History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 9

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648

USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 9

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Alexander Dubois, (then follow two whose surnames only are given, Arthur and George), Thomas Deweese, Peter Deter, Thomas Davis, James Davis, Jacob Dubois, John Dickeson, Joel Davis, Lewis Deweese, William Davis, William Dubois, Sarah Deniston, William Deniston.

Adam Ely, Amaziah Elwell, David Ewing, Henry Eads, Obadiah Estes, William Ewing, William Eads, Simon Ely, Samuel Ely, John Ewing, Andrew Endsly.

Chilan Foster, George Fruits, George Fruits, George Frasier, Philip Frake, Robert Flack, Samuel Fullon, John Fisher, James Freel, William Ferrel, William Flood, John Fruits, James Fuller, John Fugit, Benony Freel, Aaron Frake, W. Frasier.

Benjamin George, David Gray, Basil Gator, George Grigs, Henry Gaines, James Greer, Nathan Garret, Robert Green, Stephen Goble, Thomas Goling, Thomas Gilam, David Goble, William Gross, Zachariah Gloun, Thomas Grigs, James Grigs, John Gillum, William Glidewell, Robert Gilde- well, George Gittner, Jonathan Gillum, John Gurr, John Garret, William George, Jr., William George, Bretain Gant, James Greer.

Abraham Hammon, Alexander Higgins, Anthony Holberstadt, Absalom Hasty, Christopher Hansel, Charles Harvey, Chatfield Howell, John Hanna,

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

David Hollingsworth, David Hansel, Elijah Harper, Eli Henderson, Ezekiel Hollingsworth, Elicot Herndon, George Harland, Joshua Harland, Isaiah Holingsworth, Isaac Hollingsworth, Jonathan Holingsworth, Jacob Holings- worth, Joseph Holingsworth, John Hanna, John Henderson, Levi Hollings- worth, Nathaniel Hamilton, Nehemiah Harp, Philemon Harvey, Richard Hollingsworth, Robert Hanna, Robert Hobs, Samuel Hanna, Samuel H. Henry, Samuel Hirnley, Thomas Harvey, Thomas Howe, Jacob Hedrick, William Holingsworth, James Harvey, Joseph Hanna, John Hall, Jacob Hackleman, John Hackleman, John Hartly, John Hagerman, Jonathan Hunt, William Hobs, William Higgs, William Henderson, William Huff, James Hall, Stephen Harrel, William Harrel, Abraham Hackleman.

Daniel Johnson, Fielding Jeter, Richard Jackman, Robinson Jones, Sim- son Jones, Thomas Jack, John Jones, James Jones, James Johnson, James James, John Jones, Jesse Jones, William Jackson, William Julian.

Cristy Kingery, John Kerry, Samuel Kingery, Willis Kelby, John Ken- nedy, James Knight, John Kiger.

Aaron Line, Bennet Lankston, Berry Lyons, Charles Lacy, Abraham Lee, George Leviston, George Lucas, George Love, Henry Lee, Henry Lyons, Hanson Love, Isaac Lucas, Leonard Lewis, Philip Linck, Richard Lyons, Samuel Lennen, Smith Lane, Samuel Logan, William Logan, John Lefforge, William Lyons, Ruben Lyons, James Logan, Joseph Lee, Samuel Lee, Jacob Large, John Logan.

Abraham Moyer, Benjamin McCarty, Charles McLain, Charles Martin, David Matlock, George Matlock, Daniel Miller, David Milton, Enoch McCarty, Henry McCarsly, Hugh Morrison, Hugh McWhorter, James Moore, Henry Mondy, John Manly, Mathew Mcclurkin, Martin Moses, Pat- rick McCarty, Richard Minner, Robert Marshall, Stephen Martin, Tobias Miller, Thomas Millholland, Thomas Mathews, Valentine Mowery, William Manly, James McCoy, John Miller, John Miller, Jr., John McKim, John Morrow, James Matlock, John Millholland, William McClem, William

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McCoy, William McCann, John Myers, William McDaniel, William McKim, James Moore, Archibald Morrow.

David Norris, Isaac Newhouse, John Norris, James Nichols, Samuel Newhouse, William Nichols, William Norris, William Norris, Sr., Richard Nichols, John Norris, Jr., John Niel.

Caleb Odle, Elijah Owen, Simon Odle, Thomas Osborn, Jonathan Osborn.

