USA > Indiana > Newton County > A standard history of Jasper and Newton counties, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 7
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > A standard history of Jasper and Newton counties, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
SETTLERS OF IS32-45
David Phegley, who made a claim near the springs east of Rens- selaer, and John Jordan, who migrated from Tipton County about 1836 and located in Carpenter's Grove, were also among the pioneers of Jasper County.
Perhaps the most complete list of pioneers is that published by the Old Settlers' Society, which must be considered in connection with names already mentioned.
1832-Aaron Lyons.
1834-Daniel Nowels.
1835-Jackson Phegley, Mrs. Malinda Spitler, J. T. Randle.
1836-Samuel Sparling, Mrs. Samuel Sparling, Henry A. Sparl- ing, Marion L. Spitler.
1837-William K. Parkinson, Addison Parkinson, Joseph V. Parkinson.
1838-George H. Brown, Jared Benjamin, Joseph W. Sparkling, Joseph Williams, Mrs. David Nowels, Mrs. W. K. Parkinson, Mrs. William Shaw, Miss Belle Barkley.
1839-Samuel E. Yeoman, Stewart C. Hammond, Mrs. William Burns, Mrs. H. C. Thornton, Mrs. Joseph Sparkling.
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1840-Nathaniel Wyatt, D. M. Price, W. J. Wright, Sidney Stew- art, Thomas R. Parker, Mrs. William Cockrill, Mrs. Benjamin Welsh.
1841-Lemuel Hankle, Rial Benjamin, William Noland, Mrs. G. H. Brown.
1842-Alexander Rowen, Samuel Mccullough, Samuel Long, Joseph C. Henkle, John A. Henkle, John W. Duvall, Jabez Wright.
1843-Andrew Farris, Henry Sayler, H. C. Thornton, C. C. Thornton.
1844-Joseph Yeoman, James Yeoman, Wesley Downing, Madi- son Makeever, Ira W. Yeoman, Clement Timmons.
1845-George Kesler, Lemuel Shortridge, Abram Freeland, John Daugherty, Daniel Daugherty, Lewis L. Daugherty, William H. Daugherty, Simon Phillips, L. W. Sayers.
CHAPTER IV COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION
ERECTION OF THE TWIN COUNTIES-NAMED AFTER COMRADE PA- TRIOTS-JASPER COUNTY OF 1835-COUNTY SEAT MOVED TO SPITLER'S CABIN-JASPER AND NEWTON COUNTIES CONSOLI- DATED-COUNTY SEAT, THE FALLS OF THE IROQUOIS-FORMATION OF TOWNSHIPS-THE SPITLER COURTHOUSE-THE EARLY RENS- SELAER COURTHOUSES-THE BRICK COURTHOUSE OF 1856- COURTHOUSE BURNED THE COURTHOUSE OF 1898-COUNTY JAILS-COUNTY OFFICIALS.
By glancing over the foregoing names, representing the leading pioneers of Jasper County who settled during the first decade of its social life, it will be seen that by 1835 there could not have been a very large colony of them. But the politicians were abroad even in that sparsely settled land, and the Legislature of 1834-35 formed out of the unorganized area of the Northwest Territory, the counties of Jasper, Newton, Pulaski, Starke, Marshall, Fulton, Adams, Wells, Whitney, DeKalb, Noble, Kosciusko, Steuben and Jay.
ERECTION OF THE TWIN COUNTIES
Those sections which have a bearing on this history are as fol- lows: "Section 12-That all the territory within the following boundaries shall constitute a county by the name of Jasper: Begin- ning at the southeast corner of Section 33, Township 24, Range 6 west, thence west to the line of the state of Illinois, thence north with the state line thirty miles, thence east with the line dividing Townships 28 and 29 north, to the northeast corner of Section 4, Township 28 north, Range 6 west, thence south with the section line thirty miles to the place of beginning.
"Section 13-That all territory within the following boundary shall constitute a county to be known by the name of Newton: Be- ginning at the southeast corner of Township 29 north, Range 5 west, thence west to the state line, thence north with the state line
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thirty miles, thence east with the line dividing Townships 33 and 34 north, to the northeast corner of Township 33, Range 5 west, thence south with the range thirty miles to the place of beginning."
