History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 4

Author: Goodspeed Bros. & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 901

USA > Indiana > Greene County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 4
USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 4

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ORANIAL MEASUREMENTS.

The skull was of the typical pyramidal form, characteristic of the early Mound Builders, and gave the following measurements. Circumference from eyebrow to base of occiput, 18.20 inches; frontal arc, from ear to ear, 10.10 inches; are over top from ear to ear, 12.75 inches. The well- closed sutures and worn teeth, as examined by Dr. Brouillette, of Worth- ington, indicated his age to have been fifty five or sixty years, and by measurement of the tibia, his height when living was only five feet, four inches. The high head showed an unreasoning man of great firmness and energy, and the projecting lower. jaw a strong flesh eater. The cranium was abnormal or lop-sided, by reason of superior size of the right over the left side, so that when erect the head would incline that way, and as a rule he would sleep lying on that side, as was probably the case when he was killed.

POTTERY, JAPANESE IMAGES, VASES, ETC.

The vase is ornamented by a peculiar fillet, with complementary pendant curves in symmetrical design, and shows more skill than is usual in Mound Builders' pottery. It is the most artistic design, accompanied by regular form, seen by the writer, out of over 1,000 specimens, by him examined, and seems to indicate skill of a higher order than the careless efforts of an occasional workman. In other words, it exhibits the skill of an habitual mechanic, trained by teachers as well as practice. The Jap. anese head and foot were so peculiar as to awaken doubts as to the gen- uineness of the find, hence an exhaustive inquiry was made, not only of those immediately engaged in the excavation, but of other citizens, call- ing in the aid of the well-known and successful detective, Mr. K. Osborn. The testimony of all united as to its authenticity. The Superintendent, C. S. Taylor, reports that it was found by a boy, employed on the excava- tion about sixty feet north-northwest from the hearthstone center, on the sand floor, eight feet below the surface. When first removed from its bed, it was soaked with the dampness of the earth and so softened that in brushing away the adhering dirt the extremity of the nose and ball of

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

the right eye were slightly abraded, as may be seen. The image was probably entire, but in the bustle of work with a full force of men and teams, only the head and one fout were preserved. The head is a striking picture, no artist could conceive the image of an eagle or lion, and fix it in pictured art without seeing or know- ing of such animals. The physiognomy here given is as distinct from other races as these animals are from other species. The most inventive genius could not join the almond eyes, high cheek bones, strong nose, pouting lips and flabby ears to an image without seeing familiarly an original Japanese. Nor would he have done so unless the figure awoke either ideas of beauty or respect for a superior form, worthy qualities, as an ancestor, governor, teacher or necessary protector. Mound pottery, as a rule, is rude, inartistic and composed of a mixture of clay and coarsely powdered mussel shells. This image on the other hand is an exact presentment of a certain type, and does not contain in the interior fragments of shells; but, in addition to the other points of supe- riority, has the exterior surface covered with a well-defined coat of gray- ish-white clay, an art not usual in our ancient potteries. All these facts seem to show that this image was the work of an artist with more than self-acquired skill, and was the result of generations of men, combining their experience from teacher to pupil, from master to learner, and was borrowed from some older life center, and this knowledge of the facial expression, it is suggested, could only be borrowed from Japan or China. The recent emigration of a fleet of canoes of Asiatic Esquimaux by Behring's Strait to Alaska on this continent fully sustains this suggestion.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE IDOL.

The material of the image was submitted to Chemical Assistant Hurty for qualitative analysis, and it was found to contain silicates of alumina, soda and potassium, and sand humus and oxide of iron.' If it was of modern make, it would not have contained part of these ingredients, and if imported from Asia would have contained the common kaolin of East- ern Asia. But the analysis shows that the image was made up from common swamp clay, and still contained humus or organic matter, and the coating was from the fire-clay of some adjacent coal bank, clearly indicating that it was made of local materials, and therefore of local manufacture

COPPER IMPLEMENTS.

The copper ax is of the usual size and form discovered in the mounds. On analysis, it was found to be composed of copper, with traces of iron and carbon, but without alloy of phosphorus or tin. The analysis shows its origin from the copper mines of Lake Superior, and indicates their line of immigration by these mines to Indiana. The other articles men- tioned were the household implements, common about the kitchen fires of this race.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

CHAPTER III.

