This arbiter they would not dispute, but select a judge from the crowd and it was an invitation to argument and misunderstanding.

At this first meeting of the board, the clerk was instructed to prepare lists of the books and supplies needed by the new county, and ask for bids.

W. W. Wood, C. C. Akin and W. H. Westover each made a proposition to the commissioners to act as county attorney until January, 1886, and the commissioners accepted the latter. Therefore the first attorney of Gordon, became the first county attorney of Sheridan county.

W. W. Wood made a proposition to furnish

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

office room for the judge and the clerk, together with fuel and lights necessary, for eight dollars per month. The proposition was accepted.

At this meeting the board issued a call for a county-seat election, and set the date of locating the permanent county-seat on October 6, 1885.

The election which resulted in the selection of the foregoing officials was held on September 8. 1885, and W. H. Hull furnished the count\' with the first ballot boxes. The countyseat question had been submitted at the same time. There had been four contestants, three

The friend had said. "It looks like Rushville had lost out." Riggs asked how far it was hehind Hay Springs and was told, "about 200 votes." Riggs is said to have remarked that he guessed he would have to go back to the ranch and get some more votes.

The facts are that the returns from Hunter precinct gave 226 votes for Rushville. The canvassing board consisting of Abel Hill, clerk, and James W. Loofbourow and William Watterman, refused to count the extraordinary vote, but by some process of selection did count forty-two of the votes, and rejected one