This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.
We all know from experience how relentlessly the Wheel of Fortune turns, but seldom has it turned as fast as it did for William Brown in the winter of 1837, in Bellevue, in newly formed Jackson County just south of Dubuque.
Brown had settled in Bellevue several years earlier, where he had established a hotel and meat market, depending on who one talked to, Brown was a prominent citizen or the leader of a band of outlaws responsible for the sudden increase in thievery and counterfeiting in the area. Stolen horses did seem to regularly end up in his hotel stables.
When Wisconsin territorial governor William Dodd set about appointing a sheriff for the new county, Brown determined to be that man. He had not counted on one of his prime enemies in Bellevue, William Warren. Warren was the enrolling clerk of Jackson County and used his position to recommend Charles Stowell as the best candidate.
Brown was out.
But not for long. Governor Dodge sent for Warren and told him he could not appoint Stowell. The governor had received a petition full of names supporting Brown for sheriff.
Brown was in.
But not for long. Warren pointed out to Dodge that most of the names on the petition were fake. Even though those by a few upstanding citizens were genuine.
Brown was out.
Until the following day when Governor Dodge called for Warren and pointed out that Warren himself had signed the petition supporting Brown. Warren admitted that that was his signature.
Brown was in.
Until Warren asked to examine the petition closely. He pointed out to the governor that he and the other respectable gentlemen had indeed signed a petition, but it was a petition to establish the boundaries of Jackson County. Brown had cut off the names from that petition and attached them to another one asking that Brown be appointed sheriff.
Brown was out.
In the end, Governor Dodge appointed William Warren as the organizing sheriff of Jackson County, which gave him the leverage to keep Browns wheel from ever turning upward again.
Rock Island Lines is underwritten by the Illinois Humanities Council and Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, with additional funding from Humanities Iowa, the Iowa Arts Council, and Augustana College, Rock Island.