John Pennwell, David Pennwell, Henry Parker, Joshua Palmer, Jr .. Joshua Palmer, Sr., Joshua Porter, Nathan Porter, James Putnam, William Palmer, Jehu Perkins, James Price, Jacob Peters, John Philips, John Pat- terson.

John Quick.

Abraham Robertson, Allen Ramsey, Charles Royster, Enoch Russel, George Rudicil, Hugh Reed, James Remey, James Reed, Moses Rearidon, Nicholas Ragan, Peter Rifner, James Russel, Robert Ruson, James Robin- son, Samuel Rockerfellar, Thomas Rash, Thomas Reed, William Ruson, William Russel, John Richeson, James Robison, John Rockefellar, William Ramsy, Robert Russel, Robert Royster, John Ryburne, John Reed, Joseph Riply, John Russel, Stanhope Royster, John Richeson.

Andrew Speer, Benjamin Smith, Charles Scott, David Shark, David Stoops, Elijah Stephens, Francis Stephens, Francis Stephens, George Sing- horse, Henry Stephens, Isaac Swafford, Samuel Stephens, John Stapleton, Larkin Sims, Levi Sailors, Michael Sailors, Powell Scott, Thomas Skinner, Robert Swan, Samuel Shannon, William Sparks, William Shannon, Thomas Sailors, Jesse Scott, Jacob Sailors, Richard Smith, Reuben Scurlock, Joel Scott, John Stafford, James Stephens, Sr., Joseph Stephens, James Stephens, John Shaw, Seward Simon, Joseph Sires, Joseph Seal, James Seal, John Sailor, James Stuckey, William Simons, William Skinner, Thomas Skinner, Jr., Andrew Shirk, Andrew Shirk, Jr.

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

Agnes Taylor, Charles Teley, David Taylor, Nathan Tyler, Richard Thornberry, Robert Templeton, Samuel Tapen, William Templeton, Andrew Thorp, James Trusler, John Thompson, Robert Templeton, Robert Taylor, John Tyner, James Tyner, Silas Taylor, William Tyner, John Templeton, John Thorp.

Abraham Van Eaton, John Vanblaricam, John Vincent, William Van Meter.

Anthony Williams, Alexander Williams, Charles Waddel, Edward White, George Wilson, George Williams, Isaac Wilson, Isaac Wood, Joel White, Michael Wilkins, Norris Williams, Thomas Williams, Richard Wil- liams, Ralph Wildridge, Thomas Winscott, Samuel Williams, William Willis, John Whittier, James Webster, James Wilson, Jonathan Webb, William Wilson. William Wilson, Sr., William Williams, W. Wilson, Richard Wil- liams, Ralph Williams, Joseph Williams, Joseph Williams, Jr .. James Wil- liams, Jabez Winship, John Wilson. John Wilson, Jr., John Wilson.

CHAPTER IV.

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY'S COURT HOUSES.

By Will M. Baker.

[The historian of this volume is indebted to Will M. Baker, the present clerk of the Franklin county circuit court, for a history of the various court houses of the county. The interesting article here presented was delivered as an address on December 19. 1912, on the occasion of the dedication of the present beautiful court house. Mr. Baker carefully investigated all records pertaining to the erection of former court houses and the result of his investi- gation is the article which he has kindly consented to offer the historian of this volume. ]

The first court of Franklin county met in one of the rooms of the tavern in Brookville owned by James Knight, and in this tavern all the official busi- ness of the county appears to have been transacted from the organization of the county, from the spring of 1811 until April of the following year. During this time a log court house had been erected on the present public square, but within two years the county felt the need of a new structure.

On Monday, November 21, 1814. John Whitworth and Benjamin Smith, associate judges of the circuit court of Franklin county, took into considera- tion the erection of a court house in the public square in Brookville, and suggested that three trustees be appointed by the citizens to assist in con- structing the building aforesaid, which was agreed upon. The names were nominated and, on counting the votes, it was found that John Hall, John Jacob and John R. Beatty were nominated. It was, thereupon, ordered by, the court that these men were considered by the court as trustees in conjunction with the court, the court reserving to themselves the right of pointing out the particular plat on the square, aforesaid, for the erection of the court house, taking into view the most eligible ground. This building was com- menced in 1815 and completed in 1817. James Knight and Martin Jameson bid in the contract for three thousand dollars.

SECOND COURT HOUSE OF COUNTY.

