin; Constables, Samuel Lewis, Alanson Chapin; Sealer, Daniel O. Chapel; Justices, A. B. Vaughn, Aaron Rowley and Peter Aller.

In 1849. Supervisors, Alanson B. Vaughn, chmn, Peter Aller, Ira Jones; Justices, Aaron Rowley, Warren Foster, Samuel Lewis, A. B. Vaughn; ; Clerk, Rufus P. Ranson; Superintendent, Thos. Wardall; Assessor, Leander Hoskins; Treasurer, John Dawson; Constables, Moses R. Lester, Samuel N. Smith, Zenas W. Bevier.; Justices A. B. Vaugh, Samuel Lewis, Aaron Rowley, Warren Foster.

In 1850 at this election the total vote of the entire township was 127. The election resulted as follows: Supervisors, A. B. Vaughn, chmn., Ira Jones, Jewett Boyington; Treasurer, Solomon Simpkins; Clerk, John A. Robinson; Town superintendent, Thos. Wardall; Assessors, John T. Baker, Peter Aller and Chas. W. Beckworth; Justices A. B. Vaughn, John Dawson, Jacob West and Aaron Rowley; Constables John E. Ring, Jacob West and John M. Atwood; Sealer of weights and measurers, Thos. Finch.

In 1851, the town meeting was held in a school house in the village of Union, resulting as follows: Supervisors, A. B. Vaughn, chmn., Wm. Lovejoy and Myron A. Rowley; Clerk, Chas. P. Hoskins; Assessors, Allen Miner, John Dawson, Ira Jones; Treasurer, Chas. Wardall; School Supt., Thos. Wardall; Justices, A. B. Vaughn and John Dawson; Constables, Samuel Nasmuth, Washington Higday and Allen Miner. Sealer of weights and measures, A. Moore.

Although they were two separate governing bodies, some Evansville residents were allowed to vote in Township elections. Evansville Village Board members also held offices on the Union Town Board.

In 1867, Daniel Johnson was elected to the office of Village Board President and he also held the position of Chairman of the Town Board.

Village board trustees included Isaac M. Bennett, Lathrup York, Elijah Robinson and Henry C. Millspaugh. Nelson Winston was elected the Evansville treasurer and David Mills the clerk.

Some of the same names appear on the report of the caucus and election of Town Officers held on April 2, 1867. Daniel Johnson, Alonzo Richardson and Peter Aller were supervisors. Jacob West and Elijah Robertson were re-elected to terms as clerk and treasurer. Jacob West, E. B. Harvey, and Argalus Ballard were elected Justices of the Peace. Harrison Hayward, Boyd Jones, and J. B. Wiley were elected constables and I. M. Norton, sealer of weights and measurers. The following year, in 1868, the same officers were elected to the Union township board.

Justice of the Peace, Jacob West, was a trusted public servant and also served as the United States tax collector. In this roll, West was officially called, the Assistant U. S. Assessor, 2d Div. 4^th Dist. He collected tax for income, carriages, gold watches, gold and silver plate, and a special tax for doing business.

In the 1870s, most candidates for political office had been elected many times in the past and the elections “passed off with no very unusual noise or disturbance.” The Review listed the qualities most desired by the voters, “We want a chairman who knows his duty and fearlessly, without favor or reward does it. We want an absolutely, unequivocally, temperance board.”

Peter Aller, Henry Johnson and Argalus Ballard were elected Supervisors in 1870. Aller was elected Chairman. James Hoskins was elected clerk and maintained that position for several years. M. W. Sheafe, Jr. was elected treasurer. J. W. Haseltine was elected assessor in 1870, briefly replacing Jacob West. James Hoskins and James Rowley were justices of the peace, Charles Hunter, Henry Hubbard and O. Purinton served as constables. Alex Hoskins served as sealer of weights and measurers and Harrison Hayward, a meat market owner, served as pound Master.

In 1874, Daniel Johnson replaced Aller as chairman and Aller became a justice of the peace. Johnson owned land in Union township, but he had been an Evansville resident since 1863. He was re-elected in 1875 and also served as the township’s supervisor on the Rock County Board.

In 1874, William H. Taggart and H. L. Blackman, served as township supervisors; James. H. Hoskins, clerk; Homer Potter, treasurer; Jacob West, assessor; J. H. Hoskins and William Wilson, justices of the peace; Aller, Martin. R. Case, and S. Childs; constables. Reuben W. Johnson took two offices, Sealer and Pound Master. Johnson was part owner of the livestock yard near the depot, a handy spot for holding wandering animals.

