History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 8

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 8
USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 8


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).


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TOWNSHIPS OR TOWNS.


Congres- sional Revenue.


Common School Revenue.


Liquor License.


Total School Revenue.


Richland


$91 02


$1,442 36


$38 99


$1,572 04


Taylor


51 99


~23 80


22 09


867 88


Cass


23 20


367 72


9 86


400 78


Jackson


79 60


1,261 35


33 81


1,374 76


Center


55 40


877 96


23 54


956 90


Beech Creek.


61 43


973 45


26 10


1,060 98


Highland


33 10


524 50


14 06


571 66


Fairplay


20 15


319 26


8 56


347 97


Smith


26 17


414 75


11 12


452 04


Wright.


49 29


781 05


20 98


851 27


Stockton


47 40


751 12


20 13


818 65


Stafford


31 39


497 42


13 33


542 14


Washington


46 41


735 44


19 72


801 57


Jefferson


26 71


423 30


11 35


461 36


Worthington


37 06


587 22


15 74


640 02


Grant


25 90


410 48


11 00


447 88


Totals


$706 22


$11,191 18


$300 00


$12,197 40


In 1848, there were 4,917 children of school age in the county; in 1851, there were 4,928; in 1857, there were 6,004; in 1865, there were 6,723; in 1867, there were 6,942; in 1876, there were 8,218; in 1878,


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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.


there were 8,450: and in 1883 there were 7,852. The entire school rev- enue distributed to the townships in 1857 amounted to $6,043.01; in 1867, to $13,360.05; and in 1883 to $12,197.40. In 1882, there were nine brick schoolhouses, 134 frame and no log. Value of schoolhouses and grounds, $70, 700; value of apparatus, $5,840; volumes in township libraries, 2,378; number of private schools during the year, 23; number of teachers, 25; the decrease in school children from 1881 to 1882 was 158. Late in the decade of forties and early in the decade of fifties, Greene, with all other counties of the State, was called upon to vote on the question of having free schools. The following statement shows the result of these elections:


BALLOT ON THE FREE SCHOOL SYSTEM.


TOWNSHIPS.


1848 .*


1850.


1851.


For. Against.


For. Against.


For. Against.


Richland


86


163


187


55


188


44


Taylor.


136


62


148


47


Jackson


33


128


97


85


128


60


Center


11


211


37


185


101


123


Beech Creek.


6


161


23


137


81


82


Highland


20


134


54


97


81


61


Fairplay.


16


60


48


24


64


16


Eel River.


40


46


70


38


80


25


Smith


61


53


31


18


38


12


Wright


25


75


40


84


61


58


Stockton


41


62


64


47


76


34


Stafford


15


58


26


44


35


32


Washington


11


44


41


40


56


22


Cass ..


67


44


88


17


Jefferson


53


28


58


22


Plummer


109


165


Totale


474


1460


974


988


1278


655


* In 1848, Plummer Township comprised Taylor and Cass, and Jefferson was a part of Smith.


This table shows the change in sentiment in the county on the ques- tion of free schools from 1848 to 1851. The result in 1849 cannot be given.


In 1883, the number of acres in the county was 347,097.61; the value of land was $2,913,692; the value of improvements, $767,490; value of lots $87,135; value of improvements, $252,830; value of per- sonal property, $1,900,076; total value of taxables, $5,921,223; total tax, $108,287.99; number of polls, 3,683.


EARLY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.


Edmund Jean, John B. Kelshaw, William Clark, James Warnick, Peter Ingersoll, O. T. Barker, Frederick Slinkard, John Seaman, John Breece, Abel Burlingame, John Gardner, 1821; Joseph Kirkpatrick, Henry Littlejohn, Peter Arlester, 1822; Benson Jones, Robert Bartley,


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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.


