USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 4
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 4
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).
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35
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
and S. H. Parks. Meetings continued to be held quite regularly, much interest being manifested, until 1869, when they were abandoned, though they were resumed again in October, 1875, at which time some modifi- cations in the laws were made. Several other intervals when no meet- ing were held have elapsed. The society is at present in a prosperous condition. It has been the custom since the society was first established to hold "clinics" and thoroughly discuss the cases in open debate. Interesting essays on all conceivable medical subjects have been read and discussed with an interest and vigor highly praiseworthy. The result has been to stimulate medical study and investigation, and give each member the benefit of the learning and experience of all his fellows. Some of the subjects discussed were as follows : Cerebro spinal meningi- tis, erysipelas, dysentery, prolapsus ani, endo and pericarditis, chloroform in parturition, Asiatic cholera, typhoid fever, etc. Physicians of other schools, such as Eclectic and Homeopathic, are debarred from becoming members, but it must be said that some of the most successful medical practitioners in the county are graduates of these celebrated schools.
The following is a list of county physicians : L. A. Alford, S. B. Bushnell, R. J. Clark, William Tracy, William Spencer, Caleb Scott, J. B. Burton, S. R. Cowger, H. B. Jones, R. B. Palmer, F. A. Grant, A. J. Dern, Isidore Welte, W. V. Trowbridge, R. M. Delzell, A. P. Men- denhall, D. W. Strouse, A. B. Ballou, M. C. Kent, William Guthrie, John C. Sharrer, T. B. Robinson, D. M. Kelley, J. W. McAllister, W. H. Holtzman, John Medaris, W. K. Briscoe, J. T. Smith, W. J. Baugh, L. W. IIenry, L. Ramsey, H. J. Banta, J. W. Fogg, Mrs. Eliza Barans (midwife), Jane MeKillop (midwife), M. L. Carr, W. W. Wilkerson, S. D. Sluyter, G. R. Clayton, R. R. Ober, Caroline Wittenberg, J. V. Reed, J. A. Wood, S. H. Parks, J. B. Baudle, W. R. Aydelotte, and H. E. Small.
Creation of Townships .- The county was at first divided into Prairie, Big Creek, Union and Jackson Townships on the 19th of July, 1834. The limits of these townships were described a few pages back. Monon was created in January, 1836; Liberty in September, 1837 ; Princeton, March, 1844 ; West Point, June, 1845; Cass, June, 1848 ; Honey Creek, June, 1855; Round Grove, December, 1858. Scarcely a township was created with its present boundaries, but all have been subjected to nu- merous and various alterations, an account of which will be found under the appropriate heads.
County Seat Question .- Citizens in different portions of the county have made efforts from time to time, even as late as fifteen years ago, to either have the county seat located at some other point, or to have a new county formed partly out of White and partly out of several other sur- rounding counties. It was thought to have a county created, the geo-
36
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
graphical center of which would be in Jackson Township, thus transform- ing Idaville or Burnettsville into a county seat, and throwing the county seat of White County eight or ten miles westward. It is not likely that a change of this character will occur; at least the citizens of Monticello would squander their ready money to prevent so dire a disaster to their pecuniary interests.
