USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 22
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THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT AND BOARD OF JUSTICES.
The constitution of 1816 provided for three commissioners for each county, the same to take charge of the business which had heretofore been performed by the county court. The first meeting of the commissioners of Franklin county under the Constitution of 1816 was held in Brookville on Monday, February 10, 1817, with Samuel Rockafellar and Enoch D. John present as commissioners. James Wilson, the other commissioner, appeared first at the May, 1817, meeting of the board.
The county commissioners continued the work formerly done by the county court until August 9, 1824. The Legislature of 1824 made a radical change in the method of conducting the affairs of the counties. By this new act the office of county commissioner was abolished and the affairs of the county entrusted to a board of justices. By this provision the board of justices for Franklin county, which first met September 6, 1824, including no less than seventeen men: Henry Jenkinson, James A. Lowes, Sanford Keeler, John Allen, James McKnight, John Foster, Samuel Murphy, Jacob P. Ervin, Joseph S. Allen, Daniel Ogden, Solomon Allen, William Sims, Urban Edgerton, John Davidson, John Reid, Thomas Flint and Bradbury Cottrel. These seventeen men performed the same duties as three men had
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previously done and continued to do so until May 8, 1827. The minutes of the meetings of the board of justices are found in book G, pages 1-85.
The Legislature of 1826-27 abolished the board of justices and restored the office of county commissioner. The first session of the new board of commissioners met in Brookville November 5, 1827, and since that year the county affairs have been handled by a board of three commissioners. The three commissioners who met at this time were James Webb, George Sutton and John Foster.
THE FIRST COMMON PLEAS COURT.
The first court of common pleas assembled at Brookville on March 4, 18II, and was in charge of Judges Benjamin McCarty, John Templeton and Thomas Brown. The clerk, Enoch McCarty, and sheriff, Robert Hanna, were also members of the court. The grand jury was sworn in, composed of the following freeholders: John Brown (foreman), William Logan, John Livingston, John Hanna, Robert Templeton, David Bell, Thomas Clark, Conrad Sailor, Solomon Tyner, Stephen Martin, Britton Gant, James Win- chell, William Nicholas, James Nicholas, William Dubois, John Allen, John Milholland, John Thompson, Jacob Sailors, Allen Ramsey, John Lefforge, Joshua Porter and Robert Glidewell. This grand jury returned only a few indictments. James McCoy and Fielding Jeter were indicted for retailing "strong water" and were fined three dollars and twelve dollars respectively. Samuel Henry was charged with selling cider in quantities of less than two gallons without license and this oversight on his part cost him twelve dollars and costs. This said Henry was granted a license to keep a tavern in his house at this same court, the privilege costing him two dollars. James Adair was also granted a tavern license upon the payment of the same sum to the county. Among other items of interest in the records of this first common pleas court may be mentioned the payment of wolf bounties. George Frasier and Peter Youngblood were allowed seventy-five cents apiece for killing three wolves each. Stephen Harrell was paid a dollar for killing two wolves under six months, while William Harrell received the same amount for kill- ing two wolves of the same age.
Five men applied for admission to the bar-Elijah Sparks, James Dill, James Noble, Stephen C. Stephens and Jesse L. Holman. According to the law in those days, all lawyers practicing in the courts of any county had to be formally admitted to the practice in that county. This does not neces- sarily mean that they ever had more than one case in the county.
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THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT.
It has already been mentioned that there was in addition to the county and common pleas courts, a circuit court, which was the forerunner of our present state federal court. The circuit court was presided over by a judge appointed by the United States government. The first circuit court in Frank- lin county convened on Monday, June 24, 1811, and was presided over by Benjamin Parke, who was one of the United States circuit judges for. Indi- ana Territory. The grand jury on this occasion was composed of Patrick McCarty, John Miller, William Crofford, Robert Swan, David Hollings- worth, Daniel Cunningham, John Hanna, John Logan, Samuel Ely, Elliott Herndon, Philemon Harvey, James Putnam, John Carson, John Pergit, James McGinnis, Reuben Lines and Joseph Rippy. This grand jury re- turned two indictments, one against Polly Knigte for selling whiskey to the Indians and the other against Stephen C. Stephens for selling a tin pan to an Indian. Just what this latter offense was is not known, but evidently it was not very serious since the indictment against Stephens was quashed. Polly pleaded not guilty and was released on bond in the sum of three dollars and bound over to the next term of court (June 21, 1813), when she was ac- quitted. This court was in session only one day.
