USA > Indiana > A History of Indiana from its exploration to 1922 > Part 14
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From my knowledge of the talents, political principles and integ- rity of Mr. Monroe, I have no hesitation in giving my opinion that the Gazette will continue to be a useful Journal of civil, political, and re- ligious information.
Having established the office without expecting any pecuniary benefit therefrom and having in view solely the advantages arising from such an establishment to the community at large, and the same being incompatible with my present pursuits in business, are reasons
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
which induce me ta relinquish my interest in the concern. These being my views I shall feel grateful to my old friends and patrons, for a con- tinuation of their support in favor of my successor.
Pardon me for here reminding you that it has been near three years since. the first paper issued from this office, and that the payments heretofore made on account of subscriptions, have been so inconsid- erable that they would not purchase half the amount of paper neces- sarily used in the office ; this neglect, I flatter myself, does not arise from a want of punctuality in our friends, -- it is true they have not been called upon pressingly for payment. But in the present change in the establishment, it would very much aid my successor in the prosecu- tion of his arduous duties, should our former, and his future patrons be a little more prompt in the payments of their small accounts.
(Feb. 15) E. HARRISON.
(Terms of subscription $3.00 per year. Advertising, 15 lines or under, one or three times $1.00).
Wm. Monroe in his card gives a cause of the limited patronage to the paper "to the great and general depression of the times."
His future policy is thus declared :
For principles the Gazette will be purely republican and its cause independent and impartial-accessible to all but influenced by none. No man's political character shall be attacked for slight causes; and in every instance the person assailed shall have the right of defending . himself, and the same facilities will be afforded him for so doing, that were granted his accuser.
I shall whenever political discussion assumes an asperity incon- sistent with calm and dispassionate investigation exclude them from the columns of the paper. Private character will always be respected except in flagrant cases where it may become necessary for the good of society to expose atrocious offenders as a warning to others. Well written articles on political, moral, religious or local subjects will meet with attention, and be cheerfully inserted ; reserving to myself, how- ever, the right of deciding on their publication.
Advertising letters, H. B. Chandler, P. M. Miss Erskine, Andrew Erskine, S. Wm. Erskine, James Grant, Wm. Hornbrook, John Ingle, Thos. J. Dobyns, &c. Feb. 25, 1824.
Great irregularity of mails complained of by the Editor. March 3, 1824.
Advertisements have run down the last six months. (March 17, 1824. )
March 9. Wm. Monroe serves notice his pressing bills must com- pel others to pay him. March 17, 1824.
Robert Armstrong (advertises and seems to be) the leading grocery store. March 19, 1824.
.
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGHI COUNTY
(River column Apr. 14, 1824.)
Passed down three boats, 2 wooded. Pittsburg for St. Louis, landed Mr. Brownlee for Princeton. Passed up three boats, all landed
J. V. Robinson advertises dry goods. Hardware &c., April 14, 1824. He & Robt. Armstrong have a Gen. Store.
Jones & Harrison, (commission merchants).
The three last above written advertisements are all the advertise- ments of merchants Apr. 14, 1824.
Wm. Monroe announces as candidate for sheriff (May 12, 1824.)
S. B. Keen and Jav Moorehouse as Keen & Moorehouse dissolve as blacksmiths, and Jay Moorehouse continues the business, May 19, 1824.
Frederick Rapp of the Harmonie Society advertises general assort- ment of drugs and medicines. May 19, 1824.
Annual meeting, Fourth District Medical Society meets at Price Tavern, June 1 (1824).
James Seaman, Secretary.
Rev. Charles Philips will preach here Sunday, 11 A. M. May 19, 1824.
Jno. Schnee candidate for State Senator-Id-
Everton Kennerley candidate for sheriff .- ID --
Judge J. R. E. Goodlett denounces the character of Presley Pritchet soundly and submits the question to the jury the next term, a slander suit. (Pritchett recovered a small verdict against Goodlett later). June 15, 1824.
Rev. Mr. Delaney preaches funeral of Mrs. Moorehouse, June 21st at the court house (1824).
1st Stage Notice, June 15, 1824.
The U. S. Mail Stage will commence running between Vincennes and Evansville on the Ohio, on the 14th of July next.
Departure from Vincennes, 8 A. M. Wednesday.
Arrive Princeton same day, 5 P. M.
Leave Princeton, 5 A. M. Thursday.
Arrive Evansville, 5 P. M. Thursday. Return Leave Evansville, 8 A. M. Saturday.
