USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 5
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 5
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44
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
county road, John Walton, Preston Blake and John Forbes, Viewers ; from the southwest corner of Section 12, Town 34, Range 7, to Liver- pool, same Viewers as last; from the southeast corner of Adam Camp- bell's land (Section 20, Town 35, Range 5), to intersect Michigan City and Barleytown road (southeast quarter of Section 18, Town 37, Range 5), Viewers, Enos Thomas, John Sefford, A. S. Campbell, White B. Smith and Eli Hendricks; from Portersville to Michigan City (Septem- ber, 1836), John Taylor and Asahel Neil, Viewers ; from Michigan City (November, 1836), west through Porter and Lake Counties to the State line, Benjamin McCarty, Viewer. The following is from an act entitled " An Act Relating to State Roads," approved February 6, 1837 :
SEC. 9. That Daniel M. Leaming, of La Porte County, William Frakes, of Porter County, and William Hatton, of Lake County, be and they are hereby appointed Com- missioners to view, mark and locate a State road from the town of La Porte, in La Porte County, on the nearest and best route to the town of Valparaiso, in Porter County, thence west by the way of the seat of justice of Lake County to the Illinois State line, in the direction of Joliet, in the State of Illinois; Provided, however, That if the seat of justice in the said county of Lake shall not be located at the time of the location of the said State road, the Commissioners aforesaid will proceed to locate said road on the nearest and best route from the town of Valparaiso west to the State line in the direction of Joliet, in said State of Illinois.
By an act of the Legislature, approved February 18, 1839, Philander A. Paine and William C. Talcott were appointed Commissioners to locate a State road from a point on the Valparaiso and Sherwood Ferry road, thence by Ruel Starr's, thence to a county road running north on a line dividing Sections 19 and 20, in Township 35, Range 5, to extend such road to City West, and the county road was declared a State road. By enactment also William C. Talcott and A. S. Campbell were appointed to lay out a State road from Portersville west to intersect a State road at Preston Blake's or James Grafton's. Also, by enactment, William C. Talcott was appointed to lay out a State road from Valparaiso via Enos Thomas' mill to City West. Also, by enactment, William K. Talbot and Henry Rinker were appointed to view a State road from, at or near Pa- gan's Mill, in La Porte County, thence to the center of Section 17, Township 37, Range 5, thence to City West, thence to Long Lake, so as to intersect a State road near the head of the lake. Various State roads were laid out across the county, while the same remained attached to La Porte County. By suitable enactments, the Legislature provided what was called the " 3 per cent fund," apportioning such fund to the several counties throughout the State, and appointing Commissioners to expend the same in the construction of roads. This relief to the early settlers was fully appreciated. The County Commissioners levied as heavy a tax, also, as the settlers could bear, to carry on the same work. From that
RESIDENCE AND SUMMER RESORT OF CAPTAIN G. W. MERRILL, FLINT LAKE, PORTER . CO. INDIANA. 3 MILES NORTH OF VALPARAISO. FINE FISHING AND BOATING FAGILITIES.
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47
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
time onward, through the years 1837, 1838, 1839 and 1840, and until the present time, roads were laid out in all directions through the county, at enormous cost in the aggregate, but of indispensable use to the citizens.
At a special session of the board on the 16th of November, 1850, the following petition was considered :
To the Honorable the Board of Commissioners of the County of Porter: Your peti- tioners, the Board of Directors of the Valparaiso & Michigan City Plank Road Company, would humbly represent to your honorable body that a company has been organized for the purpose of constructing a plank road from Valparaiso to Michigan City, making & point on the Buffalo & Mississippi Railroad at or near the place where the line between Ranges 5 and 6 crosses the same. That the nearest and best route for the construction of said road would probably be to run on the road from Valparaiso to Michigan City between Valparaiso and the above-named point on the railroad, and thence running part or all the way to Michigan City on the road that leads from the above point to Michigan City, as far as the eastern line of the county of Porter, near Michigan City.
Your petitioners, therefore, ask your honorable board to grant to said company the right of way on said road or roads from Valparaiso to the eastern line of the county of Porter, near Michigan City aforesaid, or to so much or such part of said road or roads as you may deem expedient and right.
W. P. WARD, President of the Board of Directors.
Attest : GEORGE W. TURNER, Secretary.
NOVEMBER 16, 1850.
Whereupon the Board of Commissioners
Ordered, That the right of way be granted to the Valparaiso & Michigan City Plank Road Company to construct a plank road from Valparaiso to Michigan City on, over, along or across any or all State or county roads which they may desire.
