USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 66
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 66
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William Leak was licensed to keep a grocery in Spencer for one year. George Duignan and Findley B. Johnson appear as his sureties. West- fall & Steele licensed to vend foreign merchandise for one year at Spencer.
Peter H. Hussey was selected from the applicants in Owen County as a student to the Indiana College for the term of two years. Many of us. remember the brilliant but unfortunate " Pete Hussey."
The board rented the "county's stove," at $1 per month, to John. Young (a merchant of Spencer), "provided he shall return said stove in as good order and repair as he finds it, and shall set it up in good order. in the court house on the morning of the first day of each court, there to remain until each court shall be through." I can well remember the moving of said stove back and forth, to and from the court house to John Young's store.
Little Berry Vest and George A. Ritter were allowed $24.12} for locks, doors and grates for the county jail. They were blacksmiths, and manufactured the above themselves. The old jail key was a curiosity.
The board inspected the county jail, and reported that Martin Snoddy, the Sheriff, had fully obeyed orders in the repairs to the jail ordered by them to be made.
The county was now divided into two assessment districts, dividing the county east and west on the line between Congressional Townships. 10 and 11. John R. Freeland was appointed Assessor for the First Dis- trict, south of the line, and William R. Hudson for Second District, north of said line.
Basil Champer was fined $1 for profane swearing. Rachel, Peggy and Polly Ann Kirkman were fined $1 each for assault and battery, but the record fails to show whom these ladies assaulted and battered. Chas- teen Moore, Alexander Kirk, Michael Skidmore and Allen Hastings were- fined $1 each for assault and battery and for profane swearing.
If our authorities were now to exercise the proper vigilance, arrest and fine all profane swearers, from five years old and upward, it would swell the school fund enormously.
March Term, 1839-John R. Freeland re-appointed County Treasurer ..
587
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
May Term, 1839-Henry Secrest and Delana R. Eckels allowed $5 each for professional services in a suit against Alexander Gooden et als. John Hyden was allowed $40 for going to the State of Ohio and bring- ing to justice William Martin, a horse-thief.
TAX LEVY FOR 1839.
For State purposes, 50 cents on each poll and 30 cents on each $100. For county purposes, 50 cents on each poll and 17 cents on each $100.
James Wallace was allowed $12 for aiding the Sheriff in transmitting William Martin, a convict, to the State Prison, and Samuel W. Dunn was allowed $1.50 "for the use of a beast of his, six days, to carry said convict to the State Prison."
David Kerr re-appointed Collector of the Revenue.
This ends the extracts from the old record of the County Commission- ers' Courts. The next book I failed to find, and, it is possible the read- ers of this history, are glad of it, and wish, perhaps, I had failed to find the volume from which the foregoing extracts are taken. The reason I have given the extracts above is to show to future generations something of the methods of doing county business in the early days; and in looking over these old records, seeing the names of those old pioneers, once so familiar to my ear in my boyhood, and many of them now never heard, makes me linger over these things longer than I ought, perhaps.
In these days of steam and lightning, the old slow ways are forgotton, cast behind as things of no moment, and yet those rough, rugged and most of them uncultured men were making history. They filled their place in their age of civilization; they were preparing the way, and making the rough places smooth for their descendants; they were rough backwoods men, it is true; they wore homespun clothes; their wives and daughters wore linsey dresses and linen made by their own hands; yet the men loved liberty and the women loved virtue. Votes were not bought and sold in those days as now. The courts were not crowded with applicants for divorce, and plaintiffs in cases for breach of promise of marriage, bas- tardy and seduction. Rapes were acts horrible and unknown, and if our advancing civilization had brought along with it the devotion to princi- ple, the love of truth, honesty and upright dealing in business, love for, and pride in, the, to them, priceless right of suffrage, which those pio- neers had and practiced, it would have been far better for society now.
