USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > A history of Sullivan County, Indiana, closing of the first century's history of the county, and showing the growth of its people, institutions, industries and wealth, Volume I > Part 22
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adjacent country and a large proportion of the citizens became members. A two-story frame hall near the southwest corner of the square was built by this order. Many of the social occasions of the time were undertaken under the auspices and leadership of this organization. The Good Tem- plars and the Royal Templars were similar organizations that followed the Sons of Temperance, and at different localities had their following and influence.
In 1853 the legislature passed a law for the limitation and control of the liquor traffic, providing that the sale of intoxicating" liquors should be under the control of a county agent, thus creating a new office in each county, and also providing that liquors should only be sold for medicinal purposes and on the prescription of a physician. But the representatives of the state in controlling the liquor business lacked, in the majority of cases, the strength and judgment of character equal to the responsibilities put upon them by the insistent drinkers, and the system was a failure.
In 1855 the legislature passed an act which was prohibitory in its nature. The manufacture, sale or drinking of spirituous and malt liquors were forbidden in the state except for medicinal uses. Sullivan county had prohibition under this act about six months, when the law was declared unconstitutional.
It was about 1872 that the Crusade Movement first set in, and in time spread like wildfire over the whole country. The women were in many localities the principal actors in this movement, and in some towns collected in parties and by intimidation and feminine suasion in many instances routed the saloon forces, caused the liquors to be poured into the gutters, and produced at least a temporary cessation of the traffic. The newspapers do not record during this time any forceful measures to stop the traffic in this county, but meetings were frequently held and the legal machinery then provided was constantly invoked to keep out saloons.
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The agitation begun with the Crusade resulted in what was known as the "Baxter Bill," which produced much excitement when it was passed in 1873. At the next session it was modified and finally repealed. It pro- vided among other things that the saloon-keeper should file with his appli- cation for license the petition of a majority of the voters at the last elec- tion in the township or ward where he desired to sell, asking that he be granted license. During the continuance of this law various ways were devised by which the law could be evaded.
The organization of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union fol- lowed as a result of the Crusade Movement of 1873, and in this, too, Sulli- van county has co-operated through its local organizations. The Prohibi- tion party, which first placed national candidates in the field during the eighties, has had adherents in this county since that time. But perhaps the most effective organization for combating the liquor traffic has been the Anti-Saloon League, which was organized about the beginning of this century, and is both a national and state organization. Though it origi- nated as a church movement, it is in fact a general movement on the part of the people at large, under the leadership of national, state and local executive committees.
. Those who desire to follow the history of the anti-saloon movement in its details in Sullivan county will find much information in the follow- ing chronological items, culled from the issues of the Democrat during the past forty years. Murray Briggs, the editor for most of this time, was in active sympathy with the movement. The dates given are the dates of issue of the Democrat.
Jan. 7, 1867-In compliance with a numerously signed petition the board of trustees of Sullivan passed an ordinance requiring $500 license of all liquor sellers.
Feb. 7. 1867-Citizens of Carlisle generally exulted over the
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"drying up of the last grocery" in their town. The proprietors left town, whether from public sentiment or from fear of grand jury, is somewhat uncertain.
Aug. 1, 1867-Board of trustees of Merom, Thomas Kearns president and H. H. Shideler clerk, adopted resolutions requiring saloon-keepers to pay a tax of five dollars per day for every billiard table, 10-pin or 9-pin alley, license of $100 per year for privilege of selling liquor and requiring certificate of good moral character of applicant signed by two-thirds of the legal voters of the town, and providing penalties for illegal selling and disorderly conduct.
Jan. 13, 1870-The correspondent of the New Albany Ledger, writing from Farmersburg, says: "The moral sentiment of the people is of such a character that we are without the usual append- age of a western town, a grog shop."
Aug. 12, 1870-Good Templars have organized at Carlisle.
March 13, 1872-A large number of indictments against liquor dealers are on docket, and numerous convictions. Judge Patterson takes a new departure, now adding five days in the county jail to the usual fine of $5 and costs. Prosecuting attorney also announces his intention to pursue absent witnesses with attachment and make · it rather expensive to hire witnesses to stay away.
July 31, 1872-More licensed saloons in this place (Sullivan) than ever before.
