USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 8
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The parade was over a mile in length. The school children occasioned great enthusiasm.
The following was the program of the day, given on the public square :
Music-Fort Wayne Band
Elder W. M. Gard
Invocation
Music by Union Choir
Laying of the Corner Stone Music by Band
Address
Judge Charles G. Offutt
Music by Band
Address
Hon. William R. Hough
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COUNTY BUILDINGS.
Music by Band Music by Union Choir
Benediction
.. Rev. M. E. Nethercut
Judge Frank E. Gavin, of Greensburg, acting grand master, conducted the ceremonies connected with the laying of the cornerstone. He was assisted by Martin H. Rice, grand treasurer, Henry Geake, John T. Duncan, William Ward Cook and Homer Bragg.
A large box was placed in the cornerstone which contains lists of officers and members of practically all the lodges and orders in the county. It also contains copies of the following newspapers: New Palestine Courier, The Hancock Democrat, Greenfield Republican, Greenfield Herald, Evening Re- publican, Evening Tribune, Stone-Cutters' Journal. Among other things deposited in that stone are the pictures of the Greenfield high school building. and of the court house : a list of the children in the Greenfield public schools : premium list of the Hancock county fair of 1896: a bar docket of the Han- cock circuit court, February term. 1896, containing pictures of members of the bar : also bar docket of September term, 1896 ; copies of addresses delivered by the Hon. Charles G. Offutt and Hon. William R. Hough at the laying of the stone : Holy Bible, presented by John T. Hatfield, and history of Han- cock, presented by John H. Binford.
On May 22, 1897, the county commissioners purchased from R. R. Ellis, a jeweler of Greenfield, the fine two-thousand-dollar Howard clock which was placed in the tower.
At 10:30 A. M., August 24, 1897, the last stone was laid on the court house, the builder leaving a small American flag to wave from it.
Among the principal items of expense connected with the building of the court house were the following :
April 30, 1896. contract for construction of the building $128.764.00
Extras, not including furniture, on account of changes, etc., as
shown by the "Record of Receipts and Disbursements for New Court House" 80,933.78
Furniture 19,980.50
To Wing & Mahurin, Architects 8,634.60
Other amounts were paid out, not included in the above items.
making the total cost of the building a little more than
$242.600.00
The building was completed, and the county officers took possession on January 1. 1898.
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
The court house contains forty rooms. It is a magnificent structure, of Bedford limestone, artistically and compactly built : commodious, well lighted. absolutely fire proof, and heated by a steam plant that has been installed just east of the jail. The offices of the county surveyor, the city clerk, city treas- urer. and the mayor's office. are on the first floor. On this floor are also a large "record room" for storing old records. a "farmers' room," a G. A. R. room, and living rooms for the janitor. On the second floor are the offices of the county auditor, treasurer, road superintendent, recorder, assessor, sher- iff, and the commissioners' court room. On the third floor are the judge's office, the large and small court rooms, the grand jury room, the court re- porter's room, the law library, and the county superintendent's office. The walls and ceilings of all the offices and halls were handsomely and artistically decorated with paintings, and all except the ceiling of the third floor are well preserved. The tile roof with which the court house was covered was not a success, and leakages have completely ruined the entire ceiling over the third floor. In 1914 the building was covered with a new tile roof, which. all are hoping, will prove more satisfactory.
In the hall of the second story is a marble tablet with the following his- torical inscription :
B. F. WILSON
COMMISSIONERS
W. M. THOMAS
1897
J. MANCHE
L. BORING, AUDITOR. WING & MAHURIN GEAKE & HENRY
ARCHITECTS BUILDERS
There seems to be a consensus of opinion among men who visit the city of Greenfield, that Hancock county has one of the most beautiful and most artistically designed court houses in the state.
THE FIRST JAIL.
