USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 8
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The first county officials to occupy the new court house were John W. Johnson, auditor ; John Sipp, treasurer; Henry P. Chambers, sheriff; James S. Epperson, clerk; Solomon Vannada, recorder, all of whom are dead (1914), except Solomon Vannada. Judge Oscar M. Welborn held the first court.
JAIL HISTORY.
Gibson county, like all other counties in the Union, has had need of a jail at different times, in order to safely house those outlaws and law violators who have seen fit to be disobedient and have been held for trial or punished by serving time. In Gibson county there have been three different jails where prisoners have been kept. The first one was ordered built by the court in February, 1814, and it was then styled the gaol. Its plans and specifica- tions contained the following items: The walls to be eighteen feet square of well-seasoned timber; the lower story seven feet between the floors: the timber of the walls to be twelve inches square, neatly dove-tailed down so that each log may touch the other. There was an inside wall of good timber
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
built in the same manner as the outer wall, as high as the first story ; a space of ten inches was left between the walls, which was filled with hewn timbers nine by twelve inches square, set on end, touching each other; the outer wall extended seven feet high above the upper floor of the lower story; there were three floors of hewn timbers ten inches square, one below, one above and one between the upper and lower story. The lower floor was confined down by the inside wall of the lower room or dungeon. The second floor was held down by the outer wall. There was one small window and two grates in the lower story or dungeon. The requirements of the court called for an outside door to the upper or debtor's room, and required the shutters to be very strong and well hung with iron bars. From the debtor's room there was a trap door to go down to the dungeon, with strong bolts and locks to confine it down. In the debtor's room there was a division for the separation of the sexes, made of hewed timbers, six by ten inches square, with a good door and shutter through the wall, with one small window with gates to each room. The jail was covered with a roof of clapboards and yellow poplar shingles. This jail was erected by Samuel Hogue under a contract with the county. It served until 1833, when it was considered no longer a proper, safe building, as so adjudged by the grand jury, who reported it as insufficient and not safe for the keeping of prisoners. The board then ordered that Robert Stockwell, John Arbuthnot, John I. Neely, Jonathan Gulick, Isaac Montgom- ery, Charles Jones and Joshua Duncan be requested to meet the second Tues- day of October, and consult and present a plan for a jail. Also that Robert Stormont and Joseph Hartin be the contractors to build a jail on a lot which had been purchased for sixty dollars. That jail-the second in Gibson county -was completed in the spring of 1835, when the old jail was sold at auction and the proceeds used for making a well at the new jail. This building served Gibson county many years and until the present well-constructed red brick structure was built. While the present jail is not thoroughly up-to-date in all of its appointments, yet it is comparatively safe and sanitary. The jailor's residence is built in connection with the jail. This building is sit- uated on the corner of Emerson and Main streets.
In recent years there have been many improvements made on the public square, including the erection of the magnificent granite monument erected by the people of Gibson county in memory of the soldiery of the Civil war, of which an extended account is given elsewhere in this volume; also the more recent series of electroliers-an electric lighting system of clusters of brilliant lights within frosted glass globes, attached to concrete standards that line the four sides of the public square.
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
CARE OF THE POOR.
The care given to the unfortunate poor in any community is always an index to the character of the people in that community. From the earliest times in Gibson county such people were usually well cared for-at least the provisions of the laws of the state were carried out. It is true that in the early years of the county's history there was not that finer feeling for such unfortunates as there has been in more recent years, when a higher state of civilization and a keener Christian understanding has come to obtain in the minds of the common people and the taxpayers in general.
The first mention made of overseers of the poor in the county records bears the date of 1913, as soon as the county was fairly organized. At the May term of court that year the following persons were appointed as over; seers : Jacob Pea and James Branton in Madison township, Andrew Cun- ninghanı and William Price in White River township, William Latham and Thomas Potter in Patoka township, Robert McGary and Thomas Sharp in Montgomery township, Thomas Alman and Samuel James in Black River township.
On June 21, 1815, the court made the following appointments of over- seers of the poor : Jacob Pea and Henry Brenton in Madison township, Rob- ert Mosley and Armstead Bennett in White River township, William Har- rington and Daniel Putnam in Patoka township, Thomas Sharp and Reuben Alsop in Montgomery township, John Waller and John Cox in Black River township.