I take a few extracts from an old Circuit Court record:
Owen Circuit Court, April term, 1833-Hon. Amory Kinney, Judge; Erasmus H. McJunkin, Prosecutor. On motion of Craven P. Hester, R. N. Kirnand and Paris C. Dunning, Esqs., were admitted to practice as attorneys. Also that Delana R. Eckels be admitted to practice as an attorney. The first case on the docket is, "The State of Indiana vs. Richard Walden, alias Dick, a man of color, for retailing." The next, "Moses Kinney vs. William Duckworth, for slander." Elisha M. Huntington, was appointed Prosecutor pro tem. James Galletly was appointed County Surveyor April 17, 1834.
Owen Circuit Court, October term, 1834-Hon. Isaac Blackford, Judge; Stephen C. Stephens, John T. Mckinney, Associate Judges; John Cowgill, Prosecuting Attorney. On motion of Delana R. Eckels, Basil Champer was admitted to practice October 16, 1834. On Tuesday, October 18, 1834, is recorded the usual resolutions of respects upon the death of the Hon. Alexander Eason, late Associate Judge of this court.
588
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
April term, 1838-Mason Hulett and George E. Tingle were admitted to practice as attorneys. Amon P. Howe, John Dunn and Henry Secrest were appointed examiners of common school teachers for Owen County. William Leak, a grocery-keeper in Spencer, killed one James Carter with a heavy hoe, by striking him on the head and crushing in the skull. Leak was arrested, and gave bail in the sum of $2,000, with George Duignan, Stephen Barns, Isaac Barns, Ambrose Foster and William Wells as his sureties. At the March term, 1839, said William Leak was thrice solemnly called and came not; his bond was therefore declared forfeited.
On motion of John S. Watts, Esq., Willis A. Gorman, Esq., was ad- mitted to practice as an attorney. David McDonald, Judge, at March term, 1839.
This will end the extracts from these old records. To illustrate the growth of the county, I have copied from the records the list of taxable property, valuation and amount of taxes, for the years 1843, 1852 and 1882.
For the year 1843:
NAME OF TOWNSHIP.
Value of Lauds.
Value of Im- provements ..
Value of Lots and In- provements.
Value of Personal Property.
Total value of Taxable Property.
Total Amount of Taxes.
Polls.
Wayne.
$ 46,007
$ 32,888
$ 9,479
$ 23,630
$112,004
$ 621 49
137
Montgomery .
55,357
36,658
611
14,525
107,051
684 09
203
Washington. .
61,324
30,870
24,219
20,774
137,187
795 23
193
Morgan
15,912
9,333
1,890
27,135
207 83
79
Jackson
24,057
11,196
1,289
36,542
278 14
105
Harrison
21,572
12,306
394
5,214
39,486
226 22
54
Clay
26,761
19,508
1,548
6,736
54,554
380 55
129
Franklin
56,657
16,820
856
7,606
81,939
493 15
131
Jefferson
32,600
11,763
6,587
50,950
357 32
122
Grayson.
10,728
4,621
1,834
17,183
172 81
83
Lafayette
9,219
4,941
1,300
15,460
150 90
71
Total.
$360,094
$190,904
$ 37,107
$ 91,385
$679,490
$4,367 73
1309
For the year 1852:
NAME OF TOWNSHIP.
Valuation of Lands.
Valuation of Improve- ments.
Value of Lots and Improve- ments.
Valuation of Total Valua- tion of Taxables. Personal Property.
Total Taxes.
Polls.
Wayne .. . .
$ 78,638
$41,610
$45,037
$216,794
$382,034
$2,208 64
193
Montgomery ..
56,661
37,842
769
56,902
152,174
956 00
138
Washington . .
101,602
61,283
28,464
151,569
342,918
2,098 74
266
Morgan.
45,554
30,924
571
43,057
120,106
803 86
148
Jackson .
39,901
31,396
32,990
100,287
659 07
114
Harrison.
32,777
16,630
200
24,449
74,106
439 11
46
Clay.
46,192
37,465
2,654
60,879
147,190
970 53
170
Franklin
77,567
47,339
2,134
56,633
183,673
1,149 37
163
Jefferson
83,057
61,081
51,005
195,143
1,238 52
187
Marion
54,480
23,975
930
43,163
192,548
808 87
142
Lafayette
45,378
23,813
1,961
37,292
108,444
737 48
143
Jennings
35,998
21,282
490
19,816
77,586
500 92
81
Taylor
40,277
23,843
685
32,238
104,043
619 57
67
Total.
