USA > Indiana > Henry County > Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-1906, Volume II > Part 47
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Having made brief biographical reference to the several county recorders down to the Civil War period, the author finds it necessary to leave mention of those serving since that time to some future history.
COUNTY SHERIFF.
The first sheriff of Henry County, Jesse H. Healey, was not elected by the people. On December 31, 1821, Jonathan Jennings, Governor of Indiana, approved the law organizing Henry County, the same to become effective June 1, 1822. On January 1, 1822, he appointed Jesse H. Healey, sheriff, for the proposed new county. This shows that the law then was that whenever it was determined to organize a new county it was the duty of the Governor to immediately appoint a sheriff in order that the
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
territory embraced in the proposed new county might have a chief peace officer. The term of the sheriff's office under both the old and the new constitution was made the same-two years-yet Jesse H. Healey served more than that term, as the first sheriff was not elected until at the August election, 1824.
The record of "Commissions Issued" in the office of the Secretary of State, at Indianapolis, relating to the sheriff's office in Henry County, from Jesse H. Healey, January 1, 1822, to Joshua Chappell's second commission, August 23. 1845, gives the date only on which the commission was issued, failing to specify the term for which the person commissioned was to serve, therefore the term for which the incumbent named served, until August 23, 1845, is made up by having the preceding term end on the day when the succeeding officer was commissioned, which is approximately correct.
SHERIFFS.
Jesse H. Healey, commission dated January 1, 1822; served to September 27, 1824. John Dorrah, commission dated September 8, 1824; died in office.
Thomas Ginn, appointed vice John Dorrah, deceased; commission dated January 14, 1825; refused to qualify.
Ezekiel Leavell, appointed vice Thomas Ginn, refused to qualify; commission dated February 19, 1825, served to August 16, 1825.
Jesse H. Healey, elected to vacancy vice John Dorrah, died in office; vice Thomas Ginn, refused to qualify; vice Ezekiel Leavell, appointed to the vacancy to serve until the next general election, which was on the first Monday in August, 1825; commission dated August 16. 1825; served to August 19, 1826.
Ezekiel Leavell, commission dated August 19, 1826; served to August 28, 1828; re-elected; commission dated August 28, 1828; served to December 12, 1828; resigned. Jacob Thornburgh, appointed vice Ezekiel Leavell, resigned; commission dated December 12, 1828; served to August 14, 1829.
Jesse Forkner, commission dated August 14, 1829; served to August 19, 1831: re-elected; commission dated August 19, 1831: served to August 5, 1833.
Moses Robertson, commission dated August 5, 1833; served to August 20, 1835; re- elected; commission dated August 20, 1835; served to August 21, 1837.
Tabor W. McKee, commission dated August 21, 1837; served to August 13, 1839. Thomas Ginn, commission dated August 13, 1839: served to August 2, 1841.
Tabor W. McKee, commission dated August 2. 1841; served to August 7, 1843.
Joshua Chappell, commission dated August 7, 1843; served to August 23, 1845; re- elected and commissioned from August 23, 1845, to August 23, 1847.
Jesse H. Healey, commissioned from August 23, 1847, to August 23, 1849; re- elected and commissioned from August 23, 1849, to August 23, 1851.
Joshua Johnson, commissioned from August 23, 1851, to August 23, 1853.
Winford W. Shelley, commissioned from August 23, 1853, to August 23, 1855; re-elected and commissioned from August 23, 1855, to August 23, 1857.
Peter Shroyer, commissioned from August 23, 1857, to August 23, 1859.
Vincent Shelley, commissioned from August 23, 1859, to August 23, 1861. -
John W. Vance, commissioned from August 23, 1861, to August 23, 1863; re- elected and commissioned from August 23, 1863, to August 23, 1865.
Robert B. Carr, commissioned from August 23, 1865, to August 23, 1867; re- elected and commissioned from August 23, 1867, to August 23, 1869.
William S. Bedford, commissioned from August 23, 1869, to August 23, 1871.
Hugh I .. Mullen, commissioned from August 23, 1871. to August 23, 1873: re- elected and commissioned, from August 23, 1873, to August 23, 1875.
Hiram R. Minor, commissioned from August 23, 1875, to August 23, 1877; re- elected and commissioned, from August 23, 1877, to August 23, 1879.
Joel Hazelton, commissioned from August 23, 1879, to August 23, 1881; re-elected and commissioned, from August 23, 1881, to August 23, 1883.
George H. Cain, commissioned from August 23. 1883, to August 23, 1885; re- elected and commissioned, from August 23, 1885, to August 23, 1887.
