USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Indiana : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 13
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" it shall be the duty of the Overseers of the Poor, every year, to cause all pwir persons who have er shall become n publie charge, to be farmed ont on contracts to be made on the first Monday in May annually, in such manner as the said Overseers of the Poor shall deem best calculated to promote the gen- oral good ; provided, nothing herein contained shall prohibit any Overseers of the Poor from receiving and accepting propositions at any time for the keeping of' such poor, miel others who may at any time thereafter become a county charge ; provided, however, that the Boards of County Commissioners of' the several countries in this State may, in their discretion, allow and pay to poor persons who may become chargeable as panpers, who are of mature years and sound min, and who, from their general character, will probably be benefited thereby, such ammal allowance as will be equal to the charge of their maiute- naner, by employing the lowest bilder to keep them ; the said Commissioners taking the usual amount of charges, in like cases, as the rule in making such allowances; provided, however, that the Overseer of the Poor in no case shall farm out any pauper under the age of twenty-one years, if'a male, or, if a female, under the age of righteen years, if such Overseers of the Poor can pos- wildly hind ont, as apprentices, any such paupers." For the purposes contem- plated in the foregoing art, anch Overseers of the Pour for the several townships were made, in name and in fact, bodies politie and corporate in law, to all intents and purposes, with perpetual succession, liable, by the name of " The Overseers of the Poor " of their respective townships, to " sue and he sued, plead and be implended, in all courts of judicature, and, by that amme, * * purchase, take or receive any bunds, tenements or hereditaments, goods, chat- fels, Amn or sums of' money,, to or for the use of the poor of their respective townships, of the gift, alienation or desire of any person or persons whomso- ever ; to hold to them, the said Overerers and their suece-sors in trust, for the nue of the poor forever." The Legislature, in the enactment of this law, had in contemplation, in the near future, the creation of proper buildings, such as the County Commisioners might prescribe, to be used as asylinux for the poor who might become a permanent charge, as paupers, on the county.
During Owe early years of the county's history, but little advance was made in the methods whereby the poor were provided with the menns of subsistence and the necessaries of life. Until 1816, no movement appears to have been inaugurated looking to the erection of buildings for the accommodation of' pampers. At the March session of the County Board of that year, in contem- plation of the establishment of an asylum, Jesse Fisher was appointed Superiu- tendent of such an institution, the appointment extending over a period from the first Monday in May, 1816, until the second Monday in March, 1847.
This was in consideration of the location and use, as provided, of the farm, buildings and appartenances recently occupied by HT. Dale, described as the one-half quarter of Section -, in Township 19 north, Range 5 east, containing righty (80) aeres ; the premises to be furnished said Superintendent free of rent, the board providing accommodations for papers on the said grounds, construct log-cabins, etc., supplied with beds, bedsteads and bedding, and in addition, allow him $300 per annum, for an average of seven paupres, and, in proportion, for a greater or less number, and the proceeds of the pauper labor, the Superintendent providing them the necessary fuul, drink and clothing. I'mder this arrangement, all the Overseers of the Poor, in the several townships of the county, were notified to remove all the paupers under their charge, in May of that year, In the farm lately orenpied by Samuel Monroe, near Nobles- ville. At the same session, the board employed Almer Jones to build, on the poor farm, a round log cabin, containing two rooms, each ten-feet square, one right-feet story in hright, with a door aml window in each room, for the usr of' pampers, and have the same completed by the first of May following, at a cost of 221. After completion, however, he was allowed, at the June session, 835 for the work done.
