USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Indiana, from its earliest settlement by the "pale face," in 1818, down to 1882 > Part 33
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1802
..
..
..
Nelson Bradley
.. Wm. G. Cauldwell, $100 bounty to soldiers. Family Visitor established, Soldiers returned home. ..
1So; Henry A. Swope
Levi Leary William Mitchell.
.
66
..
..
.6
Safe Robbery.
..
66
..
..
Greenfield Commercial established. Contract to build school-house and jail. First planing mill. Five additions to Greenfield.
1872
..
..
..
Ernst HI. Fant. . ...
Geo. W. Sample ... Patrons of Husbandry organized.
1573
..
N. H. Roberts
..
..
1874 Ephraim Marsh
Henry Wright.
Robert P. Brown. . Murder of Samuel Derry. William Thomas .. Medical Society organized. ..
1875
..
66
..
AAndrew Hagen
..
..
18-8
..
..
..
6.
1879 ISSO
..
..
..
J. W. Ryon, (ap.).
..
..
..
County fair demised. Republican established. ist old settlers meeting. 1 .. B. & W. R. R. organized, and free pikes. History of Hancock County published.
1882
..
..
1.870
..
Francis O, Sears .. John Reeves ..
A. C. Handy. ....
.4
1871
..
..
Amos C. Beeson .. ..
..
1866
..
CHARTS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
Keemer hung and Wood committed suicide. Greenfield incorporated. Jeffersonian started. William Frost found dead.
W. H. Thompson. . Sarah Wilson murdered.
44
6%
..
4 .
..
6.
Taylor W. Thomas One Trustee in each township.
1 800
Lysander Sparks.
.6
Jonathan Tague. . . Robert P. Brown ..
William Wilkins. . Pike fever.
..
..
..
+
Isaiah A. Curry ..
6.
..
ยท
483
484
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Samuel Vangilder IS28
John Collins. IS57
John Hunter. IS2S
Robison Jarrett. I85S
Elisha Chapman IS28
Nevel Reeves 1859
William McCance. IS31
Elias McCord IS60
George Troxwell IS32
Hiram Tyner 1861
Benjamin Spillman
1834
William New 1 862
Enoch O'Brien.
IS35
John Hinchman 1 863
Richard Williams
IS35
James Tyner 1864
John O'Brien
IS36
Ephraim Thomas. 1866
Daniel Smith.
IS37
David Caudell. 1 869
Isaac Willett. IS39
Nathan Henry IS40
Jacob Tague.
IS43
James Tyner.
IS72
Seth Walker. 1844
Samuel Shockley
IS45
John Addison
IS74
Abram Rhue
IS46
Jordan Lacy .
IS47
James Tyner
18.49
T. E. Bentley
I879
James Hazlett. IS50
Edward P. Scott. ISSO
Reson Perry IS51
Daniel Wilkison.
IS53
Augustus Dennis. ISSO
Shelton Banks
IS55
John E. Dye.
ISS I
Jacob Slifer. IS56
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
Meredith Gosney.
William Fries 1 864
Morris Pierson IS44 J. H. Landis 1876
George W. Hatfield IS50
John V. Coyner IS78
C. G. Sample.
1854
Winfield S. Fries. ISSO
James K. King 1 860
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
Meredith Gosney IS33
John Justice. IS35
John Avery 1843
William Johnson I 838
J. Etter. I845
James D. Henry
Asa Gooding. 1840
IS39
J. Tharp
Oland Crane
Jonathan Smith 1870
John S. Lewis. IS71
William H. Dye. IS72
William Curry
IS43
William P. Brokaw 1873
William P. Brokaw 1875
Jacob Slifer
IS77
Thomas E. Bentley ISSO
Morris Pierson
485
CHARTS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
SCHOOL EXAMINERS.
At first three were appointed in each township until 1854.
James Rutherford IS54 Mansfield C. Foley I S64
Renben A. Riley 1856 A. V. B. Sample. IS6S
James L. Mason
IS59 James A. New. 1871
William Fries
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.
