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candidate, by a vote of 115 to 143. When the county convention met in July 1878 to elect delegates to the congressional convention Landis was defeated as delegate from his township.
He claimed his defeat was accomplished by democratic votes and contested the question before the county convention; but the Leota men were in the majority and decided against him.
After the vote had been taken declaring Jerome Babcock and Lish Worthington entitled to their seats, Landis arose with the fire flashing from his eyes delivering the following speech: "Gentlemen, I am glad to know that I am in a democratic convention."
Then crushing his felt hat between his hands started for the door. Before going out he said, 'I request all loyal republicans to follow
me." Major Dannevik, Wm Hepler and John Diffenbach followed him out; at that time Capt Jarvis' carpenter bench was standing in front of where Peter McCrea's drug store stood; they walked over there and organized a convention.
They elected Dannevik chairman and Diffanbach secretary; they elected Landis and William Grant as delegates and Hepler and Jim Kinyon alternates Landis and Kinyon attended the convention.
The regular convention elected Dr. Green and Jerome Shepherd. The congressional convention met that year at Manhattan, John Landis
broke the friendship of a life time joining with the opposition to Col. Phillips led by Cy. Leland.
They decided against Green and Shephard and gave the seat to Landis and Kinyon.
This was very humiliating to Dr. Green and made very bitter feelings. Doc Cummings and Henry Gandy were both heard to say that was the last convention John Landis would ever attend.
On the 18 day of July they held a meeting at Worthington's house; there were present at this meeting E. R Worthington, Henry Gandy, Doc and Hamp Cummings, Wyatt, Langford, Fry, Evans and others who were less prominent.
Doctor S. L. Green presided. They at that time organized a band of "Regulars." This organization was
formed for the purpose of driving Landis out of the country; it is not believed that Dr. Green ever sanctioned the murder of Landis but joined heartily in their efforts to drive him out of the country.
James Dunbar who had murdered a man at Meridian, Nebraska, and was considered an all-round tough, had settled on Big timber on the land now known as the Felix Metz farm.
He was here in hiding from Nebraska officials, but was apprehended and taken back for trial, but again made his escape and is now in Texas.
He was a friend of the Cummings and, of course an enemy of Landis. He had on several occasions threatened the life of Landis and Dannevik.
On the night of July 19 Doc and Hamp Cummings and Lish Worthington set fire to John Landis' wheat stacks and barn, burning them to the ground; they also fired five bullets into the house.
Landis saw them plainly and recognized them from his lookout but he had no arms but a shotgun and revolver and they did not come within range. Shortly afterward Maj. Dannevik's stack yard was burned. From this time on nearly every day they sent word to Landis to leave the country or he would be killed. He replied that he would meet them on the open prairie at any time or place and at one time he offered to fight them all at one time, but they had no desire to meet him on equal grounds. On September 9, he was called on to survey a claim for a new arrival who had been camped for two days at Worthington's place, but had moved up that day to a point on the river opposite to Landis' house. Just as they arrived at the wagon which stood a few yards from a clump of willows, the stranger called Landis to the rear end of the wagon under the pretense of showing him something; as he turned to go |
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