USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 50
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 50
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
An enactment of the Legislature, in 1838, provided that certain county revenues should be set apart to be used, when sufficient, for the erection and maintenance of a County Seminary. In April of the same year, Milo Robinson was appointed Seminary Trustee. On the 8th of May, he reported $1 in his hands as such officer. He was required to give bond for $200, and was continued Trustee. He was succeeded by Henry Wells, who continued to serve for several years. In January, he had on hand $31.75. He reported $102.22 in his hands in 1843. The funds continued to increase at about this rate until, in about 1848, they amounted to about $300, and were at this time held as notes, the money having been loaned at interest. No attempt was made to build a County Seminary as the law provided, and the common school law of 1852 did away with the use (so it was thought) of such institutions, and the funds went to the schools of the county.
The Poor Farm .- Prior to March, 1854, the poor of Lake County were taken care of in the townships where they resided, and when neces- sary, county funds were paid for their maintenance. The keeping and the doctoring of paupers were let to the lowest bidders, and quite often the poor fell into bad hands and were poorly treated, while the stipend which was received for their benefit was largely (if that is the proper word, considering the diminutive weekly, or weakly, amount) squandered in other ways.
On the 10th of September, 1853, Alfred D. Foster was appointed an agent to attend the sale of lands at Crown Point, on the 15th of Septem- ber, and to purchase "such land upon Section 31, Township 35, Range
432
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
8, as he may, in his discretion, deem to be best adapted to the purpose of making a County Poor Farm, and the Auditor [is authorized to] draw an order upon the Treasurer for the amount necessary to pay for such lands as the said agent may purchase." In pursuance of this order, the fol- lowing land was purchased : The east half of the southeast quarter, the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter, the west half of the southeast quarter, all of Section 31, Township 35 north, Range 8 west. For some reason which the writer could not learn, this land was not used as a poor farm, though it seems to have been purchased by the Commissioners.
In March, 1854, the house of William Sanders, of West Creek Town- ship, was established as the County Asylum for the poor of Lake County, and William Sanders was appointed Superintendent. At the same time, the Trustees of each township were directed to convey all permanent paupers to this "asylum; " and the Overseers of the Poor of each town- ship were authorized to place temporarily therein, all persons becoming, for short periods, township charges. Arrangements were also made for taking suitable care of future county paupers. Harvey Pettibone, M. D., was employed at $1.75 each visit to the asylum, to administer the neces- sary medical care to the county paupers.
On the 25th of March, much of the above was rescinded, and the Commissioners purchased of James H. Luther the northeast quarter of Section 20, Township 34, Range 8, for $3,000, which did not include a mortgage of $1,000 on the farm, held by Sarah Brundage, and dated May 3, 1853. Upon this farm was a roomy dwelling, which was imme- diately occupied by the county paupers, with Jacob Merton, Superin- tendent. The mortgage was redeemed by the Commissioners in about the year 1858. Dr. Harvey Pettibone was employed as follows to ad- minister medical care to the poor: One dollar for each visit to a single patient, and twenty-five cents for each additional patient. In March, 1855, the Commissioners noticed with some alarm that, from June 1, 1854, to March 7, 1855, no less than $1,700 had been expended in the support of the poor, in furnishing the poor house and providing the paupers with medical attendance; whereupon the Trustees of the several townships were directed to investigate carefully the case of each claimant for a position as pauper in the poor house, as satisfactory evidence had been "received that persons have been quartered there and supported at the expense of the county who were amply able to take care of them- selves." It was ordered that the Treasurer be instructed to pay upon the direction of the Auditor, to James H. Luther, the sum of $775, when the note held by Mr. Luther against the county for the poor farm become due. The Superintendency of the farm was, for a number of years, advertised by public notices and let to the lowest bidder. C. C. Payne was given the
433
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
position for one year, beginning March 8, 1856; and Harvey Pettibone was re-appointed attending physician, and both were continued in the same positions for the year beginning March, 1857. Mr Payne con- tinued as Superintendent until March 10, 1860, when Samuel Cade, with a salary of $350 per year, succeeded him, continuing for two years. Alfred H. Heath succeeded him in March, 1862; salary $300; and James Hemenway took the position at the same salary, March, 1863. In the meantime, Dr. Harvey Pettibone remained "County Physician."