Many years later the commissioners purchased a small tract of land about three miles northwest of Princeton and there established a poor house, where paupers were cared for until the purchase of the present farm in what is now Union township. This farm was bought by the county from Thadeus Keimer, in May, 1890, for the sum of eleven thousand five hundred dollars, and consists of two hundred and eight acres, of not extra quality of land. It is situated on the northeast quarter of section 33, and the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of the same section, in township 2, range 10 west. This real estate had upon it, when the county purchased it, an old brick farm house which has been rebuilt and somewhat added to and still serves as a county asylum. A new barn has also been crected at a cost of seven hundred dollars and many more improvements made. The farm, how- ever, does not nearly support the paupers of the county. The soil is poor and the expenses are great. The recent report of the superintendent, who gets five
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
hundred dollars per year salary and his keeping, shows that there are only nineteen inmates at the place now. There are two cooks employed and one hired man for general utility work most of the time in late years. Cows, sheep and hogs are raised and kept for the use of the institution. Many citizens believe that the poor of Gibson county should, in these times, be pro- vided for at less expense by simply hiring theni boarded, counting the cost of operating the present farm and the invested money in the land.
PRESENT NET VALUATION OF TAXABLES.
Columbia township
$ 704,205
Patoka township
2,381,945
White River township
1,299,720
Washington township
813,465
Montgomery township
2,768,495
Johnson township
1,493,435
Wabash township
589,015
Barton township
870,085
Center township
784,840
Union township
1,455,625
City of Princeton
3,011,030
Town of Owensville 1 J 1 1 1
528,595
Town of Patoka
194,410
Town of Fort Branch
465,525
Town of Hazelton
241,315
Town of Francisco
126,030
Town of Oakland City
713,255
Total
$18,480,990
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FINANCIAL STANDING.
According to the books of the county auditor for the years 1912-13, there was a balance on hand in the treasury on January 1, 1912, of $240,245.89. Total receipts for 1912, $569,136.75; total disbursements for 1912, $641,698.10; balance on hand January 1, 1913, $171,684.54.
CHAPTER VI.
POLITICAL HISTORY.
From the county records it is learned that the following have served Gibson county in official capacities since the organization to the present time, 1914:
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS.
Beginning with the election of 1848, the following table exhibits the result of the different presidential elections in Gibson county, until the election of Woodrow Wilson in 1912:
In 1848-Zachary Taylor, Native American, 860; Lewis Cass, Demo- crat, 802.
In 1852-Franklin Pierce, Democrat, 1, 127; Winfield Scott, Whig, 942; John P. Hale, Free Soil, 20.
In 1856-James Buchanan, Democrat, 1,286; Millard Fillmore, Whig, 766; John C. Fremont, Republican, 365.
In 1860-Abraham Lincoln, Republican, 1,295; Stephen A. Douglas, Democrat, 1,565; John C. Breckinridge, Democrat, 29; John Bell, Constitu- tional Union Convention, 112.
In 1864-Abraham Lincoln, Republican, 1,288; George B. McClellan, Democrat, 1,516.
In 1868, when U. S. Grant was elected President, there were no perma- nent records made of the result in Gibson county.
In 1872-U. S. Grant, Republican, received a majority over Horace Greeley, Liberal, in Gibson county.
In 1876-Samuel J. Tilden, Democrat, 2,317; Rutherford B. Hayes, Re- publican, 2,274.
In 1880-James A. Garfield, Republican, 2,662; Winfield S. Hancock, Democrat, 2,477.
In 1884-James G. Blaine, Republican, 2,774; Grover Cleveland, Demo- crat, 2,649 ; Benjamin F. Butler, Greenback National, 24: John P. St. John, National Prohibition, 48.
In 1888-Benjamin Harrison, Republican, 2,953; Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 2,721 ; Clinton B. Fisk, Prohibition, 238.
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
In 1892-Benjamin Harrison, Republican, 2,738; Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 2,460: James B. Weaver, National People's Convention, 598; John Bidwell, Prohibition, 243.