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
Arrive Princeton, 5 P. M. Saturday.
Leave Princeton, 8 A. M. Sunday. Arrive Vincennes, 5 P. M. Sunday. Fare of passengers $3.50 and less in proportions.
Agents to receive fare.
Samuel Hill, Vincennes. A. Warner, Evansville.
A Warner, Sheriff Vanderburgh County, issues a warning for col- lection of taxes May 31, 1824, and adds: N. B. Persons wishing to pay in produce will do well to call on me when they come to market. I will take in payment such produce as I want for the use of my house.
J. R. E. Goodlet lives in Vanderburgh County as per advertisement of A. Warner, Sheriff Vanderburgh County, to sell his wheat, corn, oats, cattle, farming utensils and household and kitchen furniture and his land, lots 23, 152 and 182 in Town of Evansville, at the house of said Goodlet, Aug. 12, 1824.
Shanklin & Moffett advertise notice of demand on debtors for set- tlement. Aug. 26, 1824.
Harrison defeated for State Senator (Aug. 12, 1824.)
Aug. 30, 1824. E. Harrison notifies his debtors he is pressed for cash and they must pay up, &c. September 2, 1824).
Similar notices to debtors of Jones, Harrison, Jones & Chandler, and Gerard Jones.
Thos. Casselbury, a commissioner to sell land in Posey County.
R. M. Evans announces as a candidate for Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Wm. Prince. Sept. 16, 1824.
Jane France (erroneously spelled Francis) announces as adminis- tratrix of Thomas Skelhorne, Sept. 1, 1824. (16th of Sept.).
James Mackey calls on his debtors to pay. (Sept. 1, 1824), and previously.
E. Harrison · announces as administrator of estate of Jacob Zim- merman (Ex Postmaster) 23rd September.
Death of Ann Eliza, only daughter of Alanson Warner, 23rd Sept., 1824.
Suit of Andrew Porter vs. Thomas J. Dobyns, Oct. 14, 1824. Advertisement vs. defendant in attachment as a non-resident.
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
Oct. 11, 1824. First publication in Gazette of Sheriff's sale (by A Warner, Sheriff of Vanderburgh County) o 109 acre of land of Hugh McGary (Oct. 14, 1824.)
R. Boon withdraws as a candidate for Congress (Oct. 8, 1824). (Oct. 14). Jacob Call and Thomas H. Blake both publish cards as candidates for Congress, Oct. 14, 1824.
Issue of Gazette of October 7, 1824, contains a communication from Robert M. Evans withdrawing from Congress race as follows :
To the Citizens of the First Congressional District.
My name having been announced as a candidate to fill the vacancy in the 18th Congress, and having thought proper to withdraw it from the list of candidates, I deem it a duty I owe to myself and my friends. to state as briefly as possible the motives by which I was governed in so doing.
The election of President and Vice-President of the United States. is the only important occasion on which it is likely the member elect will be called upon to act. The constitutional term of the next session of Congress must expire on the 4th day of March next; from the late period at which the election for a member of Congress is ordered, a considerable portion of the session will have expired before the mem- ber elect can reach Washington City, and as there is no doubt but the choice of President and Vice-President will have to be made by the several states, through their representatives in Congress, I conceive we are doing little more in fact than electing an elector, in the person of a member we may desire, and as the vote of the State of Indiana is equal on that occasion to the vote of the largest state in the Union, it is all important that our vote should not be lost.
Immediately after I found my name had been announced as a can- didate in the "Evansville Gazette" I gave sanction to that act of my friends, and in a conversation on the subject of the Presidency, I, with- out due reflection or mature deliberation acquiesced in an opinion that the member elect ought to be governed in this vote by the voice of the District and declared publicly that if elected I would be governed ac- cordingly, but on mature reflection I became convinced I was in error, and that the electoral vote of the State should be the criterion by which the members to Congress elect should be governed, I was unwilling to change my position, although hastily, and inconsiderately adopted, and at the same time continue my name as a candidate: I believed that even should I be elected and adhere to my first position, I might in all probability jeopardize the best interests of my country and probably be the means of Indiana losing the state of Indiana her entire vote.