The following men, among others, have since been Superintendents : Levi J. Corbin, 1864; Patrick McGuire, 1864; William P. Wedge, 1865-67 ; Gordon McWilliams, 1867-81; William S. Babbitt, 1881. During the greater number of these years, Dr. Pettibone was County Physician. In 1861, $2,000 indebtedness against the poor farm was paid by the issuance of that amount of county bonds. This debt was what remained of the purchase price of the farm. It is rarely the case that any county, so early in its history, with its resources largely undeveloped, and its revenues yet in comparative infancy, undertakes, on so large a scale, and at such a sacrifice as Lake has done, the care of its indigent and helpless. Lake is a rich county, and yet it is a poor county. Its miles of low land cannot now be cultivated, and yet the hay which is harvested affords an unfailing and abundant revenue. Twenty years ago, no county in the State, with few exceptions, took better care of its poor.
Mr. Cade, Poor Superintendent, reported for the year ending March, 1862, poor house expenses amounting to $647.78, and the purchase of $67 worth of live stock. At the beginning of the year, there were twenty-three paupers, fifteen left during the year, one died, leaving seven inmates at the end of the year. At no time during the history of the county was more paid out for the maintenance of the poor farm and the wants of the poor than from 1856 to 1861. Some years, nearly $2,500 was thus expended.
In 1865, the Commissioners bought of Enos M. Cramer for $8,000 the following property : The west half of Section 11, the west half of the north- east quarter of Section 11, the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 11, the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 14, and the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 14-all in Township 34, Range 8. Also the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 21, Township 35, Range 8, and Lot 17, in the Railroad Addi- tion to Crown Point. Mr. Cramer had become involved in an official capacity, and this property was turned over to the Commissioners to satisfy their claims against him. About a year later, the most of the above land was sold to Robert Mitchell, who was unable to meet the pay- ments, and in 1868 the Commissioners recovered in court a judgment of
434
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
$2,130 and costs against Mitchell, who turned over the northwest quar- ter of Section 11, Township 34, Range 8, to meet the judgment, or, rather, this land was sold at Sheriff's sale and purchased by the Com- missioners for $2,216.88, which amount covered the judgment, cost and interest. On the 11th of December, 1869, the board declared that here- after the following ground should be the poor farm ; the southwest quarter, the south half of the northwest quarter, and the south- west quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 11, Township 34, Range 8-in all 280 acres. The old farm on Section 20, Township 34, Range 8, was abandoned, and the new immediately occupied. Here the farm has since remained. It now consists of 300 acres, 160 of which are under cultivation, the remainder being pasture and woodland. There are nineteen inmates, five of them being females. The expense of conducting the farm in 1881, including the care of the in- mates, over and above the receipts of the products, was $1,126. For the last few years the poor farm receipts have netted on the average about $500. The greatest number of inmates the poor house has ever had, was twenty-seven, during December and January, 1881-2.
Agricultural Society .- As early as May, 1839, the Commissioners ordered notice to be given that a meeting of the citizens would be held at the court house, for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society, if such action was deemed expedient. Some twenty of the citi- zens assembled and made the effort, and at first the enterprise seemed likely to succeed, but a subsequent meeting was not attended by more than half a dozen, and the matter was dropped. Another attempt was made a few years later to have one organized by Centre Township alone, but this, likewise, proved abortive. Solon Robinson, who at this time was a distinguished correspondent of the Cultivator, an agricultural paper published in the East, was at the head of these movements. Her- vey Ball was also prominently connected with the enterprise.