The board of commissioners, on November 22, 1814, ordered a court house erected according to the following plans and specifications :

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"The Courthouse for the county of Franklin in the Indiana Territory shall be erected on the public square in the town of Brookville, twenty-five feet east of Main Street and thirty-three feet north of the alley running through the aforesaid public square, where the southwest corner of the afore- said courthouse shall stand, it being forty feet square fronting towards Main Street running north and south [west of the public square] in the town aforesaid with a half octagon in the rear, or east side of the said house as laid down in the plan made out by Aquilla Logan.

"The foundation of said building to be a well of stone laid in lime mor- tar, two and one-half feet thick to be sunk eighteen inches below the surface of the earth, and raised two and one-half feet above the surface, the upper- most of the stone wall to be covered with a bank of clay, sand or gravel im- mediately after the same is built.

"The walls of the said building shall be of brick and shall be the length of two and one-half bricks in thickness from the foundation to the top of the first story, which shall be sixteen feet in the clear, that is between the two floors. The walls of the second story of the said buildings shall be of brick and shall be the length of two bricks in thickness from the commencement of the second story to the top of the same, which shall be eleven feet in the clear, that is between the floors. The said building to have a neat brick cornice running around the same to project nine inches over the plain wall.

"In the front or west side of said building to have one door in the center to be five feet in the clear in width and to have two lentils [lights] of ten by twelve, such lentils of glass in heighth over the door and made so as to range with the tops of the windows in the said front or west side, each window and door to have a mat strait brick arch over the tops of the same of one and one- half brick in length.

"In the front or west side of said building there shall be two windows in the lower story, in the north two windows, in the east three windows and in the south two windows of twenty-four lights of glass each, the glass to be ten inches by twelve in size and to range completely around the building, the windows to be placed at such distance from each other as the board of trustees may direct.

"In the front on the west side of said building, to have three windows in the second story in the north two windows, in the east three windows and in the south two windows of twenty-four lentils [lights] of glass each, the glass to be the same size as in the lower story, the windows to range completely all round the building and to be placed immediately over the windows in the first story.

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"The door and window frames of the said building to be made bastard raves [?] frames, the sash stops to be worked in the solid, the scantling out of which the above frames are made to be out of three inch stuff in thickness. and calculated for sash one and one-half inches thick and shutters the same thickness.

"There shall be one girder through the center of said house laid north and south of at least twelve inches square: also one extending across the octagon laid parallel with the one through the center, and of equal size. into which the joists are to be let into, each way the joists not to be less than three inches by twelve inches, and to be laid not exceeding sixteen inches from center to center, and to be of good sound oak or poplar. For the first or lower floor, the girder through the center of said building to be supported by two pillars of stone of not less than two feet square and to be sunk an equal distance below the surface of the earth with the foundation wall, the girder across the octagon to be supported by one pillar of the same size, and sunk in the same manner as the pillars under the center girder.

"The second floor shall have one girder through the center of said building, also one extending across the octagon, immediately over those on the first floor to be of the same size; also the joists the same size, as on the first floor, and not exceeding the same width apart, of the same kind of timber and to be supported by two columns placed at such distance from each other on the center girder on the lower floor as may be directed by the trustees of said building, and not to be less than fourteen inches square at the bottom, nor less than ten inches at the top.

"The third floor the same as the second in every respect other than the size of the column, which are not to be less than twelve inches square at the bottom nor less than ten at the top.

"All the joists in the said building to be turted [?] above and let in below and all to be well pined with good inch pins.

"The roof of said building to be hipped all around to have not less than eleven principal rafters, each of which not to be less than eight inches at bottom and six inches at top in width and not less than five inches thick, the residue of the rafters not to be less than six inches at the bottom and four inches at the top in width and three inches thick, the said roof to be framed with purloins.

"The roof to be covered with good yellow poplar shingles, to be laid not to exceed five inches to the weather, the shingles not to be less than eighteen inches long and to be carried up from each side and end so as to form a regular square at the top over which shall be erected a handsome dome or

FORMER COURT HOUSE, CITY HALL AND POSTOFFICE, BROOKVILLE.

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

· cupola, the heighth of which shall not be less than fifteen feet high from the top of the roof of said building to the eve of the dome or cupola, the said cupalo to be eight square and ten feet in diameter, and finished in a complete and workmanlike manner with a spire of not less than fifteen feet high clear of the king post [?], with a ball of not less than fifteen inches in diameter with a handsome gilt spread eagle on the top.

