USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 67
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 67
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" Her loading was principally salt, some sugar, molasses, nails, etc. This river could be very easily navigated with small steamboats up as high as this point and Gosport, were it not for the mill dams immedi- ately below and above here."
Another item: " On the 4th day of June, 1849, a Democratic mass meeting was held in Spencer, and nominated William M. Franklin as their candidate for Representative, Elisha Puett for Sheriff, and George J. Grimes for Coroner." The issue of June 30, 1849, is dressed in mourning and the announcement made: "James K. Polk is dead. He breathed his last at 18 minutes before 5 o'clock P. M., at his residence in Nashville."
In the issue of August 11, 1849, appeared the following: " The elec- tion is over, and we have been beaten five votes." James F. Miller seems to have beaten William M. Franklin by five votes for Representa- tive. The following announcement is made in the same issue: "For sale, a printing establishment, cheap." William M. Franklin did better the next year, and was elected and served as Representative from Owen County in the State Legislature. One or two issues after this the print- ing office was traded off and taken to Greene County.
No record in any of the county offices of the Senators and Repre sentatives in the State Legislature from this county can be found, but by the courtesy of R. J. Conner, who is in the office of the Treasurer of State, this writer received from the office of the Secretary of State the following list of Senators who have represented Owen County in the State Senate, and Representatives in the Lower House from Owen County:
Senators-1821, Thomas H. Blake; 1822, John Jenckes; 1825, John M. Coleman; 1826, 1827, 1828, 1829, David H. Maxwell, Whig, Bloom- ington; 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1835, James Whitcomb, Demo- crat, Bloomington; 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840. 1841, 1842, 1843, David M. Dobson, Democrat, Spencer; 1844, 1845, 1846, John F. Alli- son, Whig, Point Commerce, Greene County; 1847, 1848, Lovell H. Rous- seau, Democrat, Bloomfield, Greene County; 1850, Jesse I. Alexander, Democrat, Gosport; 1851, David M. Dobson, Democrat, Spencer, Con- stitutional Convention; 1852, Hugh L. Livingston, Democrat, Bloom- field; 1855, Jesse I. Alexander, Democrat, Gosport; 1858 to 1862, Jason N. Connelly, Democrat, Bloomfield; 1863 to 1867, George W. Moore, Democrat, Spencer; 1867 to 1871, John Humphries, Democrat, Greene County; 1871 to 1875, Wiley E. Dittemore, Democrat, Spencer; 1875 to 1879, Inman H. Fowler, Democrat, Spencer; 1879 to 1883, Isaac M. Compton, Democrat, Brazil, Clay County.
Abraham Coffs
597
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
Representatives-1826, Eli Dixon; 1827, Thomas F. G. Adams; 1828, John M. Young; 1829, Eli Dixon; 1830, James Galletly, Whig; 1831-32, Robert M. Wooden; 1833-35, George W. Moore, Democrat; 1836, Delana R. Eckels, Democrat; 1837-38, Basil Champer, Whig; 1839, George W. Moore, Democrat; 1840. Basil Champer, Whig; 1841, Martin Snoddy; 1842-43, George W. Moore, Democrat; 1844, Frederick Hauser; 1845, George W. Moore, Democrat; 1846-47, James W. Dobson, Democrat; 1848, David M. Dobson, Democrat; 1849, James F. Miller, Whig; 1850, William M. Franklin, Democrat; 1851-52, James W. Dob- son, Democrat; 1853, Alfred Dyar, Whig; 1855, John D. Montgomery, Democrat; 1857, George W. Moore, Democrat; 1858, John H. Martin, Republican, Special Session; 1859, John H. Martin, Republican, Regu- lar Session; 1861, William Combs, Democrat; 1863, Jacob V. Wolfe, Democrat; 1865, John M. Stucky, Democrat, Special Session; 1865, John M. Stucky, Democrat, Regular Session; 1867, Benjamin F. Hayes, Democrat; 1869, Wiley E. Dittemore, Democrat; 1871, Walker D. Guthrie, Democrat; 1872-78, Jesse H. Reno, Democrat; 1879-81, Ber- nard Schweitzer; 1883, John S. Montgomery.
THE OWEN COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
This society was organized September 20, 1879. Present officers: Dr. W. V. Wiles, Spencer, President; Dr. J. M. Goss, Freedom, Vice President; Dr. Allen Pierson, Spencer, Secretary; Dr. John M. Stucky, Gosport, Treasurer. *
Censors-Dr. J. W. Smith, Gosport; Dr. N. D. Cox, Spencer; Dr. Walker Schell, Spencer.
