USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 13
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"The following are the articles which the undersigned has received from
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the county for the use of said paupers, to-wit: Four straw beds, four bed- steads, four cords, two feather beds, four blankets, eight pillows, ten pillow- cases, twelve sheets, four comforts, twelve chairs, one chamber. He needs in addition to these articles, for the better accommodation of the said paupers, one more room to the building and two chambers.
(Signed) "JESSE FISHER, "Superintendent."
Various improvements were added to this building from time to time, but in 1852 the board decided the accommodations of the poor farm were inadequate for the purpose. In the March session, 1852, it was decided to erect a new building. The contract was let to William Bauchert for the sum of one thousand three hundred and sixty-six dollars.
Five years later, 1857, at a special session July 3, bids were again re- ceived for the purpose of erecting an asylum for the poor. Contracts for the work were let to Gigger & Gigger and other carpentry work; John Fisher building the walls and Thomas J. Lindley plastering the same. The building was of brick, two stories high in front and one at the back. When the various contracts for the work were fulfilled the house was accepted by the board in the September session, 1857. At the same meeting it was decided to en- large the farm, in consequence of which action eighty acres were purchased from A. H. Conner. William Bragg was again appointed superintendent of the poor farm. In 1874 an addition was ordered built to the poor house, con- sisting of four new rooms. The addition to be a frame structure. But after a few years, even with the above addition, the accommodation proved inade- quate. In 1878, J. C. Johnson presented plans for an asylum on the poor farm that were accepted. Bids were later received and the contract for the work awarded to Williams, Gigger & Durfee, their bid being $3,119. Work was begun immediately. The sum expended, including work done on the old building and construction of the new, was $3,649.25.
In 1903 the accommodations of the poor house having proven inadequate, the commissioners decided to receive bids for the construction of an addition to the poor house. On March 6, 1903, bids were received, but none were accepted because all bids exceeded the appropriation of twelve thousand dol- lars to be used for that purpose. At the session April 10, 1903, bids were again received and the contract was then awarded to Gerhart & Deppen for the amount of $8,986. The commissioners composing the board at this time were Henry Carpenter, Thomas Hussey and Hamilton Metsker. The con- struction of the building went forward rapidly. The residence of the super-
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intendent is what is left of the old part of the house. The old building on the south was torn down and in its place was built the splendid brick addition which joins up to the residence part, making one complete building. The rooms are light, airy and sanitary. Under the management of Superin- tendent Hubbard and Mrs. Hubbard, the farm, which now consists of two hundred acres, is almost self-supporting. The inmates are well cared for, being comfortably housed, clothed and fed. The men help with the farm work, tending the stock and planting and harvesting the crops. The women. under the competent direction of Mrs. Hubbard, do all the housework, cook- ing, sewing, cleaning, etc .; the interior of the house, as well as its outward surroundings, are always in excellent order. There are two barns, one cement store house, which has been built within the last ten years, and three departments to the main building-the superintendent's residence, the women's quarters and the men's quarters. Mr. Hubbard has been superintendent for ten years, his term beginningyin 1905. He has given entire satisfaction in this important office. At present there are thirty-seven inmates, almost all being old men and women.
ORPHAN ASYLUM.
There is no orphan asylum in Hamilton county now. Some years ago there was one at Westfield, but it was discontinued at least nine years ago. The board of children's guardians, in connection with the county judge, have charge of all homeless children. They either find homes for them in the county or, if they cannot find suitable homes for some, they place them in some orphans' home in the state and Hamilton county pays for their maintenance in such homes. The present board is as follows: Mrs. Walter Sanders, presi- dent; Mrs. Samuel Harrell, secretary; the other members are E. E. Cloe, Dr. H. H. Thompson, Mrs. Madge Johnson, of Westfield, and the trustee of Noblesville township is a member also, E. A. Hutchens being the present trustee.
LADIES' AID SOCIETY OF NOBLESVILLE.