In 1896-William J. Bryan, Democrat, 3,276; William McKinley, Re- publican. 3,471 : William J. Bryan, People's, 346; John M. Palmer, National Democrat, II.
In 1900-William J. Bryan, Democrat, 3,509; William Mckinley, Re- publican, 3.648; John G. Woolley, Prohibition, 2.44; Bryan, People's, 17; Eugene V. Debs, Socialist Democrat, 4.
In 1904-Alton B. Parker, Democrat, 3,221 ; Silas C. Swallow, Prohibi- tion, 331 ; Theodore Roosevelt, Republican, 3,871 ; Eugene V. Dehs, Socialist Democrat, 91 : Thomas E. Watson, People's, 29; Charles H. Corregan, Social- ist Labor, 7.
In 1908-William Jennings Bryan, Democrat, 3,626; William H. Taft, Republican, 3,753 : Silas C. Swallow, Prohibition, 241 ; E. V. Debs, Socialist, 5; Independent ticket, 2.
In 1912-Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, 3,250; William H. Taft, Re- publican, 2,260; Eugene W. Chafin, Prohibition, 226; Theodore Roosevelt, Progressive, 1,270; E. V. Debs, Socialist, 295; Arthur Reiner, Socialist Labor, 7.
STATE SENATORS REPRESENTING THE COUNTY.
The first state senator from the district in which Gibson county formed a part was William Prince. The legislative session was held at the old state capital, Corydon, commencing November 4, 1816. The second session was held at the same place, commencing December 2, 1818, when Isaac Mont- gomery represented this district. In 1821, the next session, also at Corydon, this county was represented by Senator Richard Daniel. The capital was then changed to Indianapolis, and the first Legislature convened in that city on December 5, 1825, and Mr. Montgomery was still representing this district, serving from 1825 to 1829. Then came the following state senators: David Robb, 1829-33; Elisha Embree, 1833-35 ; Thomas E. Stewart, 1835-38; John Hargrove, 1838-41 ; Smith Miller, 1841-44; Benjamin R. Edmundson, 1844- 47; Smith Miller, 1847-50; Benjamin T. Goodman, 1850-55; William Haw- thorne, 1855-57; John Hargrove, 1857-61; Thomas Shoulders, 1862-65; James Barker, 1865-67; Thomas C. Jaques, 1867-71 ; Magnes T. Cochrane, 1871-75; Jasper Davidson, 1875-79; Gustavius V. Menzies, 1879-83 ; James E. Mccullough. 1883-87 ; V. P. Bozeman, 1887-91 : Albert G. Holcomb, 1891-
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
95; V. P. Bozeman, 1895; W. E. Stilwell, 1899: V. P. Bozeman, 1903 : William Gonnerman, 1907: George W. Curtis, 1911.
REPRESENTATIVES.
Edward Hogan and John Johnson, 1816; James Cambell and Richard Daniel, 1817-18; Richard Daniel and John Johnson, 1818; David Robb, 1820- 22; John Gibson, 1823; David Robb and Robert M. Evans, 1826-27; Walter Wilson, 1827; David Robb, 1828; Samuel Hall, 1829-30; John Hargrove, 1831-35; Smith Miller, 1835-38; James Devin, 1838; Smith Miller, 1839; Isaac Montgomery, 1840; Joseph Devin, 1841 ; John Hargrove, 1842; William Montgomery, 1843-44; Samuel Hall, 1845; Samuel Miller, 1846; George W. Thompson, 1847; James W. Cockrum, 1848; Silas M. Holcomb, 1849: George B. Graff, 1850; James W. Cockrum, 1851; Alexander C. Donald, 1853; John Hargrove, 1855; Caleb Trippett, 1857; Isaac M. Woods, 1858-61 ; Silas M. Holcomb, 1861-63; John Hargrove, 1865; Jacob F. Bird, 1867: Austin Huston, 1869; William J. McGowan, 1871 ; Clarence A. Buskirk, 1873-75; Jacob Montgomery, 1875; Francis W. Hauss, 1877; Jasper Davidson, 1879; George C. Mason, 1881 ; William R. Genung, 1883: A. P. Twineham, 1885; Jesse M. Montgomery, 1887; M. W. Fields, 1889; Preston A. Bryant, 1891- 93; W. D. Robinson, 1895; D. D. Hart, 1897; Hugh D. McGary, 1898; W. F. Parrett, 1900: WV. F. Parrett, 1902; H. E. Agar, 1904: Luther Benson, 1906: Charles F. Stevens, 1908; Charles F. Stevens, 1910: John A. Rheuff, 1912.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATES.
