USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana, and its townships, towns and cities > Part 16
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193
LINCOLN AND JOHNSON TOWNSHIPS.
in 1835. A man by the name of Saunders also came this year. E. Arbergast settled in 1836; John Davis and John Dare in 1838; Samuel Stevenson. a former township trustee, Sharp, Bronson, Maple. Warren, Canada and Wrightman in or about the year 1841. George W. Woodburn settled on section eighteen in 1847: John, Andrew. Peter and James Harness and their father, came to the township about 1840. and John Divine in 1841. John B. McDon- ald came in 1836. and was one of the first teachers in the township. The first lady teacher was Miss Elizabeth Vickory. The first saw mill was built on Spring run, which is now called Mill creek, a small stream coming down from the northward and emptying into Upper Fish lake. A postoffice was established during the present year, near where the railroad crosses this creek ; it is called Mill creek, and Wm. H. Collom is the postmaster.
There is in this township considerable swamp and Kankakee marsh land : but a large part of the township is dry, and contains some excellent farms. Among the farmers of Lincoln township are James Waxham, E. Thompson, Frederick Steelo, Jacob Snyder, F. M. Rowell, James H. Davis, Jacob S. V. Burton. and Robert V. Armstrong. Amstrong came to the county of LaPorte in 1832. Davis is a blacksmith as well as farmer, and came to the county in 1834.
One of the first settlers in Johnson township was Major John M. Lemon. He rebuilt the bridge over the Kankakee river about 1846, and kept it as a toll bridge many years. The first bridge was built by John Dunn as early as 1831 or 32. Samuel Smith came to this township, and settled south of the Kankakee in 1842; Edward Owens made improvements on the school section, and sold to Samuel Harmison about 1843: Martin Smith arrived in 1843; Wm. Mapes, and Charles Palmer settled here about 1846; and Landon Carlyle came in 1851. He has been trustee of the town- ship. The first school house in Johnson was built on section six- teen about a mile and a half south of the river: and a church was erected in 1874, on what is called the "Island." Among the farmers of this township are Geo. W. Corner, Jr., P. Flaherty, Wm. Robin- son, Asa Jackson, Henry George and B. F. and Ira F. Place. They own the old Lemon property at the bridge, and a great deal
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
of surrounding marsh land. some of which they have brought into cultivation, and of the rest have made excellent mowing land. They are large stock raisers, and also put up. press, and ship large quantities of hay. B. F. Place has for several years been the town- ship trustee.
Johnson township embraces one-half only of Congressional town- ship thirty-five. the other half being in St. Joseph county. It lies almost wholly on the south side of the Kankakee,' but two whole sections and three parts of sections being on the north side of that river. As in the case of Lincoln, and all the townships bordering on the Kankakee, much of the land is marsh: the remainder con- sists mostly of oak "barrens," and is too sandy for the highest pro- ducing capacity. The marsh land will eventually be the best: and every year the arable area is increased. When once dried out. and brought into cultivation these lands will have no superior for the production of corn and grass.
With this survey of Lincoln and Johnson. the liistory of the townships, separately and in detail, is concluded. What follows will be applicable to the county as a whole.
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COUNTY OFFICERS.
CHAPTER XX.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
As stated in a former chapter, LaPorte country was organized in 1843. the act of incorporation for the county having passed the State legislature and been approved January 9th of that year. It is as follows :
SECTION 1. " Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That from and after the first day of April next, all that tract of country included in the following boundaries shall form and constitute a new county, to be known and designated by the name and style of LaPorte county, to-wit: Beginning at the state line which divides the State of Indiana and Michigan territory, and at the northwest corner of township number thirty-eight, north of range number four. west of the principal meridian ; thence run ning east with said State line to the centre of range number one. west of said meridian : thence south twenty-two miles ; thence west. parallel with the said state line. twenty-one miles; thence north to the place of beginning.
