USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > History of Elkhart County, Indiana; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history: portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 48
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563
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
At noon, on the fourth day, we reached the beautiful little city, situated on a high ridge, containing many fine residences, and with well-graded streets shaded by stately trees. By this time we had ascertained that a small body of Union troops were on the other side of the town, in a rude fortification hurriedly constructed of cotton bales, and that only onr timely arrival had prevented them being captured. With flying colors and our bands playing, we marched through the city. The windows and doors of the houses were filled with the faces of pretty maidens and ladies, who regarded us with much apparent interest, but it was to be regretted that the maseuline portion of the community viewed us with undoubted aversion. After moving through the town and making our appear- ance on the other side, we were saluted with cheers by our lately beleagnered comrades, to which we ardently replied. The enemy had learned of our approach and had quietly withdrawn. Never- theless, several hundred " contrabands " (the colored race being still in bondage) were busily engaged in felling trees to afford the artil- lery the desired range. Evidences of a lively skirmish that had recently taken place were abundant. After a lengthy delay our brigade marehed down to the green banks of the river, and in a magnificent oak forest we pitehed our tents. It was a region more suited for the haunts of lovers and poets than for the temporary home of turbulent soldiers. Dense leafy canopies shielded from the hot rays of the Southern sun; the air was languid and prompted to repose; willows hung in thick masses to kiss the shining tide of that sylvan river; fruits and flowers burdened the air with per- fume; at night the stars seemed softer and brighter than elsewhere; breezes came from over a land balmy and beautiful, and only our white tents were remindful of gloomy and sanguinary war.
Sneh unanticipated joys are often experienced throughout a campaign, and they almost atone for half the miseries it entails.
The 136th Regiment comprised Company K, furnished by Elk- hart county. This company was organized May 21, 1864, for 100 days' service, under Captain Myron A. Hawks, Lieutenants Geo. W. Best and Albert Yates. In the ranks were: J. E. Andrews, R. Alford, C. A. Allen, C. B. Broderick, HI. Bechtel, U. A. Beardsley, H. Barber, J. F. Bemberger, D. W. Bonnell, S. Banninger, F. Burns, Tully Chamberlain, C. A. Crocker, B. F. Clay, J. A. Car- mien, P. Culp, E. L. Cross, W. Carter, II. Druckamiller, E. J. Davis, Frank B. Defrees, M. L. Forbes, II. W. Farver, W. J. Fowler, B. S. Frazier, S. II. Grimes, C. E. Gardner, A. V. Good- speed, E. II. IInggins, M. Hueston, M. C. Haney, G. Hapner, E. Hildebiddle, J. H. Huff, W. M. Hovey, J. Honk, T. S. Johnson, G. W. Kennison, G. Knox, J. C. Kittle, J. A. Lambs, W. II. Liver- ing, W. H. Miller, A. J. Miller, D. (. Miller, W. Mcader, T. D. Morse, E. W. McAllister, Z. A. Macomber, G. E. McDaniels, G.
564
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
W. Monnt, J. McKinley, A. Nee, W. M. Olivine, H. G. P. Ob- linger, D. Ott, J. W. Ott, L. A. Powers, L. H. Phelps, J. O. Pond, J. H. Rosswell, J. A. Roach, Geo. Reynolds, L. S. Richardson, F Rudy, J. K. Smock, E. O. Shaw, C. Shaw, F. E. Shaw, L. A. Scho- field, A. J. Sherlock, J. F. Simpson, C. D. Sherwin, E. P. Shelt, J. B. Syphart, G. L. Thorpe, C. J. Thompson, Mahlon Thompson, G. W. Fiedemann. Ral. Tripp, H. Versalus, S. Van Tassel, E. Wal- burn, J. J. White, J. M. Woomer, F. F. Yeoman and G. Zimmer.
The idea of one hundred days' volunteers originated with Gov. Morton; and his ardent desire to bring hostilities to a close was so participated in by the people of this county, even as of the State in general, that no difficulty was experienced in the formation of the eight regiments furnished by Indiana.