The courts which have been briefly mentioned were conducted by men of sterling integrity, if not of profound legal knowledge. In the early his- tory of the state, and Franklin county was no exception, the associate judges were as liable to be farmers or tavern keepers as lawyers. Justices of the peace (and these custodians of the law were more prominent in the early history of the state than they are now) were nearly always farmers, but they made up in common sense what they lacked in legal knowledge. To the per- son who reads over the records of the courts in Franklin county there ap- pears to be no appreciable difference between this county and others in the state as far as misdemeanors and felonies are concerned. The commis- sioners' records show how the early settlers struggled to get their cartways; how they protested against high taxes : how they took care of their poor ; what a struggle they had to get the townships organized, and finally, there are scores of pages which list the misdemeanors of our good forefathers. Hundreds of fines were assessed for fighting, drunkenness, gambling, work- ing on the Sabbath, dueling and profanity. The fines were usually one dollar and costs, although there were many instances where it only cost a man fifty cents to whip his neighbor, the crime being listed in the records as "salt and battery."
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
LAWYERS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
The following list of lawyers is arranged in the order of their admission to the Franklin county bar, and contains many of the most noted lawyers of our state. In this list may be seen United States senators, congressmen, governors, state senators and representatives, members of the supreme court of our state, ministers to foreign countries and scores of lawyers whose names were once known throughout the state. The dates are taken from the court records and indicate when admission to the local bar was granted.
Elijah Sparks, March 4, 18II. James Noble, March 4, 18II. James Dill, March 4, 18II. Jesse L. Holman, March 5, 18II. John Test, April 13, 1812. Isaac Blackford, May 10, 1813. William Hendricks, Nov. 8, 1813. John Lawrence, May 16, 1814. Amos Lane, Oct. 10, 1814. Pinckney Janes, Oct. 10. 1814. James McKinney, March 15, 1815. Miles C. Eggleston, March 3, 1817. Hezekiah B. Hill, March 3, 1817. Stephen C. Stevens, March 3, 1817. Daniel J. Caswell, Nov. 20, 1818. William R. Morris, Nov. 20, 1818. Daniel Drew, Nov. 20, 1818. Isaac S. Brower, Feb. 12, 1819. William W. Wick, Feb. 12, 1819. Isaac M. Johnson, May 17, 1819. Richard S. Wheatley, March 15, 1820. Charles H. Test, Aug. 17, 1822. Thomas J. Langdon, March 19, 1827. N. G. Howard, March 19, 1827. Charles Fox, Sept. 18, 1827. Septimus Smith, Sept. 18, 1827. John S. Newman, Sept. 15, 1828. Stephen S. Harding, Sept. 18, 1828. Benjamin S. Noble, March 22, 1830.
Henry Bigger, March 24, 1830. John M. Johnston, March 17, 1829. John Test, Jr., March 17, 1829. Philip Sweetzer, March 23, 1830. Samuel W. Parker, April 11, 1832. William M. McCarty, April 9, 1833. James B. Haile, April 9, 1833. Daniel S. Major, April 18, 1833. John A. Matson, Oct. 8, 1832. John Ryman, Oct. 8, 1832. George Holland, Oct. 8, 1832. Andrew Davison, Oct. 14, 1833. John Hutchens, Oct. 14, 1833. William Dailey, Oct. 14, 1833. James T. Brown, April 15, 1834. Philip S. Spooner, April 15, 1834. Courtland C. Cushing, April 15, 1834. Abram A. Hammond, April 13, 1835 John McPike, April 13, 1835. Hugh B. Eggleston, Aug. 5, 1837. John Dumont, Feb. 19, 1838. P. A. Hackleman, Feb. 19, 1838. John D. Howland, Aug. 8, 1842. James B. Sleeth, Aug. 8, 1842. John H. Farquhar, Aug. 8, 1842. John Yaryan, March 10, 1846. Daniel D. Jones, Aug. 26, 1847. Hadley D. Johnson, Feb. 9, 1848. John T. McCarty, Feb. 9, 1848.