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
William H. Macy, commissioned from August 23, 1887, to August 23, 1889; re- elected and commissioned, from August 23, 1889, to August 23, 1891.
William Rhinewalt, commissioned from August 23, 1891, to August 23, 1893.
George W. Tompkins, commissioned from August 23, 1893, to August 23, 1895: re- elected and commissioned, from August 23, 1895, to August 23, 1897.
John James, commissioned from August 23, 1897, to August 23, 1899; re-elected and commissioned, from August 23. 1899, to August 23, 1901.
Here the term of the office had been made, by an act of the General Assembly, to begin January 1, 1902, thus creating a vacancy from the time John James' commission expired until the date when Charles M. Christopher, who had been elected as James' successor, was commissioned to serve.
Charles M. Christopher, appointed vice vacancy as above, served from August 23, 1901, to January 1, 1902; commissioned from January 1, 1902, to January 1, 1904: re- elected and commissioned, from January 1, 1904, to January 1, 1906.
Chauncey H. Burr, commissioned from January 1, 1906, to January 1, 1908: present incumbent.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Jesse H. Healey served longer than any other sheriff, his four terms, once by appointment and three times by election, comprising seven years, eight months and twenty six days.
Charles M. Christopher was next in point of service, his three terms, once by appointment and twice by election, comprising four years, four months and seven days. The rule has been to give the sheriff two terms, and since the tenure of John W. Vance, 1861-5, William S. Bedford and William Rhinewalt are the only two not re- elected. Bedford was defeated for re-nomination by an accident, in consequence of which he was afterward made treasurer. Rhinewalt was not a candidate for a second term.
Since political lines were drawn in the county, about 1835-7, Joshua Johnson, of Henry Township, Democrat, is the only man other than a Whig or Republican to hold the office, with the exception of Thomas Ginn.
Peter Shroyer, Robert B. Carr, William S. Bedford, Hugh L. Mullen, Hiram R. Minor, George H. Cain, William H. Macy, William Rhinewalt and John James were soldiers in the Civil War, whose respective services will be found appropriately set out elsewhere in this History.
John Dorrah was the only sheriff to die in office. He was the father of Joseph Dorrah, who lived for many years two miles north of New Castle, and was for a long time assessor of Henry Township.
Further reference to some of the earlier sheriffs is as follows:
JESSE H. HEALEY came with his family from North Carolina to Wayne County prior to the year 1820. In 1821 he moved to Henry County. His father, Hugh Healey, who had been a Revolutionary soldier, accompanied his son to Indiana. He died in New Castle about the year 1827. Jesse H. Healey cut as great a figure in Henry County as any other man who ever lived in the county. He was an all around man of affairs and held respectively the offices of Sheriff. Tax Collector, Member of the Legislature, Probate Judge and County Commissioner, his term of service in these offices being fully set out under their several heads. He died about the year 1855. His son, Welhorn Healey, was for many years a leading and influential citizen of Henry County, residing in Franklin Township. There may be somewhere in the archives of the Henry County Historical Society a hiographical sketch of this early pioneer, but the author has been unable to find it. Eugene Healey, of Knightstown, is a grandson and has recently presented to the Historical Society some of the early commissions issued to his grandfather.
THOMAS GINN is referred to in the list of county clerks.
EZEKIEL LEAVELL was the agent of Henry County for the sale of the town lots in New Castle, and in the chapter devoted to Towns aud Villages under the head of New Castle will be found brief biographical reference to Mr. Leavell.
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
JACOB THORNBURGH was one of the very early merchants of New Castle, coming here from Wayne County, and in Chapter XI, of this History, in connection with a biographical sketch of his son, John, will be found full reference to Jacob Thornburgh and his family and the part he took in the affairs of Henry County.
JESSE FORKNER and his brother, Isaac, came from Wayne County about the year 1822, and settled in Liberty Township, two miles south of Millville. Isaac Forkner was the grandfather of Judge Mark E. Forkner, of New Castle, and elsewhere in this History will be found biographical sketches of Judge Forkner and his brother, John L., containing full information of the Forkner family in general.
MOSES ROBERTSON came to Henry County in company with the two Forkner brothers above mentioned, from Wayne County. In addition to filling the office of sheriff he was county collector, an early justice of the peace and a member of the board of justices governing the county from 1824 to 1827, and was in general a public spirited citizen who had the confidence of the public to a large degree. He was one of the original promoters of the railroad from Richmond to New Castle, now a part of the Panhandle Railway. Late in life he moved to Hagerstown, Wayne County, where he died and is buried.