EVENTS PRIOR TO THE FORMATION OF GREENE COUNTY-THE CREATION- ORGANIZATION-THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT-REPORT OF THE COUNTY SEAT COMMISSIONERS-FIRST OFFICERS-IMPORTANT ACTS OF THE BOARD-CREATION OF TOWNSHIPS-MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS-THE FIRST COUNTY SEAT-THE RELOCATION AT BLOOMFIELD-STATISTICS- TREASURER'S REPORT-INTERESTING EVENTS-LOGAN, WHITE RIVER AND GUILFORD COUNTIES

D URING the Territorial period of Indiana, the population was 80 sparse that the few counties which had been organized comprised large tracts of wild country. Knox County was one of the earliest creat- ed, and not only included its present limits -but all of Indiana west of the West Fork of White River, and southwest of the Indian boundary line, separating Harrison's Purchase of 1809 from the New Purchase of 1818. Thus, all of Greene County west of the West Fork of White River was part and parcel of Knox County, and so remained until 1816, when it was constituted a part of the new county of Sullivan. In 1821, it be- came the western portion of Greene County. All of Greene County east of the West Fork of White River was made a part of Orange County in De- cember, 1815, and a part of Daviess County in 1817, and remained with the latter until the formation of Greene in 1821. The following is the full text of the act creating Greene County.

AN ACT FOR THE FORMATION OF A NEW COUNTY OUT OF THE COUNTIES OF SULLIVAN AND DAVIESS:

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That from and after the first Monday of February next, all that part of the counties of Sullivan and Daviees contained in the following bounds, shall form and constitute a separate county, viz. : Beginning at the northeast corner of Township 8 north, of Range 3 west, of the Second Principal Meridian; thence south to the southeast corner of Township 6 north, Range 3 west; thence west to the southwest corner of Township 6 north, Range 7 west; thence north to the northwest corner of Township 8 north, Range 7 west; thence east to and east with the south boundary of Owen County to the place of beginning.

SEC. 2. The said new county shall be known and designated by the name of the county of Greene, and shall enjoy all the rights, privileges and jurisdictions which to separate and independent counties do or may properly apportain or belong.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

SEC. 3. Amos Rogers, of Daviess County; Abraham Markle, Jr., of Vigo County; Abraham Case, of Knox County; William White, of Sul- livan County, and Charles Polk, of Knox County, are hereby appointed Commissioners, agreeably to the act entitled " An act for fixing the seat of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off." Approved Janu- ary 2, 1818, and the act entitled "An act supplemental to the act entitled 'An act fixing the seat of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off,'" approved January 29, 1818. The Commissioners above named shall convene at the house of Thomas Bradford, in the said county of Greene, 'on the first Monday of March next, and shall immediately proceed to dis- charge the duties assigned them by law. It is hereby made the duty of the Sheriff of Knox County to notify the said Commissioners either in person or by written notification of their appointments, on or before the first day of February next, and the said Sheriff of Knox County shall receive from the said county of Greene so much as the County Commis- sioners shall deem ;just and reasonable, who are hereby authorized to allow the same. out of any moneys in the County Treasury, in the same manner other claims are paid.

SEC. 4. The Circuit Court and all other courts of the county of Greene shall meet and be holden at the house of Thomas Bradford in the said county of Greene, until suitable accommodations can be had at the seat of justice hereafter to be selected according to law; and so soon as the courts of said county are satisfied that suitable accommodations can be had at the county seat they shall adjourn their courts thereto, after which time all the courts for the county of Greene shall be holden at the county seat of Greene to be established as directed by law: Provided, how. ever, that the Circuit Court shall have power, and are hereby authorized to remove the courts of said county from the house of Thomas Bradford to any other place previous to the public buildings being completed, should the Circuit Court see proper so to do.

Szc. 5. The agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sales of lots of the county seat of the county of Greene shall reserve ten per cent- um out of the proceeds thereof, and also ten per centum out of the dona- tions made to the county, and pay the same over to such person or per- sons as may be appointed by law to receive the same for the use of a library for said county of Greene, which he shall pay over at such time or times and places as may be directed by law.

SEC. 6. The Board of County Commissioners of the said county of Greene shall within twelve months after the permanent seat of justice shall have been selected, to proceed to erect the necessary public build- ings thereon.

