USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 8
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 8
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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
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEENTH INFANTRY.
These men were recruited at Lafayette and mustered in in August,
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
1863. It moved first to Dearborn near Detroit, Michigan, to guard the U. S. arsenal. In September it moved to Kentucky. In October it fought the rebels at Blue Springs, and again in December at Walker's Ford. It waded the river there under a heavy musketry fire, and took a position to check the enemy until other troops had crossed the river. Afterward the fighting was severe. After doing much arduous guard and fatigue duty the regiment moved to Indianapolis, thence to Lafayette, where it was mustered out. Its term of service was six months.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.
This regiment was recruited during the fall and winter of 1863, and rendezvoused at Michigan City. It was mustered in March 18, 1864, and took the field first at Nashville, Tenn. Later it marched to the front at Charleston. It marched on the Atlanta campaign, fighting at Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, and Jonesboro. It moved in pursuit of Hood, and joined the army of Gen. Thomas. It skirmished six days near Columbia, and fought at Franklin, and later at Nashville, and joined in pursuit of Hood. The regiment moved to Virginia, then to North Carolina, then to Newbern. The enemy was encountered at Wise's Fork, and two days' skirmishing resulted. Here the regiment lost severely. It was not mustered out until early in 1866.
WHITE COUNTY'S ROLL OF HONOR .*
Ninth Infantry .- Charles H. Allison, died of disease, December, 1861; Horatio B. Best, died of disease at Gallatin, September, 1862; Daniel Davisson, died at Nashville, November, 1862; Josephus Davisson, died at Medarysville, Ind., February, 1865; Jesse E. Davisson, died at Nashville, December, 1862; George W. Faris, died at Cheat Mountain, December, 1861 ; William Gibbs, died at Readyville, Tenn., April, 1863 ; William McDaniels, died at Elkwater, Va., October, 1861; William Lewzader, died of wounds received at Kenesaw, July, 1864; Francis M. Elston, captured at Chickamauga, died in Andersonville Prison; Daniel Phillips, died at home, May, 1862; Thomas F. Prevoe, died at Nashville, Febru- ary, 1863; William M. Robey, died at Cheat Mountain, December, 1861; A. M. Scott, captured at Chickamauga, died in Andersonville, August, 1864 ; Charles Wilson, killed at Buffalo Mountain, December, 1861.
Twelfth Infantry .-- Washington Custer, died at Grand Junction, Tenn., February, 1863 ; John W. Burnell, killed by fall from a building,
* This record is made out from the Adjutant General's Reports and is the best that can be given.
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
July, 1863 ; Samuel R. Burnell, died at Camp Sherman, Miss., August, 1863 ; George W. Colvin, died at Grand Junction, Tenn., March, 1863 ; Henry II. Coshon, died at Camp Sherman, Miss., September, 1863; George Davis, died at Grand Junction, Tenn., February, 1863; Silas Dern, died at Grand Junction, Tenn., February, 1863 ; Frank Eldridge, died at Grand Junction, March, 1863; James T. French, died at Troy, 0., March, 1864; Joseph Fisher, died at Scottsboro, Ala., January, 1864; Oliver B. Glasscock, died at Scottsboro, Ala., May, 1864; John G. Irelan, died at Memphis, April, 1863 ; Hampton D. Johnson, died at Grand Junction, March, 1863; Isaac E. Jones, died at Grand Junction, Fenn., January, 1863; Robert T. Little, killed near Atlanta, July, 1864 ; Samuel D. McIntire, killed at Richmond, Ky., August, 1862; Benjamin McCormick, killed at Richmond, Ky., August, 1862 ; William Skivington, killed at Mission Ridge, November, 1863; Harvey E. Scott, killed near Atlanta, July, 1864; John E. Tedford, died at Nashville, March, 1865; Jacob Vanscoy, killed at Mission Ridge, November, 1863: Samuel Dickey, killed at Atlanta, August, 1864; Elihu B. Miller, died of wounds, September, 1862; Joseph H. Rook, died of wounds at Richmond, Ky., November, 1862; Francis M. Reed, died at Scottsboro, March, 1864, Jolin Shigley, killed at Resaca, Ga., May, 1864.
