History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 8

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 199-?]
Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.]
Number of Pages: 954

USA > Indiana > Orange County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 8
USA > Indiana > Washington County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 8
USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 8

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

AN ACT FOR THE FORMATION OF A NEW COUNTY OUT OF THE COUNTY OF ORANGE:

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indian. That from and after the third Monday of March next. all that part of the county of Orange cou

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY.

tained in the following bounds shall form and constitute a separate county, viz .: Beginning at the range line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 west, at the center of Township 3 north, and running thence east to the line dividing the counties of Washington, Orange and Jackson; thence north with said line to the line dividing Townships 6 and î north; thence west with said line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 west; thence south with said range line to the place of beginning.

SECTION 2. The said new county shall be known and designated by the name and style of the county of Lawrence, and shali enjoy all the rights, privileges and jurisdic. tions which to separate counties do or may properly belong or appertain: Provided, that all suits, pleas, plaints, actions and proceedings in law or equity which may have been commenced or instituted before the third Monday of March next, and shall be pending in the county of Orange shall be prosecuted and determined In the same manner as if this act had not passed; Provided also, that all taxes which may be due on the said third Monday of March next, shall be collected and paid in the same manner and by the same officers as if the said new county of Lawrence had not been formed.

SEC. 8. Abraham Huff, of Jackson County. Abraham Bosley, of Orange County, Joel Holbert, of Daviess County, William Hobbs, of Washington County, and George Boone, of Harrison County, are hereby appointed Commissioners agree. able to the act entitled " An act for the fixing the seat of justice In all new coun- ties hereafter to be laid off." The Commissioners above named shall convene at the house of James Gregory in said county of Lawrence on the third Monday of March bext, and shall immediately proceed to discharge the duties assigned them by law. It is hereby made the duty of the Sheriff of Orange County to notify the said Com. Diissioners either in person or by written notification of their appointment on or before the first day of March next, and the sald Sheriff of Orange County shali receive from the said county of Lawrence so much as the County Commissioners shali deem just and reasonable, who are hereby authorized to allow the same out of any money: in the county treasury. in the same manner other claims are paid.

SEC 4. The Circuit and other courts of the county of Lawrence shall be holden at the house of James Gregory, in the said county, until suitable accommo- datione can be had at the seat of justice, and so soon as the courts of said county are satisfied that suitable accommodations can be had at the county seat, they shall adjourn their courts thereto, after which time all the courts of the county shall be hobien at the county seat of Lawrence County established, as directed by this act.

SEC. 5. The agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of iots at the county seat of the county of Lawrence shall reserve ten per cent out of the proceeds there of, and pay the same over to such person or persons as may be appointed by law .o : ceive the same for the use of a library for said county, which he shall pay over at such time or times as may be directed by inw. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the third Monday of March next.

Approved January 2. 1514.

From this enactment it will be seen that originally Lawrence County did not comprise two tiers of sections north and south along the eastern side which now fall within her borders. These two tiers included the towns of Leesville and Fort Ritner, both of which were in existence in 1822. At which date, through the influence, mainly. of these towns, by means of petitions. the following enactment of the Legislature was secured :

Be it enacted by the General Issembig of the State of Indiana. That from and after the 1st day of January next. all that part of the county of Jackson included within the following boundaries, to wit Beginning at the northwest corner of Sec-

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY.

tion 16. Township 5 north, Range 2 east, thence east two miles to the northeast cor- ner of Section 15, thence south to the Driftwood Fork, of White River, thence down said river to the line which at present divides the counties of Jackson and Law. rence (thence to the place of beginning) be and the same is hereby attached to the county of Lawrence, and shall after the date above mentioned be deemed and taken to all intents and purposes to form and constitute a part of the said county of Law. rence: Provided, however, that all suits, pleas, plaints and proceedings which shall have been commenced and pending within the said county of Jackson previous to the said 1st day of January next, shall be prosecuted to final effect in the same man- ner as if this act had not been passed: Provided, moreover, that the State and county taxes which may be due on the said 1st day of January next, shall be col- lected and paid in the same manner and by the same officers as if this act had not been passed. This act to be in force from and after the 1st day of January, 1623. Approved December 31. 1822.

THE COUNTY BEFORE ITS CREATION.