NAMED AFTER COMRADE PATRIOTS
The names of the twin counties, Jasper and Newton, originated with two of the Revolutionary heroes attached to Marion's historic band of South Carolina-Sergeants Jasper and Newton. They were inseparable comrades in arms and adventures. Marion, it will be remembered, commanded the American troops at Fort Moultrie when it was attacked by the British fleet. One of the English gun- ners, true to his racial traditions for good marksmanship, cut the flagstaff in two, which carried the American colors on the battle- ment of the fort, and Sergeant Jasper, also true to American tra- ditions, nailed them back again amid a storm of shot and shell. The British fleet afterward withdrew. It was considered that Jasper would make an appropriate godfather for the new county, and that his friend, Sergeant Newton, should honor the other.
About the time the counties were created, a book had been pub- lished and freely circulated among the reading public of Indiana entitled "The Story of Marion's Men." The two sergeants were among its most interesting heroes and were greatly admired by the state legislators. One of the stories told of them is this: "Like many families of that time, Jasper's was divided on the great question. His elder brother took the side of the English, and served in their army. Out of affection to his brother, and a wish to examine into the strength and condition of the enemy, he resolved, with another patriot soldier, Sergeant Newton, to pay the British a visit. His brother's position enabled him to receive his two friends without any suspicion of their being spies, and they were entertained for two or three days with great hospitality.
"While they were thus engaged, a small party of Americans were brought in prisoners, and, as they had deserted from the Brit- ish, and enlisted in the American ranks, their doom would have been death. This the brother of Jasper assured him was to be their fate. With them were the wife and child of one of the prisoners. Her distress at her husband's approaching fate touched the heart of Jasper. Confiding his purpose to his friend Newton, they bade adieu to Jasper's brother, and took their leave. They had no sooner got out of sight of the camp than they made a detour, and stretched
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across the country, so as to elude all suspicion should they meet with any British soldiers.
"It was the custom of the English to send all the prisoners taken in that quarter to Savannah for trial. At a little spring. two miles from Savannah, Jasper and Newton secreted themselves, awaiting the arrival of the British escort with their prisoners. It had occurred to Jasper that, as they must pass this spot, it was very probable they might rest here for a short time to refresh themselves, and the woody nature of the spot would favor a rescue.
"After some hours' anxious suspense, they saw the escort, with
OLD-TIME SAWMILL
their prisoners, approach : the guard was ten in number, and armed. The Corporal with four men conducted their captives to the water, and told them to rest themselves for an hour, at the same time giving them provisions. The guard then stacked their arms, and seated themselves. The prisoners threw themselves upon the earth in hopeless despair. Near to the wretched man sat his wife and child. Two of the guards alone kept their arms as sentries. As the rest of the men were filling their canteens with water, Jasper and Newton came stealthily from their ambush, seized two of the muskets that were stacked, shot the two sentries, and rushing upon the others, stunned them with the butt of their weapons. Deprived of their weapons the others abandoned the conflict and fled."
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JASPER COUNTY OF 1835
The boundary descriptions already given indicate that the Jasper County of 1835 included all of Benton County as we now know it, all of the present Carpenter and Jordan townships, and Marion and Newton south of the line dividing townships 28 and 29 north ( Jasper County), as well as Grant, Iroquois, Jefferson and Washington townships, in the Newton County of today. In 1836 all territory north of the Kankakee River was cut away in the creation of Porter County. Two years later Jasper County, which had been attached to White for political and civil purposes, was organized as an inde- pendent body, the "attachments" of Newton being divided between Jasper and White.
COUNTY SEAT MOVED TO SPITLER'S CABIN
The county seat was fixed at Pine Township and the first board of commissioners, elected in 1837, met at the house of Robert Alex- ander of Parish Grove, in January, 1838. Its members were Amos White, Joseph Smith and Frederick Kenoyer, and at their first session it was ordered that "the Circuit Court, Probate Court and Commissioners Court be held hereafter at the house of George W. Spitler, provided a Majority of Pine township be in favor of it, which is to be known by Amos White taking a petition through said Pine township and getting every voter to sign a petition for or against removal." Sixteen signed in favor and eight against said removal.
The explanation for this transfer of the county seat to a smaller settlement in the northern edge of the territory to be accommodated is that George W. Spitler, who had been elected clerk, refused to act unless the place of business was brought nearer to his residence. The commissioners made the desired concession, and in March, 1839, met at Mr. Spitler's house, about half a mile south of Lyon's mill, in the present Iroquois Township, Newton County.
