USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 16
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discharge their duties as prescribed by the state board of health and enacted by the Legislature of the state of Indiana. How could such an army of men, five hundred strong, be mustered into service from such a township as Green, which only contains about three hundred voters? Rise up, my little man, and put your John Hancock to your communication. Let us see your height. 'Are you so tall that you can stand like some steeple high, that while your feet are on the ground your hands could touch the sky ?'
"Notwithstanding the terrific threat made by one of Green township's patriots last week in regard to vaccination, the giant powder has not been used as yet, no blood has been spilled for the sake of freedom or independence, nor has any poor soul as yet shuffled off this mortal coil at the hands of this liberty-loving people. But, on the contrary, the people through this part of Green township have cheerfully complied, like law-abiding citizens, with the requirements of the state board of health. When they go to beating up for volunteers they need not come to Eden."
In 1902 a serious epidemic of smallpox broke out at Greenfield. A pest- house was erected south of the city and east of State street, where a number of patients were treated by Dr. J. P. Black.
Early in the spring of 1914 smallpox in a light form broke out in differ- ent localities of the county. An order was issued by County Health Com- missioner Dr. Joseph L. Allen requiring all school children to be vaccinated. There was again some opposition to the order, but by far the greater num- ber of people complied therewith. The disease was so general in the county, however, that but few schools finished their regular terms, and in several townships they dismissed on different dates because of the absence of the pupils.
SOCIETY FOR TIIE PREVENTION OF TUBERCULOSIS.
The Hancock County Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis was organized December 12, 1912, with the following officers: President, Joseph L. Allen; vice-president, Lucy H. Binford; secretary, Percy M. Gordon ; treasurer, J. L. Smith : vice-presidents. Martha J. Elliott, Carthage, rural route No. 21 : Edgar Hope, Greenfield, rural route No. 4: J. A. Fort, Wil- low: Mrs. J. P. Black, Greenfield; A. E. Curry, Greenfield. rural route No. 5: Cynthia Peacock. Charlottesville: Gertrude Ashcraft, Greenfield, rural route No. 4: J. W. Ray, Fortville.
Walter Hatfield, Miss Tillie New and Miss Selma Stephens have been elected to fill the vacancies caused by the death of James L. Smith, and the removal of Madames Gordon and Black, respectively, from the county. The
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membership consists of thirty-two life members, one hundred annual con- tributing members, three hundred honorary members and ten advisory mem- bers.
The first work of the society was the selling of Red Cross Christmas seals, which netted fifty-three dollars and forty-nine cents. The society col- lected two hundred and seventy-seven dollars for the relief of food sufferers in Indiana in 1913. It has had three patients in the state sanitarium at Rock- ville, Indiana.
The present officers are: President. Joseph L. Allen : vice-president. Lucy H. Binford : secretary. Tillie New : treasurer, Walter Hatfield.
HANCOCK COUNTY FEDERATION OF COUNTRY CLUBS.
A federation of the country clubs was effected in March, 1914. with the following officers: President, Mrs. Iduna M. Barrett, Greenfield: vice-presi- dent, Miss Edith J. Hunt, Charlottesville : secretary, Miss Hazel Parnell. Greenfield, rural route No. 3: treasurer, Mrs. Harry Porter, Morristown.
The object of the federation, as stated in the constitution, is the "consid- eration of questions pertaining to social, educational or literary matters and methods for the best culture and advancement of the county."
The charter members of the organization were as follow: County Lit- erary Club (Blue River and Brandywine townships). 1903: Western Grove Woman's Club ( Blue River township). 1910: Thursday Circle ( Charlottes- ville ). 1911; Klover Reading Klub ( Brandywine township). 1912: Four Corners Society ( Blue River township), 1912: Westland Ladies' Sunshine Club ( Blue River township ). 1913.
The Priscilla Club, organized in 1912 ( Blue River township). united with the federation in the spring of 1915. There are several other country clubs that do not belong to the county federation.
NEWSPAPERS.
Following is a synopsis of the life of each newspaper published in the county since the date of its organization, as far as it has been possible to make the list complete. The Home and School Visitor and The Independent Med- ical Investigator are discussed elsewhere.
The Coon Skin was a Democratic sheet published at Greenfield by Joseph Chapman. John Hardin Scott, now eighty-six years of age, has a clear recol- lection of the paper in the political campaign of 1844. The publication of the Coon Skin was suspended not later than the outbreak of the Mexican War when Chapman enlisted.