Prior to the organization of Lawrence County in 1818, and while the territory was yet attached to Orange, all of the present county north of the river, except the two tiers of sections on the east and a small tract on the southeast, was organized as Leatherwood Township, and that por- tion of the present county south of the river was part of the northern tier of townships in Orange, except the old township of Bono, which had been created by the Commissioners of Orange County, in January. 1917. with the following limits: Beginning on White River at the northwest corner of Washington County, thence south to the Cincinnati road, thence west to Fishing Creek, thence north to White River, tbence north with the section line which crosses at the mouth of said creek three miles, thence east to Jackson County, thence south to the beginning. Leather- wood Township had been created early in 1816. The following is the result of the August election, 1816, in Leatherwood Township:

For Governor-Posey 12. Jennings 4; Lientenant-Governor-Vawter 12, Harri- son 4: for Congress-Hendricks 16. Thom 0, Sullivan 0; Senator-Rawlin- 16. De Pauw 0, Clark 0; for Representative-Jonathan Lindley 13, Pinnlek 0, Lewis"); Sheriff-Roberts 7. Lindley 6: Coroner-Crawford 13, ClendenIn 0. The above is a true statement of the election in Leatherwood Township, certified by me.

August 8, 1816.

JAMES GREGORY, Judge

One year later than this the following voters polled their votes in Leatherwood Township, at the house of James Stotts: William Bene- field, David Cummings. John Bailey, Samuel Irwin. James Dale. James Johnson. John Hunter, Joel Vandeveer, Reuben Kilgore, Jeremiah Rankins, James Mendell. Robert Hunter, Robert Brooks, Isaac Stotts. Richard Hiers, Martin Beaver, Hiram Kilgore, Wilson Moore. Thomas MI wore, Matthew Dale, Willis Keithley, Arta Garrison, Charles Kilgore. James Laughlin. James Gregory, Joseph Andrew. William Dale, Samuel Will- iams, John Dean. James Stotts, John Dale, Squire Dale, Edward Moore, Thomas Henton, John Cook, Charles Bolling, William Julian. Robert Mitchell. Nathan Laughlin, Moses Lee, Robert C. Stotts, Joseph Keith-

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY.

ley, William Kinnick, George Julian, Thomas Irons, William Irons, William Offield, Phillip Starr, Samuel Mitchell, Samuel Dale and John Allen; total. 51. Robert C. Stotts, Inspector; Thomas Henton and Moses Lee, Judges; James Gregory and Robert Mitchell, Clerks.

THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

"On the 11th of March, 1818, Ambrose Carlton, Thomas Beagley and James Stotts. County Commissioners, met at the house of James Gregory for the transaction of business. The election of Circuit Clerk was con- tested by John Lowrey, and a new election was ordered held after exami. nation of the case and deliberation. James Stotts, Jr., was appointed County Lister: John Anderson, County Treasurer, and Robert M. Carl. ton, County Agent. On the third day the county was divided into town. ships: Shawswick-Beginning at the mouth of Salt Creek; thence up to the line dividing townships 5 and 6; thence east to the county line; thence sonth to Guthrie Creek; thence down the same to where Sections 11, 12, 13 and 14 unite; thence west with the line dividing Sections 11 and 14 one mile; thence south with the line dividing Sections 14 and 15 to the county line; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 17, Township 3 north. Range I west; thence north to White River; thence up to the beginning. Spice Valley included all of the present Spice Valley Township, together with all of Indian Creek Township south of the line dividing Sections 19 and 30, Township 5 north, Range 2 west. Indian Creek Township comprised all of Lawrence County west of Salt Creek and north of the line dividing Sections 19 and 30, Township 5 North, Range 2 west. Bono Township comprised all of the county south- east of Shawswick Township. Pleasant Run Township comprised all of the county east of Indian Creek Township, and north of Shawswick. Pleasant Parks was appointed Inspector of Elections in Shawswick, and elections were ordered held at the cabin of Thompson. on the north bank of White River, near Palestine. Elections in Spice Valley were ordered held at Absalom Field's, with himself as Inspector; in Indian Creek. at the house of Mr. Stipps. with Joseph Sullivan, Inspector; in Bono at Bono Village, with Elisha Simpson, Inspector; in Plewant Run, at the house of Joseph Dayton, with Thomas Henton, Inspector. Two Justices of the Peace were ordered elected in each township, April 25, 1918 The report of the Commissioners appointed by the Legislature to fix the county seat was receive l, adopted and spread upon the records. It was as follows :