Company D, of the 142d Regiment, was organized in Elkhart county in September and October, 1864, for one year's service, and Thomas H. Chance commissioned Captain. The other officers from the county were: Lientenants, David Frankfoder and William Holland, promoted from 2d Lientenant and 1st Sergeant respect- ively. The roster of enlisted men contained the following names: B. H. Curtis, D. R. Longnecker, C. R. Frisby, J. Holland, Ser- geants; W. J. Wolf, R. G. Bailey, J. Lechlitner, P. Weekes, D. H. Winbrener, J. Scott, I. Willis, H. W. Gore, Corporals; A. B. Wal- verton and James Shewy, Musicians; with Privates E. V. Ad- kins, S. Allen, A. Arnspacker, J. Bailey, A. Bell, J. W. Bowman, F. Blyly, J. Brambaugh, J. Balenline, J. H. Bryan, W. J. Blair, H. Bebe, J. Clark, D. Culp, A. D. Carry, F. O. Carry, J. C. Cnn- ningham, J. Debelbus, J. W. Deming, J. Dunnivan, F. Dnsheet, S. Eyer, W. Fletters, A. L. Frakes, D. Fuse, B. J. Funk, J. Grove, Sol. Gruber, H. Gnipe, Jos. Hughes, M. W. Henry, W. R. Linds- ley, P. B. Lowcks, Wm. Matthews, E. Morris, J. B. Nolan, M. Rone, W. Shewy, Irvin St. John, J. Wittmycr, C. H. Whyte, C. F. Whitson and Wm. Wittmyer. Among the great majority of Elkhart men in this company were a few from the surrounding connties, and nine from neighboring States. Its principal duty was performed before Nashville.
The 152d Regiment held a fair representation of the military element of Elkhart in many of its companies. In the roll of offi- cers the following names appear: Major Waldschmidt, Capts. H. W. Smith, J. W. Liveringhouse, Lientenants E. Liebole, J. Scheckles, J. F. Carmien and C. M. Boyd. The roster of enlisted men contained the following names: 1st Sergeant, J. S. Chase; Ser-
565
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
geants, E. F. Manning, H. J. Corns, M. Hurd, C. Onderkirk; Cor- porals, J. Zoover, A. Klinefelter, W. Bowld, S. Davis, M. Hartzog, W. Dagget, W. J. Smith, C. Barnhart; Musicians, G. W. Keller and II. A. Rudy; Privates, J. C. Allen, W. Blake, P. Culp, J. Con- fer, G. Compton, T. W. Corns, A. M. Cassida, J. Campbell, C. Confer, O. R. Everett, J. B. Eckhart, S. Ernsperger, II. Farver, W. H. Foster, H. Guy, H. Grissom, J. Garl, Wm. Hovey, J. R. Haw- kins, R. Hilton, P. Heller, E. Hildebiddle, C. Hope, Eli Jenkins, A. Knee, D. L. Keggeriss, Wm. Kissinger, T. Longaker, G. P. Morse, J. Miller, C. Miller, Stephen Monries, J. P. Prickett, T. . Pendland, B. Probst, S. D. Plumbley, C. Ramer, C. Renninger, C. C. Rabins, W. Rosbrugh, I. F. Simpson, F. Strayer, I. Sheline, B. Stone, G. Stanger, S. Shively, D. Stewart, D. A. Shiner, A. Scott, W. B. Taylor, J. R. Thomas, E. Vesselius, C. T. Williams, and recruit Henry Vesselius.
In Company B were: J. H. Baker, J. Jarrett, N. O. Kersey, J. B. Mock, A. Rhinehart, P. Slater and M. Thompson.
