USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 65
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 65
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On Brenton's Ferry 8 00
On John W. List's Ferry 6 00
On Franklin's Fe.vy, near Spencer.
4 00
And on each poll .. 37 5
September term, 1833-John Conn took his seat as Commissioner. Thomas Allen was taxed $5 for the privilege of keeping a tavern in Spen- cer one year. A fence was ordered built at the court house " of plank or paling, beginning at the northwest corner of the court house; thence west from said house twelve feet; thence south opposite the southwest corner of the court house; thence twelve feet to join the corner last mentioned, to be substantially done, and a gate four feet wide in front of the front door." Thomas F. G. Adams as County Agent was ordered to purchase at the expense of the county one acre of ground for a graveyard, and lay the same out in lots and sell one half. This acre of ground is the pres- ent "Old Cemetery," located on the northwest corner of the new " River- side Cemetery."
November term, 1833-Commissioners' Court: Elijah Chambers, President; Frederick Hauser, John Conn, Commissioners. At this term, the road from Gosport west to intersect the Spencer & Bowling Green road, in Section 30, in Morgan Township, was established on the favora- ble report of James A. Steele, Abner Alexander and Oliver Cromwell, Viewers. James Galletly was allowed $5 for services as surveyor, lay- ing off lots in the public graveyard. Allowances were made for Jacob Harsh and Jacob Waddle, chain-carriers, and Parson B. Roberts, stake- driver at the graveyard. Samuel W. Dunn was authorized to have and keep a ferry at the upper end of Terre Haute street. Elijah Chambers, President of the Board of Commissioners, was allowed $32 for one year's services. Frederick Hauser the same amount, and John Conn $11 for services to date. Thomas C. Johnson, Clerk, was allowed $45 for services as Clerk, and ordered to publish a complete and detailed statement of receipts and expenditures of Owen County for the year ending November 6, 1833. The following preserves the price of the old-fashioned " post and rail " fence: " James Halbert was allowed $38. 12} for furnishing and putting up ninety-nine panels of posting and railing, and two gate posts around the public graveyard." Hussey & Edwards were taxed $10 for license to vend foreign merchandise one year in Gosport.
January term, 1834-Jackson Township was organized at this term. James M. H. Allison was appointed agent for the County Seminary. A road in Morgan Township from the southeast corner of Section 11, Town 11, Range 5. was ordered opened and made in order for traveling, to where it intersects the State road leading from Spencer to Bowling Green, in Section 5, Town 10, Range 4. This term of the Commissioners' Court ended on the 7th of January, 1834. An act of the State Legislature, approved February 1, 1834, to " regulate the mode of doing County busi- ness in this State." It was provided " that in each of the counties of Harrison, Orange, Monroe, Parke, Hendricks, Johnson, Putnam, Owen, Clay, Spencer and Green, the qualified Justices of the Peace of said counties shall constitute a Board of Commissioners in their respective counties, and shall be known by the name and style of the 'Board of Com- missioners of County,' and as such shall be entitled to all the
32
580
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
rights, incidents, powers and privileges, and subject to all and singular the duties, incidents and requirements to which by the act to which this act is amendatory, the existing Board of Commissioners in the aforesaid coun- ties is entitled and subject to, except as hereinafter provided."
In accordance with the above law, on the 3d day of March, 1834, the first board under the new law met, were qualified and took their seats as members of the "Board of Commissioners of Owen County." The fol- lowing named persons constituted the new board, to wit: Delana R. Eckels, Isaac Heaton, Abraham Littell, Samuel Oram, Thomas Harvey, James W. Haltom, Joseph Landrum and Isaac Teal. Isaac Heaton was elected President of the Board, to serve as such for one year. The board elected Basil Champer, County Treasurer for one year. George W. Moore, the outgoing County Treasurer, reported total revenue collected, $1,539.74; total expenditures, $1,316.62.
Basil Champer filed his bond as County Treasurer, with Thomas Allen, James M. H. Allison and Isaac Westfall as sureties. The first order the County Treasurer received was to "sell the lumber provided for fencing the court house door, and that he report his doings thereon." So it seems that the twelve feet wide court house door was not built after all. Hon. Alexander Eason, Associate Judge, was allowed $4 for two days' services in hearing an application in Chancery of Thomas F. G. Adams vs. Beem's administrators. Now comes Joseph Whiles, Esq., and presents his commission as Justice of the Peace, and being duly sworn takes his seat as a member of this board.