In the constitutional convention of 1816 Gibson county was represented by Alexander Devin, James Smith, Frederick Rapp and David Robb. In the constitutional convention of 1852 the delegate from this county was Smith Miller.
COUNTY COLLECTORS.
Between 1820 and 1841 there was a county collector of taxes and the following served in Gibson county: Charles Harrington, Robert Milburn, John R. Montgomery, James Devin, Nicholas J. Hargrove, James Devin, John Ayers, James Skelton. John Sullivan, Joseph J. Kirkman, Roland B. Richards, William Sharp, William Phillips, Samuel A. Stewart, Thomas I. Mont- gomery.
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
COUNTY RECORDERS.
Robert M. Evans, John I. Neely, John R. Montgomery, John Hargrove, John McCoy, T. B. Montgomery (died in office), J. L. Craig (appointed to fill vacancy), James H. Fentriss, Thomas J. Robb, James M. Keyes, Solomon Van Nada, W. R. Steele, T. A. Walters, W. D. Zimmerman, L. L. Bell, Michael M. Kennedy.
COUNTY CLERKS.
Robert M. Evans, John I. Neely, J. R. Montgomery, John Hargrove, Andrew Lewis, S. M. Barton (resigned), O. M. Welborn (appointed for vacancy), Richard M. J. Miller, Dr. W. P. Welborn, James S. Epperson, William H. Coleman, Samuel A. Stewart, T. J. Mason, Rollin Maxam.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
James W. Jones, William Prince, William Harrington, James W. Hogue, David T. King, Willis Howe, James Boswell, M. G. C. Hargrove, William Reavis, S. P. Welborn, Logan McCrary, Caleb Trippett, Charles C. Whiting, Emil Sasse, William Simpson, John Sipp, William N. Tichnor, George W. Shull, John A. West, R. F. McConnell, H. C. Redman; William S. Ennis, F. S. D. Knowles (died in office), Foreman Knowles, his son, appointed to fill vacancy and afterward elected; Edgar Mauck, Milton Cushman.
COUNTY AUDITORS.
This county office was not created until 1841. John Ames, the first to hold such office, resigned September 2, 1843, and Alfred Poland was ap- pointed to serve out the unexpired term. Then followed William Kurtz, John E. Phillips, Willis S. Hargrove, John C. Holcomb, William J. Casey (died in office), Alexander J. Montgomery (appointed to vacancy), John W. Johnson, L. W. McDonald, Samuel R. Adams, H. R. Embree, William T. Roberts.
SHERIFFS.
James Crow, Henry Hopkins, Thomas Stone, James Devin, James Stone, Joseph Neeley, N. J. Hargrove, J. J. Kirkman, Joseph E. Woods, J. J. Kirk- man, Samuel H. Shannon, J. J. Kirkman, August F. Boswell, Henry Ayers, J. G. Vail, James Ragsdale, J. G. Vail, John Lockhart, Francis W. Hauss, J.
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
G. Vail, W. L. Hargrove, H. P. Chambers, Hugh D. McGary, Monroe Key, Wyatt Gentry, John M. Trible, G. W. Murphy, Thomas Beloat, Frank Whiting, George Skelton, Joseph W. Barton.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
David Robb, Robert M. Evans, Purnel Fisher, James Smith, Alexander H. Polk, W. T. Stillwell, Alfred Poland, Alexander H. Polk, Charles A. Slay- back, D. S. W. Miller, Alexander H. Polk, G. M. Emmerson, E. E. Watts, G. M. Emmerson, H. H. Neikamp, John L. Morris, H. C. Morrison.