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Edgar Haymond, Aug. 29, 1849. James Gavin, Jr., Aug. 24, 1850. Wilson Morrow, 1853. Alfred Ward, 1853. James R. McClure, 1853. Henry C. Hanna.
Cyrus Kilgore, 1853. N. M. Crookshank, 1853.
Joseph Brady, 1853. Henry Berry, Jr., 1853. Fielding Berry, 1859. S. S. Harrel, 1860.
W. H. Bracken, 1861.
John F. McKee, 1867.
Thomas Smith, 1873. McMahon, 1873. David W. McKee, 1873. F. M. Alexander, 1877. Edwin W. High, 1877. Charles F. Jones, 1879.
D. Allison, 1879 or 1880. Isaac Carter, 1881.
Edgar O'Hair, 1881. George F. O'Byrne, 1882.
Emmett R. Wilson, Sept. 27, 1890. Joseph F. Bickel, Dec. 3, 1892. Orrin E. Walker, Sept. 7, 1893. Arthur H. Jones, May 4, 1894. William F. Flack, Sept. 24, 1894. Frank M. Smith, 1896. Milford P. Hubbard, Dec. 4, 1897. Andrew J. Ross, April 30, 1838 .. Marshall R. Alexander, May 2, 1898.
Murat W. Hopkins, Nov. 22, 1900. George E. Mullin, Sept. 9, 1901. Howard M. Gordon, Sept. 9, 1901. George R. Foster, May 8, 1903. I. N. McCarty, 1904. Ben Winans, Jr., Feb. 5, 1906. Charles P. Fant, Nov. 30, 1908. Edward Stenger, Feb. 1, 1909. Will A. Younts, May 8, 1912. Louis A. Jonas, May 8, 1912.
Albert J. Peine, Oct. 2, 1914. J. B. Kidney. George Haman. John Brockman.
CHAPTER VIII.
COUNTY OFFICIALS.
The following is as near a complete list of the various officers who have served in Franklin county since its organization as can now be obtained from the records of each office :
AUDITORS.
Hiram Carmichael, from August, 1841, to 1850; Andrew R. Mccleery, 1850-57: John H. Quick, 1857-64: C. B. Bentley, 1864-71; George Berry, 1871-80; John P. Schlitz, 1880-88; Henry Sellmeyer, 1888-96; George Ray King, 1896-04; Charles A. Miller, 1904-12; Charles G. Reifel, 1912 and holds until January 1, 1920.
TREASURERS.
Robert Templeton, 1820-1827; W. M. McCleery, 1827-1841; Elisha Long, August, 1841-2; Theodore Pursel, 1842-50; B. H. Burton, 1850-53; William Robeson, 1853-55: B. H. Swift, 1855-57; William Robeson, 1857- 61 ; Michael Batzner, 1861-62; B. H. West, 1862-67; J. B. Mooreman, 1867- 72: Casper Fogel, 1872-76; George F. Maxwell, 1876-80; A. J. Heasom, 1880-84: William M. McCleery, 1884-88; Anthony Bender, 1888-92; Robert D. Templeton, 1892-96; John W. Brockman, 1896-1900; F. J. Burkhart, 1900-04; William D. Moore, 1904-08; William M. McCarty, 1908-12; Frank J. Geis, 1912 and serves until January 1, 1917.
CLERKS OF THE COURT.
