USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana > Part 50
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Ludwig Eliel, rep. .
2976
319
R. O. Crandall, dem.
2657
Representatives.
James B. Belford, rep
2943
254
Henry H. Walker, dem.
2689
William W. Higgins, rep .. 2948
290
A. G. Standiford, dem ..
. 2658
County Commissioner.
Isaac B. Coplin, rep.
2867
271
James Drummond, dem.
2696
Surveyor.
John P. Cathcart, rep ..... 2961
296
OCTOBER ELECTION, 1867.
Representative.
Orpheus Everts, rep.
2133
586
Simon Wile, dem ..
1547
Recorder.
Henry C. Brown, rep.
2171
653
Charles McClung, dem. ...
1518
Sheriff.
Itliamer D. Phelps, rep ..
. 2272
John M. Clarkson, dem. .
1411
County Commissioner.
Reynolds Couden, rep. .... 2170
Jackson Hosmer, dem ..
. 1514
656
OCTOBER ELECTION, 1868. Governor.
Conrad Baker, rep ......... 2899 Thomas A. Hendricks, dem 2861 Congress.
38
Jasper Packard, rep. . . . ..
.. 2884
Mulford K. Farrand, dem .. 2873
Common Pleas Judge.
11
34
County Clerk:
James H. Shannon, rep .... 2894
28
Charles Spaeth, dem ..
2866
Real Estate Appraiser.
Edmund S. Gardner, rep ... 2837
41
Jacob Folant, dem ..
. 2796
County Treasurer.
Truman T. Harris, dem.
2880
5
Mark Allen, rep.
2875
State Senator.
Lafayette Crane, rep
2879
4
James Bradley, dem
2875
Representatives.
Samuel Beatty, rep
2902
43
James Peele, dem.
2859
Simon Wile, dem
2881
20
James A. Thornton, rep.
2861
Coroner.
Ludwig Eliel, rep.
2898
40
W. R. Godfrey, dem.
2858
County Commissioner.
George Hall, dem
2870
William O'Hara, rep ..
2883
13
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 1868.
For the Republican Electors 3064
188
Forthe Democratic Electors 2876
OCTOBER ELECTION, 1870. Secretary of State.
Max. F. A. Hoffman, rep ... 2789
Norman Eddy, dem ...
2540
249
Congress.
Jasper Packard, rep. . ..
. 2759
250
Samuel I. Anthony, dem .. 2509
Circuit Judge.
Thomas S. Stanfield, rep ... 2727
181
James Bradley, dem ..
. 2546
Representatives.
George A. Netherton, rep .. 2776 229
James A. Peele, dem. ..
2547
William Shoneman, rep .. .
2766
275
Simon Wile, dem ..
2491
Sheriff.
Daniel L. Brown, rep.
2670
102
Amenzo Mann, dem.
2568
County Auditor.
Harvey R. Harris, rep.
....
2837
376
Charles Spaeth, dem ...
2461
County Treasurer.
Mark Allen, rep ...
2834
363
Edmund S. Organ, dem
2471
Henry C. Brown, rep
2894
Francis Hobart, dem
2410
Recorder.
484
Elisha Egbert, rep.
2891
David Noyes, dem
2857
861
S. A. Van Dusan, dem. .
.. 2665
547
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
County Commissioners.
Enos Weed, rep.
2761
Eugene W. Davis, dem ..
2557
John Sutherland, rep .. .
2766
211
Andrew J. Rogers, dem.
2555
Simon P. Kern, rep.
2773
228
James N. Clarkson, dem .. .
2545
Coroner.
Ludwig Eliel, rep ..
2762
280
Brown C. Bowell, dem ..
2482
Surveyor.
John P. Cathcart, rep ..
2698
128
James E. Bradley, dem.
2570
OCTOBER ELECTION, 1872.
Governor.
Thomas A. Hendricks, dem 3173
175
Thomas M. Browne, rep ... 2998
Alfred P. Edgerton, gr'nb'k 3
Congress.
John A. Hendricks, dem ... 3149
144
Jasper Packard, rep .. .
3005
Common Pleas Judge.
Daniel Noyes, dem.
. ..
3243
309
Edward J. Wood, rep ..
...
2936
State Senator.
J. H. Winterbotham, dem .. 3179
Mason G. Sherman, rep. . . . 2968
Representatives.
211
L. Dow Glazebrook, dem .. 3208 269 George A. Netherton, rep .. 2939
George H. Teeter, dem ..
