USA > Indiana > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Indiana > Part 28
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
In the oldest record in the auditor's office of Jackson County the first entry is as follows:
Agreeably to the acts of the General Assembly of the Indiana Territory, authorizing the associate judges of the circuit courts to hold special courts for county purposes, etc., etc. The asso- ciate judges of Jackson County met in the town of Vallonia on the third Monday in January, 1816.
Joseph Kitchell and John Ketchum produced commissions as associate judges, and were qualified and took their seats. At this date John Millroy produced his commission as clerk of the court, and was duly qualified, and entered upon the discharge of his duties. John Millroy also produced his commission as recorder of Jackson County, and was duly qualified. The commission of Wickliffe Kitchell as sheriff was also produced, and he was qual- ified.
The first business shown by the record to have been transact- ed by the court was the consideration of "a petition of sundry in- habitants for a road from Ketchum's to the corner of fraction Section 24, on the Indian boundary line, by the neardest and best route. The petition was read a first time, and the court adjourned till to-morrow at 9 a. m."
The next day the petition was read a second time. Then William Graham, Henry Rogers and John Sage were appointed to "Leece" Section 16, Town 4, Range 4.
Ordered that Isaac Scott be recommended to the governor for' coroner, and that Richard Wells and Charles Gale be recom- mended for justices of the peace.
James Hutchinson was appointed supervisor of the road from Vallonia to the creek on which Crabb's mill is built. John Mc- Cormick, Jr., and Isaac Holman were also appointed supervisors, and Isaac Scott, Jacob Salmon and John Lindsey were appointed viewers of the road from Ketchum's to Section 24.
Solomon Ruddick, William Ruddick and Enoch Cox were ap-
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pointed to view a road from Kitchell's as far toward Deputy's Settlement as the line of Jackson County "will admitt."
Zeppania Dowden and Samuel Burchum were also appointed, and their respective districts defined.
Jesse Durham, William Ruddick and John Ruddick were ap- pointed overseers of the poor.
Mckinney Carter was appointed constable, and then the court adjourned "without day."
On the 15th day of May, 1816, a special term of the county court was held by Kitchell and Ketchum, judges. At this session the report of the commissioners previously appointed by the Legislature at their last session to fix the county seat was read. This report, after reciting their authority and due qualification, concluded as follows:
After research and investigation we have selected and do hereby fix the seat of justice for the county of Jackson on the following tract of land, which we have purchased of John Ketchum for that purpose, at the price of $8 per acre, being 150 acres; which is in Section 14, Town 5, Range 4.
Signed,
PETER MCINTOSH, JOSEPH BARTHOLOMEW, WILLIAM DUDLEY,
RALPH COTTON. ALEXANDER A. MEEK, Commissioners.
Their fees were $138, which were allowed to be paid out of the first sale of lots. And it was ordered that the permanent seat of justice of Jackson County be known by the name of Browns- town; and John Millroy was appointed agent to sell lots, and he was required to give bond in the sum of $10,000.
August 6, 1816, the county court again met. A petition of the inhabitants of Guthrie's and Flinn's settlements was received, asking for a magistate; William Flinn was recommended to the governor for the office.
William Crenshaw was appointed "lister " to take the taxable property of the county. Then an order was passed fixing the boundaries of Brownstown and Driftwood Townships.
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. James Flinn and James Tagart were appointed overseers of the poor for Flinn Township, and Stephen Sarks and Peter Har- rington were appointed to settle with them.
An order was made that any person applying for license to keep a tavern shall hereafter pay to the clerk $1, and the sum of $2 when kept in the country, and $5 if kept in any of the towns of the county. John Berry was granted license to keep a tavern in a country stand.
The will of Joseph Seirs was produced in open court, and John Berry and Adam Lamb appeared, and being duly sworn, proved the same. The record goes on to say:
"Said John Berry and Adam Lamb also exhibited in writing words spoken by Joseph Seirs before his death, and after he had signed his will, disposing of his property, not disposed of in his will, which was ordered to be placed on record a nuncupative will. Jesse Durham is hereby appointed guardian of James Seirs, son of the said Joseph Seirs, deceased."