May term, 1834-Before fixing the rate for taxation for the ensuing year for county revenue, the following-named Justices of the Peace appeared and took their seats as members of this board: Isaac Heaton, President ; James Bolden, Henry Littlejohn, Joseph Cochran, Samuel Oram, Isaac Teal and James Killough. George Hicks received an order for $1 for a wolf-scalp. To show the difference of cost of assessing the different townships in 1834 and 1883, I give the allowances for the years mentioned:
Wayne, 1834, Aaron McCarty. $ 7 00
Wayne, 1883, Benjamin F. Hart. 120 00
Montgomery, 1834, John Craddick. 7 00
Montgomery, 1883, Jefferson Crow. 92 00
Washington, 1834, William B. Etheridge. 10 00
Washington, including Spencer, 1883, Benjamin E. Allison, 300 00
Clay, 1834, Symmes Butler. 4 50
Clay, 1883, Isaac W. Noel .. 104 00
Franklin, 1834, Ralph Van Horn. 6 50
Franklin, 1883, W. D. Terrill 136 00
Jefferson, 1834, Joseph Whiles. 6 00
Jefferson, 1883, Jonas M. Fulk. 120 00
Morgan and Jackson, 1834, Oliver Cromwell. 6 00
Morgan, 1883, W. C. Randall . 96 00
Jackson, 1883, Alexander W. Haltom. 108 00
Total for the eight townships in 1834. $ 47 00
Total for the eight townships in 1883. 1,076 00
There is a great difference in the cost of the assessment in the two periods above indicated, but the Assessors of 1883 earned their money fully as much as the Assessors of 1834.
John Ridgely, a colored man, was allowed 12} cents for wood fur- nished this court, and "now upon motion of said Ridgely, by Adams, his attorney, said allowance is offered to the county, which is now accepted
. .
581
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
by the board." In those days, no negro had any "rights which a white man was bound to respect," and no negro could be recognized as speak- ing in his own proper person to any court, so Old John, being wrathful over his allowance of 122 cents, when his bill was at least 372 cents, felt his dignity as an American citizen of African descent outraged to a sufficient extent to hire Tom Adams to speak in his stead, and give the county his 12}-cents allowance. Those of us who remember the swearing capacity of Old John Ridgely, can easily believe that he swore at that County Board, when he got away to a safe distance, until things turned blue. It was ordered that the south half of the Public Graveyard be appropriated to the use of the public.
September term, 1834-The President being absent, Delana R. Eckels was appointed President pro tempore. It was ordered that "the Sheriff be fined $1 for neglect of duty and not attending at this court as he should in duty bound." James A. Steele was appointed School Commissioner; bond $10,000, signed by Zachariah Glover, Samuel Steele, John Hudson, Andrew Modrell, William Glover and Isaac Westfall as sureties.
John Sedwick was allowed $4 for services as surveyor in locating a road from James Harrah's to Clay County. Lewis Johnson, Jonathan Wright, Hezekiah Gooden, Isaac Littlejohn and Little Berry Vest were allowed for services as chain carriers, etc., in locating the same road. Thomas B. Dale was Deputy Sheriff at this time. "Upon motion of Delana R. Eckels, Esq., ordered that it be certified to all whom it may concern, that Basil Champer is a young man who is known to the court to be a man of honesty, probity and good demeanor, preparatory to tak- ing a license as an attorney and counselor at law, in the State of In. diana."
Samuel Scott was Sheriff; Thomas C. Johnson, Clerk. The State road, from Bloomington, Monroe County, to Spencer, as located by Aquilla Rogers, was ordered opened and made ready for travel.
November term, 1834-At this term Isaac Heaton and Amasa Joslin, who had been appointed to ascertain the condition of the County Library fund, made their report. Amongst other items they report that, at the second sale of lots, amounting to $2,402.062, they were paid for in county orders, which were afterward redeemed at 50 cents on the dollar. By this it seems there was some bad financiering about that time. Delana R. Eckels resigned his office as Justice of the Peace.
Whole receipts in treasury for 1834 $1,766 33}
Whole expenditures for 1834. 1,291 91₺
January term, 1835- Present, Isaac Heaton, President, Abraham Littell, Thomas Dunning, James Boldon, Isaac Teal, William Asher, Joseph Landrum, Thomas Harvey, Messer Secrest, John Hudson, Joseph Cochran, Samuel Oram and Henry Littlejohn, Esqs. John M. Young, Commissioner to build a bridge across Mill Creek, reports, cash paid James Whitcomb, attorney fee, $15. James Whitcomb was then a young lawyer practicing at the bar of our courts; he was afterward Governor of Indiana and United States Senator for this State.
