USA > Indiana > White County > A standard history of White County Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and county, Vol. I > Part 11
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"At Reynolds Station we found a large car used for boarding-house purposes, fifty-five feet long and eighteen wide, two stories, on the track. The rails had been removed from the road, both before and behind the car, and it seemed immovable. This arrangement was in pursuance of a plan, ostensibly, to obtain pay for the hands who had been laying the track, but really was intended to obstruct the road so that the cars could not pass over before the first of January. Upon this condition, subscription notes for over $120,000 became payable, and it is rather probable that the demonstration was instigated by some such interest as this.
"The company had paid off the track-laying contractors on Satur- day, and owed nothing on that score. The contractors were paying off their men at Logansport at that moment and designed paying those at the Station on the next day (which was actually done). The con- tractors were at the Station and gave assurances as to the true state of the case, but without effect.
"Strychnine whiskey and bad counsel possessed too much influence. The insurgents had no complaint whatever against the company, and the obstruction was a high-handed outrage against right and the law. Extensive preparation had evidently been made for a fight, for some forty men were garrisoned in the car, each bearing a freshly made club. The effective force upon the train was small, so, after a parley of two hours and a counsel of war, the train was run back to Monticello. Here warrants were obtained for the arrest of three of the more active insurgents.
"On the return of the train with the sheriff, nearly half of the car force left, and another parley took place with the rioters, but it was bootless except to one of the force, who was kicked from the platform. Propositions to telegraph to Governors Wise and Willard and President Buchanan were overruled. After an hour spent in unavailing quarrel- ing, it was concluded to take the car by storm, which was handsomely done by a detachment of the excursionists headed by the sheriff (time, six minutes). For a few minutes a bloody scuffle took place for pos- session of the iron rails which were in the car. Clubs, axes, spikes, iron
Courtesy of C. L. Foster
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD BRIDGE AT MONTICELLO
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
chairs and pistols were uncomfortably thick and active. One of the car party rushed upon one of the assailants with an axe and received a pistol ball in his breast. This ended the conflict, for the fight instantly turned into a rout, and the front door was filled by the retreating party, who took no care upon which end they landed so they got upon the ground somewhere.
"The rails were replaced in a few minutes and in a short time the train, with the captured fort, was on its way again to Monticello, where a switch received the obnoxious edifice. The train then returned to Reynolds, took up the excursionists and at 7 o'clock recommenced the trip to Peoria.
GRAND PRAIRIE
"The scenery through which the road passes was new to most of the excursionists. The Grand Prairie was entered just beyond Reynolds Station, but nothing could be seen until daylight. At that time the eye fell upon a country unbroken by timber and only occasionally diversi- fied by houses. In many places the eye seeks in vain for single object other than the sky and earth, not a tree, house, fence or animal appear- ing for miles. The soil of the prairie appears of an excellent quality, and the cultivated places give abundant proof of fertility, in the great heaps of corn stacked up for sale or use."
RAILWAY STATIONS ON THE NEW LINE
Old Burnettsville had been platted several years before the coming of the railroad and was somewhat off its line, but during the month following the lively celebration of its opening, Sharon, adjoining Bur- nettsville, was platted and the two were soon consolidated under the original name. Idaville, three miles west, was platted and made a railroad station in July, 1860, and Wolcott, in the western part of the county, came into line during the following year.
THE AIR-LINE DIVISION OF THE MONON
By the building of what is now the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis (Pennsylvania) line through White County, which bisected the present Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railroad (Monon) at Reynolds, the settlers were provided, to a fair degree, with railway accom- modations. The third step in securing such conveniences, and a great addition to them, was taken in the building of the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago Railroad in the late '70s. The opening of the road from the western Indiana line tó Monticello was celebrated in that place on August 14, 1878. Large delegations were present from Rensselaer, Lowell, Brad- ford, Delphi and other localities along the line of the new road. The Monticello and Delphi bands furnished the music and the crowd of visitors was escorted to the courthouse, where the celebration centered. John H. Wallace, chairman of the committee of arrangements; H. P.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
Owens, a bright Kentuckian; John Lee, president of the road; A. W. Reynolds, L. B. Sims of Delphi, ex-president of the road, and others connected with the enterprise and with the building of narrow-gauge lines, were among the speakers who instructed and amused. It was a very successful celebration and boomed the Chicago Air Line immensely.
