USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Indiana : Its people, industries and institutions > Part 22
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DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
It was in the summer of 1892 that the present school building was begun. When the time came for the fall term to begin the new building was not yet complete and the old one had been disposed of. The various teachers were quartered in different parts of town. The high school, with J. A. Alexander as principal, occupied the opera house. Alexander revived the high school work and, to a great degree, started the Odon schools in the direction of their present efficiency.
After the Christmas holidays the schools were assembled in the new building. In the spring a commencement was held by Alexander for the graduates in the common branches; this was the first commencement ever held in Madison township for eighth-grade graduates.
For the year 1893-94 Charles Williams was principal. He dropped some of the high school subjects taught by Alexander, but still offered a mixed eighth-grade and high school course. Williams was followed by Howard Clark, who remained principal until the close of the school year of 1896-97. During the last two years of his service his wife, Mrs. Lenora Clark, taught a part of the common branches and a few high school sub- jects, her husband being the first principal to devote his entire time to high school work. The Clarks extended the high school course of study to two years' work.
S. W. Satterfield became the principal in the fall of 1897 and held the position two years. During his second year he added a third year's work to the course of study.
William Abel became the head of the schools in the fall of 1899. On the contract he is called a "supervising principal." The following year the course of study received its fourth year of high school work. Abel was given the title of superintendent the next year. John Satterfield was the principal. During the winter of 1901 Satterfield resigned on account of ill health, and the vacancy was filled by Edward W. Bennett.
The 1901 term began with Abel as superintendent and Bennett as prin- cipal. About the middle of the school year Abel resigned and Bennett was promoted to the superintendency, with Edgar A. O'Dell as the principal. A high school commission was secured late in the year.
No change was made in the superintendency or principalship for the year 1902-03. The next year F. M. McConnell became superintendent and Arthur Mayfield was principal. This arrangement remained until the early part of the year 1905-06, when McConnell resigned to accept a situation in Montana. Mayfield became superintendent, with Grant Callahan as the (16)
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principal. In 1906 an addition was built to the school building. This gave three new rooms, one of which is used as the assembly room. Mayfield re- signed the superintendency in the spring of 1908 and Lawrence Maher was elected to the vacancy. He served for two years.
J. W. Gillaspie, the present superintendent, was elected in 1910. Under his efficient supervision the schools have made commendable progress.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.
ST. SIMON'S SCHOOL, WASHINGTON.
About 1819, a few Catholic families had settled in the vicinity of Wash- ington. In 1837 they were united into a body under the care of Father Simon Lalumiere, for whom the church and school were named. Father Lalumiere built a church in 1838, which stood a little farther north on the lot where the church now stands.
The first Catholic school was held in the basement of the church and was attended by both boys and girls, the girls sitting on one side and the boys on the other. It was taught by the Brothers.
On September 26, 1857, St. Simon's Academy for girls was founded by the Sisters of Providence from St. Mary's of the Woods. Father Chasse was pastor at this time. The Sisters occupied a small brick house belonging to the Father, which stood on Hefron street between the school and the church and faced the east. At first the Sisters taught in an old frame house which sood on the corner of Second and Hefron streets. There were four Sisters employed; one taught the boys on the first floor, one taught the girls on the second floor, one taught music and one was the housekeeper, who assisted in teaching. The present academy was built in 1875 by the Sisters and the old frame building was moved back and it was replaced in 1910 by the new wing.
In 1868. a boys' school was conducted on East Hefron street. It was a small frame structure and school was held here until 1875. The teachers in this building were Hugh M. Quigley. 1868 to 1870; George D. Kelley, 1870 to 1874; Matthew F. Burke, 1874 to 1875; John J. Gleason, 1875 to 1878. While Gleason was teaching, the new school, facing north on Hefron street, between First and Second streets, was finished. The following teachers taught here : John J. Gleason, F. M. Walker, Thomas Crosson, the Brothers, John D. Kelly and John J. Barrett. In 1893, the Sisters took complete charge and continued to teach the boys until they reached the eighth grade.
Under Barrett three boys graduated. They were John Jordan, in 1892; Thomas Bowler and Frank Fitzpatrick, in 1893.