March term, 1835-James Hensley was allowed $224.10, with interest from February 2, 1832, for work done on the court house in Spencer. Basil Champer was re-appointed County Treasurer for the ensuing year. Lots 21, 22, 23 and 24 were chosen as the site of the County Seminary, and those lots were ordered to be deeded to the Seminary Trustees.
582
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
Messer Secrest was licensed to keep a grocery in Spencer, taxed $10 for one year, Delana R. Eckels and Samuel Scott his sureties; bond $500. John Galletly and Levi Beem were appointed Fence Viewers for Wash- ington Township for one year. Ordered that " there be notice given in the several townships in this county, in at least one of the most public places in said townships, that there will be a meeting of the citizens of Owen County, at the court house in Spencer, on the second Saturday in June next, for the purpose of forming an Agricultural Society in said county, and that the Sheriff give notice by written advertisement as afore- said." Lindsay C. Abrell having been elected a Constable of Washing- ton Township and declining to serve, Hiram Thomas, elected, and Alex- ander Kirk, appointed, were sworn in as Constables for said township.
September term, 1835-Micajah Freeman, Esq., takes his seat as a member of this board. Ordered by the board, " that Henry Littlejohn and George Mayfield be appointed to examine so much of Eel River as lies in Owen County, and, if in their opinion the sum of $30 will be of special benefit to the public for the navigation of said stream, the said Littlejohn is hereby appointed to superintend the clearing out of the ob- structions in said stream, and $30 is hereby appropriated." Good gra- cious! what extravagance! $30 to clear out the obstructions to navigation in " so much of Eel River as lies in Owen County." What do you Eel River folks think of that amount appropriated to clean out your snaggy little river? George Mayfield was appointed to "repair the 'debtors' room' in the county jail in a sufficient manner to the safe-keeping of prisoners."
January term, 1836-Delana R. Eckles was allowed $12 for assessing Washington Township. Robert M. Wooden, Sheriff of Owen County, was tined $1 for contempt in Justice Messer Secrest's court.
March term, 1836-Present, Thomas Dunning, James Boldon, David Fulton, John Hudson, George Mayfield, Messer Secrest, Samuel Oram, Joseph Landrum, Thomas Harvey, Henry Littlejohn, James W. Haltom, David Crockett, Francis Ashbrook and Joseph Whiles, Esqs. John Hudson was elected President. It was ordered that "when any member of this board has a motion to make, that they arise to their feet." The board now began to feel dignified, even if its grammar was bad. Ordered "that Robert M. Wooden, the Sheriff of Owen County, be fined $5 for a contempt of this court, and that he stand committed until fine and costs be paid or replevied." Those of us yet living, who remember Col. Bob Wooden, can imagine the stand he would take if he thought the dignities of his office were not properly recognized and re- spected. He would have died at the stake rather than yield an iota of fais rights. The Colonel was rather convivial in his habits, and on all ordinary occasions was a jovial, genial companion, but touch the dig- ities of his official position and he would not stir a step for the Presi- dent of the United States. Peace seems to have been made, however, between the board and the Sheriff, as at the end of this order in a dif- ferent hand writing, is appended this additional sentence: " By order of the board, the fine of $5 above is set aside and remitted for good cause." Basil Champer was re-appointed Treasurer. His report for the last fiscal year showed:
Total receipts from all sources. $2,259 21}
Total expenditures. 2,157 15}
Joseph Cochran, Esq., files the receipt of Isaac Westfall, Trustee of
583
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
the County Seminary fund, for $1, it being a fine collected for assault and battery on the body of Moses Carter by Jackson Reynolds, August 3, 1835.
Thomas Allen was appointed "to select as good a half-quarter sec- tion of' land as he can find suitable for erecting a Public Asylum for Owen County, as near as may be practicable to the county seat, and that $108 of the estray and road moneys now in the treasury be and the same is hereby appropriated for said purposes." It was further ordered " that he be authorized to purchase a pre-emption right, if any such can be had on reasonable terms."
Isaac Westfall, Trustee of the Seminary fund, receipts for a fine of $1 from William Scott, for "profane swearing," and another fine from the same person of $2 for "aiding and abetting an affray."