Company E was mainly composed of Elkhart men, viz .: D. M. Fravel, C. Klein, I. C. Fox, W. S. Pearman, J. Allison, J. Baum- back, C. Wentworth, L. Beckner, S. Tefft, L. Zumbrun, J. H. Hu ff, J. M. Selders, M. H. Phelps, F. Abreeht, R. Alford, C. E. Brown, Felix Burns, G. A. Blood, N. Berkey, E. Berkey, W. L. Burroughs, J. Berger, J. D. Boyd, R. Brown, J. A. Carmien, C. Chivington, L. Croop, J. J. Cripe, E. D. Case, A. E. Doty, E. Davis, Sam Erb, J. Favinger, J. C. Grimes, B. Grant, J. Griswold, E. Hildreth, HI. Helwes, J. W. Handson, C. F. Haskins, A. C. Jennings, T. Knight, G. Kreuger, D. Landaw, Lewis Liveringhouse, G. A. Losee, F. Lanther, A. Mayfield, H. Medland, II. Miller, A. J. Miller, L. W. Neusbaum, J. Nimrick, D. C. Newell, J. H. Newell, W. Overshott, F. Nay, J. Obrecht, L. H. Phelps, D. Poorbaugh, L. W. Peppley, S. Prough, A. Prough, G. M. Reger, E. Rehr, U. Snowberger, J. Spahr, W. Smith, W. Sparks, P. A. Slote, F. A. Stroup, S. A. Scalf, T. D. Thomas, L. Walter, F. Walter and W. F. Walker. In addition to the above named soldiers there were 11 men in the company from other counties. The duty of this company was principally performed in conjunction with one of the provisional divisions of the Army of the Shenandoah.
The 21st Battery, Light Artillery, comprised W. Harper, W. A. Miller, E. W. Cooper, J. W. Cornell, W. L. Cornell, E. Cole, J. Copeland, S. II. Eldridge, II. W. Hiekson, W. J. Smith, B. L. Slight, G. A. White, D. Houser, W. Haggerty, H. H. Loomis, of
566
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
Middlebury, C. L. Brant, J. A. Ashbaugh, G. Barnhouse, L. Coffin and W. Cornell. Elkhart. W. Marker, E. L. Montgomery and G. H. Miller, Bristol; C. J. Werntz and E. M. Hubbell, Goshen. No less than 27 members of this battery were consigned to their graves previous to September, 1864.
Of the entire number of men comprised in these regiments, over 3,000 volunteers, volunteer recruits and drafted men were from Elkhart county who, when entitled. received a bounty of $192,- 611.97; while their families received from the county treasurer the sum of $60,420.48.
LOSSES BY DEATH OR DISEASE.
The losses by death or disease suffered by the respective regi- ments during their service were as follows: 9th, 348; 17th, 234; 19th, 280; 28th, 157; 29th, 296; 30th, 310; 41st, 230; 44th, 250; 48th, 213; 57th, 266; 71st, 263; 74th, 280; 88th, 212; 100th, 235; 127th, 174; 129th, 175; 136th, 5; 142d, 65; 152d, 49; 21st, Bat. L. A., 27. Total, 4,069.
The above statement is surely a record of duty done, and if the large proportion of Elkhart troops attached to these twenty regi- ments be considered, with what pride may their relatives and conn- trymen look back to the past when they offered up such a number of gallant hearts on the altars of patriotism, and thus preserved the Republie from a terrible fate-the destruction of a true federaliza- tion, by one apparent enemy from within, assisted by unnumbered enemies of liberty from without. Yes, let the people of the pres- ent and future follow in the tracks of the illustrious dead, whenever this great country is threatened; and transmit from generation to generation a land of illimitable possibilities, a patriotism incorrupt- ible, a Government at once strong and just, and a set of principles so perfeet that they will not only give happiness to the citizens of this country, but will also lead the people of other trampled lands to carve out for themselves a high road to that freedom whichi a God intended they should enjoy.
OAK RIDGE CEMETERY
is honored in being the temporary resting place of many of the heroic dead.
567
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
The following list of soldiers buried in Oak Ridge was read dur- ing the celebration of Decoration Day, May 30, 1879, by J. W. Irwin, who presided over the ceremonies.