"There shall be two chimneys in the said building, one on the northeast corner and one in the southeast corner, each chimney to have two fireplaces, one of the fireplaces in each chimney to be on the lower floor and one in each to be on the second floor, the fireplaces not to be less than two and one-half feet in the back, that is large enough to receive a stick of wood of that length.

"The sash shall be made out of good yellow poplar well seasoned, to be completely painted, glazed and filled in the windows.

"The window and door frames to be completely painted white. The dome or cupola to be completely painted white. The roof of said building to be completely painted spanish brown, and the walls to be of water and spanish brown. There shall be a good folding door, made and hung to said building with sufficient hinges, the door to be made of stuff not less than one and one-half inches thick and well lined, each fold of said door to contain eight panels, done in a complete workmanlike manner with two good bolts and a lock of the best possible description to be had.

"The above building to be commenced by or before the first day of the month of April and to be compleated as respect [?] the above described work by or before the first day of October, 1816.

"And the above described work to be done in a complete and workman- like manner. And it is expressly understood that the trustees for the con- ducting of the said building for the time being reserve to themselves the right and privilege of rejection at any time, all or any of the material which may be provided for the said building should the same be found in any way defective or insufficient in any respect whatever.

"Given under our hands at Brookville this 22nd day of December, 1814.

"Signed JOHN WHITWORTH, "BENJAMIN SMITH, "Associate Judges. "JOHN JACOB, "JOHN HALL, "JOHN R. BEATTY, "Trustees."

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In the spring or summer of 1816, after the building was about two- thirds completed, James Knight, one of the contractors, died, which delayed the completion of the structure until May, 1817. Mrs. Knight was appointed administratrix of her husband's estate and finished the building, as the record says, in 1817. William Sims and Henry Case, who were appointed referees to accept the work, pronounced it as having been done according to contract, and Mrs. Knight received nine hundred and eighty dollars for her services. A large amount of the money expended in the erection of this building was raised by individual donations, the residue being levied and collected as taxes. After work was completed, records show that the court was so well pleased with the contractors' work, that they were voted nine hundred and eighty dollars bonus.

On August 12, 1818, it was "ordered that there be erected at the expense of the county a good and sufficient stray pen forty feet square, five rails high and five feet high, with a good and sufficient gate lock and key, and that the sheriff caused the same to be erected by the second Monday of the following November."

On the same date it was ordered that "Enoch McCarty be authorized to purchase weights and measures for the use of the county of the sizes the law directs."

At this same session of the board of commissioners, it was "ordered that the court house be lathed and plastered in a plain workmanlike manner, and that John Scott and Robert Hanna be appointed to superintend the selling of the contract on August 24, 1818."

The structure, however, did not meet the requirements of the new con- stitution and small box-like structures were built along the side of the street south of the court house.

Across the street stood the City hotel, a frame fire trap, and on Wash- ington's birthday. February 22, 1852, fire took hold of these buildings and destroyed all the buildings in this square, including the court house. Court then was held in a little church at the foot of the hill, now the church of the United Brethren. but then belonging to the German Methodists. In June, 1852, Ed May, the man who built the present state house, arrived with plans for a new court house. Cyrus Quick, Levi Ayer and John H. Fahrots then composed the commissioners' court, and it was agreed that a new court house be erected. They obtained the stone from Schrichte's quarries, north of town ; hand-made locks and doors, etc., were furnished by Mr Rhein. The old doors showed prints of hammer blows. The new court house was built for the sum of twenty-eight thousand dollars.

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During the summer of 1877 the county commissioners had contracted to remove the battle walls and to remodel the tower. On October 18, 1877, during a term of court, William H. Bracken, as special judge, the roof of the building went down, with twenty or more people in the court room. Luckily no one was seriously injured. Immediately the building was repaired and surmounted by the lady of justice.

As early as 1905 there were whisperings throughout the county that a new court house was needed. About this time Elmer E. Dunlap, architect, arrived and examined the building and reported the old structure sound and advised remodeling the old court house instead of building the new. The county council at that time was composed of Louis Federmann, Jacob Reiboldt, Jacob Hirt, W. T. Logan, T. C. Jones, Perry Appleton and John Zins. This council decided and planned to remodel the old court house according to the following, which I find in the county council record, April 23, 1909: "It is the sense of the county council now in session that the court house should be repaired and remodeled ; that the county commissioners select an architect to prepare plans and specifications and estimates for repairing same at a cost not to exceed forty thousand dollars, and present said plans, specifications and estimates at the regular September meeting of this council."