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The first commencement of St. Simon's Academy was held in 1890. Mayme Doyle, Julia Riley and Tillie Gers were the graduates. One or more have finished the course every year since.
The old school for boys was torn down in 1913 and replaced by the modern commodious building which now stands at the corner of Second and Hefron streets. This building was dedicated by Father Boland on Decem- ber 6, 1914.
(This article was prepared by Miss Katharine Wilson, a teacher in the public schools.)
ST. MARY'S GERMAN SCHOOL, WASHINGTON.
In 1873, about thirty German families withdrew from St. Simon's church and formed a separate congregation. They bought a site upon which to erect a church, school and parsonage at the corner of Van Trees and West Second streets. The first German school was held in 1873, in the Keller house, a little two-room frame house across from the church. Sister Blon- dina was the teacher.
In 1874 and 1875, the school was in the back part of the church where the choir steps now are. A board petition was erected between the church and the school room, which had only a few benches. Later, probably in 1876, the school was moved to a little frame house, west of the church. This had been the pastor's residence; it had two small rooms, so the parti- tion was taken out to make one larger room.
Father Sassel taught the school himself for a time. Later, the congre- gation built a new room at the back, and Miss Mary Miller taught the lower grades for a year or two.
In 1881, the present brick school east of the church was erected. This building had two rooms, one up stairs and one down. It has been remod- eled since and modern improvements added. The school is now in the care of the Sisters of Providence.
ST. PETER'S SCHOOL, MONTGOMERY.
The exact period when the first parochial school was taught at St. Peter's, Montgomery, has not been determined, but it is certain that a log school building was located near the present cemetery of the church. School was held in this building before 1850.
It was during the spring of 1853 and 1854 that Mary A. O'Kava- naugh, afterwards Mrs. Raphael Wathen, a young Irish lass from Ennis-
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corthy, County Wexford, Ireland, who had graduated from a young ladies' seminary of that town, taught a subscription school here for Father Piers.
About 1875, a two-room brick school house was built on the site of the present parochial school building. The brick from the old church which stood on the church farm, and which is but a short distance west beyond the limits of the town of Montgomery, were used in the construction of this two-room building. Father Pierce erected this building.
The present commodious school building was erected about 1905 by Father Matthews. The Sisters of Providence taught in this building three or four years. At present a parochial school is not maintained.
THE COUNTY SEMINARY.
It was the idea of the early educators of the state that the county seminaries were to furnish opportunities for the boys and girls to get what would now be termed a high school education. In order to provide for these, fines before justices of the peace, circuit courts, forfeitures, etc., were to be used to found and maintain a county seminary.
As soon as the county was organized, funds began to accumulate. These funds were placed in charge of a trustee to manage. Robert Oliver was one of the first trustees in Daviess county. He served over ten years. He was succeeded by Lewis Jones. In January, 1832, Oliver reported the total amount of the fund to be $504.7414, of which $386.1134 was cash on hand, and $118.621/2 in the form of notes drawing interest. On Septem- ber 1. 1841. the fund had increased until it amounted to $2.584.97. A lot was bought in Washington in 1838. upon which to erect a seminary build- ing. A two-story brick building was begun probably in 1839, but was not finished until 1841. At that time the trustees. Samuel J. Kelso and William G. Cole. made the following report: Total fund received to September, 1841, $2.584.97 ; paid to contractors. $2.584.97. leaving yet due the contrac- tors. $729.01 ; total cost of seminary, grounds, etc .. $3.313.98.
Trouble arose over the management of the funds. Jephtha Routt, in 1844. obtained a judgment in the circuit court for two hundred dollars and sixty-two cents. He proceeded to levy upon the seminary building to satisfy the judgment. He was paid part of the judgment and given assurance that the remainder would be forthcoming. The property was yet heavily en- cumbered. A sheriff's sale in some manner was ordered and Graham bought certain rights. In September, 1846. he was paid four hundred and twenty dollars and eighty cents for all his claims. At the April term of court in
OLD SEMINARY BUILDING, WASHINGTON.
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1844, "The State on the relation of Alfred Davis vs. Thomas Graham, John B. Coleman and Charles F. Wells" was filed. A judgment of five hundred dollars was rendered against the defendants, but the Legislature in some manner annulled it.