May Term, 1836-E. and J. Goss were taxed $10 for a license to vend foreign merchandise in Owen County for one year. The following Constables for the different townships filed their bonds and were sworn in: Jesse Morris, Wesley Raper, Frederic Sapp, Thomas B. Dale, Green Chance, James Wallace, Hiram Thomas, Eli Abernathy, William H. Fritts, Elijah Burbridge and Joseph R. Snodgrass. Thomas Sandy and Joseph A. Goss were licensed to keep a grocery one year in Owen County; fee $10. At this term, the board changed the method of the assessment of taxes upon lands. Instead of taxing first, second and third rate lands as had been done heretofore at a certain rate for each, a fixed rate per head upon horses, mules, oxen, etc., the board levied at this term 5 cents on each $100 valuation, and 50 cents on each poll for State pur- poses, and for county purposes 20 cents on each $100 valuation and 50 cents on each poll, and 1} cents on each $100 valuation for road tax.
The township of Grayson was organized at this term, and its bounda- ries described, which is the same territory now in Marion Township. Thomas Allen reported that he had bought for $108 the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 8, Township 10 north, Range 3 west, which piece of land was the first "Poor Farm" owned by Owen County. Mar- tin Snoddy is mentioned as Coroner, and is now appointed Commissioner of the "three per cent fund," Basil Champer, surety; bond in the sum of $2,000. The settlement of Thomas Allen, the outgoing Commis- sioner, showed the total receipts of the "three per cent fund " to be $1,028.81.
It was ordered at this term that "there is hereby appropriated five per centum of the gross amount of the State revenue of Owen County for the use of common schools in said county for the year 1836."
Zachariah Landreth and Wells Ward were appointed Constables for the new township of Grayson.
January term, 1837-Harrison Township was organized and its boundaries described. Aaron Fender and William Ward take their seats as members of this board. Now is filed and ordered to be recorded the following report, to wit:
To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of Owen County: We proceeded to view so much of Eel River as lies in this county, and are of opinion that $30 will be of great benefit and utility. (Signed) HENRY LITTLEJOHN.
John R. Freeland was appointed County Treasurer for the ensuing year, from March, 1837; bond. $5,000, with James M. H. Allison and Thomas Allen, sureties. The $30 Eel River appropriation was ordered to be expended in bridging and causeway of the road on the west side
584
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
of Lick Creek, on the New Brunswick & Bloomington road. And thus the snags have remained in Eel River from that day to this. Navigation has not been made possible, no subsequent appropriation having been made for that purpose. But for the failure of the above appropriation, Eel River might have been a navigable stream for all these past and gone years, and year by year our Congressmen might have been fighting "for the old flag and an appropriation" for Eel River, which is a far more respectable stream than many others are which have been put down in the river and harbor appropriation bills in Congress for thousands of dollars.
The County Agent was ordered to give notice in the Indiana Journal and Democrat papers, published at Indianapolis, Ind., of the public letting of a contract for certain repairs to the court house in Spencer, and for the building of a cupola on said court house, "to equal in stile the one at Martinsville in Morgan County." Old residents of Spencer will recollect Henry W. Jones, a humpbacked tailor. He was a very small man, but he had a temper big enough for a giant, and with the ex- ception of Ben Leonard could outswear anybody about Spencer. I find amongst otber fines recorded as received at this term, one against Henry W. Jones for profane swearing, February 16, 1837; also a fine of $1 against John Galletly for " breach of Sabbath, offense committed July 13, 1834." Little Berry Vest, for assault on the body of John Foster, $1. William Jones, $1 for contentious language. This offense must be the "provoke " of the present. James and Alexander McBride were fined $1 each for assault and battery on the body of Little Berry Vest. All the above is from the docket of Findley B. Johnson, Esq., who is yet liv- ing, and bids fair to enjoy yet many years of life amongst the people where he has lived so long.
May term, 1837-George E. Tingle is now serving as Associate Judge. The County Agent was ordered to contract for the construction of a public well on the public square in Spencer, " deep enough to afford a sufficiency of watter at all seasons, with a good bucket and sweep to draw the watter with." Allen Wilson's bid of $1,300 for completion of the required repairs and a cupola on the court house, " equal in stile and finish to the one in Martinsville," was accepted. Bond, $2,600, with David Crockett and John Wilson, sureties.
The Sheriff was ordered to procure one wooden bucket and one tin cup. and six common chairs for the use of the courts of this county. No fancy ice water jars and revolving chairs about the court house in those days. David Kerr was appointed Collector of State and County Revenue for the ensuing year.
Abner Frasier was allowed $77.50 for assessing the taxable property of Owen County for the present year. It seems by this allowance that the Township Assessors had been superseded by a County Assessor.
September term, 1837-Present, Thomas Dunning, President pro tem. Henry Littlejohn, David Fulton, Aaron Fender, Francis Ashbrook, Shubal B. Boling, Joseph Landrum, James Beck, Stephen F. Hancock, David Crockett, Andrew Arney, Henry Jackson, Messer Secrest, Thomas Harvey and Samuel Oram, Esqs., and Martin Snoddy, Sheriff.
