Franklin County, Kansas Genealogical Society, Ottawa, Kansas

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COUNTY SEAT TROUBLES.

There have been numerous and exciting county seat contests. The county seat was originally located by the legislature in 1858, at St. Bernard; when the decadence of that town was complete, it was located at Minneola. A triangular fight came up in 1860. March 16th, of that year, an election was held to relocate the seat, at which the vote was:

March 16, 1860 Election

Ohio City - 243

Peoria - 206

Minneola - 182

No place receiving a majority. On the 16th of the month following another election was held, which resulted:

April 16, 1860 Election

Peoria - 342

Ohio City - 320

This precipitated a contest between Peoria and Ohio City, the removal the records being enjoined by the latter place. The result was a lawsuit, gained by Peoria, at which an appeal was taken by Ohio City and a decision won. The case was taken to the territorial supreme court by Peoria, but while the case was pending the Territorial Legislature on Jan. 21, 1861, by enactment resubmitted the controversy to the people. Inasmuch as Kansas had become a state three days prior to this enactment, and carried the matter to the Supreme court. That tribunal declared the act a legal one, inasmuch as the Legislature had not been officially notified of the admission of the state. At the election under resubmission Minneola won. March the 25th, following, still another election was had, at which the vote was:

March 25, 1861 Election

Ohio City - 243

Peoria - 127

Centropolis - 98

Mount Vernon - 26

Minneola - 1

As no place received a majority a new election was necessary and this was held April 15th, following, when:

April 15, 1861 Election

Ohio City - 363

Peoria - 37

The seat of county government was therefore transferred to Ohio City, and remained there until Aug 1, 1864, when another and the last election was held, resulting:

August 1, 1864 Election

Ottawa - 261

Peoria - 40

Ohio City - 36

Centropolis - 1

The various county offices had equally uncertain tenures of location with the court room. At Minneola they were located in the big hotel, and at Ohio City they were also together under one roof- in what was known as the "red building" for which the county paid the extravagant rental of $3 per month. When Ottawa was made the county seat the county officers were located in the Lathrop hotel, where they remained undisturbed until Tom Wilkerson purchased the building and proposed to open it as a hotel. Since that time the offices have been scattered from Second street to Fifth, illy provided with conveniences and enjoying scarcely any protection from fires.