Union township and the Village of Evansville shared an old school house building at the corner northwest corner of Madison and Church Street. The building was used meetings and a polling place for voting. Village elections were held in early March and Union township elections were held in early April.

Many wanted a larger building and in 1874, Jacob West made a motion at the Union township meeting that township board and Evansville village board lease another building or room. The Review reported the sentiment of the majority, “We want a building suitably large for all public gatherings and have it accessible to all parties, creeds and sex.” No suitable place was found and the Village and the Town boards continued to meet in the Evansville Village Hall.

It was not unusual for men to serve in several different offices. Peter Aller became the chairman of the Union township board in 1876 and was re-elected in 1877, 1878 and 1879.

In 1876, William H. taggart and James G. Rowley served as supervisors; James H. Hoskins was elected Town Clerk and Homer Potter served as Assessor. Jacob West was Assessor. Justices of the peace were J. H. Hoskins and W. B. Patterson. Constables were J. M. Ballard, Ray Gillman and John McMillan. Isaac M. Bennett served as Sealer.

Roadmasters served in districts 1 to 25 in the following sequence: Flavius Pierce; J. H. Elwood, Cephus Pinkham, T. P. Chapin, Lester Holt, E. A. Ingals, Peter Aller, David Hoyle, Hiram Bullard, Stillman Bulalrd, A. C. Thorpe, L. Shively, B. E. Emery, Anson Baldwin, H. R. Allen, W. B. Patterson, H. L. Blackman, H. Gillett, John Miles, William dooley, T. H. Alverson, W. B. Walker, Josiah Wadsworth, J. F. Snider, Patrick Murphy.

E. F. Ellis and John Tullar served as served as supervisors in 1877 and 1878. Ellis was re-elected and C. M. Tuttle replaced Tullar in 1879. Perry C. Wilder was elected town clerk and served from 1877-1879. David L. Mills served as treasurer in 1877 and 1878. Homer Potter became treasurer in 1879. Jacob West retained the assessor’s post and also served as a justice of the peace. Martin R. Case, John S. McMillan and Theodore F. Shurrum served as constables in 1877. Henry Hubbard and W. H. Hamilton were elected constables in 1879.

Road masters were appointed to do road maintenance. Weather was a significant factor in the condition of the roads. During winter freezing and thawing, people could often be seen “bouncing, bumping and rolling along in their lumber wagons,” according to one newspaper report. If there was snow, those with sleighs had an easier ride.

There were so many roads and so much work that the board needed 25 road masters to keep the roads in good repair. Each road master was responsible for a section of land. The Village of Evansville was responsible for maintenance of its own roads.

Temperance and women’s suffrage were hot political issues in Union Township during the last quarter of the 19^th century. According to Wisconsin law, women could vote in school district elections, but could not vote in the general elections. Women made several failed attempts to vote for officers at Union township elections. Separate ballot boxes for women were offered at the polls whenever school board elections were held with the general elections.

By 1875 the town clerk, James Hoskins reported that there were 13 school districts in the township and $5,044.37 had been collected for their budgets.

The village population registered in the 1885 Wisconsin state census was 1,512 and the township, 1066, a slight increase in the rural population over the 1880 federal census.

In the early years of the 1880s, Union township’s governing board still had some of the earliest settlers serving as officers. Evansville Village residents could vote and hold office in the Township elections.

Supervisor Peter Aller still held the office of chairman in 1882. Jacob West was elected as the treasurer and a Justice of the Peace. Other officers elected that year were: Supervisors, E. L. Jordan, and H. L. Blackman. Clerk, C. H. Spencer; Assessor, W. H. H. Johnson; Justices of the Peace, Almeron Eager, E. Tolles. Constables, Ray Gilman, Chas. Powles, John Devereaux, Sumner Frost. Jacob West and Almeron Eager owned land in the township, but were village of Evansville residents.

In 1884, Aller once again was elected to the chairmanship of the town supervisors. Jordan was reelected and William Gillies replaced Blackman who had moved to Iowa. James Powles was elected assessor; Almeron Eager, Treasurer, and S. Purrington, H. Hamilton and J. S. McMillan constables. According to the newspaper report of the election, 410 votes were cast.

Women’s suffrage and a new town hall were political issues in the late 1880s. The attempt to get a new town hall was put to a vote in 1880s. In April 1884, the voters were asked to approve a $10,000 hall that would serve both units of government.

The voters approved the plan by 70 votes, but the Town and Village Boards did not act and the proposed building was not built. “There is no doubt it would be a good thing, but the burden of taxes deterred many from doing what the interest of the town seemed to demand.” the Review noted following the election.