Johu Back, Peter Dermoty, Frank Buckers, Lewis Rayıner, Andrew Scott, Henry Hemrick, Henry Boreman, Wm. Bresline, David Studebaker, John Q. Sherman, Asa Norton, Capt. Jackson Woolverton, Capt. E. F. Abbott (killed in battle), Wm. Weed, Henry Sarbangh, Jerry Wysong, Frederick Walters, Capt. R. F. Mann, Gideon Albright, J. R. Albright, I. B. Smith, Frederick Harter, Col. E. J. Wood, Levi Ganser, Abraham Jacobs, Peter Behler. P. A. Tiedman, Aaron Howard, E. Potts, William Vesey, Eugene Devine, Lieut. W. Crawford Blaine (fell in battle), James Harris, John Graham (died in home camp), E. W. H. Ellis (com- mander of camp), Capt. L. J.Croxton, Q. M., Geo. Self, J. W. Butts, John Martin, Perry J. Maine, Miss Hannah Powell (volunteer hos- pital nurse), William Stevens, veteran of 1812, died at the age of 90 years. He took part in the action of Sackett's Harbor.
The Hon. J. D. Osborn delivered the oration appropriate to the day, and in reviewing the heroic deeds of the American soldiery, made it the occasion of defining the oft repeated phrase, " Love of Country," which, as he said, is not merely a desire to retain it as an abiding place in which to live and rear our families, but it is a love of our institutions, its laws and its traditions, its honor and glory.
JACKSON CEMETERY.
The Rev. J. B. Work paid a brilliant tribute to the memory of the dead interred in Jackson Cemetery, on the same day. In giving the names of those fallen soldiers of the Union, it will merely be necessary to quote from the discourse of the orator. "History records that in a battle fought at the foot of Mount Vesuvius between the Romans and Campagnans, the Roman Counsellor, Decius, to inspire his troops, caused himself to be set apart as a sacrifice to the god of war, and thus arrayed rushed on the enemy, sword in hand, bravely fighting till he fell all covered with wounds. But we boast not of the one, but of the thousands, of the sons of Columbia who led the forlorn hope,-Donelson and Corinth, Ma-
568
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
nassas and Chickamauga, Nashville and Petersburg .- whose ashes to-day sleep peacefully in the national cemeteries. From among you went forth fathers, and husbands, and sons. Some returned maimed and disfigured for life; some came home to die, and some came cold in death, and to-day sleep in your beautiful city of the dead." Mr. Work then named the gallant men who now occupy a small space in the cemetery: E. M. Hubble, Jas. Corns, Lewis Corns, J. H. Corns, Darwin Kiler, Mark Thompson, R. H. Elzed, -- Price, John Lupes, Bushong, Gross. "Peace be to their ashes; they sleep in quietude among their kindred, awaiting the coming morning of immortality." His wish found an echo in the hearts of his hearers, and thus the memories of the dead were honored in the cemetery of Jackson.
The idea of this annual celebration is fully shown forth in a recent address of the "Grand Army of the Republic" to the soldiers and sailors of the State of Indiana. It states: " It is fit- ting, therefore, that we, from time to time, gather in pleasant rennion to commemorate those days of common danger, common suffering, and yet withal of warmest fellowship and kindliest sym- pathy. Let companions in arms, long separated, take this oppor- tunity once again to meet around the peaceful camp-fire to renew the friendships of the living, and to keep fresh the memories of those who died that the nation might live." This is the language of the noblest part of humanity; for, since every great cause, every civilizing reform, and every attempt of chained tyranny to ride rough-shod over liberty, requires the sacrifice of much human blood, it is but just that the comrades and conntrymen of the soldiers so sacrificed in battle should assemble at stated times to do honor to the dead, and pledge themselves by all the memories which such a meeting awakens, to fight, and die if necessary, in defense of all these holy privileges and great principles that pertain to the Republic.
THE FAMILIES OF THE SOLDIERS.
A meeting of citizens was convened at Goshen April 20, 1861, for the purpose of adopting measures for the relief of the families of volunteers, when the following names of subscribers to a relief fund and the amounts contributed were submitted;
Samuel Ro. Miller
571
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
J. W. Irwin. $100 00 | J. S. Black ...
5 00| G. D. Evans. 5 00
E. W. H. Ellis. . . 100 00 Geo. H. Hazen. . ..
00 M. Billings. . 10 00
Geo. Howell. 100 00 A. Yeakel.