Enoch McCarty was clerk and recorder (both offices being held by the same person up to the adoption of the state constitution, 1817), serving as such from 18II to 1817 and then as clerk until 1831 ; Robert John, 1831-45, or fourteen years; John M. Johnston, 1845-60, fifteen years; Henry Berry, Jr., 1860-68, eight years ; Samuel S. Harrell. 1868-76, eight years : Ferdinand S. Swift, 1876-80, four years; William H. Bracken, 1880-88, eight years;
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James B. Kidney, 1888-96, eight years; Richard S. Taylor, 1896-1904, eight years ; Louis A. Jones, 1904-12, eight years; Will M. Baker, February 14, 1912, and serves until January 1, 1920.
SHERIFFS.
Robert Hanna, 1811-20; Noah Noble, 1823-24; Henry Jenkinson, a part of 1825; Robert John, 1825-27; John Roop, 1831-32; Daniel St. John, 1832-36; Thomas Pursell, 1836-40; Jeremiah O. St. John, 1840-44; William Robeson, 1845-49; O. B. Bartlow, 1850-56; M. Batzner, 1856-58; W. A. J. Glidewell, 1858-62; J. B. Moorman, 1862-67; Joseph L. Case, 1868-69; John WV. Seal, 1869-73: John L. Case, 1873-76; George B. Winscott, 1876-80; William W. Williams, 1880-84; Jacob Gerber, 1884-88; William J. Zach- arias, 1888-92; John Roemer, 1892-96; Frank Moorman, 1896-1900; Joseph F. Dudley; 1900-04; H. E. Stinger, 1904-08; F. W. Baker, 1908-12; Robert H. Cook, 1912-16.
RECORDERS.
Enoch McCarty served both as recorder and clerk from 1811 to 1817, when the state constitution divided the two offices: B. F. Morris, 1817-20; William M. Wade, 1820-24; John Adair, 1824-31; John Hedley, 1831-33; George Holland, appointed for 1833; G. W. Kimble, 1834-46; Joseph A. Miller, 1846-51; John West, 1851-53: Redin Osborn, 1853-61; George F. Maxwell, 1861-69: F. A. Bauman, 1869-77; William Kerr, 1877-85; Louis Federman, Jr., 1885-93; H. E. Balsley, 1893-01; Ed Stenger, 1901-09; Atwell J. Shriner, 1909-13; John E. Enneking, 1913 and still serving.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
The county government was in the hands of the county court from February 18, 1811, to February 5, 1817. A board of three county com- missioners, which was the same as at present, was in charge from February 10, 1817, to August 19, 1824. This was changed to a board of county justices, which met for the first time September 6, 1824. The board of justices held their last session May 8, 1827, and were superseded by three county com- missioners who met November 5, 1827. There has been no change since 1827. Beginning with the board of county commissioners February 5, 1817, the commissioners were as follows (this record is as complete as the records show) :
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1817-Samuel Rockafellar, Enoch D. Johns, James Wilson.
1818 (fore part of year)-E. D. John, Allen Crisler, Samuel Rocka- fellar.
1818 (later part of year)-Samuel Rockafellar, John Scott, Philip Mason.
1819-Samuel Rockafellar, John Scott, Ed Brush.
1820-Samuel Rockafellar, John Scott, Ed Brush.
1820 (November)-Ed Brush, Samuel Shirk, James A. Piatt.
1821 -- Ed Brush, John Quick, John Davis.
1822-Same as in 1821.
1822-24-John Quick, John Davis, Andrew S. Babbitt.
From September 6, 1824, to May 8, 1827, the board of justices had charge of the affairs of the government of the county. In September, 1824, the board consisted of the following: Henry Jenkinson (president), James A. Lowez, Sanford Keeler, John Allen, James McKnight, John Foster, Samuel Murphy, Jacob P. Ervin, Joseph Allen, Daniel Ogden, Solomon Allen, William Sims, Urban Edgerton, John Davidson, John Reid, Thomas Flint and Bradbury Cottrel.
