USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 2
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 2
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Indian Alarms .- Immediately after the first sale of the lands of what afterward became White County, and even before, the settlers began to flock in and select new homes. In 1832, the year of the Black Hawk war, probably twenty families were living in the county. From time to time reports came in from the west of the Indian massacres but a com- paratively short distance away, and a general feeling of alarm settled down upon the pioneers on the outskirts of the thickly settled sections. The savages might at any moment penetrate a little farther east and fall upon the settlers with fire, and tomahawk and scalping-knife. About the 1st of June the alarm became so intense and universal that many of the fam- ilies living in White County packed their household goods in wagons and fled to the older settlements on the south side of the Wabash, driving their live stock with them. Some persons set fire to the grass on the Grand Prairie, and the lurid glare of the flames reflected on the sky filled the breasts of the settlers for many miles around with fearful forebodings. Many thought the savages had come. Companies of militia were formed in the older localities to protect the families that assembled. Notwith- standing the reports there were a number of families in White County which had the hardihood to remain on their farms, though in most cases care was taken to prevent being surprised by savages on the war path. They were aware that but little danger was to be apprehended, as the scene of the Indian outbreak was too far away to affect the inhabitants of White County. The majority, however, were greatly scared, and fled as stated. A small company of about twenty men was formed at Delphi under the command of Captain Andrew Wood. The men, well armed and provisioned, passed out on the Grand Prairie and then up the Tippecanoe River through White County going as far up as the house of Melchi Gray
*As there was no such place as Winamac until 1838, and as the Land Office was not located there until 1839 the Commissioner is doubtless mistaken as to the place where the land was offered. The rales took place at LaPorte until the office was established at Winamac.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
near the mouth of the Monon, keeping a careful lookout for signs of Indians. Many houses were found deserted, everything indicating a hur- ried departure of the owners. Others were strongly barricaded, while the occupants within were prepared to repel assaults from a savage foe. A few families went about their daily tasks as usual. The company saw nothing whatever of hostile Indians, and soon returned to Delphi. In a little while the feeling of alarm disappeared and the families returned to their houses.
Mrs. Peter Price, then living on the old homestead a short distance west of what afterward became Monticello, relates that her family were unconscious of any circulating reports of danger from the Indians until early one morning in June, 1832, before the members of the family had arisen, when they were aroused from their slumbers by a loud shout from George A. Spencer who had ridden rapidly up on a horse and had stopped before the door of their log cabin. The first intelligible words that fell upon the ears of the startled family were " Halloo, Peter, get up ! the d-d Injins are coming, and are killing everybody !" It took that family about one minute to get into their clothes, and surround the mes- senger with anxious questions. It was decided to leave immediately, and hurried preparations were made to take the most valuable ar- ticles, and leave the remainder, as it was thought, to the torch of the savages. Mrs. Price and her children were taken to the house of some friend below Delphi, while Mr. Price returned to near the mouth of Spring Creek, Prairie Township, where some twelve or fifteen families had collected and had made rather formidable preparations to re- ceive the enemy. It is stated that a watch was kept, and every gun was loaded and in its place. It is also stated that a sort of block-house was erected, but this is probably a mistake. A few days dispelled the illu- sion, and the families returned to their homes. Some thought the dan . ger was to come from the Pottawatomies, while others better informed feared the Sacs and Foxes from the Mississippi River. As a matter of fact the Pottawatomies were about as much frightened as the whites, and all went to the Indian agent for advice and protection. They thought the whites were going to attack them for some reason they could not fully surmise. They and the whites had a good laugh together afterward over the "heap big scare."
In 1833 many settlers located in the county-so many, in fact, that the representatives in the Legislature were asked to have a new county cre- ated and organized. Accordingly, during the session of 1833-4, the fol- lowing enactment was passed and approved :
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, that from and after the first day of April next, all that tract of country included in the following boundary lines
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
shall form and constitute a new county to be known and designated by the name of the county of White (in honor of Major Isaac White, who fell at the battle of Tippecanoe) to wit, beginning at the northwest corner of Tippecanoe County, thence running east with the north line of Tippecanoe County to the southwest corner of Carroll County, thence north with the west line of Carroll County to the northwest corner of the same, thence east with the north line of Carroll County to the west line of Cass County, thence north with the west line of Cass County to the north west corner of the same, thence west to the center section line of range six west, thence south to the northwest corner of Tippecanoe County to the place of beginning.