While the old log court house was in use just south of the Gooding corner, a one-story. or probably one and one-half story, jail was built near the northeast corner of the present public square. On June 11. 1829, the board of county commissioners held a special meeting "for the purpose of transact-
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COUNTY BUILDINGS.
ing business concerning the jail." On that day it was ordered, among other things, that Robert Davidson and Jacob Blackburn be allowed one hundred and four dollars and fifty cents "for building a jail in Hancock county." At the January term, 1832, the commissioners ordered the county agent, Jared Chapman, to advertise for bids for the erection of "a stairway to be erected at the east side of the jail in Greenfield for the convenience of the upper room of said jail." The stairway was certainly to be substantial, and timber was plenty: "there shall be four sills ten inches square, of suitable length upon which the stairs and platform shall stand; the upright posts shall be six inches square, the stairs shall be three feet wide in the clear; the platforin the same width of the stairs and four feet long ; the posts shall extend three feet above the stairs, and suitable railings round the same at the top; and the doors of said jail to be put in good order for opening and shutting, all of which timber shall be of good white oak and all work shall be done in a good and work- manlike manner ; the stairs shall rise the same as the court house stairs and rail on the outside of the stairs from top to bottom."
In another order Nathan Crawford is "authorized to put a lock onto each door on the outside of the jail in such a manner as will be more safe and strong for said jail." The sheriff did not have his residence in the jail then, hence from time to time orders like the following, concerning the care of prisoners, appear on the commissioners' record :
"Cornwell Meek is allowed the sum of two dollars and twenty-five cents for service rendered by him in victualing and taking care of prisoners in the jail of said county."
"Ordered that Jeremiah Higgins be allowed seventy-five cents for guarding jail and prisoner."
This jail stood only four or five years. About 1833 it contained a pris- oner, one John Hays, who, it seems, was demented. He apparently tried to escape by burning his way out. Instead of succeeding, however, the flames consumed the prisoner with the jail.
THE SECOND JAIL.
On April 14. 1835. the board of commissioners met in special session for the purpose of receiving plans for a jail for the county. The plan adopted was for a one-story building, seventeen feet by forty feet on the ground. "walls to be of brick and to be twenty-six inches thick and made in the following manner: The outward half of the wall to be 13 inches, two courses of brick then a plank the thickness of a brick, nine inches in breadth, which will be placed on the wall four inches from the face thereof and extending to the
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
center of the same, which will require the width of a brick to fill out the course, and the innermost half of the wall 13 inches, one course of brick. then a plank as before 13 inches in width, which will bring the lower edge of the first mentioned plank with the upper edge of the last mentioned, and to lay and raise the wall in that manner." At first the floor of the jail was ordered made of "niggerhead stones," but later it was ordered "that said floor be laid of hewn timber ten inches thick, and to extend all over the foundation and that there be a plank laid across the ends of the timber the thickness of the walls and to be pinned down and laid in such a manner as not to break joints at the same place."
The jail was composed of three rooms. Below is a plan of the building as it appears on the county commissioners' record :
7%
Debtors Room
Criminals® Room
The jail was to be finished by January 1. 1836. It was built directly south of the court house and within eight feet of the south line of the public square. The contract for its construction was let to Cornwell Meek, who agreed to build it according to plans and specifications for twenty-two hundred dollars. This jail was used by the county less than twenty years.
THE THIRD JAIL.
.At the March term. 1852, the board ordered the county auditor to give public notice "that on the second Monday in April, he will receive plans and specifications for the building of a log jail for said county, from all who are willing to suggest a good plan for building a substantial jail."
On April 12, 1852. the board ordered the auditor to give further notice that at the June term proposals would be received for the erection of the jail. to be of the following dimensions: "Thirty two feet in length and 18 feet in width, two stories high, the first story to be eight feet and second story to be seven and one-half feet in height, divided into four rooms with a hall between them, and one door in front made of Oak plank two inches thick, pro- vided with a good and sufficient lock; and two good strong doors leading from said hall into the lower rooms, and two doors leading from said hall up-
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COUNTY BUILDINGS.
stairs into the rooms intended for jail rooms, the said doors to be made of good oak timber and of the thickness of two inches and filled with good jail door nails * *
* * the floor upstairs to be laid in timber 6 inches thick and then drove upon the same a plank floor of 12 inches thick thoroughly nailed with double 10 penny nails closely driven * * and overhead, the same as * the last mentioned floor." The walls were built of logs, twelve inches square.