The Ladies' Aid Society was organized at least forty years ago. The old records have been lost. so it is impossible to give the exact date, but the oldest member places the date about 1875 or possibly earlier than that. This Aid Society was organized at the First Methodist church by a Methodist minister. It is strictly a charitable organization and, though it had its birth in a Methodist church, it is, and always has been, undenominational in char- acter. Its members have included women of all creeds and faiths, the only
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requirement being the desire to help the poor and helpless of our town and community. Mrs. David Moss was one of the first presidents, and up to the time of her death she was an active worker in the organization. Later Mrs. Levinson was president for several years. During those years the Aid Society maintained the reading room, which later was merged in the public library. Mrs. Levinson was a very energetic and earnest worker and did much to aid the poor through the society. Later members and officers included Mrs. Max Behr, Mrs. J. G. Heylman, Mrs. Samuel Craig and others. During the past forty years many poor families have had daily bread and winter warmth in clothes and fuel through the efforts of these noble women, many little children have been clothed, fed and educated and had their faith renewed in Santa Claus through the efforts of the Ladies' Aid Society of Noblesville. The present officers are: Mrs. Henry Sapper, president; Mrs. J. G. Heylman, vice-president ; Mrs. E. E. Fitzpatrick, secretary; Mrs. Samuel Craig, assist- ant secretary.
PUBLIC OFFICES.
Below is given a practically complete list of Hamilton county's county and state representation in offices, based upon the public service from the time of the county's organization to date :
CLERKS OF THE COURTS.
J. D. Stephenson, from 1823 to 1837; John G. Burns, 1837-51 ; Daniel R. Brown, 1851-55: James O'Brien, 1855-59: W. Connor, 1859-63; John Trissall, 1863-67: Frank A. Hawkins, 1867-71; M. W. Essington, 1871-75; Joseph R. Gray, 1875-79; James R. Christian, 1879-82; W. N. Evans, 1882-84; Ira W. Christian, 1884-90; Joel Stafford, 1890-94; C. B. Williams, 1894-96; H. W. Carey, 1896-1902: C. J. Wheeler, 1902-06; L. J. Patty, 1906-10; W. F. Wall, 1910-14: Charles J. Newby, 1914.
COUNTY AUDITORS.
J. D. Stephenson, from 1823 to 1841 ; Earl E. Stone, 1841-45; George Simpson, died in office, holding from 1845 till his death; Amos Palmer, to . fill vacancy, 1846; J. D. Cottingham, 1846-48; Levi Farley, 1848-57; Joseph R. Gray, 1857-61 ; W. A. Pfaff, 1861-65; John W. Pfaff, 1865-69; Elisha Mills, 1869-73: E. K. Hall, 1873-77; C. S. W. Pettyjohn, 1877-80 .; Hiram Hines, 1880-84: James W. Crooks, 1884-88: W. T. Johns, 1888-92; A. R.
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Tucker, 1892-96; Calvin Sturdevant, 1896-1900; Isaac Powell, 1900-04; N. W. Cowgill, 1904-08; George Griffin, 1908-12; William O. Horton, 1912-16.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
W. Conner, 1823; Curtis Mallery, from 1823 to 1844; H. G. Finch, 1844-50; John C. Burton, 1850-55; Elisha Picket, 1855-57; J. B. Loehr, 1857-59; W. Neal, 1859-61 ; J. B. Carey, 1861-63; John Pontious, 1863-65; J. F. McClellen, 1865-67; I. W. Stanton, 1867-69; Nathaniel F. Dunn, 1869- 71 ; Isaac Williams, 1871-73; S. C. Montgomery, 1873-75; Amasa P. Hess, 1875-77; J. H. Foland, 1877-79; Nehemiah Baker, 1879-81; William J. Hawkins, 1881-82; James W. Eller, 1882-84; A. C. Scott, 1884-86; Aaron Shoemaker, 1886-88; Albert Hasket, 1888-90; A. R. Baker, 1890-92; P. R. Martz, 1892-94; George M. Scott, 1894-96; A. D. Gibbs, 1896-98; S. H. Craig, 1898-1900; W. F. Lennen, 1900-02; Milo Hershey, 1902-04; George Stevenson, 1904-06; H. D. Pettijohn, 1906-08; John Bauchert, 1908- IO; John E. Bert, 1910-12; M. L. Cardwell, 1912-14; L. J. Heiny, 1914.
