USA > Indiana > Brown County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 3
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 3
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 3
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21
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
to have been an early teacher: . He afterward became Adjutant General of the State. Rev. Thomas Conley was another, as was a man named Bigham. Excellent schools were held there, quite a number of students coming in from abroad, paying tuition, and boarding with residents of the town. After a few years, the institution largely lost its character as a county seminary, and became virtually the school of Martinsville. Stu- dents from distant portions of the county ceased to attend, and the insti- tution lost the influence designed by the founders. While the schools therein were at their best, the various expenses were paid from the tuition charged students and from constant accumulations of the fund. The re- ceipts to the fund in 1849 were $410.93. After the passage of the com- mon school law in 1852, provision was made by the Legislature that county seminaries should be sold, and the proceeds and subsequent col- lections of the fund should be paid into the common school fund. The seminary was accordingly advertised for sale, and finally, in 1854, trans- ferred to Andrew Finley for $1,100. It passed through several hands, and in 1856 went to Mr. Sparks, who transformed it into a woolen fac- tory. Mr. Deturk occupied it for the same purpose during the rebellion. It was torn down about 1864.
THE COUNTY LIBRARY.
An early law provided that ten per centum of the proceeds of the sale of county lots should be used to found and maintain a county library. The first books were purchased in the 30's, and a Treasurer and Libra- rian appointed. Subsequent collections of the fund as fast as obtained were invested in more books. About 500 volumes were finally secured. The project was gradually abandoned. Township libraries were furnished by the State in the 50's. An aggregate of more than 2,000 volumes was secured. The McClure bequest also furnished the county with a library. Many of these books may yet be seen scattered throughout the county. All these libraries have been replaced with the newspaper-the most po- tent " book " in ancient or modern times.
THE COUNTY PAUPERS.
The early care of the poor was more or less defective, but began soon after the county was organized. It was customary to " farm out the pau- pers" to the lowest bidders in the various townships, and this method often resulted in placing the helpless or unfortunate in the hands of animals by nature and hypocrites by practice. Sometimes they fell into Christian hands, sometimes into barbarous hands. The plan of " farming them out " continued without interruption until the first poor-farm was pur- chased on the 22d of March, 1844. The farm was bought of Enoch Graham for $1,200, and comprised 120 acres on Sections 25, 26 and 36, Township 12 north, Range 1 east. On this farm was an ordinary dwell- ing, which was afterward improved and enlarged, as were the stables and "storehouses. New buildings were also erected. A Superintendent was placed in charge of the farm, and numbers of the county poor were re- moved there. Many continued to be taken care of in the townships, and this is true of the present time. A doctor was employed by the year or
22
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
visit to prescribe for the poor; he was called the "County Physician." Nearly all the regular medical practitioners of the county have officiated in that capacity. This farm continued to be the home of the paupers until 1869, when, owing to its smallness, the County Board ordered it sold and a new one purchased. William B. Taylor was appointed to carry this order into effect. The old farm was sold to Michael Hammons in July, 1869, for $2,700. The new farm was purchased of W. B. Taylor, N. T. Cunningham and Jacob Adams, and comprised about 120 acres, which cost about $12,000. The new brick poor-house was completed in 1871, and cost over $30,000, the brick and stone work being done by J. E. and P. F. Douglas. This building is a credit to the county. The annual poor expense of the county is now about $12,000. Among the later Poor Superintendents have been G. W. Preston, 1867 (the poor- house had twenty inmates then) ; Sampson C. Voyles, 1868 (thirty-one inmates) ; Charles Day, 1870-75; William H. Dryden, 1876-78; J. W. Duncan, 1879; Sylvester Jackson, 1880; George W. Walker, 1881-83. For a number of years past, the orphan poor of the county have been sent to Plainfield to be cared for and educated. The care of the county for its indigent and helpless is a credit to the humanity of the citizens. But few counties of the State show greater interest and care in this respect.