Thirteenth Infantry .- Daniel Utsler, died of wounds received at Petersburg, June, 1864.
Twentieth Infantry .- Second Lieutenant John C. Bartholomew, died of wounds, May, 1864; Nathaniel W. Brunnel, died of wounds received at Gettysburg ; Robert Duncan, killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June, 1864 ; James W. Dyer, killed at Gettysburg, July, 1863 ; Abraham Dawson, died at Philadelphia, September, 1862 ; John M. Dobbins, died at Phila- delphia, August, 1862.
Thirty-fifth Infantry .- James Bowley, died at Bull's Gap, April, 1865.
Forty-sixth Infantry .- Joseph Adams, died at St. Louis, April, 1862; David Bishop, died at Lexington, Ky., February, 1865; Edward M. Brous, died at New Madrid, Mo., March, 1862; Isaac Briner, died of wounds received at Vicksburg, June, 1863 ; Joshua T. Colvin, died in prison at Tyler, Texas, December, 1864 ; William R. Clouse, killed at Sabine Roads, April, 1864 ; Daniel Crummer, died at Milliken's Bend, May, 1863; John B. Crummer, died at Grand Gulf, Miss., May, 1863; David A. Debra, died at Bardstown. Ky., February, 1862 ; Ed- ward Folk, died at Tyler, Texas, April, 1864; William J. Kendall, died at St. Louis, June, 1863; Robert C. Henderson, died at Evansville, Ind., April, 1862; John D. Herman, died at Burnettsville, July, 1862 ; James Hastings, died in rebel prison ; Josiah Mitz, died at Helena, Ark.,
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
February, 1863 ; Randolph Meredith, died at New Orleans, January, 1862; George W. Smith, killed at Champion Hills, May, 1863 ; John Meredith, died while prisoner, July, 1864; Martin V. Wiley, died at Burnettsville, April, 1862; J. K. M. Wood, drowned at Memphis, June, 1864.
Eighty-seventh Infantry .- George W. Bare, died at Bowling Green, Ky., December, 1862 ; John A. Dunnick, died at Gallatin, June, 1863; Richard B. Herman, died at Nashville, March, 1863 ; Willis H. Kelley, died at Nashville, April, 1863.
Ninetieth Infantry .- Joseph Alexander, died in Andersonville Pris- on, Ga., August, 1864 ; Henry C. Iron, died at Mt. Vernon, Ind., Jan- uary, 1863; Peter Lawrence, died at Mt. Vernon, Ind., January, 1863.
Ninety-ninth Infantry .- Thomas H. Calvin, died at LaGrange, Tenn., February, 1863; Stephen B. Gould, died at LaGrange, Tenn., March, 1864 ; John W. Hughes, killed at Kenesaw, June, 1864 ; Alexander Herron, died of wounds, September, 1864; Archibald McLean, died at St. Louis, Mo., December, 1862; Nathaniel Matthews, drowned near Helena, Ark., October, 1863; Lemuel E. Newell, drowned near Helena, Ark., June, 1863 ; John P. Russell, died on hospital boat, October, 1863.
One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Infantry .- Captain James G. Staley, killed in action at Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864; First Lieu- tenant W. E. Brown, died of wounds received in action, March 11, 1865 ; Monroe Burnett, died at Salisbury, N. C., September, 1863; Josiah Hatfield, died at Brookston, Ind., April, 1864; Thomas Hawkins, died at Jeffersonville, Ind., April, 1864; A. S. Hazen, died at Knoxville, Tenn., August, 1864; Samuel A. Hutchins, died at Nashville, Tenn., September, 1864; Joseph Karnes, died at Andersonville, Ga., August, 1864; John S. Layman, died in An- dersonville Prison, July, 1864; Leslie B. Meeker, died at Wol- cott's Mills, January, 1864; James Nichols, died at Knoxville, August, 1864 ; Daniel Nichols, died at Knoxville, August, 1864 ; John Price, died at Louisville, Ky., July, 1864; Joshua J. Shields, died in Andersonville Prison, July, 1864 ; Elijah Tolberd, died at Knoxville, Tenn., January, 1864 ; John Voris, died at Nashville, April, 1864.