JASPER AND NEWTON COUNTIES CONSOLIDATED
In the meantime. the legislative act had been passed which pro- vided for the consolidation of the counties of Jasper and Newton. It read as follows : "Section I-Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Indiana that George A. Spencer and Jacob Moyers, of White, and Solomon Hatfield, of Fountain, and Samuel H. Garrison. of Warren, and William Simms. of Tippecanoe counties, be and the same are hereby appointed commissioners agreeably to 'An act fixing
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the seat of justice in all new counties hereafter laid off.' The com- missioners aforesaid shall meet at the house of Robert Alexander, of Jasper county, on the first Monday of June next and immediately proceed to discharge the duties hereafter assigned to them.
"Section 2-And it shall be the duty of the sheriff of Jasper county, either in person or writing, to inform said commissioners of their appointment on or before the first Monday of May next, and for such services shall be entitled to such compensation as the law requires.
"Section 3-It shall be the duty of the commissioners, in addition to the duties assigned them by the act to which this has reference, to examine the counties of Jasper and Newton with a view of their being consolidated and, if after examination, the commissioners are satisfied that the interests of the two counties would be promoted by the union of the same, they are hereby authorized to fix the seat of justice in said enlarged territory, taking into view the peculiar situa- tion of said territory in regard to prairie, timber, water-privileges and the known wishes of the citizens of different parts of Jasper county attached to other counties; and the seat of justice, if con- solidated, shall be called Newton.
"Section 4-If, after examination, the commissioners shall be of opinion that either county would be injured by the consolidation, they shall proceed to fix the county seat, as provided by law, in Jasper county, agreeable to its present boundaries.
"Section 5-If, after examination, they shall be of opinion that the interests of the two counties would be promoted by the union of the same, from henceforth the territory known by the name of Jasper and Newton counties, shall be known as Jasper county. This act to be in force from and after its passage.
"Approved January 29, 1839."
COUNTY SEAT, THE FALLS OF THE IROQUOIS
The commissioners thus appointed found the plan of consolidation advisable, and accordingly located the county seat at the Falls of the Iroquois River, with the name of Newton, thus striking the county of that name, for the time being, from the map of the state. In 1840 the County of Benton was formed, taking its territory from Jasper, the latter receiving, by way of compensation, thirty sections adjoin- ing the southeast angle and now principally contained in Milroy Township. In 1859, however, Newton County was revived, though shorn of much of its early area, leaving Jasper in its present form.
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FORMATION OF TOWNSHIPS
On the 26th of September, 1835, under order of the commissioners of White County, the first election within the present limits of Jasper County was held at the house of William Donahue. Justices of the peace for the recently erected Marion Township were to be chosen, and as Thomas Randle and John L. Stump each received three votes for the office another election was called for the following May. The original six voters were Thomas Randle, John L. Stump, David Phegley, George Culp, George Phillips and William Donahue, and at the May election were added to the list, Herbert Owens, Harry Owens, Eli Haskins, John Nowels, John Price, Alexander Crockett, J. D. Yeoman and Silas Phillips. At the second election Thomas Randle was chosen justice of the peace and Alexander Crockett, con- stable, of Marion Township. In the summer of 1836 the commis- sioners designated the house of John Price as a more convenient place for holding elections than the Donahue cabin, and in September, 1837, ordered that "all of the territory attached to Porter county that is called Newton county shall constitute a township to be known by the name of Marion," and that an election should be held at Mr. Price's house for a justice of the peace thereof. At the October election William Donahue was elected to that office.
On the organization of Jasper County in 1838, the old County of Newton was reattached to White County, and on the 3d of September of that year the territory which had been named Marion Township by the White County authorities and subsequently confirmed in the same title by the Porter County officials, was divided by the former authorities under whose jurisdiction it had again been placed. Their action of the date named created the Township of Barkley, in honor of Henry Barkley, Sr., from the territory of Newton County lying in the forks of the Pinkamink and "east from the bridge across the east branch of that creek and by a line due east from that bridge, and all on the north of that line." This territory was subsequently attached to Jasper County as originally formed, and the commis- sioners of the latter county, at their March meeting in 1839, divided it into Newton and Pinkamink townships, the latter containing all territory south and east of the Iroquois River. The voting precincts were established at the houses of Joseph D. Yeoman and William Donahue, and an election ordered for the April following.
The destruction of the early records in the courthouse fire of 1864 throws doubt on the various changes in township organization during the decade 1839-49, commencing with the consolidation of Jasper and Vol. I-4
.
