USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 1 > Part 6
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
impenetrable barrier to the horseman, and in some instances almost inaccessible to the footman. In connection with this, let it be borne in mind that the level lands, which occupy so large a space in Shelby county, were at that time inun- dated more than one-half of the year. The forests were checkered over with the trunks of trees-some newly fallen. some sunk half their diameter in the cozy soil, and these laying in every direction, closed the drains until there was scarcely any escape for the flood. save by the slow process of evaporation and percolation. The soil, rich as it was and is, in organic matter chemically mix- ing with the watery element, rendered the paths and woods almost untraver- sible for man or beast.
"There were no great roads upon which to travel: there were no markets in which to buy or sell : there were no broad fields in which to raise grain for bread. Under these circumstances, unpropitious as they were, the pioneer set- tlers were compelled to maintain themselves and families. We may well imagine that it was in many instances a very hard struggle for life."
Such was Shelby county four score and seven years ago. It was for- bidding and gloomy and the prospect bad indeed. But the men who had come here went to work with a dauntless courage and unconquerable energy. They bore cheerfully and contentedly the toils and hardships and privations of the herculean task before them, buoyed up by the hope of leaving to their children a good inheritance.
The result is seen today. They labored and we reap the harvest of all that is good and excellent in character, and are counted one among the best counties within Indiana.
FIRST EVENTS.
There is always more or less curiosity clustering about the "first events" of any section of the country settled. There are children-some and grand- children many-living within this county who will read with a just pride and due interest the narration of the first happenings of this goodly portion of the Hoosier state, where their forefathers first settled and erected their rude log cabin houses and made their first "clearing" from out the native forests. It is for the benefit of such persons, as well as the future historian, that the follow- ing "first event" list is published in this work :
First actual settler was James Wilson, who came in November. 1818. The location was on the southwest quarter of section 9. township 13. range ;, east.
First town site was Marion. Iccated in what is now Marion township (be- iore the county's organization, and in 1820, by James Wilson and John Sleeth. It was named for Gen. Francis Marion, of Revolutionary fame.
First birth in the county was that of Miss Martha Kaster, daughter of Benjamin and Priscilla Kaster.
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
The first death recorded is that of Samuel Butler, in the spring of 1821.
First marriage in the county was that of Able Sommers to Miss Nancy Sleeth, May 16, 1822. Ceremony solemnized by Rev. Henry Logan, the first minister who appears on record.
First will was made by Jacob Lewis, on March 4. 1822.
First dwelling of any kind erected within the county was the log cabin of pioneer James Wilson.
First house built in Shelbyville was that of Francis Walker, and it stood on the northwest corner of Washington and Tompkins streets.
First public building was the school-house erected on the public square. in the town of Marion, as early as the autumn of 1821. It was built of logs and was in size, sixteen by eighteen feet.
First school teacher was Jonathan M. Wilson, who was paid seventy- five cents per scholar.
First court-house was built in 1825.
First court that convened in Shelby county was the term beginning Oc- tober 10, 1822.
First judges were Hons. John Sleeth and William Goodrich.
First court business was to admit five applicants to practice as attorneys at law "in this court."
First Prosecuting Attorney in the county was Hiram W. Curry, Esq.
First oath of allegiance was administered to John N. Calvert, a former subject of Great Britain and Ireland.
The first instrument placed on record within Shelby county was a war- ranty deed of David and Beniali Guard to John J. Lewis, dated June 25. 1822.
The first election took place at the forks of a tree on the Shelbyville pub- lic square, for the purpose of electing a major of the militia and resulted in the election of Major Ashbel Stone.
First flour mill and saw mill in the county was built by John Walker, in 1822, upon the site later occupied by Shelby Mills.
First postmaster was William Little and the letter postage rate was twenty- five cents a letter.
First Grand Jury in the county was in session in 1822, and consisted of the following gentlemen : James Gregory ( foreman ). Jesse Bird. Abel Cole. Zachariah Collins, Henry Shearer, Zadock Plummer.
FIRST SETTLERS IN MARION.
The following were the first actual settlers to settle in the town of Marion. Marion township :
David Fisher, John Forman, Balser Fox. James Grier, Benjamin Hodges, Benjamin Kaster. Bennett Michan, Adam Rhodes, John Sleeth, John Smith, Abel Sommers. James Wilson.