County Statistics, 1880 .- Acres of wheat, 19,800, bushels, 257,092; acres of corn, 36,888, bushels, 1,035,203 ; acres of oats, 18,884, bushels, 231,176, acres of barley, 34, bushels, 460; acres of rye, 269, bushels, 2,577 ; acres of Irish potatoes, 294, bushels, 16,472 ; acres of tobacco, 9, pounds, 600, acres of buckwheat, 339, bushels, 3,347 ; acres of timothy meadow, 13,704, tons of timothy hay, 16,725 ; bushels of timothy seed, 202 ; acres of clover, 579, bushels of seed, 568 ; acres of flax, 844, bushels of flax- seed, 4,011, tons of straw, 20 ; steam threshers, 12 ; horse-power threshers, 11; bushels of apples, 59,710; bushels of dried apples, 830 ; bushels of pears, 91 ; bushels of peaches, 1,032; pounds of grapes, 20,353 ; gallons of strawberries, 398; gallons of cherries, 1,596 ; stands of bees, 1,239; pounds of honey, 16,724 ; cattle, 14,491; horses, 5,366; mules, 525; hogs, 28,550; sheep, 12,982; gallons of cider, 46,160; gallons of vinegar, 5,202; gallons of wine, 81; gallons of sorghum molasses, 4,956; gallons of maple molasses, 40; pounds of butter, 217,522; dozens of eggs, 134,482; pounds of feath- ers, 1,846 ; township teachers' Institutes held, 41 (1881) ; male teachers, 82 ; female teachers, 42 ; brick schoolhouses, 1 ; frame schoolhouses, 107 ; value of schoolhouses and grounds, $92,500 ; volumes of township libraries, 1,148 ; number of private schools, 15; common and congressional school fund, $55,153.75 ; cubic feet of sandstone quarried, 153 ; cubic feet of lime- stone quarried, 162.
Population .- In 1830, probably 40 ; in 1840, 1,832; in 1850, 4,761; in 1860, 8,258; in 1870, 10,554 ; in 1880, 13,747; as follows : Union, 2,213 ; Round Grove and White Post, 1,635; Jackson, 1,724; Cass and Liberty, 1,785; Monon, 1,172; Honey Creek, 902; Big Creek, 776; Prairie, 2,144, Princeton, 1,396.
Old Settlers' Association .- The first organized gathering of the old set- tlers of White County took place at the grove of George Spencer in Big Creek Township in the autumn of 1858. Many were present and a pleasant day was spent, though the details can not be given. The follow- ing year the second meeting was held at the same place, and of this meet- ing, also, there are no existing records. The meeting of September 8, 1860, was held at the same place, several hundreds of the oldest residents being present. George A. Spencer was made President ; Thomas Spen- cer, John Roberts and W. M. Kenton, Vice-Presidents; Lucius Pierce, Marshal, and J. J. Barnes, Secretary. Rev. H. C. McBride, Hon.
37
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
Charles Test and Alfred Reed addressed the assemblage, reviewing in outline the history of the county, the mingled hardships and joys of earlier years, and extolling the hardy courage of the pioneers. A fine dinner was enjoyed, and the remainder of the day was spent in narrating personal experiences of the first settlement. It is quite likely that no further meetings were held until the present association was formed, as the war came on and engrossed the public mind.
Pursuant to notice, a large meeting of old settlers was held at the court- house in Monticello, Saturday, August 16, 1873. C. W. Kendall was elected temporary Chairman, and O. S. Dale, Secretary. The permanent officers elected were Alfred Reed, President ; C. W. Kendall, Secretary, and Israel Nordyke, Treasurer ; Peter Price, William Burns, Robert Rothrock, Solomon McCully, Noah Davis, Thomas Downey, Samuel Smelcer, Nathaniel Rogers, John Burns, Joseph McBeth, Joseph H. Thomp- son, William Jourdan and Austin Ward, Vice-Presi.lents. It was de- cided that persons living in the county twenty-one years should be consid- ered old settlers. A meeting was then fixed for the 25th of September, and a suitable program prepared. The procession formed at the court-house on the day stated, and marched to the Fair Ground, where miscellaneous services were enjoyed. The meeting of 1874 was held at Reynold's Grove near Monticello, as was that of 1875 and of 1876. At the latter meeting a long historical address was read by Milton M. Sill. Meetings have been held annually since. It has been customary to procure some speaker from abroad ; but the most interesting and valuable features of the meet- ings are the personal reminiscences of the old settlers .* The usual pro- gram is something like this : 1. Music by the band. 2. Prayer. 3. Reading of Minutes. 4. Music by the old settlers' choir. 5. Calling roll of old settlers. 6. Picnic dinner. 7. Old songs. 8. Historical and mis- cellaneous addresses. 9. Election of officers. 10. Annual address. 11. Social enjoyment. 12. Adjournment. The total membership since 1873 has been 340. The officers for the ensuing year (1882-3) are: Presi- dent, B. K. Roach ; Vice-Presidents, Charles Reid, Sen., George Cullen, Thomas Barnes, Jesse L. Watson, D. M. Tilton, C. C. Spencer, John Gay, Stewart Rariden, Anderson Irion, Isaac M. Davis and Aaron Wood ; Secretary, A. R. Orton ; Treasurer, W. B. Spencer.