10 00 F. Jackson .. 25 00
J. W. Violett. 100 00 Wm. Shilling.
,00 S. P. Yeoman. .. 000
B. G. Crary. 100 00
W. A. Bcane.
5 00 Henry Yonts .. 5 00
J. L. Crary. 100 00
I. Heddon ...
5 00 W. B. Macumber. 5 00
John Cook. 100 00
W. B. Martin. . ..
10 00
John Stauffer. . . 10 00
W. A. Thomas. 100 00
D. C. Bishop. ...
2 00 D. Bowser. . 5 00
H. W. Bissell. 100 00
C. B. Munson. .. . . .
2 00 Abner Blue. 10 00
W. W. Wickam ... 100 00
Jacob & Bros. . ..
25 00 O. D. Miner. : 5 00
C. G. March &
100 00
C. F. Butterfield. . Israel Wyland.
I. W. Drake.
3 00 Geo. Temple. ..
5 00
Jos. Lauferty. 40 00
P. C. Messick.
25 00
I. Weyburn 10 00
M. Mercer
100 00
M. M. Latta ..
25 00 R. McCleary.
4 00
Pooley & Co.
25 00
Jesse Fuson.
5 00 J. B. Butter ..
10 00
Ben Hartzog.
15 00
20 00 C. E. Lawrence .. .
10 00| B. Krider.
5 00
J. H. Defrees.
100 00
A. L. Hubbell. .
25 00
C. Arnold.
5 00
C. B. Kline.
5 00
D. M. Fravel.
5 00
M. Weybright 5 00
J. B. Drake.
10 00 T. S. Yates.
5 00
W. L. Cady.
20 00
P. E. Studebaker ..
5 00
Geo. Purl.
2 50 John Hunt.
5 00
S. H. Weyburn
50 00
W. Earle.
15 00
Thomas Miller.
5 00
C. Grosspitch.
5 00
J. Shelt. .
15 00 W. B. Palmer. 5 00
Allen Smith
25 00
L. H. Noble.
25 00 J. A. Venen .. 10 00
M. Bashon.
25 00
5 00 L. Phelps. 10 00
B. Hess.
5 00
A. J. Matteson. . . A. C. & W. Jackson E. & J. Gortner. . .
25 00
P. Drake 5 00
J. H. Dille.
10 00
50 00
W. W. McVilty. 25 00
N. H. Brown 5 00
C. W. Stevens ..
5 00
A. McKenney.
5 00 E. G. Chamberlain.
15 00
E. J. Wood.
10 00
J. H. Schell.
10 00 I. B. Slaughter ....
5 00
G. K. Winters .. . . .
5 00 J. A. S. Mitchell. .
5 00 Beers & Cunning-
15 00
Wm. Ellison.
10 00 00 C. Hawks.
10 00
C. S. Hascall ..
10 00
J. E. Lindsley. ...
5 00 M. E. Cole.
50 00 Gideon Albright. . .
15 00
A. E. Crane ..
5 00 W. H. Pease ..
25 00 E. Hawks ... 25 00
J. D. Knox. 5 00 S. C. Brainard. ...
00 Jacob Hahn. 5 00
J. M. Peters. 5 00 Isaac Pierce ..
10 00
A. J. Broombaugh.
1 00
Wm. Bachelor. 3 00 I. S. Freeman.
50 00
E. Martin.
5 00 | R. Morton.
5 00
Total. .$3,038 50
P. M. Henkel .. 25 00
H. Eggleston.
3 00 M. W. Pearson. 5 00
5 00 H. Morgan. 5 00
C. B. Taylor & Son 100 00
W. F. McCoy. . .
Wm. H. Lash .. . . 10 00 Allen Douglas
10 00
A. W. Watters
20 0 D. B. Studebaker ..
5 00
J. Albright. 5 00
J. Hays.
E. F. Abbott .. . . 5 00 D. D. Coppes. 5 00
25 00 A. C. Manning .. 100 00 Noah Anderson ...
10 00
Peter Behler.