$734,082
$458,483
$83,895
$833,792
$2,110,252
$13,190 68
1,858
589
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
For the year 1882:
NAME OF TOWNSHIP.
Valuation of Lands.
Valuation of Improve- ments.
Value of Lots and Improve- ments.
Value of Personal Property.
Valuation of R. R. Property.
Total Taxables.
Total Taxes.
Wayne .. ..
....
$ 193,500
34,890
$115,660
$ 190,640
$61,340
$ 596,300
$ 9,055 37
Montgomery
141,360
38,300
316,500
461,140
38,290
1,297,880
13,406 62
Morgan.
155,571
40,450
83,530
279,550
3,628 55
Jackson
95,360
25,310
56,480
177,150
2,625 30
Harrison.
107,910
16,740
39,110
18,290
182,230
2,537 76
Clay
166,140
55,740
94,230
305,110
4,350 27
Frankii
237,420
42,700
116,720
44,790
443,080
7,459 92
Jefferson
321,150
75,430
135,990
28,180
560,750
8,083 50
Marion
268,890
98,440
223,940
591,270
7,499 83
Lafayette. Jennings.
148,350
31,860
70,870
251,080
3,737 00
80,900
34,350
57,280
172,530
2,121 30
Taylor
133,940
25,550
73,440
18,580
251,640
.3,775 50
Total .
$2,463,310
$578,860
$1,674,860
$224,470
$5,375,460
$71,293 85
The above tables show a fair and healthy growth for our county.
Our taxable property increased in the nine years from 1843 to 1852, from $679,490 to $2,110,252, a total increase in nine years of $1,430,- 762, which is an average yearly increase of $158, 740.
From 1852 to 1882, thirty years, we increased $3,265,208, an aver- age yearly increase of $108,840.
Our total taxes were, in the year 1819, $51.36; in 1843, $4,367.73; in 1852, $13,190.68; in 1881, $84,904.30; in 1882, $78,293.85.
Entire stationery bill for county officers, including all books, blanks, etc., was, in 1881, $906; in 1882, $910. The contract has been let for 1884, for $681.66.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
The old records were not kept very carefully, and the first continuous chain ex- tends back to 1847. James Galletly, 1819; - Lacey, 1832: Nathaniel Clark, date un- known.
John Getty was County Surveyor from. 1847 to 1851
William McCormick was County Surveyor from 1851 to 1854
Henry Grim was County Surveyor from. 1854 to 1858
William Troth was County Surveyor from 1858 to 1860
William M. Kinnaman was County Surveyor from. 1860 to 1866
William Troth was County Surveyor from 1866 to 1868
James King was County Surveyor from .. 1868 to 1877
George D. Phillips was County Surveyor from 1877 to 1880
Joseph F. Rogers was County Surveyor from. 1880 to 1882
George D. Phillips was County Surveyor from. 1882 to present.
COUNTY AUDITORS.
Thomas C. Johnson, Clerk and ex officio Auditor to 1848
Isaac E. Johnson same to. . 1854
John J. Cooper elected Auditor. 1854 to 1862
Andrew J. Hays elected Auditor ... 1862 to 1866
George D. Phillips elected Auditor. 1867 to 1871
William H. Troth elected Auditor.
1871 to 1875
Frank H. Freeland elected Auditor. 1875 to 1879
Nathaniel D. Cox elected Auditor ... 1879 to 1883
Thurston Dickerson elected Auditor. 1883, present Aud.
SHERIFFS.
Andrew Evans
1819 to 1832
Thomas Allen. 1822 to 1826
Samuel Scott, Democrat. 1833-34
72,490
252,150
3,013 93
Washington
422,850
59,100
590
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
Thomas Allen 1835-36
Martin Snoddy.
1837-38-39
Lindsay C. Abrell, Democrat ..
1843 to 1845
George Dittemore, appointed, Democrat.
1846
George Mayfield, Whig.
1847 to 1851
James F. Miller, Whig .
1851 to 1855
John H. Johnson, Whig.