. 3166
166
Sidney S. Sabin, rep. . ..
. .
3000
County Clerk.
Charles Spaeth, dem. ...
. 3160
Henry C. Stevenson, rep. .. 2978
Sheriff.
DeWitt C. McCollom, dem 3060
6
Real Estate Appraiser.
Jacob Folant, dem ..
3170
Edmund S. Gardner, rep.
2971
199
County Commissioners.
Benajah S. Fail, dem.
.319
Enos Weed, rep.
.2996
Charles Wille, dem
.3236
311
Aaron Foster, rep.
2925
Hazard M. Hopkins, dem. . . 3133
137
Jacob Thornburg, rep.
.2996
Coroner.
W. F. Standiford, dem ... .. 3163 Ludwig Eliel, rep. .2990
173
Surveyor.
Daniel Kenneday, dem ..... 3145
166
John P. Cathcart, rep .. . . . . . 2979
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 1872.
For the Republican Electors.2903
120
For the Democratic Electors. 2783
For the O'Conor Electors ... 17
OCTOBER ELECTION, 1874. 4 Secretary of State.
John E. Neff, dem ..
.3231
907
William W. Curry, rep.
.. 2324
Congress.
William S. Haymond, dem.3209
734
W. H. Calkins, rep ......
.2475
Representative.
Edward Evans, dem
.3216
938
Sidney S. Sabin, rep.
2278
Amos Thorp, gr'b.
367
Sheriff.
Edward Hawkins, dem.
.2996
649
Ithamer D. Phelps, rep.
.2347
John N. Fail, gr'b. .
367
County Auditor.
Edward J. Church, dem. ... 3123
745
John D. Stewart, rep ...
.. 2378
John R. Stewart, gr'b ..
247
County Treasurer.
George W. Mecum, dem ... . 3328
1269
Charles S. Winship, rep.
.. 2059
John D. Hoover, gr'b. .
339
Recorder.
Jobn H. Organ, dem.
3223
971
William P. Yarger, rep.
2252
Ambrose P. White, gr'b ..
284
County Commissioner.
Charles Wills, dem
.3218
1150
Benajah Stanton, rep.
2068
George Mill, gr'b, ...
243
Coroner.
Darwin T. Brown, dem.
.3243
922
George J. Bentley, rep.
.2330
Surveyor.
Hiram Burner, dem. .
.3196
John P. Cathcart, rep ....
2581
615
OCTOBER ELECTION, 1876.
Governor.
James D. Williams, dem ... . 3668
281
Benjamin Harrison, rep ..
.. 3387
H. W. Harrington, gr'b. . .
52
Congress.
William S. Haymond, dem .. 3600
111
William H. Calkins, rep ... . 3489
Circuit Judge.
469
Daniel Noyes, dem .. .... . . . 3757
Thomas S. Stanfield, rep. . . . 3288
182
Daniel L. Brown, rep ...... 3054 County Treasurer.
George W. Mecum, dem ... 3151
John T. Sanders, rep.
. 3009
152
195
204
54S
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
County Clerk.
Charles Spaeth, dem .. 3813 583
Fred G. Johnson, rep. 3230
Arthur J. Holman, gr'b. 51
Sheriff.
Edward Hawkins, dem.
.3862
698
Thomas Marr, rep ..
3164
Lemuel S. Fitch, gr'b.
55
.Thomas J. Foster, dem.
... 3499
420
Julius Conitz, rep.
.3070
Recorder.
520
William Frederickson, rep. . 3020
County Commissioners.
Daniel P. Grover, dem .. ... 3489 399
John G. Shanklin, dem.
.3476
533
Isaac S. Moore, rep. .2943
Henley James, gr'b.
173
John P. Cathcart, rep.
.3054
Congress.
William H. Calkins, rep.
.3218
117
Morgan H. Weir, dem.
.3101
John N. Skinner, gr'b.
239
Representative.
Jackson Hosmer, dem.
3441
301
Charles P. Cathcart, rep . . . 3135
Surveyor.
James E. Bradley, dem. . . . . 3469
Newell Gleason, rep.
.3085
384
John H. Barker, rep. ..
.3140
Sheriff.
Fitch D. Bowen, dem ..
... 3440
426
August Schausten, rep. . .... 3014
County Auditor.
Edward J. Church, dem .... 3373 166
George C. Dorland, rep.
.3207
County Treasurer.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 1876.