SEC. 2. That the new county of White shall, from and after the first day of April next, enjoy and possess all the rights, privileges, benefits and jurisdictions which to separate and independent counties do or may properly belong or appertain.
SEC. 3. That James H. Stewart, of Carroll County, John Killgore, of Tippecanoe County, Enos Lowe, of Parke County, and John B. King, be, and they are hereby ap- pointed Commissioners, agreeable to an act entitled " An act fixing the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off." The Commissioners aforesaid shall meet on the first Monday in September next at the house of George A. Spencer, in the said county o. White, and shall proceed immediately to perform the duties required of them by law ; and it shall be the duty of the Sheriff of Tippecanoe County to notify said Commissioners, either in person or by writing, of their appointment, on or before the first day of August next, and for such service he shall receive such compensation as the Board doing county business in said county of White may, when organized, deem just and reasonable, to be allowed and paid as other county claims.
SEC. 4. The Circuit Court and the Board of County Commissioners, when elected under the writ of election from the executive department, shall hold their sessions as near the center of the county as a convenient place can be had, until the public buildings shall be erected.
SEC. 5. The agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots of the county seat of said county of White shall reserve ten per cent. out of the proceeds thereof, and pay the same over to such person or persons as may be appointed by law to receive the same for the use of a county library.
SEC. 6. The county of White shall be attached to the first judicial circuit of this State for judicial, and to the county of Carroll for representative, purposes.
SEC. 7. That all the territory lying west of the county of White to the State line, be, and the same is, hereby attached to the county of White for civil and judicial purposes.
SEC. 8. That the Circuit Courts shall be held in the county of White on the Tuesdays succeeding the week of the Tippecanoe Circuit Court, and sit three days each term, should the business require it.
SEC. 9. The Board doing county business may, as soon as electel and qualified, hold special sessions not exceeding three, during the first year after the organization of said county, and shall make all necessary appointments, and do or perform all other busi- ness which may or might have been necessary to be performed at any other regular session, and take all necessary steps to collect the State and county revenue, any law or usage to the contrary notwithstanding. This act to be in force from and after its passage.
Approved February 1, 1834.
A little later the following was enacted :
That all the territory lying north of the county of Cass to the line dividing Town- ships 32 and 33 north, be, and the same is hereby, attached to said county for judicial and representative purposes, and that all the territory lying north of the county of
17
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
White and of the territory attached thereto to the aforesaid line be, and the same is hereby, attached to the county of White for the same purpose. This act to be in force from and after its publication in the Indiana Journal, printed at Indianapolis.
Approved December 24, 1834.
So far as can be learned no changes were made in the boundaries of White County until the following law was passed :
That the following described territory be, and the same is hereby, taken from the county of Carroll and incorporated and made a part of White : all north of Section 33 and west of the Tippecanoe River in Township 26 north, Range 3 west. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
Approved February 4, 1837.
Again a little later the following became law :
That hereafter the Tippecanoe River shall be the western boundary of Carroll County, from where the north line of said county strikes the river, until said river strikes the section line dividing thirty-three and twenty-eight, in Township twenty-six, and all the territory west of said river and north of said line in Township twenty-six, and Range three west, is hereby attached to the county of White, as intended by the act, entitled "An act to alter the boundary line between Carroll and White," approved February 4, 1837. This act to be in force from and after its passage.
Approved February 14, 1839.
The large section of country north and west now constituting the counties of Jasper, Newton and portions of Benton and Pulaski, which was attached to White County by legislative enactment, remained so until it was organized into separate counties-Pulaski in 1839, Jasper in 1837, Newton in 1839 and Benton in 1840.
Some time during the summer of 1834 an election of two Associate Judges, three County Commissioners, one Clerk of the Circuit Court and perhaps other county officers, was held in White County with the follow- ing result : Associate Judges - James Barnes and Thomas Wilson. Commissioners - David McCombs, Ira Bacon and Robert Newell. Clerk - William Sill. The returns of this election are probably in the vault of the clerk's office at Monticello, but as no due effort was made by the proper officers to search for such papers, although requested so to do, and as the historian was not permitted to make such search, the records remain, very probably, in a corner covered with dust and rub- bish. No apology is necessary under the circumstances.