SEC. 7. The same powers, privileges and authorities that are granted to the qualified voters of the county of Dubois and others named in the act entitled " An act incorporating a .county library in the counties

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

therein named," approved January 28, 1818, to organize, conduct and support a county library, are hereby granted to the qualified voters of the county of Greene; and the same powers and authorities therein granted to and the same duties therein required of the several officers and the person or persons elected by the qualified voters of Dubois County and other counties in the said act named for carrying into effect the pro- visions of the act entitled "An act incorporating a county library in the county of Dubois and other counties therein named," according to the true intent and meaning thereof, are hereby extended to and required of the officers and other persons elected by the qualified voters of the county of Greene.

SEC. 8. The act entitled "An act fixing the permanent northern boundary line of Daviesa County " is hereby repealed. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the Western Sun. Approved January 5, 1821.

COUNTY ORGANIZATION.

After the passage of this act by the General Assembly and prior to its approval by the Governor, as will be seen from the dates, the follow- ing recommendation was presented to the Governor and acted upon by him as shown in the succeeding order:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 3d January, 1821.

To HIS EXCELLENCY, JONATHAN JENNINGS,

Governor and Commander in Chief of the State of Indiana:

The undersigned Representatives of the district including the county of Greene recommend to your Excellency, Thomas Bradford, of Greene County, as a fitten character for the office of Sheriff of said county un- til the next annual election; and Eli Dixon as Coroner; and for the of- fice of County Surveyor, John Stokely; and for the office of Trustee of the county seminary, Cornelius Westfall.

JOHN M. MCDONALD, GEORGE R. C. SULLIVAN, ROBERT STURGESS.

The Secretary of State will execute commissions on the above recom- mendations.

January 3, 1821. . JONATHAN JENNINGS, Governor.

McDonald, Sullivan and Sturgess were then representing Sullivan County in the State Legislature, and the western part of Greene was, at that period, as will be seen from the opening of this chapter, a part of Sullivan County. The commissions for Thomas Bradford, Sheriff; Eli Dixon, Coroner; John Stokely, Surveyor; Cornelius Westfall, Seminary Trustee, were issued January 5, 1821, the same day the act creating the county was approved by the Governor. Whether the first three County Commissioners, the first Justices of the Peace, the first Associate Judges

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and the first Clerk and Recorder were commissioned by the Governor upon recommendation or were elected by the citizens of the county and then commissioned, cannot certainly be stated by the writer, though the latter course seems to have been pursued. If so, the election must have been held in the county some time in January or early in February, for Greene County as a separate existence was to date from the first Monday in February, and would require officers to set the civil and judicial wheels in motion. Or was that necessary ? Several of the commissions were dated in March and others in April. The election was held at the house of Thomas Bradford, and the officers elect were sworn in on the 6th of March by Phineas B. Rogers, a Justice of the Peace of Daviess County. All were required to swear that they, either directly or indi- rectly, had not given, carried or accepted a challenge to fight a duel, which act by the law of 1816 disqualified from office. Norman W. Pearce and John L. Buskirk were elected Associate Judges, and com- missioned April 27, 1821; and at the same time Thomas Warnick was commissioned Clerk, and George Shroyer, Recorder. The latter officer seems not to have qualified, as the duties of that office were performed by Mr. Warnick, who was qualified as Clerk for seven years June 6, 1821, and very likely as Recorder also. Thomas Bradford acted as Clerk prior to the qualification of Mr. Warnick

REPORT OF THE COUNTY SEAT COMMISSIONERS.

On the 10th of March, 1821, the County Commissioners met at the house of Thomas Bradford, and the first thing done was to receive the report of the Commissioners appointed by the Legislature to locate the county seat, the report being as follows:

STATE OF INDIANA, GREENE COUNTY, 88.

We, the undersigned Commissioners, met at the house of Thomas Bradford, and after being duly sworn according to law, proceeded to exam- ine the situations presented to our views, and have selected a place for the seat of justice of said county of Greene in Sections 9 and 10, Town- ship 7 north, Range 5 west, on a bluff which puts into White River in the east side, and we have received sixty acres of land for the use of said county from Thomas Bradford, and forty acres out of Section 10, Town- ship 7 north, Range 5 west, adjoining Thomas Bradford on the east side; twenty acres donated from Frederick Shepard, and twenty acres as a dona- tion from Zebulon Hogue. Given under our hands and seals this 10th day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one.

AMOS ROGERS, ABRAHAM CASE, CHARLES POLK, WILLIAM WHITE,

State Commissioners.

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ACTS OF THE COUNTY BOARD.