THE FIRST COURTHOUSE
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Newton counties in the former year. In 1849, however, as the pre- served records show, the present territory of Jasper County was covered by the townships of Jordan, Marion, Newton, Barkley and Gillam. Jordan and Marion occupied the area south of the Iroquois River, the latter including the village of Rensselaer and a little ad- joining territory. The remainder of the county embraced the other three townships, each of which had the Kankakee River as its northern boundary.
In March, 1851, Walker Township was organized with the follow- ing boundaries : Commencing at the bridge over Copperas Creek ; thence east to Moses Davidson's mill dam; thence to the mouth of Stump's slough ; thence to the east line of the county and along said line to the Kankakee River ; thence westerly along the river to a line of Beaver Township (now Newton County), and thence to place of beginning. This was probably intended to include all the present territory of Jasper north of Copperas Creek. In 1853 there was a general revision of township lines, and the boundaries of Walker were changed so as to include nearly one-half of the area of the present county. The lines of Gillam Township were arranged as now found on the map, except that the northwest corner was square. Hanging Grove Township was also erected substantially as at present. Barkley, Marion, Newton and Jordan were included in the balance of the territory not occupied by Walker.
In the March session of 1856 the commissioners erected the Township of Kankakee, which included the present townships of Kankakee and Wheatfield. The latter, as it now stands, was created in June, 1858.
Keener Township was erected in March, 1858, out of townships 31 and 32, range 7, "and so much of Township 30, of that range, as lies north of Newton." In March, 1862, Carpenter Township was carved out of Jordan ; Milroy was erected in December, 1867, and Union, the last of the townships, was created in December, 1868. In June, 1871, Union Township was restricted to its present limits. The minor changes in the township boundaries have not been men- tioned.
THE SPITLER COURTHOUSE
When it was decided to move the county seat to the Brook Settlement, George W. Spitler, who was the first clerk and also dis- charged the clerical duties of all the offices save those of sheriff and treasurer, erected a log building about sixteen feet square for the
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uses of the commissioners and the Circuit Court, at his place of residence. This served as a courthouse and a boarding house until the seat of justice was moved to the Falls or Rapids of the Iroquois in 1839.
THE EARLY RENSSELAER COURTHOUSE
In the year named, Rensselaer was laid out as the town of New- ton and, in addition to the public square, the proprietor donated four blocks for the erection of public buildings. The first courthouse at the new county seat was a small structure erected on Cornelia Street between Front and Van Rensselaer. In 1845 James Van Rensselaer, the proprietor, also erected a courthouse at his own expense-a two- story frame building, 31 by 36 feet, on the lot nearly east of the square on Cullen Street. The court room was below and the county offices above, although, as a rule, the officials preferred to transact their light duties in their own residences which, especially in cold weather, were more comfortable than the quarters provided by the county.
THE BRICK COURTHOUSE OF 1856
The Van Rensselaer building served as the official courthouse until 1856, when a brick structure was completed on the public square. It was a $10,000 building, 70 by 40 feet, with court room above and six offices below. The foundation of the courthouse was completed in 1853, and Benjamin Hinkle spent from May, 1854, to September, 1856, in completing the superstructure.
COURTHOUSE BURNED
The original specifications called for vaults for the county records, but they were subsequently modified to the great eventual loss of the public and the detriment of historical research and accuracy. In 1864, late at night, fire broke out in the courthouse, and before it could be stayed many of the most valuable early records and papers had been destroyed. The vaults were of such inferior quality and construction as to be virtually of no protection. The whole interior and roof of the courthouse were burned. The fire is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary-a county official who was in- terested in the destruction of certain documentary evidence which might be used against him. J. A. Silver was the contractor for the repairs, to which was added the construction of sufficient vaults for the preservation of valuable papers and records.
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THE COURTHOUSE OF 1898
Under Mr. Silver the re-built brick courthouse was completed in 1865 and served the people of the county for twenty-one years. It was razed in 1896 to make room for the massive and ornate structure of stone completed two years afterward. The original contract for the building was about $84,000; cost of furniture, $27,000; cement walks, coping, etc., $12,000; a separate heating plant, 200 feet from the building connected by a tunnel, $7,000 ; and various other items, such as plate glass windows, vault doors, shutters, and interior
THE COURTHOUSE OF 1865
decorations, brought the total cost of the courthouse and the ground improvements to $156,000. It is three stories in height, with a central clock tower of impressive and graceful architecture. The interior furnishings, and the lighting, heating and ventilating ar- rangements of the court rooms and county offices are in keeping with the exterior impressions.