John Ketchum and Thomas Ewing were appointed adminis- trators of the Seirs estate. And then it was ordered that tavern keepers of this county shall be entitled to demand for "victuals," drink and other entertainment the following -. But they failed to name the sums, a blank being left for the record, which was never filled.
On motion, it was ordered that a temporary jail and court house be built in Brownstown, to be made of "hughed" logs, and shingle "ruff!" to be 12x18 feet "square," the court house to be 24x24 feet square. "The manner in which the jail and court house are to be built will be made known on the day of letting, and the same shall be ordered to be 'let out' on the 18th day instant." .
Henry Rogers, Charles Crabb, William Ruddick and Henry Kitchell were recommended to the governor to be appointed justice of the peace.
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HISTORY OF. JACKSON COUNTY.
On the 16th day of September, 1816, the county court met . and ordered that the jail at Brownstown, built by John Parker, be received, the contract being complied with agreeably to condi -. tions thereof; and John Parker was allowed $60 for building said jail. And the said John Parker, having suffered loss in the building of said jail, he is allowed $16 extra. The sheriff was allowed $8.75 for the confinement, receiving and discharging of William Shields, a prisoner.
On the 18th day of November, 1816, a special court was held, with Cyrus Douglass first associate, and John Ketchum second associate judges.
John McCormick, Sr., was appointed clerk and treasurer for roads in Brownstown Township, and John Ruddick was appointed commissioner of roads for said township.
The assessment list for the county was returned at this ses- sion, and it was ordered by the court that the sheriff shall collect as follows:
For each 100 acres of first rate land, 37g cents; second rate, 25 cents; third rate, 124 cents; for each horse, 374 cents; for each store, $20, and $2 a year for each tavern.
On the 6th day of December, 1816, a special term was held at the house of John Millroy, in Brownstown. It was made to appear to the judges that the assessment of Abraham Huff was "two high,"and one horse was struck off his list. William Dud- ley declared that his assessment was also "two high," and 28 cents were struck off of his list. A lot in Vallonia, assessed to Clark McAffee was decided to be "two high," and $41 were struck off.
One James Heady was arrested on a warrant for " fellony," and Benjamin Hubbell was allowed $4 for arresting and guard- ing him, and Robert Burge was allowed $2 for assisting to guard said Heady. Josiah Jenkins was allowed 75 cents for guarding Brown and Balding in jail.
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It was then ordered that Mckinney Carter, constable, be allowed $2.03 for taking James Heady and Thomas Whitson to jail.
At a term held January 7, 1817, Wickliff Kitchell was allowed $60 in full for salary as sheriff of Jackson County for the year 1816. John Millroy, clerk, was allowed $30 salary for the year 1816. The judges were allowed $20 each for services for 1816.
At this term the sheriff made a settlement of tax collected for 1816, the total amount of which was $228.90. The sheriff pro- duced county orders taken up, and wolf-scalps received on taxes to the amount of $128.21.
February 10, 1817, it is shown by the record that Abraham Huff, John Ruddick and Thomas Carr, commissioners of Jackson County, elect, met at the house of John Millroy, in Brownstown, and organized the first commissioners' court of the county of Jackson. The first business they transacted was to rearrange the boundaries of the several townships-Driftwood, Flinn and Brownstown.
At the May term of the board of commissioners, 1818, Jonas Crane was licensed to keep tavern at a "country stand."
The "tax rate" was fixed as follows: First, second and third rate lands, respectively, at 50, 432 and 25 cents each per 100 acres; 37g cents for each horse, and each "covering-horse," the rate charged for the seasons; $20 for each store.
At this session Alexander C. Craig was appointed county treasurer.
At this session it was ordered that there be a brick court house built in the center of the "publick" square in Brownstown, forty feet square, and three years were given for the contractor to com- plete it.
May 11, 1818, a petition of sundry inhabitants, from the northeast end of Brownstown Township, was presented, praying that a new township be "laid out" in that quarter as follows: "To
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include the settlements of Grassy Fork and Muscatatuck. Signed by Jesse Evans, John Arthur and others."
It was ordered that the petition be granted, and the township was "laid out" and established, John Blair was appointed in- spector of elections for said township.