OPENING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS, DELPHI & CHICAGO RAILROAD
The opening of passenger traffic on the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chi- cago (now Monon Route) was announced for May 21, 1883, but on account of difficulty in securing entrance facilities at Indianapolis the date was postponed. The first passenger train began regular service June 17, 1883, running only from Monon to Indianapolis. Another train was scheduled from Chicago to Frankfort in the same time-card. The first through service between Chicago and Indianapolis was sched- uled the third week in October, 1883.
The completion of the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago Railroad not only vastly increased the facilities of Monticello and Monon in the way of getting into more direct communication with the larger markets of the country between the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, but was of much local advantage to the agriculturists and the small rural com- munities in the northwestern part of the county. Through trains com- menced to run about 1881.
The building of what is now a second or air-line division of the Monon system did not result in the founding of any important towns in White County ; in fact, only Guernsey, in Honey Creek Township, and Lee, in Monon Township, were founded as stations.
THE TIES WHICH BIND THE COUNTY
Thus has White County been transformed into a country well adapted to the founding of pleasant and contented homes and prosperous com- munities-all bound together and brought into intimate touch with related towns, cities and states, through its improved lands, its good roads of gravel and macadam, and its well conducted railroads. Trans- portation and communication by water has become a negligible quantity. in the calculation of its general progress.
CHAPTER VI
THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
WHILE A PART OF CARROLL-NORWAY CARVED FROM PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP- NAME CHANGED TO BIG CREEK TOWNSHIP-PIONEERS ANTE-DATING COUNTY ORGANIZATION-ACT CREATING WHITE COUNTY-CHANGES IN TERRITORY-FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS-FIRST COUNTY BOARD MEETING-SEAT OF JUSTICE LOCATED-THE COUNTY SEAT TITLE- PUBLIC SALE OF LOTS-THE OLD COURT HOUSE GRANT-FIRST JUDI- CIAL SESSION-FIRST FULL COURT KEPT BUSY-THE LITTLE FRAME COURT HOUSE-THE JAIL AND ITS FIRST PRISONER-THE COUNTY'S UPS AND DOWNS-THE CLERK'S OFFICE BUILT-THE BRICK COURT- HOUSE-CHOLERA INTERFERES WITH ITS COMPLETION-DESCRIPTION OF DEAR OLD BUILDING-COUNTY OFFICES AFFECTED BY LEGISLATION -NEW JAILS ERECTED-COMBINED JAIL AND SHERIFF'S RESIDENCE- CORNER STONE OF PRESENT COURTHOUSE LAID-THE POOR FARM- -COUNTY'S GROWTH BY DECADES-DEDUCTIONS FROM CENSUS FIG- URES-WHITE COUNTY'S POPULATION, 1890-1910-PROPERTY VALUA- TION IN 1905 AND 1910-TAXABLE VALUATION IN 1915-RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.
The pioneer settlers of what is now White County were for about five years under the jurisdiction of Carroll County. As early as 1829 they commenced to locate west of the Tippecanoe River in what are Prairie and Big Creek townships; in 1831, the territory included in the present Union and Jackson townships received its first instalment of sturdy set- tlers, and Liberty, Monon and Honey Creek were first occupied by the whites in 1834, the year of the county's creation.
WHILE A PART OF CARROLL
The territory included within the presents limits of White County had a political existence before it was organized as a separate civil body. Its area, besides much more country north and west, was attached to the County of Carroll by legislative enactment, at the time the latter was erected in 1828. On the 11th of May, 1831, the commissioners of that county ordered that all the territory attached to the county, or a part of the county, west of the Tippecanoe River should thereafter be Prairie Township; and an election was ordered held on the first Monday of the following August for the election of one justice of the peace, the vote to be polled at the house of Jesse L. Watson, who was appointed inspector.
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At this election the following men voted : J. L. Watson, Jesse Johnson, Samuel Smelcer, Michael Ault, Jeremiah Bisher, W. H. McCulloch, Aaron Cox, Royal Hazleton, Ed McCarty, Charles Wright, William Phil- lips, R. Harrison, Robert A. Barr, William Woods, Ashford Parker- total, fifteen. The entire vote was cast for Noah Noble for governor. For justice of the peace, Royal Hazleton received nine votes, and Jesse Johnson four. In May, 1832, the elections were changed to the house of Samuel Alkire and Jesse L. Watson continued inspector. At the April election in 1832, only six votes were polled, as follows: J. L. Watson, Jesse Johnson, William Phillips, Charles Wright, Edney Wright, J. G. Alkire. Charles Wright was elected constable ; Jesse Johnson and Robert Newell, road supervisors; William Phillips and William Woods, overseers of the poor; Samuel Smelcer and Samuel Alkire, fence viewers. These were undoubtedly the first officers of the kind elected in White County. In September, 1832, all of White County, east of the Tippecanoe River was formally attached to Adams Township, Carroll County.