Feb. 24, 1873-Meeting held in Literary hall (schoolhouse) to discuss bill providing that liquor dealers must get signatures of majority of voters in order to get license. T. J. Wolfe presided. Speeches in favor of the bill made by James L. Griffin, W. T. Craw- ford, J. T. Hays, Rev. W. P. Armstrong, Rev. Mr. Robertson and others. Governor Hendricks was telegraphed that Sullivan county approved the law.
June, 1873- Two licenses granted in Sullivan under the new law.
June 14, 1873-Last day for the saloon in Carlisle.
April 6, 1874-Temperance meeting at the Presbyterian church was rather more spirited than usual. Speeches made by Hays, Crawford and Kildow. Effort had been made in March by the women to secure an effective remonstrance.
Aug. 12, 1874-"To the county commissioners of Sullivan
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county : I hereby notify you that I am opposed to granting any more permits to any person to sell liquor in this the - ward of Sullivan for the space of one year, and any petition bearing my name will be without my knowledge or consent." This was signed by about two-thirds of the voters, including nearly all the men of prominence in the town about that time.
Sept. 9, 1874-Intense interest centered in the applications for liquor license under the Baxter law. At the last municipal election in this place, under the ruling of the attorney general, but one poll- ing place was opened and all the votes taken there instead of by wards as formerly. The applicants claim this was unconstitutional, and the petitions were made up on the basis of the election of 1873 and the applications are claimed to be signed by a majority of the voters in the wards as shown by the poll books of that election. Senator Voorhees appeared as legal counsel for the applicants, and N. G. Buff for the temperance men. The permits were granted.
Sept. 23, 1874-Licenses granted in Sullivan and Shelburn.
Dec. 30, 1874-The Sullivan Amateurs have made arrange- ments to bring out the popular play of "Ten Nights in the Bar Room" in fine style at Literary Hall. They purpose to give two entertainments, presenting this play and a new moral drama entitled "The Fruits of the Wine Cup."
May 5, 1875-Temperance ticket nominated, and the following officers elected on that ticket: Trustees, James A. Catlin, A. B. Stansil, Uriah Coulson, Thos. Robbins, J. R. Mckinley. Only one office won by the opposing ticket.
June 9, 1875-Town board passed ordinance making license fee ȘIoo, the highest allowed by the state law.
June 16, 1875-About $1,000 from liquor licenses added to the tuition fund of this county.
Aug. 29, 1877-Murphy or blue ribbon temperance movement has been inaugurated here and meetings held for the past week. Four hundred have signed pledge.
Oct. 24, 1877-Luther Benson lectured at court house last week. Audience spellbound for an hour and a half. Mr. John Lee for a week has been conducting successful meetings on the Murphy plan at Carlisle. About 160 signers of the pledge, probably fifty of whom were regular drinkers. The damage to the saloon business
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has aroused keepers to point of retaliation, though the speaker was most gentle in manner and, moreover, frail in health. As. he was leaving town several men followed him to the train and assaulted him.
Nov. 14, 1877-Audience room at M. E. church nightly crowded, and people who never before went to temperance meet- ings attend regularly and hundreds have pinned on the blue ribbon. Messrs. Shelby and Black are conducting the meetings with won- derful success.
Nov. 28, 1877-Shelby-Black meetings followed by weekly meetings at different churches. Executive committee have arranged series of meetings in surrounding towns and all the school districts.
Dec. 15, 1877-Meetings still well attended. Middletown and Fairbanks movement highly popular ; at. New Lebanon, 78 signers on Sunday night, and Monday 37 more.
Dec. 26, 1877-Various societies of the county report 2,881 signers.
Feb. 13, 1878-Front doors of saloons freely used on Sunday.
March 30, 1878-County convention held at the court house. Lafayette Stewart chosen president, Rev. Taylor, A. D. Murphy and Prof. George W. Register, secretaries, N. Conkle of Farmersburg and Smith Greenfield of Carlisle vice presidents. A permanent organization was effected. A resolution passed promising continued diligence and disclaiming all intention to permit the organization to enter politics. Thirty clubs reported 5,000 signers of the pledge. The number of signers in Sullivan brought up to 994.
April 10, 1878-No saloons in Turman township.
July 10, 1878-On the 4th a temperance rally held at Sullivan, at which speeches patriotic and in the interests of temperance were made by the president of the county association, by John Springer of Jacksonville, Ill .; by Mrs. William Denny of Vincennes, by Luther Benson, and by John Billman and Captain Crawford. Great satisfaction was expressed that in a crowd of eight or ten thousand not a single drunken man was seen, and no disturbance of any kind.