THE FIRST AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
On the 20th of November, 1837, pursuant to a notice from the Coun- ty Commissioners, a number of the citizens of Washington Township met at the court house to organize an agricultural society, in accordance with the provisions of a legislative enactment of the previous winter. W. H. Craig was made Chairman of the meeting, and H. R. Stevens, Secretary. John Eckles addressed the assemblage and stated the object of the meet- ing. Much enthusiasm was manifested. and the following persons became stockholders by subscribing their names to the constitution and by-laws, and paying to the Treasurer $1 each : J. W. Bowzer, Benjamin Sweet, John Eckles, P. M. Blankenship, James H. Sheppard, P. M. Parks, S. E. Edwards, Benjamin Bull, Thomas F. Huff, Thomas Edwards, W. F. Laughlin, Francis A. Harryman, William Sheerer, F. A. Matheny, W. N. Cunningham, Thomas Miles, James Cunningham, Jonathan Carr, Eb Henderson, Franklin Corwin, John Sims, W. H. Craig, Philip Ander- son, William Lee, Charles B. Butler, Septimus T. Whiteman, Hewett Nutter, William Walters, William Duncan and Hannibal R. Stevens. The permanent officers were John Sims, President; William Sheerer, Vice President ; H. R. Stevens, Cor. Sec .; T. F. Huff, Rec. Sec .; Ben- jamin Sweet, Treasurer ; John Eckles, William A. Major, Thomas Miles, John Butterfield, Sampson Canatry, G. W. Baker, John Hardrick, M. D. Miller, Ephraim Goss, William Hadley, Luke Kennedy, J. H. Wood- small, Cyrus Whetzell, Abner Cox and Grant Stafford, Curators. No fair was held, as the organization soon died.
THE SECOND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The second organization of this character was effected in August, 1851, by the election of the following first officers : William H. Craig,
23
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
President ; William G. Quick, Vice President ; James Jackson, Treas- urer ; Larkin Reynolds, Secretary. One Director was appointed in each township. The first fair was held on the open ground northeast of Mar- tinsville (now in town), on the 25th of October, 1851. The following premiums were paid : Best horse, William Cunningham, $5; second best, William Knox, diploma ; best jack, William Cunningham, $2; second best, William Knox, diploma; best year old colt, Ira Hadley, $2; second best, William Hughes, diploma ; best sucking colt, William Knox, $1.50; second best, Henry Sims, diploma ; best brood mare, John A. Riggins, $3; second best, Allen Hicklen, diploma ; best bull, Elijah Pad- dock, $4; second best, Grant Stafford, diploma ; best cow, Elijah Pad- dock, $2; best calf, Elijah Paddock, $1; second best calf, Elijah Pad- dock, diploma ; best yoke of oxen, James C. Henderson, $2; second best, James C. Henderson, diploma ; best boar, James Cunningham, $2; sec- ond best, W. H. Craig, diploma ; best bushel of wheat, Joel Mathews, $1; second best, Isaac G. Fletcher, diploma; best sixty ears of corn, George W. Egbert, 50 cents ; second best, Robert B. Major, diploma ; best saddle and bridle, Thomas Nutter, $1; best five yards of jeans, James Stockwell, $1; best eight yards of flannel, Isaac G. Fletcher, $1 ; best peck of onions, Isaac G. Fletcher, 50 cents; best bushel of Irish potatoes, Absalom Jarret. 50 cents ; best ten pounds of cheese, Amos Lawrence, 50 cents ; best butter, James Stockwell, 50 cents. The Treasurer's re- port on the 27th of November, 1851, was as follows :
RECEIPTS.
Received by subscription .. $74 00
Received from county treasury 50 00
Total.
$124 00
DISBURSEMENTS.
Paid for Secretary's books. $ 1 50
Paid on account of premiums 35 75
Total
$37 25
Balance in the treasury. $86 75
The membership of the society about this time was seventy-five, con- siderable interest being manifested. It is stated that about the time this society was organized another started up in the vicinity of Monrovia. The facts cannot be given. It is certain that four or five years later there were two separate agricultural societies in the county, as an account of their consolidation appeared in the Gazette, published at Martinsville. The second fair was held at Martinsville in the southwest portion of the town. A small yard had been fenced in, to compel the curious and others to pay each a fee of 10 cents to see the exhibits. It is stated by Mr. Ray that several citizens presumed that they could pass in without pay- ing, and when they were refused admission unless the necessary 10 cents was forthcoming, they went off in high dudgeon. The premiums paid amounted to $128.90. James Prather exhibited a small but fine selection of fruit. A. B. Conduitt delivered an address of about an hour in length, which was published in full in the " State Agricultural Reports." On the second and last day of the fair, the rain fell so incessantly that not a lady appeared on the grounds. An excellent showing of live stock, grain
24
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