SEC. 2 That the new county of LaPorto shall, from and after the said first day of April next, enjoy all the rights and privileges. benefits and jurisdictions which to separate and independent counties do or may properly belong or appertain.
SEC. 3. That Samuel Lewis of the county of Allen, Isaac Coleman of the county of Fountain, Andrew Ingraham of the county of Clinton, Levi Thornton of the county of Tippecanoe, and Merritt S. Craig of the county of Ripley, be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners agrecably to the act entitled " An act fixing the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off. The commissioners aforesaid shall meet on the second Monday in May next, at the house of David Pagin, in said county of LaPorte. and shall immediately proceed to the discharge of the duties assigned them by law. And it shall be the duty of the Sheriff of Carroll county to notify said commissioners, either in person or by writing.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
of their appointment, on or before the first day of April next. And for such services he shall receive such compensation as the board doing county business in said county of LaPorte may, when organized, deem just and reasonable, to be allowed and paid as other county claims.
SEC. 4. The Circuit Court and the board doing county business, when elected under the writ of election from the executive depart- ment, shall hold their sessions as near the centre of the county as a convenient place can be had until the public buildings shall have been erected.
SEC. 5. The agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots at the county seat of the county of LaPorte shall receive ten per centum out of the proceeds thereof, and pay the same over to such person or persons as may be appointed by law to receive the same, for the use of a county library.
SEC. 6. The county of La Porte shall be attached to the county of St. Joseph for representative purposes.
SEC. 7. The board doing county business may, as soon as elected and qualified. hold special sessions, not exceeding three during the first year after the organization of said county, and shall appoint a lister, make all necessary appointments, and do and perform all other business which might have been necessary to be performed at any other regular session, and take all necessary steps to collect the State and county revenues. any law or usage to the contrary notwithstanding."
Under this act a writ of election was issued. and Chapel W. Brown, Elijah Il Brown and Jesse Morgan were elected commis- sioners, Benjamin MeCarty sheriff, and George Thomas clerk. The commissioners met on the 28th day of May. 1832. and organ- ized by the election of Chapel W. Brown as president of the Board. and George Thomas clerk. They also appointed John Wills inspector of elections for Kankakee township; A. P. Andrew. Jr., inspector for Scipio, and Elijah Newhall inspector for New Durham. Benjamin McCarty, the sheriff. was appointed commissioner of the three per cent. fund: Wm. Clark, county surveyor: Aaron Stan- ton. county treasurer. and Jesse Morgan, lister of the taxable prop- erty. At the JJuly term Nathan B. Nichols was appointed collector
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COUNTY OFFICERS.
of the State and county tax for the year 1832. At this term the commissioners selected grand and petit jurors as follows, which were the first selected in the county. Those selected for grand jurors were. Andrew Burnside, Leonard Cutler, George W. Barnes, Sam- uel Weston. John Melville, Wm. Phillips. John W. Cole, Joseph Orr. Arthur Irwin, Nathaniel Steele, Arba Heald, Robert Simmer- well. John Whittaker, Joseph Osborn. Richard Harris, Ira Rich- ardson, David Stoner, Joseph W. Lykins.
The petit jurors were. Wm. Morgan. Alfred Stanton, Charles Campbell. Adam G. Polke, Jeremiah Sherwood, Myron Ives, Lewis Shirly. Wm. Bond, Sen., Jesse Morgan. Jacob Coleman. James Nixon, Charles West. Samuel Harbinson. Stephen . Brayton. Arthur McClure. Daniel Jessup. Ezra Tyler, Asa Warren, Adam Keith, Charles Egbert. Henly Clyburn, Samuel Smallwood, Basil Sperry. John Wills.