For the Democratic Electors. 3699 411
John H. Organ, dem .. .. . . . . 3540
For the Republican Electors. 3288
For the Greenback Electors.
48
OCTOBER ELECTION, 1878.
Secretary of State.
David H. Norton, rep ..
.3090
Charles Wills, dem
.3403
Sidney S. Sabin, rep.
.3154
Thomas Forrester, dem
.3465
249
411
Coroner.
Darwin T. Brown, dem. ... 3409
274
NOTE .- In the above schedule of elections which have been held in the county, where there have been more than two candidates for any office, the majority is given as between the two having the largest vote; in the estimate for the majority no account is taken of those having a small number of votes.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE COURTS.
THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT.
In the present organization of human society, courts are nec- essary. The proper administration and execution of law-of just and wholesome law-is one of the requisites of every well-organ- ized and prosperous community. The agencies by which this is to be done are the courts. The regulation of the purely county busi- ness has been entrusted, by the Constitution and subsequent enaet- ment of law, to a Board of County Commissioners, consisting of three men. The first Board of Commissioners was elected on the 9th day of April, 1832, under a writ of election issued by the State Department, and met and organized on the 28th of May fol- lowing. The following is the organization of the Board from that date until 1SS0:
1832 1st Board .-- Chapel W. Brown, President; Isaac Morgan, Elijah H. Brown. George Thomas, Clerk.
1833, 2d Board .- C. W. Brown, President; E. H. Brown, Dan- iel Jessup. George Thomas, Clerk.
1833, 3d Board .- E. H. Brown, President; Daniel Jessup, Alex- ander Blackburn. George Thomas, Clerk.
1834, 4th Board .- Daniel Jessup, President; Alexander Black- burn, Aaron Stanton. George Thomas, Clerk.
1835, 5th Board .- Daniel Jessup, President; Aaron Stanton, John Clark. William Hawkins, Clerk.
1835, 6th Board .- Daniel Jessup, President; Andrew Burnside, Thomas J. Foster. William Hawkins, Clerk.
1836, 7th Board .- Daniel Jessup, President; Thomas J. Foster, Willard A. Place. William Hawkins, Clerk. 1837, Sth Board .- Willard A. Place, President; Eliakim Ashton, Stephen G. Hunt. William Hawkins. Clerk.
1838, 9th Board .- Aaron Stanton, President ; Eliakim Ashton, Stephen G. Hunt. William Hawkins, Clerk.
1840, 10th Board .- Aaron Stanton, President; Stephen G, Hunt, Henly Clyburn. William Hawkins, Clerk.
1841, 11th Board .- Henly Clyburn, President; Benjamin Beard, Phineas Hunt. John D. Collings, Clerk.
1843, 12th Board .- Benjamin Beard, President; Phineas Hunt, James McCord. Reuben Munday, Clerk.
1844, 13th Board .- Benjamin Beard, President; Abiel Lathrop,' Abijah Bigelow. Joel Butler, Clerk.
(549)
550
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
1844, 14th Board .-- Charles Vail, President; Hezekiah Robertson, Abiel Lathrop. Joel Butler, Clerk.
1846, 15th Board .- Hezekiah Robertson, President; Benjamin Butterworth, Abiel Lathrop. Joel Butler, Clerk. Abiel Lathrop, 1846. 16th Board .- West Darling, President; Christopher McClure. Joel Butler, Clerk.
1847, 17th Board .- Abiel Lathrop, President; Christopher Mc- Clure, Alfred Stepliens. Joel Butler, Clerk.
1848, 18th Board .- Christopher McClure, President; Alfred Stephens, Samuel Burson. Joel Butler, Clerk.
1849, 19th Board .- Christopher McClure, President; Samnel Burson, Joel Butler. Andrew J. Wair, Clerk.
1849, 20th Board .- Christopher McClure, President; Samnel Bur- son, John F. Allison. Andrew J. Wair, Clerk. 1850, 21st Board .- Christopher McCInre, President; Samuel Bur- son, Mark Allen. Andrew J. Wair, Clerk.
1851. 22d Board .- Christopher McClure, President; Mark Allen, George C. Havens. Andrew J. Wair, Clerk.
1853, 23d Board .- Mark Allen, President; Jackson Hosmer, James Drummond. Andrew J. Wair, Clerk.
1853, 24th Board .- James Drummond, President; Jackson Hosmer, Jacob R. Hall. Andrew J. Wair, Clerk.
1855, 25th Board .- Jackson Hosmer, President; Aquilla W. Rogers, Orlando F. Piper. Andrew J. Wair, Clerk.