John H. Binford.
1873 Aaron Pope. :S79
William P. Smith IS75 Robert A. Smith ISS I
UNITED STATES RECTANGULAR SURVEY.
When and Why Adopted .- Prior to the year 1802 no uni- form system of surveying had been adopted by law in the United States, and consequently no uniformity prevailed, and no little amount of confusion, disputing and litigation resulted therefrom. Congress soon saw that it was just as necessary to have a fixed system of surveying as to have a standard of weights, measures and values ; accordingly, in 1802, Jared Mansfield, Surveyor-General of the North- West Territory, presented to Congress a plan which was at once adopted, and put into use in the survey of all the public lands then owned and since acquired by the United States. This system is the most simple, satisfactory and convenient of any yet known.
PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN AND BASE LINES.
This plan is substantially as follows : Through the State or territory to be surveyed a line is run due north and south with great care and accuracy, by careful measurements and astronomical observations, called the Principal Meri- dian, and another at right angles with this, called the Base Linc (see diagram No. 1). These two lines are the initial or starting points, and may be established wherever deemed most convenient. There are about twenty-five principal meridians, and an equal number of base lines in the various surveys of the United States and her territories.
486
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
The Principal Meridian in Indiana is located about twenty miles west of Indianapolis ; runs through Lebanon, Boone county, and extends from the Ohio river to the northern boundary of the State. The Base Line governing our townships in this portion, and most of Indiana, is located fifty miles south of Columbus, in Bartholomew county. and ninety miles south of the court-house in Greenfield. It extends from the French surveys in Knox county and vicinity to Clark's Military Survey in Clark and adjoining counties .*
RANGE AND TOWNSHIP LINES.
On either side of the Principal Meridian extend other meridians called Range Lines, six miles apart, and the first six miles from the Principal Meridian. This divides the district into strips six miles wide, extending north and south, called Ranges, and numbered in regular order from the Principal Meridian east or west, as the case may be. On either side of the base line extend township lines, which divide the territory to be surveyed into strips six miles wide, extending east and west, called Townships. By the intersection of these township and range lines the territory is divided into rectangles, approximately six miles square, called Congressiona! Townships, which contain thirty-six square miles each.
Remark-Note the distinction between townships and and Congressional townships, the former are strips six miles wide, through the whole survey, east and west, while the latter are rectangles six miles square.
The following diagram will show the method of locating townships :
*With the exception of these two early surveys, located in the south-east and south- west parts of the State, Indiana was surveyed under the government system. The government surveys were nearly all made from the second Principal Meridian, running through Lebanon. The south-eastern portion of the State was surveyed from the first Principal Meridian, which runs due north from the mouth of the Miami river, forming the eastern boundary of the State, and a base line fitteen miles north of the base line before described, hence the south-eastern portion of Indiana is in range west instead of cast, as the uninformed would suppose.
487
CHARTS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
DIAGRAM NO. 1.
Tp. 4, N. R. 3, E.
Tp. 3. N.
R. 2, W.
LINE.
Tp. I, N.
R. 1, E.
BASE.
LINE.
TOWN SHIP
LINE.
Tp. 2, S.
R. 2. W.
Tp. 2, S. R. 4, E.
We may here remark that at the time of running the principal meridian base line, township and range lines. corners are marked by the Government survey, or on each line for every half mile, to facilitate the further division of the land.
Sections .- After the territory to be surveyed is divided into townships, as shown by explanations and diagrams above, the townships are then divided into sections by run- ning lines east and west and north and south, a mile apart. thus dividing them into smaller rectangles a mile square, called sections, containing six hundred and forty acres each when full.
MANNER OF SURVEYING SECTIONS.