Present Members -- Dr. J. T. Belles, Dr. N. D. Cox, Dr. G. F. Cul- mer, Dr. M. G. Mullinix, Dr. Allen Pierson, Dr. Walker Schell, Dr. W. V. Wiles, Spencer; Dr. J. M. Goss, Preedom; Dr. O. F. Gray, White- hall; Dr. J. M. Jones, Cataract; Dr. W. B. S. Maddox, Vandalia; Dr. C. L. Ritter, Dr. J. W. Smith, Dr. J. M. Stucky, Gosport.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
According to the provisions of an act in the Revised Statutes of 1881, the Commissioners of Owen County organized the Owen County Board of Health, appointing Dr. W. V. Wiles, of Spencer, as its Secretary. The necessary books and blanks for the working of the office were at once procured, and blanks on which to report births, deaths, and diseases danger- ous to public health, were distributed to all the physicans, midwives and specialists in the county who had registered, except those of the towns of Spencer and Gosport, in each of which, according to the provisions of the same act, a local board of health was organized. That of Gosport, however, soon ceased to exist, and the physicians of that town report now directly to the Secretary of the County Board.
On the register in the Clerk's office are found the following names of physicians, midwives and specialists:
Spencer-F. A. Schell, Walker Schell, George F. Culmer, William V. Wiles, John E. Chambers, Allen Pierson, J. T. Belles, Jacob Coble, John S. Figg, M.G. Mullinix, E. N. Mullinix, Nathaniel D. Cox.
Gosport-John M. Stuckey, H. G. Osgood, C. L. Ritter, John W. Smith, J. Wooden, John Kenedy.
* Contributed by Dr. Allen Pierson.
33
598
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
Patricksburg-John A. Williams, S. D. Richards, John N. Slown, R. B. Kelley.
Quincy -David H. McDonald, George F. Keiper, William Bridges, B. T. Fisher.
Freedom - - A. J. Minich, J. M. Goss, Thomas Gantz, Thomas Wheeler. Cataract-Jesse M. Jones, Rebecca Leonard, T. T. Brazier, J. H. Medaris.
Hausertown-A. C. Erskine, T. C. Symons, S. R. McKelvey.
Vandalia- William H. Hixon, W. B. S. Maddox.
Whitehall-Oliver F. Gray, J. J. Levingston.
Arney-George W. Naanes, U. A. V. Hester.
Coal City-William S. Young, H. H. McCabe.
Jordan Village-Stephen D. Medaris.
Dr. Wiles has held the position of Secretary from the time of organ- ization up to the present time.
At first, there was a disposition on the part of physicians to neglect or refuse to make reports, but the knowledge of the value of vital statistics finally overcame such indisposition on the part of some, while the pro- visions of the statutes were sufficient for the rest, so that now the re- ports are made with a reasonable degree of promptness.
From the time of the organization of the board in January, 1881, up to the quarter beginning October 1, 1883, there have been no epidemics of those diseases which are considered dangerous to public health within the county with the exception of some mild cases of enteric or typhoid fever, which, by their occurrence in some localities to the extent of four or five cases at a time, might be called'epidemic. The per cent of mortal- ity in these cases has been very low. Owing to the fact that there was some misunderstanding about reporting such cases by the physicians, it is not possible to give the exact death rate from this cause, but it will not exceed two per cent. Out of twenty-two cases occurring in Spencer in the months of August, September, October, November and December, of 1882, there was not a fatal case.
For the same period there have been reported 484 births as follows: Males-white, 246; black, 3. Females-white, 233; black, 2.
The deaths reported for the same time were as follows:
Years.
10 Years.
20 Years.
30 Years.
40 Years.
50 Years.
60 Years.
70 Years. From 60 to
From 70 to
From 80 to
Over 90
Total.
Males-
White.
39
2
3
10
6
3
9
16
5
2
95
Black
1
1
2
Females-
White
20
2
6
13
12
6
6 11
8
3
1
88
Black
1
1
2
Total
61
4
9
25
18
9
15
27
13
5
1
187
90 Years.
Years.
Under 5
From 5 to
From 10 to
From 20 to
From 30 to
From 40 to
From 50 to
80 Years.
599
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
The following table will show the causes:
Stillborn.
Diseases of the
Diseases of the
Diseases of the
Diseases of the
General Diseases.
Violence.
Suicides.
Miscellaneous.
Total.
Males-
White.
13
30
9
3
13
12
3
1
11
95
Black ..
1
1
2
Females-
White
4
33
7
7
10
18
9
88
Black
1
1
2
Total
17
64
16
10
24
31
3.