The fight for women’s suffrage continued. Union township women once again tried to vote in the general election in 1887, but were turned away after a decision of Wisconsin’s Attorney General Estabrook was read at the opening of the polls.

Estabrook had determined that Wisconsin’s suffrage law meant that women could vote only on school matters, in school districts for school boards and budgets and for county and state school superintendents, but not in town elections. “That settled the question so far as women are concerned in town elections,” the Review noted in its report of the election.

In 1887, Peter Aller was no longer running for township office. William W. Gillies was elected Chairman, Isaac H. Brink and John Tullar served with Gillies as Supervisors. James Ludington became the town clerk. William H. H. Johnson was elected assessor and also served as a Justice of the Peace. Fred Baker beat Almeron Eager in the election for the position of treasurer. Martin Dixon served as a Justice of the Peace. Constables were W. H. Hamilton, J. S. McMillan and Benjamin W. Hubbard. Charles Wood served as sealer of weights and measurers.

Village elections were held separate from the township elections and Evansville men had been allowed to vote in both elections. Caucuses to choose candidates for the ballot were held a few weeks prior to the actual election of Town officers. At the 1888 Town of Union caucus, Almeron Eager, a Village resident, made a motion that Village residents not be allowed to vote for candidates for Township office. The motion failed on a show of hands, but the issue did not go away.

State Attorney General C. E. Estabrook was asked to give an opinion on whether Evansville men could vote in the Town of Union elections, based on a new law passed in 1887. This law allowed the separation of village and townships that were within or adjacent to one another. However, the Village Board had not taken the legal steps to make the separation.

Estabrook determined that the village men could vote in Union township elections, as long as the Village had not taken steps to separate the town and village. In a letter to William W. Gillies dated April 2, 1888, Estabrook advised Union township “I do not think that it is your duty to reject the votes of the people residing in the village until some steps have been taken to have a separation. In my judgment your duty at this spring election would be to receive the votes of all legal voters residing within the town or village.”

A week after the election there was a dispute between the town and village about the taxes paid for roads and bridges that were jointly owned and maintained. Each claimed they had paid more than their fair share of the costs. The Village Clerk and the Town Clerk submitted their financial accounts of road and other expenses to be printed in the Review.

Roads and issues of ownership of the town hall were so contentious that the Town and Village officially separated in 1889. Once separated, the law provided that if there was real estate jointly owned by the two governing bodies, it must be sold. The two Boards met but could not agree on a price for the property.

The Village officials claimed that the town hall land had “a worthless building upon it, the building’s principal value, if any being from the repairs put upon it by the village.” A county judge appointed a committee to end the dispute.

The Committee met in July 1889 and ordered the Village to pay the Town Board, $532.98 for their interest in the property. The Village gained control of the land and building and in the early 1890s tore down the old Village/Township hall and built a substantial building on the site that is still used today as the Evansville City Hall.

Road maintenance and issues of ownership of the town hall were so contentious that the Town of Union and Village of Evansville officially separated in 1889. Once separated, the law provided that if there was real estate jointly owned by the two governing bodies, it must be sold. The two Boards met but could not agree on a price for the property.

The committee met in July 1889 and ordered the Village to pay the Town Board, $532.98 for their interest in the property. The Village gained control of the land and building and in the early 1890s tore down the old Village/Township hall and built a substantial building on the site that is still used today as the Evansville City Hall.

The Town of Union had to find another place for voting and meeting purposes. The following March, town clerk Campbell placed a notice in the Evansville Review that a caucus of legal voters of the township of Union was to be held at Homer Potter & Sons store on March 29, 1890 and again in 1891.

Town officers elected in 1890 were Samuel Cadwallader, chairman; Martin Dixon and Lyman Johnson supervisors. Henry Campbell took the job of Town Clerk; B. W. Hubbard, Assessor; B. B. Boynton, Treasurer; Clinton Scofield and Gilman Searles, Justices of the Peace and W. F. Little and Thomas Steele, Constables.

In 1892, B. W. Hubbard was named chairman of the Supervisors, with Ira Jones and W. F. Little also serving as supervisors. J. C. Brown was named Clerk; Isaac H. Brink, Assessor; John Tullar, Treasurer; S. H. Frost and Dempster Van Patten, Justices of the Peace and S. Parrington and Chris Jorgensen, Constables.

Little took over as chairman in 1893 with Jones being a repeat office holder as supervisor and David M. Johnson, also serving as Supervisor. Brown, Brink and Tullar kept their office in 1893, as did S. H. Frost. A. D. Bullard replaced Van Patten as Justice of the Peace and John McMillan and George Bullock were voted in as Constables.