The jurors thus designated were not called on to serve. The first grand jury that actually served, was composed of the following citizens : Arthur McClure, John Stanton, Emery A. Brown. Noble Mckinstry. Gaines Munger, John Carter, Jonathan Sher- wood, Peter White, Josiah Bryant. Martin Baker, Elijah Stanton. Aaron Stanton. Win. Thomas. Win. Stanton, James Highly; and the first petit jury that served was composed as follows: Philip Fail. Ezekiel Provolt, Peter Lowe. Elisha Newhall, Henry Carpen- ter. Roswell Muncie. Wm. C. Thrall, John Garrard. Absalom Rambo. Wm. Garrard, John Garwood and Jonathan Morgan.
The Clerks of the county, and the years of assuming the duties of the office have been as follows : George Thomas, 1832; William Hawkins. 1835: Thomas P. Armstrong. 1846; Volney W. Bailey, 1853: James Moore, 1857. re-elected. 1860: James H. Shannon, 1865: Charles Spaeth, 1873.
The Sheriff's have been Benjamin McCarty, 1832: Adam G. Polke, 1834: Sutton VanPelt, 1836: Win. Allen. 1840: John M. Clarkson. 1842: Harrison F. Hinkley, 1844: Joshua S. McDowell. 1846: Herman Lawson. 1850; Wm. Allen. 1852: Wm. H. H. Whitehead, 1854. re-elected, 1856: Joshua S. McDowell. 1858. re-elected and died in office; Stephen P. Mead. 1861. and re-elected,
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY
1863; Ithamar D. Phelps, 1865. re-elected, 1867; Daniel L. Brown, 1870, re-elected, 1872; Edward Hawkins, 1874.
The collectors down to the year 1840, were Nathan B. Nichols. 1832; Adam G. Polke, 1833: Wm. Hawkins. 1834: C. W. Brown, 1835; Abram Hupp, 1836: N. W. Saxton. 1837: Alfred Lomax, 1838: Wm. Allen. 1839, and Willys Peck. 1840. The Treasurers for the same period were Aaron Stanton. 1832: and others.
The Treasurers since 1840, combining both Treasurer and Col- lector, have been Willard A. Place, 1840; John M. Lemon. 1847. and re-elected. 1850: Edmund S. Organ, 1852. and re-elected; Abel D. Porter, 1857, and re-elected; Reginald H. Rose. 1861. and re-elected ; D. C. Alexander, 1865, and re-elected: Mark Allen. 1869, and re-elected! ; George Mecum, 1873, and re-elected.
The Recorders have been George Thomas, January, 1832; Wm. Hawkins, 1835; Burwell Spurlock, 1842, and re-elected : Willard A. Place, January, 1856: Anderson Hupp. April. 1856. and re-elected. 1860; Wm. Copp, 1864; Henry C. Brown, 1868, and re-elected. 1872. John H. Organ was elected Recorder in 1874. but has not taken possession of the office. the four years of the preceding Recorder not having yet expired.
The Auditors have been John D. Collings, 1841: Joel Butler. 1843: Andrew J. Wair. 1848, and re-elected. 1852: Reuben Munday. by apppointment of commissioners. 1858 : John Walton, 1858. and re-elected. 1862: Jasper Packard. 1866. resigned 1869: Harvey R. Harris, appointed by commissioners. March. 1869. and elected 1870: Edward J. Church. 1874.
The county Surveyers have been Wm. Clark .-: James Bradley, ; J. H. Wilson, 1847: Elam Clark, 1849; John P. Cathcart. 1852; Daniel M. Leaming, 1854. and re-elected: Elisha L. Bennett. 1858; E. H. Leaming, 1860; John P. Cathcart. 1866: Daniel Kennedy, elected. 1872, but never qualified: Hiram Burner. 1874.
The Coroners have been John G. Newhouse. 1842: Jesse Was- son. 1846: Andrew J. Wair, 1848; Francis A. McDowell. 1849: Edmund S. Organ, 1850; Henry W. Fox, 1854: Robert G. James, 1856; Luther Brusie, 1858; Ludwig Eliel, 1860. and re-elected. 1862; held the office until 1874: Darwin T. Brown, 1874.
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199
COUNTY OFFCERS. .