Sept. 25, 1878 - Association at Sullivan resumed meetings. Messrs. Hoke and Sherman tendered the use of the opera house for the meetings.
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Oct. 9, 1878-Executive committee for the ensuing year ap- pointed-J. R. McKinley chairman, A. D. Murphy secretary and John Thompson treasurer.
1878-79-Interest in meetings declined during this winter, and the organization became inactive for a time. In February, 1879. it was reported that Sullivan was making no attempt to enforce closing ordinances.
May 10, 1879-County convention re-elects Lafayette Stewart and A. D. Stewart president and secretary of the county association.
Dec. 10, 1879-Last week we published an application for a liquor license in Farmersburg. Within 24 hours after the recep- tion of the paper containing the advertisement every citizen in town had signed a remonstrance.
Feb. 22, 1882-Good Templars met in convention at New Lebanon, 26 delegates, three-fourths of whom were voters. Re- solved to support no candidates who would not pledge themselves to vote for an amendment providing state prohibition.
March 4, 1884-W. C. T. U. is trying to prevent the two saloon-keepers in Carlisle from obtaining licenses.
March 7, 1884-Fight against saloon-keepers in Carlisle suc- cessful.
May 30, 1884-W. C. T. U. circulating petition in Sullivan among the women asking commissioners to refuse all applications - for license. .
June 6, 1884-About 50 ladies of the W. C. T. U. attended commissioners' court and succeeded in preventing issuance of licenses to all applicants but two.
June 27. 1884-Ladies went to Merom to organize W. C. T. U.
Aug. 26, 1884-W. C. T. U. brought Mrs. Josephine R. Nich- ols to address the teachers' institute and secured resolution recom- mending the passage of a law requiring instruction on the effects of alcohol to be given in the public schools.
July 29, 1884-Branch of the W. C. T. U. organized among the young ladies of Sullivan.
Nov. 9, 1891-The first Demorest medal contest won by Ethel · Ireland. Meeting held to consider the organization of a W. C. T. U. (The old association had apparently ceased.)
March 3, 1896-Commissioners hold that remonstrance should
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be directed against individual applicants; the judge of the circuit court that it should be against any and all persons desiring to sell liquor.
June 5, 1896-License refused in Jackson township because of remonstrance signed by over 400 voters.
June 27, 1901-Compromise effected between the Anti-Saloon League and the saloon-keepers in the form of an agreement that the saloon-keepers will respect the Nicholson law in regard to closing from II p. m. to 5 a. m. and on Sundays, during which time no liquor will be sold or given away. Also will permit no gambling or unlawful games of any sort, and allow saloons to be inspected at any time by members of the league. The league agreed to suspend all remonstrances so long as the saloon-keepers kept faith. The agreement was signed by five leading saloon men, and remonstrances may be filed against those who do not sign.
Dec. 12, 1901-The Cass township remonstrance, signed by 350 voters, has been heid valid. This leaves Cass township without a saloon.
Feb. 6, 1902-The people of Cass township have filed 12 remonstrances in 13 months.
June 19, 1902-Remonstrance being circulated in Hamilton township. Effort being made to induce majority of voters to give power of attorney to Joshua Beasley and William H. Crowder, Sr., to sign names on remonstrances against any and all applicants for saloons.
Sept. II, 1902-Remonstrance held good in Hamilton town- ship. The saloon men having caused almost every man who signed remonstrance to be summoned as witness, the temperance people made it the occasion for a rally in the court house yard. Free lunch was served to all, and speeches made by ministers and citi- zens. The decision has closed all but four saloons in Sullivan.
Dec. 25, 1902-The supreme court sustains the power of attor- ney in the remonstrance against the liquor traffic. A remonstrance had been signed by John Ragle et al. against John Mattix in Jack- son township in the spring of 1900, and the commissioners refused the license. This action was reversed by the Sullivan circuit court on the ground that the remonstrance did not mention Mattix, but
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was directed against all applicants. The supreme court upheld the validity of this form of remonstrance.
Jan. 8, 1903 - Haddon township successfully remonstrates against two saloons.
July 9, 1903-Remonstrance sustained in Hamilton township ; leaves but two licenses in Sullivan.
Sept. 17, 1903-Temperance forces defeated in Hamilton town- ship, leaving eight saloons in Sullivan.
Sept. 15, 1904 - Commissioners grant 15 licenses. Remon- strance in Jefferson township again successful; no saloons there in many years.