Under the constitution of 1852, county seminaries were sold and the proceeds were placed in the common school fund. The Daviess County Seminary was sold at auction on December 12, 1853, to James S. Morgan for one thousand one hundred and eighty dollars. He failed to pay and in April, 1855, the property was sold to the town of Washington for five hundred dollars. It was used by the town for a public school building.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE BENCH AND BAR.
The Daviess county circuit court was established in 1817. On April 21, of that year, court convened for the first time, in the house of Alexander Bruce, located on the southeast corner of Main and Second streets. The president judge was William Prince, then a resident of Princeton, Gibson county. Judge Prince was a man prominent in affairs connected with the early settlement of Indiana territory. With the commission of captain, he served on the staff of General Harrison at the battle of Tippecanoe, and was afterward appointed as Indian agent by Harrison, with headquarters at Vincennes, then the capital of Indiana territory. Judge Prince was also land agent and had much to do with the organization of several of the counties in the southwestern part of the state, and the location of county seats. He was one of the commissioners appointed to locate the county seat of Gibson county, and was honored in having the town (Princeton) named after him.
In the organization of the early court, the bench was composed of a president judge and two associate judges. The two associate judges of the first Daviess county court were William H. Routt and James G. Read. Emanuel Van Trees was appointed clerk, George R. C. Sullivan, prosecuting attorney, and Obed Flint, sheriff. The first grand jury was composed of seventeen "good, true and lawful men," whose names are as follows: John Aikman, Alexander Bruce, Joseph Bruce, Joseph Bradford, Samuel Chan- nis, Dennis Clark, Jacob Freeland, David Flora, Samuel Kelso, George Lashley, John McClure, Joseph Miller, John Stringer, James Warnock, Archibald Williams, John Walker and Peter Wilkins.
It does not seem that this grand jury wasted much time in hearing witnesses testify as to misdemeanors; nor did the jury waste time in argu- ment as to the guilt or innocence of persons accused. They assumed that their business was to return an indictment; it was the business of the law- yers and the court to determine whether the person indicted was guilty. The record shows that on the next day after the first grand jury was con- vened, they returned twelve indictments, all for assault and battery. One of
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these cases was against Andrew Hilton, and another against Thomas Meredith. Hilton's case was continued to the next term of court, and, when called, resulted in his acquittal. Regarding the Merideth case, the record says: "And Mr. Merideth being called appeared in proper person and for plea said that he could not say but that he was guilty in manner and form as he stood charged in the indictment, therefore it is considered by the court, that he make his fine to the state of Indiana, for the use of the county of Daviess for county. seminary, three dollars." So, if this fine was paid, Mr. Merideth's name is entitled to a conspicuous place on the scroll of fame for having made the first contribution to an educational institution in Daviess county. The next contribution to the educational fund, as appears on record, was at the next term of court, when Joseph Whitney paid a fine of ten dollars for that purpose.
It appears that most of the trials in this court, during the years 1817 and 1818, were for assault and battery. It also appears that the defendants in these cases were frequently the same individuals. A man by the name of John Colbert was before the court as a defendant in an assault and battery case no less than ten times during these years; each time, he was called on to contribute from two to five dollars for the benefit of the county seminary.
The first murder case that appears on the court docket was at the June term of court, 1818. The defendant in the case was a Delaware Indian, named "Big File," who had been indicted for the murder of Thomas Eagle, several months previous. It seems that Eagle, and some other white men, were visiting a friendly band of Indians in Owl Prairie, and that Eagle, who was a very strong man, made a banter that he could throw one of the smaller Indians across a fire, as an exhibition of his strength. In attempting this feat, with the Indian's consent, Eagle succeeded in throwing the Indian only half way. The Indian fell into the fire and was severely burned. Thinking that this was done purposely, Big File attacked Eagle with a big knife and stabbed him to death. At the June term of court the record says, "the accused being solemnly called, came not, and an alias capias was issued for said Big File, returnable to the next term." In following the history of this case it appears that court procedure in criminal cases in the early times was about as slow and uncertain as is too frequently the practice in these later days. At the following September term of the Daviess circuit court, the Big File murder case was called and, for some reason, continued. The case was still on the docket at the October term, 1819, at which time it was finally disposed of by a nolle prosequi being entered in the case.