1
21
187
Local Boards subordinate to the County Board were organized in the towns of Spencer and Gosport, but as above noted, that of Gosport did not exist long. In Spencer, the Trustees, W. L. Daggy, Harrison Hight and J. E. Johnson, organized with W. L. Daggy as President, and J. T. Belles was appointed Secretary. To this board the physicians of Spencer report.
The first work of the board was to promulgate and enforce rules for the vaccination of the pupils and teachers of the public schools. To this there was considerable opposition, but by firmness and perseverance the per cent of those who were efficiently vaccinated was raised from not more than ten per cent to such a per cent as to include nearly all attend- ing the schools, thus, in the very first exercise of its powers, rendering in- calculable benefit to the town.
On the 1st of January, 1883, Dr. Belles resigned, and Dr. Allen Pier- son was appointed to his place. The records of this board, with the ex- ception of "dangerous diseases," which contains a few entries under the head of typhoid fever, from the time of its organization in January, 1881, up to the quarter beginning October 1, 1883, show that there have been reported 150 births, and sixty deaths.
The births may be classified as follows:
Males -- white, 81; black, 2. Females-white, 65; black, 2.
And the deaths as follows:
Years.
10 Years.
20 Years.
30 Years.
40 Years.
From 40 to
From 50 to
60 Years.
70 Years.
From 70 to
From 80 to
Total.
Males-
White
15
3
2
1
5
2
1
29
Black.
1
1
2
Females-
White
7
2
6
3
4
4
1
27
Black.
1
1
2
Total.
24
2
11
5
1
9
6
1
1
60
80 Years.
90 Years.
1
Under 5
From 5 to
From 10 to
From 20 to
From 30 to
50 Years.
From 60 to
Digestive System.
Respiratory System.
Nervous System.
Circulatory System.
600
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
And the causes as follows:
Stillborn.
Diseases of the
Diseases of the
Diseases of the
Diseases of the
General Diseases.
Violence
Suicides.
Miscellaneous.
Total.
Males-
White
2
13
2
12
3
1
4
27
Black
1
1
3
Females-
White.
1
15
4
4
1
3
28
Black
1
1
2
Total.
3
29
2
4
7
5
1
9
60
These reports are included in the statistics given for the County Board.
The physicians of Owen County, although few in number compared with some other counties, perhaps, will compare favorably for skill, sci- entific attainments, and, what is the test of skill, success in practice, with any county in the State; in fact, very few of the counties in Indiana have as many really fine physicians as has this county. Among them are sev. eral very fine surgeons.
As the youngest of his profession in this county, it will not, I hope, be deemed improper to name Dr. Walker Schell, as being an unusually promising young man. He is an enthusiast in his profession of medi- cine and surgery. He has just returned from a two years' term of study and practice in the great hospitals of Munich, Germany, and Vienna, Austria. He will make his mark in his profession if he lives.
AN ARTIST.
Samuel Richards has been studying drawing and painting at the Royal Academy of Arts, Munich, Germany, for some time. Last year, Mr. Richards gained the third prize for excellence, and this year, the first prize, a gold medal. This Royal Academy of Arts is attended by stu- dents from all parts of the civilized world, and a student who gains the first prize against competitors of all nations, must possess genius of the very highest order. Owen County bids Godspeed to her sons who thus go forth into the great schools of the arts and sciences of the old world and win such honors.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, BRIDGES, ROADS, ETC.
The present court house, built of brick, was commenced in 1824. This building is yet in good repair, and will answer our purpose for a court house for twenty-five years yet to come. We are not in a hurry, as some other counties have been, to build a gorgeous court house, with a mortgage on top of it. Our people think it best to keep out of debt, build what is necessary only, pay all our county orders on presentation at the desk of the Treasurer, thus paying cash for all business requiring money, and keep our county credit at par. If the generations succeed-
Respiratory System.
Nervous System.
Circulatory System.
Digestive System.
601
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
ing us need a larger and finer court house, let them build it when the county grows populous enough to require it. Our first jail was built in 1820-21-the hewed log structure which I have before described. The next was a stone jail built on the old stray- pen lot, on Lots 41 and 42, in Spencer. This was built by David Phipps, and answered the purpose until the year 1856, when John X. Miller built the present brick struct- ure, jail, and residence for the Sheriff combined. All the county officers had their offices in the second story of the court house, which answered the purpose while there were few people in the county. The court room was on the ground floor, the north side fitted up with Judges' stand, seats for the bar, jury's and witness stand, floored with plank, and fenced in by a railing of elaborately turned posts and balusters. The stairway to the second story was at the south side, and double, that is, two stair- ways, one on each side of the south door. The seats for spectators were in tiers, one above another, with steps up the aisleways. The hallways were paved with brick, and during court time were covered with spent tan bark in early days, and later with sawdust, for the purpose of dead- ening the noise of the footsteps of persons who passed in and out of the court room. About the year 1846, David C. Neumeyer, his father and brothers, built a brick building of two rooms on each side of the court house; Treasurer and Clerk on the north side, and in 1852 the Auditor's and Recorder's offices on the south side. The court house was afterward remodeled inside, the court room arranged on the second floor, and offices on the ground floor for Treasurer, Clerk, Sheriff, Auditor and Recorder; the old offices were used for jury rooms and other purposes.