Again there were three candidates, Judge Call (whose private choice for President was General Jackson) had assumed the same position of being governed by the vote of the District; Col. Blake (whose choice in accordance with my own, was Henry Clay) had as- sumed the position of being governed by the electoral vote of the state. This gentleman and myself, to a certain extent at least, divide the
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
friends of Mr. Clay, Col. Boon and myself being residents of the same section of country (who would also be governed by the electoral vote of the state, but whose private sentiments were not precisely known, but supposed to be for Mr. Crawford) would also divide each others interests, which made it more than probable that Mr. Call, with little more than one fourth of the votes of the district might be elected and might by being pledged to support the vote of the district instead of the state, jeopardize the interests of the state by depriving the people of their choice in case the vote of this district should differ from that of the whole state, and perhaps deprive the state of a vote entirely.
The well known integrity of Judge Call puts it beyond a doubt, that if elected he would redeem the pledge he has given, and I trust the same quantum of integrity will not be denied Col. Blake and Col. Boon. I therefore withdraw my name, from political meeting, and the same motives will induce me to support Col. Blake independent of per- sonal consideration of friendship towards the other gentlemen. To my friends who feel disposed to support my election, I return my sincere thanks, and I fondly hope they would ever prefer seeing me decline holding a poll, than persist in a course that might be destructive of the best interests of our common country.
Your humble servant,
ROBERT M. EVANS.
In the next number, Oct. 14, 1824, Ratliff Boon also declines to run.
Judge Call takes a shot at General Evans in a humorous and sar- castic review of his letter and intimates he withdrew because he saw defeat inevitable and that his other reasons were unnecessary. Oct. 28, 1824.
October 27th, Sheriff advertises the sale of household furniture, cattle, and hogs of Scarboro Pentecost. Oct. 28, 1824.
Clerks of Crawford, Spencer, Gibson, Posey and Warrick counties advertise in Gazette. (1824).
(Papers after November and before January 8, 1825, missing in the file).
Shanklin & Moffet have a column of good advertising, dry goods, hardware, groceries, queensware, &c.
Pork, beeswax, cotton, deerskins, and furs will be received in pay- ment of debts till January 1. (Dec. 17, 1824.) After that debts will be pushed without indulgence. Jan. 8, 1825.
Jacob Call elected to Congress. Majority 41 votes. (Jan. 8, 1825).
1
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
James Newman, Sheriff of Vanderburgh County. Jan. 8, 1825.
Thomas Evans, publisher of paper Jan. 15, 1825, also Jan. 8, 1825.
But Wm. Monroe Nov. 4, 1824, last previous copy in file.
Dr. Wm. Trafton calls on his creditors to send in their bills as is about to leave this country on March 1st, perhaps never to return. Dec. 18. (Jan. 15, 1825).
Vanderburgh Missionary Society.
Annual meeting, 17th January, 1825. (22nd Jan. 1825).
Eli Sherwood, President ; Wm. Olmsted, Secretary ; Gerard Jones, Treasurer ; Committee, Nathan Rowley, Amos Clark, Luke Wood.
January 1825 Shanklin & Moffett the only large store advertise- ment.
J. R. E. Goodlett elected Circuit judge, 4th District. (Jan. 29, 1825).
John Connor administrator of late Doctor James Seaman, Feb. 2, 1825.
Feb. 12, 1825, the Gazette copies from the Indianapolis Gazette, a card dated Indianapolis, signed by Elisha Harrison, Jan. 15, 1825, an- nouncing for Lieutenant Governor, he says :
"On this occasion I am convinced that I do not appear before you clothed with the advantage of affluence or aided by the leading peti- tioners of the state, yet I conceive that a resident of ten years in the state (six of which have been employed in legislation) will enable the disinterested part of my fellow citizens to judge impartially as to my qualifications, &c., &c., Feb. 12, 1825.
Sheriff advertises landed property of James Elliott, February 10, (12), 1825.
February 18, 1825, Gazette contains an editorial or personal un- signed statement at the head of the column very illiterate, almost indi- cating that the writer set his own type when in liquor.
In the next issue February 19, 1825, under Errata, eight correc- tions are made as grammatical errors escaped unobserved.
David Negley offers for sale two lots. Half of in lot 45 on which is a frame dwelling occupied by Wm. McKnit. One-third part of in- lot 12 occupied by R. Armstrong. February 19, 1825.
Jones & Harrison small advertisement date January 1, Salt. Feb- ruary 19, 1825.
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
J. W. Jones still Clerk 1825.
Sale of town lots in Indianapolis advertised for 2nd of May, 1825. April 2, 1825.
May 7, 1825, E. Harrison administrator of Zimmerman at Evans- ville.