The road was never built as had been designed, as much of the route over which the plank were to be laid was a compact sandy soil, which, three-fourths of the year, furnished almost as solid a foundation as the plank would. Some two or three miles of plank were laid just south of Chesterton, and about the same just north of Valparaiso, but between these sections of road none were laid, though toll was collected both at Chesterton and at Valparaiso. The stock of the company was largely owned by wealthy men in Michigan City, who were the founders of a private bank there, and the issuers of a paper money, which, from com- mencement to end, unlike the usual wild-cat bank issues of that day, was always at par with coin, and redeemable at any time upon demand. It is stated that a man, on one occasion, becoming greatly scared by the ap- palling depreciation in private bank issues, and having in his possession some $30,000 of the Plank Road Bank bills, presented himself in Michi- gan City and demanded the redemption of the paper of the bank in his pos- session. The gold was paid him, whereupon, becoming satisfied that the bank was solid, he asked to have his gold deposited again, but was posi- tively refused, and, as that was the only bank in the city, he was obliged to cart his coin home with him. Toll was collected on the road a few years and then the company collapsed.
C
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48
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
In 1851, another association was formed to construct a plank road from Valparaiso to La Porte, and permission was granted the same to use the roads of the county for that purpose. About seven miles of plank were laid, partly in Porter and partly in La Porte Counties, and toll was collected over this route for a few years, but finally the whole matter was abandoned. While the original plan was to extend the road from Valpa- raiso to La Porte, this design was changed, and, in 1852, the termini of the road were Henry Clyburn's in La Porte County and Beeche's Corners in Porter County.
Library .- As early as the summer of 1838, in pursuance of an act of the State Legislature, approved February 17, 1838, subscriptions to the amount of some sixty-odd dollars having been pledged, a meeting of the citizens was called to elect Trustees and other necessary officers, and to in- corporate the Porter County Library Association. Books were purchased and added to from time to time, as subscriptions were paid, until at last, in about 1850, some 500 volumes were owned by the association. In 1855, the books were distributed to the townships as follows : One set to Centre, one to Jackson and Washington, one to Westchester, Pine and Liberty, one to Portage and Union, one to Porter and Boone, and one to Morgan, Pleasant and Essex. These libraries were added to by the State for several years, but finally they were not replaced, and were soon de- stroyed or lost. It was
Ordered by the Board acting as Trustees of the County Library, That the Librarian be allowed the sum of $10 per annum for his services as such Librarian ; that said Librarian be required to procure a strong book case for the use of said library, and that the follow- ing by-laws be adopted :
1. That none but subscribers shall be allowed to read the books, or draw any of them from said library.
2. That any volume of 300 pages or under may be drawn for one month by any sub- scriber.
3. That any volume over 300 pages and under 500, may be drawn for two months by any subscriber.
4. That any volume over 500 pages may be drawn for three months.
5. That the Librarian shall mark each book, showing the length of time said book may be drawn.
6. That any person keeping a book over the time marked as the period for which it. may be drawn, shall forfeit the sum of 5 cents for every week it may be kept over said time, and that any fractional part of a week shall be considered as a week, and the fine collected accordingly.
7. That no person shall draw more than one volume at a time, and after a subscriber shall have drawn a book, he shall not be allowed to draw any more until he shall have duly returned said book, and paid all fines and forfeitures due said library from him.
8. That the Librarian shall examine all books upon their return, and if any shall have been damaged or disfigured more than reasonable wear, he shall assess a fine upon said subscriber drawing the same, and said subscriber shall never after be allowed to draw any book until he shall have duly paid such fine.
9. That said Librarian shall purchase a blank book at the expense of said library, in
49
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
which he shall keep a full list of all subscribers, the time subscribing, the date cach shall draw a book and return the same, and the amount of fines assessed to, and paid by, each subscriber, and of all other matters of interest to said library a complete and full report he shall make of which at each term of the County Commissioners' Court.