1855, 26th Board .- Aqnilla W. Rogers, President; Henry J. Rees, Asa M. Warren. Andrew J. Wair, Clerk.
1856, 27th Board .- Asa M. Warren, President; Henry J. Rees, Elam Clark. Andrew J. Wair, Clerk.
1857, 28th Board .- Henry J. Rees, President; Sidney S. Sabin, Isaac B. Coplin. Andrew J. Wair. Clerk.
1858, 29th Board .- Sidney S. Sabin, President; Isaac B. Coplin, John Warnock. Jolin Walton, Clerk.
1861, 30th Board .- Sidney S. Sabin, President; Isaac B. Coplin, John P. Cathcart. John Walton, Clerk.
1865, 31st Board .- Isaac B. Coplin, President; John P. Cathcart, William O'Hara. John Walton, Clerk.
1866, 32d Board. -- Isaac B. Coplin, President; William O'Hara, Reynolds Couden. Jasper Packard, Clerk; also, H. R. Harris. 1870, 33d Board .- Enos Weed, President; John Sutherland, Simon P. Kern. H. R. Harris, Clerk.
1872, 34th Board .- Enos Weed, President; Simon P. Kern, Bena- jah Stanton. H. R. Harris, Clerk.
1872, 35th Board .- Enos Weed, President; Simon P. Kern, Charles Wills. H. R. Harris, Clerk.
1873, 36th Board .- Charles Wills, President; Benajah S. Fail, Hazard M. Hopkins. H. R. Harris, Clerk; also, Edward J. Church.
1875, 37th Board .- Charles Wills, President; Benajah S. Fail, William Schoneman. Edward J. Church, Clerk.
551
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
1879, 38th Board .- Charles Wills, President; Thomas Forrester, D. P. Grover. Edward J. Church, Clerk.
Thus has the Board of County Commissioners been constituted from the beginning until the present. Under its management the business of the county has been wisely managed, and general satis- faction has been secured. The county, according to its interests, has been divided into civil townships, the roads of the county have been established, and provisions made for their improvement, necessary public buildings have been secured for the transaction of the public business, the public expenses have been judiciously guarded, in the time of the war the families of the volunteers were looked after and provided for, bounties were provided for the men who enlisted, pro- visions have been made for the care of the county's poor, and its steps which it has taken for the more thorough drainage of those parts of the county that are wet have been dictated by wisdom. So far as the records show, the Board has made but one very bad mis- take, and that was in the organization of the civil township of Anderson. This gave such decided dissatisfaction that a special session of the Board was called, and the obnoxious organization annulled. This was done in 11 days after the order was made estab- lishing the township, and illustrates the readiness of the Board to do the public business in a satisfactory way.
COURTS OF JUSTICE.
The Constitution of 1816 provided: "The judiciary power of the State, both as to matters of law and equity, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, in Circuit Courts, and in such inferior courts as the General Assembly may, from time to time, direct and estab- lish."
Under the authority of this article of the Constitution, the first courts of the State were organized. Though power was granted to the General Assembly to establish inferior courts to the Circuit Court, yet it does not appear that the power was exercised up to the time of the organization of the county. The first court was a Cir- cuit Conrt, which was organized under the powers of the following section of the Constitution: "The Circuit Courts shall each con- sist of a President and two Associate Judges. The State shall be divided by law into three circuits, for each of which a President shall be appointed, who, during his continuance in office, shall reside therein. The President and Associate Judges, in their respective counties, shall have common law and chancery jurisdiction, as also complete criminal jurisdiction, in all such cases,and in such man- ner as may be prescribed by law. The President alone, in the absence of the Associate Judges, or the President and one of the Associate Judges, in the absence of the other, shall be competent to hold a court, as also the two Associate Judges, in the absence of the President, shall be competent to hold a court, exceptlin capital cases, and in cases in chancery: Provided, that nothing herein con- tained shall prevent the General Assembly from increasing the
552
IIISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
number of circuits and Presidents, as the exigencies of the State may, from time to time, require."
Up to 1842, the exigencies of the State had required that the State be divided into 12 cirenits, instead of three as at the begin- ning. Each of these circuits had a President Judge, who was " appointed by joint ballot of both branches of the General Assem- bly." Each county had two Associate Judges for its Circuit Court, who were "elected by the qualified electors in each respective county."