Samuel Hite, John Hill, J. W. Hines, 1824; James Storm, John Crooks, John Goldsley, 1825; Leonard Wines, E. P. Cushman, William Clark, Samuel Daugherty, John Storm, Frederick Slinkard, 1826; P. V. Hollis- ter, 1827; John F. O'Neall, Elijah Veach, Henry Littlejohn, Richard Wright, Micajah Rust, John Robeson, Benjamin Herry, David Deem, John B. Kelshaw, Elisha Graves, 1828; Elisha P. Cushman, Thomas Clark, 1829; Charles Walker, John Burch, Frederick Hendricks, Stephen Stone, Jesse Rainbolt, John Goldsley, Aaron Brewer, James W. Riley, 1830; George Sarver, William Johnson, Leonard Wines, George K. Tay- lor, J. B. Ferrel, Raleigh Hopper, 1831; Jacob Dobbins, Abe Bugher, 1832; Isaac Anderson, F. O. Donald, Daniel Harrah, W. F. Williams, L. D. Ellis, J. A. Pegg, J. F. O'Neal, Samuel Markley, Andrew Wood- ruff, 1833; Moses Ritter, Martin Wines, Ephraim Owen, Amos Owen, John Bullock, John Cochran, Jacob Young, 1834; James M. Gaston, John Abrams, Lewis Story, E. P. Cushman, Elisha Knox, 1835; Joseph Smith, Samuel Ferguson, John M. Coffey, Alexander Poe, Drury B. Boyd, John B. Ferrel, 1836; Jesse Brasher, Eleazer Spooner, Jacob Dobbins, W. M. Norris, Samuel Batman, 1837; Samuel Freeman, Abner Goodwin, Richard Wright, James M. Gastineau, J. F. O'Neall, Andrew Caress, W. F. Williams, J. S. Osborn, James B. Spooner, John Hill, P. M. O'Haver, 1838; W. J. McIntosh, Vincent Lester, Amos Owen, Martin Wines, John Cochran, Henry Strickland, Henry Owen, Ephraim Jackson, James S. Freeman, George Johnson, Harmon Hartley, Drury B. Boyd, 1839; James M. Gaston, Levi Chapman, John Burch, Thomas Butler, William Burch, E. P. Cushman, 1840.


COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.


Thomas Plummer, David Deem, Peter Herrington, March, 1821; Jon- athan Lindley, May, 1822; Hiram Hayward, 1823 (at the September term, 1824, the County Justices began doing county business, continuing until 1827); Jonathan Lindley, Benson Jones and John Crooks, Novem- ber, 1827; Stephen Stone, 1828; James Warnick, 1829; Samuel Simons, 1830; Benson Jones, 1830; Joel Sexson, 1832; Benson Jones, 1833; Samuel Simons, 1833 (in September, 1834, the County Justices again took control and continued until 1837); Samuel Simons, 1837; William O'Neall, 1837; Jesse Rainbolt, 1837; William O'Neall, 1838; Jesse Rain- bolt, 1839; Samuel Simons, 1840; William O'Neall, 1841; Frederick Slinkard, 1842; James Fuller, 1842; Samuel Simons, 1843; Alfred L. Kutch, 1844; James Fuller, 1845; Samuel Simons, 1846; A. L. Kutch, 1847; Jesse Rainbolt, 1847; Adam Stropes, 1847; Jeremiah Stone, 1847; Samuel Simons, 1849; A. L. Kutch, 1850; Jeremiah Stone, 1850; Sam- uel Simons, 1852; Aaron Hagaman, 1853; Abraham Spainhower, 1853; Jeremiah Stone, 1853; Aaron Hagaman, 1854; Adam Stropes, 1856; An- drew Raper, 1857; Aaron Hagaman, 1857; Aaron Bland, 1858, Abra-


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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.


ham Spainhower, 1858; Aaron Hagaman, 1859; J. F. Jamison, 1860; Abraham Spainhower, 1861; John Jones, 1861; G. C. Morgan, 1862; J. F. Jamison, 1863; John Jones. 1864; G. C. Morgan, 1865; William Hert, 1866; John G. Owen, 1866; David Bonham, 1867; John R. Hud- son, 1869; Wilson Humphreys. 1870; J. M. Cravens, 1870; Jacob Nel- linger, 1872; William C. Winters, 1872; Frank Stalcup, 1873; J. M. Cravens, 1873; Elijah Robbitt, 1875; Carpus N. Shaw, 1876; Frank Stalcup, 1876; John R. Hudson, 1878; Abraham Spainhower, 1879; Wilson Humphreys, 1879; Moses Crockett, 1881; John Miller, Jr., 1882; Robert T. McKee, 1882; Moses Crockett, 1884.


TREASURERS.