One Hundred and Forty-second Infantry .- Andrew J. Foutz, died at Nashville, March, 1865; Daniel Shafer, died at Nashville, February, 1865.
One Hundred and Fifty-first Infantry .- Henry C. Davis, died at Nashville, July, 1865 ; Samuel W. Irvin, died at Indianapolis, March, 1865.
Twelfth Cavalry .- Robert Beaver, died at Murfreesboro, January, 1865 ; Thomas Gibson, died at Mobile, Ala., April, 1864 ; Leonard
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UNION TOWNSHIP.
Hastings, died at Memphis, September, 1865; Robert N. Perfect, died at Kendallville, Ind., March, 1864; R. Skinner, died at Murfreesboro, March, 1865.
Re-union of 1881 .- A soldiers' re-union was held at Monticello on the 28th, 29th and 30th of September, 1881, on which occasion not less than 10,000 persons were present. Ex-soldiers were there from all the neigh- boring counties, and even from quite distant points. E. R. Brown, of Winamac, addressed the meeting on the first day, and Gen. Manson on the second day. During the first two days, the time was passed much after the fashion while in actual service, camps being formed, and the boys passing the hours in recounting their varied experiences. The last day was the day of the re-union. Military evolutions were enjoyed in the forenoon, and in the afternoon the sham battle took place. The Un- ion forces were defeated. It was one of the most enjoyable times ever passed in Monticello.
CHAPTER III.
BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.
UNION TOWNSHIP-EARLY OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS-THE COMING OF THE PIONEERS -MT. WALLESTON - MANUFACURIES - MONTICELLO FOUNDED -MERCHANDISING-MILLS AND KINDRED INDUSTRIES- PRESENT BUSINESS MEN-BANKING - INCORPORATIONS - NEWSPA- PERS-SECRET SOCIETIES-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-NOTES.
" The olden times have passed away, And in the clearing by the wood, Fair Architecture builds to-day Proud mansions where the cabin stood, And cities lift their domes and spires Where hunters struck their lon camp-fires." -Sarah T. Bolton, August, 1880.
U NION TOWNSHIP was created at the first session of the court of County Commissioners in 1834, and at that time included all of White County west of the Tippecanoe River, and north of the line divid - ing Townships 25 and 26 north, together with the attached territory. of what now constitutes the counties of Newton and Jasper, and the western portion of Pulaski. This large township, which was almost wholly uninhabited, remained intact until the erection of Monon Town- ship in January, 1836, when the present township of that name and all the attached territory on the north and northwest were given a separate organization. Afterward, as will be seen elsewhere in this volume, other territory was stricken off until Union took its present size and shape.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
Early Elections .- The first elections held in Union Township, owing to the probable fact that the records have not been preserved, cannot be given in these pages. Such returns may be in the Clerk's office, but if so, they have been misplaced. An act of the State Legislature of that day permitted the citizens of a county to vote at any precinct within its limits, though no correctional provision to prevent what is now known as "repeating" seems to have been made. Perhaps our fathers were so hon- orable that no such provision was necessary. As the emoluments of office then were mainly nominal, there seems to have been no inducement for corrupt and criminal practices in the election of public servants. It is stated that the elections were attended principally for social intercourse, and that officers were elected more as a matter of form, or as a measure to anticipate possible duties, than as a necessity for the public good. It fre- quently happened that an entire term of office would expire without the commission of a single official act. It was a common thing in early years for officers to serve with the understanding that the compensation for so doing should be the settlement of their tax. Many attended elections solely to enjoy a holiday, get acquainted with their neighbors, swap horses or oxen, shoot at a mark for the whisky, or some other reason equally as trivial. It remained for subsequent years to develop the passion for political log-rolling-a very different kind of log-rolling from that prac- ticed by the old settlers.
On the day of the creation of Union Township (July 19, 1834), the County Commissioners appointed the following officers for the new town- ship : Peter Price and Elias Louther, Overseers of the Poor; Samuel Gray, Sr., and James Johnson, Fence Viewers ; William Wilson, Road Super- visor. At the same time, an election of one Justice of the Peace was or- dered held on the first Monday of the following August. Joshua Lind- sey was elected. Melchi Gray became Inspector of Elections in Union Township in May, 1835. Nothing further of the elections of 1835 and the early part of 1836 can be given.