1825-Henry Jenkins (president), James Samuels, Sanford Keeler, Daniel Ogden, Henry Berry, James McKnight, John Reid, Samuel Murphy, Jacob P. Ervin, Judah Leaming, John Foster, William Sims, Joseph S. Allen, Bradbury Cottrel, Samuel Rockafellar.
1826-John Foster (president), Solomon Allen, James McKnight, Dan- iel Ogden, Judah Leaming, Henry Jenkins, Henry Berry, Charles Marlow, J. T. Ervin, Samuel Murphy, Sanford Keeler, Thomas Flint.
From this date on, practically, the same system of county commissioners as now obtains has been in vogue in the county. Owing to loss of records, the commissioners for the years from 1827 to 1831 cannot be given in com- plete form, but it is known that among such commissioners were John Foster, James Webb and George Sutton, who comprised the first board after that date. Then followed, as by years indicated. the following :
1828-George Sutton. 1831 to 1840-Samuel Shirk. 1831-32-David Price.
1831-James Webb, George Sutton, Samuel Shirk. 1832-Samuel Shirk, David Price, James Webb. 1834-W. T. Beeks, James Webb, Samuel Shirk. 1835-6-Samuel Shirk, James Webb, W. T. Beeks. 1837-James Webb, Samuel Shirk, M. Roop. 1838-Samuel Shirk, Robert Templeton, Jr., James Webb.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
1839-Samuel Shirk, Robert Templeton, Jr., Thomas Flint. 1840-Robert Templeton, Thomas Flint, E. Barber. 1841-2-E. Barber, Robert Templeton, E. Abrahams. 1844-E. Abrahams, E. Barber, Amos D. Martin. 1845-E. Barber, Amos D. Martin, Joseph Price. 1846-Amos D. Martin, Joseph Price, John P. Brady. 1847-John P. Brady, Reuben Cooley, Joseph Price. 1848-Cyrus Quick, Joseph Price, Levi Ayers. 1850-53-Levi Ayers, Joseph Quick, J. H. Farrott. 1855-Elmer Hiatt, Cyrus Quick, J. H. Farrot. 1856-J. H. Farrot, Elmer Hiatt, Simpson Calfee. 1858-Israel Goble, Elmer Hiatt, Robert Stoops. 1861-Robert Stoops, Israel Goble. John Bertenhover. 1862 -- Robert Stoops, M. W. Moore, John Bertenhover. 1864-D. H. Gavin, John Bertenhover, M. W. Moore. 1867-D. H. Gavin, M. W. Moore, N. Bath. 1868-M. W. Moore, N. Bath, William Robeson. 1869-71-William Robeson, N. Bath, Charles Hubbard. 1871 --- N. Bath, Charles Hubbard, J. T. Meyncke. 1872-Samuel Patterson, J. T. Meyncke, N. Bath. 1873-J. T. Meyncke, Samuel Patterson, Edward Goff. 1875 -- J. T. Meyncke, Edward Goff, A. Pepper. 1877-Edward Goff, A. Pepper, Levi W. Buckingham. 1879-Levi Buckingham, A. Pepper, Thomas Appleton.
1880-Levi W. Buckingham, Thomas Appleton, Edward Waechter. 1882-Thomas Appleton, Ed Waechter, Francis Kuehn. 1883-Thomas Appleton, Alfred Deter, Francis Kuehn. 1886-Alfred Deter, Francis Kuehn, John Dickson. 1888-Alfred Deter, Abraham Bossert, J. M. Vawter. 1890-Abraham Bossert, J. W. Vawter, Joseph Ortman. 1894-Joseph Ortman, John J. Conrad, Conrad Strasberger. 1896-John Conrad, Conrad Strasberger, Thomas Brown. 1901-Thomas Brown, Joseph Firsich, Jacob Bossert. 1902-Joseph Firsich, Jacob H. Bossert, Louis W. Koerner. 1903-Jacob Bossert, Louis Koerner, Joseph Firsich. 1904-Jacob Bossert, Louis Koerner, Joseph Firsich. 1905-Jacob Bossert, Louis Koerner, Joseph Firsich. 1906-Jacob Bossert, Louis Koerner, Joseph Firsich. (16)
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
1907-Louis Koerner, Lewis J. Brown, William Bohlander.