White County had a political existence before its organization, of which nothing is known to the citizens. All the territory now comprising the county, besides much more north and west, was attached to the county of Carroll by legislative enactment, at the time the latter was created. On the 11th of May, 1831, the Commissioners of Carroll County ordered that all the territory attached to the county, or a part of the county,
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
west of the Tippecanoe River should thereafter be Prairie Township ; and an election was ordered held on the first Monday of the following August for the election of one Justice of the Peace, the vote to be polled at the house of Jesse Watson, who was appointed Inspector. At this election the following men voted : J. L. Watson, Jesse Johnson, Samuel Smelcer, Michael Ault, Jeremiah Bisher, W. H. McCulloch, Aaron Cox, Royal Hazleton, Ed. McCarty, Charles Wright, William Phillips, R. Harrison, Robert A. Barr, William Woods, Ashford Parker-total, 15. The entire vote was cast for Noah Noble for Governor. For Justice of the Peace Royal Hazleton received 9 votes, and Jesse Johnson 4. In May, 1832, the elections were changed to the house of Samuel Alkire and Jesse L. Watson continued Inspector. At the April election in 1832, only six votes were polled, as follows : J. L. Watson, Jesse John- son, William Phillips, Charles Wright, Edney Wright, J. G. Alkire. Charles Wright was elected Constable ; Jesse Johnson and Robert Newell, Road Supervisors ; William Phillips and William Woods, Overseers of the Poor ; Samuel Smelcer and Samuel Alkire, Fence Viewers. These were undoubtedly the first officers of the kind elected in White County. In September, 1832, all of White County east of the Tippecanoe River was formally attached to Adams Township, Carroll County.
At the August election in Prairie Township in 1832, twenty votes were polled, and in November, at the presidential election the following men voted : J. L. Watson, Benjamin Reynolds, George McCulloch, Joseph A. Thompson, John Barr, John Roberts, John Reese, Royal Hazleton, Robert Barr, George Bartley, William Phillips, John Roth- rock, L. Willis, Robert Newell, John Hornbeck, William Woods, Samuel Alkire, Melchi Gray, Jacob Young, Christian Shuck, Jeremiah Bisher, Jesse Johnson and Edney Wright-total, 23. Eighteen votes were cast for the Whig electors and five for the Democratic.
At the March session of the Court of Commissioners of Carroll County, all of Prairie Township (which then included all of the present White County west of the Tippecanoe River) north of the line dividing Town- ships 25 and 26 north was constituted Norway Township, and the elec- tions were ordered held at the Norway mill. A Justice of the Peace was ordered elected the first Monday in March, 1833, Henry Baum, In- spector. This election was not held until April, 1833. The voters were John Rothrock, Benj. Reynolds, Joseph Lewis, Jesse Johnson, Sibley Hudson, John Burns, Henry Baum, Daniel Wolf, Jeremiah Bish- er, James Barnes, George Bartley, Robert Rothrock, George Kemp, Ashford Parker, Ira Bacon, George A. Spencer and Thomas Emerson. The vote was-for Justice of the Peace : G. A. Spencer, 11, Robert New- ell, 3, Melchi Gray, 1; Constable-James Barnes, 12, Benj. Reynolds, 5;
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
Overseers of the Poor-Armstrong Buchanan, 14, John Reese, 9; Fence Viewers-B. N. Spencer, 11, Jeremiah Bisher, 5, Andrew Ferguson, 9, John Burns, 3 ; Road Supervisor-John Roberts, 14.
In May the name Norway was discarded and Big Creek was adopted, and the August election was ordered held at the house of Benj. N. Spencer. On this occasion 26 votes were polled as follows : Peter Price, James Signers, Samuel Gray, George Bartley, Cornelius Clark, George Gates, John Roberts, Phillip Davis, Elias Louther, B. N. Spencer, Benj. Reynolds, John Rothrock, Melchi Gray, Joseph Roth- roek, G. A. Spencer, James Johnson, Robert Newell, Henry Baum, Royal Hazleton, Jeremiah Bisher, James Barnes, Ira Bacon, James Clark, John Reese, George Kemp and Andrew Ferguson.
In September, 1833, Big Creek was divided as follows : All of White County west of Tippecanoe River and north of the line dividing Townships 26 and 27 north was constituted Union Township, and elections were ordered held at the house of Melchi Gray. About this time John Barr was made agent to expend the three per cent. fund belonging to White County. No other changes were made in the county until the organization in 1834.
