USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Indiana : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 15
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
William Bush, William Foster, Andrew W. Ingraham and William Dyer. Commissioners, met at Conner's house, and produced commissions from the Governor of the State, commissioning them as JJustices of the Peace for Hamilton County, agrerably to an act to regulate county business, as provided by said law. The oath was administered, and they took their sents as members of the board Andrew W. Ingraham was chosen President of said board in accordance with the provisions of said law.
Afterward, " at a term of the Board of Justices of Hamilton County, begun and held at the Clerk's office in said conoty, on Monday the first day of November. A D. 1421, that being the first Monday in November in said year : Present, the worshipful Andrew W. Ingraham, William Dyer. William Foster And William Bush, Justices of said county and members of said board, Josioh F. Polk, Ext .. then produced his commission from Gov. William Hendricks. as a Justice of the Peace of said county, who, having been duly sworn, took his seat as one of the members of said board.
Among other proceedings of the board at that term, a county road was established, " Beginning at the county line, near Robert Blair's, on the cast side of White River; running from thence past Matthew Coy's, from thence the nearest and best way past William Dyer's, to intersect the State Road near Strawtown, that leads past Noblesville to Fort Wayne," which was ordered to be opened in January, 1825. At the same session another road was ordered to be opened, " Beginning at the county line, trar Lemuel Anton's ; thence running with the old road, with some little mmcmdments, to the ford above Strawtown; thence with said road in Leaming's ford; theure through leam- ing's laine to Foster's Mill ; thence running by the schoolhouse, along Richey's fence, to where Dickson formerly had a stork-yard ; thence the nearest and best way to Miller's ford on Cicero ; theuce crossing at said ford to John Conner's; thence to Asahel Danning's; thence by Charley Lavey's, the nearest and best way to interseet the road laid out by Marion County, leading to Indianapolis, at the county line, near Bruet's." While the description of this road would be extremely indefinite ut the present day, it wax no doubt sufficiently intelligible nt the time it was ordered to be located according to the intention of tho petitioners and of the board.
At the September session, 1825, of the Board of Justices, " believing that it would be conducive to the interests of the county to donate some of the lots belonging to the county, in the town of Noblesville, for the cacouragement of mechnuies settling in said town," the board donnted " tho following lots at the following valuation, to wit: Lot No. 7, in Block No 9, valued at 20; Lot
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
No. 5, in Mork No. 21, valued at $15; Lot No. 5, in Block No. 5, valued at 815 ; Lot No. 1, in Black No. 20, valued at 820." In adition to the pro- pursed donations by the county, William Conner and Josiah F. Polk, the original proprietors of the town of Noblesville, donated also the following: " Lot No. 2, in Block 12; Lot No. 2, in Block 18; Lot No. G, in Block 12; Let No. 6, in Block 18, all to be given to the following kinds of mechanics: One tanner and currier, one shoemaker, one hafter, one tailor, one wheriwright, one cabinetmaker, one house carpenter, or joiner, one blacksmith. All these donations were subject to the following conditions : " That each of the aforesaid mechanies shall be good work men at their respective trades, and well recom- mended, and shall settle on said lots within one year and improve the same, and carry on their respective trades for the space of two years in such town ; and those settling on the county late or those chanted by the county, shall pay to the County Agent the som of 10 per centout on the valuation annexed to each of the aforesaid lots, for the use of the County Library, * * +
the first mechanies that come shall have the first choice," John D. Stephen- sim, the County Clerk, was appointed to superintend said donation.
At the March session of the board, in 1827, the donation of a lot to a show- maker had not been accepted. Mr. George Shirts, therefore, proposed to take the lot so donated for a shoe and hout maker, and carry on said business ander the conditions set forth in the proposed condition of sale. The proposition of Mr. Shirts was accepted, and he was required to commence the fulfillment of his part of the contract by the 15th of June following. He did so, and the donation was confirmed. Under a similar management, Joseph Willi-on, a Marksmith, at the November session of the board, received a deed for Lot 5, in Block 21, agreeably to the regulation for donating lots to mechanies and artisans.
CCHI STY LOTTERY SCHEME.