If the names of the Union township officers sounded familiar, it was because some of the Union board members of the 1890s were children and grandchildren of the early settlers. In April 1895, W. F. Little was elected Chairman of the Town Board; Ira Jones and David M. Johnson, Supervisors; J. E. Coleman, Clerk; John Tullar, treasurer; I. H. Brink, Assessor; S. H. Frost, Justice of the Peace; and Chris Jorgenson, Constable.

In 1896, the Town of Union caucus was held at C. E. Lee’s harness shop and the selection of the caucus was approved by the voters at the general election. Jones retained his job as Chairman of the Board. Arthur G. Franklin and W. R. Patterson were voted in as Supervisors. William W. Gilles took J. E. Coleman’s place as Clerk and John Tullar retained the position of Treasurer. Elmer Bullard was elected Justice of the Peace and Chris Jorgenson, Constable.

Despite the decline in population, the voters showed no dissatisfaction with the governing officers of the township. There was very little mention of any competition for the offices and voters were often apathetic about voting. Less than 60 voters were counted at the election for township officers in 1898.

Town officers for 1900 were elected in early April and included Supervisors Ira Jones, A. G. Franklin and G. A. Higday. The town clerk was Virgil Hopkins; town treasurer, V. C. Holmes; Town Assessor, Isaac H. Brink; Justice of the Peace, Leo Campbell and Constable S. Purinton.

Town officers for 1901 were Ira Jones, Chairman; Leo Campbell and George Higday, supervisors; Clerk, Virgil Hopkins, Assessors Isaac Brink. Treasurer V. C. Holmes; Justice of the Peace Sumner Frost; Constable Chas. Fryer.

April election, 1902 – 123 votes cast. Leo Campbell, chairman; J. C. Ellis and Thomas Steele, Supervisors; Virgil Hopkins clerk; Isaac Brink Assessor; Treasurer: V. C. Holmes; Justice of the Peace, William E. Reese; Constable, Frank Hyne.

1903 Town of Union Officers. Arthur G. Franklin returned as a supervisor and was named Chairman; J. C. Ellis and Thomas Steele were re-elected supervisors. Assessor I. H. Brink; Clerk, Virgil Hopkins; Greasurer, V. C. Holmes; Justice of the Peace, S. H. Frost; Constable C. F. Jorgensen. 71 votes cast.

1905: Supervisors: Ira Jones, J. C. Ellis and Thomas Steele; Clerk, C. E. Brooks, Treasurer, V. C. Holmes, Assessor, I. H. Brink; Justice of the Peace, S. H. Frost; Constable; W. E. Steele.

1906: 119 votes cast. John Tuller elected chairman, with Frank Hyne and Thomas Steel supervisors; Clerk. Charles Brooks; Treasurer V. C. Holmes; Justice, Wm. Reese, Jr. Constable, Wm. Steele.

More funding for roads was approved by Union township voters in the 1915 election. Because of a mistake in advertising, the “call for caucus” was not legal, and the printed ballots were destroyed. The voters had to write in the names of the men they wanted elected to office. Thomas Steele was elected chairman; Lyman Gillies and J. C. Ellis, Supervisors; Charles Thomas, Clerk; Leo Campbell, Treasurer; and Ira Jones, assessor. Arthur G. Franklin and Henry Porter were elected as Justices of the Peace. August Kleinsmith and John Milton were elected Constables.

The results of the election in the town of Union was the choice of John Tullar, Thomas Steele and Frank Hyne as supervisors, each receiving 41 votes; clerk, C. E. Brooks, 41; assessor, Ira Jones, 41; treasurer, Leo Campbell, 40; justices of the peace, A. G. Franklin; 40, Leo Campbell, 40; W. E. Reese, 41. Constables, Milo Gillies, 41; and C. Jones, 40. April 6, 1911, Evansville Review, p. 1, Evansville, Wisconsin

Wisconsin women had voting privileges at school elections in the late 1800s, but were barred from voting in the general elections until the fall of 1920. Following the passage of the Wisconsin Women’s Suffrage legislation, the Union Township Board encouraged the participation of women in their business meetings and elections.

In April 1922, the town of Union elected the following officers: Supervisor, George Emery; Clerk, H. S. Spooner; Treasurer, Leo Campbell; Assessor, W. A. Bourbeau; Justice of the Peace, Elmer Rosa; and Constables, Orrie Steel and W. E. Reese.

Union Township Treasurer, Leo Campbell, died in November 1924 and his wife, Minnie, was chosen as his successor. Minnie Peterson Campbell was the first woman to hold office in the Town of Union. Unfortunately, her service to Union township was short, as she died in August 1925.