Superintendent Fisher, at the session in June, 1516, submitted a detailed report of his management, and of the condition of the asylum so established :
The undersigned Superintendent of the asylum for the poor of said county, suh- mita, respectfully, to your body, the following report, showing the number of pulpera that he has taken under his charge since his appointment to the superintendeney of said asylum by your said board, together with the time nud manner of the reception of each, their health, fitness to laher, etc . to-wit . He has, in all, ciglut paupera, five of whom he received from the (Iverseris of the Poor of Play Township, to-wit : On the 21st day of April, 1816, they consisted of an old Indly, tu-wit, Mary Wall, with four young children. The mother is not capable of performing any laher, she being ohl and not of sound mind. The two oblest children, aged about nine and seven years, are capable of performing some servier, and might be bound out with advantage ; the iwo youngest are probably too young to put out with any advantage. The sixth pauper he received from the Overseers of White River Township, on the 4th of May, 1816, is Leonard Dick, and is supposed to be about seventy-four years old, and incapable of performing any labor, he being confined to his bed continually. Thomas Gerring, the seventh panper, was received on the dny last mentionedl, from the Overseer of the Poor of Wayne Township. This pauper is also incapable of doing any work, he being a complete idiot. Mra Barclay, the Inst, was received from the Overseers of Noblesville Township, on the same day. She is alan entirely unfit to do any inbor, being very ohl And inhrm,
The following are the articles which the undersigned has received from the county for the use of the said paupera, to-wit . 4 straw beds, 4 beistends, 4 corda, 2 feather heds, 4 blankets, & pillows, 10 pillow cases, 12 sheets, 4 comforts, 12 chairs, 1 chamber. Ile needs, in Addition to these articles, for the better accommodation of the said paupera, one mero room to the hilding, and two chambers.
JEBRE FISHER, Sup't.
From time to time improvements, suggested by the experiences of the day, were made, tending to remodel the plans of buildings and the domestic affairs of the institution, until, in the course of years, radical changes became a neces- sity. Heure, prior to the year 1852, the best experiences of the county were brought into requisition for the purpose of providing, in a more satisfactory way, for an asyhun in fart as well as in name, adapted to the age and confort- ing to the more modern idea of providing for the comfort and alleviating the distresses of the county poor. Plans were asked for and received by the board, embodying the best suggestions of the best architectural talent nt command. At the March term of the Commissioners' Court, in 1852, a plan was adopted for a county asylma, and a contract let for the construction of such a building nu the " poor farm," for the sum of 81,366, of which sum he was allowed the one- third part, or 8453.334, in advance. William Bauchert was the one- cessful bidder, and to him the contract was let. Subsequently, at the Decem- ber session, in 1856, a series of rules and regulations, consisting of thirteen, was adopted by the Board, prescribing the manner, style and conduct of nil occupants, including the duties of the Superintendent. William Bragg was re-ajqwinted Superintendent of the asylum for the poor, subject to the regu- Iations aforesaid.
A special session of the board met on the 3d of July, 1857, called for the purpose of receiving bids for the erection of an asylumu for the poor. After a comparison of the specifications and bids for the purpose, the routruet was awarded to John Fisher, for building the walls ; to Eli Gigger, A. Gligger, Daniel Reedy and Isaac Williams, for the carpenter work and painting; and to Thomna J. Lindsey for the plastering of the same. The building was of brick, twenty-eight fert front by thirty-two feet back, of this size, the front twenty-right. feet by sixteen feet hack, two atories high ; the remaining portion, back, to be one story high. At the special session, September 19, 1857, upon
-14
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA. .
examination, the walls created by dobu Fisher were received from him, and his bond for the faithful performmmer of his contract was delivered and can- coled. And, at the regular December session of that year, the work of plas- tering, awarded to Thomas J. Linday, was also received as satisfactory, at the contract price of 8151. At the same session the board determined to enlarge the area of the pour farm, and for that purpose purchased of A 1. Comer an additional tract of righty acres, at the rate of SÃO per acre. in the aggregate 81,000, to be paid as follows: ×500 February 1. 158; 8500 March 1, 155, 8500. September 1. 1558; $1,000, Jamus 1. 159, ami 81,00, March 1, 1859. Orders were accordingly issued at once for the alone amounts, and Mr. I'mmer evented to the county the necessary deeds for the property purchased. William Bragg was also re appointed Superintendent of the asylum and groundle At the December session, 1858, Mr. Brand was again re-appointed to the same position, and two years later he was sterreded by Mr. 11. Smmer. From that time forward, until in the beginning of 1874. no material changes were made in the management and operations of' there Is- Im, other than those consequent upon the re-appointment of Superintendents,
At a special session of the howard, on the 10th day of February, 1871. an order was made authorizing the building of additional roots, as a part of the county asylum, of the following dimensions : two rooms ten by fourteen fort each, and two others, twelve by fourteen feet each. the stories to the wine list in the clear-the whole building to be a frame, fourteen by forty -four fort, with a brick ur stone foundation two and a half foot by nine inches, and fifteen inches above ground. The plans for these several improvements were on file, subjert to inspection. in the Auditor's office. The contract was let for the construction of these improvements, at the March session following, to Harris & Lutz, at the sum of $150, the amount of their bid.