At the January session, 1825, of the Board of Justices, the board, having in contemplation the creation of a court house, as a means of procuring ready money for the purjeor, inaugurated and encouraged a lottery scheme, under the name of " The Hamilton County Court Huse Lottery," and prescribed certain regulations for conducting the same. The plan is set forth as follows:
"One prize, cash, 8100 ; one prize, rash, $200; one prize, cash, 8100, one prize, cash, $50 ; one choire lot in Noblesville, $100, two choice lots in Nobles- ville, cach, 850; two choice lots in Noblesville, cach, $10 ; two choice lots in Noblesville, each, $30; four choice lots, each, $25, ton lots, cach, 820 ; thirty in tickets, 88; sixty in tickets, 84, eighty-five tickets at $1, and eight hun- dred at 52 cents each. Tutal, $2,000.
" It is proposed that when half the tickets shall be sold there shall be five hundred numbers drawn, and the $8. the $4 and the $1 prizes, amoonting to one hundred and seventy-five, to be pat into the wheel together, with three hundred and twenty-five of the 52 cent prizes, making a total of five hundred; that every 88 prize be paid with three tickets and a quinter in second draw- ing, the $1 prizes, 12 tickets cach, and the SI prizes with 4 of a ticket cach. After the first drawing the wheel will have sustained considerable loss, to make up which the price of tickets must be 82.621, instead of $2 each and the heavy prizes remaining will justify adventurers in paying the wvanec ; that the 12! per cent discount for the benefit of the court house be deducted from all prizes paid out in cash ; that the managers be authorized to take the notes of honest, good mechanics, for the amount of tickets purchased by themu, pay- able in work of their art or trade, on the court house of this county. And the board made a selection of the following lots to be put in, at the rates stated, to wit: Lot No. 3 in Square No. 8, at $100; Lot No. 3 in Square No. 7, and Lot No. 3 in Square No. 11, at 850 each ; Lot No. 1 in Square No. 21, Lett 5 in Square 3, at 849 each ; Lot 7, in Square 21, Lot 7. in Square 17, at 830 cach ; Lot 3, in Square 20, Lot 7, in Square 3, Lot 1, in Square 4, Lot 1, in Square 13, at 825 each ; Lot 7, in Semnate 22, Lot 3, in Square 3, Lot 1, in Square 5, Lot 5, in Square 6, Lot 7, in Square 13, Lot 3, in Fractional Square 1, Lot 5, in Square 20, Lot 7, in Square 19, Lot 1, in Square 18, Lot 3, in Sqaure 18. at 820 each.
" William Conner, Cortis Mallory and Josiah F. Polk were appointed Mana- gers, and John D. Stephenson Secretary for anme, and they were authoriz d to adopt soch measo. es and use such means as were thought best calculated to insuro the success of said scheme, and were required to give bond to the county. At the March session, 1825, of the board, the managers of this lot- tery were nuthorized to take county orders and notes of hand on good men, in payment for tickets sold them."
Tho scheme, however, did not succeed in a ratio corresponding with the anticipations of the projectors, nod was declared a failure at the September
session of the same year, and the project abandoned, as appears from the fol- lowing order of the board : " The Hamilton County Court House Lottery scheme is set aside as annulled, the agent authorized to recall and take up all tickets soll, and wind up the business of the same."
At the January sesim, 1825, William Conner was licensed to vend foreign merchan-hse in the county for one year, for the som of $10, amount of stock not exceeding $1,000, and for larger stocks in proportion. This, perhaps, was not necessary, when it is doubtful whether any similar establishment, that one included, soaintained a capital of more than half' that amount,
The board, at the May session, 1825, established a road to ron down White River from the mouth of Pipe Creek to the county line, near Bruitt's. At the January session, 1826, the Board of Justices appointed R. L. Hanna- man County Agent, nod authorized bim, " after giving ten days' notice, to sell to the highest bilder, the clearing off of a site and the erection of an estray pen, on the poldie square in the town of Noblesville; to be built of just und railings, five panels square, each panel to be ten feet long and six rails high * " ! to have a gate four feet wide, with padlock, etc." The work was completed in due time, and, at the July session, 1826, the board ordered " that William Davis be allowed 817.49 for building an estray prn for this county," according to the spreifications befure set forth.