TABOR W. McKEE, of Harrison Township, married Sarah Elliott, sister of Judge Jehu T. Elliott, and in the biographical sketch of Judge Elliott, elsewhere in this His- tory, will be found reference to him.
JOSHUA CHAPPELL was a driving, energetic Henry County pioneer, who for a long time kept the old log and frame hotel in New Castle that stood on the site now occupied by the Bundy House. On his retirement from the hotel he moved to Madison County, where he spent the remainder of his life on a farm.
JOSHUA JOHNSON, of Henry Township, is above referred to as being the only Democrat to hold the office since political lines were drawn in the county. He died soon after leaving the office.
WINFORD W. SHELLEY AND VINCENT SHELLEY were brothers. Winford W., com- monly called "Dykesey" Shelley, was a versatile auctioneer whose services were greatly in demand and in his time he was probably better known and knew more people in Henry County than any other man who ever lived in the county. Vincent Shelley moved to Iowa about the beginning of the Civil War. The Shelleys were a numerous family, who early came to Henry County from North Carolina.
THE SHROYER FAMILY came to Henry County from Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1835. There were three brothers, Henry, John and Peter, and five sisters, Mrs. John Taylor, Mrs. Robert C. Kinsey, Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Hipes and Miss Maria Shroyer. The famliy was well known in Wayne and Henry counties. Peter was a harness maker and worked at that trade in New Castle until he was elected sheriff. After his return from the Civil War he conducted a store at Sulphur Springs. Later he moved to Chatsworth, Livingstone County, Illinois, where he engaged in merchandising and lived there until his death. He married in New Castle, Mary Benbow, and they raised an interesting family.
JOHN W. VANCE was for many years a carpenter and farmer near Greensboro before he became sheriff. After retiring from the sheriff's office he moved to Iowa, where he died and is buried.
The author having made brief biographical reference to all the sheriffs down to the Civil War and mentioned all those who served in that struggle, must leave the others to some future history.
COUNTY TREASURER.
There is no record in the office of the Secretary of State at Indianapolis of com- missions issued to treasurers of Henry County until Lorenzo D. Meek, who seems to have been the first one commissioned under the new constitution to serve for the term of two years, from August 5, 1853. In the earlier days of Henry County and the State, the office of county treasurer was not as important as it is now. The law was
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
such that from the organization of the county until 1841-2 the county treasurer had nothing to do with the collection of the taxes and there is no tax duplicate in the county treasurer's office prior to the one for the fiscal year 1842. There was a county collector whose duty it was to collect the taxes and turn them over to the county treasurer, whose only duty it was to dishurse them according to law. Until the office of county collector was abolished, in 1841-2, the county treasurer was appointed by the board of county commissioners.
Under an act approved February 12. 1841, entitled, "An act prescribing the duties of county treasurers," it was provided that this officer "shall be elected on the first Monday of August next and tri-ennially thereafter," by the qualified voters of the re- spective counties. Thus It happened that Joshua Holland was the first treasurer of Henry County elected directly by the people. He was also the last county collector appointed by the board of county commissioners.
The author has been unable to find any satisfactory record of the precise term of the county treasurers who preceded Joshua Holland, all of whom were appointed in the language of the law "by the board doing county business;" neither is their precise term essential, therefore the author takes the list from William Shannon to Joshua Holland, as made up by Elwood Pleas, in "Henry County Past and Present; 1821-71," a small but highly valuable volume of one hundred and fifty pages.
As Joshua Holland assumed the duties of the office, August 5, 1841, as above shown, the term of this office began with each new incumbent on August 5, from Joshua Holland, 1841-4, to John A. Cook, commissioned to serve from August 5, 1895, to August 5, 1897, but whose term was extended by law to January 1, 1898. Under the present constitution the term of this office was reduced from three to two years.
TREASURERS.
William Shannon, 1822; Benjamin Harvey, 1824: Isaac Bedsaul, 1825; Matthew Williams, 1826; Isaac Bedsaul, 1826 to 1833; Miles Murphey, 1833; Jehu T. Elliott, 1834 to 1839; Samuel Hazzard, 1839 to 1841.
Joshua Holland, commissioned from August 5, 1841, to August 5, 1844.
Martin L. Bundy, commissioned from August 5, 1844, to August 5, 1847.
John C. Hudelson, commissioned from August 5, 1847, to August 5, 1850; re- elected and commissioned from August 5, 1850, to August 5, 1853.