To the Board of Convinimers in and for the County of Lucreate. State of Indiana:

We, the Conmi -- ioners appointed by an act hearing date January ;. 1418. to fix the seat of justice in the county of Lawrence have in conformity to our appoint- ments mei at the house of Ja'ne, Gregory, and in pursuance of the duty assigned u- by law after being -worn proceeded to discharge the duty enjoined upon us by la. and therefore take the liberty of reporting accordingly that we have selected

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY.

and fixed upon 200 acres of land on the north side of White River and on both sides of the second principal meridian line, which said land is given as a donation to the county aforesaid by Benjamin and Ezekiel Blackwell, Henry Speed and Henry H. Massie. Said land is bounded as follows: Beginning on the river below the meridian line 64 poles; thence north 60 degrees west 30 poles to a gray ash: thence north 14 degrees west 82-poles: thence north 54 degrees west 80 poles; thence north 36 degrees east 176 poles; thence south 54 degrees east 167 poles to the river: thence with the meanders of the same to the beginning-containing 200 acres. Having taken the necessary bond for the title your Commissioners find nothing further to do in the discharge of the duty assigned them by law, and beg leave to report. Given under our hands and seals this 21st day of March, 1818. Further. more. we the Commissioners as aforesaid have thought proper to make a reserve of one lot for Benjamin Blackwell provided the said Blackwell will for the same [pay] such price as lots lying in the same situation and in value sell for at the sale of lots in said town.

ABRAHAM HOFF. ABRAHAM BOSLEY. JOEL HOLBERT. WILLIAM HOBBS. GEORGE BOON. Locating Commissioners

We, the Commissioners as above do state that we spent each the number of days affixed to our names: Abraham Huff. S days. $24; Abraham Bosley, 8 days, $24; Joel Holbert, S days, $24; William Hobbs, 8 days, $24; George Boon, 11 days. $33.

THE FIRST COUNTY SEAT.

Upon the recommendation of the Locating Commissioners, at the suggestion of Benjamin Blackwell, the county seat was named Palestine. Certificates for the above amounts were ordered given to the Locating Commissioners, to be paid out of the first moneys arising from the sale of lots in the county seat. The County Agent. Robert MI. Carlton, early in May, under the direction of the County Board, laid out 276 lots in Palestine which were ordered advertised for sale May 25, 1818, in the Louisville Correspondent, the Indiana Gazette, the Western Sun. the Salem Tocsin and the Madison paper. Steps were immediately taken to build a court house and a jail. Numerous petitions began to be received for the opening of county roads and viewers were appointed. The following county tax was levied: On each 100 acres of first-class land. 372 cents; on each 100 acres of second-class land. 33 cents: on each 100 acres of third class land, 22 cents; Blackwell & Co.'s ferry license, $20; Towel & Dixon's ferry license, $20: Milrey & Callans. ferry license, $6; horses, 37} cents each. In August meetings of the Board were held at Palestine. John Lowrey was paid 836.874 for books for the county offices. A seal was adopted. being 'a scrawl with the words, "Commissioner's Seal." Numerous roads were projected and Superintendents appointed. John Brown. John Milroy and John Lowrey assisted in the survey of Palestine. The following ferry rates were estab- lished: Wagon and four horses. To cents. and on each extra horse. 62 cents:

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY.

a two-wheeled, one-horse vehicle, 12} cents, and with lead horse, 6} cents more; each person over twelve years, 6} cents; under twelve, 2 cents; sheep, each, 1} cents; hogs, 1 cent each. Tavern rates, each meal, 25 cents; bed, 12} cents; horse, over night, 50 cents; single feed, 12} cents. The second sale of lots in Palestine was advertised for November. Rob- ert Mitchell who listed the county in 1818 instead of James Stotts, Jr., was paid $30. The Sheriff, under whose supervision the elections of February and of April, 1818, were held, was paid $22.

OTHER ITEMS OF IMPORTANCE.