Allen O-bourn, at the January session, 1826, on his application, " was granted license to sell foreign merchandise for four months, he having satisfied the board that he would not employ more than $1,000-payment being mado at the rate of 8H0 a year." William Conner, also, was granted a license for another year, on the same conditions ns those prescribed in his former license. As a part of the proceedings of the same session, a road was projected, " coni- meneing at the Hamilton County line, at a road running through Madison County ; thence down Fall Creek to the line between Hamilton and Marion C'nunties, to intersect a road leading to Indianapolis, to he laid out on the north side of Fall Creek." This road was established at a subsequent meeting of the board. The following other road was projected at the September session, 1826 : "Beginning at the finity seventh mile post on the State road leading from Win- chester to Indianapolis ; thence, vin Brazelton Noland's, to the ford near Isaao Finch's house ; thence near the dwelling-house of William Young ; thener to intersect the county road near the house of John Berry."
Among the proceedings at the January session, 1827, it was ordered " that William Ingraham, who purchased Lot No. 1, in Square No. 3, at the price of $10.25, and John Stoops, assignee of Robert L. Hannaman, who purchased Lot No. 1, in Square 17, at the price of $12 25, in the town of Noblesville, and who having forfeited the said lots by not paying for the same agreeable to the bond entered into for that purpose, the time is extended for payment six months, the parchaser paying interest." At the same session, Williamo Conner and Jasiah F. Polk, proprictors of the original town of Noblesville, excented and delivered to the county, a deed for one-half the lots in the snid town, as before proposed and contemplated, which deed was accepted by the County Board, on behalf of Hamilton Conuty, and the Recorder was directed to record the same.
Dariog the March session, 1826, of the Board of Jostices of Hamilton County, it was ordered by the board " that all the territory lying north of Madison County, and attached to this county by an act of the General Asseto- bly, approved the 13th day of January, 1826, form a township, which shall be called Anderson Township, and the board assign two Justices of the l'euce tn be selected in said township ; and it is ordered that an election be held in said township for the election thereof, on the last Saturday in this present month, and that the Sheriff of this county give notice thereof agrecublo to luw." Christopher Young was appointed Inspector.
CHAPTER X. TOWNSHIP BOUNDARIES.
Original Boundaries-Subsequent Modifications-Officers Appointed for- Final Boundaries, Etc.
AT the May session, 1823, of the Board of Commissioners of Hamilton County, when the organic structure was put in motion and the subdi- visional boundaries were set, the caanty was soparated into two civil townships, embracing the entire uren. These subdivisions took place on the 12th day of Mny, 1823. White Biver Township, the first ono set off, occupied all the territory of the county north of the line drawn duo east and west, between Scetions 17 and 20 on the cust, and 18 and 19 on the west, in Congressional,
50
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Township No. 19 north, embracing an area of 180 square miles. Dela- ware Township occupied the remaining territory, or " all that part of the county lying sooth of a line drawn from the most eastwardly boundary of said county, running with the line dividing Sections 17 and 20. in Township 19. until it strikes the most west wardly lomandary."
Subsequently, by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana. approved January 13. 1826, certain territory lying north of Mulison County, as therein designated, was attached to Hamilton County. The territory so attached, as defined by Sections 3 and 4, of the act aforesaid, is as follows, to wit : " The township line dividing Townships 18 and 19 north, shall be and form the northern boundary of Madison County." "Sec. 5. All the territory lying month of said line, and not included in that part of Delaware C'inty heretofore attached to the counties of Allen and Randolph, is hereby attached to the county of Hamilton, and shall hereafter be entitled to the same privileges, and sulgeet to the same taxation and restrictions, as if' the said territory formed an integral part of the said county of Hamilton, until the said territory may be separated from said county of Hamilton by being included in a new county."
At the March session, 1926, of the Board of Justices, this territory was formed into an additional township, which was designated by the name of An- derson Township, and embraced the major part of what is now Madison County ; and the board assigned two JJustices of the Peace to be elected in said township, ordering " that an election be held therein, for the election thereof, on the last Saturday in the present month," of which the Sheriff was directed to give notice, according to law. Such election was held ay ordered, and John Berry and Robert Mair duly cho-en. At the May session of the board following they " produced their commissions no dusties of the Peace in and for said emnty, beating date April 15, 1826, and took their seats " as members of said board. At the January session, 1827, an election was or- dered to be held in Anderson Township, at the Town of Anderson, for the election of township officers for the year, of which John Berry was appointed Inspector. The officers appointed for this township were : Anna Makepeace atel Nathan Abbot, Overseers of the Poor ; Lemuel Aulton and Daniel Wise, Fence Viewers-all for the year of 1827. By the provisions of an act of the Legislature " for the re-location of the seat of justice of the County of Madi- sem, and for the formation of the County of Hancock, approved January 26, 1827." however, the aforementioned territory designated as Anderson Town ship became a part of Madison County.
