USA > Indiana > Greene County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 55
USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 55
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may have sold said lot or lots corresponding with said application; and it is further provided, that nothing in this section shall be so construed as to prevent said Commissioners from re-locating said county seat in any town that is now laid off in said county, or that may hereafter be laid off; Provided, That in all cases a donation equal to the objects before mentioned shall have been secured.
Szo. 3. That James Barnes, of Vigo County, John Myers and Will- iam Harper, of Knox County, are hereby appointed Commissioners, to meet at Merom on the second Monday of April next, or as soon thereafter as may be agreed upon by a majority, to make an estimate of the value of each and every lot in the town of Merom, sold as aforesaid by said county or its agent on which any building or buildings are erected or other improvements made; also of each and every lot or lots sold as aforesaid which is without improvement; and they shall make an esti- mate of how much lees valuable said property will become by the removal of the seat of justice therefrom, which they shall certify to the Board of Commissioners of said county under their hands and seals; and the said Board of Commissioners of said county shall cause such certificate to be entered on their records, and cause the difference in value of said prop- erty so certified to be refunded to the owner or owners of said property, or to his or their legal representatives; and the Commissioners hereby appointed, before they proceed to make the estimate and valuation as above mentioned, shall be duly sworn, faithfully and impartially to dis- charge their duties, and in all cases a majority of them shall have full power to act.
Szc. 4. As soon as the Board of County Commissioners shall be sat- isfied that suitable public buildings are procured for holding courts and for other county purposes, they shall direct the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Recorder and Treasurer of said county to remove their offices to the new seat of justice, and from that time the Circuit and all other courts of said county shall be held there, and the seat of justice shall forever remain at the new site.
SEc. 5. The agent of said county shall reserve ten per centum out of the proceeds of the sale of such lots as may be sold for the use of said county at the said re-located county seat for the use of a county library, which shall be paid over in the same manner as is now provided for by law.
Szc. 6. That it shall be the duty of the Sheriff of Sullivan County to notify the Commissioners aforesaid of the time and place hereby ap- pointed for them to meet; for which he shall be allowed by the board doing county business of said county a reasonable compensation; and the said Commissioners shall be compensated and in all respects governed by the provisions of an act to establish seats of justice in new counties, ap- proved January 14, 1824, so far as the same may not contravene the .provisions of this act.
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SEC. 7. And it is hereby made the duty of the Sheriff of Sullivan County within fifteen days after the 1st day of March next, to notify the Commissioners named in the third section of this act, to meet at Richard Dodd's in Merom or at the court house in said town on the third Monday in March next, to perform the duties as set forth in the third section of this act. If any of the last-named Commissioners shall refuse to serve or neglect to attend, it shall be the duty of the board doing county business in said county of Sullivan to fill such vacancy, and the Sheriff to notify such Commissioner or Commissioners of their appoint- ment and the day that they are to meet, which day may be fixed by said board; and the board doing county business shall allow said Sheriff and Commissioners a reasonable compensation for their services. This act shall take affect and be in force from and after its publication in the Indiana State Gazette.
Approved January 29, 1830.
THE TRANSFER FROM MEROM.
What was done in pursuance of this act cannot be certainly stated. The Commissioners met as provided, but, as is well known, made no change in the location of the county seat. It is likely they found, as was intimated in the first two sections of the above act, that suitable do- nations with which to erect the county buildings could not be secured. At least, the county seat continued to remain at Merom, much to the joy of that town.
In 1831, James Hughes laid off an addition to the town, but failed to have it recorded, and the Legislature came to his relief as follows:
WHEREAS, It is represented to this General Assembly, that the late James Hughes, of Louisville, Ky., did, in the year 1831, lay off an addition to the town plat of Merom, Sullivan County, and State of Indiana, who failed to have the same recorded as is provided in such 088es; therefore
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That the legal representative of the estate of James Hughes, deceased, be authorized to have the original plat of said addition to the town of Merom, recorded in the records of said county, and that it be the duty of the Recorder of the county of Sullivan to enter of record the plat of said Hughes, deceased, whenever the legal representative may present the same for record. This act to be in force from and after its passage. Approved January 8, 1834.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNTY SEAT AT SULLIVAN.