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
FIRST SETTLERS OF SHELBYVILLE.
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Joseph Campbell. James Davison. William Goodrich. Nathan Goodrich, George Goodrich. William Hawkins, John Hendricks, James Lee, William Little. Ezra MeCabe. Elisha Mayhew. Sr .. Elisha Mayhew, Jr .. Royal Mayhew, Sylvan B. Morris. John Walker, Francis Walker, Isaac H. Wilson, Smith Win- gate. Benjamin Williams, John M. Young.
THE PIONEERS OF THE COUNTY.
Year.
Year. Year.
Jonah Bassett 1821 Absolom Green . 1825 Obediah Nail 1821
Sylvester Bassett . 1821 Henry Green . . . . 1825 Samnel Nail 1821
A. C. Bocher 1825 Thomas Goodrich. . 1821 Levi Parish
Andrew J. Cherry. . 1823 Wm. Hankins 1821 James Patterson 1822
Jolin Cherry . 1822 Michael Hinds. IS25 Michael Rice. 1826
Thomas J. Cherry. . 1825 David Honk 1825 Sam. B. Robertson . 1825
William Cherry. . . 1823 John Houk 1825 Sydney Robertson . 1825
Allen Collins 1823 Fountain Hoffman. 1825 Milton Robbins.
.1821
Anderson Collins
1823 Jonathan Johnson. . 1823 Andrew Sleeth. . . .1821
Eli Collins IS23 John B. Johnson. . 1825 Caleb Sleeth. . . .1820
Obediah Conover. . 1825 Elias Johnson.
1825 Albert Snyder . 1821
George W. Davis 1821 Samuel Kaster. 1825 Daniel A .. Snyder. . 1821
John C. Davis. . 1820 William Kaster.
1821 David Snyder .1821
James Davison . . . 1821 William Law 1821 Peter Snyder .... .1821
Thomas H. Fleming 1826 E. G. Mayhew. . 1821 Squire L. Vanpel . 1826 Peter D. Gatewood. . 1821 Sam'l Montgomery 1825 Isaac H. Wilson . . . 1818 Wm. H. Gatewood. . 1821 John Moore 1823 Jos. Winterrowd. . 1821
Nathan Goodrich. . . 1821 Jacob Mowry .. IS25 Leo H. Worland . . 1825
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CHAPTER VI.
ORGANIZATION OF . SHELBY COUNTY.
A little more than a third of a century after the signing of the Declara- tion of Independence, and in 1816. Indiana was admitted into the Union of States. Five years later Shelby county was organized by an enabling act of the State Legislature, the date being December 31, 1821.
With this date begins the history proper, of what is now Shelby county. The act for the formation of the county north of Bartholomew county, reads as follows:
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Indi- ana, that from and after the first day of April next, all that part of Delaware county contained within the following bounds shall form a separate county viz. : Beginning at the southeast corner of section 33. in township 11 north. range 8. east of a second principal meridian : thence north twenty-four miles. to the northeast corner of section 4. township 14, north of range 8 east; thence west seventeen miles to the southwest corner of section 2, township 14, north of range 5 east ; thence south twenty-four miles to the north boundary of Bartholomew county : thence east seventeen miles to the place of beginning.
Sec. 2. The said new county shall be known and designated by the name of Shelby county, and shall enjoy all the rights and privileges and jurisdiction, which to separate and independent counties do and may properly belong.
Sec. 4. The Circuit and all other courts of the county of Shelby shall meet and be holden at the house of David Fisher. in said county of Shelby, until suitable accommodations can be had at the seat of justice; and so soon as said county is satisfied that suitable accommodations can be had at the county seat they shall adjourn their courts thereto, after which time the courts for the county of Shelby shall be holden at the county seat of Shelby county.
Signed :
SAMUEL MILROY, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
RATLIFF BOON. President of the Senate.
Approved December 31. 1821.
JONATHAN JENNINGS, Governor.
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHIELBY CO., IND.
THE NAMING OF THE COUNTY.
The naming of Shelby county was in honor of that distinguished gen- eral of Revolutionary fame, who became governor of Kentucky-Gen. Isaac Shelby. Not less than a dozen counties in the United States have been named for him. He was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, December II. 1750, and died in Kentucky in July, 1826. It was in 1813 that he joined Gen. William Henry Harrison at the head of four thousand gallant Kentuckians, and rendered brilliant service in the battle of the Thames and brought him into intimate association with the people of Indiana.