and vegetables was made. It is believed that the third or fourth fair was held at Centerton, though this is uncertain. In 1855, it was held at Mar- tinsville, the premiums paid amounting to $185. Each season the County Board contributed from $50 to $200 toward paying the expenses and fitting up the ground. The officers at this time were Giles B. Mitch- ell, President ; Aaron Rose, Vice President ; Henry Sims, Treasurer ; O. J. Glessner, Secretary ; W. H. Craig, Uriah Ballard, W. J. Brag, W. G. Gray, Jackson Record, Nathan Gilbert, John B. Cox, James Eg- bert, Cyrus Whetzel, Amos Lawrence, John C. Baker, Campbell Goss and James Ainkle, Directors. No fair was held in 1856, owing to the political excitement. In 1857, a large, well-attended fair was held at Centerton. And so they continued with increasing prosperity in every branch. Occasionally a year would pass with no fair, as during one or more years of the rebellion. Sometimes the society came out in debt at the end of the year. Some townships of the county took no interest whatever in the success of the organization. Considerable jealousy has existed between Martinsville and vicinity and Mooresville and vicinity, which has resulted in the formation of two distinct agricultural organiza- tions in the county. The one at Mooresville has led a precarious exist- ence. One was organized there in 1870, with a membership of 165, and a capital stock of $2,180. Fifteen acres of land were leased for ten years, of Samuel Moon, on Section 36, Township 14, Range 1 east. It was designed as a union organization with the southern part of Hendricks County. Some excellent fairs have been held there. Utter failures have also occurred. The society at Martinsville in 1879 bought of Morgan County, for $1,536.75, twenty acres and forty-nine hundredths of an acre, which had formerly belonged to the poor farm, and fitted up this ground for fairs, the first being held there in 1880. The grounds compare favor- ably with those of other counties of the State in buildings, fencing, sheds, track, water and accommodations. At the fair of 1882, about 500 pre- miums were paid, aggregating about $3,000. The present officers are L. Sims, President; John Nutter and L. Guthridge, Vice Presidents ; S. M. Guthridge, Treasurer; H. A. Smock, Secretary ; A. M. Thornburg, Assistant Secretary ; W. G. Bain, Superintendent ; R. H. Tarleton, R. S. Aldrich, John Kirkham, H. R. Stevens, N. T. Cunningham, Harvey Gillaspy, N. Henley, Thomas H. Dixon, Henry C. Hodges and Merwin Rowe, Directors.
COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETIES.
During the summer of 1855, there was organized at Martinsville the " Morgan County Medical and Surgical Society." None but physicians of the Allopathic school could become members, and the society was a branch of the State Medical Society, and subject to about the same code of ethics. Among the members were S. A. Tilford, R. H. Tarleton, B. D. Blackstone, S. H. Schofield, W. W. Hoyt, A. W. Reagan, G. B. Mitchell, W. A. Todd, W. C. Hendricks, J. J. Johnston, Dr. Patterson, Dr. Spencer, Dr. Keiper and others. A Board of Censors was appointed, and much interest was manifested in the discussion of topics of interest to the profession. The society gradually went down, and within a few years meetings were wholly abandoned.
25
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Pursuant to call, a number of the physicians of the county seat and other points in the county, met at Martinsville on the 25th of April, 1876, to organize a new medical society. Dr. Knight, of Paragon, was made Chairman and Dr. Douglas, Secretary. A committee of three was appointed to draft articles of association, and another committee of four was appointed to prepare a constitution and by-laws. Dr. J. H. Knight was elected permanent President; F. M. Douglas, Secretary, and E. V. Green, Treasurer. The following physicians have been members of this society : P. H. Perce, F. M. Douglas, E. P. Ritchey, R. C. Griffith, J. H. Knight, W. D. Monnett, W. S. Robertson, P. McNab, A. W. Rea- gan, G. B. Mitchell, E. V. Green, Jesse Regan, C. M. Lindley, J. P. Buckner, U. H. Farr, S. N. Rundell, S. A. Tilford, T. Holliday, R. D. Willan, James E. Clark, C. C. Holman, W. R. Curer, Charles Seaton, John M. Snoddy, T. Stucky, W. E. Hendricks, W. P. Van Sant, J. C. Marker and Grant Monical. The object of the society as stated in the constitution is "the advancement of medical knowledge, the elevation of professional character, the protection of the interests of its members, the extension of the bounds of medical science, and the promotion of all meas- ures adapted to the relief of the suffering, and to improve the health and protect the lives of the community." "Any graduate in medicine of a respectable medical school, who is in good moral and professional stand- ing, upon signing the constitution and paying $3 to the Treasurer," may become a member of the society by a vote of the members. Further than that, any person upon the payment of $5 to the Treasurer, and the pres-
entation of a certificate of qualification to practice medicine, from the Board of Censors of the society, may become a member by vote of the members. The code of ethics of the American Medical Society was adopted. The records of the society show great interest on the part of the members. Essays on important medical subjects are read, and pro- tracted discussions are had on the location, character and treatment of disease. The society is a credit to the medical profession of the county, though many of the most successful practitioners are not members.