The act which ordered the change of the county seat from Merom to the center of the county cannot be given. It was probably passed at the session of 1841-42, and in effect was similar in its provisions to the act given above, approved January 29, 1830. Property owners of the
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town of Merom were given the right to exchange their lots with others similarly situated in Sullivan, or they were paid the depreciation in value of their property, caused by the removal of the county seat, the amount of depreciation being determined by a board of arbitrators. Considera- ble inconvenience, and in some cases, injustice, grew out of this novel mode of removal and adjustment, but time healed all wounds. Sullivan has since been the county seat.
THE FIRST GOVERNMENT LAND PATENTS.
The land purchased in the county, from the Government by patent, during the years 1816 and 1817 was as follows: Township 6, Range 8 -Robert Bedwell, Thomas Trimble, John Purcell and S. Shepard. Town- ship 7, Range 8-John Purdy. Township 8, Range 8-Willoughby Pugh and William Pugh. Township 6, Range 9-James Wason, John W. Nash, Stephen Milam and Richard Maxwell. Township 7, Range 9- Thomas Hamilton, Thomas Pitts, William Purdy, John South, Jesse Haddon, John Pinkler, Thomas Creager, James Curry, A. N. McClelland, Eli Newlin, John Creager, Charles Hill, Henry South. Samuel Ledger. wood, Jonathan Batsom, Andrew Wilkins, John Haddon, Moses Milam, Samuel McClure, John Sinclair, Andrew Hamilton, John Robbins, Abra- ham Johnson Jr., William Hamilton, George Boon, Morgan Eaton, H. S. Eaton, Robert Murphy, Titus Willard, Charles Scott, Friend Lemon, C. and F. Bullett, Patrick Smith, John Hall, Simeon Smith, Matthew McCammon and Brook Howell. Township 8, Range 0 -Paschal Shel- burn, William Pugh, Samuel Smith, Thomas Hamilton, C. Crabtree and Eli Sinclair. Township 9, Range 9-Thomas Carrithers, James Wier, William S. Watson, John Curry, Shadrock Sherman, William Curry, Calvin Curry and Isaac Hill. Township 6, Range 10-John Campbell, John Wallace, John Bond, Epinetus Webb, Jonathan Graham, Benjamin Sherman, Eli Joseph, Joseph Ridgeway, Uriah Joseph and James Duncan. Township 7, Range 10-John West, Ephraim West, Smith Hansbaugh, Edward Neal, James Jones, William Sherman, John Scott, Elizabeth Shepard, Joseph Warner, Felter & Hedges, William Lester, James Caldwell, John Booth, John B. Daugherty, C. and F. Bullett, Anthony and Richard Bumett, John Widener, Evan Rice, Levi Springer, David Thompson, Samuel Ray. William Hill, Samuel Elliott, Robert McNair, Samuel Smith, Samuel Ledgerwood, Jonathan Graham, Robert Polk, William Nudford, William Burnett, Andrew Wilkins, William Polk, Richard Maxwell, Thomas and John Bennett, John White, Peter Elliott, Abner Vickery, Jesse Haddon, William South, John Hopewell, Aaron Thompson, Abijah and Joseph Thomas, Henry French, Rankin Chandler, John C. Riley, Jacob Mumay, Thomas Edwards, Silas Dean, John Sproat, Elisha Boudmot and Alexander Chamberlain. Township 8, Range 10-John Flannagan, Jesse Davis, John McKee, Abraham Stagg,
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William Johnson, James B. McCall, John Miller, William Woods, Thomas N. White, Isaac Brocaw, John Haddon, Abraham McClelland, George Kirby, Seth Cushman, David Wilkins, Josiah Bryant, Henry Little, Benjamin Turman, Richard Posey, William Harper, James Harper and Arnold Potter. Township 9, Range 10-Phillip Frakes, John Gor- don, William McGuire, Samuel Chambers, William Bryant, William Kelsne, Jesse Ropel, Thomas Armstrong, Reuben Moore, Shadrack Ernest, Thomas Robbins, Ludwick Ernest, James Pogue, Joseph Cham- bers, James D. Piety, James Lee, I. W. Drennan, Alexander Clark, Gideon Long, James Drake, James Patten, Edward H. Ransford, Isaac Hand, Joseph Thompson, William Sherman, Benjamin Harris, Robert Wier, William Patten and Elijah Payne. Township 7, Range 11-John White and John C. Riley. Township 8, Range 11-John Lester, W. Lawrence, Thomas White Jr., John White, J. C. Haliburt, Arthur Pat- terson, William White, John Seaton, Jonathan Lindley, William Harlow, James B. McCall, Benjamin Turman, Samuel Chambers, George Rogers, Clark Sullivan, Jonah Bryant, Nathaniel Ernest. Township 9, Range 11-Ambrose Whitlock, Phillip Smoyer and William Patten. The above were all who entered laud during the years 1816 and 1817.