A. A. Tudeman .. 00
A. & B. Hascall ... A. Lochiem.
25 00
J. K. Mulholland.
5 00
J. L. Kendig. . .
3 00 Geo. Rowell. 25 00
J. H. Barns. 100 00
10 00 W. A. McAllister ..
25 00
John Tudemann
This was only the work of an hour, and shows, with the thousands of other evidences, the patriotic spirit which animated the people of Elkhart county. They waited not for the county authorities to initiate the fund; but with their proverbial promptitude came for- ward in support of a cause which was only second to the defense of the Republic. There were many donations subsequently made by citizens of the county, but this list is confined to the initiators of the good work, in token of the honor which ever awaits the originators of philanthropic and patriotic movements. Private benevolence held the place of public dnty until the September ses- sion of 1861. The Board of Commissioners, aware of the pressing necessity for volunteers to serve in the armies of the Republic, and 35
50 00 ham. .
572
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
knowing also that many men within the county were desirous of entering into the campaign, if only an offer were made by the county to provide for their families during their absence, an ordi- nance was issued, appointing agents to supervise the wants of the families of absent volunteers, and empowering them to provide supplies for each family, such supplies not to exceed the value of $10 per month in each case. The agents thus appointed served without pay, and the list comprised the following names: Charles B. Deavy, Clinton; James Banta, Benton; Lewis Hoops, Jackson; C. S. Farber, Harrison; Dean Swift, Concord; G. K. Hoke, Bango; J. C. Bennett, Olive; Abner Blue, Jefferson; D. B. Mather, Mid- dlebury; A. B. Arnold, York; L. H. Sovereign, Washington; J. Shaver, Osolo; E. C. Abbott, Cleveland; T. Yoder, Union; G. W. Ebby, Locke.
A report was tendered by these men to E. W. H. Ellis, County Auditor, on Dec. 3, 1861, showing the number of families supplied in each township and the amount of money expended in the carry- ing out of the ordinance to that date. This report may thus be sum- marized :
Township,
No. Supplied,
Amount,
Elkhart ..
43
$ 332 50
Middlebury.
13
105 83
Olive. .
14
209 72
Jefferson
5
70 08
Clinton.
3
48 45
Benton
2
28 49
Washington.
53 00
Union .
15
224 05
Total.
101
$1,083 12
This would show an ontlay, in the case of each of the 101 families, of $10.72 for the three months ending Dec. 3, or $3.57 2-5 each per month, being $6.42 3-5 less than the sum actually permitted to be devoted in each instance.
The commissioners, in session, February, 1862, amended the original ordinance in some particulars, and suggested that the volunteers engaged in the field, however patriotic their duty may be, are not relieved from the responsibilities which paternity imposes on them, and therefore should contribute, so far as in their power, to the sustenance of their families. This order was doubt- less suggested by the great increase in the demand for supplies, for Auditor Ellis' report, presented in March, 1862, shows the expend-
12 00
Concord.
573
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
itures in this connection to exceed by over 300 per cent. the out- lay of the first three months.
Townships.
Amount.
Elkhart.
.$1,265 58
Clinton.
122 00
Benton .
100 00
Jackson.
34 00
Harrison.
56 00
Concord
793 00
Baugo
26 00
Olive.
387 00
Jefferson.
119 00
Middlebury
369 00
York.
9 90
Washington.
80 00
Osolo.
38 75
Cleveland.
61 28
Union
21 00
Locke
6 05
Total
$3,491 73
The following expenditures, for the first six months, will convey a knowledge of the spirited manner in which the county came for- ward to supply the families of the soldiers:
Township.
3 months ending May, 1962. §1,018 21
3 months ending Sept. 1, 1862.
Cinton.
138 00
47 00
Benton.
5 00
Jackson
121 25
80 00
Harrison .
48 00
28 00
Concord
688 75
306 60
Olive. .
166 32
135 13
Jefferson.
68 25
..
Middlebury
317 84
103 63
York.
46 75
62 00
Washington
69 00
Osolo.
96 44
60 02
Cleveland.
21 00
35 04
Baugo
10 00
Locke.
L'nion
Total
$2,827 21
$1,184 88
Ellkhart .