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The Greenfield Reveille, published January 1. 1845. by Jonathan H. Hunt as publisher, and James Il. Hunt as editor and proprietor. It was a Whig organ, published weekly.
The Investigator, published at Greenfield in 1847 by Mitchell Vaughn : later by R. A. Riley. Riley was prominent in the county Democratic con- vention in 1845, and it is probable that the Investigator was a Democratic newspaper.
The Greenfield Spectator, published September 1. 1848, by John Myers; John D. Doughty, editor. The policy of the paper was expressed in prominent letters across the top of its front page, "Neutral in politics, devoted to litera- ture, science, arts, agriculture, miscellany, markets, general intelligence, etc .. etc." A large part of this paper was given to stories and poetry.
The Family Friend .- When the old court house was offered for sale in 1854 the county auditor was ordered by the county commissioners to adver- tise the sale thereof in the Family Friend. Mrs. Permelia Thayer has a clear recollection of the paper. It seems to have been similar to the Greenfield Spectator.
American Patriot was published in March, 1854, by J. P. Hinshaw. It was a four-page sheet. "independent in all things, neutral in none." It was devoted to "pure literature, morals, temperance in all things, agriculture. commercial and general intelligence." Its publication was suspended after a year or two.
The Greenfield Sentinel, a weekly newspaper published in 1855 by Thomas D. Walpole, and was later edited for a time by William Mitchell. Democratic.
The Hancock Democrat, published in 1859 by a stock company com- posed of Noble Warrum, D. S. Gooding, William R. West and George Y. Atkison. Judge Gooding was editor-in-chief for several years, and William Mitchell, local editor. Before the close of the Civil War William Mitchell assumed full control of the paper. John F. Mitchell took charge in 1876. John F. Mitchell. Jr .. entered the firm in 1907. Has always been a Dem- ocratie newspaper except during the Civil War, when it became the county organ of the Union party. Now published by the William Mitchell Printing Company.
Constitution and Union, published in January, 1861, by Lee O. Harris. Publication suspended after about two months. Issued in the cause of pre- serving the National Union.
Family L'isitor. published in 1864 by a man named Wright. Later trans- (12)
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ferred to a Mr. Hinshaw. Seems to have been a sheet similar to the Green- field Spectator, described above.
The Greenfield Commercial, Republican newspaper, published in 1867 by Amos Beeson : later by L. E. Rumrill. Was published for several years.
The Greenfield News, a weekly newspaper published during the seven- ties by William Walker and Walter Hartpence. Republican.
Greenfield Republican, Republican newspaper, published a short time during the seventies by D. B. Deem.
The Jeffersonian, published in June, 1878, by R. G. Strickland. Dem- ocratie. Bought in 1890 by Gus Morton and Charles Teel. Bought by Eu- gene Lewis in 1892 and name changed to The Greenfield Herald. Purchased in 1893 by S. S. Boots and shortly thereafter taken over by the Herald Pub- lishing Company. Publication suspended about 1906.
The Greenfield Herald, Democratic; 1893, as stated above.
Greenfield Republican, a Republican newspaper, published in 1880 by Robison & Cooper. Later owned by Nixon, Henry Marsh and Robert Lynn. Purchased by W. S. Montgomery in May, 1888. Sold by Mr. Montgomery to Newton R. Spencer in February, 1910. Now published by Spencer Pub- lishing Company.
The Tooth Pick, published for "forty days and forty nights" in 1885 by Harry G. Strickland, Noble Warrum, Jr., and R. E. Bragg. Humorous sheet. Printed on paper of various colors. Pony delivery. Daily. Pub- lished at Jeffersonian office.
The Tribune, daily, published at Greenfield by Howard Branham about 1888. Later by Charles Pauley and Austin Boots. At first independent in politics. Later had Democratic tendencies. Purchased by W. S. Mont- gomery, proprietor of the Greenfield Republican and Daily Republican. Tribune and Daily Republican merged under name of The Tribune about 1895.
Daily Republican .- Daily Republican sheet, published by W. S. Mont- gomery in November. 1893. and merged with The Tribune.
Daily Democrat .- Daily Democratic paper, published by William Mitchell Printing Company during the political campaign of 1900. John Hufford, editor.