John Owen, April 6, 1821; Hallet B. Dean, February, 1824; Norman W. Pearce, January, 1827; Moses Ritter, 1832; Samuel D. Chipman, 1834; Elisha P Cushman, 1835; John Hill, 1841; William Mason, 1843; Joseph Lyons, 1852; James Harrah, 1856; J. B. Stropes, 1858; D. A. Bynum, 1862; Henry C. Owen, 1866; David Butcher, 1870; H. V. Nor- vell, 1874: H. T. Neal, 1878; E. R. Stropes, 1882.


AUDITORS.


Thomas Warnick (ex-officio), 1821; Samuel R. Cavins (ex-officio), 1835; Thomas Carson (elected), 1841; Samuel R. Cavins (ex-oficio), 1846; John Jones, 1853; Joseph Lyons, 1859; O. T. Barker, 1867; Jason N. Conley, 1871; William R. Stropes, 1874; John L. Harrel, 1878.


CLERK8.


Thomas Warnick, April 27, 1821 (commissioned for seven years, but continued to serve until 1830); Thomas Warnick, 1830; Samuel R. Ca- vins, 1835; John M. Humphreys, 1855; John J. Milam, 1859; John T. Smith, 1865; D. Whitaker, 1870; J. F. Slinkard, 1878; Henry Gasti. neau, 1882.


RECORDERS.


George Shroyer, 1821; Thomas Warnick, 1827; Samuel R. Cavins 1835; E. P. Cushman, 1855; John B. Cushman, 1858; Hughes East, 1859; J. T. Oliphant, 1867; Daniel B. Hatfield, 1870; John A. Pate, 1878.


SHERIFFS.


Thomas Bradford, January 5, 1821; John Seaman, August 1821; George Baber, 1824; Cornelius Bogard, 1828; John Crooks, 1830; G. R. H. Moore, 1834; John R. Dixson, 1838; James Vanslyke, 1842; E. E. Beasley, 1846; William J. McIntosh, 1850; William G. Moss, 1856; John D. Killian, 1860; William G. Moss, 1864; F. M. Dugger, 1866; H. S. Slinkard, 1870; F. M. Dugger, 1872; Daniel M. Bynum, 1876; Joseph J. Sexson, 1880; E. A. Bonhaver, 1882.


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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.


CORONERS.


Eli Dixson, January 5, 1821; Cornelius Bogard, August 1821; J. B. Landers, 1824; Vincent Lester, 1825; Stephen Stalcup, 1828; John A. Pegg, 1830; Samuel Steel, 1834; W. T. Wright, 1836; W. C. Hicks, 1837; Henry Kelsey, 1838; W. C. Hicks, 1839; Samuel C. Greene, 1843; John Cole, 1845; Jacob Bland, 1848; Eli Sparks, 1850; Edward West, 1852; William W. Gamey, 1854; John W. Osborn, 1856; Squire Flinn, 1857; John Bledsoe, 1860; J. G. Warnick, 1861; Doctor Holt, 1862; George Steele, 1864; Robert.Baker, 1866; Richard Hardesty, 1870; Rob- ert Baker, 1872; David Armstrong, 1876; Newton Heaton, 1878; J. O. Burbank, 1879; William Axe, 1880.


SURVEYORS.


John Stokely, 1821; Mark O'Neall, August 1821; Hance Stalcup 1831; Philander Burr, 1853; Alexander Plummer, 1855; C. M. Moss, 1861; James D. Knapp, 1865: Alexander Plummer, 1870; W. W. Clug- ston, 1876; Frank Shepard, 1878; F. M. Parker, 1879.


SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS, EXAMINERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS.


Carpus Shaw, 1835; William Mason, 1842; W. D. Lester, 1843; A. S. Rhodes, 1847; John B. Stropes, 1847; W. D. Lester, 1848; Elisha P. Cushman, 1850-53 (end of Commissioners). John R. Hudson, June 1853; E. H. C. Cavins, December 1853; William Mack, March 1854; S. L. Stoddard, 1856; A. J. Axtell, 1856; William Mack, 1856; same three for 1857; David L. Osborn, 1858; William Mack, 1858; A. J. Axtell, 1858; H. C. Hill, 1859, vice Mack; H. C. Hill, 1861; A. J. Axtell, 1861; James A. Dagley, 1861; John T. Smith, June 1861 (under the new law ap- proved March 11, 1861); Henry C. Hill, September 1861, vice Smith gone to the war; John R. Isenhower, 1864; Lewis B. Edwards, 1867; R. O. Hilburn, 1871-73 (end of Examiners); R. C. Hilbarn, first County Su- perintendent, June 1873; S. W. Axtell, autumn of 1876-84.