In those days when iron was too expensive. a good substitute for it was produced by driving heavy planks full of nails. This made it practically im- possible for a prisoner to saw or cut his way through a door or wall. It will be observed that in this jail, the doors and the floor and ceiling were. driven full of nails.
The contract for the erection of this jail was given to Jonathan Dunbar. At the March term, 1853, he was allowed three hundred and fifty-eight dol- lars in full on his contract. The jail was built on the south side of the pub- lic square, and was used until the present jail was built in 1871. This build- ing is still standing on West South street, just a little west of State street.
THIE FOURTII JAIL.
The present jail was built in 1871, under the supervision of Charles H. Brown, architect. The principal contract for its construction was let to John R. Reeves. The original contract price was thirty-two thousand. nine hundred dollars. The commissioners' record, however, shows that over forty-five thousand dollars was paid out before it was finished.
The front part of the building is used as a residence for the sheriff, the jail itself being to the rear. The following report made by the board of state charities on September 4. 1914, will give a good idea of the building :
"Building and Equipment .- An old building of brick and steel. It is neither strong nor safe. The lower part is poorly ventilated. Steam heat, electric light : city water. Plumbing fair, but in good repair. Good sewer- age. Washtubs are used for bathing. Iron bunks with mattresses and com- forts in fair condition. The bedding is not washed.
"Management .- The jail is managed by the sheriff and his wife. No printed rules for the government of prisoners. Tramps received upon order of the marshal. Commissioners visit the jail frequently.
"Prisoners .- Five men awaiting trial, two serving sentence : total seven. Provision for sex separation, but none for classification. Prisoners bathe weekly. No rule in regard to the change of underclothes. Papers and maga- zines for reading. Religious services not held regularly. No employment. Three meals a day. The prisoners seem satisfied with food.
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
"Improvements .- The interior of the jail has been improved by paint.
"Recommendation .- Bath facilities, standard bedding and printed rules are recommended.
"Expenses For 1913 .- Repairs, $245.22 : supplies, including fuel, light, water, etc., $88.20: sheriff's fees, including boarding of prisoners, $1. 112.30; total. $1.445.72.'
CARE OF THE POOR.
Among the first acts of the county commissioners, after they had divided the county into three townships, was to appoint overseers of the poor for each township. The first claim allowed by the board for caring for the poor, how- ever, was not until the May term, 1831, when the record shows an allowance in favor of James Glendon of "the sum of Six Dollars and - cents for services rendered by him in boarding and bedding a pauper in said County and for removing the same out of the aforesaid county." Several other claims of a similar nature were allowed at the same term. Among them "Lot Edwards, Doct. is allowed the sum of Six dollars and seventy-five cents for services rendered him as a physician employed by the overseer of the poor in Brandywine Township." This is the beginning of a series of claims of this kind filed for caring for the poor of the county.
THE OLD APPRENTICE SYSTEM.
In 1843 a law was enacted giving the overseers of the poor within their respective townships power and authority to bind as apprentices the minor children of any poor person who had become chargeable as a pauper within the township, or who was supported there in whole or in part at the charge of the county ; also all minor children whose parents had abandoned them or had unreasonably neglected or were unable to provide for them ; also all minor children who were or who would become a county charge and who had a law- ful settlement in such township. The same law also provided that others might bind out their children as apprentices. All of such contracts had to be signed and acknowledged by the parties the same as deeds and had to be recorded in a special record kept therefor. Such contracts were called inden- tures. The record kept for that purpose in Hancock county shows that in all twenty-nine children were bound out to service in this manner. No entry has been made in this record for over forty years. . \ good idea of the nature of such contracts and of the methods pursued may be had from the following extracts of contracts :
The first is a contract between the overseers of the poor and "John Doe," wherein the overseers "have put and placed and bound 'Richard Roe,' a poor
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COUNTY BUILDINGS.