SHERIFFS.
W. P. Warrick, from 1823 to 1825; R. L. Hannaman, 1825-27; W. S. Goe, 1827-32; I. Cottingham, 1832-36; Jonathan Colburn, 1836-40; I. Cot- tingham, 1840-42; C. W. Harrison, 1842-46; Michael Reveal, 1846-50; David Stewart, 1850-52; Jacob B. Loehr, 1852-56; Anderson Mckenzie, 1856-58; A. G. Ferguson, 1858-60; John H. Derrah, 1860-62; Daniel W. Shock, 1862-1864; John B. Jackson, 1864-66; George Bragg, 1866-68; Thomas J. Lindley, 1868-70; David W. Patty, 1870-72; J. S. Edwards, 1872-74; I. H. Jessup, 1874-76; C. W. Morrow, 1876-78; A. J. Fryberger, 1878-80; W. A. Seamans, 1880-82; Levi Newcomer, 1882-84; Elihu Haw- kins, 1884-86; Emanuel Teisey, 1886-88; J. P. Bradfield, 1888-90; George Nagle, 1890-92 ; Phil Rhoades, 1892-94; Frank Thacker, 1894-96; James A. Owen, 1896-98; Harry Bartholomew, 1898-1900; Evan Bray, 1900-02: Albert Fox, 1902-04; L. R. Haworth, 1904-06; Frank Randall, 1906-08; Walter White, 1908-10; J. L. York, 1910-12; Henry Brown, 1912- 14: John O. Waddell.
COUNTY RECORDER.
J. D. Stephenson, from 1823 to 1838; Albert B. Cole, 1838-54; W. Neal, 1854-57; Nathan H. Mills, 1857-61 ; Garrett D. Wall. 1861-65; M. W.
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Essington, 1865-70; J. W. Wilson, 1870-74; Thomas E. Boyd, 1874-78; J. K. Fisher, 1878-82 ; Jacob Wheeler, 1882-86; G. N. Hollis, 1886-90; L. P. Fodrea, 1890-94; R. G. Lucas, 1894-98; J. S. Carroll, 1898-1902; F. L. Kinneman, 1902-06; E. A. Mosebaugh, 1906-10; Frank L. Kinneman, 1910- 14, and Dixon Bray, 1914.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
R. L. Herman, 1828-31 ; James Hughey, 1831-35; Ira Kingsberry, 1835- 37; James Hughey, 1837-41; John Crisswell, 1841-54; William Pickett, 1854-56; Zenas Carey, Jr., 1856-58; Elijah Cottingham, 1858-76; James Sanders, 1876-80; James Sanders, 1880-82; Ed. F. Cottingham, 1882-86; S. D. Stuart, 1886-88; C. J. Cottingham, 1888-90; J. S. Coyner, 1890-94; W. F. Cottingham, 1894-96; James A. Mitchell, 1896-02; H. L. Findley, 1902-06; Hugh Johnson, 1906-10; James S. Shannon, 1910-12; Charles H. Wann, 1912-14; Edgar A. Baker, 1914.
CORONERS.
Zenas Beckwith, 1827-28; C. W. Harrison, 1828-33; B. J. Dunning, 1834-35; Jonathan Colburn, 1835 ---; F. G. Reynolds, 1845-46; Moses Craig, 1846-51 ; John Birk, 1851-53 ; J. F. Johnson, 1853-55 ; John S. Bolton, 1856- 60; Abner B. Jones, 1860-62; Jonathan Colburn, 1862-74; Dr. E. C. Loehr, 1874-80; William H. Smith, 1880-82; Dr. S. C. Dove, 1882-84; Dr. K. C. Hershey, 1884-90; C. W. Mendenhall, 1890-92; S. C. Dove, 1892-94; Dr. H. W. Milliken, 1894-96; John A. Aldred, 1896-98; Dr. C. C. Ray, 1898- 1912; Frank Rodenbeck, 1912-14; L. J. Baldwin, 1914.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
David S. Gooding, 1857-59; David Moss, 1859-61 ; Joel Stafford, 1861- 62 ; T. S. Underhill, 1862-64; N. Vanhorn, 1864-67; W. O'Brien, 1867-69; J. F. Elliott, 1869-73 ; F. M. Trissall, 1873-74; Joel Stafford, 1874-75; McAllister, 1875 ; F. M. Householder, 1876-78; T. B. Orr, 1878-80; William A. Kittenger, 1880-84; David Wood, 1884-86; John F. Neal, 1886-88; David W. Patty, 1888-90; S. D. Stuart, 1890-92 ; D. J. McMath, 1892-98; John E. Garver. 1898-1900; J. F. Beals, 1900-02; Frederick E. Hines, 1902-06; C. M. Gentry, 1906-10: Roscoe R. Foland, 1910-12: G. W. Osborn, 1912-14; .A. Guy, 1914.