Nothing farther seems to have been done until the re-assembling of the board at the house of Thomas Bradford on the 6th of April. Thomas Bradford was appointed Clerk pro tempore, and John Owen, Treasurer. The county was duly declared organized and was divided into the follow- ing five townships: Highland-Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 3, Township 8 north, Range 4 west; thence south with the line dividing Sections 2 and 3 to the southeast corner of Section 34, Town- ship 8 north, Range 4 west; thence west with the line dividing Townships 7 and 8 to the southwest corner of Section 31, Township 8 north, Range 7 west; thence north with the said range line to "the northwest corner of Section 6, Township 8 north, Range 7 west; thence east with the line di- viding Townships 8 and 9 to the place of beginning. This township included the present townships of Highland, Jefferson, Smith and Wright. Richland-Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 3, Township 7 north, Range 4 west; thence south with the line dividing Sections 2 and 3 to the southeast corner of Section 34 of said township; thence west with the line dividing Townships 6 and 7 to the southwest corner of Sec- tion 31, Township 7 north, Range 7 west; thence north with said range line dividing 7 and 8 to the northwest corner of Section 6 in said town- ship; thence east with the line dividing Townships 7 and 8 to the place of beginning. This township included the present townships of Rich- land, Fairplay, Grant and Stockton. Burlingame-Beginning at the northeast corner of Township 8 north, Range 3 west; thence south with the east line of Greene County to the southeast corner thereof; thence west with the south line of said county to the southwest corner of Section 35, Township 6 north, Range 4 west; thence north with the line divid- ing Sections 34 and 35 to the northwest corner of Section 2, Township 8 north, Range 4 west; thence east to the place of beginning. This township comprised the present townships of Beech Creek, Center and Jackson. Plummer-Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 3, Township 6 north, Range 4 west; thence south with the line dividing Sections 2 and 3 to the southeast corner of Section 34 in said township; thence west with the township line dividing 5 and 6 to the White River; thence up said river with the meanders thereof to the township line divid- ing 6 and 7; thence east with said line to the place of beginning. This township comprised the present townships of Taylor and Cass. Stafford- Beginning at the northwest corner of Section 6, Township 6 north, Range 7 west; thence east with the line dividing Townships 6 and 7 to White River; thence down said river with the meanders thereof to the line dividing Townships 5 and 6; thence west with said township line to the southwest corner of Section 31, Township 6 north, Range 7 west; thence north with said line to the place of beginning. This township comprised the present townships of Washington and Stafford. Burlingame Town-

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

ship was named in honor of Abel Burlingame; Stafford in honor of Jesse Stafford: Plummer in honor of Thomas Plummer; Richland after Rich- land Creek, and Highland for the elevated courtry along White River and Eel River in the northern part of the country.

On the 2d day of the April session, the necessary officers were duly appointed for the five townships created the day before. Zebulon Hogue was appointed Superintendent of the Section 16, Township 7 north, Range 5 west. This was the first action toward the sale of school lands.

At the May session, various other Superintendents of sixteenth sections and numerous township officers were appointed, an account of which will be found elsewhere. James Galletly, a Scotchman of superior intelli- gence and learning, and an eminent surveyor, who became well known in many of the western counties of Indiana by reason of his being called upon to survey numerous county seats and other public lands, was ap- pointed by the board to survey and lay off into streets and lots the land donated for county seat purposes; and at the same time the board deter- mined that the county seat should be called Burlington. Detailed direc- tions were given as to the laying-off of the new town.

In August, George Shroyer, who had been appointed County Lister, made returns, and was paid $32 for his services. Thomas Bradford was appointed to procure a seal for the County Board, the design to be a heart surrounded by an olive branch. The first county road was project- ed at this term, and was to extend from Burlington up through Highland Township to the Owen County line. James Warnick, John H. Owen and John S. Owen, Sr., were appointed Viewers. Another road was projected from Burlington to the south boundary of the county, near Wesner's, with William Scott, James Howell and Cornelius Bogard, Viewers. The petitioners for this road were Orange Monroe, James Brown, John Owen, James Warnick, Peter C. Vanslyke, William Scott, John Van Voorst, Cornelius Vanslyke, Lewis B. Edwards, Will- iam D. Lynch, Thomas Warnick and Ephraim Owen, Sr. Another road was ordered viewed, leading from Ingersoll's Ferry via Fellows' mill to intersect the Bloomington road on the west line of Mon- roe County, near Dobson's. Thomas Bradford, Able .Westfail and Abel Burlingame, Viewers. These were the first three roads ordered viewed and built after the county was organized. Thomas Bradford was ap. pointed to procure a set of weights and measures. Solomon Dixson was given leave to establish a ferry on Section 9, Township 7 north, Range 5 west, ard at this time the following ferry rates were established for the whole county: Man on foot, 62 cents; man on horse, 12} cents; a load- ed two-horse wagon, 75 cents; a loaded road wagon, $1; a road wagon unloaded, 75 cents; sheep and hogs, each 2 cents; neat cattle, each 4