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DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
At the June term of court, 1818, John Law was admitted to practice in this court. Attorneys who had been admitted to practice in the court about a year previous to this were, William P. Bennett, Jacob Call, Nathaniel Huntington and George R. C. Sullivan. At this same term of court, Thomas H. Blake succeeded William Prince as president judge. Blake was succeeded by G. W. Johnston at the following September term. At the June term, 1819, Johnston was succeeded as president judge by Jonathan Doty, with William H. Routt and James G. Read as associate judges. These associate judges continued until September, 1821, when they were succeeded by Ephraim Thompson and Philip Barton. There were no further changes in the asso- ciate judges until 1825, when Philip Barton was succeeded by Rawley Scott, who served until 1829 and then gave. place to Michael Murphy. Jacob Call, one of the first attorneys admitted to practice at the Daviess county bar, suc- ceeded Judge Doty, as president judge, at the April term, 1822; Call was succeeded by John R. Porter at the September term, 1824. It seems there were no other changes in the personnel of the court until 1830, when John Law was commissioned president judge, serving from January until August IO, of that year, when G. W. Johnston again appears as the presiding officer- of the court. In December, 1831, Amory Kinney succeeded Judge Johnston and served as president judge until January, 1837. Elisha M. Huntington succeeded Judge Kinney in 1837. Huntington served until the April term, 1839, when he was succeeded by David McDonald, whose term as president. judge was continued until 1853, when the new constitution became effective, providing for one circuit judge, instead of the associate bench. Those W110 served as associate judges, in addition to those named, were John L. Cald- well, Elijah Chapman, Cornelius Berkshire, Kenneth Dye and Erasmus H. McJunkin. Mr. McJunkin was a prominent attorney. He died in 1834 and the court records show that the local bar passed suitable resolutions extolling- his merits and expressing profound sorrow at his death.
THE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES.
The first circuit court judge under the new constitution was Alvin P .. Hovey, who began his term in February, 1853, and served until the February term, 1854. He served with distiction as a soldier in the Civil War, which came on a few years later, rising to the rank of major-general. General Hovey was elected as representative in Congress, for the first congressional district, in 1886; was elected governor of the state, in 1888, and died during his term of office.
General Hovey was succeeded as circuit judge by William E. Niblack,
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who took his office in 1854 and served four years. Judge Niblack was also a man distinguished in public affairs. He served several ternis in Congress as representative of the Vincennes district, and was a member of the state supreme court. He was regarded as one of the leading jurists of the state.
In February, 1858, Ballard Smith succeeded Judge Niblack on the bench and served one year. Michael F. Burke was commissioned judge of this circuit by Gov. A. P. Willard, in February, 1859. Judge Burke con- tinued in this service until his death, which occurred May 22, 1864. The vacancy caused by Judge Burke's death was filled by Judge James C. Denny, who received his appointment from Governor Morton1. At the following election Judge John Baker was the successful candidate for the circuit judge- ship. Judge Baker continued in office until the February term, 1871, when he was succeeded by Judge Newton F. Malott, who had been elected in the fall of 1870. Judge Malott continued as judge of this circuit until the fall of 1884, when there was a change in the judicial districts, by which his resi- dent county (Knox) became part of another circuit. By this change Daviess county became a part of the forty-ninth judicial circuit. David J. Hefron was appointed by Gov. Isaac P. Gray as judge of this new circuit. At the following election Judge Hefron was elected as his own successor and con- tinued in office until November, 1898. H. Q. Houghton, who had been elected as circuit judge, succeeding Judge Hefron on the bench and served for a period of twelve years, his term ending November 1, 1910, when James W. Ogdon, the present judge, assumed the duties of the office.
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PROMINENT ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE PRACTICED IN THIS COURT.
