USA > Indiana > Grant County > Centennial history of Grant County, Indiana, 1812 to 1912 : compiled from records of the Grant county historical society, archives of the county, data of personal interviews, and other authentic sources of local information > Part 11
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
Fergus as regular, and the councilmen at large were: John Prior, Jesse M. Ballard and Lewis Landess. Those elected in 1902 were: Harmon D. Reasoner, John Prior, G. W. Camblin, John Sanders and W. S. Elliott. M. F. Evans and Jacob Fishell. Those chosen in 1906 were: I. D. Reasoner, W. S. Elliott, John Sanders, Julius (. Lake, Henry Wise, and James M. Buchanan. In 1910 the body was: W. S. Elliott, Henry Wise, Lin Wilson, B. C. Harris, James W. Dicken, James Strieler and Sol Carter. This councilmanic membership is little more than hon- orary as the renmineration for the year is only $15, and naturally its members feel inclined to economy for the rest of the county organization. Men are chosen to the county council who have managed their own affairs successfully, and they are prepared to save the county from any mistaken investments. The auditor and sheriff meet with the county council, and all public funds are distributed according to its direction. The county conneil is the financial safety valve for the community-safe- guards county business interests.
The county auditor keeps all accounts of the county commissioners, county council and the board of review, and he also prepares the annual tax duplicates from the transfer books and assessment sheets. One copy of the tax duplicate remains in the auditor's office, and the other goes to the office of the county treasurer as his guide in the collection of revenues. The auditor is the book-keeper for the entire county, and a warrant or order from him is necessary before the county treasurer can pay out any funds at all. This important office has been tilled by the following: For ten years, at the beginning, one person served both as clerk and auditor, Jesse Vermilyea and Riley Marshall performing the double service, and in 1838 Morton Jones filled the office of recorder as well as being clerk and auditor. E. C. Carey served from '41; John Gilbert from '46; James Brownlee from '55; John C. Harlan and Thomas Dean from '59; William Neal from '63; John Ratliff from '71 : Joseph W. Stout from '75; J. N. Turner from 83; J. W. Miles from '87; G. A. Osborn from '9]; John Wilson From '95; G. A. Modlin from '99: Harry Goldthait from '03; A. Y. Stout From '07 and in '11 E. 11. Kimball was elected to serve four years.
The county treasurer receives all taxes paid for the support of the state, county and township and he is held to striet account for the safety and proper application of such funds. Twice a year he makes settlement with the state, and only rarely has there been any diserep- aney -- the surety being responsible, and David Branson had the dis- tinetion of being first, serving from '31; John Beard from '33: Eli Overman from '34; Frederick Eltzroth from '35; Isaae Bedsand from 38; G. W. Webster from '40; Redden Chance from '42; B. W. Ruley from '44; JJacob Whistler from '53; Ephraim Smith from '55; W. C. Miles from '57; D. W. Jones from '59; W. C. Miles from '61 ; D. C'ul- bertson from `63; James Brownlee from '65; J. C. Nottingham from '67 ; R. J. Gauntt from '69; J. H. Nelson from '73; I. M. Cox from '75; J. P. Campbell from '77: W. 1. Milner from 'S1; I. M. Cox from' '83 ; II. D. Reasoner from '85; Joseph W. Parker from '89; W. E. Heal and Il. D. Reasoner from '91 ; W. D. Steele from '95; Elsworth Harvey from '99; W. S. Neal from '03; W. H. Sanders from '07, and it was January 1. '13 that Uz MeMurtrie became county treasurer.
The county recorder is charged with the safekeeping of all record, of deeds, mortgages and other instruments affecting the title to lands which have been made since the county was organized, and also with re- cording new instruments of the same character, and Benjamin Knight served till '38, and Morton Jones, W. C. Jones and T. J. Neal together filled the place till '52; Daniel Morris till '53; George Swope till '61 ; John 11. Zahn till '69; Z. M. Harris till '73; A. M. Baldwin till '81 :
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
Benjamin Ilamaker till '85; Frank Rybolt till '89; Benjamin Hamaker and Charles Lillibridge till '93; Mr. Lillibridge till '97; J. F. Carm- ichael till '01; again the irregularity of Mr. Carmichael hell over till '02: Il. O. P. Cline till '06; E. E. Veach till '10, when Joseph Clouse, the present inemmabent was elected recorder. There are so many volumes connected with conveyances of land, mortgages of chattels, real-estate, mechanic's liens, leases, articles of incorporation, the names of trustees of churches, lodges, and plats of cites and towns, that some system is necessary in finding the proper records, and alphabetically arranged index has been devised for it.