The Lake County Agricultural Society was organized at the court house, in Crown Point, on August 27, 1851, on which occasion William Clark was chosen Chairman, and Dr. Harvey Pettibone, Secretary. A committee, consisting of Hervey Ball, John Church and David Turner, was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws, and then the meeting adjourned until the 30th, when the same officers presided, and the con- stitution and by-laws, which had been prepared, was adopted, whereupon the meeting again adjourned until the following Thursday, on which occasion the following permanent officers of the society were elected : President, Hervey Ball; Vice President, William Clark ; Secretary, Joseph P. Smith ; Treasurer, John W. Dinwiddie; Directors, Henry Wells, of Centre; A. D. Foster, of West Creek ; Michael Pierce, of
435
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
Eagle Creek ; H. Kielman. of St. Johns; Augustine Humphreys, of Winfield, and William N. Sykes, of Ross. Owing to a lack of means, no fair was held in autumn of 1851. A meeting of the members of the society was held on September 6, 1852, at which time David Turner had taken the place of Dr. Pettibone, as Treasurer, the other officers remain- ing the same. The Directors at this time were Solomon Martin, of North ; D. H. Hale, of Ross; Henry Kielman, of St. Johns; J. H. Luther, of Centre; A. D. Foster, of West Creek; J. H. Sanger, of Cedar Creek ; Michael Pierce, of Eagle Creek; Augustine Humphreys, of Winfield, and George Earle, of Hobart. The first fair was held at the court house October 28, 1852. Sixty-nine entries were made, and thirty premiums awarded, which amounted to $48. The same President and Secretary were re-elected until the seventh annual fair. The fair was a success, though, of course, on a small scale. It had previously been ordered that the premiums on butter should be awarded and paid on only twenty pounds or more, which had been made not less than four months before the fair ; $10 were offered for the best ten acres of corn, and $5 for the second best same. Raymond Williams, D. H. Hale, W. A. W. Holton and William Brown took premiums on horses; Raymond Williams, Perry Jones, A. H. Merton, Theodore Bostwick and A. D. Foster, on cattle; Raymond Williams and Loren Hixon, on sheep ; Franklin McCarty, on swine; Mrs. Thomas Clark and Mrs. Russel Eddy, on butter ; Mrs. J. A. H. Ball and Mrs. J. H. Luther, on cheese ; Mrs. William Townley, on tomato catsup; Maj. Allman, on apples ; W. A. W. Holton, on squashes and beets ; Albert Kilburn, on turnips, ruta- bagas and radishes ; John Shehan, on pinkeye potatoes; M. V. B. Smith, on best six radishes, and Henry M. Nash, on beets and radishes. The reciepts of the first fair were $91, expenditures $58.25, balance in treasury, $32.75. This was a very creditable showing, and was en- couraging.
The second fair was held October 27 and 28, 1853, the premiums paid amounting to $61.75. Eighty-seven entries were made, and sixty- two premiums awarded. In 1856, the society decided to purchase a fair ground of two and one-half acres ; but instead of doing this, five acres of land, now the southern part of Crown Point, were leased until October, 1865, at which time a deed for the same was to be made by the owner, Henry Wells, to the society upon the payment of $500. This land was encumbered with a mortgage, and after passing through various vicissi- tudes, it became, eventually, the property of the society, and was used for many years. Fairs were held annually until 1859, inclusive, when the excitement of war came on, and a continuation was delayed by mutual consent.
436
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
On July 20, 1867, the citizens of the county met at the court house to re-organize the society. Hon. Hiram Wason was made Chairman, and A. E. Beattie, Secretary. On motion, the old constitution was adopted. The following officers were elected : President, Hiram Wason ; Treas- urer, J. C. Sauerman ; Secretary, A. E. Beattie. The Trustees of the several townships were appointed a Board of Directors. The following resolution was adopted :
Resolved, That the present condition of the county fair ground demands immediate " Reconstruction," and that to enable the Lake County Agricultural Society to succeed in its enterprise, the Board of County Commissioners be requested to build a suitable fence around the said grounds.