Dr. Kennedy, of the county seat, an eclectic physician of great prominence and skill, is one of the most successful practitioners of Mor- gan County. He is about the only representative of that excellent school of medicine. Homeopathy, which has made such wonderful strides in success and popularity during the last few years, has, at present, no rep- resentative.
MORGAN COUNTY POLITICS.
Unfortunately, owing to the destruction by fire a few years ago of the tally sheets in the Clerk's office at the county seat, the results of the early elections in Morgan County cannot be given. Old settlers state that the county was Democratic by a small majority, when the full vot- ing strength was out, though on " off years," when the opposing candi- date was a man of unusual prominence and worth, he often managed to wrest the spoils of office from his less fortunate antagonist. The county was organized in 1822, but politics cut no figure until the remarkable Presidential contest between Jackson, Adams, Clay and Crawford in the autumn of 1824. The administration of Mr. Monroe had been so pacific and conciliatory that former partisan lines had been almost wholly
26
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
obliterated, and an "era of good feeling" had apparently been estab- lished. When the election of 1824 was transferred to the House of Rep- resentatives, and it became known that the popular voice had been dis- regarded by the choice of John Quincy Adams, party lines were again strictly drawn, and the first decided political division in Morgan County was experienced. The election of 1828 made satisfactory amends by seat- ing in the Presidential chair, Andrew Jackson, one of the most popular Presidents the nation has had since Washington. So much was he ad- mired for the peculiar elements of his character, that he was re-elected in 1832. So firm a hold did he secure upon the popular heart, that citi- zens throughout the county, during all the years from his administration until the present, have proudly and publicly announced themselves as "Jackson Democrats." The election of 1836 resulted in the selection of Martin Van Buren, whose administration was compelled to shoulder in 1837 one of the most disastrous financial crashes the country has ever encountered. Speculation had run riot. The wildest visions of finan- cial enterprise had taken possession of every breast. Everybody plunged recklessly into debt under the insane delusion that final settlement would be the careless pleasure of some future day. Jackson received the honors of the speculative madness ; Van Buren reaped the harvest of tares and cheat. When values, without warning, fell prostrate to the basis of act- ual worth, the failures everywhere were appalling in numbers and mag- nitude. Time alone soothed the desolate sea.
The contest of 1840 was in many respects remarkable. It was the first time the " Great West" had come forward with a candidate. The cultured States of the East ridiculed the pretentions of the friends of Mr. Harrison by scornful allusions to the log cabins and the hard cider of Indiana and the Northwest. The suggestions were caught up with a shout by the friends of the Whig candidate, and in their thousands of public gatherings hard cider and log cabins and canoes were the most popular and prominent features. Mr. Harrison was elected, and the Whigs were in ecstasies.
The contest of 1844 was really upon the question of the admission of Texas into the Union. The Whigs opposed the admission, to prevent an increase of slave territory, and the Democrats favored it for the oppo- site reason. The election of Mr. Polk was a triumph of the Democrats, and insured the admission of Texas. The partial returns given below of this election in Morgan County were gathered from the half-con- sumed records stored in boxes in the hall of the court house :
NOVEMBER, 1844.
DEMOCRAT Polk and Dallas.
WHIG Clay and Frelinghuy- sen.
LIBERTY Birney and Morris.
Madison
44
3
Harrison.
54
37
.
Brown.
106
252
7
Green. .
56
8
. .
Total
260
300
7
27
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
This exhibit does not properly represent the result of the election in Morgan County if the statements of old settlers are to be relied upon. The election of Mr. Polk upon the issue above stated was taken by Mex- ico as a settlement of the question that Texas would be admitted into the Union. Mexico had threatened war with the United States in the event of the annexation of Texas, and accordingly, when the latter was formally admitted to the sisterhood of States early in 1845, war was declared. A full company was raised in Morgan County for this war, reference to which will be found in the military history of the county elsewhere in this volume. In the meantime, a few Abolitionists had appeared in the county, the most of whom were Quakers. They invariably polled their votes for the Liberty or Free-Soil candidates.