The clerk of the court is required to keep the docket and order books which contain records of the proceedings of the circuit, superior and criminal courts of the county. All judgments, decrees and transcripts of judgments, lists of jurors and witnesses, inventories, appraisements and reports of executors and administrators, wills and other instru- ments relating to court proceedings are a matter of record in his office. The clerk is the custodian of official and appeal bonds, coroner's reports and the findings of insanity inquests. He issues marriage licenses, sum- monses, warrants and subponas, and during vacation of the circuit court he issues letters of execution and administration. The clerk and his deputies are authorized to administer oaths, and are required to exeente pension vouchers without charge. There is a sort of an in- written law in Grant county politics that any deputy who serves the publie faithfully and well is finally rewarded by the voters, and it holds good in all departments of county government. The first clerk was Jesse Vermilyea who served one year and Riley Marshall served until '38, when M. Jones, who died in office was succeeded by J. Trimble and he in turn by E. G. Carey who served until '45; Asbury Steele till '49; J. W. Brown until '56; R. B. Jones until '62; Byron Il. Jones until '66; J. W. Morrow until '70; M. S. Marsh until '78: 4. 11. Zahn until '82; C. W. Neal until '86; William Feighner until '90; Wilson Add- ington until '94; E. H. Ferree until '98; W. T. Cammack until '02; M. M. Wall until '06; J. D. Ferree until '10, when Fred Drake was lected and is the present incumbent.
The sheriff is the chief executive and peace officer of the county. and if his zeal denied him repose until he had performed everything within the scope of his duty, he would be a most busy man. The Grant county sheriff is provided with a domicile a place to lay his head, and in that respect he has the advantage of other county officials the $100,000 "barth" being exclusive for prisoners and their custodians, few Grant county tax payers having the conveniences in their own homes equal to those offered criminals "in durance vile." The sheriff must prevent lynchings, riots and all violent disorders. He must par- sur and capture felous and those guilty of misdemeanors, put an end to unlawful sales of liquor, arrest every one who uses profane language in his hearing, and bring to justice all offenders. The sheriff must keep the jail. convey convicts to state prisons, safely keep all prisoners, arrest accused persons and where the judgment is rendered but not paid. he must seize and sell enough property, if any is found within the county, to satisfy all claims against it and those who have met and conquered all difficulties are: Benjamin Berry who was first and served until '33; W. J. Barnett until '36; E. G. Carey until '39 ; Henly James, until '43; John Hodge until '46; Zimri Reynolds until '52; Alexander Buchanan until '56; Calvin B. MRac until '60; B. (. Hiatt and Ben- jamin Crowell until '63; L. Il. Elliott until '67; Mr. Buchanan until '70; John F. Jones until '72; 1 .. D. Baldwin until '76; B. R. Norman until 'S0: A. E. Eyestone until '82; Charles Lenfesty until '84 ; Orange Holman until '86; W. G. Wilson until 'S8: Robert L. Jones and Alfred
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
McFeely until '90; John Sanders until 92; J. T. Williams until '94; Acil Alexander until '98; C. C. Bradford until '02; Clark Mills until '06; J. B. MeGuffin until 'OS; Tony George until '12 when Y. F. White assumed all responsibility.
The coroner of Grant county is a conservator of the peace, elected by the people although commissioned by the state of Indiana. While the governor commissions the coroner his powers and duties are the same as those of the sheriff in keeping the peace, suppressing affrays and arresting offenders against the criminal law. Puder certain con- ditions the coroner may take charge of the jail and baprison the sheriff, buit such a precedent has not yet been established in Grant county. The coroner's particular work is to hold inquests where death results From mmatural causes, or where the cause of death is unknown. !! tales charge of all money and other valuables found on the body of such per- son, and disposes of them according to law. In recent years medical doctors have aspired to this office, but not all have been men of medi- rine. There was little such record made until in 1857 when Calvin W. Ward became the first coroner, and he was followed in turn by Nicholas D. Holman, Benjamin Crowell, Daniel Jay, Mr. Crowell, Mr. Jay. Cap- tain Isaac Hamilton, Dr. JJ. L. Lord, Captain Hamilton. C. B. Porter, James Boyd ( colored ), HI. J. Work, Dr. J. S. Whitson, Dr. G. W. Davis. Dr. G. R. Daniels and Dr. V. V. Cameron, and the coroner's jury of twelve men has long been out of vogue, the argument of one negro candidate-Henry Weaver being that he could tell when a man was dead without calling twelve others to decide that point-all that about a generation ago.