COMMISSIONERS' COURT.
The first term of the Commissioners' Court for Shelby county was held at the residence of David Fisher, near the town of Marion, on Tuesday, April 9. 1822. Having presented their certificates of election, the oath of office was administered to Richard Tyner, Joseph Davidson and David Fisher, who at once organized by electing Richard Tyner, president. Hiram Aldredge was appointed clerk of the Board and William Davis County Treasurer, for the term of one year. The first official business of the first Board of the newly made county was the division of the county into sub-divisions or townships. Four townships were thus made-Union, Marion, Hendricks and Noble, civil townships. An election was ordered in each of these four townships. to be licld April 27th, for the election of Justices of the Peace. the following places being designated as polling places : Union township, at the house of Cyrus H. Stone; Marion township, at the house of John Summer; Hendricks town- ship, at the house of Eli Adams; Noble township, at the house of Samuel Drake. Election inspectors were appointed. after which the Board adjourned sine die. A special session was held in May of the same year. Benjamin Hodges was appointed "lister" for the year 1822. A superintendent was appointed for each school section of the county, after which the business of the session was largely taken up by hearing road peritions, which were signed by "divers and sundry" citizens and set forth in glowing terms the public utility of the proposed lines. The prayer of the petitioners was always granted, and viewers appointed to survey and report as to the practicability and convenience of such proposed highways.
LOCATING A COUNTY SEAT.
The county seat commissioners, appointed by the Legislature. were : George Bently. Benjamin Blythe, Amos Boardman, Joshua Cobb and Ebenezer Ward. They met at the house of David Fisher on the first Monday in July,
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
1822, and proceeded to examine the several proposed sites, namely : First. Marion : second. the farm of Isaac Lemaster, who offered a donation of forty acres of land: third. the present site of Shelbyville, near the geographical center of the county, where seventy acres were offered. Major John Hendricks, forty acres. James Davison twenty aeres and Hon. John Walker. ten acres. After spending four days in careful deliberation. the commis- sioners accepted the Shelbyville site and- the announcement was made on the Fourth of July and was the source of much enthusiasm on the part of the throngs who had met to celebrate the National Independence Day. Of course, as would be looked for, some rejoiced. while others listened to the announcement with deep regret. if not in bitterness. Criticism was rife in the county and for years the decision was thought to have been an unwise one on the part of the commissioners appointed by the Legislature for the purpose. The principal cause for this criticism was the fact that for a number of years the town site of Shelbyville was partly covered with water a good share of the year. On the contrary, the other proposed sites were on high and dry lands. But, all in all. the county seat difficulty in Shelby county was settled without the usual amount of trouble, litigation and bitterness that has characterized many another county in this and other states.
The Board of County Commissioners met in special session, July 5th, and accepted the report, which defines the boundaries of the donated lands as follows :
"Commencing at a stake dividing sections 5 and 6. in range 7. east of the second principal meridian, township 12 north : thence east on township line dividing townships 12 and 13. along the northeast quarter of section 5, town- ship and range aforesaid, supposed to be 160 rods, more or less ; thence south to enclose twenty acres. Also twenty acres on the southeast quarter of sec- tion 31, range 7. township 13. lying as follows: Commencing at the south- east corner of section aforesaid: thence running north to Blue river : thence down Blue river to make twenty acres. Ten acres in section 31, range ;, township 13. as follows: Commencing at the southwest quarter of section aforesaid, at the southwest corner. thence east across said quarter section : thence north to inchide ten acres, and that the said site hereby located shal! be known by the name of Shelbyville"
The bill of the Locating Commissioners amounted to S135 and was ordered paid out of the first money received by the County Treasurer.
Hon. Abel Cole was appointed county agent, and directed to have all of the west half of the Hendricks donation, as well as that of Walker, laid into town lots, streets and alleys. The first sale of lots was advertised to take place September 23d, and the terms of sale fixed as follows: "One-twelfth in cash. balance payable in three semi-annual installments, with interest from ciate, if not paid at maturity." The price of lots was from ten to fifty dollars.