The Circuit Court .- The first session of the Circuit Court of White County was held at the house of George A. Spencer on the 17th of Octo- ber, 1834. The President Judge, John R. Porter, not being present, the court was conducted by James Barnes and Thomas Wilson, Associate Judges. William Sill, father of Milton M. Sill, of Monticello, was pres- ent, serving as Clerk, and John Wilson, as Sheriff. The Grand Jury were Royal Hazleton (Foreman), William Woods, James Johnson, Samuel Gray, Robert Barr, Aaron Hicks, Daniel Dale, Robert Hanners, John Roberts, John Ferguson, James Parker, Joseph James, Sr., Corne- lius Sutton, William Kerr and Joseph Thompson. An indictment was returned against Jeremiah Bisher for malicious mischief, and the court ordered the defendant to enter his recognizance for the next term of court, with security at $50. As the story goes, Mr. Bisher had tied some object to the tail of one of his neighbor's troublesome horses, and the animal in its fright had injured itself. This was the only indict- ment returned. The attorneys "sworn in" at this session of the court were William P. Bryant, Andrew Ingraham, Aaron Finch and William M. Jenners. The court then adjourned.
The second session was held in the same house, beginning April 17, 1835, with the President Judge, and both Associate Judges present. The Grand Jury were Benjamin Reynolds (Foreman), Ashford Parker, David Burkies, Elias Louther, Jonathan Harbolt, William Walters, Rowland Harris, William Phillips, Mathew Terwillager, James Kent, Phillip Da-
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
vis, Armstrong Buchanan and Robert Newell. William Sill, Clerk, John Wilson, Sheriff, and George A. Spencer, Bailiff. Bisher's case came up, whereupon he pleaded guilty, and was fined five dollars, and sen- tenced to commitment in the custody of the Sheriff for space of one minute, the fine to go to the funds of the county Seminary. The Grand Jury re- turned the following indictments : Against Jacob Gates for retailing liquor without a license ; against Joseph Gates for firing prairie ; against Royal Hazleton for marking hogs ; against Jeremiah Bisher for trespass to land ; against William Keen for selling liquor to Indians ; against John Beaver and Luke Beaver for an affray ; against William Farmer for selling clocks without a license, and against D. Runion and S. Pharris, same as last. In the case of Joseph Gates the indictment was quashed. Royal Hazle- ton was found " not guilty " by the following jury : Joseph Sayre, Jacob Crooks, John Price, Henry Smelcer, Oliver Hammond, Jacob Keplinger, Thomas Kelley, Henry Baum, Robert A. Spencer, Joseph James, Joseph Dale and Elisha Bowls. Mr. Bisher was fined $1.12}; Mr. Keen plead- ed guilty and was fined five dollars and costs ; the Beavers were found " not guilty" by a jury, and William Farmer pleaded guilty and was fined two dollars and costs.
The early law practitioners at Monticello were Wm. M. Jenners, Wm. P. Bryant, Andrew Ingraham, Aaron Finch, Rufus A. Lockwood and John Pettit, in 1834; John W. Wright, 1835 ; Zebulon Baird, 1836 ; William Wright, 1837 ; T. M. Thompson, 1838 ; Hiram Allen, 1838 ; Daniel D. Pratt, 1839; D. Mace, 1840; W. Z. Stewart, 1840 ; L. S. Dale, 1841; G. S. Orth, 1842 ; Robert Jones, Jr., 1843; Samuel A. Half, 1843; David M. Dunn, 1843 ; J. F. Dodds, 1843; William Potter, 1847 ; A. M. Crane, 1847; J. C. Applegate, 1848; Elijah Odell, 1848; A. L. Pierce, 1848 ; David Turpie, 1849 ; Robert H. Milroy, 1849 ; T. C. Rey- burn, 1849 ; Hiram W. Chase, 1850; Abraham Timmons, 1851.