NORWAY CARVED FROM PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP
At the March session of the court of commissioners of Carroll County, all of Prairie Township (which then included all of the present White County west of the Tippecanoe River) north of the line dividing town- ships 25 and 26 north was constituted Norway Township, and the elec- tions were ordered held at the Norway mill. A justice of the peace was ordered elected the first Monday in March, 1833, Henry Baum, inspector. This election was not held until April, 1833. The voters were John Rothrock, Benj. Reynolds, Joseph Lewis, Jesse Johnson, Sibley Hudson, John Burns, Henry Baum, Daniel Wolf, Jeremiah Bisher, James Barnes, George Bartley, Robert Rothrock, George Kemp, Ashford Parker, Ira Bacon, George A. Spencer and Thomas Emerson. The vote was: For justice of the peace-G. A. Spencer, 11; Robert Newell, 3; Melchi Gray, 1. Constable-James Barnes, 12; Benj. Reynolds, 5. Overseers of the poor-Armstrong Buchanan, 14; John Reese, 9. Fence viewers-B. N. Spencer, 11; Jeremiah Bisher, 5; Andrew Ferguson, 9; John Burns, 3. Road supervisors-John Roberts, 14.
NAME CHANGED TO BIG CREEK TOWNSHIP
In May the name Norway was discarded and Big Creek was adopted, and the August election was ordered held at the house of Benj. N. Spen- cer. On this occasion twenty-six votes were polled as follows: Peter Price, James Signer, Samuel Gray, George Bartley, Cornelius Clark, George Gates, John Roberts, Phillip Davis, Elias Lowther, B. N. Spencer, Benj. Reynolds, John Rothrock, Melchi Gray, Joseph Rothrock, G. A. Spencer, James Johnson, Robert Newell, Henry Baum, Royal Hazleton, Jeremiah Bisher, James Barnes, Ira Bacon, James Clark, John Reese, George Kemp and Andrew Ferguson.
In September, 1833, Big Creek was divided as follows: All of White
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
County west of Tippecanoe River and north of the line dividing town- ships 26 and 27 north was constituted Union Township, and elections were ordered held at the house of Melchi Gray. About this time John Barr was made agent to expend the 3 per cent fund belonging to White County. No other changes were made in the county until the organization in 1834.
PIONEERS ANTE-DATING COUNTY ORGANIZATION
It is generally claimed that Joseph H. Thompson was the first white man to make settlement within the present boundaries of the county. He located in what is now Big Creek Township in the spring of 1829, while yet the surveyors were subdividing the townships into sections, they having begun the work in the fall of 1828. Mr. Thompson was soon followed by George A. Spencer, Benjamin Reynolds, John Burns, John Ferguson and others who became settlers of the same township, while Prairie Township of today was first inhabited about the same time by Royal Hazleton, John Barr, Cyrus Barr, William Woods, John and James Gay, Joseph Bostick, John Adamson, Charles Wright, Samuel Smelcer, Jesse L. Watson, Lewis Watson, William Ivers and Solomon Mc- Culloch. Previous to 1834 there also came to Union Township, James Johnson, John Wilson, Peter Price, George R. Bartley, John Rothrock, Hans Erasmus Hiorth (pronounced Yert), Benjamin N. Spencer, Thomas Wilson, Samuel Gray and Melchi Gray. Jackson Township received a colony near what is now the Town of Idaville, composed of Christopher Burch, George Hornbeck, Allen Barnes, Thomas Harless, John McDow- ell, Solomon Burkitt, Thomas McCormick, William W. Mitchell, Robert and Andrew Hanna, William James, Joseph Mason, Joseph Dale, David Bishop, William Gibson, John Tedford and Aaron Hicks. Further east, in the vicinity of the present site of Burnettsville, Daniel Dale, William R. Dale, Greenup Scott and others made their homes, and at a later date the following settled in Monon Township : Joseph Wilson, James K. Wilson, William Wilson, David Berkey, Thomas Murphy, Elias Lowther and Ira Bacon.