Again, the improvements and additions that made proving inadequate to the demands for room and facilities for taking care of the unfortunates quar- forel there. it was found necessary to make more ample provisions in that department ; heure, as early as the beginning of 1878, further plans were sug- posted and proposed, and at a special session of the board, on the 11th of April, 1978, J C. Johnson presented plans and specifications for an asylum on the poor farm, which, after careful examination, were adopted, and the building ordered to be ererted in accordance therewith. In furtherance of that order. the Auditor was directed to advertise for sealed proposals by contractors for the construction of such building; that such proposals would be received up to the 3d uf JJune, 1878. Notice was given accordingly, and, on the day fixed, the kids of those who had filed proqueals were goned, with the following result 0) A. fGidley, 83,015 ; Williams, Giger & Durfer, $3.19; George E. Springer, 83,200 ; George W. Darflinger, 83.271 ; Peter Lotscheit, $3,575. The rontrart was awarded to Williams, Giger & Purfre, at the amount of their bid, 83.119. The contractors at ofre proceeded with their work, and made such progress that, at a special session, on the 5th of July following, the board allowed them $1, 158.07 on their contract, and allowed, also, to J. C. Johnson, architect, the sam of $75.07. A further allowance was made them at the
special September session, and at a special session held on the 24th of thetular. of the same year, a father and final allowance was made them, of 8516.55, making, in the aggregate, the sum of 83,649.25, including the original copy. tract price, additional improvements, and changes of the old buildings, at set furth in the appended smumary :
Pour house, complete, an per contract.
$3.1191 00
Exirn work on ura honyr ..
Six ventilatore, extra ..
14 00
Repmiry on old house ..
Making fourteen window frames or ille
Mubling one dur ....
I'utling Minne step ....
1 0
Tin and Humming ..
Painting old hmmer.
l'ainl ..
200 brick
1
24i| yurdu of stone.
" on
Four ventilators
Ten inrned corners -- new house
Pour lucky.
Total ..
$1,649 25
I'anh, July b ... $1.18X 17
Cash, Ang. G
Cash, Sept. f ...
Cash. Ucl. 24, balance.
Total $3,649 25 $3,649 26
On the above basis, the final settlement for the completion of the new building and improving the old was made, and the work accepted by the county. Since these improvements have been made. Hamilton County is in possession of an asylum for the poor and indigent of her population, such as cannot fail to establish the character of her citizens for true generosity and Twarvideore. David 1. Simond was appointed to the superintendeure of the completed establishment, at the Desember session, 17% of the Board of County Commissioner -.
CHAPTER VIL.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS -CONTENTED.
A Na dail Ordered- Dimensions-Plan-Contracted For. Completed and Jeopted -A Mor Madera Building Contemplated -Payment For - Plans Submitted and Adapted -Contracted Far and Completed-Point.
WHEN the old jail building had been used a few year -. its insufficiency became manifest, and the propriety of erecting a new and more substan- tial one was considered, with great unanimity of expression in favor of the project. Then, at the September session, 1832, of the board, it was ordered that a wow jail lwe built on the public square, and that the same shonid he ringdeted on or before the Ist day of December. 1953. The plan included a jailog - residence, as a part of the structure. In payment, it was progressed to appropriate $500 for that parpare, at the March session, 185%, and that for the balance an appropriation would be made at the December session, of that your. The County Agent, therefore, was authorized to receive sealed proposals. after giving the necessary notier thereef, until the first day of March Best site. cruling.