Educational Statistics .- In 1840 there was but one established school
* It is a serious mistake that the incidents of early days, as narrated at these meetings, are not carefully preserved. What will the descendants of the old settlers think, fifty years hence, of the fact that an old settlers' meeting was held, for instance, in 1880? They won't care a straw for such knowledge. They will want the stories told by you, and you-the actual and detailed experiences of their grandfathers. They will want your deer stories, your Indian stories, your stories of priva- tion, descriptions of schools, churches, domestic experiences, journeys to mill and to town-not of such things in general, but what you actually saw and passed through. By all means old settlers should see that such things are recorded. If necessary a competent clerk could 1 e hired
38
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
in White County, and that was at Monticello. Schools had been taught in other places, notably in Prairie Township, but no schoolhouses had been erected where steady or regular schools were taught. The first Teachers' Institute was held in 1866 with an attendance of 82. In 1865 there were 76 teachers, and two graded schools with five teachers. The first graded school was taught by George Bowman in 1848-9. In 1878 there were 4,590 school children ; in 1868 there were 3,673, and in 1852 there were in Township 27, Range 3, 394; T. 28, R. 3, 213; T. 27, R. 2, 303; T. 27, R. 5, 113 ; T. 26, R. 3, 146; T. 28, R. 4, 142; T. 25, R. 2, 118 ; T. 25, R. 3, 148 ; T. 25, R. 4, 197 ; T. 26, R. 4, 117. The net amount of school tax in 1851 was $822.45. In March, 1853, the surplus revenue was $2,125; interest, $166.41; total, $2,291.41 ; expense from this fund, $145.16.
Report for the year ending April 30, 1856:
Number of Children.
Total School Fund.
Prairie.
466
$ 548.86
Big Creek
211
458.63
Union
523
377.90
Monon
342
397.45
Liberty
269
278.70
Jackson.
374
317.78
Princeton
169
159.39
West Point
138
324.46
Cass
138
195.41
Honey Creek
76
113.21
Tota
2706
$3,371.79
In 1878 there were seven graded schools with twelve teachers. At the same time there were 124 teachers in the county ; also 102 school- houses. Per cent. of children enrolled in the schools in 1878 was 83. Number of children not attending school, 762. Number of teachers in 1877, 113. Number of schoolhouses in 1853, 25. Amount of congres- sional school fund held in trust in 1878, $35,570.96. Estimated value of school property, $91,850. Estimated value of school apparatus, $2,015. Estimated special school tax, $11,079.50. Number of volumes in town- ship library, 1,356. Number of private schools taught in public, 20. Number of township institutes during the year (1878), 45. Amount of common school fund held in trust in 1878, $13,983.26. Annual revenue from liquor license, $700. Tuition revenue for schools, $7,688.86. Whole number of teachers licensed-males, 147, females, 103. Number rejected, 80. Attendance at one county institute, 178. Two Normal Institutes- enrollment at Monticello, 46, at Burnettsville, 144. Average daily attendance of children in the county schools, 2,423. Number of brick schoolhouses, 1. Number of school children in 1880, 4,514.
RECAPITULATION OF TAXES FOR THE YEAR 1882.
TOWNSHIPS.
Acres.
Value of Lands.
Value of Improve- ments.
Value of Lands and Value of Improve- Lots. ments.
Value of
Total Value of Property. Taxables
Polls.
State Tax.
School Tax.
Prairie ...
42220.22
$545184
$124970
$670154
$ ..
$176235
$846389
319
$1174 76
$1513 18
$4549 27
Big Creek
27932.17
348917
56690
405607
1055
2840
143852
553354
160
743 24
964 32
2923 50
Union ..
22536.68
335537
69680
405217
670
2145
115440
523472
170
713 04
922 38
2786 82
Monon ..