At this term, on the petition of William Cocherham, a ferry was established over Driftwood, in Section 16, where the Browns- town and "Bason Spring Road crosses the same," and the annual license was fixed at $5.
August 11, 1818, William Congleton was allowed $38 for building a "stray pen," and he was also appointed "pound keeper."
At the same term William Crenshaw was authorized to pur- chase a set of "weights and measures," and have them "sealed." At the same session it was ordered that the tavern or "publick" house keepers in Jackson County are all allowed to charge at the following rates, and no more: Dinner, 25 cents; lodging, per night, 12} cents; pasturage, per night, 12} cents; corn and oats, per gallon, 12} cents; horse to hay, per night, 12} cents.
At the November term, 1818, the Brownstown and Madison road was established by William A. Baty, John Blain and Robert Burge, commissioners.
At this term Alexander C. Craig, William A. Baty, and others, presented a petition to the board, in which they said that they "presume" a graveyard is wanted in Brownstown, and they pre- sume the board has the power to appropriate land for that pur- pose; and after "considering of" this petition it was ordered "that the agent of Brownstown have that part of the town land lying on the east side of the town between Walnut and Spring Streets laid off, leaving an alley between it and the east 'tear' of lots, for the use of a 'publick' graveyard." At this term the agent of Browns- town was ordered to sell John Ritter Lot 191, in Brownstown, for $12, agreeably to the "turms " of the last sale of "lotts."
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
On the application of Richard Hensley a ferry across Drift- wood was established in Section 1, Town 6, Range 5, and the fol- lowing prices for "fariges" were established at said ferry: For a man and horse, 12g cents; for cart and "teem," 62 cents; foot- man, 62 cents.
At the February term, 1819, John Ruddick resigned as com- missioner, and Charles Crabb was appointed to fill the vacancy. Alexander C. Craig was appointed county treasurer for the ensu- ing year. William A. Baty was appointed "lister" to take the list of property.
At the May term, 1819, Stephen Sparks was authorized to establish Sparks' Ferry. It was also ordered that the road run- ning from DePaw's Ferry and Mill, on the Muscatituck River, to Vallonia and Brownstown, and thence to Jonas Crane's, and thence up the boundary line toward Brookville to the county line, is hereby declared a "publick road and highway."
At the August term, 1819, Jonas Crane was appointed inspect- or of "flower," beef and pork in Jackson County. At this term sundry persons were appointed "fence viewers." An order was also made that so much of the order as established the building and putting up the court house on the center of the "publick" square be disannulled, and that the undertakers be authorized to set the same on the highest part of the "publick" square.
At the November session, 1819, Andrew Robertson was ap- pointed constable of Brownstown Township, and the said Andrew Robertson " came forward with James Hamilton and John Rob- ertson, his securitys, and entered into bond and took the oath as the law directs."
At this term Michael Beem was authorized to establish a ferry over Driftwood, in Section 25, Town 5, Range 3 east.
Ordered that the undertaker of the court house be allowed the privilege to set the "chimneys" in the corners of the court- house "in sted" of sides.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
William Crenshaw and Elijah Rawley were granted license to retail "spirituous liquors or strong drink," by paying $10 and giving Adam Miller for security.
At the February term, 1820, it was ordered that from the re- turn of the colonel commandant of the Seventeenth Regiment of the "indiana militia," that the following persons being returned "conseentiously scrupilous" of "baring" arms, shall pay a fine of $4 each, to-wit: Joshua Newby, Barnabas Coffin, Harmon Cox, Thomas Albertson, Eli Morris, John Marshall, Peter Draper, Na- than Draper, Benjamin Draper and Jesse Draper.
At this term John and William Robertson were granted the privilege of establishing a ferry across Driftwood at the mouth of Indian Creek.
Ordered that there is hereby established a new township on the north side of White River, so as to include all that part of Brownstown Township which "lyes" on the north side of said river above White Creek, including all that part of the new pur- chase on the north side of said river as far as the county line.
An election for justice of the peace for said township was ordered to be held at the house of Moses Threlkeld, on the 10th day of June, 1820, and James Hamilton (father of John R. ) was appointed inspector of said election.