Election of November, 1836 .- At the Presidential election held at Monticello, November, 1836, the following men voted : Oliver Ham- mond, John Brady, Salmon Sherwood, Thomas R. Dawson, G. R. Bartley, William Price, Samuel Shanahan, James Haight, Melchi Gray, W. M. Kenton, Robert Newell, Isaac N. Parker, Zebulon Sheets, Row- land Hughes, John Roberts, Asa Allen, Philip Davis, James Barnes, Stephen Bunnell, Peter Price, Jacob Miser, Zebulon Dyer, Ashford Parker, M. H. Rayhill, Patrick Sullivan, John Ferguson, John Wilson, William Kane, Amos Cooper, John L. Stump, Alexander Redding, Joseph Naylor, Peter Foust, Andrew Ferguson, John Beaver, Lemuel Davis, William Reese, Samuel Gray, M. A. Berkey, James Downey,
PETER PRICE. ( DECEASED.)
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UNION TOWNSHIP.
Philip Wolverton, Anthony Foust, H. L. Gray, Simon Kenton, Chris- ton Carroll, Thomas Downey, George Stump, Alexander Nelson, Sam- uel Hendson, Lewis Elson, Hannibal Parcel, John Killgore, Lewis Dawson, Joseph Harr, Thomas Macklin, Samuel Beaver, Daniel Mur- ray, Levi Wolverton, George Burgett, John Humes, John Cabler, Joshua Rinker, James Parker, John McNeary, Randolph Brearley, Joseph Skidmore, Ranson MeConahay, Robert A. Spencer, Peter Martin, Samuel Smith, John Courtney, William Smith, John Reams, Thomas Spencer, David Burkey, John Reese, Benjamin Watkins, James K. Wilson, James Gray, Daniel Phillips, Daniel Dale, James Johnson, Joshua Lindsey, Jeremiah Fisher, Jacob Owens, Isaac Busey, John T. Busey, Joshua Rogers, Robert Scott, William Crigg, Jonathan Johnson, Charles Wright, Willis Wright, Joseph Shafer, Samuel Rifenberrick, L. S. Rothrock, John Phillips, John Reynolds, Jacob Pitzer, James Spencer, Henry Baum, William Sill, John Burns, William Donahue, Thomas Holaday, Silas Goldsbury, Archer Dyer, Adam P. Shigley, Levi Johnson, Jacob Cowger.
The First Settler .- It is probable that Peter Price was the first perma- nent settler in what is now Union Township. He appeared in the town- ship (or rather what afterward became the township) in 1831, and erected a small log cabin on the old homestead just west of Monticello. Hun- dreds of Indians were then encamped in small detachments along the Tip- pecanoe River, and frequently called on begging expeditions to the cabin. The whole country was extremely wild. Deer were seen every day. Wolves ran over the prairies in search of prey. There seemed to be twice as much water as at present. Tippecanoe River was much larger than now, and contained five times as many fish. The most noticeable feature, however, was the almost entire absence of white people. George Barkely came soon after Peter Price, and then, as nearly as can be learned, the Rothrocks, Zebulon Sheets, the Cowgers and others came, though this was two or three years later. During the years 1834 and 1835, many came in, generally selecting the land along the river, because of its free- dom from standing water and because of the presence of timber. The water-power of the river also attracted attention. The Tippecanoe (al- ways a beautiful river) was declared navigable, and pirogues and large rafts of logs were often seen floating on its limpid waters.