On February 24, 1910, Elmer E. Dunlap presented his plans and the same were adopted by the board of commissioners. The appropriation made was sixty-six thousand dollars, and on March 7, 1910, order was made to repair and remodel. On May 28, 1910, an additional appropriation of thirty thousand dollars was made. The contract was let to I. W. Millikan, of In- dianapolis, for the sum of seventy-one thousand three hundred dollars for general contract. The building was begun in August, 1910, and after three months' delay the work was again taken up and finally completed and the keys received by the board of commissioners at five o'clock Friday evening, No- vember 15, 1912.

JAIL.

The jail, which was built in 1814 by James Knight, cost six hundred eighty-nine dollars. On March 20, 1815, John Whitworth and Benjamin Smith, associate judges, approved the payment of the above sum to the con- tractor. James Knight. This building stood on the public square.

On August 13, 1817, the commissioners ordered "that William H. Eads be allowed the sum of sixty-three dollars eighty-seven and one-half cents for furnishing and putting up a lightning rod."

On February 9, 1819, Samuel Rockafellar and John Scott, county com-

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missioners, "ordered that Robert Hanna be authorized to furnish washboards for the court house, to fix the balcony, to build a closet under the stairs with a lock and key."

On July 30, 1817, the commissioners, Enoch D. John, Samuel Rocka- fellar and James Wilson, agreed on the following rates of taxation for the year 1817 : On first rate land, 50c. per 100 acres ; on second rate land, 4334c. per 100 acres; on third rate land, 25c. per 100 acres ; on each horse, 371/2c .; on covering horses, the rate at which he covers the season; on town lots, 50c. per $100; on free male person of color from the age of 21 to 55, $3.00; on bond servants, above 12, $2.00.

ERECTION OF A TWO-ROOM BUILDING FOR USE OF CLERK AND RECORDER.

It appears that by the year 1829 the court house was not large enough to accommodate all of the county officers. The board of commissioners, on May 5, 1829, ordered the erection "of a fire proof building in two rooms for a clerk's office and recorder's office to be erected on the public square in- the town of Brookville or any two of said commissioners may act as aforesaid. Notice of said sale to be given three weeks in some public newspaper. Bond to be taken of the purchaser with two freehold securities for the completion of the building on such plan and at such time as may be specified by the said William McCleery, Robert Brackenridge and Enoch McCarty, payable to the county treasurer and his successors in his said office. And it is further ordered that the said commissioners above named are required to make out and exhibit a plan of said building to public view in said town of Brookville, ten days previous to said sale, one-half of the purchase money for building said building to be paid on the Ist Monday of February next. And the other half to be paid on the ist Monday of August succeeding. And it is further ordered by said board that said commissioners report their proceedings to the next board and from time to time as they may be required."

ERECTION OF A BUILDING FOR COUNTY OFFICES.

For some reason which is not apparent from the records of the commis- sioners, they ordered, on June 2, 1843, a four-room brick building to be erected on the court house square. It has been noted that a substantial brick court house was built in 1814, and that in 1829 a two-room brick building was erected on the public square for the accommodation of as many county officers. The Brookville American, in its issue of June 23, 1843, says that the

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people will certainly approve the action of the commissioners "since it is important that the records by which the evidence of every title in the county is perpetuated should be safe from fire." The building fronted sixty-eight feet on Main street and was eighteen feet in depth; it was to be built under the direction of Jeremiah Woods and to be completed by the first of the fol- lowing November. The offices of the clerk, auditor, treasurer and recorder were to be housed in this proposed building. There was to be a fireplace in each room, while the floor of each room was to be made of brick nine inches square. The roof was covered with tin and the whole building was ordered "painted red and pencilled."

CHAPTER V.

ORGANIZATION AND BOUNDARY CHANGES OF TOWNSHIPS.

It is not certain when the first townships were created in Franklin county owing to the fact that the records from 1811 to 1814 are missing. The first mention of townships is found under the date of January 3, 1816, at which time the county court appointed overseers of the poor for the townships of Posey, Brookville and Bath. It is probable that these townships were organ- ized previous to this date, but if such were the case the record has not been found. The first township boundaries are set forth in the county court book (D, p. 82) on January 6, 1816. At this time the boundaries of the three townships just mentioned are given, as well as those of White Water town- ship. In the following table is given a list of the townships in the order of their organization. . As has been said, the date, January 3, 1816, is the first time Bath, Brookville and Posey townships are mentioned, and does not imply that they were organized on that date.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 9

Author: Reifel, August J Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1648

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648