The Judges, or Presidents of the Circuit Court, up to the adop- tion of the new Constitution, in 1851, were: Gustavus A. Everts, Samuel C. Sample, John B. Niles, Ebenezer M. Chamberlain and Robert Lowry. The Associate Judges during the same time were: Jacob Miller, 1832; Judah Leaming, 1833; Gustavus A. Rose, 1836; Clinton Foster, -; C. W. Henry, 1839; Willard A. Place, -; Abner Bailey, 1845; William Andrew, 1845.
At the adoption of the new Constitution, in 1851, the system of Associate Judges was done away, and the Circuit Court was pre- sided over by a single Circuit Judge. These have been, in the La Porte Circuit Court, Thomas J. Stanfield, 1852; Albert G. Deavitt, -; A. L. Osborn, 1857, and re-elected in 1863; Thomas S. Stanfield, 1870; and Daniel Noyes, 1876.
As already noticed, the Constitution gave the General Assembly power to establish inferior courts, which power it exercised after the organization of the county, in the establishment of Probate Courts, which courts had original and exclusive jurisdiction "in all matters relating to the probate of last wills and testaments, grant- ing letters testamentary, of administration, and of guardianship; of all matters relating to the settlement and distribution of decedents' and personal estates of minors; the examination and allowance of the accounts of executors and administrators, and the guardians of minors, except where, in special cases, concurrent jurisdiction is given by law to some other court," and concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court "in all suits at law or in equity, upon all demands or causes of action in favor of or against heirs, devisees, legatees, executors, administrators or guardians, and their sureties and repre- sentatives; in the partition of real estate; in the assignment of dower; the appointment of a commissioner to execute a deed on any title bond given by a deceased obligor; to authorize guardians to sell and convey any real estate of their ward's, in order to reduce the same to assets for the payment of the debts and liabilities of the ward, or debts and liabilities justly chargeable on their estates, and to provide for the wants, education, support, or interests of minors, and the care and support of idiots and lunatics; and the appointment of guardians of the persons and estates of insane per- sons and idiots."
This Probate Court was established in the county ; and its Judges, up to its abolishment by the new Constitution, or rather its mergement into the Common Pleas Court, a kind of Circuit Court
553
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
with similar jurisdiction, have been: Chapel W. Brown, -; Jabez R. Wells, 1841, and re-elected in 1848; and Mulford K. Farrand, 1849.
With the adoption of the new Constitution, 1851, the Probate Court passed away; and by the act of the General Assembly the Court of Common Pleas was established in the year 1852. This Court was a kind of Circuit Court, that is to say, it was a court which was presided over by a Judge who was elected in a certain prescribed district composed of different counties, in which he must reside. The first Common Pleas District was composed of the counties of La Porte, Porter and Lake. In 1859, the district was changed so as to embrace the counties of Elkhart, St. Joseph, Marshall and La Porte; and, in La Porte county, the court was held on the second Monday of February, June and October, and continued three weeks, " if the business shall require it." This court was finally abolished by the General Assembly, in 1873, and its business transferred to the Circuit Court. The Judges of this court were: Herman Lawson, 1852; William C. Talcott, 1856; Elisha Egbert, 1860, and re-elected in 1864, and 1868; Edward J. Wood, -; and Daniel Noyes, 1872.
CRIMINAL RECORD OF THE COURTS.
It is not the purpose to follow the courts into all their ramifica- tions of business, both civil and criminal; but it will be interesting to notice some things in connection with their criminal record. Of the several criminal convictions which have been in these Courts, they have been distributed among the various punishable crimes as follows:
For selling liquor contrary to the statute. 88
For assault and battery.
36
For contempt of court. 9
For gambling 65
For participation in an affray.
7
For usury ..
3
For carrying concealed weapons.
1
For petit larceny. 43
For grand larceny. 104
1
For scire facias on forfeited recognizance ..
21
For murder, manslaughter.
1
For murder in the first degree ..
2
For retailing foreign merchandise without license.
16
For forfeiture of official bond.
1
For official negligence ..
3
For violating mode of keeping stallions, etc ..
2
For violating estray laws.
1
For forgery
5
For neglect in returning marriage license.
5
For criminal trespass. 16
For riot ..
554
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
For interrupting religious society.
2
For malicious trespass. .. 3
For riding horse-races along the highway. 12
For voting without legal qualifications ...
1
For assault and battery with intent to kill.
6
For failing to attend as a juror.
1
For arson.
6
For burglary.
20
For theft, felony.
For raising bank notes.
10 1 2
For passing counterfeit money.
