But travel was difficult, communication was slow and boards of that size proved very difficult to manage and sustain. So in 1870 the 13th General Assembly (under the Constitution of 1857) reduced the number of supervisors in each county to three, to be elected at large, no two from the same township. The first election under that plan was held during October of that year.
And it was during that election that my great-great-grandfather, Jacob Myers (tombstone in Salem Cemetery at left), made his one and only brief foray into politics, elected one of three supervisors by a resounding plurality of two votes. There had been five candidates for the at-large seats. The other winners were incumbents Henry H. Day of Chariton and Joseph W. Sprott of Last Chance. The losers were incumbents Lot Curtis of Warren Township and Sam Wheeler, of Liberty. It was Mr. Curtis that Grandpa edged by two votes, 714 to 712.
And Grandpa owed his victory in large part to John V. Faith, crusading editor of The Chariton Democrat, who had discovered that Mr. Curtis had played a bit fast and loose when awarding contracts to build bridges to himself.
Mr. Faith crowed about his part in the election, as follows, in The Chariton Democrat of Oct. 25, 1870:
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Mr. Lot Curtis, of Warren Township, was born a supervisor of Lucas county. At least he has acted in the capacity ever since the buffaloes ceased cropping herbage on the courthouse square. We never met a man who could remember far enough back to reach the time when Mr. Curtis didn't legislate for his suffering fellow citizens. Very fortunately for them, an early finis is to be put to his ambitious career. The dose has already been applied and the effects will be speedily apparent. He has been shelved by a popular vote and is to be succeeded by Mr. Jacob Myers.
Just before the election we fired a few shots at him. We brought forward grave charges. We astonished his friends and foes. We went on to show that about two years ago he appointed himself as chairman of the Bridge committee of the Board of Supervisors. In that capacity he some time afterwards opposed giving public notice that sealed bids would be received for the building of five new bridges. He did not think it even necessary to give any notice whatever. No notice was given.
At the proper time, Mr. Curtis handed in bids to himself as chairman of the bridge committee which he promptly accepted in behalf of the gullible public. As nobody else knew anything about the business, of course, no opposition bids were handed in, and of course he awarded himself the contract for building the bridges. Bonaparte could dictate to a dozen secretaries at once. Mr. Curtis did more than that. He made bids for doing work for the public and at the same time accepted them. This shows that he is a good businessman.
We also charged that the bridges were improperly constructed; that they were not set on sills as the law provides, but were put up in a shilly-shally manner in order that Mr. Curtis might make some money out of the transaction. Being chairman of the bridge committee, he further prepared a report, in his own hand writing, approving of the manner in which the bridges were constructed and recommending that the county accept them.
Just before the recent election we gave the matter an airing. The result was just about as we expected. We were charged with abusing an old citizen and with defaming a man who had faithfully served the public from time immemorial. The amount of censure visited upon us from some quarters was terrific to contemplate.
Mr. Myers was brought out against Mr. Curtis and was elected by a majority of two. we considered that fact a triumphant vindication of our course. But we have been further justified. On the 17th the Board of Supervisors convened and took up the bridge matter. The bill which Mr. Curtis had presented was cut down to the tune of $120 and he was required to brace and stay the bridges just as he was expected to do in the first place. This places us right on record. We looked after the interests of the public and have received the only reward we hoped for --- the commendation of our fellow citizens. How are you, Mr. Curtis?
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Keep in mind that Mr. Faith was not disinclined to play fast and loose with the facts when it suited him, so there are inconsistencies in this report.
In the first place, Mr. Curtis had served as county supervisor only since 1866 --- four years --- not since Buffalo grazed on the courthouse lawn. He'd only lived in Lucas County since 1860.
Secondly, it appears that only four bridges were involved. When the old board of supervisors met after the October election, it approved his work on two bridges, one over Wolf Creek in Benton Township and the other over Three-Mile Creek in Warren.
The board did, however, reject his work on bridges in Liberty and English townships, cutting the contract price for each by $60 and ordering Mr. Curtis to repair elements that already had broken, replace shoddy materials used in their construction and make them travel-worthy.
And obviously, as chair of the Bridge Committee Mr. Curtis should not have been awarding contracts to himself without seeking competitive bids.
Whatever the case, Mr. Curtis did not seek elective office at county level again --- and neither did Grandpa Myers for that matter. He did not seek re-election when his term expired.
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