These pioneers, who came before the county was organized, usually located in family groups, largely determined by their home states. There were little settlements composed respectively of Kentuckians, Tennes- seans, Virginians, Ohioans and Pennsylvanians, the last two states largely predominating in the number of people who first came to White County. After the county was organized, its boundaries defined and the county seat located, the flow of immigration increased with great rapidity.
ACT CREATING WHITE COUNTY
In 1833 many located in the county-so many, in fact, that the repre- sentatives in the Legislature were asked to have a new county created and organized. Accordingly, during the session of 1834, the following enactment was passed and approved :
"Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, that
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
from and after the first of April next, all that tract of country, included in the following boundary lines shall form and constitute a new county to be known and designated by the name of the county of White (in honor of Major Isaac White, who fell at the battle of Tippecanoe) to-wit, be- ginning at the northwest corner of Tippecanoe County, thence running east with the north line of Tippecanoe County to the southwest corner of Carroll County, thence north with the west line of Carroll County to the northwest corner of the same, thence east with the north line of Carroll County to the west line of Cass County, thence north with the west line of Cass County to the northwest corner of the same, thence west to the center section line of range six west, thence south to the northwest corner of Tippecanoe County to the place of beginning.
"Sec. 2. That the new county of White shall, from and after the first day of April next, enjoy and possess all the rights, privileges, bene- fits and jurisdictions which to separate and independent counties do or may properly belong or appertain.
"Sec. 3. That James H. Stewart, of Carroll County, Benedict Mor- ris, of Fountain County, John Killgore, of Tippecanoe County, Enos Lowe, of Parke County, and John B. King, be, and they are hereby ap- pointed Commissioners, agreeable to an act entitled 'An act fixing the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off.' The Com- missioners aforesaid shall meet on the first Monday in September next at the house of George A. Spencer, in the said county of White, and shall proceed immediately to perform the duties required of them by law ; and it shall be the duty of the sheriff of Tippecanoe County to notify said commissioners, either in person or by writing, of their appointment, on or before the first day of August next, and for such service he shall receive such compensation as the Board doing county business in said county of White may, when organized, deem just and reasonable, to be allowed and paid as other county claims.
"Sec. 4. The Circuit Court and the Board of County Commission- ers, when elected under the writ of election from the executive depart- ment shall hold their sessions as near the center of the county as a con- venient place can be had, until the public buildings shall be erected.
"Sec. 5. The agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots of the county seat of said county of White shall reserve ten per cent out of the proceeds thereof, and pay the same over to such person or persons as may be appointed by law to receive the same for the use of a county library.
"Sec. 6. The County of White shall be attached to the first judicial circuit of this State for judicial, and to the county of Carroll for repre- sentative purposes.
"Sec. 7. That all the territory lying west of the county of White to the State Line, be and the same is, hereby attached to the county of White for civil and judicial purposes.
"Sec. 8. That the Circuit Courts shall be held in the county of White on the Tuesdays succeeding the week of the Tippecanoe Circuit Court, and sit three days each term, should the business require it.
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"Sec. 9. The board doing county business may, as soon as elected and qualified, hold special sessions not exceeding three, during the first year after the organization of said county, and shall make all necessary appointments, and do or perform all other business which may or might have been necessary to be performed at any other regular session, and take all necessary steps to collect the State and County revenue, any law or usage to the contrary notwithstanding. This act to be in force from and after its passage.
"Approved February 1, 1834."
CHANGES IN TERRITORY
A little later the following was enacted : "That all the territory lying north of the county of Cass to the line dividing Townships 32 and 33 north, be, and the same is hereby, attached to said county for judicial and representative purposes, and that all the territory lying north of the county of White and of the territory attached thereto to the aforesaid line be, and the same is hereby, attached to the county of White for the same purpose. This act to be in force from and after its publication in the Indiana Journal, printed at Indianapolis.
"Approved December 24, 1834."
So far as can be learned no changes were made in the boundaries of White County until the following law was passed : "That the following described territory be, and the same is hereby, taken from the county of Carroll and incorporated and made a part of White : all north of Section 33 and west of the Tippecanoe River in Township 26 north, Range 3 west. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
"Approved February 4, 1837."
Again a little later the following became law: "That hereafter the Tippecanoe river shall be the western boundary of Carroll County, whence the north line of said county strikes the river, until said river strikes the section line dividing 33 and 28, in Township 26, and all the territory west of said river and north of said line in Township 26, and Range 3 west, is hereby attached to the county of White, as intended by the aet. entitled 'An act to alter the boundary line between Carroll and White,' approved February 4, 1837. This act to be in force from and after its passage.