Little Berry Vest was allowed $77 for digging, walling and furnish- ing the public well in Spencer. Thomas Allen was allowed $60 for extra services as Sheriff. The first mention is now made of Orrin H. Gallup. He was allowed 25 cents as Clerk at the August election. All old resi- dents well remember the peculiar characteristics of Squire Gallup.
585
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
November term, 1837-Zachariah Beaman and Findley B. Johnson appear, and take their seats as members of this board. The first appear- ance of the well-known back hand of Isaac E. Johnson, who was the son of Thomas C. Johnson, Clerk, is on the records of this term of the Commissioners' Court. The Circuit Court had at the previous term or- dered the Sheriff to proceed to improve the court house in a certain man- ner, and at this term of the Commissioners' Court, Messer Secrest moved that the Sheriff be ordered to proceed in accordance with said instruc- tions of the Circuit Court, and make said improvements, which motion was overruled. This action of our fathers bears witness of their firm- ness and independence. At that day the " Circuit Judge " was looked upon by the community, and he considered himself the " biggest man in sight," and his suggestions and orders must be obeyed. Our fathers who had charge of county affairs had to provide means to pay these bills for repairs. Considering them useless or needless, they quietly sat down upon the great big Circuit Judge.
Total receipts of Owen County from November 7, 1836, to November 7, 1837. . $1,790 444 Total expenditures of Owen County from November 7, 1836, to November 7, 1837. 1,754 774
Amongst the receipts of fines recorded at this term, I find the State vs. William Combs for assault and battery on the body of John Holmes, on the 20th day of September, 1837; fine, $1; docket of Squire James Boldon. Uncle Billy Combs is yet living; has represented this county in the State Legislature, and is one of our solid men. I would not have believed this if I had not found it on the record.
January term, 1838-Ralph Van Horn and Andrew Arney appeared, qualified, and took their seats as members of this board. The Sheriff was ordered to purchase for the use of the court house " a good, large, ten- plate stove." This was a long step foward into the new fashions. The old-fashioned fire-place, which had heretofore warmed their Honors, the Judges, the lawyers, litigants and spectators, must now give place to the new-fangled stove for heating purposes. The county was now beginning to put on style. With a cupola "equal in stile and finish to the one at Martinsville," a ten plate stove, a wooden bucket and tin cup instead of a gourd, six common chairs instead of hewn puncheons for seats for the Judges and lawyers, our fathers must have felt as proud as a boy with his first pair of red-topped boots. Messer Secrest was allowed 75 cents for cutting a hole in the chimney to receive the pipe from the new stove in the court house. John R. Freeland, re-appointed County Treasurer; David Kerr, re-appointed Collector of State and County Revenue.
TAX LEVY FOR 1838.
For State revenue, 50 cents on each poll and 15 cents on each $100 valuation.
For county purposes, 75 cents on each poll and 20 cents on each $100 valuation.
On each traveling caravan, menagerie, or other collection of animals, or show of wax figures or circus exhibited to the people for money, there was assessed the sum of $50 for each day's exhibition.
Ordered that the Clerk of this board strike from the assessment rolls now filed all polls assessed against persons of color.
September term, 1838-William D. Farly appears as a new member of this board.
586
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
James Young received license to vend foreign and domestic groceries and spirituous liquors for one year; tax $20; bond $500. Samuel Scott and Messer Secrest, sureties. This is getting down now to my own spir- itual experience. Many a high old time we boys have had in Jim Young's grocery. There used to be a dozen or so of us who were rather wild boys. John Wi -- , no, that won't do; I plead guilty myself to be- ing a leetle wild in my young days, but I dare not name the other boys; they are now grandfathers, staid, sober men, pillars of the different churches, away beyond and above suspicion of ever having indulged in such things .. If I should name them, I am very much afraid they would " go back on me." There are lots of the old boys yet living with whom I have had many a "nip" in Jim Young's grocery, but we finished sowing our wild oats. many years ago, and are now all of us, I am glad to say, sober, moral, tem- perate men; yet it was fun in those days, wasn't it boys ?
November term, 1838-William D. Alexander licensed to vend for- eign merchandise at Gosport for one year.
Receipts of revenue to November 6, 1838. $1,991 27៛
Expenditures to November 6, 1838. .$2,418 53}
January term, 1839-Jesse Walker and Larkin R. Scott appear as. members of the board.
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