STATE SENATORS AND THE COUNTIES REPRESENTED.


Thomas H. Blake, 1821, Greene, Sullivan, Vigo, Owen and Parke; John Jenckes, 1822-25, Greene, Sullivan, Vigo, Owen, Parke and Put- nam; John M. Coleman, 1825, Greene, Sullivan, Vigo, Parke, Putnam, Hendricks, Morgan, Owen, Montgomery, Vermillion and Clay; David H. Maxwell, 1826-30, Greene, Owen and Monroe; James Whitcomb, 1830- 36, Greene, Owen, Monroe; David M. Dobson, 1836-44, Greene and Owen; John F. Allison, 1844-47, Greene and Owen; Lovell H. Rousseau, 1847-50, Greene and Owen; Jesse J. Alexander, 1850-58, Greene and Owen; Jason N. Conley, 1858-63, Greene and Owen; George W. Moore, 1863-67, Greene and Owen; John Humphreys, 1867-71, Greene and Owen; Wiley E. Dillemore, 1871-75, Greene and Owen; Andrew Hum-


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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.


phreys, 1875-77, Greene and Daviess; David J. Hefron, 1877-83, Greene and Daviess; Jacob F. McIntosh, 1883-, Greene and Daviess.


STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND THE COUNTIES COMPOSING THE DISTRICT.


Hugh Barnes, 1822, Greene, Owen and Morgan; Eli Dixson, 1823, same; David Harris, 1824, same; John Sims, 1825, same and Clay; Eli Dixson, 1826, Greene and Owen; Thomas F. G. Adams, 1827, same; John M. Young, 1828, same; Eli Dixson, 1829-30, same; James Galletly, 1830, same; George Baber, 1831, Greene; Drury B. Boyd, 1832-33, Greene; Joseph P. Storm, 1834-37, Greene; Drury B. Boyd, 1837, Greene; John F. Allison, 1838-40, Greene; James S. Freeman, 1840, Greene; John F. O'Neall, 1841-44, Greene; Lovell H. Rousseau, 1844-46, Greene; John Jones, 1346, Greene; Stephen Lockwood, 1847, Greene; Richard H. Rousseau, 1848, Greene; Andrew Humphreys, 1849-51, Greene; A. Ham, 1851-52, Greene; John W. Ferguson, 1853, Greene; Andrew


Humphreys, 1857, Greene; Elijah H. C. Cavins, 1858, Greene; # William G. Moss, 1861-62, Greene; John M. Humphreys, 1863;


Thomas Mason, 1867-71, Greene; James A. Minick, 1871, Greene; John R. Isenhower, 1872-75, Greene; M. C. Fulk, 1875-76, Greene; James R. Baxter, 1877, Greone; - Humphreys, Greene; Jacob P. McIntosh and Enoch Fuller, 1881, Greene; Alexander S. Helms, 1882, Greene.


POLITICAL BUMMARY.


The early political history of the county is enveloped in comparative obscurity. No records were kept, and the early actors are gone; so that nothing but the names of a few of the prominent county politicians of that day can be given. John F. O'Neall was a prominent Democrat, and it is said afterward became a Whig. Martin Wines, of Linton was a leading Whig. J. F. Allison came on the stage a little later, as an in- fluential Whig. Eli Dixson, Thomas Warnick and Thomas Bradford were strong Democrats and excellent men. They served the county in various official positions with fidelity. Samuel R. Cavins was a prominent Whig, and occupied the offices of Recorder Auditor and Clerk, for a long period of years, regardless of the fact that the county was strongly Democratic. He was one of the most exemplary citizens ever a resident of Greene County. W. C. McIntosh was one of the foremost of the Democrats. Drury B. Boyd was also a politician of the same party. The Stones of Jackson Township were Democrats. Joel B. Sexson and Jesse Rainbolt were Whigs. The Rousseaus and H. L. Livingston were Whigs, and men far above the average in mental comprehension. Andrew Hum- phrey took part in county politics as early as late in the forties, and since that day to the present has wielded powerful influence in not only the county but in this portion of the State. His activity and fitness in


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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.