$317 46
During the September session of the Board, the township trus- tees, in charge of the families of absent soldiers, were instructed to report to the county auditor the names of families entitled to support, who would then issue county orders to the trustecs for the use of such families. With this change in the form of proceed- ing the reporting by townships ccased, and a very complicated form was adopted. For this reason, the expenditures, under the head of "supplies to the families of volunteers," for the remaining term will be only briefly noticed, since a recapitulation of the monthly expenditures would prove as unnecessary as it would extensive. From an examination of the figures on record it will
574
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
be evident, that up to and ineluding May 31, 1863, the sum devoted to the support of volunteers' families was $15,141.42, and from calculation of the number of Elkhart men in the armies entitled to bounty, and who received such bounty, it appears that no less a sum than $5,126 was paid out of the county treasury to that date.
A statement of supplies for families during the five succeeding months in this cause, is as follows:
June, 81,008.93; July, $540.50; August, $782; September, $757.99; October, $996.83 .- Total, $4,085.75. This sum, with the total expenditure for the year ending May, 1863, gives a grand total of $24,354 disbursed within a period of seventeen months as bounty to volunteers, and for the support of their wives and chil- dren. From October, 1863, to May, 1864, a further sum of $7,818.88 was similarly expended, showing an outlay of $32,172.92 for the two years ending May 31, 1864. The report furnished in June, 1865, for the year ending May 31, 1865, gives the amount expended on volunteers as $18,019.10, and the bounty as $22,329.90, which, added to $32,172.92, brings the expenditure entailed on the county by the civil war down to May 31, 1865, to the amount of $72,521.92, and this sum with $7,019.69, disbursed during the subsequent half-year, mounts up in the aggregate to $79,541.61, expended directly by a county then emerging from infaney. Some thousands of dollars were also expended by the county during the war for the relief of the poor and other benevolent purposes, so that it is not too much to place the direet financial loss falling on Elkhart county, and solely occasioned by an insurrection of slave- holders in defense of a principle opposed to the Republic, at the high figure of $130,000. The indirect losses resulting from that war, and falling heavily on this county, can never be estimated.
Why? So magnificent is the military record of the county that a stranger attempting to write its military history would, without suspecting the greatness of the people, their recuperative powers, or the extent and grandeur of their achievements in war, most probably pass it over with a reference to a few regiments, of which he learned a little in the works of former antique historians, or perhaps leave it unnoticed. The sacrifices of the people were not made in vain. The county, with a rare power of recuperation, survived its great losses, and though her sons who fell in defense of the Union cannot be restored to this world, their memory lives, and will live on forever, to inspire the future with a full sense of what liberty is worth, and teach future generations to guard it as nobly and faithfully as they did.
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CHAPTER XII.
COUNTY FINANCES AND STATISTICS.
Westward the course of empire takes its way, The four first acts already past, A fifth shall close the drama with the day; Time's noblest offspring is the last.
There is no more certain index to the financial condition of a free State than its public accounts. So it is with any portion of the State, where the citizens enjoy the liberty of managing their own affairs. Now, since it is conceded that such a statement as is generally set forth in the annual report of a county auditor, or in the annual exhibit of a county treasurer, may be taken as a sure standpoint from which to judge the financial condition of the county and the wealth of the inhabitants, it is not too much to assume that Elkhart holds a first place among the integral parts of Indiana. To render an examination of the growth of the county, as shown by its revenue, more convenient, let us select from the foregoing table a decennial statement. In 1830 the good old Board of Justices received through the county treasurer and other officials the sum of $198.81, of which was disbursed $183.44, leaving a surplus of $15.37. In 1839, ten years after the county was organ- ized, the revenue as reported to the county commissioners reached $3,438.53, the expenditures $5,198.72, showing a sum of $1,760.19 due by the people. In 1849 the receipts are found to have almost doubled in amount,-no less than $6,162.15 being received, of which $5,545.18 were disbursed. The surplus revenue carried for- ward was $616.97. In 1859 the sum reported to have entered the treasury was $33,020.58, and the sum disbursed $29,777.11, leaving a balance favorable to the county of $3,243,47. Ten years later, in
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