In September, 1834, the Commissioners appointed by the Legislature to locate the county seat made the following report :
TO THE HONORABLE THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF WHITE :
The undersigned, Commissioners appointed by the Legislature of the State of Indiana to locate the county seat of said county, beg leave to report that they, agreeable to tlie provisions of the act for the formation of said county, met on the first Monday of Sep- tember, 1834, and after being qualified according to law, they proceeded immediately to the performance of the duties assigned them. They took considerable pains to become acquainted with the situation of your county, and with that vicw made a personal exam- ination of the greater portion of said county. The Commissioners have had considerable difficulty in making up their minds as to the best location to fix the seat of justice, and at. last came to the conclusion to locate the seat of justice on the center line dividing the following described fractions, viz .: The southwest fraction of the northwest quarter and the northwest fraction of the southeast quarter of Section 33, Township 27 north, Range
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
3 west, on a bluff of Tippecanoe River. Eighty acres of the above described fractions have been donated for the use of the county of White by Messrs. John Barr, Sr., H. E. Hiorth and John Rothrock, to be taken off the east side of said fraction by north and south line. A bond for the conveyance of the same is herewith submitted. Also $110 was donated to the county of White by different individuals whose notes for the same, payable to the County Commissioners, are also herewith submitted. The name we have selected for the said county seat is MONTICELLO, after the home of the great disciple of human liberty, Thomas Jefferson.
In conclusion, gentlemen, permit us to indulge the hope that all local dissensions will vanish amongst you, and that the citizens of White will go together as one man for the improvement of your county and county seat. We are, gentlemen, very respect. ully, your obedient servants,
September 5, 1834.
JOHN KILGORE, JOHN B. KING, JAMES H. STEWART,
Locating Commissioners .*
Proceedings of the Commissioners .- The first Board of Commission- ers. consisting of David McCombs, Ira Bacon and Robert Newell, mnet at the house of George A. Spencer on the 19th of July, 1834, and proceeded first to lay off the county into Commissioners' districts as follows : District No. 1 .- All county territory south of the line passing east and west be- tween Sections 16 and 21, Township 26 north, Range 3 west. District No. 2 .-- All county territory north of such line and west of Tippecanoe River. District No. 3 .- All county territory east of Tippecanoe River. At the same time the county and all territory attached thereto were divided into the following townships : Township 25 north, in White County, and all the territory attached thereto to be Prairie Township. Township 26 north, in White County, and all the territory attached thereto to be Big Creek Township. Township 27 north, and all of township 28 west of Tippecanoe River, the same being in White County, and all the territory attached thereto, to be Union Township. All of White County east of Tippecanoe River to be Jackson Township. Elections for Prairie Town- ship ordered held at the house of William Wood, with Solomon Mc- Culloch, Inspector. Those of Big Creek at the house of George A. Spencer, with James Kerr, Inspector. Those of Union Township at the house of Melchi Gray, with James Spencer, Inspector. Those of Jack- son Township at the house of Daniel Dale, with John Scott, Inspector. Cornelius Clark was appointed County Assessor, and George A. Spencer County Treasurer. Clark was also appointed Collector of State and County Revenue. At this time William Sill served as County Clerk and John Wilson, as Sheriff.
At the September term, 1834, the report of the Commissioners appointed to locate the county seat was received, accepted, and the officers were paid $60 and discharged. The full text of this report will be found above.
* Three Commissioners only, of the four or possibly five appointed by the I egislature. met on this occasion.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
At this time John Barr was appointed County Agent. The county revenue due the county was found to be $189. September 16th, the county agent was authorized to lay off the county seat into lots, and ad- vertise and sell a certain number on the 7th of November on the follow- ing terms : One fourth in ninety days from date, the remainder in two annual payments, the purchaser giving good security. In November, a petition signed by twelve freeholders was presented to the board by John Melholland praying that all the attached territory west of White County might be formed into a township to be called Pine. Granted. This territory comprised all of Indiana west of White County to the west line of the State, now constituting the northern part of Benton County and the southern portions of Jasper and Newton Counties. Elections in the new township of Pine were ordered held at the house of E. Thorn- ton, with Matthew Terwillager, Inspector, and Lott Thornton, Constable. An election for Justice of the Peace was ordered for November 29, 1834. Cornelius Clark was appointed County Assessor for 1835, his compensation to be $14.87}. The first petition for a road was received from Big Creek Township, and signed by thirteen freeholders. James Wilson, Samuel Gray and James Kerr were appointed Viewers. This road was to extend from the northwest corner of Section 19, Township 26, Range 3, on the nearest and best route to the county seat. The receipts and expenditures of the county from July 19, 1834, to January 5, 1835, were as follows :
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