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PROBATE AND COMMON PLEAS JUDGES.
J. Finch and W. C. Blackemore, from 1823 to 1829; Joshua Cotting- ham, 1840-44; Haymond W. Clark, 1844-53; Earl S. Stone, 1853-57; Na- thaniel R. Lindsey, 1857-61; John Green, 1861-64; William Garver, 1864- 73. In the latter year this office was abolished, the work being turned over to the circuit court.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
From the earliest history of the county down to 1853 there was an office known as associate judge, and the following served in Hamilton county : John Finch and W. C. Blackemore, from 1823 to 1829; Joshua Cottingham and David Osborn, from 1829 to 1838; William A. Emmons and W. D. Rooker, from 1838 to 1841 ; Jonathan Colburn and W. S. Goe, from 1841 to 1850; Jesse Wilson and William Neal, from 1851 to 1852, when the office was abolished, the president judge being made sole presiding judge.
CIRCUIT JUDGES.
W. W. Wick, from 1823 to 1825; Bethuel F. Morris, 1825-35; W. W. Wick, 1835-39; James Morrison, 1839-42 ; F. M. Finch, 1842; W. J. Peasley, 1842-50; Jeremiah Smith, 1850-52; W. W. Wick, 1852-53; Stephen Major, 1853-59; John S. Buckles, 1859-67; H. A. Brouse, 1867-68; John Davis, 1868-73; Hervey Cravens, 1873-79; E. B. Goodykoontz, 1879-85; David Moss, 1885-91 ; Richard Stephenson, 1891-97, he resigning a month before his term expired. J. F. Neal was appointed by the governor to fill out the term, and was elected for the full term commencing October, 1897, and ending 1903; Ira W. Christian, 1903-09; Meade Vestal, 1909-15; Ernest E. Cloe, elected in November, 1914, for six years, or until 1921.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Prior to the year 1831 the county affairs now managed by the board of county commissioners was looked after by what was termed a board of jus- tices. In Hamilton county this board was composed of the following gen- tlemen : W. Bush, from 1823 to 1825; W. Foster, 1824-25; J. F. Polk, 1824- 25; W. Dyer, 1824-26; Andrew W. Ingraham, 1824-28; Francis Kinkaid, 1825-28; Joshua Cottingham, 1825-28; Zenas Beckwith, 1826-28; John Berry, 1826-28; Robert Blair, 1826-28; Jesse M. Wood, 1826-28; W. Con-
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ner, 1827-29; Josiah Kirkendahl, 1827-28; Isaac Hurlock, 1827-28; Lewis Ogle, 1827-29; Daniel Heaton, 1827-31 ; Elias Hoddy, 1828-30; George Medsker, 1828-31 : Jesse Wilson, 1830-32; W. S. Wallace, 1830-32.
After this came the regular system of county commissioners practically as obtains today. The men who have served in this capacity were elected as follows (the county was laid off into three districts in August, 1831) :
District No. I.
1848-51-Atwill Chance.
1831-James Hughey.
1832-James Hughey.
1833-40-Abraham Helm.
1860-63-Daniel Fisher. 1863-70-David Steward.
1840-42-John Kinzer.
1842-Abraham Helms.
1843-46-Thomas Harvey.
1876-78-Daniel Gascho.