boy, aged four years, nine months and nine days : the said Richard Roe is to serve said .John Doe' the term of sixteen years, two months and twenty-one days, that is to say until the said .Richard Roe' shall arrive at the age of twen- ty-one years, and the said overseers do by these presents give unto the said 'John Doe' all the right, power and authority over the said .Richard Roe' and his services during the term aforesaid which the laws of this state give to a master in and over a lawful indentured apprentice, and the said "John Doe' in consideration thereof doth on his part covenant and promise and agree with the said overseers and their successors in office and each of them and with said 'Richard Roe' that he will give him, the said .Richard Roe.' twenty-one months schooling, one-half of which is to be given between the ages of nine and twelve years, and six months between nineteen and twenty-one years of age ; and to train him to habits of industry and morality, and during the time of his service to provide him and allow to him sufficient meat, drink, wash- ing, lodging and apparel, and all other things necessary during his said term of service, and the said "John Doe' further covenants and agrees to give to the said 'Richard Roe' at the expiration of his aforesaid term of service two suits of everyday apparel, and also to give him a freedom suit worth Thirty Dollars."
Following are the essential parts of another indenture, wherein a young girl was bound out to "Jolin Doe" and wife "to learn the trade and occupation of a house servant :" "And the said "John Doe' and wife covenant to teach the said 'Rosanna Roe' the said trade and occupation and to provide her during said apprenticeship with all necessaries proper to her age and condi- tion and to cause her to be taught to read and write and the rules of arithmetic to the double rule of three inclusive, if practicable ; and at the expiration of said term to furnish to her, the said .Rosanna Roe,' the following : one feather bed and bed clothes for one bed, also a common suit of wearing apparel."
COUNTY FARM.
On March 6. 1851. the county commissioners bought of George Ander- son the following described real estate for the purpose of providing a home and proper care for the poor of the county who were unable to support them- selves and who had no one to care for them: The west half of the northwest quarter of section 7, and the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 6. all in township 15 north, range 7 east. This land was retained by the county until 1866, when it was sold to Amos C. Gambrel. The method of caring for the poor during those years well illustrated by the following con- tract, made in March, 1856, with William G. Smith :
"Articles of agreement made and entered into this 5th day of March (7)
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11.ANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
A. D. 1856, between Chilton Banks, Daniel S. Wilkison and Rezin Perry. County Commissioners of Hancock County, Indiana, of the first part, and William G. Smith of the County and State aforesaid, of the second part witnesseth :
"That the said party of the first part, in consideration of the rents, cove- nants and agreements hereinafter contained, and which are to be paid and performed by the said party of the second part, do rent, demise, and to farm let unto the said party of the second part the farm in said County and State known as the poor farm to hold the same until the first day of March 1857 at the rate of One Hundred Dollars per year for the rent of said farm.
"And said Commissioners agree that said party of the second part shall have the care, custody, and keeping of the paupers of said County for said term, and shall be allowed the sum of Two Dollars and fifty cents per week for each and every pauper he may clothe, feed and lodge during said term. .And said Smith agrees with said Commissioners that he will pay the ren! hereby made payable and will take care of, clothe, feed, and lodge the County Paupers for said term on said farm, in a suitable manner; that he will not commit nor suffer waste on said premises, that no wood or timber shall be cut thereon except such as may be necessary for firewood for his own use on said farm, and that at the expiration of said term he will deliver up possession of said premises to said Commissioners or their agent in as good condition as they now are, fair wear and tare and damage by fire excepted. And saul Smith further agrees that at each session of the Board of Commissioners dur- ing said term, he will render to them an account of the names, time of arrival and health of all paupers under his charge, and if any shall have left, the fact and the time shall be so stated and said account shall be rendered under oath.
"Witness our hands and seals the date first written. "CHILTON BANKS (Sea !. ) "D. S. WILKISON (Scul.)
"REZIN PERRY (Scal.)
"I'M. G. SMITH (Scal.)"
It seems that during this period there were more paupers at times than could be cared for by the tenant on the farm. The commissioners entered into separate contracts with individual householders to care for such paupers. say for the period of one year.
On June 5, 1866, the county commissioners bought another farm of two hundred and thirty-eight acres of land about two and one-half miles east of Greenfield as a home for the poor. This land has been farmed since that time and the proceeds thereof used for the support of the inmates of the infirmary.