39925.34
372480
65345
437825
435
50
113547
551857
150
737 08
957 76
2908 56
Liberty.
20783 81
145095
43585
188680
....
...
67950
25 630
192
403 73
506 20
1474 20
Jackson.
22621.22
248645
46060
294705
1630
123181
436201
235
640 69
815 18
2414 95
Princeton .
39711.56
412047
55600
467647
5615
16685 21410
135 :42
630014
228
869 48
1121 32
3375 85
West Point.
34214 23
244045
26350
270405
89125
359530
1+8
514 87
658 50
1963 30
Cass ..
22904.86
97935
20180
118115
...
31445
149560
104
231 44
291 27
851 72
Honey Creek.
22370.90
175820
17430
193250
...
...
..
68065
243445
157
370 34
467 62
1373 01
Monticello Corporation.
23.89
17305
10375
27680
69320
135385
144461
376846
245
574 20
724 78
2127 12
Brookston Corporation
99.93
13114
1255
14369
7460
17435
29489
68753
57
110 86
138 32
400 18
Burne.tsville Corp.
94.63
10772
2265
13037
2875
10445
20348
46705
59
85 41
104 01
291 95
Monon
Total
318279.45
3125611
556460
3682071
127704
272630
1390793
5473198
2463
7794 54
9982 26
29809 08
TOWNSHIPS.
Road Tax.
Township Tax
Special School Tax.
Tuition Tax.
New State House 'lax.
Total Amount of Taxes.
Ditch Tax.
Delinquent Taxes.
Penalty and Interest.
Total, in- cluding De- linquents
Prairie.
$2753 13
$423 03
$1348 83
$2194 88
$169 22
$14126 30
$. $1062 84
$194 01
$15383 15
Big Creek
1701 75
276 35
1105 40
1295 95
110 54
9121 05
1474 96
268 08
10>64 09
Union ..
1386 72
261 68
773 95
1289 95
104 66
8239 20
1439 45
385 37
10064 02
Monon ..
1679 28
551 76
880 79
1150 05
110 38
8978 66
165 66
1321 03
253 73
10696 08
Liberty ..
1025 10
384 65
683 04
731 04
51 29
5259 35
490 23
1629 12
235 32
7614 02
Jackson
1341 98
436 00
878 76
1098 46
87 0
7713 12
236 43
529 61
82 81
8561 97
Princeton.
2029 92
314 78
1259 14
1573 92
125 92
10670 33
:607 87
264 39
12542 :9
West Point.
1054 12
359 06
538 60
897 66
71 82
6057 93
132 00
959 28
173 70
7322 91
Cass ..
507 08
149 53
448 63
224 31
30 08
2734 06
189 68
669 25
141 31
3734 30
Honey Creek
752 60
241 84
598 92
479 14
48 36
4155 18
109 00
717 49
170 80
5152 47
Round Grove ..
922 01
€08 01
1294 52
486 42
48 €4
5570 57
651 94
118 58
6341 09
Monticello ..
75 29
6237 93
1397 97
:39 36
7975 24
Brookston ...
26, 10
159 06
21 20
1418 46
800 96
405 39
2624 81
Reynolds ..
177 23
70 91
13 73
911 23
296 56
109 36
1317 15
Burnettsville
93 18
69 88
9 31
653 77
96 49
17 79
768 05
Monon.
187 34
140 51
16 42
1128 29
3:6 52
53 50
1518 31
Total
15153 69
4006 69
12313 99
12818 12
1094 06
92972 43
1323 00
14991 34
3193 48
112480 25
.....
28019
48655
29350
106024
73
163 74
206 16
603 20
Round Grove.
22840.01
158705
16675
175380
10625
17580
54030
82235
72
134 46
167 28
482 28
18933
242183
74
327 20
423 95
1283 17
Reynolds Corporation
..
...
...
3.9
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
1780 56
955 98
Value of ! Improve- Personal ments.