The county surveyor establishes all lines lying outside of the corpo- rate limits of cities and towns. He usually marks corners by stones and records the survey in his office books. He is empowered to take acknowledgments of deeds and mortgages, to administer oaths and he may act as drainage commissioner. The work of the first surveyor, David P. Alder, who made records A and B, were lost, and record C was made by Ephraim Smith who became county surveyor in 1816- - the work of fifteen years lying at the bottom of the Mississinewa -the story elsewhere told in this Centennial History. Those who followed Mr. Smith are: John Ratliff. Robert B. Jones, William Neal. A. C. Overman, L. M. Overman, B. C. Harris, David Overman, William Neal, E. C. Mur- ray, L. M. Overman, John Swisher. A. R. Smith. A. E. Ratliff. W. S. Freel. A. R. Smith, F. M. Baldwin, C. D. Smith, Premont Wilson and Denver C. Horner.
The drainage commissioner is an officer whose duties relate to the construction and repair of public ditches and drains, and he works in connection with the county surveyor in the inspection of lands affected by proposed drains, and reports to the court with reference to the utility and practicability of such thing. The office of ditch commis- sioner dates back to abont 1885 and Simon P. Barley was the first official ditch man in Grant county. His successors have been: Sol. Carter, J. R. Carey, II. M. Creviston. A. J. Lenox, who died and R. B. Thomas finished his term. C. D. Smith, D. M. Murphy and George Swisher.
By Act of 1891 the office of county assessor was created, and Sidney Harvey served by appointment from May of that year until after the November election in 1892, when E. 1. Bond ( Rural) was duly elected and served until his death in 1894, when U. S Candy filled out his unexpired time. All this is within the memory of the historian. Thomas Winslow was elected in 1906 and served until the Century year, when W. R. Coomler was elected and through extension of time he served six years. In 1906 M. M. Kilgore was chosen, and in 1910 he was succeeded by the present incumbent-B. JJones Undhun. The duty
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
of the county assessor is to investigate the ownership of property and place it on the tax list for collection. He is president of the county board of review composed of five persons, assessor, auditor and treas urer of the county roster, and two free holders appointed by the judge of the circuit court. The board of review meets annually on the first Monday in June and continues in session until its work is completed. It hears all complaints as to assessments, adds omitted property, cor- reets errors and raises or lowers any assessment which it thinks neces- sary for the purpose of equalizing assessments throughout the county. For this purpose it may call and examine witnesses upon oath.
There is one educational office supposed to be beyond the spoils sys- tem, and the superintendent of schools is elected by the county board of education on the first Monday of June every fourth year, counting from 1899, the time the term was extended from two to four years. The county board of education is composed of the township trustees and school board presidents of the incorporated towns, and while it is .sup- posed to be nonpartisan, polities is always in evidence. It was since the Civil war that the office was created, there being examiners before there were school superintendents, among them William Neal, Nathan Doane, A. W. Sanford, G. W. Harvey and when T. D. Tharp was elected in 1871 it was an examiner, but when he was reelected two years later new duties were added and he was both examiner and superin- tendent of the schools of the entire county. He served until 1879, and in March of that year he granted the present centennial county histo- rian his first license as a teacher. G. A. Osborn served until 'St: E. 0. Ellis until '91; F. M. Scarles until '97; Alexander Bell Thompson until his death in '04, seven years, and A. G. Brumtiel filled the wuex- pired time and served until '11. when (. W. Terrell became county superintendent. There was an extension of time during the meum- beney of Mr. Thompson. The county superintendent has general su- pervision over the schools of the county, holds county teachers' insti- tutes, conducts examinations for teachers, visits the schools while in session, and is a general adviser of the teachers and school officers of the county.