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
depending on location. The cash proceeds from the first lot sale were but $15.75. of which $1.75 was expended for whisky to be used on the day of the public sale, not to increase bids, but as was remarked by one pioneer present, as a preventive of the malarial disease that "flesh was heir to in those davs."
The record discloses the fact that at the January, 1823, term of the Com- missioners' Court, that the Clerk, Treasurer and Sheriff were each allowed twenty-two dollars for their services for one year, which today would hardly tempt one to run for county office.
At this session of the Board the rate of taxation for taverns was fixed. For each meal of victuals, twenty-five cents; for one bed. six and a fourth cents; for horse at hay, twelve and a half cents; for each gallon of grain, twelve and a half cents; for each hilf pint of whisky, ten cents; one-half pint of brandy, twenty-five cents. Prohibition unthought of.
A pound was ordered contracted for by bids, the same to be fifty feet square, a post and rail fence six feet high. with a gate five feet wide. The southeast lot of the public square was designated as the location of said pound, and Benjamin Williams appointed keeper of the same.
A county seal was agreed upon at this session, also, it was described as a circle, around the edge of which were the words, "Shelby County Seal, Indiana." In the center of the circle is an eagle perched upon the head of a lion.
At the mecting of the Board in September, 1826, the Board made an allowance of thirty-seven and a half cents for whisky furnished the county by Smith Wingate, and ordered that the same be paid out of the money in the treasury, not otherwise already appropriated. The price of whisky, as fixed by the Board was ten cents per pint, hence it will be observed that the price paid and the quantity were not very excessive. The next time the county needed liquors in its routine of official business was in November. 1827. when seventy-five cents' worth of brandy was used.
COUNTY BOARD ABOLISHED.
In 1824 the law creating a Board of County Commissioners was abolished and in its stead a similar Board, having the same office, was cre- ated from the various Justices of the Peace within the several townships with- in the county. One of its number was elected President, the Clerk of the Court being an ex-officio Secretary. The first of such boards was composed of the following gentlemen, each a Justice of the Peace: Alexander Van- pelt. Merry McGuire, Willis Law, H. H. Lewis, John Kennedy, Nathaniel Davis, Joseph Hongh. James Wray. John B. Morgan, Lewis Hendricks, John M. Goung. David Layman. David Brawn. Richard Williams, William
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
Hawkins, Adam Wright, Nathan Wheeler and Josiah Williams. The first meeting was held at the house of Benjamin Williams, and Josiah Williams was elected President. After four years this law was repealed and the former system re-established.
ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
Many changes have taken place in the various sub-divisions of this, in common with most counties within the state of Indiana. At first there were but four civil townships, made up as follows: Union township was Congres- sional township No. 14: Marion was made up of Congressional township 13; Hendricks township was Congressional township 12; Noble township was Congressional township II.
In May, 1822. the name of Union was changed to Harrison, and that of Marion to Shelby.
Addison township was organized in February, 1823; Sugar Creek in May, 1823.
Liberty was formed in March, 1827.
Monroe was formed in May, 1831.
Fleming, Hanover and Moral were the only other townships formed before 1840.
TOWNSHIPS RE-ORGANIZED.
On the first Monday in January, 1840, the Board of County Commis- sioners met in regular session and proceeded, among other transactions, to re-organize the townships of the county. New townships were also created from parts of other civil townships.
Jackson township was organized out of the territory of township II, range 6 east, and all of township II, range 5 east, lying in said county.
Noble township-Township II, range 7 east, and that part of township If, range 8, lying in Shelby county.
Hendricks township-All of that part of township 11, range 5, lying in Shelby county, and that part of township 12, range 6, contained in the follow- ing boundaries : Beginning at the southeast corner of section 34, thence north to the section line to the northeast corner of section 3; thence west to the northwest corner of said township; thence south to the line dividing town- ships II and 12; thence east four miles to place of beginning.
Sugar Creek township-Beginning at the southeast corner of section 34, township 13, range 6; thence north on section line to the northeast corner of section 3. in the aforesaid township: thence west along the line dividing town- ships 13 and 14, to the west line of said county ; thence south to the line divid- ing townships 12 and 13: thence east to place of beginning.
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
Moral township-Township 14 north, range 6 cast : that part of town- ship 14. in range 5, lying in Shelby county.