The Assessors or Appraisors of Real Estate, have been Wm. K. Anderson, 1846; Joseph B. Lewis, 1848; Abram Hupp, 1851: Joseph Orr, 1849; Abram Westervelt, 1863; Edmund S. Gardner, 1868; Jacob Folant elected 1872.
The following are the names of those who have been Judges of the various courts held in this county.
Judges of the Circuit Court: Gustavus A. Everts, Samuel C. Sample, John B. Niles, Ebenezer M. Chamberlain. Robert Lowry. Thomas S. Stanfield, Albert G. Deavitt, Andrew L. Osborn, Thomas S. Stanfield. Judges of the Court of Common Pleas: Herman Lawson. Win. C. Talcott. Elisha Egbert, Edward J. Wood. and. Daniel Noyes. Probate Judges: Chapel W. Brown, Jabez R. Wells, Gilbert Hathaway and M. K. Farrand. Associate Judges : Jacob Miller, Judah Leaming, Charles W. Henry, Clinton Foster, Gustavus A. Rose, Willard A. Place, Abner Bailey and William Andrew.
The Boards of county commissioners from the organization of the county in 1832, have been constituted as follows: Chapel W. Brown, E. H. Brown and Isaac Morgan; C. W. Brown, E. H. Brown and Daniel Jessup; E. H. Brown, Daniel Jessup and Alex- ander Blackburn; Daniel Jessup, Alexander Blackburn and Aaron Stanton; Daniel Jessup, Aaron Stanton and John Clark; Daniel Jessup, Andrew Burnside and Thomas J. Foster ; Daniel Jessup, Thomas J. Foster and Willard A. Place; Willard A. Place. Elia- kim Ashton and Stephen G. Hunt; Aaron Stanton, Stephen G. Hunt and Eliakim Ashton; Aaron Stanton, Stephen G. Hunt and Henly Clyburn; Henly Clyburn, Benjamin Beard and Phineas Hunt; Benjamin Beard, Phineas Hunt and James McCord: Ben- jamin Beard, Abiel Lathrop and Abijah Bigelow; Charles Vail, Abiel Lathrop and Hezekiah Robertson; Hezekiah Robertson, Benjamin Butterworth and Abiel Lathrop; West Darling, Christo- pher McClure and Abiel Lathrop; Abiel Lathrop, Christopher McClure and Alfred Stephens; Christopher McClure, Alfred Stephens and Samuel Burson; Christopher McClure, Samuel Bur- son and Joel Butler; Chistopher McClure, Samuel Burson and John F. Allison; Chistopher McClure, Samuel Burson and Mark Allen; Christopher McClure, Mark Allen and George C. Havens :
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
Mark Allen, Jackson Hosmer and James Drummond: James Drummond, Jacob R. Hall and Jackson Hosmer; Jackson Hosmer, Aquilla W. Rogers and Orlando F. Piper: Aquilla W. Rogers, Henry J. Rees and Asa M. Warren; Asa M. Warren, Elam Clark and Henry J. Rees: Henry J. Rees, Isaac B. Coplin and Sidney S. Sabin: S. S. Sabin, Isaac B. Coplin and John Warnock: S. S. Sabin, Isaac B. Coplin and John P. Cathcart; Isaac B. Coplin, Wm. O'Hara and John P. Cathcart; Isaac B. Coplin, Wm. O'Hara and Reynolds Couden: Isaac B. Coplin, Sidney S. Sabin and R. Couden ; Enos Weed, John Sutherland and Simon P. Kern; Enos Weed, Simon P. Kern and Benajah Stanton; Enos Weed, Simon P. Kern and Charles Wills: Charles Wills, B. S. Fail and Hazard M. Hopkins; Charles Wills, B. S. Fail and Wm. Schoeneman. Mr. Schoeneman was appointed at the September term 1875, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Hazard M. Hopkins.
CHAPTER XXI.
POLITICS.