1846-Joseph Bolton.
1879-82-Henry Hodgins.
1847-49-Silas Moffitt.
1850-52-Abraham Helm.
1852-55 -- James L. Dannah.
1855-58-John Burk.
1858-61-Thomas Harvey.
1861-67-John Burk.
1867-70-J. G. McShane. 1870-73-John Z. Patterson. 1873-78-Sylvanus Carey. 1878 ---- W. Hussey.
1838-Allen Gibson.
1838-39-Cole and Redmon.
1839-44-Abel Gibson.
1844-47-A. Sumner.
1847-50-Edward Hall.
1850-52-Kinneman. 1852-56-E. K. Hall.
1856-59-C. Stout.
1859-62-C. Beard.
1862-W. H. Dickeral.
1862-68-C. Beard.
1839 -- Levi R. Bowman.
1868-74-J. Griffin.
1840-43-Phillip Stoops.
1874-77-J. Stechman.
1843-47 -- A. Nicholson.
1877-80 -. E. S. Phillips.
Regardless of districts represented the following have composed the commissioners board since the last dates given :
Thomas Hussey, Hodgson, Smock, Newby, 1882; Patterson and Beals,
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District No. 2.
1831-33-Peter Wise.
1833-W. S. Goe and S. Carrey.
1834-36-Stephen Carrey. 1836-39-Ebenezer Hurlock.
District No. 3.
1831-33-Henry Foland.
1833-35-A. Cole.
1835-38-W. C. Blackemore.
ยท 1851-54-Nelson Daubenspeck. 1854-60-D. C. Maker.
1870-73-Chester D. Granger.
1873-76-Henry Bray.
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1884; Beals and Smock, 1886; T. Patterson and Kercheval, 1888; T. J. Patterson and F. Smock, 1890; W. W. Smith and Joshua Carson, 1894; Lemuel Carey and J. S. Kercheval, 1894; L. Carey and W. W. Smith, 1896; Levi Cook, H. Carpenter, 1898; Thomas Hussey and Henry Carpenter, 1900; Hussey, 1902; H. Metsker and T. E. Beals, 1904; J. E. Clark and T .. E. Beals, 1906; J. E. Clark and H. Metsker, 1908; John H. Harvey and S. F. Noble, 1910; Robert E. Washington and Charles B .. Jones, 1912; L. J. Symons and L. M. Stultz, 1914.
COUNTY ASSESSORS.
The following have held this office in Hamilton county: Anderson Scott, elected in 1888; John Beals, in 1892; Amos Carson, in 1896; Benjamin Nagle, in 1900; E. G. Decker, in 1906, and Amos B. Wheeler, in 1914.
COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.
For a list of the old school examiners and later county superintendents the reader is referred to the Educational chapter, in which such list is treated in detail.
COUNTY INFIRMARY SUPERINTENDENTS.
Jesse Fisher, Anthony Humble, Henderson Bragg, William Bragg, Bo- water Sumner, Isaac Davenport, Joseph Alexander, James H. Harris, Thomas Greathouse, J. F. McCarty, John Kemp, William Higbee, J. E. G. Young, William Cropper, Jesse Venable, J. T. Hubbard.
From the time of the creation of the county council, in 1899, the fol- lowing men have served on this body : C. J. McCole, Milton Hauson, J. T. Driver, John F. Clark, C. L. Gentry, Aaron Shoemaker, Theodore McGill, John H. Cox, John B. Huff, A. J. Gibbs. Joseph Stanbrough, A. D. Booth, Seth Henshaw. J. F. Passwater, M. C. Beals, Nelson Wise, John Harger, Daniel Brenner, W. F. DeVaney, Frank Innman. Arthur C. Spivey, C. T. Carson, C. L. Gentry.
MISCELLANEOUS COUNTY OFFICERS FROM 1825 TO 1880.
Among other official positions of this county, some of which are now obsolete, were the subjoined, to which are appended the names of those who held such positions :
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COUNTY AGENTS.