Miscellaneous Acts of the Commissioners .- In June, 1836, the board appointed Samuel Olinger County Agent, with Peter Ritter, B. Saylor, George Cline and Wilson Malone, sureties. They deducted $60 from the levy made by John Adams and George Cline, Assessors, upon the personal property of those families which had been assessed for " bed and bedding." It was ordered that, for the year 1836, a levy of two and one-half per cent be made on all personal property and real estate, and a poll tax of 75 cents be imposed, for county purposes ; but in July this order was rescinded, and in lieu thereof one half of one per cent was levied. The board ordered paid to Peter Ritter $20, to John Adams $26. and to George Cline $22, for services as County Assessors. A road tax of one per cent was levied in July. In May, 1836, a tavern license was granted Samuel Haviland, of Westchester Township, for one year, at $10. A license was granted Andrew Ault to vend foreign and do- mestic groceries. Same with merchandise to Ebenezer Clark, of Porters- ville, and license to sell liquor to Francis Willey, of Bailly Town. Ex- penses of catching W. C. Maley, a horse-thief, were paid by the board. Samuel Haviland was granted license to keep a ferry across Deep River at Liverpool, and to keep a tavern and sell liquor there. Saylor & Reed, a license to sell merchandise in Valparaiso ; same to Solomon Cheney. As early as January 4, 1836, a license was granted Hamell & Hening by the Commissioners of La Porte County, to vend merchandise in Mor- gan Township. This was at Valparaiso, or Portersville, which was then in such township. John B. Turner was granted a license to sell grocer- ies, 1837 ; same, merchandise, to George Bishop ; Seneca Ball, same ; Jeremiah Hamell, same; Marshal & Bigelow, a tavern at City West. David Oaks, of Washington Township, was granted a license to retail merchandise. Leveret Bradley, licensed to keep a tavern and sell liquor at City West. Palmer & Andrews, licensed to sell merchandise in Boone Township, April, 1838. W. P. Ward, licensed to keep a tavern and sell liquor in Westchester Township March, 1839. In 1843, W. A. Hins- dale and Edmund Woodman were licensed to keep separate taverns in Westchester Township. In 1837, a premium of $1 was ordered paid for scalps of prairie wolves over six months old, and 50 cents for those of wolves under that age. Same ordered paid for the scalps of gray wolves. After that, from time to time, the premium on wolf scalps was gradually increased until, finally, a number of years ago, as high as $15 was paid for a single scalp of the gray wolf. At present the premium is $10.
At the September term, 1836, John Saylor was appointed Commis-
$
50
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
sioner of the 3 per cent fund, which was applied in the construction of public highways. Specifications for a county jail were drawn up in de- tail, the building to be 14x28 feet, timbers one foot square of oak, build- ing to be completed by September, 1837 ; payment for the same to be in installments, one-third when the timber was all delivered on the ground, one-third when the house was raised and covered, and one-third when the work was completed. Bids from contractors were called for. In Novem- ber, Adam S. Campbell became County Agent. The rates of ferriage across Deep River at Liverpool were fixed as follows : Each footman, 6 cents ; man and horse, 12} cents ; horse and Dearborn wagon, 25 cents ; two horses and wagon, 372 cents; for each yoke of oxen or span of horses over and above one yoke or span, 12} cents. No person was taxed with ferriage who was crossing with his team and who paid the above rates for such team. The ferry across the Kankakee, which had been formerly known as Sherwood's Ferry, and upon which no license had been paid, was advertised to be let to the highest bidder, the rates to be as follows : Each footman, 6} cents; man and horse, 12} cents ; horse and Dearborn wagon, 25 cents ; two horses and wagon, 37} cents ; one yoke of oxen and wagon, 37} cents; four horses and wagon, 50 cents ; two yoke of oxen and wagon, 50 cents; any higher number of animals to wagon, 50 cents; each head of cattle, 6} cents; each sheep, 3 cents; each hog, 3 cents ; each horse, 64 cents ; asses and mules, each 6} cents ; and when the water was high, so that the ferry would have to run up to the head of the canon, three times the above rates were charged.