Like all other intelligent communities in the United States, the people of LaPorte county have participated with carnestness in the various political contests that have agitated the country at large. and have had also their own local political agitations. The county was organized in the same year in which Andrew Jackson was a candi- date for a second term of the Presidency, but the population was so sparse at the time that very little strife was engendered. The atten- tion of the pioneers was concentrated on a more pressing necessity -that of obtaining a livelihood, and establishing homes for them- selves and families. An election was held under the special act for the incorporation of the county, but it does not appear that political questions arose. There was then no paper published in the county. and no political leaders had arisen to effect an organization of the parties, which were Democrat and Whig. In the year 1835. the Democrats secured an organ by the establishment of the Michi- gan City Gazette. and that year was one of extraordinary political
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POLITICS.
activity, and seems to have been the first during which there was much agitation of this kind in LaPorte county. The questions were partly local, and partly State and national. Some of the set- tlers had settled on and improved government lands in 1834, but not securing a pre-emption right, the lands were about to be bought at the approaching sales, by those who would bid higher than the government prices, thus securing the lands already settled upon. and compelling the settlers to pay more than the sum at which they were held by the government. This aroused a strong feeling, and public meetings were held by the citizens in different parts of the county to take such action as seemed to them expedient. The pro- ceedings of one of these meetings, for a better understanding of the subject, is here presented entire, as it appeared in the Michigan City Guzette, of July 22. 1835:
"TOWNSHIP 35, N. RANGE + WEST, July 15, 1835.
At a large and respectable meeting of the inhabitants of township number thirty-five, north of range four west, convened for the pur- pose of devising some measures for the purpose (which is intended by settlers). of protecting what they consider to be their honest claims. R. J. Moody was called to the chair and Ephraim Safford appointed secretary.
After a spirited discussion as to the most proper manner of pro- ceding, it was on motion.
Resolved. That a committee of two be appointed to meet the con- vention of the whole on the 5th of September next at LaPorte.
Resolved. That James Haskell and Marcena Clark be said committee.
Resolved, That a committee of one be appointed to receive the number of each settler's claim and make them known at the day of sale.
Resolved. That Ephraim Safford be the committee for that purpose.
Resolved, That no man is justified in claiming more than one quarter section : that being the quantity given by the pre-emption law, and that the committee be not permitted to enter more than one on his list.
Resolved, That all settlers shall make known their claims previ- ous to the first Monday in August next, to the committee.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
Resolved, That this meeting abide the decision of the general convention at LaPorte, on the 5th of September next.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Michigan City Gazette."
EPHRAIM SAFFORD, RANSOM G. MOODY, Chairman."
Secretary.
The same paper contained this editorial comment :
"The settlers, it will be perceived, who improved government lands in 1834, and who have not the benefit of a Pre-emption Right. are holding meetings in their different townships for the purpose of appointing two delegates therefrom, to meet in convention at La- Porte on the 5th of September, previous to the land sales. The object of which is, to secure to them, the rights which their neigh- bors now enjoy-their lands at government price."
That this question was carried into the county politics is indicated by the following from the Gazette of the date mentioned :
" We were somewhat surprised, not long since. to hear a gentle- man, in a public meeting, express his utter abhorrence and contempt that the people should take it upon themselves to call, and organize primary meetings in their different towns and counties, for the pur- pose of choosing whom it should be to take the management of their public affairs. As for ourselves, we can see no impropriety in the matter at all-but on the other hand we think them to be of essen- tial service. We see notices of meetings on every side of us, for the purpose of securing to individuals, who came to this county when it was a mere wilderness, their lands at government price- and which we think is all right. The main argument, however. with the gentlemen, why they should not be held. is, because it has not been the practice heretofore; it must be confessed that it is a powerful one, and one which the good sense of this community will not pay much regard to, however injuriously he may think them to be."