Lorenzo D. Meek, commissioned from August 5, 1853, to August 5, 1855.
Henry C. Grubbs, commissioned from August 5. 1855, to August 5, 1857; died in office, March 26, 1857.
John W. Grubbs, appointed vice Henry C. Grubbs, deceased, serving from March 30, 1857, to August 5, 1857.
Caleb Johnson, commissioned from August 5, 1857, to August 5, 1859; re-elected and commissioned, from August 5, 1859, to August 5, 1861.
Emsley Julian, commissioned from August 5, 1861, to August 5, 1863; re-elected and commissioned, from August 5, 1863, to August 5, 1865.
Morgan James, commissioned from August 5, 1865, to August 5, 1867.
Robert M. Grubbs, commissioned from August 5, 1867, to August 5, 1869.
George Hazzard (author of this History). commissioned from August 5, 1869, to August 5, 1871.
Rotheus Scott, commissioned from August 5, 1871, to August 5, 1873.
Thomas S. Lines, commissioned from August 5, 1873, to August 5, 1875.
William S. Bedford, commissioned from August 5, 1875, to August 5, 1877.
Thomas I. Howren, commissioned from August 5, 1877, to August 5, 1879.
Frank M. Millikan, commissioned from August 5, 1879, to August 5, 1881. Luther W. Modlin, commissioned from August 5, 1881, to August 5, 1883.
James P. Dykes, commissioned from August 5, 1883, to August 5, 1885.
Frank J. Vestal, commissioned from August 5, 1885. to August 5, 1887.
Dayton L. Fenstamaker, commissioned from August 5, 1887, to August 5, 1889.
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William H. Harden, commissioned from August 5, 1889. to August 5, 1891. Albert W. Saint, commissioned from August 5, 1891, to August 5, 1893. Cornelius M. Moore, commissioned from August 5, 1893, to August 5, 1895. John A. Cook, commissioned from August 5, 1895, to August 5, 1897.
Here the law was changed, making the term of the office begin on the uniform date of January 1, which extended Cook's term to January 1, 1898.
Clarkson Gordon, commissioned from January 1, 1898, to January 1, 1900. William C. Hess, commissioned from January 1, 1900, to January 1, 1902. John O. Holtsclaw, commissioned from January 1, 1902, to January 1, 1904.
Lewis E. Cloud, commissioned from January 1, 1904, to January 1, 1906.
Edgar T. White, commissioned from January 1, 1906, to January 1, 1908; present incumbent.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
From the foregoing roster of county treasurers it appears that three brothers have respectively held the office-Henry C. Grubbs, John W. Grubbs, and Robert M. Grubbs; also that father and son respectively held the office-Samuel Hazzard and his son, George, the author of this History. Henry C. Grubbs was the only treasurer to die in office.
Some of Henry County's most distinguished citizens in their younger days filled the office of county treasurer, notably Colonel Miles Murphey, Judge Jehu T. Elliott, Judge Martin L. Bundy, John C. Hudelson aud John W. Grubbs.
Since Morgan James held the office, (1865-7), to the present time, the position has been considered a "one-term" office. This arises from the fact that during and imme- diately succeeding the Civil War, on account of the excessive war taxation, the office was the most remunerative of any in the county, the treasurer then being paid a per cent. on his total collections. Many county treasurers have tried for renomination, but all have failed. Notwithstanding the fact that the emoluments of the office have been greatly reduced, first by taxation getting on a peace hasis, and later by the office being made a salaried one, yet the "one-term" idea has grown so firmly fixed in the minds of the people that a renomination has been impossible.
Morgan James, Robert M. Grubbs, George Hazzard, William S. Bedford, Thomas I. Howren, Albert W. Saint, Cornelius M. Moore and Clarkson Gordon were soldiers in the Civil War, whose respective services will be found appropriately set out elsewhere in this History.
Since the term of Miles Murphey, then a Democrat (1833), no man other than a Whig or Republican has held the office of county treasurer. At that time political lines were not drawn in the county. From the repeal of the Missouri Compormise, in 1854. until after the close of the Civil War, Miles Murphey was a Republican, and from that time a Democrat until the end of his life.
Elsewhere in this History will he found proper biographical mention of Miles Murphey, Jehu T. Elliott, Joshua Holland, Martin L. Bundy, John C. Hudelson and John W. Grubbs (as founder of the New Castle Courier), and the author having made proper reference to the military service of those who were in the Civil War now finds it necessary to leave biographical mention of such as are not above included, excepting Samuel Hazzard and his son, George, the author of this History, to some future history.