Evening Star .- Non-partisan. Published in August, 1906. by Eugene Boyden. Purchased by Ben Strickland and Newton R. Spencer, December 1, 1906. who soon afterward sold a third interest to Eugene E. Davis. Pub- lished at the Globe plant.
Greenfield Daily Reporter .- Non-partisan. Published by Newton R. Spencer. April 27. 1908. Bought Evening Star and published both as Green-
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field Daily Reporter in February, 1909. Took over The Tribune in February, 1910, and has since published both as The Greenfield Daily Reporter. Now published by Spencer Publishing Company.
Fortville Journal, published for a few months, about 1879 or 1880, by George Hacker and Mr. Melton. Local news.
Fortville Journal, published in September, 1883. Burned in December, 1883. Reestablished in 1884. Owned and published by Green & Williams, W. S. Rader, W. S. Nagle. Name changed to Fortville Sun in February, 1886. Local news.
Fortville Sun .- February. 1886. Sold to George E. Simmons in May, 1887. Other owners, Cal Gault, Lon Graffort and John C. Jenkins. Was the organ of the Farmers' Alliance in the campaign of 1882; S. B. Prater. editor. Destroyed by fire in 1893. Reestablished in 1894. Publication suspended in 1895. Local news.
Fortville Tribune, established in fall of 1893 by Robert Maranville. Other owners, Ora Pogue and George Simmons. Purchased in April, 1909, by Gus E. Stuart, the present editor and proprietor. Local news.
The Fortville Reporter, published for about three months during the fall of 1901 by Gus E. Stuart.
New Palestine Star, weekly: published at New Palestine by Julius C. Melton in 1887. Suspended after a year or two.
New Palestine Courier, weekly; published by a company of persons in 1885. William Parish took charge in November. 1895. Discontinued in April. 1897. Local news.
New Palestine News, weekly, published in September, 1897. by Julius C. Melton. Local news. Suspended in September, 1899.
New Palestine Newes, weekly, published February 15. 1900. by George Metzger. Purchased by Paul Bell. Suspended in May, 1903. Local news.
Wilkinson Herald, first published at Wilkinson about 1897 by Dr. B. H. Cook. Moved to Shirley about 1899 and sold to Frank Martindale and name changed to Shirley-Wilkinson Newes. Local news.
Shirley-Wilkinson Newes, first published at Shirley about 1899 by Mar- findale and later by his son. Sold to one McClain who changed the name to Shirley Gasette. Local news.
Shirley Enterprise, established about 1901 and published for two or three years. Local news.
Shirley Gasette, first published at Shirley about 1901 by McClain. Later owned by one Gordon and C. B. Shields. Name changed to Shirley News about 1905. Local news.
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Shirley News, first published about 1905. Now owned and published by Roy Ensimger.
W'ilkinson Gasette. published August 29. 1907. by .A. L. Goodwin. Local news. Discontinued after a few months.
Charlottesville News, weekly, published for a year or two about ISSS by Otto Bennett. Local news.
Home and Farm, published by S. C. Rhue at Charlottesville in Septem- ber, 1906. Suspended in a short time.
The following newspapers are now published in the county : The Hun- cock Democrat. Greenfield Republican, Greenfield Daily Reporter. Fortville Tribune and Shirley News.
AERIAL NAVIGATION.
(William R. Hough, in Hancock Democrat.)
One day in the summer of 1850 or 1860. as to which of these years it was my memory does not now exactly serve me, the citizens of our then little town had their curiosity somewhat aroused by the discovery of a number of quarter-size printed posters tacked up in several of the most public places in town, announcing that on a certain evening in the following week this man. John .Alley, would deliver a lecture at the court house on the subject of aerial navigation. At the appointed time it was my good fortune to be pres- ent with a considerable number of other of our citizens, and to hear advanced what we then regarded with amusement as the vagaries of an eccentric. if not an unbalanced, mind. His ideas in relation to the construction and opera- tion of a flying machine were not well matured. but were vague and incon- clusive, and the lecture did not meet the expectations which the contents of the posters announcing the same had excited in the minds of his audience.