March 16, 1905-Paper being circulated to give A. E. Hazel- rigg and W. H. Crowder power of attorney to sign names of peti- tioners to all remonstrances against those who apply for license to sell liquor outside of business district in Sullivan.
May 4, 1905-Several applicants for license in Cass township refused because of remonstrance.
Aug. 10, 1905-Licenses granted to sell liquor in Sullivan, Shelburn and other places. Gill township was the first in the county to file remonstrance under the Moore law, and it proved effective.
July 20, 1905-Meeting of representatives from Curry, Ham- ilton, Jackson, Haddon and Gill townships organize a Sullivan County Law and Order League, W. D. Scott chosen president of the Hamilton township branch.
Feb. 15, 1906-Sullivan one of the few counties in the state in which saloons have increased in the past year, the number hav- ing increased from 55 to 64. This is due no doubt to the growth of mining camps. Dugger, a mining town, has no saloons, and all Cass township is dry under the Moore law.
Sept. 6, 1906-Remonstrance signed by 578 persons filed by Curry township, a majority of 67. At present there are 64 saloons in the county, 22 being in Curry township.
April 4, 1907-Fairbanks township now dry.
CHAPTER XXI.
FRATERNAL.
A remarkable proof of the widespread activities and influence of Masonry is found in the establishment of a lodge in Sullivan county only a few years after the organization of the county, while the churches and schools and other essential institutions of society were still in primitive condition. Hiram Lodge No. 18, F. & A. M., was chartered at Carlisle in 1821. This charter with its number was given to Attica Lodge in 1835, but in 1850 a reorganization was effected, and this time the lodge got the third number in Indiana Masonry, the lodge being henceforth known as Carlisle Lodge No. 3, the number being taken from an arrested lodge. Among the early Masons at Carlisle was John W. Davis, who is reported to have paid his dues with "one quart of cherry bounce."
A lodge of Masons, Shelburn Lodge, No. 369, was organized at the village of Shelburn in 1867. At Merom the Masons were earlier in activ- ity. After conducting Masonic work for a while under dispensation, they were granted a charter in 1863.
WV. H. Cornelius, Alex Knoy, Willis G. Neff, and Joseph W. Briggs were the principal movers in the organization of Masonry in the town of Sullivan. They worked under a dispensation from June, 1859, until Sulli- van Lodge No. 263 was chartered on May 30, 1860. Twenty years later this was the strongest and richest fraternal organization in the county.
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One of the noteworthy occasions in the history of Masonry in this county was the assembling, on June 24, 1868, of several hundred Masons · of the county and state at the Sullivan fair grounds. The Merom band was present, and a general celebration indulged in, the chief feature of which was the institution of the newly organized Shelburn lodge. The Masonic hall at Sullivan was dedicated in January, 1886.
Six residents of Carlisle were granted a charter to form a lodge of Odd Fellowship on January 30, 1850, and with that event begins the career of Carlisle Lodge No. 50, I. O. O. F. The six charter members were : J. H. Massey, T. Leuep, John Caldwell, Edward S. Hussey, James A. Curtner, A. M. Murphy.
The progress of Odd Fellowship in the southern part of the county was denoted in the organization of Morse Encampment No. 139, for which a charter was granted May 16, 1876.
Some of the prominent Odd Fellows in the southern part of the county are noted in the list of officers for the Carlisle lodge for 1856- · John F. Curry, Hamet N. Helms, William M. Skinner, Thomas E. Ash- ley, A. A. Curry, W. D. Blackburn, J. V. Caddington, William F. Dodds.
At the same date the officers elected for Sullivan Lodge No. 147 were John J. Thompson, John P. Dufficy, James W. Hinkle, William Wilson. This lodge was organized July 18, 1854. Its lodge hall was destroyed by fire in November, 1858, and a few faithful members upheld its existence until the end of the war and the return of men's interests to the regular pursuits of life. In 1869 a new charter was received, and in July, 1878, a new hall was dedicated, the lodge having built, in connection with a business firm, a two-story brick building on Jackson street near the south- west corner of the square.
In 1873 Prairie Lodge, I. O. O. F., was organized at Shelburn. This lodge dedicated its new hall in August, 1884.
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In the same year Pleasantville Lodge No. 408 was instituted, and the order became so active in this part of the county that in 1879 Pleasant- ville Encampment No. 148 was chartered.