At the March session, 1827, the board, derming it necessary, proceeded to subdivide the territory embraced in Delaware Township, as originally designated in May, 1823, as follows :
Fall Creek .- " Beginning on the range line between 1 and 5, where the rection line dividing Sections 18 and 19, in Range 5, Township 18, crosses the same; from thence south with said range line to the south line of' said cuonty; from thewee cast wich said county line to the south- east corner of said county ; thener north with the county line to the line di- viding Sections 17 and 20, in Township 18, Range fi; from thence west with said line to the place of bezinning," to be known as Fall Creek Township; and the board assigned two losties of the Price to be elected in said town- ship, and that an election In hell on the last Saturday in the present month, at the house of Francis Whelebed, Joseph Kirkendale. Inspector. Hyram Coffee and Davis Whelchel were appointed Overseers of the Por for that township; and John Russell, John W. Whelchel and James MeNutt were appointed Fener Viewers.
Delencare .- " The following bounds shall form the boundary of Delaware Township, to wit : Beginning at the range line where the section line crosses the some between Sections 13 and 24, in Township IR, Range 4, the north- west corner of Fall Creek Township ; from theure west with said section line to the west line of said county ; from thener south with the county line to the Boothwest corner of said county ; from thenew cast to the southwest corner of Fall Creek Township; from thenee north with said township line to the place of beginning "-embracing the territory now occupied by Delaware and Clay. One additional Justice of the Peace to be elected in said township, the board directing that an election be held on the last Saturday in March, 1827 ; thit said election be hell at the house of Silas Moffit, with William Conner as In- spector. Eli Kirkendale and Eli Heaton were appointed Overseers of the Poor therein, and Thomas Morris, Matthew Kirkendale and Silas Mothit, Fenee Viewers for the current year.
Noblesville .- " Ordered, That the following boundaries form a new town- ship, to wit: Beginning at the southwest corner of White River Township;
from thence south with the county line to where the section line dividing Sections 18 and 19, Range 3, and Township 18 strikes the same; from thenee cast with said line until it strikes the enst line of said county ; from thenee north with said county line to the southeast corner of White River Township; from thener west with said line to the place of beginning," to be known by the name of Noblesville Township, embracing all the territory, except a strip north one mile wide, now comprised in the three townships of Wayne, Noblesville and Washington ; that an election be held in the town of Noblesville, with Curtis Mallory as Inspector; appointing, also, David O-born and Stephen Wall, Overseers of the Poor, and William thoe, William Ridgeway and Isaac Col- tingham, Fence Viewers,
Again, on the lith of November, 1533, the County Commissioners, then being in session, proceeded to lay off other civil townships and modify the boundaries of some already formed, as follows:
Adams,-Beginning at the northwest corner of the county and running thenew cast to the line dividing Ranges 3 and I east ; thenee, south to the Section line dividing Sections 12 and 13, in Township 19, Bange 3; thence west to the west line of the county ; thenee north to the place of beginning.
Jackson .- Beginning on the north live of the county, where the line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 strikes the same; thence east to the section line dividing Sections 5 and 6, in Township 20, Range 5: thener south with said line to the section line dividing Sections 7 and 18, in Township 19, Range 5; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 3 and 1; thence north to the place of beginning. It was also ordered, " that for the time being, Jackson und Adams be attached and be known as Jackson and Adams Townships, and that the election be held at the house of Elijah Redman, and that he he appointed Inspector ; and that an election be held in said township on the 7th of December next, for the choice of two Justices of the Peace."
White River .- Beginning on the line north of the county where the sre- tiun line dividing Sections 5 and 6, Township 20, Range &, crosses the same ; there rast to the northeast corner of the county; thener south to the line dividing Sections 8 and 17, Township 19, Range ti; thence west with the said svetion line to the line dividing Sections 7 and 8, Township 19, Range 5 ; thenee north to the place of beginning.