ASSESSORS AND APPRAISERS.
This combined office was in existence until after the Civil war and was held by the following persons : James Russell, by appointment in 1813, fol- lowed by Henry Hopkins, James Ramsey, Charles Harrington, James Evans, Walter Wilson, Thomas B. Embree, Walter Wilson, William Jerauld, Alex- ander L. Evans, William De Priest, John Hargrove, Joseph Neely, Alexander L. Evans, John Ayers, James F. Wasson, Jonathan Latham, D. Jerauld, Jonathan Latham, Hugh Parkinson, James Boswell, William Jerauld, William De Priest, Jesse Weatherby, Silas M. Holcomb, Bluford H. Criswell, George Beloat and Thomas Emerson.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
The board of county commissioners have had in charge the affairs relat- ing to the general and specific government of the county. As a rule they have been men of good judgment and business sagacity, and the affairs have usually been conducted in a businesslike manner. Following are the names of the men who have served on these boards since 1845. Prior to that the records are lost : A. D. Foster, James Hudleson and John Simpson, 1845; James Hudleson, John Simpson and M. G. C. Hargrove, 1847; John Simpson, M. G. C. Hargrove and John Ennes, 1848; John Simpson, John Ennes and David Barker, 1850; John Simpson, David Barker and Stewart Cunningham, 1852; John Simpson, Stewart Cunningham and A. D. Foster, 1854: Stewart Cun- ningham, A. D. Foster and John M. Boren, 1855; December term, 1855, A. D. Foster, David Robb and James Hudleson; A. D. Foster, James Hudle- son and W. M. Land, 1856; David Robb, James Hudleson and Joseph Yeager, 1857: Joseph Yeager. James Hudleson and Joseph Devin, 1859;
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
James Hudleson, Henry Gambrel and Joseph Devin, 1861 ; Henry Gambrel. James Hudleson and G. Vickers, 1862; G. Vickers, Henry Gambrel and Stewart Cunningham, 1864; G. Vickers, Stewart Cunningham and H. G. Mauck, 1865; Stewart Cunningham, William McReynolds and W. R. Mc- Clary, 1866; A. J. Cunningham, William R. McClary and Logan McClary, 1867; W. R. McClary, A. J. Cunningham and John N. Mangrum, 1871; A. J. Cunningham, John N. Mangrum and George W. Finch, 1872; John N. Mangrum, George W. Finch and Moses K. Robb, 1873; John N. Mangrum, Moses K. Robb and Calvin Drysdale, 1874; Moses K. Robb, Calvin Drysdale and Sylvester Benson, 1876; Moses K. Robb, Sylvester Benson and William Cooper, 1877; Sylvester Benson, William Cooper and A. J. Shoultz, 1879: Sylvester Benson, A. J. Shoultz and John S. Mead, 1881 : Sylvester Benson, John S. Mead and Josiah Kightly, 1882; Josiah Kightly, S. Benson, 1884; Z. M. Weed, John Mangrum, 1886; William McRoberts, John Mangrum, 1888; W. L. McRoberts, Z. M. Weed, 1890; Z. M. Weed, T. H. Emmerson, 1892 ; J. W. Phillips, T. H. Emerson, 1894; Joseph Moore, S. R. Davis, 1896; E. C. Farmer, Philip Martin, 1898; J. W. Phillips, P. Martin, 1900; J. W. Phillips, George W. Newman, 1902; G. W. Newman; John P. Moore, 1904; J. P. Youcham, John P. Moore, 1906; Joseph Yochum, G. Frohbiter, 1908; G. C. Frohbiter, George A. Knowles, 1910; R. D. Thompson, G. A. Knowles, 1912.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
The office of county superintendent of schools was created by the Legis- lature in 1872, and the holder of this position takes the places formerly held by the school examiners. He is elected every four years by the various town- ship trustees. The following have served in Gibson county in such capacity : William T. Stilwell, Henry A. Yeager, W. D. Robinson, T. W. Cullen, Henry Neikamp, John T. Ballard, John F. Fulling, and the present superintendent, Wilbur Fisher.
CHAPTER VII.
RAILROADS AND TRANSPORTATION.