The modus operandi in laying off these sections is as follows : The surveyor begins at a point one mile west of the south-east corner of a Congressional township on the southern boundary line of the same, and from this point runs one mile north, then east on what surveyors call a random line to the eastern boundary of the township. Now
2. PRINCIPAL MERI DIAN.
488
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
should this random line intersect the eastern boundary line at the first section or mile corner, he measures the line back, establishing a corner midway on the same; if not, he finds the proper mile corner, corrects the line, and then marks the quarter section corner midway on the corrected line, and thus he continues till he runs off the first tier of sections on the east, when he begins again, on the south line this time, two miles west of the south-east corner or one mile west of the former beginning point, when he runs through in a similar manner, except that he does not run to the eastern boundary line but to the former line estab- lished.
The figures in the following diagram indicate the course of the surveyor and the order in which the lines are run :
DIAGRAM NO. 2.
51
134
17
Sy
67
50
33
16
S6
57/05
00 48
49 31
32 14
11 15
64
47
32
13
S2
S3 62
63 45
46
25
29 11
SO
SI
10
14
78
79.59
00 12
43
25
26
S
76
77
58
11
2.4
7
74
75 56
57 39
10
22
23
5
1
72
73
55
38
21
1
70
71 53
54 36
37 19
20
2
1
3
52
35
I
It will be seen that the first four tier of sections on the east are all surveyed in a like manner, while the last two are established on the same, run north ; thus the surveyor goes from 69 to 70, then east to 71, then west two miles to 72, and so on to the north two sections in the west two
-
489
CHARTS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
tiers, which are completed by the surveyor intersecting the northern boundary at 90, which completes the survey of the township. The United States Surveyor has now completed his work; any further sub-division is the work of the County Surveyor. The division of the section into quar- ters is indicated by the corners marked midway on all sec- tion lines. The county or local surveyor, when called upon to do so, connects these corners by lines intersecting in the center of the section, thus actually dividing the sec- tion into quarters, which may now readily be still further divided into forty or eighty acre tracts.
FRACTIONAL SECTIONS.
Owing to the rotundy of the earth, townships seldom contain thirty-six square miles, but generally less. The townships being divided into sections in the above manner, it is evident that the deficiency or excess, i. c., the amount of land, more or less than six miles square in the town- ship, must fall in the north and west tiers of sections, and in the west half of the west tier and north half of the north tier. From this fact the sections on the north and west sides of a Congressional township are called fractional sec- tions, because they contain more or less than six hundred and forty acres. Section six in the north-west corner, from having the excess or deficiency thrown into it from both east and south, is called a Double Fractional Section, and seldom contains more than one exact quarter.
CORRECTION LINES.
The meridians run by the compass are not parallel, but converge toward the magnetic north pole, located in the Boothnia Peninsula, north-east of Hudson Bay. Thus the north side of the townships are narrower than the south, and the northern townships smaller than the south- ern. If these lines were continued for a great distance, the disparity in the size of the township would be great, but this is obviated by making every fifth line north and every fourth line south of the base line a secondary base or a
32
490
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
correction line, and remeasuring the distance on the lines and starting anew from the prime base.
Then, again, to counteract and correct discrepancies that may arise from obstructions, such as underbrush, ravines, hills, trees, ete., every eighth line east and west of the principal meridian is taken as a secondary or cor- rection meridian, and the distances remeasured.
In the following diagram, No. 3, the figures indicate the course of the surveyor in running off the Congressional townships, containing, approximately, twenty-three thous- and and forty acres each :
491
CHARTS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
DIAGRAM NO. 3.
Meridian.
Parallel.
Correction
22
11
22
IO
10
21
19
20
S
9
S
20
10
IS
7
16
17
5
0
5:17
16
4
4
13
14
2
3
3
2
14
13
12
1
Line.
Base
28
14
25
42
27
1 3
3
27
41
25
26 11
12 12
20
25 40
39
!
2.4
10
24
22
23
22 37
36
21
21
35
19
20
5
6 6
5 20
19 34
33
IS
4
4
IS
32
16
2
3
217
16 31
30
Correction
15
I
1
15
20
Parallel.