1855 to 1857
John M. Coleman, Democrat.
1857 to 1861
Thomas I. Wells, died in office, Democrat.
1861
Albert Childress, appointed to vacancy, Democrat.
Richard T Abrell. 1862 to 1865
Isaac S. Lucas ..
1865 to 1869
Richard T. Abrell
1869 to 1874
Hamilton Moffatt ..
1874 to 1878
Lycurgus H. Wood
1878 to 1882
Samuel N. Chambers.
1882 to -
Samuel N. Chambers, present incumbent.
RECORDERS.
Thomas C. Johnson, Whig, to. 1848
Isaac E. Johnson, Whig, to .. 1855
David Harris, Democrat, to. 1863
David N. Horn, Democrat, to 1871
Emanuel Fulk, Democrat, to.
1875
George W. Keller, Democrat, to 1879
Jacob Kiphart, Democrat, to .. 1883
1887.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
John Bartholomew 1819
John Dunn, Whig.
1820
Philip Hart.
1821
Montgomery Leonard, Whig.
1826
George W. Moore, Democrat.
1833
Basil Champer.
1834 to 1836
John R. Freeland.
1836 to 1840
George Parks, Democrat, from.
1847 to 1856
Jacob Harsh, Whig, from ..
1852 to 1856
George Dittemore, Democrat, from ...
1856 to 1858
Harrison O. Halbert, Republican, from. 1858 to 1862
James W. Dobson, Democrat, from
1862 to 1864
Jacob V. Wolfe, Democrat, from.
1864 to 1868
Vincent E. Williams, Democrat, from 1868 to 1872
Daniel Harbaugh, Democrat, from. 1872 to 1876
George W. Ellis, Democrat, from. 1876 to 1880
William F. Megenhardt, Democrat, from. 1880 to 1884
COUNTY CLERKS.
John R. Freeland, first Clerk.
Thomas C. Johnson, Whig.
1830 to 1848
Isaac E. Johnson, Whig
1848 to 1854
Basil Meek, Democrat. .. 1854 to 1862
Inman H. Fowler, Democrat. 1862 to 1870
James S. Meek, Democrat .. 1870 to 1878
Noel W. Williams, Democrat. 1878 to 1882
James King, present Clerk, Democrat. 1882 to 1886
CORONERS.
George J. Grimes, Democrat 1849 to 1851
Anderson B. Mills, Democrat 1851 to 1856
William E. Franklin .. 1856 to 1858
Anderson B. Mills, Democrat.
1858 to 1874
George W. Edwards, Greenbacker.
1874 to 1876
Nathaniel D. Cox, Democrat. . 1876 to 1878
Samuel N. Chambers, Democrat. 1878 to 1880
Elisha N. Mullinix, Democrat .. 1880 to 1884
Frank M. Staley, Democrat, present incumbent.
591
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
THE COUNTY PRESS.
The first newspaper published in Owen County was in Gosport, about 1842 or 1843, called the Gosport Chronotype; John R. Kerr, editor. It was devoted to foreign, State and home news; was a four-column folio. About the year 1846, one Joseph Reed established an office and began the publication of a newspaper, neutral in politics, which paper he named the Western Chronicle. He did not succeed very well, and some time in 1847 or 1848 the paper passed into the hands of William M. Franklin and William E. Taylor, both rising young lawyers at that time. They changed the name of the paper to the Republican, made it a Democratic newspaper, and the organ of the county Democracy. They sold the office to a Greene County party, after they had published it about a year, and the office was moved to Greene County, Ind. About 1850, Madison H. White commenced the publication, at Spencer, of a newspaper called the Busy World. This paper suspended, after publica- tion for about two years, for lack of patronage. What politics it had leaned toward the Whig party.