INDIAN TREATIES AND THE SURVEYORS.
That portion of Sullivan County lying south of the old crooked boundary line extending northwest and southeast across the southern part of the county with an extra square taking in Carlisle, was obtained from the Indians by the treaty of Fort Wayne June 7, 1803, and became known as the Vincennes tract. The remainder of the county was obtained from the Indians by the treaty of Fort Wayne September 30, 1809, and became known as Harrison's purchase. The survey of the county was made as follows: Township 6, Range 11-E. Buckingham 1805, and Daniel Sullivan, 1811. Township 7, Range 11-Arthur Henrie, 1815, and A. E. Van Ness, 1848. Township 8, Range 11-Arthur Henrie, 1815. Township 9, Range 11-Arthur Henrie, 1815, and N. L. Squibb, 1843. Township 5, Range 10-Daniel Sullivan, 1805, and R. Buntin. Township 6, Range 10-E. Buckingham, 1805, and Daniel Sullivan, 1811. Township 7, Range 10-Arthur Henrie, 1815, and the island by A. E. Van Ness, 1848. Township 8. Range 10-Arthur Henrie, 1814. Town- ship 9, Range 10-Arthur Henrie, 1814. Township 6, Range 9-Daniel Sullivan. Township 7, Range 9-William Harris, 1814. Township 8, Range 9-William Harris, 1814. Township 9, Range 9-William Har- ris, 1814. Township 6, Range 8-Daniel Sullivan, 1814. Township 7, Range 8-William Harris, 1814. Township 8, Range 8-William Har- ris, 1814. Township 9, Range 8 .- William Harris, 1814.
CANAL AND SWAMP LANDS.
The exact number of acres of canal and swamp lands located in Sul-
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livan County cannot be given. The former were to be sold for the benefit of the State canals which were to be constructed under the famous Internal Improvement bill. There was located in Sullivan County a total of about 73,000 acres of canal land. In the decade of the fifties, under the common school law of 1852, large quantities of swamp Jand in the State were surveyed and thrown into market for the benefit of the school system. ' There were located in Sullivan County about 10,000 acres of this land. It has been but a few years since the last was sold.
BRIDGES, DITCHES, ETC.
On the 29th of January, 1818, the Legislature, by special enactment, authorized Morgan Eaton and William Ledgerwood to erect and maintain a toll bridge over Busseron Creek at or near Eaton's Mills. This bridge was built and became a well-traveled crossing for many years.
THE COUNTY BOARD IN 1850.
On Monday, February 18, 1850, the County Board-Joseph W. Wolfe, Jesse Haddon and Levi Maxwell-met for the first time after the destruction of the county records by fire on the night of February 7, 1850. H. K. Wilson, County Auditor, was ordered to procure deeds from all persons who had donated land to the county seat. The Clerk's office was established in William Wilson's store building, and the Methodist Church was hired, in which to hold the Circuit and other courts. There was appropriated $500 for the purchase of the necessary books for the county offices. In March, Thomas Dunn and Elijah Voorhies were licensed to sell liquor and groceries in Fairbanks Township. All county officers were required to file new bonds, the old ones having been burned.
THE COURT HOUSE.
March 15, 1850, it was decided to proceed immediately to the erection of a new court house, the contract to be let May 6. Advertisements were ordered inserted in the Wabash Express and Terre Haute Journal, calling for sealed proposals from contractors. This action was rescinded in April, and it was decided to appropriate $2,500 out of the county funds to begin work on the house. W. C.'Griffith contracted to furnish all lumber for the house for 87 cents per 100 feet, and Melborn Reed con- tracted to make and deliver on the public square'150,000 bricks, at $3.75 per 1,000, to be delivered by the 1st of October. In October, the build- ing of the house was let to James F. Pound and William Reed, at $7,853, the structure to be completed by January 1, 1852. Edwin May prepared the specifications for the house. Several important changes were afterward made, one (and a wise one) being the elevation of the court house one foot higher than stated in the contract, at an additional cost of $484. The building was to be 40x60 feet, and is the central por-
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tion of the present structure. The house was finished in the time specified in the contract, and cost nearly $9,000.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST.