The fair was held on the 2d, 3d and 4th of October, 1867. An ex- cellent display was made, and $188.25 was paid in premiums. Other expenses, $150; receipts, $506.60; balance on hand, $168.05. The County Commissioners have done much to encourage the agricultural so- ciety in its work. In September, 1856, upon the application of several citizens, they appropriated $100 out of the county funds to be used as a contribution to the society for the purpose of assisting in defraying the expense of purchasing a permanent fair ground. As no ground was then purchased, this fund was not used. In March. 1857, $100 was appropriated, to be used in fencing the grounds. This welcome contri- bution was used the following year. In September 1858, and Decem - ber, of the same year, $200 was contributed for the construction of a floral hall. After the re-organization of the society, $50 was contributed to build a stand, with seats, and in September, 1867, $560, more or less, was given to inclose the ground with a substantial tight-board fence. June 30, 1876, L. D. Search sold to the Commissioners the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 17, Township 34, Range 8, containing forty acres, for $5,000, the land being incumbered with a mortgage of $1,000, the payment of which the Commissioners assumed. This ground has since been used by the Agricultural Society for a fair ground. The rents of the first two years were donated to the society to be used in improving the grounds. Without doubt, this is one of the finest county fair grounds of the State. The half-mile track forms just the circuit of a small and beautiful lake, upon which the occupants of pleasure boats may rest while viewing the races and the crowds upon the land. The track and the lake are surrounded by rolling uplands, crowned with picturesque groups of fine native forestry. On an emi- nence, where a fine view of the track and lake may be had, is the com- modious and tastefully arranged floral hall, erected at a cost of about $1,500. At present, the grounds are rented for $100 annually, and $100 is realized every year from the ice obtained, for summer use, at the
437
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
lake. The present officers of the Agricultural Society are H. R. Ward, President ; Ross Wilson, Vice President; J. C. Sauerman, Treasurer ; G. I. Maillet, Secretary ; R. H. Wells, General Superintendent ; Fred Jornecke, Maj. M. B. Atkins, Peter Portz, George Krimbill, Thomas Wilmarth, Abbot Wason, Elijah S. Clark, John Pierce, A. McFarland, Nathaniel Banks, John Beckman, C. L. Templeton, Directors ; William Krimbill and P. A. Banks, Finance Committee. The fair receipts for 1881, were $1,409.56, of which $809.56 was from the sale of tickets. After the re-organization of the society in 1867, the fairs were named as if no interregnum had intervened. The present one (1882), is the twenty-fourth annual fair.
County Buildings .- The old court house of 1849 was used with many improvements and additions to it, and to the county offices, until the ses- sion of the Board of Commissioners on the 9th of March, 1878, when it was decided that "public convenience and necessity demand the con- struction of a new court house, and, as the finances of the county are in a most favorable condition, it is ordered that some competent architect be employed to prepare the necessary plans and specifications." It was also decided that the new house should not cost more than $45,000. For a few years, the construction of a new court house had occupied the minds of the citizens, some favoring it and many opposing it, owing to the prob- able heavy taxation following in its wake. Those who opposed the measure were, for a time, successful in securing the election of County Commissioners who opposed the construction, but, in 1878, the other party triumphed, and the Commissioners, if not pledged to erect the building, went on determined, of their own accord, before their term of office ex- pired, to have a new house. There was then in the county treasury about $60,000. J. C. Cochran, of Chicago, an experienced architect, was employed to prepare specifications of the new building for the con- sideration of the board, and after the plan had been selected, it was placed on public exhibition, and sealed proposals for the erection of the build- ing were solicited, with the following result, the proposals being received July 6, 1878 :
P. J. Sexton $53,110
Thomas & Richter 59,924
D. H. Hayes. 44,875
Leach & Burdick, Amherst stone 49.365
Leach & Burdick, Bedford stone
48,921
Leach & Burdick, Joliet or Lemont stone. 48,729
C. W. Dickover. 64,990
T. L. Kempster
53,618
Jacob Bremer
57,789
J. H. Donlin.
44,800
John Wilke & Son
55,860
438
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
John Wilke & Son, Bedford stone. $55,120
.
John Wilke & Son, Joliet stone
55,220
G. M. Webster 58,919
Thomas & Hugh Colwell.
47,990
John Cox
48,895
James Lille
51,300
Barker & Begue.
51,700
John Martin
55,000
Daniel A. Walsh
55,555
Diener & Robinson, Lemont stone.
59,980
Diener & Robinson, Cleveland stone.
61,035
Earnshaw & Goble 48,985
D. P. Hopping & Co.
43,673
A. Z. Hageman, Jr
47,725
The proposals were carefully considered, and the contract was finally awarded to the Colwell Brothers, of Ottawa, Ill., for $45,000, but this was afterward made $46,300. Work was begun in August, and finished in 1879, the total cost, including everything, footing up, in round num- bers, to $52,000; $5,000 was left in the county treasury after the house was completed and paid for. It is said that this condition of things is true of no other county in the State. The building is a red brick struct- ure, in the form of a cross, with stone corners and window trimmings for the lower story, and stone window trimmings for the upper story and dome, and is a credit to the contractor, the architect and the county.