The Norwegians .- At a very early day, there came to the vicinity of Monticello two Norwegians named respectively Hans Erasmus Hiorth (pronounced Yert) and Peter B. Smith. According to tradition, they had been sailors on the Atlantic Ocean, in a vessel owned by the father of one of them, and had been intrusted with a cargo of some kind destined for New Orleans. Upon their arrival there, so says tradition, 6
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
they not only disposed of the cargo, but of the vessel also, and with the proceeds of the sale came into the Northern States to invest in land and found homes. Both men were adventurous and daring, as sailors always are, and possessed a capacity for business which soon placed them on a firm financial foundation. Hiorth seemed to possess the greater amount of the proceeds of the sale of the vessel and cargo, and bought about one thousand acres of the choicest land in the county at that time, paying the Government price of $1.25 per acre. This land was located mostly at what afterward became Norway, or rather Mount Walleston. In 1832 or 1833, Mr. Hiorth constructed a dam across the river on Section 21, Township 27 north, Range 3 west, and erected a saw mill. His partner was Mr. Smith (said not to have been his real name). Nothing further seemed to have been done there until April, 1843, when Hiorth leased to William Sill, of Monticello, all the water-power of the dam at Norway, except enough to operate the saw mill, together with surround- ing land, not to exceed three acres, and also conditioned that if the dam broke, it should be mended immediately at Hiorth's expense, and Sill was to pay $150 per annum for ten years for these considerations. Sill was to help gravel the dam, to erect such buildings as he chose, to commence the following October, or sooner, if the power could be used, and Hiorth, at the end of ten years of the lease, was to either take the property at a fair estimate, or renew the lease. In September, 1843, Sill was given power to sublet portions of the water-power under specified conditions, one of them being that he nor any sub-lessee should erect a saw mill. In September, 1843, Hiorth leased for nine years his saw mill and the water-power he had reserved for its operation to Martin Cherrie, to- gether with specified portions of land there for a log yard, also a log dwelling; and Cherrie. agreed to build a new saw mill, taking what he could use of the machinery of Hiorth's old one. At the same time, Sill sub-leased, for nine years, to Cherrie sufficient water-power to propel a carding and fulling mill, and a small piece of land for a dyeing yard, the consideration being $75 per year. In 1844, Sill began the erection of his merchant grist mill at Norway, completing the work in 1845, and setting the mill in motion. This mill remained for years the finest for miles around, and received a most excellent patronage, and was the means of inducing many settlers to come to the vicinity to locate permanently.
Carding of Wool .- In January, 1845, Cherrie entered into contract with Arthur Russell to erect a building 32x25 feet at Norway, to do all millwright work necessary for wool-carding and cloth-dressing, and to have the building ready by the 1st of October, 1845; and he further agreed to erect another building, 28x18 feet, and to have it ready by the 1st of May, 1845, and he agreed to furnish, at all times, sufficient water
.
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UNION TOWNSHIP.
power for propelling the carding and fulling machinery. Russell agreed to furnish a carding machine, a picking machine, and all implements nec- essary for wool-carding and cloth-dressing, and was to have superintend- ence of the mill for nine years, was to employ all help, and was to receive, annually, out of the profits of the shops, $280. This contract between Cherrie and Russell was canceled in December, 1845, but not until after most of the conditions had been complied with, and the carding mill had been set in operation.
Norway, or Mt. Walleston .- About the year 1845, Mr. Hiorth died, and in 1846, his widow, Bergetta Hiorth, married a Norwegian acquaint- ance named Claus Lauritz Clausen, who lived in Rock County, Wisconsin Territory. In February, 1848, all the land in White County, formerly owned by Mr. Hiorth, consisting of 963 acres, was sold to C. W. & R. C. Kendall, for $6,100, and the Clausens went to Wisconsin Territory to live. The land was sold at a considerable sacrifice, though subject to all the claims of renters, lessees, etc. Before this sale, however, or in March, 1845, Bergetta Hiorth employed John Armstrong, surveyor, and laid out ninety-six lots on the northwest fraction of Section 21, Township 27 north, Range 3 west, and named the village thus founded Mount Wal- leston. The old plat shows Hiorth, Washington and Franklin streets, running east and west, and Frances, Broadway, Norway and Hill running north and south. Before this, however, a small store had been opened at the village by Casad & Guthridge, it is said, though this may be a mis- take. As soon as the grist mill and the carding mill were built and the town was laid out, the sale of lots and the erection of houses were begun. At this time, and for a few years later, Mount Walleston rivaled Monti- cello in enterprise and population. Blacksmiths and carpenters appeared, and the various mills were actively operated. Lumber was kept for sale ; large quantities of excellent flour were shipped to distant points, and farmers came from scores of miles around to have their wool carded and afterward fulled. The Kendalls conducted a store there ; a ferry-boat was kept for the passage of men and teams across the river, and a post office was established.