From the earliest times the bar of the Daviess circuit court has ranked with the highest in character and legal attainment. Among the prominent resident attorneys who were early in the practice here were: Charles R. Brown and Amory C. Kinney, who were the first resident lawyers in Wash- ington; soon after them came Erasmus H. McJunkin, David McDonald, Capt. W. Warner, E. S. Terry, Samuel Howe Smydth, R. A. Clements, John N. Evans, Michael F. Burke, John Baker and others. In addition to these, there is a long list of distinguished attorneys from other parts of this state, and some from other states, who have practiced in this court. Among these are the following: Lovell H. Rousseau, Richard H. Rousseau, John R. Porter, John H. Dowden, John S. Watts, Thomas H. Carson, Richard W. Thompson, George G. Dunn, Samuel B. Gookins, John Payne, James Hughes, Tilghman A. Howard, P. M. Brett, Elijah Bell, Delana R. Eckles,
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B. M. Thomas, Albert S. White, Edward A. Hennegan, A. G. Caldwell, E. B. Talcott, D. K. Weis, Charles Dewey, Elisha M. Huntington, Moses Tabb, John Law, Samuel Judah, Joseph Warner, Willis A. Gorman, Francis P. Bradley, William G. Quick, George Proffit, Craven P. Hester, John C. Gra- ham, Joseph Dunn, William E. Niblack, Henry S. Lane, Hugh L. Living- ston, G. W. Johnston, Paris C. Dunning, G. R. H. Moore, Samuel H. Buskirk, L. Q. DeBruler, A. B. Carlton, Nathaniel P. Usher, John Baker, J. W. Burton, Cyrus M, Allen, William Jones, L. B. Parsons, and many others of later time.
It is related that Abraham Lincoln at one time visited this court in the interest of a client and was admitted to practice at this bar, the oath re- quired of a practicing attorney being administered by Col. John Van Trees, who was at that time clerk of the court. It is also stated that Lincoln made a speech on the tariff question in the court house at the time of his visit. The story of Lincoln's visit and practice in this court may be of a traditionary character, but it is not improbable. At that time it was customary for law- yers to travel the "circuit," as it was called, and it was not unusual for noted attorneys to go a long distance outside of their circuit. It is certain that Abraham Lincoln, after he had established a reputation as a lawyer in his Illinois home, was frequently called as counsel in cases in Indiana courts. That there is no special mention in the court record that Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, was present as counsel for plaintiff, or for defendant, is not a matter of wonder, since he was not so attractive a personage as some of the other visiting lawyers of that time. To the court attendants, and the crowd that usually. gathered from miles around in those days, to hear the lawyers "plead." the appearance in town of Joshua. Spraggins, who had recently killed a bear up on Wolf creek, would attract more attention than would Abe Lincoln.
It will be of interest to note several others in the foregoing list of at- torneys, in practice at the Daviess county bar, who were afterward dis- tinguished in state and national affairs.
Lovell H. Rousseau was admitted to the bar at Bloomfield, Indiana; served in the Indiana Legislature, and in the Mexican War. Settling in Louisville after the Mexican War, he took high rank as a lawyer. He took a decided stand for the government and against secession, and at the outbreak of the Civil War tendered his services in behalf of the Union. He rose to the rank of major-general in the army and his command bore a conspicu- ous part in some of the most important .engagements of the. war.
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Gen. Tilghman A. Howard achieved distinction in military service in the Mexican War; was United States senator from Indiana, and filled other high public positions. Albert S. White and Henry S. Lane also represented Indiana in the United States Senate. George G. Dunn and Richard W. Thompson were both members of Congress, and both held high rank as lawyers and public speakers. David McDonald was judge of the United States district court, as was Elisha M. Huntington. Charles Dewey was distinguished as a member of the supreme court. Paris C. Dunning be- came governor, James Hughes was judge and member of Congress, and a major-general of the Indiana Legion during the Rebellion. George H. Proffit gained great renown as an orator. As a political campaign speaker he had few if any equals. He stumped the state for Harrison, in 1840, was sent to Congress, and afterwards was minister to Brazil. These are some, but not all, of the distinguished men whose names are recorded as members of the Daviess county bar in the earlier period of the county's history. Among the attorneys and legal firms in the practice here about a generation later were the following: Col. Samuel H. Taylor, J. W. Burton, G. G. Barton, John C. Billheimer, John M. Van Trees, Alexander Hardy, J. M. Barr and E. F. Meredith. Some of these are dead; others are located and in business elsewhere.
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