Early in 1819 the Board adopted a seal designed with a harp, a plow and three sheaves of wheat, and a pair of scales, and a weather cock on top. Andrew Evans, the contractor to clear the public square, was paid $38. At this time, and before, courts were held in the building of James Benefield. The tax for 1819 was, 374. 33} and 25 cents on each 100 acres of first, second and third class land; Blackwell's ferry, $18: Beck's. $8; Milroy & Callans, $5; Towel & Dickson's, $16; Field's, $8; horses 25 cents. Robert Mitchell was paid $32 for listing the county in 1819. During 1819, work on the permanent court house was rapidly pushed. In November, 1819. Robert M. Carlton, County Agent, reported as follows: Total receipts for town lots, $6,579.38; paid to County Treasurer, 85,303.56; paid to County Library, 8657.93; balance on hand, 8618.09. For some reason the agent failed to make a satisfactory settle. went to the Board, wherefore he was removed, and William Templeton appointed his successor; but Carlton refused to settle with him, or turn over the funds to him, and Winthrop Foote, attorney, was hired to com- mence suit on his bond. At last Carlton made such a satisfactory report, that he was continned as County Agent; indeed be held that responsible position more than thirty consecutive years, with high credit to himself. Jobo Brown was census taker of the county in 1820. Isaac Farris furn- ished a house in which to hold court in March, 1920. The following bill was allowed the County Agent:

Laying out 276 lots in Palestine. *132.00

selling 249 lots, giving bond, etc. 13.50

Drawing 432 notes ot 6} cent ... 27.00

Superintending erection of temporary court hous 7.00

Taking bouds, advertising court house. etc .. 10.00

Taking bonds, advertising jail, etc., 6.00

Letting the clearing of the public square. 4.00

Letting the building of the stray pen. .

2.00

Total. .$201.50

By the 3d of February, 1821. the total sales of town lots amounted to $17.580 cash: 88.639.01; notes 85.551.12; due bills $2.927.40. Early this year Allen Brock was appointed County Inspector of flour, beef and pork. Much of the money received for town lots was in the shape of hills of all the banks of the Southwest, the value of which was variable

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY.

and at all times exceedingly doubtful, In 1821 the county had on hand several hundre.l dollars of very doubtful bills, which were sold to the highest bidder at auction. The Eighteenth Regiment of State Mili- tia had been organized some time before this in Lawrence County. In 1821 the following men were released from the performance of military duty, owing to conscientious scruples, upon the payment, each of $4: Joseph Harton, William Trueblood, John Cloud, John Caveness. David Oakes, William Kerras, Percival Tyler, Philip Tyler. David Sears, James Malloy, George Rubottom, William Rubottom, William Dicks, Silas Dixon, James Dixon, Thomas Clark, Reuben Davis, Jesse Davis, Warner Davis and Alexander Clark. Joseph Anderson was paid a balance of $13, for work on the public square. In June, 1821, 849 in counterfeit bills, taken by mistake were ordered burned by the Board; also, $126.50 in doubtful bills were sold at auction for $29.9S. In this connection the following entry was made on the records: "Ordered that William Kelsey | Treas. nrer] be paid out of the treasury, out of the moneys arising from the sale of town lots in Palestine, the sum of $3 for liquor furnished by him and for his attendance at the sale of uncurrent money belonging to the county." The County Agent was ordered to receive nothing but specie for debts due the county, but this order was soon rescinded. Robert Mit- chell was County Lister for the years 1818, 1819, 1820 and 1821. and Joseph Rawlins for 1822, and John Brown for 1S23. John Brown was appointed to procure a set of standard weights and measures for the county. A big case in the Circuit Court at this time. was the State vs. James Chess, for counterfeiting gold coin. In May, 1822, Perry Town- ship was created, and Indian Creek Township was extended south to the river. In August, 1822, Samuel Dale was appointed agent to have a well dug on the public square in Palestine. He hired Winston Crouse. John Brown was paid $2 for making a map of Lawrence County. In May, Flinn Township was created with the present boundary. except that it extended south to Fort Ritner. That portion of the county south of Fort Ritner, in the bend of the river. was attached to Bono Township. In 1823, all inn keepers were required to contine themselves to the following charges: meals 25 cents: lodging 0} cents; one-half pint French brandy, 25 cents: one-half pint rum 18} cents; one.half-pint wine, 25 cents; one-half pint apple or peach brandy 12} cents; one-half pint whisky. 6} cents: horse feed, over night. 25 cents; single feed, per horse, 12} cents.

THE RE. LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT.

