Wishful Wednesday: F. A. McMurray and His Nomination as Sheriff
McMURRAY Family (Click for Family Tree)
Unless someone in the family has letters or diaries, the source that may provide the most details about the election of Frederick Asbury “F.A.” McMurray to the position of Sheriff of Jasper County, Iowa in 1899 would be newspapers. Back in those years, local newspapers were the FaceBook/Instagram/Twitter of most communities, and would mention who went where and when, all the gossip in town, politics, etc. Newspapers that were geared to the whole state, a political party, cultural group or profession might carry a story about something that happened miles away. Newspapers far away also carried stories of crimes, funny stories, or just human interest stories to fill their pages and entertain their readers, hoping to increase their subscription base.
The obvious for this election information would be to start with Newton, Jasper County, Iowa newspapers, since Newton was the county seat. The Newton Record of 12 March 1897 noted that F. A. McMurray was elected to be the Chief Marshal of the Jasper County Agricultural Society’s annual fair, which probably was a ceremonial leader, not a true ‘marshal.’ Another article on the same page, “Assignment of Hook and Ladder Hose Company for 1897” listed a Foreman, 1st and 2nd Assistant, as well as “Police– R.K. Lambert, F. A. McMurray.” This is the first mention we have found of F.A. having any work of a police nature. (Possibly they helped with crowd management, prevented looting, and helped to determine if the cause of a fire was arson?)
More than two years later, the Iowa State Democrat headlines included, “F. A. McMurray for Sheriff.” They endorsed him heartily, saying,
Mr. McMurray is so well known to the people of this county that he hardly needs an introduction. For thirty-one years he has been a citizen of Jasper county and for the past seventeen years he has resided in Newton.
His years of traveling far- even to other counties- to conduct auctions paid off, with the paper mentioning he was one of the best known auctioneers in that part of the state. (The people of Jasper Co. would have travelled to other counties to buy good horses, cattle, or farm implements.)
Since the newspaper had “Democrat” in its name, it was important for them to point out that
He is also a Democrat, tried and true, and has never before asked his party for office.
Many political offices back then were a ‘patronage’ type of office- ‘you get out the vote for me and I’ll get you a paid position once I’m elected.’ Good to know F.A. had never taken part in that sort of sometimes unethical wheeling and dealing.
The Iowa State Democrat went on:
He has been solicited by numerous friends throughout the county… should the convention decide favorably as to his candidacy, the party will have a strong candidate, who is popular, competent and worthy of the people’s support.
They ended the article with an endorsement (although today this could also be a warning to fact-check):
Every delegate should carefully consider Mr. McMurray’s claims.
The front page of the Newton Record of 27 Jul 1899 had a column detailing the county Republican convention, plus a column with particulars about the Democratic Convention, both of which took place in Newton that week. (Some may be surprised that we are actually interested in the Democratic convention…)
The democratic county convention met Tuesday in the court room. There was a good crowd present and considerable enthusiasm was worked up despite the heat.
[Have you ever been in Newton in July?? Hot and steamy… and no air conditioning in 1899.]
The permanent chairman of the committee made an address, and called “the present trouble in the Philippines a McKinley war and declared himself an expansionist only for silver.”
Opinions over the President and the war were hot and heavy on both sides, especially as elections loomed.
All the 1899 offices were nominated by acclamation- this is a voice vote and usually needs to be unanimous- except one:
The fight of the convention was on the office of sheriff and a great deal of oratory was let loose in the nominating speeches. Capt. Atwood of Clear Creek nominated Jas. H. Sutherland, declaring him to be a good man but not as great as Mark Hanna. Al Coleman, of Buena Vista, said the democrats of his township only wanted the earth, but above all they wanted to see Fred Pahre nominated for sheriff. A. M. Harrah nominated Fred McMurray and Frank Chipps put forth the name of D. L. Graham. After an informal and two formal ballots Fred McMurray was declared the nominee.
This was quite different than the Republican convention. The Republican ballot for sheriff initially had 4 nominees, but went down to 3 for the second and third formal ballots. After Charles Hook received the most votes, one of his opponents conceded and moved that Hook be declared the unanimous winner, which was done- they were a bit more civilized than the Democrats.
The Democrats continued their convention with speeches from some prominent committee members.
The convention was remarkable for the violence of the language used by the different speakers in regard to the Philippine trouble. It was called Emporer William’s war and a war for conquest… The United States soldiers fighting there were termed as McKinley hirelings shooting down patriots…
One speaker urged democrats to vote for the principle advocated, not the men, and vote the ticket straight…
The newspaper stated that, “If that kind of wild talk is kept up through the campaign the republican majority should be up in the hundreds.”
[See also, “Military Monday: McMurrays and a Benjamin in the Iowa National Guard of 1898” for more information on the war.]
On that same day, the Iowa State Democrat reported on the convention on page 5, stating that F. A. McMurray and three others “spoke briefly, thanking the convention for the honor conferred upon them” by nominating them for office. The Democratic convention also elected Will E. McMurray (F.A.’s son), as a delegate to the state convention representing Newton’s First Ward.
The Iowa State Democrat continued to support the candidacy of F. A.:
He numbers his friends by the hundreds and is recognized as an honorable citizen and a man who is especially well equipped to make an excellent sheriff. And it looks as though the people intend putting him into that office by a rousing majority. (17 Aug 1899, p4.)
When the votes are counted it is hoped and believed that Fred A. McMurray will be found in the lead for sheriff. His extensive acquaintance with the people and territory of Jasper county, his knowledge of men and affairs, make him pre-eminently the man for the place. (19 Oct 1899, p4)
We do know, by the certificate owned by the family, that Frederick Asbury McMurray was voted in as Sheriff of Jasper County, Iowa, on 7 Nov 1899. Looking at the above map for how the Electoral College voted in the 1896 Presidential election, however, suggests that the election of a Democratic candidate 3 years later might not have been that certain.
To be continued…
Notes, Sources, and References:
- “Agricultural Board Meets” in Newton Record, 12 Mar 1897, p. 1.
- “Nominated a Good Ticket” and “Democrats in Convention,” Newton Record, 27 Jul 1899, page 1.
- “F. A. McMurray for Sheriff,” Iowa State Democrat, Newton, Iowa, 20 Jul 1899, vol. 19, n. 29, page 1, column 1, via newspaperarchive.com, as are other quoted newspapers.
- “Military Monday: McMurrays and a Benjamin in the Iowa National Guard of 1898”– http://heritageramblings.net/2018/06/18/military-monday-mcmurrays-and-a-benjamin-in-the-iowa-national-guard-of-1898/
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