In a card signed by Patrick Payne of "Columbia" administrator of Simon Key, he denounces R. M. Evans as a slanderer and not a man of truth. He publishes as corrobotative of his statements separate cards of George Brown, Neely Clerk of Court (Princeton), Peter S. Miller, James Robb, and statement of A. C. Mills and Samuel D. Low- ell that Evans before the time said he was going to give Payne a dose that he had laid up for him some years.
Evans comes back in a column and half in next paper, June 4, 1825, and reiterates his charge and answers Payne's statements with humor and sarcasm.
Editor's notice, June 18, 1825.
"In addition to a masonic discourse on the celebration of the Fes- tival of St. John the Baptist on the 24th instant, there will be a sermon preached by Rev. Joseph Wheeler.
Drowning of Morris Birkbeck noted June 18, 1825.
W. Lewis has a good advertisement June 25, 1825.
Evans elected to Legislature.
Western Sun, Oct. 6, 1821.
Notes election of Elisha Harrison, Brig. General in the 12th Bri- gade Indiana Militia over James McCulla, and John I. Neely elected Brig. General of the 2nd brigade without opposition. Vice R. M. Evans resigned, quoting Evansville Gazette.
Sun of Jan. 20, 1821. Report of the joint Legislative Committee on banks signed by E. Harrison, Chairman of the Committee, on part of Senate.
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LIBERTY LOAN PARADE PASSING COLISEUM
History of Vanderburgh County
GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY
In general, the topogrpahy of Vanderburgh county is that of a fairly level table land crossing the northern part. The Ohio river bot- toms are from two to five miles wide extending along the southern part of the county, and there are also wide bottoms along Pigeon and other creeks. The uplands intervening between these streams are somewhat broken, varying in altitude from 150 to 350 feet above low water on the Ohio river. Evansville is 378 feet above sea level, while the low water mark at the river is 326 feet above sea level. Erskine's altitude is 38112 feet, that of Inglefield is 466 feet, and that of Elliot is 410 feet.
Surface rocks of the county are chiefly of the upper or Barren Coal Measures, although the surface everywhere, except for a few outcropping areas, is covered with the upland loess of the glacial period and with alluvial deposits. In the uplands this covering over the surface rocks varies from a few inches to fifty feet in depth.
Soils. The soils of the county are divided into two general groups, the upland and the bottom land. These groups comprise five distinct types, and the following table shows the extent of each.
Sq. mi. 135
Loess-Miami silt loam
Reworked loess-lake plain
6
Alluvial ---
(1) Lower Ohio bottoms
45
(2) Smaller stream deposits
1 15
! (3) Old stream silts 35 ! 1
236
E
1
1
1
Miami Silt Loam. This type is the most extensive in the county. In general, the surfaces where it is found are gently rolling, but in places they are broken. The color of this type is from gray to a reddish yellow, while the subsoil, being more clayey, has a yellow to red color. This soil is principally a silt loam, although there is some fine sand and a small per centage of clay present. This soil is very uniform throughout the county, and possesses a high degree of fertility. Wheat crops range from 15 to 20 bushels to the acre and corn from 30 to 40 bushels. Fruit culture is also prosecuted with success on this soil, as it is excellently adapted to the purpose.
Lake Plain Soil. The principal area of this type is in the northern part of the county, but there is also a small area in the northwestern corner, along Flat Creek, and a smaller piece near Staser. The sur- face is in general level, and this soil is also of loess origin. It is com-
140
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
posed of silts, sand and fine gravel with a small per cent of clay. Most of it has a high organic content, is dark in color, loamy and easily tilled. Corn is the principal crop raised on this soil, but wheat and hay also do well.
Alluvial Soils. (1) Soil of the Ohio bottoms: This type is com- monly called "Yazoo Clay." It is entirely alluvial, and every season material is added to it by overflows of the river. The surface soil is brown clay loam of great fertility and very easily cultivated. There is a small amount of organic material present. The subsoil is more com- pact, and grades into a sandy clay or sand at the depth of a few feet. It occupies all the great bend of the Ohio river southwest of Evansville, and north to Bayou creek as well as the greater part of the lower bot- toms southeast of Evansville. Corn does very well on this soil, crops ranging from 40 to 100 bushels, and wheat, timothy and clover are also raised here with success.
(2) Smaller stream deposits: This type is found in the valleys of smaller streams, and is composed of silts and sands with level or un- culating surfaces subject to overflow from the streams. The surface soil is light yellow in color, grading into brown, while the subsoil, hav- ing a higher clay content, is mottled in appearance. This soil is de- rived from materials washed into the valleys from the uplands and mixed with decaying vegetable matter. This process is constantly in operation, and the soil is consequently kept in good condition. It is fertile, but usually needs some artificial drainage. Corn crops average about 50 bushels to the acre and wheat crops from 12 to 18 bushels.