For some reason. though the land was high, Palestine had been a very sickly place. Many deaths of malarial or malignant fevers had occurred until the feeling became general that the location of the town had something to do with the disorders. This led to the first demand

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY.

for a re-location of the county seat. Taking advantage of this, a few men who desired a change whereby their interests would be benefitted gave wide circulation to the prevailing opinion, and finally culminated the question by securing the passage of the following law:

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That Amassa Joselyn. of Owen County, John Ketchum, of Monroe County, Jonathan Lyon. of Washington County, Ezekiel S. Riley. of Orange County, and William Marshall, of Jack-on County, be and they are hereby appointed Commissioners to relocate the seat of justice of the county of Lawrence. The Commissioners aforesaid, or a majority of them, shall meet at Palestine, in said county, on the second Monday in March next, and after being duly sworn shall proceed to the discharge of their duties, and shall procure by donation or by purchase a quantity of land sufficient to lay out a town of an equal number of lots with the town of Palestine on an eligible and i. calthy situation. They shall receive the same pay and be governed in all respects by the provisions of an act entitled " An Act to establish seats of justice in new counties," approved January 14, 1821.

SEI TION 2. When the Commissioners aforesaid shall have re-located said county seat it shall be the duty of the agent of said county to lay off the said town on a pian as nearly similar as may be with the town of Palestine and with a corre. sponding uumber of lots, and any and every person who shall or may have purchased and paid for any lot or lots, in whole or In part, on completing the pay- ment for the same in the town of Palestine shall have the privilege of exchanging the same for other lot or lots correspondingly situated in the new town that may be laid off by the sald Commissioners, by filing and acknowledging before the Recorder of said county an application for such exchange, and the same shall be entered on record by the said Recorder at the expense of the county, which shall pay to the Recorder therefor 50 cents, and the same shall have the effect of an absolute release of all the right, title and interest of such applicant in and to such lot or lots: and it shall be the duty of the agent on being presented with the Recorder's certificate of such relinquishment and application to give to the applicant a good and sufficient warranty deed of the lot or lots in the new town which shall be iu a corresponding number with the lot or lots relinquished in Palestine: Provided, that the applications for such exchanges shall be made within twelve months after the re-locution of the said county sent.

SEI. 3. The Commissioners aforesaid shall also value the donation which was given to the said county of Lawrence for the county seat at Palestine, not taking into consideration any improvements made thereon, and the value thereof shall be refunded to the persons who donated the same, or their legal representations out of the moneys arising from the sale of such town lots or other public property as may belong 10 said county.

St.C. 4. The Sheriff of the county of Lawrence shall notify the Commissioners aforesakdl of their appointment by this aet, and the time and place of meeting: for which he shall receive such compensation as by the Board of Justices of said county shall be deemed just and reasonable to be pald out of the county treasury of said county.

SEL. 5. Any person owning any lot or lots in the town of Palestine on which any buildings are erected, and who shall feel himself aggrieved by the re-location of -all county seat, may at any time within twelve months after the passage of this act make application to the Board of Justices of said county to have the said lot and buildings valued; and it shall be the duty of the Board of Justices there- upon to appoint one Commissioner, the applicant another, and the two Commis siotters a third, neither of whom shall be residents in said county, of any kin to the applicant or the owners of any real estate therein, who shall meet at Palestine on

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY.

some day, to be agreed on by themselves, within thirty days after their appoint. ment, of which timely notice shall be given by the applicant, and after taking an oath faithfully and impartially to discharge their duty, shall view and value the lot or lots and buildings so improved in Palestine and the lot or lots correspondingly situated in the new town: and they shall certify the difference in the value thereof to the Clerk of said county, to be by him laid before the Board of Justices, and if the difference should be in favor of the lot in Palestine to be allowed and paid. as required in the third section of this act. The said Commissioners appointed under this section shall be allowed the sum of one dollar per day each for their services. to be paid by the county: Provided, however, that the applicant for such valuation shall first file in the Recorder's office of said county an application and relinquish- ment of the same nature, and to leave the same effect as is provided for in the sec- ond section of this act.

SEC. 6. The agent of said county shall reserve ten per cent out of the proceeds of the sale of such lots as may be sold for the use of sald county in the said re-locat. ed county seat for the use of a county library, which shall be paid over in the same manner as is now provided for by law.

SEC. 7. The Board of Justices for the said county of Lawrence shall. as soon as practicable, commence the erection of the necessary public buildings at said new county seat, and the Circuit and other courts of said county shall be holden at Paies- tine until the sald buildings shall be ready for their reception. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the Indiana Journal.

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History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 8

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 199-?] Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.] Number of Pages: 954

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 199-?]
Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.]
Number of Pages: 954