Josiah Polk, 1823-24; Snyder Dale, 1824-26; W. Davis, 1826-28; R. L. Hanneman, 1828-35; A. B. Cole, 1836-40; John P. Patterson, 1840-44; Joseph A. Messick, 1844-48; Jacob Robbins, 1839-40; W. H. Guy, 1848-49; David Moss, 1849-52.
SEMINARY TRUSTEES.
J. G. Burns, 1851-52 ; Jesse Lutz, 1851-52; T. T. Butler, 1851-53; A. B. Cole, 1851-53; J. M. Mallery, 1851-54; David Moss, 1851-54.
COUNTY ASSESSORS.
J. K. Leaming, 1824; Joseph Kirkendall, 1826; C. W. Harrison, 1827- 31 ; Isaac Hurlock, 1830-31 ; H. W. Clark, 1831-33; John Thorp, 1834; N. O. Beals, 1835; J. J. Kinneman, 1835; Anthony Fryberger, 1836; Amos Palmer, 1837; Isaac Hurlock, 1837; Isaac Hurlock, 1838; H. L. Burcham, 1839; Phillip Carr, 1839; Samuel Pickerell, 1839; James Hughesy, 1839-40; Charles F. White, 1841 ; H. G. Finch, 1841-43; N. C. Beals, 1841-45; Joseph G. Carlin, 1844-46; J. D. Cottingham, 1846; Anthony Fryberger, 1846; Andrew Mckenzie, 1847-48; David Steward, 1849-50; A. C. Scott, 1858.
STUDENTS APPOINTED.
Under the old Indiana law a certain number of students were appointed to the various semi-state institutions-those for whose foundation and sup- port public land money had been used. The following were appointed from Hamilton county: Milton Cogswell, 1843, to Indiana University; James Medsker, W. Moffitt, 1848, to Indiana University; Francis B. Cogswell, Jr., to Indiana University, 1849; John M. Hiatt, 1855, to Wabash College; James M. Smith, 1857, to Indiana University; G. W. Granger, 1869, to Wabash College; W. Mallott, 1871, to Wabash College; Albert K. Warren, Edward T. George, M. C. Martz, to Purdue University ; Clayton Martz, 1879, to Purdue University.
STATE SENATORS.
The following have represented this district in the state Senate: James Gregory, 1825; Calvin Fletcher, 1826 to 1833; Alexander F. Morrison, 1833-
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34; Henry Brady, 1834-36; Bucknell Cole, 1836-38; Jacob Angel, 1839-42; Mark A. Duzan, 1842-45; W. W. Conner, 1845-48; William Garver, 1848-52; Newton J. Jackson, 1852-56; John Green, 1856-61 ; George B. Grubb, 1861- 65: Daniel R. Brown, 1865-69; John Green, 1869-73; William O'Brien, 1873-75; Peter Cardwell, 1875-77; S. M. Taylor, 1877-80; Robert Graham, 1881-85; Charles H. Duncan, 1885-89; Thomas E. Boyd, 1889-97; C. S. Goar, 1897-01 ; Thomas J. Lindley, 1901-05; Every H. Mock, 1905-09; R. K. Kane, 1909-13 ; George C. Wood, 1913-15.
REPRESENTATIVES.