THE WABASH AND ERIE CANAL.
By Col. W. M. Cockrum.
The people of our state, learning that the states of New York, Pennsyl- vania and Ohio were prosecuting internal improvements successfully, de- termined to try their hands at improving their own state, and in the early thirties went wild in trying to see how many expensive canals, railroads and plank roads they could locate and put under way of construction. Had the managers of our state done as did New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, that is, to push one or two of these projects along and complete it before starting others, they would also have succeeded. This was too slow for our Hoosiers, however, so they must have ten or a dozen costly improvements going at the same time. Many of these projected improvements were needed, and if they had been finished, would have been of great service to our people.
The Wabash and Erie canal was much the greatest of all of these in- ternal improvements.
The act of Congress making the first land grants for the construction of the canal was passed in 1827. The act of our state Legislature authorizing the commencement of the work was passed at the session of 1830-31. A second grant of lands for the continuation of the canal from the mouth of the Tippecanoe river to Terre Haute was passed by Congress in 1831. A third grant of half of the unsold lands in the Vincennes land district for the continuation of the canal from Terre Haute to the Ohio river at Evansville was made by Congress in 1845. The work on the canal was begun at Fort Wayne in 1832, and finished from Toledo, Ohio, to Lafayette in 1841, and to Terre Haute in 1849, and to Evansville in 1852.
During the several years that so much work was in progress in Indiana, wages were high, and all kinds of produce, forage and provisions were bring- ing good prices, and the vast amount of money that was paid out for labor and produce apparently made good times in all parts of the. country where
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
this work was being done. But this was a fictitious appearance, for the people had run into extravagance, and engaged in too much speculation, for which promissory notes were given. The retail merchants contracted debts with the wholesale merchants, and had sold quantities of goods to their customers, who were wholly dependent on these works for money with which to pay for their purchases. The crash came in the year 1837, and there was a general suspension of every sort of business. The state financial ruin was very great, and thousands of men who were on the road to fortune could do nothing but stand idly by and see their fond hopes disappear. So wide was this disaster in the country bordering the undertakings of the state, that it was very distressing.
In 1838 there were so many more individuals involved in the ruin that it was very embarrassing to all of the people. At the meeting of the Legis- lature in 1838, Governor Wallace in his message said: "Never before-I speak advisedly-never before have you witnessed a period in our local his- tory which more urgently calls for the exercising of all the soundest and best attributes of grave and patriotic legislation than the present."
In 1839 work was suspended on most of the state improvements and the contracts surrendered.
It became evident that the state could not finish all of these works. The Legislature of 1841 passed a law authorizing any private company to take charge of and complete any of the works except the Wabash and Erie canal. It was thought that by the aid of the government the state could finish the canal in the next few years. The state made several attempts in this direc- tion without success. Everything lay quiet until 1846, when Charles Butler, who represented the bondholders, offered to take the state's interest in the canal for one half of the debt and for the lands granted for its construction. and finish it, if the state would issue new certificates for the other half and pay interest at four per cent. per annum, the state reserving the right of redemption. The canal under this management was finished to Evansville in 1852. The length of the canal in Indiana was three hundred and ninety-five miles, and in Ohio eighty-four miles, making its entire length four hundred and fifty-nine miles. This enormous work, which cost so many millions of dollars, only lasted a few years, owing to the fact that it was paralleled the entire length by railroads. However, the canal caused a large emigration to the section of country through which it passed.
The canal crossed the Patoka river into Gibson county on an aqueduct at the old town of Dengola, and followed the lowlands of the Patoka river
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
to Francisco, thence southwest through the highlands of the Pigeon Summit that divides the watershed between the Patoka river and the Pigeon creek country.
At Port Gibson, a town located on the canal in Gibson county, a reservoir was located, which flooded as much as two thousand acres from five to twenty feet deep. This was the greatest fishing resort that was ever in Gibson county, as it was well stocked with fine lake fish. After the canal was abandoned the water was let out of the reservoir, and today some of the best farms in Gibson county are situated on these famous fishing grounds. The canal followed the lowlands of Pigeon creek until it passed into Warrick county, and thence to Evansville.
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