Principal
In order to make this article more practical to the young and others not acquainted with land descriptions, we introduce diagram No. 4, which, with the explanations following, will enable any one to read ordinary descrip- tions.
30
9
S
12
IS
492
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
DIAGRAM NO. 4.
C
33
A
F
F
1
P
a
R
11
G
S
K
L
J
0
T
M
N
.1) E, ne., So acres.
B) E. hf. w. hf. ne. qr., 40 acres.
(C) W. hf. w. hf. ne. qr., 40 acres.
D) N nw., So acres.
(E) S. hf. nw. qr., So acres.
F) N. hf. nw. qr. sw. qr., 20 acres.
(G) S. hf. nw. qr. sw. qr., 20 acres.
(11) W. hf. ne. qr. sw. qr. and se. ne. sw .. 30 acres.
(I) Ne. ne. sw., ioacres.
(J) Sw. sw., 40 acres.
K) N. hf. nw. se. sw., 5 acres.
(E) S. hf. nw. se. sw., 5 acres.
(M) W. hf. sw. se. sw., 5 acres.
(N) E. hf. sw. se. sw., 5 acres.
(O) E. hf. se. sw., 20 acres.
(P) W'd. nw. qr. se. qr., uniformly 26 rods wide, containing 13 acres.
(() Commencing twenty-six rods east of the north-west corner of the south-east quarter of section-, in township-north [or southi], in range east [or west]; thence south eighty rods; thence east twenty-eight rods; thence north eighty rods to the north line of said south-east quarter, thence west twenty-eight rods to the place of beginning, containing fourteen acres.
(R) Describe as in "P'," or by metes and bounds as in "Q.""
(S) W. hf. ne. qr. se., and nw. se. se., also n. hf. sw. se., 50 acres.
(T) E. hf. e. hf. se. and sw. se. se., also s. hf. sw. se., 70 acres.
Remarks .- A land description to be good, our Supreme Court has held, must so describe the realty that a compe- tent surveyor can locate it, hence a middle division con-
493
CHARTS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
taining so many acres is not sufficiently definite without being described by "metes and bounds." The position of a section is known by its number, and the location of a township by the town and range.
Teachers in the district schools should thoroughly mas- ter this subject, and then aid their advanced pupils in doing the same.
OUR POETS AND POETE SES.
Hancock county may justly boast of her poetic talent. and claim the right to head the list of rythmic counties in Indiana. Marion may boast of her Sarah T. Bolton. Henry of her Ben. Parker, Wayne of her Mrs. Jordon. but none of them can furnish a Riley or a Harris. Parker writes for pastime, Riley writes as a profession ; Mrs. Bolton is spontaneous, Harris is perpetual ; other poets of the State write for pleasure, ours for pay.
This history would be incomplete without some account of our poets and their pennings. For want of space we shall not stop to give a personal sketch of each, nor a critique on their writings, but will be content with sample extracts from their numerous productions.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
BY J. W. RILEY.
Of all the pleasing faces That remembrance can recall,
The old school day romances Are the dearest after all! Where come sweet thought revises The half-forgotten time That opened "exercises" On "Friday afternoon."
I seem to hear the clicking Of the pencil and the pen, And the solemn, ceaseless ticking
494
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Of the time-piece ticking then! And to note the watchful master, And the deprecating nod That made the heart beat faster For the boy that threw the wad.
Some little hand uplifted, And the creaking of a shoe; A problem left unsifted For the teacher's hand to do.
495
CHARTS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
The murmured hum of learning, The flutter of a book- The smell of something burning And the school's inquiring look.
A bashful boy in blushes, And the girl with glancing eyes, Who hides her smiles, and hushes The laugh about to rise; And with a quick invention Assumes a solemn face To meet the words "attention! Every scholar in his place!"
The opening song, page 20,- Ah! dear old "Golden Wreath." You willed your sweets in plenty And some who look beneath The leaves of Time will linger. And loving tears will start As fancy trails her finger Over the index of her heart.