In 1846, David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, introduced in Congress a bill called the " Wilmot Proviso," which stipulated that slavery should be excluded from all territory thereafter annexed to the United States. This bill encountered the fiercest opposition from the Southern Members of Congress, and was finally defeated, though it formed an im- portant issue in the Presidential campaign of 1848, and was no doubt one of the contributing causes for the formation of the Republican party a few years later. The " Compromise of 1850," introduced in Congress by Henry Clay, became a law, and was regarded as a wise measure by both parties, though the old issues were quietly kept in mind during the campaign of 1852. The Democrats seated Mr. Pierce, and Gen. Scott, the Whig candidate, fresh with the laurels of victory from the battle-field, was permanently retired.
In 1854, the adoption of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, introduced in Congress by Senator Douglas, virtually repealed the compromises of 1820 and 1850, and kindled a flame of indignation, unknown before in the history of the nation. The bill provided, among other things. that the citizens of the new States, Kansas and Nebraska, should decide at the polls whether slavery should be adopted or rejected. Open war in Kan- sas was the result. Mass meetings were held throughout the North to denounce the bill and adopt personal liberty bills. The Morgan County Gazette, edited by Edwin W. Callis, in 1855 espoused the cause of the new Republican party, and did more than any other cause to transfer the administration of county affairs to the new party. The editorials were a credit to the heart and brain of Mr. Callis, and to the party whose prin- ciples he so ably and bravely advocated. The Democratic majority in the county had begun to decrease about 1852. In 1855, it was less than 100, and in October, 1856, O. P. Morton, the Republican candidate for Governor, received a majority of eight votes over A. P. Willard, the Democratic candidate. This, so far as known, was the first time the Democracy had failed to carry the county. Both parties in the county fought with all their strength over the November election, with the fol- lowing result :
2
28
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
NOVEMBER, 1856.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN Fremont and Dayton.
DEMOCRAT Buchanan and Breck- enridge.
AMERICAN Filmore and Donelson.
Washington
200
307
15
Jackson
74
194
3
Green
27
231
1
Harrison
33
58
2
Madison
46
123
. .
Clay
187
61
5
Brown
207
100
2
Monroe
330
37
12
Adams
127
165
10
Gregg.
113
45
5
Jefferson
82
61
2
Ray
98
120
11
Baker.
46
26
. .
Total.
1,570
1,528
68
This was really the first decisive victory for the Whigs. But the ex- citement over the questions growing out of slavery did not die out with this election. In 1858, the Supreme Court of the United States decided in the Dred Scott case that slavery was a national institution, and could not under the constitution be excluded from any State. This was fol- lowed by renewed excitement. About this time, John Brown, an extreme anti-slavery partisan, incited an insurrection of the slaves at Harper's Ferry in Virginia, which resulted in the hanging of himself and several of his followers. The South soon saw that the rapid settlement of the North and the devolopment there of an uncompromising hostility to slav- ery, would result in the selection of an anti-slavery Republican President in 1860. They therefore declared that the election of such a man would be regarded as a sufficient menace to the institution of slavery to warrant a withdrawal from the Union. The citizens of Morgan County were awake on all the exciting issues of the day. After the election of 1856, the county went back to the Democrats, but only by a feeble majority, which was decreased in 1858 and still more so in 1859. The contest in 1860 was of the most exciting character. Both, or all, parties in the county thoroughly organized, and mass meetings were held everywhere with music, vocal and instrumental, and torch-light processions in bright uni- forms. The result was as follows :
29
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
NOVEMBER, 1860.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUB- LICAN. Lincoln and Hamlin.
NORTH- ERN DE- MOCRACY. Douglas and Johnson.
SOUTH- ERN DE- MOCRACY. Brecken- ridge and Lane.
UNION. Bell and Everett.
TOTAL.
Washington.
284
271
13
5
: 573
Adams
150
128
1
1
280
Jefferson
81
72
2
1
156
Madison
67
117
2
1
187
Harrison
42
56
98
Monroe
314
44
1
359
Jackson.
85
198
4
287
Brown.
196
111
5
2
314
Clay
147
90
237
Green.
39
209
25
273
Gregg.
158
45
7
210
Baker
47
30
1
78
Ray
145
145
1
5
296
Total
1755
1516
62
15
3348
Majority
162
The Republican majority continued to increase after this election. The issue of 1864 was whether the war should be continued or abandoned. Great concern was manifested over the result. The returns in Morgan County were as follows : Lincoln and Johnson, 1,793 votes ; Mcclellan and Pendleton, 1,283 votes, giving the Republicans a majority of 510. The vote by townships cannot be given. The Republicans were over- joyed, and the Democrats were correspondingly depressed. The result of the election of 1868 was as follows :
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