Marion township-Beginning at the southeast corner of section 23, township 13, north of range 7 east : thence north on section line to the north- cast corner of section 35. in township 14 north and range 7 east ; thence on section line to the range line, dividing ranges 6 and 7. at the northeast corner of section 31. township 14. range 7: thence south to the line dividing townships 13 and 14; thence west two miles to the northeast corner of section 5. township 13. range 6; thence south on section line to the southwest corner of section 23. township 13. range 6; thence east on the section line to place of beginning.
Hanover township-Beginning on the east line of Shelby county, at the southeast corner of section 28, township 14, range 8; thence west on sec- tion line dividing ranges 6 and 7, at the southeast corner of section 30. town- ship 14. range 7; thence north on county line: thence east to the northeast corner of said county : thence south to place of beginning.
Union township-All of township 13, range 8, lying in Shelby county; also sections 1, 12, 13. 24, 25 and 36. in township 13. range 7. and sections 31, 32 and 33, in township 14. range 8. and section 36. township 14. range 7.
Liberty township-All of township 12, range 8, lying in Shelby county, and sections 1, 12, 13. 24. 25 and 36, in township 12, range 7 east.
Addison township -- Beginning at the southeast corner of section 35. township 12, range 7: thence north on section line, to the northeast corner of section 26, township 13, range 7; thence west seven miles to the northwest corner of section 26, township 13. range 6; thence south eight miles to the southeast corner of section 35, township 12, range 6; thence east seven miles to place of beginning.
Van Buren township-Beginning at the southwest corner of section 26. township 14. range 6; thence east on said line to the county line : thence west on said county line to the northwest corner of section 2, township 14, range 6: thence south to the place of beginning.
Brandywine township-Beginning at the range line dividing ranges 6 and 7, at the northeast corner of section 36, township 14. range 6; thence one mile south to the township line dividing townships 13 and 14; thence two miles west on said line to the northwest corner of section 4. township 13, range 6: thence south six miles to the township line dividing townships 12 and 13: thence two miles on said line to the southeast corner on said line. to the southeast corner of section 34. township 13. range 6; thence north two miles to the northwest corner of section 26, township 13. range 6; thence two miles east to the range line dividing ranges 6 and 7; thence north on said line to place of beginning. Organized March 7. 1843.
Washington township -- Beginning on the township line dividing town- 5
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
ships II and 12. range 6. at the corner of the northeast quarter of. and the northwest quarter of section 3. township 11. range 6; thence running south on said line of sections 3. 10. 15. 22 and 27. to Flat Rock river, to the county line; thence east on said line to the southeast corner of section 33. township JI, range 7 ; thence north on said line to the township line dividing townships II and 12: thence west on said line to place of beginning. This township was organized in the month of April. 1845.
Shelby township-Beginning at the southeast corner of section 35. town- ship 12, range 6. which point is the southeast corner of Addison township ; thence north on the line dividing the townships of Addison and Hendricks, to the southwest corner of section 14. in said township and range ; thence east on section line to the northeast corner of section 13, and also range line, to the northwest corner of section 8: thence east to the northeast corner of sec- tion 14. township 12. range 7: also to the west line of Liberty township; thence south on the section line dividing Addison from Liberty townships. to the southeast corner of section 35. township 12. range 7: thence west on section line between Addison and Noble and Washington townships, to the place of beginning.
This was among the last townships in the county to be organized. the date being June 26, 1882.
After the organization of the townships of the county, the work of the County Board was reduced chiefly to the running of the routine government. such as providing a set of public buildings, caring for the poor. building bridges, making suitable highways, etc. With the passing of the years . multiplied into decades and scores in number. the great development of the county has steadily gone forth, only interrupted by a few financial panics and the Civil war from 1861 to 1865. The present high moral and intellectual standing of the society of Shelby county is sufficient evidence to the stranger, that the men and women who here laid the foundations and drove the first stakes of this section of Indiana were sturdy and high-minded in their char- acter, for the most part. In all that is good Shelby county desires only the best. From the days of pine knots to the age of brilliant electric lights, this people have "builded better than they knew."
"Sold to Abel Summers and William H. Sleeth, lot number 7, on Washington street. in the town of Shelby, at ninety dollars, which when paid according to the conditions of the sale, will entitle them to a deed for the same. Signed. Shelbyville. Indiana. September 23. 1822, by William H. Sleeth, Re- corder, and A. Cole, County Agent of Shelby county."
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