The National Weekly Guard was established about 1853 or 1854; David W. Lusk, editor and proprietor; was Democratic in politics. Mr. Lusk published this paper at Spencer, for about two years, when he re- moved, press, material and all, to Shawneetown, Ill. John F. Harner came to Spencer in September, 1858, and established the Owen County Journal. Mr. Harner was a practical printer, he having worked in the office of the Louisville Journal for many years. This paper was a suc- cess from the start, and was neutral in politics. The Democrats at Spen- cer formed a stock company and bought the Journal from Mr. Harner, and it became a Democratic newspaper, and the organ of the Owen County Democracy. James W. Archer was installed as editor, and edited and conducted the Journal through the "Douglas campaign," and advocated the election of Stephen A. Douglas for President. Jacob V. Wolfe and John C. Robinson afterward occupied the chair editorial of the Journal, and it was afterward sold to John F. Harner, its first owner. He continued it as the organ of the Democratic party in Owen County until in the fall of 1874 he sold it to John Wayland, Esq., who came here from Ohio. Mr. Wayland continued the paper as a Demo- cratic journal, and made it more successful financially than it had ever been. He was a good editor, and his wife was (and is yet) a brilliant writer, and during his ownership and its publication the Owen County Journal was very popular. It deserved and had the confidence and support of the Democratic party of the county in the largest degree of any paper ever published in the county. Mr. Wayland sold the Jour- nal to Messrs. Walker Schell and Luther H. Smith in 1880. This part- nership was short, Mr. Smith purchasing the Schell interest. Luther H. Smith was not a printer himself, and placed his brother, George E. Smith, in charge of the Journal, in whose charge it has been to the present.
During the fall of 1874, John W. Cooper & Co. commenced the publication of the Gosport Tribune, neutral in politics. In January, 1875, the press and material were removed to Bloomfield, Ind.
During the year 1879, James K. Smith started a little paper which he called the Free Press. This Mr. Smith was a brother of Luther H. and George E .; was very radical in his views; but being a mechanic and a farmer, he soon merged his Free Press into his brother's paper. the
592
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
Journal. The present circulation of the Journal is claimed to be ex- tensive and increasing.
In 1865, one Clarence Williams came to Spencer with some material and started the publication of a paper, and called it the Owen County Union. In a short time, he sold out to Joel A. Coffey and David E. Beem, who continued its publication. It was Republican in politics. In 1867, they sold the concern to S. H. H. Mathes. In 1868, he sold a half interest to Henry C. Painter. They removed the office to Gosport, and started the Gosport Independent. Mathes shortly after sold his in- terest to Charles L. Yockey, who soon after sold to Painter, who con- tinued the publication about four years, when he sold the office tola party from Bloomington, Ind.
In 1872, Walter Connelly and Charles L. Yockey brought an office from Bedford, Ind., and commenced the publication of the Owen County News, independent in politics. This paper took an active part in politics during the Grange movement in Owen County in 1874. A part of the members of the Grange movement made up a ticket for county officers, which they called the Grange ticket, composed of candi- dates of all the political parties, which was run in opposition to the regular Democratic ticket. The Owen County News was a supporter of the Grange ticket, which was badly defeated, and the introduction of · this political movement killed the Grange movement in Owen County, These owners sold the paper to O. M. Howard, who continued its publi- cation as an independent local newspaper until some time during the year 1875, when he sold out to S. H. H. Mathes. He changed the poli- ties of the paper to straight Republican, and ran it through the cam- paign of 1876. He lost considerable money in the operation, and sold out to O. M. Howard, who immediately changed the politics of the paper, and commenced the publication of the Owen County Democrat. He continued the publication until in September, 1879, when he re- moved the office to Iowa. He returned in 1880, and commenced the publication of the Democrat, which he still continues. He has made it a paying institution, and claims at present a large circulation, which is steadily increasing.
In September, 1879, William B. Harris brought an office to Spencer, and commenced the publication of a paper, which he called the Owen County People, Republican in politics. In 1881, he sold out to M. M. Havens, who changed the name to the Spencer Republican. In February, 1882, he took Benjamin Richards into partnership, and enlarged the size of the paper to a six-column quarto. In July, 1882, they leased the pa- per to S. H. H. Mathes, who, in July, 1883, purchased Richards' interest, and is at present publishing the paper. Mr. Mathes is a vigorous writer. He wields an ugly pen in a political campaign, and gets in some stingers occasionally; he is a practical printer and a good one, and he deserves success financially.