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COUNTY BUILDINGS.
The first building on this farm was a one-and-one-half-story brick house that had been built for a private residence. The house was occupied by the super- intendent of the farm. Attached to the rear of the superintendent's residence was a cheap frame building which was used as the infirmary. Mr. Binford, in his "History of Hancock County," published in 1882, described the build- ings as follows: "The building is a discredit to the county, being old and dilapidated, and not at all in harmony with the wealth and dignity of our citi- zens. The superintendent's residence is a plain, old-fashioned, story-and-a- half brick, built many years since for a private residence. The infirmary building proper is a cheap frame, known by carpenters as a 'plank house.' built in the rear of, and attached to, the superintendent's residence. The building is not only cheaply constructed, and poorly ventilated. but small and wholly inadequate to the demands of the unfortunate."
In 1883 plans submitted by Charles G. Mueller, architect, of Indianapolis. were adopted by the county commissioners for the construction of a new building. At the December session of the board, on December 11, 1883. the contract for the construction of the building was awarded to John R. Cowie. William New and John Sloan, as partners, for twenty-two thousand, four hun- dred and fifty dollars. The record awarding this contract was signed by James Tyner and Augustus Dennis. George W. Parker, the third commis- sioner, entered a written protest against letting the contract for the reasons. as alleged, that the taxpayers were already overburdened with taxation : that many taxpayers were not as well situated as the paupers were at that time ; that it was cheaper to assist these paupers in homes and among their friends. and that the asylum as contemplated was an extravagance. On the next day. December 12. 1883, the contract was signed by the two above-namned com- missioners. James Tyner and August Dennis, but Parker again entered a written protest against contracting for the erection of the building, on the grounds as alleged, that the architect, Charles G. Mueller. had given the county no contract by which his compensation could be determined, and sec- ond. because he was not a "home architect."
The building was constructed in accordance with the plans and specifica- tions that had been adopted. It furnishes a good home for the poor, and the report of the board of state charities, made after a visit to the institution on June 4. 1913. is very favorable and very creditable to the management :
"Farm .- Two hundred and seventeen acres of good land, valued at two hundred dollars per acre. Four acres in garden, in good condition. Variety of vegetables. Two and one-half acres in orchard. Stock : Twelve head of cattle, six cows, nine horses, fifty-five swine. Farm buildings in good con-
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
dition. All are to be painted. Some old, dilapidated sheds in barnyard have been torn down. Fences good. Two hundred rods of new fence and one hun- dren and twenty rods soon to be built. Door yards well arranged and cared for.
"Building .- Administration building in front. Two-story brick connect- ing in rear. Inmates' kitchen and diningroom in basement. Men on first floor, women on second. Separate dining-rooms. In good repair except the rear porch. Trimmings recently painted. Gas plant in basement for light- ing purposes. Steam heat. Ventilation by doors and windows. Rooms well lighted and ventilated. Ample and comfortable furniture. Iron beds. Chair in each room. Bedding is good. clean and changed frequently. Two bathtubs. Bathing weekly. House clean. Floors oiled. Walls newly whitewashed. Free from odors.
"Inmates .- Population : nine men. seven women Sex separation. In- mates clean and well cared for. Sufficient clothing. clean and well taken care of. Food consists of meat for breakfast and dinner, good bread, vege- tables and fruits in season. Mush is served frequently during the winter. Health good. Reading matter furnished. Religious services held frequently. but not regularly.
"Management .- Salary of Superintendent Clarence G. Cook, one thons- and dollars; physician, two hundred dollars. Superintendent hires one man to help. Records very well kept. Superintendent is a good farmer and con- scientions and his wife an excellent housekeeper. Cooking is done by in- mates under direction of matron."
A SUGGESTION.
At the meeting of the farmers' institute at the court house at Greenfield in January. 1907. a plan was submitted by the ladies of the Clio Club of the city of Greenfield for converting the county farm, houses and premises, into a boys' dormitory, manual training and industrial school. The ladies of the club, through the report of their committee, expressed their opposition "to the term, pauper, and its degrading effects," and held that there was "quite a difference between poor and pauper."
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