"Approved February 14, 1839."
The large section of country north and west now constituting the counties of Jasper, Newton and portions of Benton and Pulaski, which was attached to White County for political and judicial purposes, re- mained as portions of its civil body until its was organized into separate counties-Jasper in 1837, Pulaski and Newton in 1839, and Benton in 1840. These acts completed the paring down of White County to its present body, the area of which (504 square miles) makes it the fifth in size of the ninety-two counties in the state.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS
Under the provisions of the Organic Act creating the county, the first step taken in its civil organization was the selection by the voters of a local judiciary, a board of commissioners and the principal county offi- cers. The election for that purpose was held on the first Monday in August, 1834, and resulted in the choice of James Barnes and Thomas Wilson for associate judges; David McCombs, Ira Bacon and Robert Newall, county commissioners; William Sill, clerk, auditor and recorder; Aaron Hicks, sheriff, and George A. Spencer, treasurer.
It appears, however, from the records that John Wilson, who had been appointed sheriff the month before the election, served in that capacity until April, 1836, except for a short period after the election; nor is it officially evident that Mr. Hicks was ever present at any session of the county board or Circuit Court.
The only discovered records bearing on the matter noted an allowance of $6.00 made by the board of commissioners to Mr. Hicks, "in full for services as sheriff for the year 1834;" this item was a part of the proceed- ings of that body at the May term of 1835. At the same term John Wilson was allowed $7.50 "in full for his services as sheriff up to date." These allowances were probably made for extra services, such as notify- ing road viewers of their appointment, summoning jurors, etc.
FIRST COUNTY BOARD MEETING
The commissioners held their first meeting at the house of George A. Spencer on the 19th of July, 1834. They first proceeded to create the commissioners' districts, as follows :
District No. 1-To comprise all the county's territory south of the line passing east and west between sections 16 and 21, township 26 north, range 3 west.
District No. 2-All county territory north of such line and west of Tippecanoe River.
District No. 3-All county territory east of Tippecanoe River.
At the same time the county and all territory attached thereto were divided into the following townships: Township 25 north, in White County, and all the territory attached thereto to be Prairie Township. Township 26 north, in White County, and all the territory attached thereto to be Big Creek Township. Township 27 north, and all of town- ship 28 west to Tippecanoe River, the same being in White County, and all the territory attached thereto, to be Union Township. Elections for Prairie Township ordered held at the house of William Wood, with Solomon McCulloch, inspector. Those of Big Creek at the house of George A. Spencer, with James Kerr, inspector. Those of Union Town- ship at the house of Melchi Gray, with James Spencer, inspector. Those of Jackson Township at the house of Daniel Dale, with John Scott, inspector.
Cornelius Clark was appointed county assessor, and George A. Spen-
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
cer, county treasurer. Clark was also appointed collector of state and county revenue. At this time William Sill served as county clerk and John Wilson as sheriff.
SEAT OF JUSTICE LOCATED
At the September meeting of the county board the report of three of the five commissioners appointed to locate the county seat was accepted, they were paid $60 for their services and discharged. The report follows : "To the Honorable the Commissioners of the County of White: The undersigned, commissioners appointed by the Legislature of the State of Indiana to locate the county seat of said county beg leave to report that they, agreeable to the provisions of the act for the formation of said county, met on the first Monday of September, 1834, and after being qualified according to law, they proceeded immediately to the perform- ance of the duties assigned them. They took considerable pains to become acquainted with the situation of your county, and with that view made a personal examination of the greater portion of said county. The com- missioners have had considerable difficulty in making up their minds as to the best location to fix the seat of justice, and at last came to the con- clusion to locate the seat of justice on the center line dividing the fol- lowing described fractions, viz .: The southwest fraction of the northeast quarter and the northwest fraction of the southeast quarter of Section 33, Townships 27 north, Range 3 west, on a bluff of Tippecanoe River. Eighty acres of the above described fractions have been donated for the use of the county of White by Messrs. John Barr, Sr., H. E. Hiorth and John Rothrock, to be taken off the east side of said fraction by north and south line. A bond for the conveyance of the same is herewith sub- mitted. The name we have selected for the said county seat is Monti- cello, after the home of the great disciple of human liberty, Thomas Jefferson.
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