Notice having been given, as by the order directed, numerous propositions were submitted by competent builders, and duly opened and considered by the Jward at the March sesion, 1858. when the proposition of A. D. Davidson. James R Davidsom, John MeNutt and A. M. MeNntt, was accepted. and the contract awarded to them areerdingly, at their bid of 85,554.43. The contract embodied the specifications as to plan, quality of' material and construction. For the jailor's residence, the fimpolation was to lo of stone, three feet high, one foot fear inches thick -eighteen inches under ground, and eighteen inches above ground, the latter to be dressed : the inside fondation or partition walls to be of stone, als, and one find thick : upon this foundation a good brick hope was to la erected, 20, 10 feet in size, and two stories high, the first story to be eleven fort in the clear, with thirteen-inch walls ; the serond story to I twelve list in the clear. The jail building, of beich, in size, was to be 17.26 fret : the fondation was to be of stone, three feet high, and four fret think-rightern inches below ground, and eighteen above : that above ground In his ad dressed stone ; under this department a cellar was to be constructed, nine fiet square, and for feet deep below the surface of the ground. There were to be for windows in the building, two above and two below, all with raps and sills, and to be four fort square, lined with boiler iron, aml filled with double grates of lar iron two inches square, set finer inches apart, the grates in wow tier loving placed opposite the openings of the other, so as partially to cover the same, the doors were to be bed with boiler iron also. In addition to the conter walls, there was to be a second, of howneak timber, one foot square, a third, of oak timber, six inches separe, standing upright, and a tiwirth, rom- posed als of ok timber, one foot square; the corners to le dovetailed together and spiked down with nine inch spikes-a formidalde structure. At the De- comber session, 1853, the landing was directed to be paid for, the balance. $1.292 53, in weekly installments of $1,000 per week, except the ias, which would be fractional. Subsequently, at the March session. 1835, the contracture askal to be compensated for lors sustained in the creation of the jail building, but the board refused to grant the request. In October, 1869, when this building had been in more about sixteen years, the County Board met, and took into consideration the question of building a oew county jail ; as a part of the consideration upon the question. the board repaired in a body to New Castle, in Henry County, for the purpose of examining the new county jail. at that point. The obt Imibling continued to be word, however, until 1875, when, at the special session, held on the first day of February of that year, the board, in view of the agitation of the subject, took the question again into consideration, and, as a result, agreed to Imibl n new jail within the year, at a cost not exceeding 825.000, nud to determine upon a plan nud specifications at the succeeding March session.
.
Excavation for foundation.
بللقا!
HAMILTON COUNTY COURT HOUSE. NOBLESVILLE, IND.
000
٠٢٠
HIGH SCHOOL , NOBLESVILLE. IND.
7
35
:
15
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
THE PRESENT BUILDING.
At the March session, however, the question as to plans and specificatie na for a new juil building was not determined, as had been proposed at the special session in February, but was continued at the regular, to be disguised of at a special, session on the 2d of March. 1875. Accordingly, at that special ses- sion the board ordered that the new jail should be located on the northwest corner of' the public square, and near the location of the old buikling. As a further stop in progress at that time, the contract was awarded to W. R. Par- sons, of Terre Haute, prescribing that Thomas & Richter's improved jail locks should be used by them. The plans and specifications being incomplete, the contractors were allowed until Monday, April 12, to complete and file the same, the board adjourning to that time accordingly. On that day the plans, spreifi- entions, ete., were presented, approved and accepted. The Auditor was directed to file thent and give the necessary notice that proposals would be received for the construction of the new edifice. At the same time W. R. Parsons was employed as architect and superintendent, with a salary of 3 per cent of the gross vost of construction, with traveling expenses in addition.
Notice having been given by the Auditor, as directed, n special session of the board was held on the 28th of May following, when bids were opened as follows :
Thomas & Ritchie, Indianapolis. $31,750
Williams, Gigger & Co., Noblesville 28,474
R. M Hinds & Co.,
31,800
Farmen & Co., Indianapolis
20,110
J. M. Hinkley,
29,791
The contract was then awarded to Williams. Gigger & Durfee, as the lowest hiddera, for the sum of $28, 174. . For the purpose of wreuring fonds with which to pay for this proposed new building, the Auditor was authorized in have bonds lithographed of the denomination of 8500 each, with interest con- pons attached, and to negotiate for the sale of the same to the amount of 830,000, and submit the propositions to the board, the rate of interest not to exeved 8 per cent. The issue of bonds was made necessary in consequence of the insufficiency of the taxes levied to meet the current and the additional expenses in the erection of the new jail builling; hence, a loan was directed to run five years. Pursuant to the authority aforesaid, the Auditor, on the Ist of September, at a special session, presented said bouds, and upan examination they were approved, when the Commissionces severally signed the same as til. łowa. numbers one in sixty, inch-ise, for $500 euch, payable in five years, with & per cent interest, at the office of Winslow, Lanier & Co., New York. When those bonds had been signed, the Auditor was directed to place them in the hands of the bounty Treasurer, with instructions to dispose of the same at par.