the game of politics has been excelled probably by no other resident of the county. He is highly respected as a standard bearer of Democracy. Frederick Slinkard, an excellent man was a Democrat, and John Yarnell was another. John Ferguson, Ed Beasley, S. H. Lockwood were Whigs. William G. Moss has for years been a leading Democrat. The county has no better citizen or politician. E. H. C. Cavins came into the arena as a candidate for the Legislature in 1858. He was elected and became at once popular. Ladies flocked to hear him. His presence and location were made known on public occasions by collections of crinoline. He became the author of several important laws, one having the summoning of juries in the Common Pleas Court on the third day instead of on the first day as previously, a practice which is yet followed. On another important bill, his minority report in committee was accepted by the majority, and became the law. John Thomson and John C. Ferguson were two of the very few Abolitionists in comparatively early times; George Ritchey was another. N. C. Parker was a Free-Soiler; much more of a similar character might be said. The county was Democratic until the close of the last war, at which time the Republicans gained the ascendency. Several changes have since been made. The following in tabular form is the result of every Presidential election since 1844, given by townships:


NOVEMBER, 1844.


. DEMOCRAT. WHIG.


TOWNSHIPS.


Polk and Dallas.


Clay and Frelinghuysen.


Richland


159


259


Plummer


116


38


Jackson


72


37


Center


116


54


Beech Creek.


72


75


Highland


34


42


Eel River


40


82


Fairplay


43


76


Smith.


33


29


Wright


83


11


Stockton


54


23


Stafford


47


31


Washington


40


5


Totals


909


762


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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.


NOVEMBER, 1848.


DEMOCRAT.


FREE-


TOWNSHIPS.


Cass and Butler.


WHIG. Taylor and Fillmore.


Van Buren and Adams.


Richland


75


176


2


Plummer


158


95


4


Jackson


85


92


Center


111


98


Beech Creek.


74


92


Highland


70


80


Fairplay


22


47


Eel River


29


70


Smith


94


64


Wright.


65


17


Stockton


59


44


Stafford.


31


28


Washington.


47


15


-


Totals


921


918


6


NOVEMBER, 1852.


DEMOCRAT. WHIG.


FREE-BOIL.


TOWNSHIPS.


Pierce and King.


Scott and Graham.


Hale and Julian.


Richland


69


166


-


Taylor


104


83


4


Jackson


104


86


Center


126


75


Beech Creek


52


67


Highland


50


88


Fairplay


21


32


Eel River


34


52


Smith


19


26


Wright


71


40


Stockton


88


49


Stafford


44


26


Washington.


55


9


Cass


84


32


Jefferson


30


53


Totals


950


884


4


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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.


NOVEMBER, 1856.


DEMOCRAT. REPUBLICAN. AMERICAN.


TOWNSHIPS.


Buchanan and Breckinridge.


Fremont and Dayton.


Fillmore and Donaldson.


Beech Creek


93


60


18


Highland.


72


32


50


Eel River


27


36


27


Jefferson


29


51


43


Smith


21


25


24


Wright


93


21


20


Stockton


116


58


20


Fairplay


24


4


22


Richland


100


31


139


Center


179


54


Taylor


127


49


41


Jackson


85


5


40


Washington.


90


1


19


Stafford


73


6


17


Totals


1,129


379


534


NOVEMBER, 1860. REPUBLICAN. DEMOCRAT. DEMOCRAT. UNION.


TOWNSHIPS.


Lincoln. and Hamlin.


Douglas


Breckinridge. and Lano.


Bell and Everett.


Richland


217


96


2


3


Taylor.


122


144


18


.1


Jackson.


138


71


79


4


Center.


83


148


62


3


Beech Creek


143


111


11


Highland


84


97


-


1


Eel River


54


44


4


Jefferson.


121


56


1


-


1


-


Smith


72


37


5


Wright.


71


97


19


Stockton.


127


117


3


Stafford


36


71


2


1


Washington


56


107


Cass


33


92


2


3


Totals.


1,420


1,316


204


20


-


-


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Fairplay


63


28


Cass


Johnson.


80


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.


NOVEMBER, 1864.


REPUBLICAN.


TOWNSHIPS.


DEMOCRAT. Mcclellan and Pendleton.


Lincoln and Johnson.


Eel River


34


47


Stafford


80


32


Cass


93


23


Stockton


158


88


Fairplay


38


42


Wright


153


44


Center


169


96


Smith


33


59


Beech Creek


127


137


Taylor.