SAMUEL HAZZARD was a native of Delaware, where he was born, August 10, 1815, There were several brothers who emigrated about 1835 to Indiana, settling in the Whitewater Valley. David stopped at Laurel, in Franklin County, where he lived for many years as a merchant and general trader. Henry became a resident of Cambridge City. Samuel located at New Castle in 1835, and opened a general country store in a primitive frame building which stood where the First National Bank building now stands. Later he was joined by his younger brother, George W., who was appointed to West Point and served in the Regular Army, as is elsewhere properly referred to in this History. On February 14, 1839. Samuel Hazzard was married to Vienna Woodward, second daughter and second child of Asahel and Catharine Woodward. Vienna
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
( Woodward) Hazzard was born April 20. 1818. in Preble County, Ohio, died Jauuary 30, 1858. In Chapter XVII of this History will be found full biographical reference to the parents of Mrs. Samuel Hazzard.
Samuel and Vienna ( Woodward) Hazzard were the parents of nine children, namely: Clarinda, born December 6, 1839, married to Jacob Sims, whom she survived; she afterwards became the wife of Dr. William G. Armstrong, a leading physician of La Fontaine, Wabash County. Indiana, now deceased; Mrs. Armstrong now resides in Wabash, Indiana, with her daughter, Nettie ( Sims) Sisson: Elizabeth, born October 25. 1841, and married to Alonzo S. Gear; she is now a resident of Taroma, Washington, and is one of the best known women educators in the Puget Sound basin; Rachel M., born November 24, 1843, died March 20, 1815; George (author of this History ), born July 22. 1845; John W., born May 6, 1847, died January 27, 1887, a soldier of the Civil War in Company H, 147th Indiana Infantry; Belle Jane, born June 30. 1849, married to Ed. E. Hopkins, of Hen- dricks County, Indiana, afterward moved to near Laoti, Wichita County. Kansas, where she died March 11, 1905, and where she is buried; James V., born October 26, 1851; Leander E., born March 19, 1854, killed by the Indians while a soldier in the United States Army; memorial stone erected in South Mound Cemetery; date of death and place of burial unknown; Walter, born January 25, 1858, died in infancy. All of the above, who are deceased, excepting Belle Jane and Leander E., are buried in South Mound Cemetery, New Castle.
Samuel Hazzard was a natural merchant whose business ability was equal to that of any man that ever lived in Henry County. He is well remembered in New Castle, where his career is identified with the early growth of the town and county and in the prosperity of both he was a leading factor, not only as a citizen and business man, but also in an official capacity. He died January 25, 1867.
No family of Hazzards ever lived in Henry County, excepting that of Samuel Hazzard and his family; therefore, wherever the name is mentioned it refers to this family, and George Hazzard is the only one so named that ever lived in Henry County, save his uncle, George W., appointed to West Point as above mentioned. This fact makes sufficient biographical reference to the author, as his name properly appears from time to time in these pages.
GEORGE HAZZARD, the author of this History, was married June 30, 1870, to Maria Eudora, eldest daughter and child of the Reverend Reuben and Adaline Tobey, the former a Methodist minister, at one time stationed in New Castle, both of whom are now deceased. She was born May 30, 1849. To George and Maria E. Hazzard were born four children, all natives of New Castle, namely: Adaline V., died in infancy; Elizabeth G., born April 28, 1872, married to Frank L. Hale, at Tacoma, Washington, November 27, 1895, by the Reverend Preston Barr; died near Tacoma, October 31, 1903: buried in the Tacoma Cemetery: George Howard Hazzard, assistant superintendent of the Washington and Columbia River railroad, with headquarters at Walla Walla, Wash- ington, horn July 28, 1874, married to Alice M. Dodge ( born March 17, 1875), of Tacoma, Washington, March 18, 1901; they have one child, a daughter, named Marian Elizabeth, born October 6. 1903; Julia Anna, born February 1. 1877, married to John C. R. Cootes. of Tacoma, Washington, February 5. 1896; they have three children, Sarah Marian. horn April 6, 1897; George H., born September 10, 1902, and the youngest son, named for his father, born April 5, 1904. Mr. Cootes and family reside at Hedley, British Columbia, where he is electrical superintendent for the Daily gold and silver mines, operated at that place.
George Hazzard has resided in Tacoma. Washington, since June, 1883. He only returned to his native county temporarily to write this History, and for the writing and publishing thereof is more entitled, in his opinion, to public favor than to any other act of his life. His career is known of all men, not only in Indiana, but also in the State of Washington.
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