His ability as a poet and prophet was better evidenced by the contents of the posters than by the lecture. These posters were so much out of the ordinary and of such interest to me that I have never forgotten the principal features they contained, and they were very vividly recalled to my mind by the successful operation of the flying machines which I witnessed at the exhibition at the Speedway, near Indianapolis, a few days since. and in which 1 witnessed so complete a fulfillment of the prophecy contained in them that I feel impelled to give it the publicity which I think it deserves by asking a place for it in the columns of the Star, and so to do what I may toward the perpetuation of the memory of one who has hitherto been "to dumb forgetfulness a prey." although entitled to rank as a true prophet of
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modern times. The top line of the posters read as follows: "Fly. fly, cleave the sky : if a man can't, pray tell me why"" Then the date, the subject of the lecture and the name of the lecturer was given, and then came the closing prophetic poem, as follows :
"The time long looked for is at hand, When man, grown tired of sea and land. On artificial wings shall fly And navigate the liquid sky. Not in balloon made fast to boat,
And only with the winds to float. But. mounted on a flying car, He'll steer his course through trackless air. Cross counter winds, confront to breeze. And over mountains, lakes and seas, Survey all nations with delight. Outride the eagle in his flight, And teach the world from freedom's home To every land where man may roam, The light of science, revelation, Man's high eternal destination."
This backwoods seer. "to fortune and to fame unknown," a few short years after the delivery of the lecture mentioned, in 1863. without having created more than a ripple of amusement in the minds of his unsophisticated neighbors, by this, in the light of the present day, most remarkable prophecy, "died without the sight" of its fulfillment and, freed from the limitations of his poor unprepossessing physical habitation he passed into the life invisible "unhonored and unsung."
CHAPTER VI.
EDUCATION.
BASIS OF SCHOOL FUND.
It will be recalled that the first step toward the establishment of a school fund was taken by the Continental Congress in adopting the ordinance of May 20, 1785. This ordinance provided that section 16 in each township should be reserved for the maintenance of the public schools within that township. Under the early laws of the state the custody and control of this land were given to the trustees of the respective townships, and among the first acts of the board of county commissioners of Hancock county after the organization of the board was the appointment of trustees for each of these school sections. These trustees, with a few changes in the law from time to time, had power to lease such lands for any term not to exceed three years, taking rents payable in money, property or improvements to be made on the real estate. If directed by a majority of the qualified voters of the township such leases could be made for any term not exceeding ten years. For a longer term a special act of the Legislature was necessary, and such an act was approved January 24, 1828, permitting the trustees of section 16, township 15 north, range 7 east (in Brandywine township), to lease a part of said section to Othniel H. Sweem for a period of twenty years for the pur- pose of building and operating a mill thereon. The trustees had and exer- cised all the rights and powers of a landlord in coercing the fulfillment of contracts relating to such lands and preventing waste or damage. By an act approved January 23. 1829, any five freeholders in any township could call a meeting of the voters to determine whether the school section in that town- ship should be sold. A few years later another law was passed providing that at any time when five qualified voters of any congressional township should petition the trustees of such township, setting forth their desire for a sale of such land, said trustees should insert in the notices for the annual election of trustees, the further notice that a balloting would be had to determine whether the land so petitioned for should be sold. At the time of the election each voter favoring the sale of such land wrote on his ballot the word "sale"; if opposed, he wrote the words "no sale." If a majority voted in favor of the sale. the land was sold. In some of the counties of the state
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EDUCATION.
this land was managed for many years in accordance with the provisions of these statutes, and the income therefrom was used for the maintenance of the schools. In Hancock county, however, these sections were sold soon after the county was organized. The dates of the sales are as follow :
Sections 16, 15, 7, Brandywine-April 5, 1830.
Sections 16, 16, 7, Center-July 28, 1830.
Sections 16, 15, 8. Blue River-November 15, 1830.
Sections 16, 15, 6, Sugar Creek-October 29. 1830, to January 7, 1833. Sections 16, 16, 8. Jackson-July I. 1831, to March 8, 1833.
Sections 16, 17, 7, Green-February 1, 1834, to February 6. 1837.
Sections 16, 17, 8, Brown-November 21. 1835.
Sections 16, 17. 6. Vernon-November 16, 1841, to December 17, 1850. Sections 16, 16, 6, Buck Creek-January 2, 1845, to November 28, 18.49.
The most of the school land in Hancock county sold at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, although a few tracts brought from three dollars to five dollars per acre.
COUNTY SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
Before the office of county auditor was created the county school com- missioners sold school lands, loaned and accounted for the school funds, and distributed the proceeds thereof to the various school corporations. In Han- cock county the school commissioners sold practically all of the school sec- tions before the first county auditor was elected. The duties of the county school commissioners were at first shared and finally taken over entirely by the county auditor. The men who filled the office of school commissioner from 1830 to 1852 were: Meredith Gosney. John Justice, William Johnson, Asa Gooding, James D. Henry, Morris Pierson, John Avery, J. Etter. J. Tharp. Orlando Crane.
TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT PRIOR TO 1859.
Until 1859. with a few minor changes, the business of each township was managed by a board of three trustees. At the first election in each township one trustee was elected for one year, another for two years, and a third for three years. Afterward one trustee was elected at each annual election for a term of three years. The board appointed one of its members clerk, who was ex-officio president of the board. It was his duty to call meetings, to keep a record of the proceedings of each meeting, to record and plat the school districts, and to do such other things as the trustees should
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order him to do. Another member was appointed treasurer. It was his duty to receive all rents, profits, interest, etc .. belonging to his township, to pay out the same according to orders of the board : to keep accurate accounts of his receipts and expenditures and to make reports to the board of the financial condition of the township when required by the board to do so.
Each board also divided its township into school districts as circumstances required. In fact. the school districts as we now know them, were, for the most part. laid out by these township boards. They caused the districts to be organized, and when established caused a notice to be given of the first general meeting for the election of district trustees. They reported to the county school commissioner, and later to the county auditor, the enumeration of all children between the ages of five and twenty-one years, resident within the township. They divided semi-annually the school funds received into the township treasury, among the districts within the township.
DISTRICT MANAGEMENT PRIOR TO 1859.
All school districts that had been organized prior to 1843 were recog- nized and confirmed as such by a statute of that year. Each when organized became a body corporate by the name of "School District No. -. of Town- ship No. --. in Range No. - , in the County of -, in the State of Indiana." The districts as laid out, and as numbered under this act of 1843, are still generally known by such numbers in Hancock county.
The business of each district, with some minor changes again, was trans- acted by three trustees, also elected for a term of three years. In case of a tie the election was settled by lot in the presence of the inspector. The dis- trict trustees took their certificates of election from the hand of the township clerk. This board appointed one member clerk and another treasurer. They met when any district business required and gave notice of all elections and meetings of the voters of the district. Whenever there was a meeting of voters of the district one of the trustees presided. the clerk, if present. other- wise the treasurer. In the absence of both the third member of the board presided. The person presiding kept a record of the proceedings and votes of the meetings and entered them on the record book of the district. The general powers and duties of the trustees are set out in the following para- graph of the statute :
"The trustees shall make all contracts, purchases, payments and sales necessary to carry out the vote of the district. for the procuring of any site for a school house, building, hiring. repairing. or furnishing the same, or dis- posing thereof, or for the keeping of any school therein: and in the absence
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EDUCATION.
of instructions by a district meeting may contract with a teacher, to be paid in whole or in part out of the public funds, or by persons sending in due pro- portion, or according to their private subscriptions."
They also kept a record of all voters in the district and of the number of children in each family between five and twenty-one years of age, and had the right to determine what branches should be taught in their district school, provided they were such as were generally taught.
DISTRICT MEETINGS PRIOR TO 1859.
The law provided for a general meeting of the voters of each district to be held on the first Saturday of October of each year. Special meetings could be called at any time. To be entitled to vote at these meetings one had to be a resident of the district and also either a freeholder, or a householder with children of school age. At these meetings district trustees were elected or vacancies filled. The people also had the right to designate the site for a school house; to direct the building, hiring or purchase of a school house or site for the same, and to fix the sum to be expended therefor, or for the furniture or library therefore, and for the keeping of the same in repair. They also had the right to direct the sale of any school house or the site thereof, or of any property, real or personal, belonging to the district. They could determine the length of the school term and the manner in which the teacher should be paid, and could also direct what part of their distributive share of the school funds should be applied to the purchase of a site for a school house or for the building thereof. The school sites in Hancock county were not very expensive in those days and it was a very common practice for a donation, usually of a half acre, to be made by someone for school pur- poses. Many of the school sites are still held by the townships by virtue of these deeds. In order to expedite the construction of school houses an act of 1843 provided that the inhabitants of each district should have the power of assessing a "labor tax," or of determining the amount of work to be done by cach able-bodied white male resident of the district between the ages of twenty-one and fifty years toward building a school house, not to exceed two days work for each: or they could determine the amount of money to be paid as a tax instead of performing such labor. By the act of 1843 the tax for school purposes was limited to twenty-five cents on the hundred dollars.
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