Another addition was made to the west end of the court house, two jury rooms constructed on the second floor, and the county officers' quar- ters below enlarged. The south building, formerly occupied by the Au- ditor and Recorder, was torn down, and the brick from it used in the construction of the addition to the court house. This present year of 1883, the north old office building was sold, and the material removed, part of which, the cut stone, was used by Calvin Fletcher in the construc- tion of the stone parsonage built by him this fall, adjoining the Presby- terian Church, which is also built of stone, situated on Lots 137 and 138 in Spencer.
The first building put up in Spencer for manufacturing purposes was the large frame building on the northwest corner of Lot 141. It was built for a cotton spinning factory. After it was completed, and before the spinning machinery was put into it, cotton became so high in the South the enterprise was abandoned, and it has been used for a livery stable, tobacco warehouse, and storage room for agricultural implements. It had become very old, had been fired several times by incendiaries, to see the big fire it would 'make, but had been saved; it had become the dread of the neighborhood around and near it, but about the last of October last year it was fired and burned down by igniting from its nearest neighhor, a cabinet shop, and so departed one of the last ancient build- ings in Spencer.
About the year 1860, the County Commissioners purchased the old Tommy Howe farm, two miles down the river from Spencer, and built upon it quite a large frame building for a county asylum. In the year 1878, this farm and building both being too small to accommodate the number of people who had become county charges, the Commissioners traded for the old Col. John Franklin farm of 395 acres, three and one-
602
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
half miles southeast of Spencer. They let the contract to build a large an 1 well-arranged building of brick on this farm to William F. Megen- hardt, Esq., our present County Treasurer. The whole cost of this building complete was $8,000, and this building was one honest job, if we never have another. This farm and building cost considerable money. but it will accommodate our poor for the next thirty years without further expense for additional room. There is not a county in Indiana which has so large, well constructed and well built a house at so small a cost. Bridging White River was talked of for several years before it was done, but in the year 1871 the County Commissioners built two bridges, one at Gosport at a cost of $10,000, and one at Spencer at a cost of $16,000. In 1882, the Commissioners had another bridge built across White River at Freedom, at a cost of $20,721. That is the pres- ent cost. The contractors, however, claimed considerably more ($3,000). which the Commissioners refused to pay. The consequence was a law- suit. The contractors, B. Schweitzer and James Spence, were defeated on the trial in the Circuit Court in Morgan County, the County Com- missioners being sustained by the verdict of the jury which tried the cause. These three bridges have very materially increased the trade at Gosport, Spencer and Freedom, Gosport and Spencer drawing a large amount of trade from Monroe County, and Freedom from Greene County, thus adding to the profits derived from that new trade by our merchants, lumber and stave dealers, in this way bringing back the money expended in building those bridges. White River is now well enough bridged; the streams all over the county are now spanned by good, substantial bridges, and the next thing to be done in that direction is to build good, substantial macadam and gravel roads as soon as our people think they are able to do so. There is no outlay of money, of the same amount, which so improves a county, and which so much enhances the value and desirability of the lands as that expended in the construction of good solid roads. A good, substantial bridge has also been built across Eel River at Cataract, above the falls.
A bridge was built across Eel River at Croy's Mill, which gave way, and in 1881 an entire new bridge, with good stone abutments and piers, was built. Eel River was also bridged at Johnstown, but it proved a failure, and another was built in its stead. On the 28th of May, 1883, a cyclone destroyed part of this bridge.
A great many thousands of dollars have been expended in bridging the various creeks of the county-Limestone Mill, Rattlesnake, Jordan, Fish, Lick, Raccoon and other smaller creeks, at the numerous dirt road crossings. From the very great number of streams in Owen, the bridge ac- count is a very large item in its expense account. The Commissioners have just adopted the plan of replacing the wooden structures, as fast as they rot out, with iron bridges. This is a wise conclusion ; the latter cost more at first, but it is far cheaper in the end.