The first associate judges were John Ketcham and Joseph Kitch- ell; and it is more than probable that they formed the first board for transacting county business, as the law was such under the Ter- ritorial government. The commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice selected the present site of Brownstown, and the land was purchased of John Ketcham. This was in February, 1816, and at that time John Milroy is said to have been appointed county agent. This office was done away with at the adoption of the present constitution. In the early history of the State the county agent was one of the principal county officers. His special duties were to look after the funds arising from the sale of
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the town lots of the county seat, and to make deeds of the same. John McCormick was, most likely, the second county agent, and at his death he was succeeded in 1820 by William H. Ewing, who, in November of that year, reported notes on hand to the amount of $3,187.59 and interest $451.36. Like nearly all the early county seats, it is probable that the lots sold for a good price. The fact of its having been selected as the location for the county seat would give considerable valuation to the lots.
THE EARLY TOWNSHIPS.
It is impossible to give the very first division of the county into townships, but in 1820 there were six townships in the county. They were Brownstown, Flinn, Jackson, Hamilton, Driftwood and Grassy Fork. They occupied relatively the portions of the county as at present, with Flinn in the western part corresponding to the present townships of Carr and Owen; and the first change that oc- curred was early in the following year. At this time for a few years the following men composed the board of county commissioners: Abraham Huff, Thomas Carr and Mordecai Ruddick. At the May session, 1821, the following record was made: "A petition from sundry inhabitants of Jackson County ( from the Salt Creek settlement) as follows, to-wit: We, the undernamed petitioners, citizens of the county and State aforesaid, and in the boundaries hereafter described, solicit your honors to grant us the same for a township or an election district running eastward with the line between Townships 5 and 6 from the county to the White River knobs, thence running with the knobs to the county line adjoin- ing the late purchase, thence with the county line to the place of beginning." This petition was signed by a large number of citizens from the northwest corner of the county, the first of which were John Haggard and Joseph Hanno. Upon this petition the board ordered "that the township or election district be established agreeable to the above petition, on the waters of Salt Creek, and
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that the bounds be agreeable to the same, and that the said town- ship be known by the name of Salt Creek Township." The elec- tions were to be held at the house of Basil Prather, with John Kindred inspector.
The next township was established in August of the same year. This was Redding Township, and its boundary was de- scribed as follows: Beginning on the Brookville road above Crane's, where the said road crosses the section line dividing Sections 23 and 24, Township 6, north, Range 5 west; thence on the Brookville road to the county line; thence north to Sand Creek; thence down the same to Driftwood River; thence down the same to the section line dividing Sections 13 and 14; thence along the same south to the beginning. The elections were to be held at. the falls of Driftwood River at the house of Benjamin Benson. Adrian Striker was appointed inspector. In addition to this all that part of Sections 26 and 23 lying northwest of the Brookville road were attached to Redding Township. In the order creating this township it is spelled Reading, but as the intention seems to have been to make it Redding it has ever since been so spelled.
At the same session of the commissioner's board, this record appears, which is of some interest and explains itself: "Ordered that from the return of the colonel commandant of the Seven- teenth Regiment of the Indiana Militia, the following persons, being returned as conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms, shall pay a fine of $4 each, to-wit: Robert, Elcanor, Gabriel and Joseph Newby, William Cox, Jr., John Parishaw, Jesse Draper, Thomas Albertson, Barnabas Coffin, John Marshall and Benjamin Dra- per."
At the February term, 1823, the following record was made: "Ordered that, whereas the Legislature of this State has strick- en off from the west part of this county and attached it to Law- rence County, and it being a part of Flinn Township, we have and do say that the name of Flinn Township shall be done away,
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and that we do attach all that part of Driftwood Township on the west side of Driftwood River to Flinn Township, and the same shall hereafter go by the name of Carr Township." The house of Elijah Carmons was fixed as the place for holding elections.
On the 31st day of January, 1824, the State Legislature passed an act "to regulate the mode of doing county business." The three County Commissioners were done away with, and in their stead the justices of the peace for the county formed a board for the purpose of doing public business. The first ses- sion of this Board of Justices in Jackson County was held on the 13th day of September, 1824, and was composed of the fol- lowing men: Samuel Whedon, Mckinney Carter, Joseph Hanna, James Sims, Jacob Kester, James Bristow, John Simpson, Adrian Striker, John Turnbull, William Williams, Matthew Tanner, Peter Sewell and Joseph Brown. They organized by electing William Williams president.