Waym .- Beginning on the cast line of the county, on the line dividing Sertions 17 and 8, crosses the same, in Township 19. Range 6 east; thence south to the line dividing Sertions 17 and 20, in Township 18, Range G rast ; thence west in the said section line, to the line dividing Sections 15 and Iti, in Township 18, Range 5, east; thence north with the svetion line to the line dividing Sections 10 and 15, in Township 19, Range 5, east ; thenee east to the place of beginning. Ordered, also, that an election be held at the house of David O-born, and that he be appointed Inspector of raid election, to be held on Saturday, December 7, next, for the choice of one Justice of the Peace for said township.
Noblesville .- Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 16, in Town- ship 19, Range 5 cast, thence south to the southeast corner of Section 16, in Township 18, Range 5 cast ; thene west on the raid section line to the south- West corner of Section If, in Township 18, Range 1 cast ; thener north to the northwest corner of Section 16, in Township 19, Range I east ; thence cast to the place of beginning. An election was also ordered to be held on Saturday, Deember, 7, next, for the election of one Justice of the Peace.
Washington .- Beginning at the southwest corner of Section 16, Township 18 north. Range I east ; thence west on the section-line to the west line of the county : thence north to the northwest corner of Section 18, Township 19, Range 3 vast ; thenre cast to the northwest corner of Section 16, Township 19, Range + cast ; thence south to the place of beginning. And on election was orderedl to be held on Saturday, December 7, 1833, at the house of Asa Rales, Simon Morn, Inspector, to elect two Justices of the Peace for said Township.
I'My .- Beginning on the west line of the county, at the northwest corner of Seetion 19, Township 38, Hango 3 east ; thener cast on the section line to the line dividing Ranges 3 and 4: thenre south with said range line to the south line of the county ; thence west to the southwest corner of the county ; thenre north to the place of beginning. An election was also ordered to be held on the 7th of December following, at the house of Robert Morrow, with the Faid Morrow as Tuspector, to elect two Justices of the l'ence for said Township.
Delaware .- Beginning on the south line of the county, at the crossing of' the line between Ranges 3 and 4 ; thenes north to the northwest corner of Sertion 19, Township 18, Range 4 east; thence cast to the northeast corner of Section 19, Township 18, Range 5 cast; thenco south to the county line; thence west to the place of beginning.
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Fall Creek .- Beginning on the south line of the county, at the southwest corner of Section 8, Township 17, Range 5 cast; theoce north to the north- West corner of Section 20, Township 18, Range 5 vast; thence east to the east line of the county; thence south to the southeast corner of the county : thence west to the place of beginning.
An error having occurred in prescribing the boundaries of Fall Crock Township, as above, at the May session, 1834, the boundaries were re-de- seribed, as follows: " Beginning at the amthe ist e iner of the county and run- ning thence north on the county line to the line dividing Sections 17 and 20, in Township 18, Range G cast ; thence west to the line dividing Sections 19 and 20, in Township 18, Range 5 rast; thence south with said section line to the south live of the county ; thenve east to the place of beginning."
At the January session, 1839, the Board of County Commissioners ordered "that all the territory north of White River, Jackson and Adams Townships to the Miami Reserve, be attached to and form a part of said township ; an l Allen Cole is ord .r . I to obtain all the fell notes for the terri- tory north of the White River, Jackson and Adamy Towoships, to the Reserve."
Afterward, at the March session, 18:39, the Board ordered " that all the territory within the following bounds, shall constitute Cicero Township: Beginning at the southeast corner uf Section 32, Township 21, Range 6, east ; thenee north twelve miles ; thence west ten miles; thenew south twelve miles, to the southwest corner of Section 35, Township 21, Range 4 cast ; thenee cast to the place of beginning," and an election was ordered to be hell at the house of James Goodpasture, on the first Monday in April following, to elect two Justices of the Peace for said township, with Dempsey St. Clair ns Inspector. And the following territory was made to constitute
Jefferson Township .- " Beginning at the southeast corner of Section 31, Township 21, Range & cast ; there north twelve oriles ; thence west ten miles, thence south twelve miles, to the southwest corner of Section 31, Town- ship 21, Range 3 east; throce cast to the place of beginning." An election was urdered to be held, also on the first Monday in April following, with John Deal as Inspector, to elect two Justices of the l'eace for said new township.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.