At the special July session, 1875, the contractors were allowed $3,350, the anwmint of their estimate for work done on the jail building. From that time forward, as well as from the beginning, the work progressed with satisfactory rapidity, and was in due time completed, conformably with the contract. On the 19th of April. 1876, Messrs. Williams, Gigger & Co. were allowed 8338 81 for special extras un jail; Hangh & Co. were also allowed 8121 for extra work done. On the same day it was ordered "that the jail is completed, and that the board accept the same ; and the Auditor is ordered to pay the balance due the contractors, 828. 471, less the sum before paid, the work having been ap- proved by the architect appointed to superintend the same." Mr. Parsons, the architect and superintendent. was then allowed for his services as such, the sum of 81,331 98, which was the closing payment for the work embraced in the contract of Meses. Williams, Ginger & Durfee, and also of that done outside the contraer. The builling is very respectable in appearance, and no doubt meets the expectations of those pecuniarily interested as recipients of the money appropriated for its construction. It is a permanent structure, and will probably answer the purpose for which it was erected, but occupies a position, relatively, which greatly detracts from the otherwise harmonions per-puretive of the mag- nificent court house, which ocenpies the central area of the public square.
CHAPTER VIII. PUBLIC BUILDINGS-CONTINUED.
The Model Court House-The Steps Preliminary to Its Erection-The Old Building Sold aud o New One Ordered-Plans Submitted and Ex- amined-Experts Called-Changes Ordered-Plans Selected-Con- tracts Let-Progress of the Building-lasatisfactory Extras-Arbitra- tion and Award-The Clock-Cost of the Edifice, Etc.
PRIOR to the year 1875, the question whether it was necessary and proper to build a new court house, began to be the subject of considerable agita- tion among the people, many seeming favorable to the enterprise, while an equal
or greater number ambifested an opposite opinion. In view of the situation, therefore, the County Commissioners, in order to relieve themselves of the responsibility of commencing a work of the magnitude proposed, at the March session of their board, in 1875, ordered that an election should be held by the qualified voters of the county, on the first Monday in April following, at which such voters should express an opinion in regard to the building of a court house, by ballot indicating, " For a Court House," or " Against a Court House," according to their individual preferences. At the appointed time an election was held, with the following result, as shown by the official return of the votes so cast at the several voting places in the county. The proposition was voted down :
FOR
AGAINAT.
Noblesville.
415
79
West field
183
Eagletown.
17
38
Carmel ( polis not openedl).
4
Dein ware, Carmel.
25
13
Delaware, Clipel ..
40
Delaware, East
3
120
Fall Creek ...
5
119
Wayne
10
19
White River, Strawiown.
21
White River, Hopewell
11
82
.Inckson, l'icern.
34
Jackson, Arcadia
AG
Jackann, Buenn Visin ..
16
45
Jackson, Deming.
118
Alama, Boxley,
2
Adams, Sheridan.
17
Aitama, Haker's Corner
Tolnl
1,20%
Total vote.
1,929
Majority Against court house.
181
While this decisive vote had a tendency to suspend official action for the time being, the ngitation, however, continued in a quiet way, making it mote and more manifest that a real necessity existed for providing with additional facilities the machinery of local government. This fart beemme rapidly" apparent, and, at the March sesion, 1877, the board, in the mean time having determined to ervet a new building, ordered the old court house to he soll, and directed that the Auditor give notice for sixty days that said sale would take place on the Ith day of June following, at 2 o'clock, for one-half ensh and the remainder in six months, The board then ordered " that we build A new court house, and make preparations to have the fondation laid this fall, and that plans and specifications will, if' practical, he agreed upon at a special ses- sion of this board, to be held April 9 next, with a view to letting contract for same, upon hids, as soon thereafter as practicable. At the special March session ( March 28) the board neljourned to meet at Indianapolis, at an early day, for the purpose of visiting a umber of court houses, examining plans, specifications, etc., on which mission the Auditor was ordered to accompany them.
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