For rape.
1
For incest.
1
For escaping from the State's prison.
4
For robbery.
2
For bigamy.
1
For receiving stolen goods.
3
For embezzlement ..
1
For seduction.
1
For house-breaking.
2
For burglarious trespass. .
1
For placing obstructions upon a railroad.
1
Total 512
THE PENALTY OF DEATH.
As stated above, there have been but three convictions for mur- der in the county,- two of the second, and one of the first degree; but there have been more murders than this.
In 1836, a citizen of New Durham township, named Pelton, started for the West, having quite an amount of money about him. He was waylaid in Porter county by a man named Staves, and mur- dered and robbed. Staves was arrested by the authorities, tried for the crime, found guilty, and executed. This is no part of the court record of La Porte county; and the incident is mentioned in this connection only because of the interest that belongs to La Porte county because the murdered man was a citizen of the county.
In 1862, about two miles north of Westville, there was a remark- able disappearance of a man named Fred Miller. He was a German, and after a search his dead body was found along the shore of Lake Michigan. His wife was suspected of the deed by his neigh- bors, and she was put to the torture by them to extort a confession from her. At last she told them that a man named John Poston had committed the deed. On this Poston was arraigned for examination before Alfred Williams, Justice of the Peace; but the evidence was so unsatisfactory that he was released; and no one was ever convicted of the murder in the county.
555
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
Another murder was committed in the county in 1867. Patrick Dunn killed Patrick Daily, striking him with a wood-rack stake. At the April term of the Circuit Court in 1868, Dunn was indicted for murder. He entered the plea of self-defense, and the jury brought in a verdict of " not guilty;" and so there was no convic- tion.
Another murder, which has been detailed elsewhere, was com- mitted in the county: James F. Smith was killed by Charles Egbert. The latter after a trial before R. Munday, Justice of the Peace, was bound over to the Circuit Court in the sum of $5,000 bail, which he gave, and then fled; never being brought to the bar of the court. In 1844, a scire facias was sned out against the bondsmen, and a judgment of $1,000 finally taken, but which was eventually set aside by the Supreme Court. So there was no con- viction in this case.
In the cases of James Woods, who shot and killed John Lohm in 1865, and William Fulton, who was accessory to the deed, the result was different. They were indicted at the April term of the Circuit Court in 1866, but were not tried until the April term in 1867, at which they were convicted of murder,-Fulton of the second degree, and sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment in the penitentiary; Woods of the first degree, and sentenced to imprisonment in the State's prison for the period of his natural life.
The only other case of conviction for murder was the case of Scott, who killed a young man named Joshua M. Coplin, of Kankakee township, in the year 1838. Scott was, soon after the deed was done, arrested, tried in the Circuit Court and found guilty. The penalty passed upon him was "death." The sentence was approved by the Governor, and was carried into execution on the 15th of June, 1838. This is the only case where the death penalty was ever suffered in the county.
THE DIVORCE RECORD.
The divorce record is a curious one. It furnishes a field of study for the philanthropist and humanitarian as well as for the Christian. If the history of each case could be given, it would be a remarkable history. But this cannot be done; only the number of cases can be cited. However, attention is called to this, and the question is asked, Why were there more cases at certain times than at others? Notice this point in the list.
Following are the first cases of divorce on record:
Nathan Allen vs. Sylvia Allen. Divorce granted at the October term, 1834.
Isabella Myers vs. John H. Myers. Divorce granted at the October term, 1835.
Adaline C. Gray vs. Jonathan Gray. Divorce granted at the October term, 1840.
Gilbert Rose vs. Juliana Rose. Divorced at the October term, 1840.
6
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
The number of divorces at the respective terms of court are as follows:
Spring Fall Term. Term.
Spring Fall Term. Term.
1841.
3
1
1859
25
1842.
3
1860.
1
1843 ..
1
1863.
1
1
1846.
2
3
1863.
3
2
1847.
3
1864.
3
1848.
3
1865
1
5
1849
1
2
1866 ..
3
5
1850.
3
1867.
5
5
1851.
4
1868.
6
9
1852.
6
1869.
5
8
1853.
3
6
1870.
3
1
1854
7
5
1871.
3
5
1855.
5
11
1873.
4
4
1856.
9
14
1873.
1857.
12
23
1858.
23
23
Total
307
The curious fact of the above record is the very large number of divorces which were granted from 1855 to 1859, -- 140 of the 307 divorces granted in the county were obtained during those five years.
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