1908-Lewis J. Brown, William Bohlander, John C. Huermann.
1909-William Bohlander, Lewis J. Brown, John C. Huermann.
1910-William Bohlander, Lewis J. Brown, John C. Huermann.
19II-William Bohlander, Lewis J. Brown, John C. Huermann.
1912-William Bohlander, Lewis J. Brown, John C. Huermann. 1913-John C. Huermann, Perry Appleton, Jonathan Fruits.
1914-Perry Appleton, Jonathan Fruits, Clifford Jones.
1915-Perry Appleton, Jonathan Fruits, Clifford Jones.
1916-Perry Appleton, Herman Walther, Clifford Jones.
It is interesting to note that Herman. Walther, who was elected county commissioner in the fall of 1914, is the first Republican ever elected to a county office in Franklin county ..
CORONERS.
The only record of the list of coroners in Franklin county is that given for the following years: Henry Jenkins, 1817; James Blacklidge, 1825; J. H. Bowlby, 1852; Michael Batzner, 1858; Joseph E. Miller, 1859; A. W. Andre, 1866; James Marlatt, 1862; George W. Speer, 1873-76; Robert K. McIntosh, 1876; James S. Russell, 1880; George E. Squier, 1882-90; George F. Buckingham, 1890-96; G. H. Bogart, 1896-1900; J. C. Clawson, 1908-12; F. E. Seal, 1912-16.
SURVEYORS.
The following, elected or appointed, have served as surveyors of land within this county, as appears by the incomplete record of field notes now in possession of the county surveyor. The first name appearing on these early field notes is that of John Dunlap in 1820. The record then has the follow- ing in almost a complete chain to the present : James M. Clements seems to have been surveyor from 1831 to 1837; W. W. Carson, 1837-1845; James W. Clements, 1845-1848; John Wynn, 1848-1852; R. R. Spencer, 1852- 1854; Fielding Berry, from the latter part of 1854 for one year, and suc- ceeded by W. H. Hubbard in 1855, who served till 1857, when he was suc- ceeded by Fielding Berry, and he in 1858 again by W. H. Hubbard, who served up to 1860, when came Fielding Berry again, serving until 1861, and was followed by G. E. Glidewell. From that year the surveyors have been as follows: H. Younts, 1864-1867; M. R. Shields, 1867-1871 ; G. E. Glide- well, 1871-1875; T. A. Hardman, 1875-1877; George W. Klipple, 1877-
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
1880; William H. Younts. . 1880-1888; William Glidewell, 1888-1890; T. W. Lawrence, -1890-1902; W. H. Younts, 1902-1908; Frank R. Harder, 1908 to present time.
MISCELLANEOUS OFFICERS.
Owing to the absence of any records on various officials, only the fol- lowing partial list can be given of the subjoined officials of the county.
POUND KEEPERS.
Pound keeper was an office that did not continue to a very late period in the county's history, and among such officers are found a record of Benja- min S. Ogden, appointed January 3, 1826; Nathaniel Hammond, appointed for 1833; Elijah Barwick, 1835, and Hugh Carmichael, a year later.
INSPECTOR OF FLOUR, BEEF AND PORK.
The only name appearing of record for this position is that of John Ward, in 1821.
COLLECTOR OF COUNTY AND STATE REVENUE.
The sheriff usually filled this office. The list is not complete. Robert E. Hanna, 1820-21 ; Noah Noble, 1823; Robert John, 1825 to 1828, inclu- sive; John Roop, 1829 to end of 1831; Daniel St. John, 1833-34; James Blacklidge, 1835; Daniel St. John, 1837; Thomas. Pursel, 1837 to 1840, inclusive; George Flint, appointed May 8, 1840, served in 1840-41.
LISTERS AND COUNTY ASSESSORS.