140


85


Richland


107


187


Jefferson


47


99


Washington


116


135


Highland


94


77


Jackson


127


161


Totals


1515


1212


NOVEMBER, 1868.


TOWNSHIPS.


DEMOCRAT. Seymour and Blair.


Grant and Colfax.


Smith


39


95


Eel River


29


62


Wright


140


126


Beech Creek


123


219


Richland


115


292


Jefferson


94


128


Jackson


147


197


Washington


178


65


Highland


112


134


Stockton


223


152


Stafford


121


56


Cass


132


26


Fairplay


48


93


Center


207


131


Taylor


152


157


Totale


1860


1933


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REPUBLICAN.


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. NOVEMBER, 1872.


LIBERAL


BOURBON


REPUBLICAN.


REPUBLICAN. DEMOCRAT.


TOWNSHIPS.


Grant and Wilson.


Greeley and


O'Conor and


Richland


269


105


1


Taylor


162


133


3


Jackson


183


162


Center


123


186


2


Highland


125


91


Beech Creek.


210


125


Eel River


59


17


Wright


133


120


Fairplay


99


29


-


Smith


87


36


1


Stockton


90


121


5


Stafford


72


98


Washington


96


158


-


Cass.


43


98


38


Jefferson


198


119


Grant


54


42


-


Totals


2,003


1,640


49


NOVEMBER, 1876. REPUBLICAN. DEMOCRAT. INDEPENDENT.


TOWNSHIPS.


Hayes and Wheeler.


Tilden and Hendricks.


Cooper and Cary. 66


Center


153


158


Washington.


110


197


11


Grant


53


72


9


Fairplay


111


64


8


Cass


48


146


2


Richland


300


153


29


Eel River


52


26


-


Smith


74


52


25


Wright


160


172


7


Stockton


117


173


3


Jefferson


227


149


9


Jackson


201


196


38


Taylor.


173


145


7


Highland


114


108


29


Beech Creek


235


155


23


Stafford


79


137


3


Totals


2,107


2,203


269


-


-


-


-


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Brown.


Julian.


82


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.


NOVEMBER, 1880.


REPUBLICAN. DEMOCRAT. INDEPENDENT.


TOWNSHIPS.


Garfield and Arthur.


Hancock and English.


Weaver and Chambers.


Richland


367


186


18


Taylor


168


159


14


Jackson


268


163


23


Center.


137


159


72


Beech Creek


254


152


17


Highland


128


123


-


Eel River


49


30


Fairplay


95


73


6


Smith


90


69


21


Wright


150


166


9


Stockton


122


200


5


Stafford


99


158


Washington


137


196


1


Cass


49


140


2


Jefferson


253


154


3


Grant


9.0


87


1


Totals


2,456


2,245


192


CHAPTER VI.


BY COL. B. H. C. CAVINS.


FIRST TERM OF THE CIRCUIT COURT-" FIAT JUSTICIA RUAT COELUM"- EARLY PRACTICES-FIRST JURY TRIAL-FIRST NATURALIZATION PA- PERS-THE MURDER OF ISAAC EDWARDS-SLANDER-FIRST COURT AT BLOOMFIELD-DIVORCE CASES-THE PROBATE COURT-PENSIONS-NEW COURT HOUSE-FIRST CASE " AD QUAD DAMNUM "-JOHN DOE VS. RICH- ARD ROE-EMINENT MEN-AN " AFFAIR OF HONOR"-THE ROUSSEAUS- WOMAN'S RIGHTS THE BLACK CREEK MILL DAM-THE MURDER OF PHOEBE GRAVES-MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS-THE MURDER OF WILLIAM WALKER-EXECUTION OF HIRAM BLEND-REMINISCENCES.


THE first term of Circuit Court held in Greene County was held at


T the residence of Thomas Bradford, one mile south of Bloomfield, in September, 1821. J. Doty was President Judge; John S. Buskirk, Associate Judge; Thomas Warnick, Clerk; and Thomas Bradford, Sheriff. The Clerk was not required to give surety on his bond. Henry Merrick and Amory Kinney were admitted to practice as attorneys. Henry Merrick was appointed Prosecuting Attorney. Amory Kinney was after- ward well known throughout the State as an eminent Judge The first


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83


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.


grand jury was composed of thirteen jurors-John O'Neall, John Slink. ard, Benson Jones, John Goldsberry, Reuben Hill, James Smith, Levi Fellows, Jonathan Lindley, Benjamin Hashaw, Cornelius Bogard, Cor- nelius P. Vanslyke, Eli Faucett and Joseph Ramsomers.