40
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
County Commissioners .- Ira Bacon, Daniel McCombs and Robert Newell, 1834; Daniel Dale appointed November, 1834, vice McCombs re- signed; Robert Newell, 1835; James Gay appointed May, 1836, vice Ira Bacon resigned; James K. Wilson, 1836; William W. Mitchell, 1837; William Wood, 1838; John Young, 1839; James H. Hiett, 1840; Ransom McConnahay, 1841 ; Allen Barnes appointed November, 1841, vice Hiett resigned; C. D. W. Scott, 1842; James Kerr appointed Septem- ber, 1842; Allen Barnes, 1843; James Shafer, 1844; J. H. Wilson, 1845; Solomon McCulley, 1846; Samuel Smelcer, 1847 ; James P. Moore, 1848; Jefferson Courtney, 1849; Solomon McCulley appointed 1850, vice Courtney removed from the District; James K. Wilson, 1851; Christopher Vandeventer, 1852; Andrew Hannah, 1853; J. K. Wilson, 1854; S. K. Timmons, 1855; Thomas Downey, 1856; William H. King appointed spring of 1857; George Cullen, 1858; Anderson Irions, 1859; A. M. Dickinson, 1860; George Cullen, 1861; James Hays, 1862; A. M. Dickinson, 1863; James Renwick, 1864; Samuel Smelcer, 1865; Christopher Hardy, 1866; John G. Timmons, 1867; Theodore J. Davis, 1868 ; James C. Gress, 1869; Thomas Downey, 1870; John Parrish, 1871; A. M. Dickinson, 1872; John Parrish, 1873; Martin R. Cartmell, 1874; David L. Fisher, 1875; Jacob Pfister, 1876; Nelson Hornbeck, 1877; Jacob Pfister, 1878; John T. Barnes, 1879; John Q. Beam, 1880 ; John T. Barnes, 1881; Eli W. Cowger, 1882; Alfred C. Tamm, 1882.
Treasurers .- George A. Spencer, 1834; Asa Allen .appointed May, 1838; Peter Price, 1841 (bond $2,000); Isaac Reynolds, 1841; Dr. Randolph Brearly, 1844; Jonathan Harbolt, 1845; James C. Reynolds, 1848; R. W. Sill, 1850; Jonathan P. Ritchie, 1852; William Russell, 1854; Michael A. Berkey, 1856; John E. Dale, 1858; William E. Samuel- son appointed July, 1861 (bond $10,000); Albert Kingsbury, 1862; Jo- seph Rothrock, 1862; Granville B. Ward, 1866; Joseph Rothrock, 1868; Israel Nordyke, 1872; John Faris, 1876; Madison F. Didlake, 1880 (bond $100,000).
Sheriffs .- Aaron Hicks, 1834; John Wilson, 1834; James Parker, 1836; Daniel M. Tilton appointed 1839, vice Parker, resigned; James C. Reynolds, 1842 ; Elisha Warden, 1844 ; Robert W. Sill, 1848 ; Michael A. Berkey, 1852 ; Henry C. Kirk, 1854 ; William Wright, 1858 ; Ma- thew Henderson, 1860; Milton M. Sill, 1864; Mathew Henderson, 1868; W. E. Saunderson, 1870; Enoch J. Denham, 1874; Irwin Greer, 1874 ; James Hay, 1878 ; Joseph W. Stewart, 1882.
Auditors .- William Sill, 1834; Thomas M. Thompson, 1846; J. D. Cowdin, 1853; William Russell, 1855 (died 1856); Joseph D. Cowdin, 1856 ; Thomas Bushnell, 1861; George Uhl, 1869 ; Henry Van Voorst, 1876.
41
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
Recorders .- William Sill, 1834; T. M. Thompson, 1846 ; Hugh B. Logan, 1856; John S. Hurtt, 1862; William W. McCulloch, 1866; Rufus L. Harvey, 1874.
Clerks .- William Sill, 1834; Ransom McConnahay, 1848 ; Orlando McConnahay, 1858; Daniel D. Dale, 1866; G. W. Lawrence, 1874 ; Samuel P. Cowger, 1878.