(3) Older stream silts: These soils are composed chiefly of fine silts and small amounts of clay and sand. They occupy the upper valleys of some of the streams in the west of the county, chiefly the tributaries of the south fork of Big creek, and a large area north and east of Evansville and extending to the north along the eastern side of the county. The surface is comparatively level. The soil is very fertile, but artificial drainage is required to obtain the best results in farming. Corn runs around 50 bushels to the acre, wheat all the way from 12 to 25 bushels, and clover, timothy hay and truck products do well. This soil is supposed to be largely of the pre-Wisconsin glacier age, but is mixed with material of more recent date, the deposits show- ing the work of overloaded streams in building up their beds.
Vanderburgh county is one of the good agricultural counties of Indiana, a state famed for its fertility. The bottom lands are extremely fertile, and the floods rarely come late enough to injure the corn crop. The climate is such that the farmer is afforded a long growing season, while the undulations of the surface are in most places sufficient to furnish good natural drainage.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT
The territory comprised in Vanderburgh county had been a part of Knox county when it was organized in 1790 as a part of the Northwest Territory. Knox county at that time included most of the present states of Indiana and Michigan, but the influx of settlers made it necessary from time to time to divide it into smaller units for govern- ment. The Indiana Territory was organized in 1800 with General W. H. Harrison as governor and with the seat of government at Vin- cennes. Under his able leadership the hostile Indians were driven from the territory and the titles to the land made secure for white pioneers. With the admisison of Indiana to statehood, the growth of the population became very rapid, and it was soon apparent that an additional county in the southwestern corner of the state could be created to advantage. Warrick, Gibson and Posey had already been formed, but with Evansville as the center of a rapidly increasing com- munity it was deemed advisable to organize from parts of these three counties a new county. On January 7, 1818 an act of the state legis- lature was approved for the erection of this county, as follows :
"An Act for the formation of a new county out of the present counties of Warrick, Gibson and Posey, and for the removal of the seat of justice of Warrick county and for other purposes.
"Section 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the state of Indiana, that from and after the first day of February next, all that tract or parcel of country which is included within the boundaries fol- lowing, shall constitute and form a new county to be known and des- ignated by the name and style of the county of Vanderburgh, viz: Beginning on the Ohio river where the range line dividing Ranges 11 and 12 west strike the same, thence north with said range line to the center of Township 4 south of Buckingham's base line, thence east through the center of Township 4 south, to the range line dividing Ranges 9 and 10 west, thence south with said range line to a line divid- ing Townships 5 and 6 south, thence east to the first section line in Range 9, thence south with said section line to the Ohio river, thence down the Ohio river with the meanders thereof to the place of the beginning.
"Section 2. The said new county, hereby formed and established, shall enjoy and exercise all the rights, privileges and jurisdictions, which to a separate county do or may properly appertain or belong.
"Section 3. John Stevenson, of Perry county, Arthur Harbison, of Pike county, William Hargrave, of Gibson county, John Allen, of Daviess county, Archibald Scott, of Knox county, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners to fix the seat of justice of said county of Vanderburgh, who shall meet at the house of Samuel Scott, in said county of Vanderburgh,, on the second Monday in March next, and
-
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
proceed to fix the seat of justice for the said county of Vanderburgh, agreeably to the provisions of an act for the fixing of the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off.
"Section 4. Until a court house shall be erected for the accommo- dation of the court in the said new county, the courts of the said county of Vanderburgh shall be held at the house of Hugh McGary, in the town of Evansville, in said county, or at such other place as the court may from time to time adjourn to.
"Section 5. That the board of commissioners authorized to trans- act county business in and for the county of Vanderburgh, shall, as soon as convenient after the seat of justice is fixed, cause the necessary public buildings for said county to be erected thereon.
"Section 6. The courts shall be adjourned thereto as soon as the courthouse is, in the opinion of the circuit court of said new county, sufficiently completed for the accommodation of the courts.
"Section 7. Whenever the seat of justice within the county of Vanderburgh shall have been established, the person authorized to dis- pose of the public lots, belonging to said town, shall reserve ten per centum on the net proceeds of the whole sale, for the use of a county library in said county, which sum or sums of money shall be paid over to such persons or persons as shall be authorized to receive the same, in such manner and in such installments as shall be authorized by law."
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