Up to about 1828 the office of county assessor was known as lister. Those serving under the official title of lister in this county were: James Mckinney, appointed January 30, 1815, and again in September of that year ; James Raridon, appointed January 3, 1816; Urban Edgerton, 1820-21; Noah Noble, 1824.
The first assessors seems to have been Robert John, appointed January 9, 1828, then followed : George Holland, appointed for 1833; Timothy B. Scobey, 1836; James Rosebrough, 1838; Hiram H. Butler, 1842-3-4.
The office of county assessor was provided by statute in 1891 and the first officer of Franklin county under this act was elected in the same year.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.
The list of assessors since that time is as follows: John T. Shiltz, 1891-99; John C. Ellis, 1899-07; John C. Morin, 1907-15; Albert N. Logan, 1915.
JUDGES OF THE CIRCUIT COURT.
The following judges have presided over the circuit courts of Franklin county since the September term in 1818, when Hon. John Test presided, with Associate Judges John Hanna and John Jacobs. The office of associate judge was abolished about 1857. Hon. John Watts served in 1819; Miles E. Eggleston, from 1819 to 1847; George H. Dunn, from 1847 to 1850; William M. McCarty, 1850 to 1854; Reuben D. Logan, 1854 to 1865; John M. Wilson, 1865 to 1869; Robert M. Lamb, 1869 to 1870; Henry C. Hanna, 1870 to 1881; Ferdinand S. Swift, 1881 to 1905; George L. Gray, 1905 to the present time.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
Miles C. Eggleston, 1818-1821 ; John Test, 1821-1825; Oliver H. Smith, 1825-33; John Test, 1833-34; Courtland Cushing, 1834-1838; John Dumont, 1838-47; John H. Shirk, 1847; William M. McCarty, 1847-49; Daniel D. Jones, 1849-54; Oscar B. Horde, 1854; William Patterson, 1855-59; Henry C. Hanna, 1859-61; Milton I. Cullum, 1861-63; S. S. Harrell, 1863-65; Creighton Dudley, 1865-67; Kendall M. Ford, 1867-69; Platt Wicks, 1869- 70; William W. Tilley, 1870-71; George B. Brumbloy, 1871-73; Bartemus Burk, 1873-76; S. E. Urmstom, 1876-1882; Leland H. Stanford, 1882-86; Lewis M. Develing, 1886-90: George W. Pigman, 1890-94; George L. Gray, 1894-96; Frank M. Smith, 1896-98; George L. Gray, 1898-1902; Frank E. Nevin, 1902-04; Robert G. Barnhart, 1904-08; Allen Wiles, 1908-10; F. M. Edwards, 1910-16.
CHAPTER IX.
HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION.
One of the most difficult problems which confronted the early settlers of Franklin county was the question of transportation. When it is recalled that as early as 1814 there were more than seven thousand people in the county, it will be seen that there must have been a great demand for roads, and the early commissioners' records devote more than half of their minute records to this question of highways, or "cartways," as they called them. The frequent use of the word "trace" betrays the southern birth of the early settlers. Scores of roads in the county mention the Whetzel, Carolina and Balinger traces, either as crossing or branching off from one of them.
The rough character of the land, together with the heavy forests, made the building of highways not only difficult, but also very expensive as well. The first roads were little more than narrow paths cut through the woods and many of these were only wide enough for traveling on horseback. Each succeeding year saw better roads, but it was not until after the Civil War that the use of crushed stone came into use as a road-making material. The first good roads in the county were made by incorporations of local men and were familiarly known as toll roads. These were in use in parts of the county until the latter part of the last century and it is safe to say that this was the only method by which it would have been possible for the people to get good roads. There was too little public money to keep the roads in repair, even after they were laid out, and it was only by the toll system that enough money could be raised to keep the roads in a passable condition. Today there are fine rock highways threading the county in every direction and each year sees more improved roads in operation. No county in the state has better road-making material within its limits and, with the latest machinery for crushing stone. Franklin county bids fair to have as fine roads within the next few years as any county in the state.
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