The first railroad built through Owen County was an extension of the New Albany & Salem Railroad in the year 1853. This road runs through Gosport in Wayne Township, through the southwest corner of Harrison Township, through Quincy and the northeast corner of Taylor Township, and has added very materially to the value of the lands and prosperity of the people of that portion of the county.
The next railroad built through the county was the Indianapolis & Vincennes, and opened for travel in the year 1869 This enterprise
603
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
originated in Owen County, the first meeting in the interest of this road being held at Spencer. Later, Marion, Morgan, Owen, Greene and Knox County delegates met at Gosport and effected the organization of the company. Hon. William M. Franklin was elected President; Capt. James W. Archer, Secretary and Treasurer. This organization had the line surveyed by a competent corps of engineers, and the organization was turned over to Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside who built the road. Owen County donated to the construction of this road $50,000, of which amount William M. Franklin and James W. Archer donated $1,000 each. It is thought two or three other persons in the county also donated the same amount each. These donations, and the entire amount of $50, - 000 were paid in full.
FAIRS, LIVE STOCK, ETC.
About 1850, a County Fair Association was formed at Gosport, and was quite successful. About 1856, a County Agricultural Society was organized at Spencer, with. Hon. W. M. Franklin, President; J. W. Archer, Secretary, and James W. Dobson, Treasurer This society held a very creditable fair each year, and was very successful until 1861. When the war came on, so many of the society went away as soldiers, the organization was so weakened it ceased holding its yearly fairs. Since the war, the society has not re-organized. The Gosport District Agricultural Fair was very successful for several years, but dwindled away, and finally, a few years ago, ceased to exist. The State fair seems to paralyze all the county fairs within fifty miles of it. The farmers and stockmen of Owen County ought to re-organize their county society and hold a fair each year. It stimulates a generous and very useful emulation amongst the best class of farmers to produce the best animals, grains and vegetables; it educates those not so well ac- quainted with improved stock by the best of all modes, that of actual observation; it promotes health and happiness for the farmers, their sons, wives and daughters to thus meet, get better acquainted, and ex- change ideas and experiences. After the county society ceased to hold its fairs, there was a plainly perceptible decrease in the pride of the farm- ers in their improved stock, and year by year the quality of the stock in this county deteriorated
A few years ago, Thomas A. Peden went to Canada, and brought back with him quite a number of pure-bred Cotswold sheep-rams and ewes, for himself and Levi Beem. Mr. Peden then went to Kentucky, and brought home with him some very fine short horn stock-bulls, cows and heifers. Silas and Robert Moffett, George Garrard, Matthew King, and others in the west part of the county, brought in a large number of fine Merino sheep. Lately, at Gosport, William A. Montgomery and James R. Henry have bought and brought home quite a number of fine Jersey cows and heifers. Capt. Welch, of Gosport, has brought a large amount of fine stock from Kentucky, consisting of horses, Jersey and short horn cattle, Cotswold sheep, and fancy breeds of hogs. Judge W. M. Franklin, of Spencer, has also invested very considerably of late in Jersey and short horn cattle-bulls, heifers and cows-some fine sheep and hogs. Others, perhaps, in other parts of the county, have been investing in the same direction, and within a very few years, with proper care, we can be well stocked all over the county with the best improved breeds of stock of all kinds. A cow which will yield twelve pounds of butter per
604
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
week costs very little if anything more to feed than a two-pounder; a sheep which will clip twelve pounds costs no more to feed than our old- fashioned two and three pound clippers. A pig which at twelve months old will make 350 to 400 pounds of net meat, is no more costly to raise than a "hickory digger," and it costs no more to raise a colt from such horses as those of Hopper and Thomas, which sell readily at $75 at weaning time, than a little scrubby fellow, which will scarcely sell for $50 at four years old and broke to work. In the way of improved grains, we have not been doing very much. Our old friend, Frederick A. Joslin, originated the now famous "White Oil Corn" in this county, and he was handsomely paid for his enterprise. He reaped a rich reward of "quarters " for numerous packages of his superior seed corn, which was thus cheaply placed in the hands of many enterprising farmers.
MACADAM ROADS.
Until the present year, this county has built no macadam roads. Pub- lic spirit and private enterprise at Gosport in the few years last past have been making a little improvement of this kind, but the first regu- larly organized road, under the State law, has been commenced this year. The road is from the south end of the bridge across White River at Spencer to the Monroe County line on the Ellettsville road via Chambers- ville. The exact length of the road is 4 miles and 3,218 feet. The road bed is to be made 20 feet wide clear of ditches, the macadam of broken stone is to be placed in the center of the road bed 9 feet wide and 8 inches deep.
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