The corner-stone was laid on the 10th of September, 1878, with im- posing ceremonies. The day was bright and pleasant, and about 8,000 people assembled to enjoy the occasion. William Krimbill was General Marshal of the day, and D. McDonald, Past Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge, of Indiana, was Master of Ceremonies. There were present dele- gations in organized order from all portions of the county, from Porter County, from Chicago, and from other neighboring places. The proces- sion marched in the following order : Hobart Band, Toleston Fire Com- pany, Valparaiso Band, Crown Point Singverein, Hobart Lodge, Valpa- raiso Commandery, Merrillville Lodge, Logansport Band, Lowell Lodge, Logansport Commandery, Crown Point Lodge, citizens in carriages and on foot. The ceremonies were opened by the singing of the quartet club of the Chicago Apollo Commandery ; prayer was offered by Rev. T. H. Ball, after which the copper box containing the following articles was placed in the stone, the list of articles being read by W. W. Cheshire : 1. A copy of the organization of the county, with statement of taxes, etc. 2. A copy of the tax duplicate of Lake County. 3. A copy of the His- tory of Lake County, T. H. Ball, author. 4. A copy of Prairie Voice, T. H. Ball. 5. A copy of the Crown Point Register, F. S. Bedell and J. J. Wheeler, editors. 6. A copy of the Crown Point Cosmos, by John Milliken. 7. A copy of the Crown Point Star. 8. A copy of the
439
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
Crown Point Freie Presse, John Lehmann, editor. 9. A copy of the charter of the Masonic Lodge of Crown Point. 10. A copy of the char- ter of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Lowell, No. 245. 11. A solid can- non ball used in the war of 1861-65, weighing twelve pounds. 12. A copy of the day's program. 13. A copy of the constitution and by-laws of the Crown Point Gesang-Verein. 14. A protograph of the new court house. 15. A copy of the charter of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Crown Point, No. 195. 16. One cigar by Eder Brothers. 17. A copy of the Castalian, the first literary paper published in Lake County. 18. A copy of the dispensation of Merrillville Lodge. 19. A copy of Low- ell's Business Directory. 20. A copy of the charter of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Hobart. 21. A copy of the charter of the Masonic Lodge of Hobart. The corner-stone was laid, after which T. J. Wood, Esq., de- livered the oration of the day. A sumptuous dinner was partaken of on the old fair ground, and the ceremonies ended. The Register said it was " the most enjoyable day ever witnessed in Crown Point."
In 1882, it was decided that the county should have a new jail and Jailer's residence. The old building was insecure for criminals of the more desperate class, and the portion occupied by the family of the Jailer or Sheriff was not a desirable residence. The latter consideration might not have influenced the county to undertake the work, had it alone been the prompter. An actual want was felt for the secure confinement of criminals. Accordingly, specifications were drawn up, and sealed pro- posals were called for, with the following result :
Thomas & Hugh Colwell (the building without steel cells and iron works), $12,850 ; Gus Wilke & Co. (without steel cells and iron works). $12,500 ; P. J. Pauly & Bro. (the building, including steel cells and iron works), $23,850; P. J. Pauly & Co: (the steel cells and iron works only), $10,867. 1
The contract of erecting the building was awarded Gus Wilke & Co., of Chicago, at $12,500, and the contract of furnishing the steel cells and iron works, was awarded P. J. Pauly & Bro., of St. Louis, at $10,867 ; total for the whole, $23,367. The building, a large, handsome two-story brick structure, was erected, furnished and completed in the fall of 1882. It is one of the best county jail buildings in the State, and has six steel cells for males and four for females, with strong steel corridors and bath- rooms. Both it and the court house are a credit to the county. H. R. Ward, County Commissioner, superintended the construction of the jail.
County Press .- The first attempt made in Lake County to publish a newspaper, or anything approaching that character, was some time prior to 1840, the exact date being unobtainable. Solon Robinson procured a
440
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
small press and a small amount of type, and began printing from time to time handbills, land transfers, extras on agriculture, and spicy poems on local subjects of special interest to the citizens, and occasionally would issue quite a little paper, with comments on public affairs of the day, and notices of local events of general interest. The periodical could not properly be called a paper at all, although in the United States census of 1840 it was so recorded. Its name, if it had a permanent one, was pos- sibly the Western Ranger, though this is wholly speculative, and likely falsely arises from the fact that the paper's legitimate successor, which was issued a few years later from the same press and type, which had been transferred to Valparaiso, was called by that name, and circulated largely over Lake County, if such a thing was possible in view of the limited number of settlers. The exact time of the discontinuance of this occa- sional sheet issued at Crown Point is no longer remembered, but was pre- vious to 1843.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.