Coroners .- John Wilson, 1834; Thomas R. Dawson, 1836 ; Peter Price, 1837 ; Jonathan Harbolt, 1840 ; George Snyder, 1844 ; George R. Bartley, 1846 ; Joseph Day, 1848; Joseph Phillips, 1850; Richard Worthington, 1852 ; William Parcels, 1858 ; Charles Kahler, 1862 ; Zach- ariah Van Buskirk, 1865; William P. Montgomery, 1867 ; R. M. Delzell, 1870 ; L. W. Henry, 1874 ; John Yopst, 1876; R. J. Clark, 1880.
Surveyors .- Asa Allen, 1838 ; Joshua Lindsey, 1842 ; J. Odell, 1850 ; J. D. Cowden, 1854; William G. Hicks, 1855 ; Thomas Kennedy, 1856 ; W. E. Saunderson, 1857 ; Alfred R. Orton, 1858 ; Milton M. Sill, 1859 ; Nathaniel Shadbolt, 1861; David Mahoney, 1863; John Kious, 1865 ; Edgar P. Henry, 1870; Charles Archer, 1874 ; F. J. Edwards, 1876 ; Thomas M. Foltz, 1878 ; A. R. Orton, 1880.
School Examiners .- James Kerr, 1836; N. Bunnell, 1838 ; Jonathan Harbolt, 1839 ; Charles W. Kendall, 1845; James Kerr, 1846; Charles Dodge, 1848 ; Jonathan Harbolt, 1849 ; George D. Miller, 1856; Robert Irwin, 1856; Joseph Baldwin, 1858 ; E. R. Herman, 1860; J. T. Rich- ardson, 1861 ; George Bowman, 1861 ; William P. Koutz, 1862; William Hanawalt, 1864 ; George Bowman, 1865; William Irelan, 1865 ; S. B. Seawright, 1868 ; D. E. P. Henry, 1868; Rev. Gilbert Small, 1870 ; George Bowman, first Superintendent, 1873; William Irelan, 1875; George Bowman, 1877; William Guthrie, 1882.
Assessors .- Cornelius Clark, 1835; Malachi Gray, 1835; R. A. Spencer, 1836; Isaac N. Parkes, 1837; Asa Allen, 1838; Malachi Gray, 1839; Asa Allen, 1840; W. W. Mitchell, 1840; Abraham Snea- then, 1845 ; Joseph Rothrock, 1846 ; William Orr, 1847 ; David McCon- nahay, 1849; Zachariah Van Buskirk, 1850-51.
County Agents .- John Barr, 1834; William M. Kenton, 1839 ; Samuel Rifenberrick, 1841 ; Jacob Beck, 1841 ; Samuel Rifenberrick, 1842-53.
Three Per cent. Commissioners .- Zebulon Sheets, 1834 ; Mahlon Fra- zee, 1838 ; David Berkey, 1839 ; Mahlon Frazee, 1841 ; Zebulon Sheets, 1843-53.
Seminary Trustees .- Jonathan Harbolt, 1834-54.
Circuit Judges .- John R. Porter, 1834 ; Isaac Naylor, 1838 ; John Wright, 1842 ; Horace P. Beddle, 1846 ; John U. Pettit, 1852 ; Charles H. Test, 1858 ; Bernard B. Dailey, 1875 ; John H. Gould, 1876.
42
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
Associate Judges .- James Barnes and Thomas Wilson, 1834 ; Thomas McCormick, 1841; James Barnes, 1841.
Probate Judges .- Robert Newell, 1834 (died in office) ; Aaron Hicks, 1846. (In 1853 probate matters were transferred to the Common Pleas Court).
Common Pleas Judges .- Samuel Huff, 1853 ; Gustavus Wood, 1854; David P. Vinson, 1862 ; Alfred Reed, 1867; B. F. Schermerhorn, 1869. (In 1873 the court was merged into the Circuit Court.)