There are at present three newspapers published in Owen County, all in Spencer-the Owen County Journal and the Democrat, both Democratic in politics, the Democrat the organ of the county Democracy, and the Spencer Republican the organ of the Republicans in the county. The county being largely Democratic in politics, the Republican papers up to the present one have starved out, but Mathes, by his energy and indus- try, seems to have come to stay. The circulation of his paper is being extended each year.
593
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
Hon. William Franklin, who was editor of the Republican, the first Democratic paper published in Owen County, has preserved a bound vol- ume of the paper during the time he edited it. The first number of the paper is dated Saturday, December 16, 1848, but there has evidently been several papers torn out in the first part of the book. In the first paper is the vote of Indiana for President, official --- Taylor, 70,159; Cass, 74,694; Van Buren, 8,642. In the issue of December 30, 1848, I find the fol- lowing: "Mr. Isaac E. Johnson has been duly commissioned, by the Governor, as Clerk and Recorder of this county. This ends the question. Mr. Johnson will serve out the unexpired term of his father, and will serve seven years as Recorder. His term of service as Clerk is five years from February next." "The price of pork here and at Gosport is $2.50 per hundred pounds, net "
As a specimen of what was thought a wonderful performance, I copy from the issue of January 6, 1849:
GREAT TELEGRAPH FEAT.
The entire President's message was telegraphed from Baltimore to St. Louis, the task being completed on Wednesday afternoon, in twenty-four hours from the commencement. The message was written out in full, following the copy verbatim, even to the punctuation and paragraphs, a thing not usually done in telegraphing. The number of words was 50,000. The idea of such a document appearing in print in a city nearly a thousand miles distant from Washington, twenty-four hours after delivery, is almost beyond belief .- Scientific American.
St. Louis can now read before breakfast of everything important which transpired the day before all over the civilized world.
We are favored by living in a fast and wonderfully progressive age. I wonder what they would have thought in 1849 of a man standing at a little instrument in New York talking plainly to another man in Chica - go, which has been done; and the Chicago man recognized the New York man's voice and called him by name.
Another extract, same date: "The Legislature has at last got a bill before the House for the organization of a free school system." The Legislature granted two railroad charters, both of which roads were to be built through this county-the Lawrenceville & Rushville, with an extension to Point Commerce, Greene County (this was before the days of Worthington), the other, an extension of the Indianapolis & Belle- fontaine Railroad to Vincennes. Both failed to be built. In the issue of March 10, 1849, I find the following letter, characteristic of Alexander McClelland. It is too good to be lost. This county was then in the Sixth Congressional District, and Mr. McClelland had been strongly so- licited to allow his name to be used for nomination for Congress. Here is his reply:
FEBRUARY 22, 1849.
FRIEND JONES-Whatever opinion you or any one else may have as to my capacity for being a candidate for Congress, you certainly cannot mean to say that I am qualified for being a Member of Congress. It is the first time in my life I have ever been suspected of having any qualifications at all. "My genius is un- developed," and "I scorn the insinuation." There are several reasons why I am unfit for this position. First, I am too old; second, too modest; third. I do not want it; fourth, if Í did want it, I could not get it; fifth, there are others who do want it; sixth, I am very useful at home, and my friends would not think of parting with me. So you see, friend Jones, that my situation is a very delicate one, and I do not want to be cheated out of it. Yours as ever,
ALEXANDER MCCLELLAND.
William M. Franklin announces himself as a candidate for the State Legislature. It is also announced that the people of the townships would
594
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
meet on the first Monday in April, to vote on the question of "license " or " no license " for groceries for one year.
In the issue of March 31, 1849, appears the following paragraph: "For California. - Last week, being absent from home, we failed to notice the departure of the company from this place. On the 20th inst., Dr. B. A. Allison, William E. Taylor, E. Patrick, J. W. Archer and H. Coffey left this place for California."
In the issue of May 12, 1849, I find: "On Thursday last, the steam- boat Porter, that runs the White River trade as far up as Point Com- merce, attempted to come up with a load of freight to our town. She got along very well until she came to Abrell's mill dam, two miles be- Jow town, where she could not pass, and had to fall back about a mile and a half and unload.
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