An "Essay on the Science Of Trigonometry," And "Cataline's Defiance," And may be two or three Short dialogues, and punny, And a little boy in blue Winds up with something funny Like "Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
So the exercises taken Thro' gradations of delight To the reading of "The Paper." Which is entertaining-quite! For it goes ahead and mentions "If a certain Mr. O. Has serious intentions That he ought to tell her so."
496
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
It also asks permission "To intimate to John The coquettish condition Of the ground he's walking on;" And dropping the suggestion, To "mind what he's about," It stabs him with the question: "Does his mother know he's out?"
When all has been recited, And the teacher's bell is heard; And visitors invited,
Have dropped a kindly word, A hush of holy feeling Falls down upon us here, As tho' the day were kneeling. And the twilight was a prayer.
O! happy hearts and faces, On that great day's review, Will you all be in the places That were assigned to you? Will you conquer life's disasters, And with golden harps atune, Wait the signal of the Master On that endless afternoon?
THE HARVEST DAYS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
BY LEE O. HARRIS. -
O! the harvest days of the olden time! The ring of the sickles in merry rhyme; The wealth that fell at the reaper's feet, With the tinkling sound of a music sweet; My soul is wrapt in a dream to-day, And over my senses, from far away, There comes a rustle of grain, combined With the drowsy voice of the summer wind,
497
CHARTS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
And my heart o'erflows with a song of praise For the days-the days! The harvest time of my boyhood days.
I stand again where the breezes toy With the tangled locks of the farmer boy; I hear the chorus of tuneful birds, The tinkling bells of the grazing herds, The happy shout and the joyous song, And the gladsome laugh of the reaping throng.
PROF
R.A.SMITH
The shout, the song, and the merry peal -- Attend to the ring of the flashing steel -- They come to me now through the dreamy maze From the days-the days! The harvest time of my boyhood days.
Again I walk in the joyous train That follows after the loaded wain; Again to my heart, like an echo, come The gladsome shouts of the harvest home, When the merry, sun-browned lasses greet The reaper lads with the golden wheat. There was one, with hair of a sunnier hne Than the ripened grain of the harvest knew.
498
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Grew rosy as dawn at my ardent gaze, In the days-the days! The harvest time of my boyhood. days.
Alas! alas! how the years go by! How the young grow old and the lovely die! How sad the music, how marred the rhyme, Of the harvest songs of the olden time! For the rattling cog and the grinding wheel Rise over the ring of the reaper's steel, And death, the harvester, low hath laid The golden hair of the sun-browned maid, And I sigh like one who vainly prays For the days-the days! The vanished dream of my boyhood days.
OLD SETTLER'S SONG.
BY SAMUEL BROOKS.
I lived in Jefferson before I came here, My father, a hunter, killed turkeys and deer; Then women were known to scutch out the flax, From which they made linen to put on their backs.
It was then very common, I'd have you understand, For women to card wool and spin it by hand; While the girls at the wheel were careful and gay. My mother at the loom kept banging away.
The people in common in home-made were dressed, When the Sabbath came 'round they put on their best: I came to Hancock in the year thirty-two, The houses were scarce and the people were few.
The country was new when I first settled here, I hunted wild turkeys and killed of the deer; Then pea-vines, nettles, and plenty of frogs, And snakes and big turtles were seen in the bogs.
499
CHARTS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
Then porcupines and 'possums were caught in their dens, And the wolves were taken in steel-traps and pens; There were few of our men that ever wore boots, Though they cleared in the green and plowed among roots.
Then women were known to work on the farm, Or at the spinning-wheel, and thought it no harm; They oft' did up their work so very late at night, And breakfasted next morning before it was light.
They wrapped up their babies so snug and so soft, Then rocked them to sleep in an old sugar trough; The children went ragged, in their little Bare feet, Their mothers still kissed them and said they were sweet.
We now have railroads and telegraphs too, The churches and school-houses are never a few; We now have plenty, and something to spare, Fine boots on our feet and good clothes to wear.