Though the national election could not have been held until the next year, yet the Gazette which was a Democratic paper, displayed at the head of its columns, the names of Martin VanBuren for Pres- ident, and Richard M. Johnson for Vice President. It contains also the following announcements of candidates in connection with
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POLITICS.
a notice that the election would be held on the first Monday in August :
" We are authorized to say. that the Hon. E. A. Hannegan, our present and worthy member in congress, is again before the people of this district, composed of the counties of Vermillion. Parke, Montgomery, Fountain, Warren, Tippecanoe, Carroll, Clinton, White, Parker, LaPorte. St. Joseph and Elkhart for re-election."
"We are authorized to say that David H. Colerick is a candidate for the State senate from the district composed of the counties of Allen, LaPorte. St. Joseph. Elkhart, LaGrange, Huntington and Wabash."
" We are requested to state that William G. Ewing, is a candidate for the State Senate from the counties of Allen, LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, LaGrange, Huntington and Wabash."
" We are authorized to say that Jonathan A. Liston is a candidate for member of assembly from this and St. Joseph counties."
Besides these, there were announcements for county offices; Hiram Wheeler and Joel Butler, for Register; George Swope, Joseph F. Reynolds and Burwell Spurlock for Recorder; James M. Scott for Associate Judge; and Eliakim Ashton for Commis- sioner. On the 18th of July, Mr. Samuel Miller of Michigan City was nominated for representative to the State legislature, by a Democratic convention held at the village of Lakeport, or Hudson, of which Charles Egbert was chairman, and Benjamin Woodward, secretary. There were two other candidates, who came up before the people without submitting their claims to a convention. On this matter the Gazette remarked :
"Fellow Citizens: You have now before you, three candidates for representative in the next legislature of this state, two of which are what is called, stump or self-nominations, and one nominated by the people. Samuel Miller was nominated by the unanimous vote of a respectable meeting, believing him to be the most efficient man, and best qualified to represent the interest of this community in the next legislature, which nomination was again submitted to a conven- tion of the electors of the two counties, convened at a considerable distance from his and the other candidate's residence, where he
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
again received the nomination for representative in the next Assembly.
In selecting Mr. Miller for their candidate, they think they have presented to the public a person worthy of their votes-one who has the confidence of the people-one whom the people know and have known for a long time to be a friend to his country, constitu- tion and laws. Mr. Miller's avocations have been such, that prob- ably few persons have the practical knowledge of the situation, loca- tion. and wants of the country that he has. while his business habits. and Republican predilections, render him worthy the suf- frages of a free people."
The two other candidates alluded to in the address were Jonathan 1. Liston and Charles W. Cathcart. Mr. Cathcart issued an address to the people of LaPorte and St. Joseph counties. and because of its frank statement of the position which he occupied on public questions. and the lucid exposition given of the subjects of political discussion at the time, it is here presented entire. as it was published in the Michigan City Gazette :
"TO THE VOTERS OF THE DISTRICT COMPOSED OF ST. JOSEPH AND LA PORTE COUNTIES.
Fellow Citizens: By the request of a very respectable number of my friends. I was induced during the last spring. to suffer my name to be used as a candidate to represent this district in our next legis- lature, and at the first opportunity which occurred, the meeting of the circuit court in LaPorte county. I. in conformity with the cus- tom of the country, mounted the stump and informed my fellow citizens then assembled. that they might consider my services at their disposal.
Thus, having appeared before the public, it is my duty as well as a pleasure, to express my views upon such prominent matters as may be subject to legislative action. claiming for them only that consideration, which the honest convictions of one individual may entitle him to-for our whole scheme of government being founded on the principle that all power is inherent in the people. and as the representative agency is made use of merely on account of the diffi- dultv. indeed even the impossibility of the affairs of the public being
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POLITICS.
acted upon deliberately, by the people, en masse, it is evident that the representative should suit his course to the wishes of his con- stituents, according to their views of the manner in which they may see proper to have their interests attended to, and that as near as he does this, so near will he come to the fulfillment of the trust reposed in him.
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