Once they were allowed to vote, the Union township women took an active part in the election process. In the 1920s, women voted at the elections and worked at the polls. In the fall of 1925, at the primary election, Mrs. Potter Porter and Madge Robinson were ballot clerks for the Town of Union primary election.

In 1926, Potter Porter was elected chairman of the town of Union. Supervisors were Wade Woodworth and George Emery. Clerk was Harry S. Spooner; Treasurer, Oscar Brunsell; Assessor, Ernest Ringhand; Justice of the Peace, Lyman Gillies and Constable, Arthur Jones.

In 1928, Potter Porter won re-election as Chairman and Emery and Woodworth as supervisors. Harry S. Spooner, was re-elected Clerk; Oscar Brunsell, Treasurer; Charles Weary, Assessor; Justices of the Peace, Lyman Gillies and Sherman Hubbard and Constables, Art Devereaux, Ben Disch and W. E. Reese.

In 1929, Potter Porter returned as Town Chairman. John Brunsell and M. F. Moore defeated Woodworth and Emery for the Supervisors positions. Spooner was reelected Clerk; Brunsell, Treasurer and Charles Weary, Assessor. W. E. Reese and John Zwickey became Justices of the Peace. Ben Disch and E. L. Rosa were elected constables.

The Union township government remained stable in the late 1920s and for most of the 1930s the same people held the Town offices. The caucuses and elections for the township officers were held at the G. A. R. Hall on the second floor of the building at 1 West Main Street.

Occasionally there was competition for offices. Willis Miller, Jr. opposed Potter Porter in the 1930 election. This resulted in the re-election of Potter Porter as Chairman of the Board who had served the township in that capacity since 1926. Potter retained his position through many more elections.

Peter Templeton and Mike F. Moore received the majority of votes for supervisors, defeating Wade H. Woodworth in 1930. Templeton and Moore were also re-elected year-after-year.

Harry S. Spooner was elected clerk in 1926. Spooner had competition in 1930, narrowly defeating Stanley Perry with a close tally of 119-111. In 1931 Perry beat Spooner and Perry continued to serve on the board for more than 20 years.

Charles Weary was Assessor, from 1928 to 1933. Weary died in December 1933. He had served as Town of Union assessor for seven years. Harry Spooner took this position following the 1934 election. Lee Barnard was elected assessor in 1936 and continued to serve as assessor for many years.

In the 1930 election, Oscar Brunsell was unopposed for Treasurer, a post he had held since 1926. Oscar died in July 1930 and in the 1931 election, Oscar’s wife, Grace Brunsell won the Treasurer’s office. She was the first women to hold office since Minnie Campbell was Treasurer, a position she accepted after her husband, Leo Campbell died in 1924. Mrs. Brunsell was re-elected for several terms and was the only woman serving on the township board for many years.

In the early years of the 1930s, Grace Brunsell collected taxes from an office in the Bank of Evansville. In 1935, she set up office in the Grange Store and was available to collect taxes every Thursday and Saturday in the month of January of each year. In February, the taxes were only collected on Saturdays.

There was more rotation of people in the Constable and Justice of the Peace’s offices. In the 1930 election, Claude DeRemer and Elmer L. Rosa were elected for the constable positions. Daniel F. Finnane and William Reese held the Constable positions through several elections in the 1930s. Herman Smith replaced Finnane as a constable in the late 1930s.

Wallace Crocker defeated Sherman Hubbard for the Justice of the Peace office. Crocker held the position in 1931 and 1932. Sherman Hubbard won the Justice of Peace office in 1931 but was defeated by Harry Spooner in 1934. Spooner was re-elected for several terms.

The 1934 officers of the Town of Union were unopposed in the 1935 election. There was so little interest in the 1935 election that only 50 voters turned out, less than one-fourth of number who voted in the 1930 election.

A vote in the April election of 1937 created a significant change for Union township. Strong temperance leanings by the voters from the settlement period into the 1930s did not allowed the sale of beer or liquor in the township. For the first time in its history, in the spring 1937 election, Union township voters approved the sale of beer. The votes approved the sale of beer but defeated the sale of liquor in the township.

There was no opposition for the candidates running for office in 1938 and just over 50 voters selected the officers. All officers remained the same as 1937: Potter Porter, Chairman; Mike Moore and Peter Templeton supervisors; Stanley Perry, Clerk; Grace Brunsell; treasurer, Lee Barnard, Assessor; Harry Spooner, Justice of the Peace; William E. Reese and Herman Smith, Constables. The only change in 1939 was the election of Ben Disch to the Justice of the Peace office.