In January, 1837, it was ordered by the Board that the following persons should serve as Grand Jurors at the April term, 1837, of the Por- ter County Circuit Court: Wilford Parrott, Robert Wallace, John Say- lor, Eli Hendricks, George Spurlock, Joseph Willey, John P. Noble, Edmund Billings, White B. Smith, David Hughart, Henry Adams, John Sefford, G. Z. Salyer, Abraham A. Hall, John Adams, John G. Forbes, Sr., William Walker and William Bissell. The following persons were selected to serve at the same time as Petit Jurors : Thomas L. Hyatt, John B. Turner, Enos Thomas, Jacob Beech, James Laughlin, A. K. Paine, Robert Fleming, William Morgan, Newton Frame, Henry Rinker, George Shigley, Jefferson Tenor, Abraham Cormack, Benjamin Saylor, Sr., Isaac Cornell, Lewis Holton, Barzilla Bunnell, William Malone, P. A. Paine, Henry Herrold, Luther Jefferson, Jaines Baum, William Eaton and Barrack Dorr. John Saylor reported that he had received of the Treasurer of State $1,926.86 of 3 per cent fund due Porter County. This amount came to the county in good time, and was immediately ap- plied toward the improvement and construction of public roads. In Jan- uary, the board again took up the county jail question, and new specifi-
51
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
cations were prepared, the building to be a very strong frame structure, 17x33 feet, with two rooms below-one for debtors, and the other for criminals-and two above. At the same time, specifications for a court house were prepared, the building to be a frame structure, 20x48 feet. In March, 1837, a license to keep the old Sherwood Ferry across the Kankakee was granted Joseph Stearns and John Ship, the license being $9. S. Campbell was paid $85 for his services as Assessor of Porter County in 1837. Cyrus Spurlock was appointed Seminary Trustec of Porter County. A levy of 1 per cent on all real and personal taxable property was levied for the year 1837. At this time (May, 1837), the project of building the Erie & Michigan Canal, or of assisting in the building, began to receive attention from the Commissioners, who made preparations to turn over the 3 per cent fund on hand for that purpose.
In September, 1837, the Commissioners met at the house of Jeremiah Hammell. From this period on, for several years after, the board con- tinued to appoint officers for the various townships. At this term, it was "ordered that Thomas Randall be appointed Commissioner of the 3 per cent fund for Newton County (or the territory attached to Porter County called Newton County), and that he come forward and qualify himself accordingly." It was also "ordered that all the territory attached to Porter County that is called Newton County, shall form and constitute a township to be known by the name of Marion, and that there shall be an election held at the house of John Price, on October 25, 1837, to elect one Justice of the Peace, and William Donahue is appointed Inspector." At this time the county was pushing, in the construction of its highways, to its utmost, and every penny was faithfully applied. The bonds which had been given as a guarantee for the payment of the money which had been donated by the proprietors of the county seat, fell due, and the money was collected and applied upon the roads. The amount of county revenue, for 1836, was $522.29. In November, 1837, the court house was com- pleted by the contractors, Solomon Cheeney and others, and accepted by the board, after examination. The following appears upon the records :
To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of Porter County, Ind .:- The following is a list of fines imposed by me on account of Sabbath-breaking : Reuben Meadows, $1, and Leonard H. Coghill, $1. Given under my hand and seal this 1st day of January, 1838. (Signed) JOHN ADAMS, J. P.
Since that period, Sabbath-breaking has multiplied, and fines for the same have divided. The following fines were assessed in the Circuit Court for 1837 : Michael Ault, assault, $20; G. W. Coghill, assault, $10; David Cook, retailing without license, $2; Ashbal Goodrich, retailing without license, $2; Moses Wilson, assault, 1 cent ; Aaron Lewis, retailing without license, $2; J. Bartholomew, assault and battery, $2. G. Z. Salyer's report as Seminary Trustee was as
52
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
follows : Received of William Billings, $6.50; of G. Z. Salyer, $4; of G. W. Turner, $38; total, $48.50, which had been loaned at 10 per cent per annum. The County Clerk was ordered to procure a set of law- ful weights and measures, to be kept in his office, and also an iron seal with the letters P. C. S., which should be stamped on all lawful weights. A pound was built for Valparaiso, in 1838, by William Eaton.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER'S REPORT, PORTER COUNTY, 1836:
Received from B. Saylor, Collector of State revenue ... 8 55
Received from the sale of Section 16, Township 35, Range 5. 360 85
Received from money loaned 205 00
Paid Isaac Morgan interest 205 00
Received State revenue. 1 08
Received Surplus revenue. 27 77
Loaned interest money 360 85
Paid for notice of sale in Michigan City Gazette .. 2 50
Received surplus revenue from Seneca Ball, Commissioner.
224 40
Received from the sale of Section 16, Township 35, Range 6, with interest. 91 78
Paid for books.
11 50
Money loaned
Paid John McConnell interest. 144 67
Paid John McConnell surplus revenue. 30 06
1 14
Paid Gazette for notice of sale. 2 25
Received from sale of Section 16, Township 36, Range 5, with interest
24 20
Money loaned.
18 00
Paid Phineas Hall surplus revenue.
28 67
Paid Phineas Hall State revenue
1 06
Paid Michigan City Gazette.