Politics .- For the first few years after the county was organized, poli- tics was in more or less of a chaotic state. Families were so isolated and usually in such poor circumstances, that far weightier matters than the selection of political rulers engrossed in a great measure individual attention, and prevented any regularity of attendance at the polls. It was also soon found that the two principal parties of that day were so nearly equal, numerically, that any speculation as to the results of an election was like guessing at the weather of the following week. Some- times one party triumphed and sometimes the other. Then again our fathers (peace to their ashes !) were inveterate ' "scratchers," voting almost invariably at local elections for the man, and not for the party. It has been learned, though all the early election returns could not be found, that the county soon assumed a decided Democratic tendency. As will be seen from the table at the close of this chapter, the county, at the Presidential election in 1836, went Whig by a majority of three. But both before and after this election, Democratic majorities much greater than three were frequent. It was not long ere the question of slavery began to enter the political contests in the county, and soon there was developed a small band of Abolitionists, too few in numbers to render it advisable to attempt any organized action. The proceedings in Congress, and the attitudes of the north and south, were not lost to the carnest hearts which felt the pressure of the national disgrace. As the years passed and the full magnitude of the evil became wretchedly ap- parent, the political fires began to flame more fiercely, and the bitter mutterings of wrath began to engender protracted individual animosities. Through the decade of the '40s, especially near its close, keen and uni- versal interest was manifested in the results of the struggle over the exten- sion of slave territory. This interest led to very heavy returns at all the elections. Still the Democratic majority continued to increase. The repeal of the Missouri compromise, however, came near losing the county to the Democracy, a result that would surely have happened had it not been for the influence of the Democratic county newspaper, which scat- tered over the county its pen pictures of the disgrace of " nigger equality." The Republican party sprang into life, securing its members from the
43
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
younger, more progressive and better elements of both old parties, and began in its youth, Theseus like, with such strength as to compel the Democracy to put forth its utmost efforts, or submit to defeat. At last, in 1860, when the " Irrepressible Conflict " could no longer be avoided, the county went Republican by a fair majority, and continued to do so until 1882, when the Democracy again secured the ascendency. The hard times growing out of the war gave birth to the Greenback party, which continues to thrive, its present county strength being about 150. Thus is seen a panoramic view of the politics of White County since its organization.
The following tables, which well illustrate the political aspect of the county, were obtained after much trouble :
NOVEMBER, 1836.
NOVEMBER, 1840.
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRAT. Van Buren and Johnson.
WHIG. Harrison and Granger.
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRAT. Van Buren and Johnson.
WHIG. Harrison and Tyler.
Union
53
56
Prairie
12
48
Jackson
26
2
Monon .
12
1
Big Creek
7
12
Prairie
8
38
Total.
106
109
The remainder of the vote of 1840 could not be found; neither could the vote of 1844.
NOVEMBER, 1848.
NOVEMBER, 1852.
TOWNSHIPS.
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRATIC.
and
King
WHIG. Scott
and
Graham.
FREE SOIL.
Hale
and
Julian.
Prairie.
56
50
11
Union. .
134
145
2
Big Creek.
15
42
3
Big Creek
46
64
Union.
87
56
13
Prairie. .
91
106
4
Liberty
42
20
5
West Point
20
12
Monon
34
16
0
Princeton
24
29
...
Jackson
39
52
Monon
67
42
1
Princeton
11
22
Liberty
50
36
1
West Point
8
5
Cass .
29
13
Cass
13
5
Jackson.
75
63
3
Total
305
268
34
Total
536
510
13
DEMOCRATIC.
Cass
and
Butler.
WHIG.
Taylor
and
Fillmore.
FREE SOIL.
Van Buren
and
Adams.
Pierce
44
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
NOVEMBER, 1856.
NOVEMBER, 1860.
DEMOCRATIC.
Buchanan
Breckenridge.
REPUBLICAN
and
Dayton.
AMERICAN
Fillmore
Donaldson.
REPUBLICAN.
Lincoln
Hamlin.
Douglas
Johnson.
DEMOCRATIC.
Breckenridge
Lane.
Bell
and
Everett.
Union
148
124
3
Big Creek
48
64
·
Prairie .
188
157
37
6
Prairie.
171
164
1
West Point
22
32
3
Princeton.
93
45
1
Princeton
39
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