Hymera Lodge No. 603 was instituted at Pittsburg (Hymera) in October, 1883, the special deputy in charge of the organization being Murray Briggs. Dr. L. K. Stock, Frank Need, James Manwaring and S. O. Self were the first officers.
Oriole Lodge No. 616 was instituted at Dugger in September, 1885, the first officers being W. H. Slocum, Alexander Pope, George E. Sco- field, T. S. Bedwell and Ed Cochran.
During the last twenty years Odd Fellowship has become a strong fraternal order at Farmersburg. Lodge No. 622 was organized there in June, 1886, with 19 members, the first officers being Dr. R. W. Van Cleave, Dr. Thomas Kennedy, Daniel Moore, F. Kirkham. In 1894 this lodge built a new hall, which was dedicated December 5th. In the mean- time its membership had increased to fifty, and in October, 1893, an encampment of thirty members was organized, and on December 29th the Farmersburg Hannah Ruth Lodge No. 432 was organized with 22 members.
An Odd Fellows lodge was organized at Buell City in Febru- ary, 1887.
The Knights of Pythias reorganized their Sullivan lodge September 16, 1891, after a period of inactivity by the old lodge. P. H. Blue, F. E. Basler, C. J. Sherman, W. H. Burks, William McCammon were among the officers chosen at the reorganization.
Camp No. 3567 of the Modern Woodmen was established at Sullivan in February, 1896, with 18 beneficiary members, J. T. Whitman, Joseph Freeman, Jesse Creager and L. E. Townsley being among the first officers.
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A lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was organ- ized at Sullivan May 2, 1904, their first set of officers being James R. Riggs, Milton A. Haddon, Ed J. Hoke, William H. Bridwell, P. A. Barco, B. C. Crowder, C. H. Stratton, P. L. Reid, Arthur R. Martin.
CHAPTER XXII.
LIBRARIES.
The value of libraries was recognized by the convention that framed the first state constitution in 1816. A clause was inserted in the constitu- tion making it the duty of the general assembly, whenever a new county was laid off, to reserve ten per cent of the money received from the sale of lots in the county seat for the use of a public library. In 1818 a law for the incorporation of public libraries was enacted: Several county libraries were established under this law. In 1852 a law was passed providing for a tax of one-quarter of a mill on the dollar, and twenty-five cents on each poll. to be used in the purchase of township libraries.
Little is known about the Sullivan county library as first established. A president (Samuel Judah) and seven trustees were elected in 1821. Part of the money derived from the sale of lots at Merom was probably applied in the purchase of books, though the residue of the library fund was lost by the treasurer. Whether the sum was recovered from the bondsmen is not known. An act of the county board in June, 1853. ordered "that there be appropriated from the county treasury the sum of $500 for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a public library in the county of Sullivan, out of the ten per cent reserved of the net proceeds of all lots within the town where the county seat is situated, and ten per
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cent on the donations made to procure the location of the county seat of said county." A library room was established in the court house, the county clerk being librarian. By December, 1854, six hundred dollars' worth of books had been bought.
Under the law of 1852, by which the people were taxed for the sup- port of township libraries, the state began the distribution of such libraries. Sullivan county, having a population less than fifteen thousand and more than ten thousand, was entitled to eight libraries. The first distribution. in December, 1854, was as follows : Haddon township, 108 books; Ham- ilton, 108 books; Gill, 103 books; Turman, 100 books; Fairbanks, 98 books; Jackson, 93 books; Curry, 87 books; Jefferson, 85 books; Cass, 82 books. The full library was 325 volumes, and in 1855 six of the town- ships received full libraries, and the other three were apportioned two- thirds libraries. In 1855 the Gill township library was kept in a saddler's shop at New Lebanon, Massom Ridgeway being librarian.
The notable benefaction of the wealthy citizen of New Harmony which resulted in the establishment in many places of the McClure mechanics' institutes and libraries was also represented in Sullivan county. By the provisions of the donation, three hundred dollars was given to an association of mechanics who would raise one hundred dollars to buy books. Such a library and institute was organized in Sullivan about 1856, and exerted considerable influence on the thought and reading of the time, a course of lectures being maintained here one year under its auspices. New Lebanon also had a similar organization.
As to what became of the old county library, the following explana- tion appeared in the Democrat (December 30, 1884) : The books were left in boxes for a long time in the clerk's office, and when shelves were at last put up no care was taken of the books. The room assigned for these books was afterwards given to the clerk, and the books taken up stairs
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