In June, 1850, the following tax was levied: On each $100 valuation for State purposes, 25 cents; on each poll, 75 cents; on each $100 of property, 8} per centum; on each $100 for the insane, 1.075 mills; on each $100 for the deaf and dumb asylum, 2.025; on each $100 for the blind asylum, 1 cent; on each $100 for county purposes, 332 cents: on each $100 for road purposes, 5 cents; on each poll for county purposes, 75 cents; on each caravan, menagerie, circus, rope or wire dancing, each day, $30; sleight of hand, $5; license to vend clocks, $50. In 1852, Fairbanks, Gill and Haddon Townships voted against licensing saloons within their borders. James Harris was County Agent at this time. The cash receipts from the sale of town lots in Sullivan prior to June, 1851, were $269.24. January 31, 1851, an act passed by the Legislature was approved, granting relief to persons likely to suffer from the destruction of the county records. This act provided for the appointment of a " Re- lief Court Commissioner," whose duty it was, upon application, to ex- amine titles and fix them by the evidence of witnesses, and by all other possible ways. Hiram S. Hanchett received the appointment. His special duty was the replacement of the county records and the establish- ment of the county's title to lands at Merom, Sullivan and elsewhere. Robert C. Mckinney was appointed student to the State University at Bloomington. Upon petition of the citizens, the place of holding elec- tions in Cass Township was changed to Caledonia. John H. Wilson assessed Cass Township in 1852, and was paid $18 for his work. In March, 1853, a substantial plank fence was built around the public square. At this time, all remaining lots owned by the county at Merom were ordered sold for what they would bring.
'In September, 1853, it was ordered that Joseph W. Wolfe, County Clerk, be allowed the sum of $46 for examining, registering and certify- ing to forty-siz negroes and mullatoes, as required by law. At this time, attempts were made to incorporate Sullivan. A number of fine forest trees were transplanted on the public square. In March, 1854, Samuel M. Reed was appointed student to the State University; also Lewis A. Davis and Enoch A. MoGrew. The nine townships of the county were bounded and numbered, and the county was divided into three Commis- sioners' districts. No. 1 was the present townships of Hamilton, Curry, Cass and Jackson. No. 2 was Fairbanks and Turman Townships, and the three northern tiers of sections of Gill Township. No. 3 was all of the county south of the projected southern boundary of Hamilton Town- ship. In December, 1854, the County Board was petitioned to merge Jefferson Township in Haddon, from which it had been struck a short
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time before, but this the board refused to do. in .1854, the Sullivan Democrat was established, and was kept on file at the county's expense at the Recorder's office. The first issue was on August 17. No. 3 was issued by Murray Briggs, the present editor and proprietor, who, it is safe to say, has done more than any other man to ditfuse knowledge throughout the county. Naturally a close observer and an impartial critic, with tine literary taste and a finished education, he has during the long years of his management of the paper wielded a powerful influence for good on the social fabric of the county.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS CONTINUED.
In November, 1854, a heavy snow fell, and the next issue of the paper said: "We understand that over twenty deer were killed within a few miles of this town." Early in 1856, Maj. Stewart, then probably the leading merchant of the county, began issuing "shinplasters" of the denomination of 50 cents. He continued thus for several years, issuing in all several thousand dollars worth based on real estate and other prop. erty owned by him. Carlisle was incorporated in 1856. The Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad ran trains to Sullivan for the first in 1854. This and the newspaper and the incorporation of the town, all coming about the same time, infused new and active life into the county seat. In 1856, Levi D. Maxwell was appointed student to the State University, and in 1858 Josiah M. Wilson. In 1858, a public well was dug on the square, by Calvin Overstreet, for $39.50. It was during this year, also, that a new county jail was built, William Greenlee taking the brick and wood work for $2, 750. E. Jacobs & Co. contracted to furnish the iron- work for the jail for $2,462. By October, 1858, the work was completed, and reported for inspection and acceptance, but the board refused to re- ceive the work, alleging a breach of contract on the part of Jacobs, un- less a deduction of $250 was made. This seems to have been complied with. Robert Barnes painted the jail for $17.50. John A. Cummins, acting under orders from the County Board, collected the arms of the county militia, and stored them in the old jail building. In 1857, a well was sunk at the depot to get artesian water if possible; several hun- dred feet were passed through. An important fact demonstrated was, that underneath the soil were heavy beds of excellent block and coking cual and rich deposits of fire-clay. Artesian water was not obtained. Many horses were stolen in the county about this time, and companies of regulators were organized.
WHITE RIVER AND LOGAN COUNTIES.