By an aet of the Indiana legislature, March 11, 1891, the truant ofti- cer came into existence, and Ed Caldwell (not the accountant) was the first inemmbent of the office in Grant county. It was the duty of the truant officer to enforce the compulsory education law, to enforce greater efficiency upon the community of the future, but the 1913 Indiana legislature changed the name and Noah West is the first at- tendance officer. However inapplicable the word truant may have been, the attendance officer performs practically the same duties, and there are always a mimber of persons seeking the appointment. The attendance officer who is diligent may receive compensation for 280 days, and he is valuable in as much as he enforces efficiency by inercas- ing attendance in the schools of the county. The city of Marion has an officer in addition to the county official, and to date the truant and attendance officers have been: Mr. Caldwell. L. C. Reynolds, J. A. Jones, W. O. Clay, W. F. Jones, G. E. Pierce and Noah West of the county, and Jesse Jones and Reere Daviess of the city.
There is a juvenile court. board of children's guardians, county board of charities and corrections and federated charities otherwise provided for and institutional life will be described in those chapters. The whole snecession of judges has been reviewed in another chapter, but in order they are: C. II. Test until '35; Samuel Bigger until '39; David Kilgore until '46; Jeremiah Smith until '52; J. Anthony and J. 1. Pettitt until '54; J. Brownlee and A. M. Wallace until '60; IT P. Biddle until '66; J. S. Bueklee until '70; Joshna Mellett until '73; J.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
R. Slack until '80; II. B. Saylors until '86; W. I. Carroll until '92; R. T. St. John until '98; J. b. Custer until '04. and H. J. Paulus holds over until '16-the first man to occupy the bench continuously for twelve years.
There were associate judges from the beginning until 1852, and in their order they were: Sammel MeClure, Daniel James, William Mas- sey, B. F. Furnish, Caleb Smith and Henty James. In 1837 James Trimble became probate judge and he was followed by Benoni C. Ilogin, J. W. Goldthait, George F. Dunn, Frederick P. Encas, Walter March, Henry S. Kelly, John Green, and William Garver when in 1873 -- the figures reversed, the position was discontinued. When the superior court was instituted between Grant and Howard counties in 1897, Hiram Brownlee served three years by appointment, and in the century year he was regularly elected, serving until 1904 when B. F. Harness, of Kokomo, was chosen, and in 1908 P. H. Elliott was elected, and during his time of service the relation was changed from Howard to Delaware county, and in 1912 R. M. Van Atta was elected to the Grant-Delaware superior court bench -the present incumbent-Grant county Furnishing the judge in all but one term.
In order to hold court a proseenting attorney is necessary -chosen by the county and paid by the state, and in order of service they have been: II. Gregg, W. J. Brown, S. W. Parker. J. T. Elliott, Jeremiah Smith, .I. M. Wallace, John Davis, Joseph Buckles, Isaiah M. Harlan, David Moss, Silas Colgrove, J. M. Comefl. I. M. Harlan, R. P. Dellart, M. 11. Kidd. T. C. Whiteside, Dudley Chase, L. M. Goodwin. David Chambers, Alfred Moore, A. E. Steele, S. W. Cantwell. C. M. Ratliff, 0. 1. Cline, Elias Bundy, W. M. Amsden, E. E. Freidline, Wilbur Williams. Grant Dentler. George Coon, and Wilbur Williams-reelected in 1912, the only Democrat to till that position in recent years. While there is a county proseenting attorney there is also a county attorney- their duties of different nature. Grant county has been in business for itself since August 5, 1831. its residents having petitioned for separate and independent existence February 18th that year, having grown fired of the Fort Wayne land office and of the Muncie court. The county seat of Grant was determined by the amount of bonus subscribed --- the Beatty and liatt farms rivaling the Boots and Branson site, and al- though antedating county organization nineteen years-the foregoing is a complete list of those who have served Grant county in official capacity, including the results of the 1912 election.
"Civil Government of Indiana" further says: "The modern idea of goverment involves that of a community of people, permanently occupying a definite geographieal area over whose public affairs, gen- eral and local, designated persons exercise recognized authority and power. It was doubtless reached by a somewhat devions evolution from the simpler and more natural conceptions of primitive times, ex- panding as the changed condition of the community demanded a more systematie control. Perfection of plan or practical working can hardly be claimed for any system, nor is the government best suited to one condition of men necessarily adapted to others." The town of Marion is coordinate with the county of Grant-August 5, 1831, and the elve- tion changing it from town to city and held May 7, 1889, when A. E. Steele became its first mayor. It is now governed under the cities and towns laws of 1905, and John O. Wilson is at the head of city govern- ment. The chief executive and administrative authority is vested in the mayor. He may appoint and remove the different heads of depart- ments and other appointive officers as suits him. It is the mayor's partienlar duty to see that the ordinances of the city and the laws of the state are executed and enforced, and to exercise a general super-
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
vision over subordinate officers. He is responsible for the efficient gov. ernment of the city, presides at all meetings of the city council, and has the power of veto in measures not approved by him.