James Paxton, 1825-26; Elisha Long, 1826-29; Long and William Con- ner, 1829-31 ; William Conner, 1831-32; Austin Davenport, 1832-34; Robert L. Hanneman, 1834-36; William Conner, 1836-37; Jacob Robbins, 1837-38; Francis B. Cogswell, 1838-40; Jacob Robbins, 1840-41 ; William D. Rooker and F. B. Cogswell, 1841-42; Allen Sumner, 1842-43; R. W. Clark and W. W. Conner, 1843-44: William W. Conner, 1844-45; R. T. Kimberlin and C. T. Jackson, 1845-46; Jesse Lutz, 1846-47; Samuel Colip, 1847-48; G. Shaw, 1848-49; Thomas Harvey and William Stoups, 1849-50; W. W. Con- ner, 1850-51 ; J. D. Douthet, 1851-53 ; David Moss, 1853-55; John F. Simms, 1855-57; Alex. H. Conner, 1857-58; Addison Boxley, 1858-61 ; Joseph Goar, 1861-63; James O'Brien, 1863-65; William Stivers, 1865-67; Joel Stafford, 1867-69; R. Stephenson, 1869-71 ; Isaac Williams, 1869-71; W. W. Conner and R. R. Stephenson, 1871-72 ; Nathan H. Clark and J. F. Rumsey, 1873-75; Samuel M. Taylor, 1875-77; James R. Carson, 1877-79; William Gurrer, 1877-79; O. C. Lindley, 1879-81 ; T. J. Lindley, 1881-83; Milton Hanson, 1883-85 ; T. E. Boyd, 1885-87 ; L. Ousler, 1887-89; D. J. Mendenhall, 1889- 91 ; J. S. Haugham, 1891-93; Addison Newlin, 1893-95; James H. Harris, 1895-99: S. R. Artman, 1899-1903: James A. Mitchell, 1903-05; John F. Beals, 1905-07; Henry M. Caylor, 1907-09: Frank E. Watson, 1909-II; E. J. Mendenhall, 1911-13: William R. Dunham, 1913-15; A. H. Myers, 1915.
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CHAPTER V.
ADAMS TOWNSHIP.
TOPOGRAPHY.
Adams township, which includes forty-eight square miles of excellent land in the northwestern corner of Hamilton county, was organized by the board of commissioners in November, 1833. As the population was limited in number this township was at first united with Jackson township for voting purposes. Hence, the settlers went to Cicero during the first few years to vote on the questions of the day.
Of all the townships of Hamilton county, Adams may be said to be the youngest, or at least the last to develop her great resources. A glance at the map will show that Adams is peculiarly situated. No streams of water flow through this township, but her broad and fertile acres furnish the sources of three different streams; Cicero flowing to the northeast, Eagle creek flowing to the southwest, and Sugar creek flowing to the northwest. It will thus be seen that it occupies the divide between these streams. At the same time it is interesting to note that the survey of the Monon railroad shows that the water-shed is the highest point between the Wabash river at Delphi and the White river at Broad Ripple. For this reason Adams had to wait the straightening and widening of these streams before her fertile farm lands could be utilized. But since this has been accomplished it stands at the head of all her sister townships in the beauty and fertility of her farms. The town of Sheridan stands upon the very summit of this elevation. Indeed, many places may be found in the town where the water seems to hesitate, as to which route it will take in its journey to the great Father of Waters.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
George Boxley was the first white man who made a permanent settle- ment in Adams township. In the fall of 1828 he built his cabin on the knoll north of the present site of Sheridan. An excavation four feet deep by fif-
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HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
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teen feet square was made in the ground and over this he built the first log house in the township. All this territory was at that time a native wilderness. As one of the early pioneers said, "there was not a tree amiss." It was the hunting ground of the Indians and was covered with vast forests as wild as the savages that roamed them. The settlers consisted chiefly of emigrants from Ohio and were of a sturdy and resolute disposition. The immensity of the task of clearing the dense forests, draining the swamps and building homes for themselves and their families, quickened their determination and zeal to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Before many years had passed the fertile fields of waving grain, the cattle grazing in the pastures, and the com- fortable homes proved what these hardy men and courageous women from Ohio could accomplish when their hearts and their hands were in the work. This territory had been penetrated many years previous to 1828 by hunters and trappers, but not until the coming of George Boxley, and a year later other settlers from the East, had there been a permanent settlement.
GEORGE BOXLEY.
In many ways, George Boxley was a very eccentric and peculiar man, a man of determination and iron will, who once having determined upon a cer- tain course of action which he believed to be right could not be turned from that course even in the face of death itself. His home was in Spottsylvania, Virginia, prior to the War of 1812. By honest toil and careful investments he had attained considerable wealth, being the owner of a saw-mill, grist mill and carding mill or woolen mill, all three of which he operated under one roof on the banks of a stream. As was the law and custom of Virginia in those days he became the owner of a number of slaves. Later, however, the ques- tion of slavery disturbed his conscience and he liberated all his slaves. From that time he hated the institution of human slavery, and fought it with all the energy of his strong character.
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