Proceedings of the Republican Convention, Held at Sardis, August 19th, 1881.
[excerpts]
Pursuant to a call issued by order of the Republican Executive Committee of Panola county, on the 9th day of July, 1881, the Republicans of said county met in delegate convention in the courtroom in Sardis for the purpose of nominating a ticket to fill the various county offices, to be voted for at the ensuing November election.
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On motion, Hon. D. T. J. Matthews was unanimously elected chairman and Mr. John A. Small secretary of the convention.
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Messrs. A. B. Poston, H. M. Fitts, W. H. Rooks, M. S. Rudd, J. N. Johnson, J. T. Settle, R. H. Howard, B. F. Wilson, T. H. Diggs and R. D. Leake were put in nomination as candidates for the lower branch of the State Legislature. Mr. J. T. Settle’s name was withdrawn and the convention proceeded to ballot, when Mr. A. B. Poston was, on the first ballot, nominated; he having received a majority of all the votes cast, and Mr. R. D. Leake was, on the third ballot, nominated; he having received a majority of all the votes cast.
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The following named gentlemen were selected as delegates to represent Panola county to the State Republican convention, to be held at Jackson, on the 25th day of August, 1881, viz: Hon. Mark C. Brady, M. G. Littlejohn, D. T. J. Matthews, J. T. Settle, Adolphus Laird and Elda Houston.
The following persons were selected to serve as the County Republican Executive Committee till their successors are appointed, viz:
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Beat No. 3. Robert Benson, Elda Houston, Wm. Staples, Green Sims, John Killebrew and Thos. Sykes.