Under metropolitan police control the department is under dircet control of the governor of Indiana who appoints a non-partisan board of police commissioners, but by special dispensation the city of Marion is an exception-controls itself. There is a local police board appointed by the mayor, and it is subject to so many changes resignation and otherwise that chief of police, B. O. Phillips, does not find it expe dient to print the names of such board on the city stationery used by him areurate today, wrong tomorrow. Under certain pressure there was wholesale resignation lately and a new slate named by Mayor Wilson was: J. B. MeGuffin, Dr. M. M. Wall and John C. Haswell, but Mr. MeGuffin's resignation soon followed and Chief Phillips was vindicated in his precaution- unsafe to print the names of such board on city stationery. The recent wet and dry agitation in the community has rendered such position unsatisfactory to men who wish to hold themselves aloof from municipal difficulties. There are twenty two men enrolled in the Marion police department aside from the chief, and i mmerous people stand for law and order in the community in addition to the official roster. While Gas City has similar charter, there is no polier board and the mayor and council appoint a marshall who does patrol duty there-a position not always easily filled owing to its many unpleasant features. "Blind tigers" have been worse than pestilence in both Marion and Gas City -newspaper reports the basis for the assertion.
Other incorporated towns in Grant county are: Jonesboro, platted in 1936 and incorporated "sometime in the sixties." Inuit there is rer ord that Sammuel Jay was president of the town board in 1868, and in habitants of the town remember when they still worked the roads in the country. Fairmount became an incorporated town Jannary 23. 1871, and the town clerk's office contains the earliest constitution. | Note - The Jonesboro records were destroyed by fire. | Swayzee was incor- porated March 26, 1891; Van Bareu, June -, 1892; Upland, October 17, 1893; Gas City, April 9, 1895, and Matthews, November 25, 1902. and while in some instances the town was not meorporated until the township had provided the necessary school buildings, in others the school corporation was vacated in order to enlist township capital notaldy Van Buren, where a township high school exists. The Mat- theus schools have always been under Jefferson township control.
The office of city controller who was at the head of the finance de- partment in Marion city has been discontinued, and in each town of city the clerk records the minutes of all council proceedings. keeps the books, papers and records and is keeper of the corporate seal, issues all licenses and prepares the assessment duplicates. The treasurer has charge of all funds belonging to the corporation and collects the taxes. Judge Marshall Williams, author of "Civil Government of Indiana," was the first and last city judge in the city of Marion, having been appointed to the position AApril 17, 1905, by Governor A. Frank Han- ley and duly elected in November, 1906, but at the expiration of the time the office was discontinued-the mayor assuming the duties. The city attorney is the legal adviser of all city officials and looks after all litigation. Ile attends all meetings of the council and draws up all contracts and franchises or ordinances required by the city. The city attorney sustains the same relation to the city that he would to any private corporation, and it is an important position. The city civil engi- neer and street superintendent is a member of the department of pub- lie works appointed by the mayor, and his duty is to keep an accurate
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
record of grades and lines of sewers, and other matters required of him by the city. The board of public works-the head of this depart- ment, consists of three members whose duties are to acquire and con trol such property, personal and real. as is needed by the city for any publie purpose, and it is authorized to design and excente any neces- sary repairs or improvements.
The board of works is an important body in city government. It may lay out, open, vacate, change and establish grades, and carry out the improvements of streets, alleys and publie grounds. This board may provide for the supply of gas, water and light for the city itself and for the citizens. It may construct bridges, culverts, levees and dis- charge all other duties of an exeentive character not assigned to any other department. Under the new law city government has been greatly simplified, and the board of works is enabled to accomplish a great many things. The town or city council exercises control over all other officers of the municipality-its finances, property and business in general. It may adopt regulations for lire protection, sanitation, levy taxes and control the business sitnation of the community. The different departments of city government are under dircet control of the mayor, and several of them are appointive offices dependent en- firely upon him. Sometimes-use the necessary gram of allowance in Grant county polities-the office seeks the man, but who will be deli- nite in proving the assertion ? There are usually enough citizens will- ing to place themselves "in the hands of their friends" for any neces- sary sacrifice. and political fences are seldom built so high as to be insurmountable if the services of any particular citizen should be de- manded by the community.
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