Mills .- In September, 1848, the Kendalls leased to G. B. Woltz and Arthur Russell, owners and operators of the woolen factory, thirty-seven additional inches of water, to be used in propelling a considerable increase in machinery in the mill. For this water, the owners of the woolen mill were to pay 835 annually. Up to this time, only two sets of buhrs had been used in the grist mill, but now a third set was added, and the capacity of the mill increased in other respects. Notwithstanding all the push and enterprise at Norway, the village was destined to grow but little larger than it was in 1850. During the '50's it remained about the
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
same. Prior to 1857, no bridge had spanned the river at that point ; but at that date the Norway Bridge Company was formed with a capital stock of $1,500, to be raised to $2,000, if necessary. Forty-four of the cit- izens living in the vicinity took stock in the enterprise, J. S. Casad taking twenty-four shares at $25 each. The bridge was immediately built, but in 1866 was swept away by a freshet, and the ferry was again brought into use. Toll was collected for passage across the bridge.
Joseph Rothrock built a "brush dam" across the Tippecanoe River, just below Monticello, as early, it is stated, as 1838. He erected a small saw mill, but for some reason did little work with his mill-prob- ably owing to the fact that his dam was rather a poor concern. Daniel M. Tilton obtained some sort of an interest there, and in about the year 1840 erected a small carding mill. A short time afterward the carding mill caught fire and burned to the ground, although the citizens of the town were on hand promptly with buckets and ladders. The saw mill was saved, though standing against the woolen mill.
MONTICELLO.
Section 83, Township 27 north, Range 3 west, upon which stands the town of Monticello, was entered at Crawfordsville as follows :
Peter Price, 80 acres, June 13, 1831; west half of the southwest quarter.
George Barkely, 80 acres, June 13, 1831 ; east half of the southeast quarter.
George Barkely, 78.68 acres, June 7, 1833 ; south part of the south- west quarter.
Robert Rothrock, 59.17 acres, September 6, 1834 ; south half of the northeast quarter.
Robert Rothrock, 51.05 acres, September 6, 1834; north half of the southeast quarter.
Zebulon Sheets, 36.36 acres, November 1, 1834; east fraction.
Samuel Rifenberrick, 80 acres, November 22, 1834; south half of the northwest quarter.
Robert Armstrong, 62.70 acres, March 11, 1835; north half of the northeast quarter.
Peter Martin, 40 acres, August 25, 1835; northeast quarter of the northwest quarter.
Peter Martin, 40 acres, January 20, 1836; northwest quarter of the northwest quarter.
Monticello, named by the Commissioners appointed by the Legisla- ture to locate the county seat, for the home of Thomas Jefferson, was laid out on the 3d of November, 1834, under the supervision of John Barr,
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UNION TOWNSHIP.
County Agent. He was assisted by Asa Allen, Melchi Gray, Joshua Lindsey, and others, and laid off ninety-two lots, exclusive of the public square, near the center of the southwest fraction of the northeast quarter of Section 33, Township 27 north, Range 3 west, or on land that had been entered by Robert Rothrock.
Three of the Commissionerss appointed to located the county seat- John Killgore, John B. King and James H. Stewart-met on Monday, September 1, 1834, and after viewing various ambitious locations, one of which was in Big Creek Township, completed their labors on Friday, the 5th of September, and made their report which may be seen elsewhere in this volume. At this time, the land upon which the county seat was located had not yet been entered, or in other words was yet the property of the United States. The land was selected because it seemed the most eligi- ble site near the center of the county, and for the further reason that whereas other points wishing the location were somewhat exacting regarding the do- nations to be made, it became clear to the Locating Commissioners, from an offer they received from John Barr, Sr., Hans E. Hiorth and John Rothrock, that the new county would be far better off financially, if the county seat was fixed at Monticello ; of course there was not a bouse then standing on the present site of the town. The offer made by Barr, Hiorth and John Rothrock to the Locating Commissioners was that if the latter would agree to locate the county seat at Monticello, on land which yet be- longed to the Government, the former would proceed to La Porte and enter the land and donate the entire eighty acres, upon which the town was to be located, with reservation, to the county. This offer was accepted by the Commissioners. But the land instead of being entered by these three men was really entered by Robert Rothrock. The following bond explains the situation :
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