Col. Levi Fellows was appointed foreman of the jury. The first court docket has written on the back and first leaf, in prominent and bold letters, this motto: " Fiat Justicia Ruat Coelum"-(Let justice prevail if the Heavens fall).


. The docket for this term of court contained two cases only. The first was Thomas Mounts against Zebulon Hogue, and the action was styled, " Trespass on the case for slander." It appears that even in that early day, when only a few settlers had gathered together, and when they needed each other's sympathy and assistance, that the strong passion of malignity invaded the settlements, and arrayed one neighbor against another, and that they finally resorted to the courts for redress. But in this instance it also appears that finally " the better angel of their nature" prevailed, and the cause was dismissed. The probability is, that these litigants made friends, as on the same day Mr. Hogue went on Mr. Mounts' bond as surety for his appearance at the next term of court. The other case on the docket at the first term of court was Benjamin Hashaw against Thomas Mounts, and was styled, "Trespass on the case for debt." This case was also dismissed. At this term of court, Mr. Mounts seems to have monopolized the business of being defendant in court. The grand jury returned four indictments, and they were continued until the next term. The Associate Judges were paid by the county. The firet action of the Commissioners in 1822 was to issue an order to pay the salary of Judge John S. Buskirk for the year 1821. His salary was not as large as Judges' salaries were at a later period in history, his salary for the year being $2. Judge Buskirk was a prominent and leading man in the early settlement of the county, and a relative of the numerous family of Buskirks who have ornamented the bench and bar of the State.


THE SECOND TERM OF COURT.


The February term, 1822, of the court was held at the same place as the preceding term. It was held by Associate Judges Thomas Bradford and John S. Buskirk. Thomas Warnick was Clerk, and was continuously Clerk until 1835. John Seaman was Sheriff, and continuous!y so until 1829. Addison Smith was appointed Prosecuting Attorney. Craven P. Hester, Thomas H. Blake, Joseph Warner and Addison Smith were ad- mitted to practice as attorneys, "they having produced their proper license." The grand jurors were Robert Anderson, Alexander Plummer, Richard Benson, Hiram Hayward, William Clark, Edmund Gillum, John Breece, Jonathan Sanders, Peter Ingersoll, Samuel C. Hall, Eli Faucett, Isaac Hubbell and William Bynum.


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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.


At this term four indictments were returned. On two of the indict- ments returned in 1821, the Prosecuting Attorney entered a nolle pros- equi, one was continued, and on the other there was a trial by jury. This was the first trial by jury ever had in the Circuit Court in the county. It was on a charge of assault and battery, and against Daniel Carlin. The assault and battery was said to be on Peter C. Vanslyke. The jury was composed of Joseph Smith, Orange Monroe, James Stalcup, William Scott, Isaac Hicks, Thomas Stalcup, John S. Warner, David Deem, Abel Burlingame, Aaron Stepam, Stephen Dixon and Jonathan Osborn. Craven P. Hester appeared for the defendant. The jury found the de- fondant guilty, and assessed his fine at $1. A motion for new trial was made, and overruled, and excepted to. A motion in arrest of judgment was made, and held under advisement until next term, at which time the motion was sustained and the defendant discharged.


At this February term, 1822, one man pleaded guilty to an indictment that was returned, and was " censured by the court," and fined $1.50. Philip Shintaffer, one of the earliest settlers, was a man of considerable notoriety. He was famous for ox driving, and it is said at one time, he owned sixteen yokes of oxen, and could drive as well without as with a road. He was noted for having a quick temper, which often brought him to grief. At this term, he appeared in court, and caused to be spread upon the record a retraction of a slander against one of his neighbors. He figured extensively as defendant in State prosecutions, and Judge Kinney, his attorney, realized that in one respect he was a law-abiding man, in this, that he always paid his attorneys' fees at the end of a law suit, and that suit was his attorneys' suit.


At this term Robert Anderson, an emigrant from Scotland was natur- alized, being the first person who received naturalization papers in Greene County.




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