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cents; pleasure carriage, $1; oxen and cart, 50 cents; oxen and wagon, $1; a one-horse wagon, 50 cents.

In November, 1821, the board again met at the house of Thomas Brad- ford. Reports on the above roads and several others were received. Ephraim Owen, Town Agent, was authorized to let the job of clearing the public square to the lowest bidder, with instructions to have all trees twelve inches in diameter and under cut within six inches of the ground, between twelve and twenty inches not above twelve inches from the ground, and the remainder not below two feet from the ground; and also to let the job of digging a public well to the lowest bidder. At this term, Mr. Owen as Town Agent reported that $11.60 had been received from the sale of town lots, and claimed $3 of it to cover his expense in adver- tising the sale in a newspaper at Vincennes. The remainder was de- posited in the hands of Thomas Bradford. On the 13th of November, as provided in the act creating the county, the board authorized the Town Agent to advertise the letting of the contract to build a court house; and to have as much means on hand as possible, all town lots unsold were ordered sold for what they would bring. John Decker, Sheriff of Knox County, was paid $20 for notifying the locating Commissioners of their appointment as such. The expense of the county for the year 1821 was as follows, in full: For listing property, $30; for Clerk's and Sheriff's fees, $83; to Sheriff of Knox County, $20; roads, $15; elections, $9; printing, $3; making tax duplicate, $10; grand jury expense, $9.75; sending to Bloomington for laws, $3; Commissioners' fees, $56; total for the year 1821, $238.75. The receipts were 0.

ADDITIONAL ACTS OF THE COUNTY BOARD.

In February, 1822, Zebulon Hogue was appointed Superintendent of the timber standing on the lots of Burlington. John S. Warner was paid $3 for whisky furnished at the sale, and for "crying " the sale, of clearing the public square, the digging of a public well, and the sale or letting of the contract of building the court house. In May, the tax levied was as follows: On 100 acres of first-class land, $1.50; on 100 acres of second-class land, $1; on 100 acres of third-class land, 75 cents; all this for county and State purposes. Fifty cents was the levy on each poll; 37} cents on each horse, mule or jack; the season rate for each stallion; 25 cents on each ox; 50 cents on each gold watch; 25 cents on each silver watch; $5 ferry license; $3 for each bonded servant over twelve years of age, and $1.25 on each pleasure carriage This was quite a heavy tax for that day, and the Collector had hard work to collect even a limited portion of it. Many were forced into delinquency, for there was but little money in the country, and no means of getting more. People were forced into exchanges to effect commercial transactions. So much butter was exchanged for so many potatoes, or so many dozen eggs

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

for so much sugar or so many yards of calico. The money savings of a year were carefully kept to settle with the dreaded Tax Collector. The county expenses for 1822 were heavy, the outlay mainly being for the location and survey of Burlington, the building of the court house, and the efforts to supply the town with good water. Daniel Smith cleared the public square for $47. Thomas Warnick was paid $5.67} for crying a sale of lots and for whisky furnished. It was customary then, all over the West, at sales of that character, to furnish free whisky to "sweeten the bid," as it was termed. The whisky was procured by order of the County Board, and paid for from the county funds as any other expense. A singular allowance was made by the board in 1822- singular now, but not then. John Seaman, Sheriff, was paid $16 for arresting and keeping in custody fourteen days a fugitive slave named Thomas Clayburn. Thomas Bradford, James Howell and Zebulon Jen- kins built the court house, which was first occupied by the County Board in May, 1822. The building cost $250. The total expense of the county for the year 1822 was $970.34, while the receipts were only $360.41 from May, 1822, to May, 1823. The county, from the start, was forced to issue "orders " which circulated like currency, though they depreciated somewhat in the hands of the holders, and were thus a source of annoy- ance and loss.

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History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 4

Author: Goodspeed Bros. & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 901

Author: Goodspeed Bros. & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 901