2 25
Received from Treasurer of State amount of poll-tax due for school purposes for the year 1836
35 50
[Signed.] RUEL STARR, School Commissioner.
The following appears upon the record :
Notice .- A copartnership has this day been formed at Valparaiso, Porter County under the laws of the State regulating limited corporations, for the purpose of dealing in all things relating to trade in merchandise, bonds, notes, exchanges, etc., the business to be conducted by E. Brown Bishop as general partner, who is authorized only to sign for the company ; and the name and style of the company will be E. Brown Bishop, and the following-named persons will be special or limited partners :
Sylvanus Evarts, La Porte County, Ind., has given bonds to pay
in specie or good Eastern paper, when demanded. $1,000 00
John Bishop, Porter County, same. 2,600 00
Jesse Johnson, Porter County, same 300 00
Henry Dillingham, Porter County, same.
1,000 00
Samuel Shingley, Porter County, same.
300 00
George Axe, Porter County, same 300 00
Jonathan Herold, same 500 00
Total. $5,000 00
The copartnership is to commence the 1st of June, 1838, and continue for one year from such date, and to be renewed from year to year by advertising.
50 99
Paid John McConnell State revenue.
53
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
What became of this corporation or what was done cannot be learned with certainty. It did not continue long, however. In the autumn of 1838, Newton County was attached to Jasper County, and the Collector for that county turned over his funds and was discharged. In October, 1839, William Eaton was licensed to keep the ferry over the Kankakee, where John Ship and Joseph Stearns had formerly been. In September, 1840, the board advertised a bounty of $1.50 on each scalp of full grown prairie wolves and $3 for each scalp of full grown gray wolves.
The following order appears upon the records :
Ordered by the Board, That from and after the 1st day of April, 1841, the door of the court house shall be shut against preaching by any denominations of Christians, and that the Sheriff of Porter County is required to procure a lock for the door at the foot of the stairs in the hall, and place said lock permanently on said door, and keep the same locked against all denominations of Christians from and after said 1st of April, 1841, without respect of persons ; and that the Sheriff is further ordered to give public notice of the passage of this order immediately.
For a time during 1841, the county paid $5 and $3 for scalps of gray and prairie wolves respectively. In February, 1842, it was "ordered by the Board, that the Methodists, Presbyterians, Mormons, Universalists, Baptists, Campbellites, Associate Reformers, Infidels and all other de- nominations be allowed to hold meetings in the court house, provided they do not interfere with the business of the courts of the county and political meetings." In June, 1842, John W. Wright reported that $106.87 had been received from the seminary fund. In December, 1842, it was "ordered, that John McIntosh be appointed Inspector of flour, beef and pork for the county of Porter for the term of three years."
County Seminary, etc .- A legislative enactment of February, 1838, made provision for the maintenance of county seminaries throughout the State by the appropriation of certain fines and penalties, such as for break- ing the Sabbath, for assault and battery, etc., etc., and it was made the duty of the Board of Commissioners in each county to appoint Trustees, who were to constitute a body politic with general powers and liabilities in the founding, controlling and maintaining of a county seminary of learning. Such Trustees were appointed in Porter County as early as the autumn of 1838, to whom were paid the funds designed for the above purpose until. in 1849, the amount collected had reached over $2,000, when the project of erecting a seminary building was instituted, but not carried into effect, for some reason unknown, until the year 1851, when grounds were purchased in the eastern part of Valparaiso and a building erected thereon, the total cost of house and lots amounting to about $2,- 300. The two-storied frame building was furnished with three rooms above and two below, and was not fully completed in the autumn of 1851, when the first school therein was taught by Ashley M. Pierce, Principal,
54
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
and Miss Eliza J. Forsyth, now Mrs. William Wilson, Assistant. The session was held in the upper story, the lower not having been finished nor furnished. About 120 students were in attendance during the win- ter, but the following year, when the new school law came into existence, the County Commissioners, in pursuance of legal requirements, offered the seminary building and the grounds upon which it stood for sale, one- tenth to be paid down and the balance in nine equal annual installments, the proceeds of the sale to go into the common school fund of the county. The sale was advertised by the County Auditor in June, 1852, the day of sale being fixed for the fourth Monday of July, 1853, on which day the building was purchased by the School Trustees of Valparaiso for $1,200, and transformed into the " Union School of Valparaiso." Thus ended its existence as a county institution, three terms only having been taught within it while it remained as such. The building was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1857.
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