When work was commenced on the courthouse in 1896, the mem- bers of the board of commissioners were Benjamin R. Faris (presi- dent), John C. Martindale and Dexter R. Jones. A. Halleck suc- ceeded Mr. Faris as commissioner from the first district in November of that year, was elected president of the board soon afterward, and continued in that capacity until after the courthouse was completed. Frederick R. Waymire succeeded Mr. Jones as commissioner in November, 1897, and also continued as such until after the building
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was finished. The architect's contract was first awarded to Alfred Grindle, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, who afterward associated himself with Charles R. Weatherhogg, who became the active member in charge of the work. Before its completion, Mr. Grindle dropped out, and Mr. Weatherhogg completed the architectural part of the work. The general contractors were Heinzman Brothers of Noblesville, and the subcontractors, the Wabash Bridge and Iron Works (steel con- struction), Shellhouse & Company, of Indianapolis (plate glass), M. E. Humphreys & Company, of that city (roof construction), Henry Taylor Lumber Company, Lafayette (interior wood work and finish), and William G. Andrews, Clinton, Iowa (painting and dec- orating). It might be added, as bearing upon the ways and means provided for the construction of the courthouse, that the 472 per cent bonds, which were issued by the county to raise money for its con- struction, were purchased by the Trowbridge-Niver Company, of Chicago. The Jasper County courthouse stands upon a solid rock foundation, the earth having been excavated down to the basic limestone, the surface of which was found to have the appearance of having been planed off and to have other marks of prehistoric glacial scourings.
COUNTY JAILS
The first jail was built in 1847. George W. Spitler contracted to erect it, but the actual work was done by Willis J. Wright, a carpenter. It was built of hewn logs 12 inches square, about 20 by 26 feet in size, and comprised two rooms; one being the jail proper which was built of double timbers, with a small window guarded by strong iron bars. For this building Spitler received four blocks of the village plat, containing forty-eight lots which had been donated for public buildings.
The jail of 1847 served its purpose until 1856, when it was torn down, after which, until 1883. the county obtained accommodations for its prisoners at Lafayette, Monticello and Fowler. At the De- cember session of the commissioners in ISSI, the county entered into a contract with P. J. Pauley & Brother, of St. Louis, to erect the present brick building on the corner of Cullen and Harrison streets. The cost of its construction was over $12.000.
COUNTY ASYLUM AND HOSPITAL
Until 1870 the paupers of the county were farmed out to the lowest bidder, but in March of that year the county purchased 240
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acres and a brick building on section 23 and established a poor farm. About two years afterward a larger and better frame building was erected for the superintendent and such of the inmates as required his immediate supervision.
To provide for patients dependent upon the county who need medical or surgical treatment, a hospital of modern construction and equipment was erected in 1916 just south of the jail. It cost about $20,000. The plans and specifications were drawn by Albin W. Coen.
COUNTY OFFICIALS
It is impossible to give a complete roster of the officials of Jasper County, owing to the destruction of so many records in the court- house fire of 1864. It is known, however, that George W. Spitler was county clerk and clerk of the Circuit Court from 1838 to 1856; Charles M. Watson, from 1856 to 1860: David I. Jackson, 1860 to 1868; Marion L. Spitler, 1868 to 1876; Charles H. Price, from 1876 until 1884; James F. Irwin from that year until far into the '80s ; William H. Coover, from 1890 (and perhaps before) until 1898; John F. Major was elected in November of that year and served until 1902 ; Charles W. Warner from the latter year until 1910; Jud- son H. Perkins, from 1910 to the present time.
George W. Spitler was also auditor from 1838 to 1852; Lawson Bruce, his successor, served only a few months and died in office ; John D. Nork, appointed to fill the vacancy, served until the next general election in 1855; Turner Knox from that time until 1859; David T. Halstead. 1859-67: Ira W. Yeoman. 1867-71 ; Frank W. Babcock, 1871-75; Henry Barkley, 1875-79; Ezra C. Nowels, 1879 to about 1886: George M. Robinson until 1890; Henry B. Murray for a number of years ending 1898; William C. Babcock, 1899-1902; James N. Leatherman. 1903-10; Joseph P. Hammond, 1911 to the present (1916).
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