Early in 1860, the County Board was petitioned by 763 citizens to appoint three Commissioners as provided by the statute to confer with like Commissioners from other counties interested as to the propriety of forming a new county to be called White River, out of the counties of
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Sullivan, Knox, Daviess and Greene. Action favorable to this project was strongly opposed, and the petition was finally dismissed by the board upon a demurrer filed and argued by Sewell Coulson. Soon after this, another petition was presented having the same object in view, though the proposed county in this petition was to be called Logan and the boundaries and extent were different. Action was postponed by the County Board until finally the excitement growing out of the war pre- vented further consideration of the question. Late in December, 1860, however, the County Board ordered the Auditor to draw up a petition to the General Assembly, and have 500 printed, praying that body to re- peal the law which provided for the appointment of Commissioners by County Boards to confer with like Commissioners from other counties with the object of changing the boundaries of counties, creating new ones, etc., pursuant to an act of the Legislature approved March, 1857, and amended March, 1859. The law was troublesome and odious and was unpopular throughout the State, and was finally repealed.
OTHER EVENTS OF VALUE.
On the 9th of March, 1861, in view of the probable coming calamity of war, the County Board ordered the Auditor to have the muskets in the county put in good order and to collect the guns still in the hands of citizens. Merom put in claims for incorporation about this time, but did not succeed in her desires. On the 4th of June, the following was spread upon the records of the County Board : WHEREAS, The board has just heard with unfeigned sorrow of the death of Stephen A. Douglas, one of the greatest statesmen of the country and age, the people's favorite; therefore, as a testimonial of our respect for his memory, it is ordered that this board immediately adjourn until tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock. Soon after this, the board was petitioned to appropriate a por- tion of the funds of the county for the support of soldiers' families, but refused. Their reasons may be seen in the military chapter. In 1863, an iron safe was bought of H. H. Dodds & Co., Cincinnati, for $310, for use in the Auditor's office. A county map was prepared at a cost of $60. The old jailer's house was sold for $50. In October, 1864, the board ordered sold $75,000 county bonds to clear the county quota. This amount was afterward increased (see military chapter). In September, 1864, William Mack, Esq., attorney of Terre Haute, was employed for $1,000 to prosecute such criminals as should be apprehended in the county. All places seemed infested with burglars, horse-thieves, high- waymen, train-wreckers, cut-throats and thugs, and the board determined to end the reign of crime.
In June, 1869, it was found that all outstanding bounty claims had been paid, and there was on hand a surplus of the bounty fund to the amount of $5,614. 75, which was ordered merged into the county fund to
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be used in the payment of outstanding county orders. At this time. W. H. Griffin was appointed agent to purchase a large burglar and fire proof safe for the Treasurer's office, which he did from the Hall Safe and Lock Company of Cincinnati, at a cost of $1,750. This safe is yet in use. It is 68 inches high, 48 inches deep and 52 inches wide. Early in 1871, Farmersburg was incorporated. Forty-two persons signed the petition. The limits comprise sixty-nine and a half acres, and the population was 276. Immediately after this, Shelburn was also incorporated; popula- tion, 300; limits, 113 acres; petitioners, 40. In 1872, a petition was presented the board praying that all of Congressional Township 7 north, Range 8 west, might be created Madison Township; but after due de- liberation the matter was dismissed without action.
THE COURT HOUSE REMODELED.
In July, 1872, it was decided to remodel the court house, which had become too small to meet the growing wants of the county. Tbe plan was to build a wing on each of the east and west ends. The old portion was to be refitted throughout. The contract was let to W. Greenlee and J. H. Robertson, at $28,807. The additions were completed according to contract, leaving the building as it is at present. Late in October, 1874, an iron fence was built around the public square, by Neal & Co., of Indianapolis, for $2.342 per foot. On the night of June 11, 1875, Marcy Engle, of Jackson Township, was assassinated in his own house. The County Board offered a reward of $200 for the apprehension of the assassin. In June, 1875, the iron posts and chains were put around the public square. In March, 1876, a fine bell, weighing 504 pounds, was bought and hung upon the court house. It cost 30 cents per pound, which amount with the cost of hanging ($30) was $181.20. In 1880, a re-survey of the south line of the county was made, as some doubt ex- isted as to where the line extended, and was located. In September, 1883, a fine burglar proof safe was bought for the Auditor's office for $425. The office of the Auditor as a separate office was abolished in 1845-46, but re-established in 1852. During this period the County Clerk supplied the place at $160 per year. The first Auditor was elected in 1841.
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