At the January term, 1832, a petition from several citizens of Grassy Fork Township on the east side of the Vernon Fork of Muscatatuck. It was "ordered that all that part of Jackson County lying on the east side of the said Vernon Fork of Mus- catatauk be and is hereby stricken off and made a separate town- ship, and shall be named and styled the Vernon Township of said County." The elections were to be held at the house of Luther Beedle, and he was to be the inspector. They were soon after ordered to be held at the State ford.
No other change took place in the townships until May, 1833, when the citizens of Carr and Salt Creek Townships petitioned the County Board to make the two townships into three, which was done with the following boundaries: The first to commence on. Driftwood River at the mouth of Cedar Creek; thence up said creek to where the line dividing Sections 13 and 14 crosses the same; thence north to the northeast corner of 14; thence west to the northeast corner of Section 21, in Township 5 3
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north, Range 3 east; thence west to the county line; thence with said line to Driftwood River; thence up said river to the place of beginning. The second to take the balance of Carr Township north of the described bounds of the first township and three miles off Salt Creek Township, which will be to the northwest corner of Section 21, in Township 6, Range 2; thence east with center line of Township 6, Ranges 2 and 3, to the east boundary line of Salt Creek Township, which said township shall go by the name of Owen Township." There is an error in this descrip- tion of Carr Township, evidently a clerical one. In September following several inhabitants of Salt Creek asked to be attached to Owen Township, which was done as follows: Beginning at the southeast corner of Section 18, Township 6 north, Range 3 east; thence north one mile to the corner of said section; thence running east to the top of the knobs, thence with the top of the said knobs to the northeast corner of Owen Township. Thus the county remained until the early part of 1841, when it was redistricted and Washington Township was created. The bound- aries at that time are here given.
No. 1. Driftwood Township-Commencing at the junction of Muscatatauk and Driftwood Fork of White River; thence up said White River to the line dividing Sections 19 and 20, Township 5 north, Range 4 east; thence south to the southwest corner of Sec- tion 20; thence east to the southwest corner of Section 21; thence south on the section line to the southwest corner of Section 28; thence east on the section line to the southeast corner of said sec- tion; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 34; thence east to the southeast corner of said section; thence south on the line dividing Sections 2 and 3 in Township 4, Range 4; thence south to the Muscatatauk River. Thence down said river to the place of beginning.
No. 2. Grassy Fork-Commencing on the Muscatatauk River at the southwest corner of Section 14, Township 4, Range 4;
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thence north to the northwest corner of Section 2 in said town and range; thence east on the line dividing Townships 4 and 5 to the north fork of said river; thence down said river to the place of beginning.
No. 3. Brownstown-Commencing at White River on the west line of Section 20 in Township 5, Range 4; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 20; thence east to the southwest corner of Section 21; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 28; thence east to the northwest corner of Section 34 in said town and range; thence south to the southwest corner of Sec- tion 34 in Township 5, Range 4, on the line dividing Townships 4 and 5; thence east along the township line to the southeast corner of Section 33, Township 5, Range 5; thence north to said river; thence down said river to the section line dividing Sections 2 anc 3 in Township 5, Range 4; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 27, in Township 6, Range 4; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4; thence south to said river; thence up said river to the place of beginning.
No. 4. Washington-Commencing at the northwest corner of Section 34, in Township 5, Range 5; thence east on the town- ship line to the Muscatatauk River; thence up said river to the line dividing Townships 5 and 6; thence west on said township. line to the northwest corner of Section 3, in Township 5, Range 5; thence south on the section line to the place of begin- ning.
No. 5. Jackson-Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 31, in Township 6, Range 6; thence east on the township line to the eastern line of Jackson County; thence north on the said line to the line dividing Townships 6 and 7; thence west on said line to the northwest corner of Section 2, in Township 6, Range 6; thence on the section line to the southwest corner of Section 11, in said township; thence west to the northwest corner of Section 16; thence south to the southwest corner of said Sec-
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