We men can drink coffee and women drink tea, And are all living happy as happy can be; While the children grow fat on butter and milk, The ladies go dressed in their satin and silk.
While people are passing from day unto day, We see them in buggies along the highway; We hear the cars whistle, we hear the bells ring. While the people collect to pray and to sing.
We now have fine carpets and big feather beds. With extra big pillows to put under our heads; And plenty of good books and papers to read, Among the great nations we're taking the lead.
500
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
CHRIST THE WAY.
BY MRS. R. P. HILL,
formerly a resident of Blue-River township, and youngest daughter of Joel Pusey, a merchant, taken from a little volume, entitled "Musings," published in 1871 :
Although religion is professed By many in this day; How few there are will stand the test Of Christ, the living way. If in fine carriages or car, They can to meeting go.
And there smooth words and doctrine hear. Religion then will do.
The clergy they may thus engage. Just taught in human school, Can take his text from gilted page, Or kneel on cushioned stool; But if the gospel, called to spread, In Jesus' humble way,
How few that lowly path would tread, To everlasting day.
Salvation's terms remain the same, Though ages have gone by,
As when from Jesus' lips they came; And if we don't comply, We need not think He'll change his plan, To suit our stubborn will; For creeds gotten up by man, Will not with Him prevail; But we must love with all our mind, And soul, and strength, the Lord, Yea, more than any earthly friend, Or treasures here acquired, And do His will from day to day, And on His name believe. If thus His precepts we'll obey. Salvation we'll receive.
501
CHARTS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
AN APOSTROPHE TO DEATH .* BY SINNER AND SAINT.
SINNER.
Oh. Death! thou king of terrors, Thon cruel, hideous monster! Uninvited into our dwellings enterest And tak'st the fairest, sweetest, best!
We've heard of thee by tongue and pen, Through holy prophets and pious men, Thou art no stranger, grave, grim Death, And yet thou art no friend.
The fields are naked and the meadows bare, The winds are howling and the woods are sighing And all nature oft' weeping and crying Because, Oh, Death, they say thou wert there.
Thou art cold, Oh, Death, so cold, Thy presence so chilling we dread; E'en our blood runs cold as thy presence we behold, And all hope and joy forever is fled.
Then approach not our dwellings Now and for aye we implore thee- But depart, depart unwelcome Death, We would bid thee a final adieu.
SAINT.
Nay, but stop one moment, Death, delay- A sadder thought has filled our breast; The words of a song we learned so young, "We would not live always, no we would not live always."
In the world we are in there's sorrow and sin But there is a brighter, brighter above, And the door to that world As we often have heard, is Death, cold death.
* Written by the Editor.
502
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
And if from sin we are free, No sting there will be at thoughts of thee. As thou call'st at our homes To set us free from this world of sin and pain.
Then call when thou may To take us away to bright mansions above, We hope we can say "Oh, Death, where is thy sting?"
"The sting of death is sin," And if from sin we are free- Then come Death, welcome Death Thy mission we'll not deny.
STORM.
BY CLARA LOUISE BOTTSFORD.
Is it deep midnight on the raging sea ? Is the world all black ? Do the mad winds moan, And the rain beat down all pitilessly On the up-turned face ? Have the waters grown So cold and the beacon light so dim ? And the surging waves so wild and high ? Do lurid flames of lightning flash In the purple face of an angry sky ? Bend lower ! Lower ! Let the writhing mass Of darkness pour ! The storm will pass.
THE CRUCIFICTION.
BY R. A. RILEY.
'Tis evening, at the supper now, The Savior breaks the sacred bread, And pours the wine ; with solemn vow Proclaims Himself the Church's Head.
503
CHARTS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
'Tis night, on Olive's somber brow The stars are hid that twinkled there ; Alone the suffering Savior bows, With none His agony to share.
'Tis midnight, and with sorrow riven, His sweat and blood flows freely down ; He ope's the way from earth to Heaven- For all His saints prepares a crown.
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