USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 24
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 24
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EARLY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
As near as can be learned from the records the following served as justices of the peace in Monroe county, down to 1836:
1818-James Bigger, William Matlock, William Edmundson, John Barnes, William Chambers, Jonathan Nichols, James Wright, John Matlock.
1819-William Hardin, James Borland.
1820-Joseph Baugh and Joshua H. Ludes.
1821-Daniel Hawkins, Ellery Woodward and Samuel Dodd.
1823-John Swift, James Mitchell, Isaac Pauley, Samuel Hartsock, David Kellough, Elisha Pollard, James Crane, Joseph Reeves.
1824-William Hardin.
1825-Michael Buskirk, John Bowland, Mr. Banner, Mr. Brunnett, William Jones, Joseph Baugh, Acquilla Rogers.
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1826-Elzy Woodward.
1827-James Mitchell, David Kellough, Elisha Pollard, Benjamin Chan- dler, Jacob Mosser, David Borrow, James Wright.
1828-William Hite, Alexander Buchanan.
1829 -- James Crane, Joseph Reeves, G. H. Johnson, Isaac Buskirk, Isaac Gillaspi, David Byers.
1830-George Parks, Henry Burkett, Acquilla Rogers.
1831-W. B. Mars, James Kippe, Jesse Renow.
1832-John W. Lee, James Snodgrass, Jonathan Rogers.
1833-David Kellough, David Paddock, David Barrow, James Brum- mett, John Davis, Benjamin Chandler, Samuel Martsock, John C. Marshall, Jacob Hudsonkiller, Ezekiel Hendrickson.
1834-Henry Berkley, D. G. Weddell, Alexander Buchanan, James Crane, G. H. Johnson, Joseph Baugh.
1835-Alexander Johnson, Hugh McClung, Isaac Buskirk, Robert Hicks, John McPhetridge, Emsley Wood, Joseph Mitchell.
1836-F. T. Butler, Andrew Wampler, John N. Berry, William Hite, Elmon Walker, William S. Wright, David Byers, Enos Blair.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
1818-Bartlett Woodward, Michael Buskirk, James Parks.
1819-Elijah Morgan, vice Parks.
1820-William Lowe, vice Buskirk.
1821-Henry Batterton, Michael Buskirk.
1822-Elijah Morgan.
1823-Joshua A. Lucas.
1824-Henry Batterton, vice Lucas. In September, 1824, the justices of the peace were empowered by law to transact the business previously done by the county commissioners. In 1831 the law was changed and three county commissioners were in charge of the affairs of this county.
1831-Joseph Reeves, Samuel Patten, William Jackson.
1832-Isaac W. Young, vice Jackson.
1833-Elijah Morgan, vice Patten. In 1834 county business again passed to the board of justices and so continued until 1839, since which time three county commissioners have without interruption done the business.
In 1838 and 1839 as high as nineteen justices assembled to do the work which has since been transacted by three men. Gideon Walker, 1830, for one year ; George Finley, 1839, for two years; Benjamin Rogers, 1839, for three
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
years; Isaac Buskirk, 1840; James Finley, 1841; Benjamin Rogers, 1842; Benjamin Neeld, 1843; Isaac Buskirk, 1844; George Finley, 1845; Benja- min Neeld, 1846; David Barrow, 1847; George Finley, 1848; John Graham, 1849; I. S. Buskirk, 1850; Joseph S. Walker, 1851; Henry Eller, 1852; David Barrow, 1853; Benjamin Rogers, 1854: Henry Eller, 1855, David Barrow, 1856; James Carmichael, 1857: Rueben Ward, 1858; Thomas Y. Rader, 1859; James Carmichael, 1860; James Small, 1861; David Barrow, 1862; Thomas Oliphant, 1863; George Eller, 1864; David Barrow, 1865; Clelland F. Doods, 1860; James Small, 1867; T. Y. Rader 1868; Samuel H. Phillips, 1869; George Eller, 1870; John Hupp, 1871 ; F. M. Oliphant, 1872; John Waldron, 1872; W. E. Wood, 1874; R. M. Wylie, 1875; George Eller, 1876; William Peterson, 1877; J. D. Handy, 1878; John Huntington, 1879; W. S. Walker, 1880; J. D. Handy, 1881; William B. Baker, 1882; B. P. Burton, 1883; Gilmore and McCulla, 1886; Patterson and Clay ; Gilmore and Walker; Welch, Huntington and Sherlock, 1888; George W. Fletcher, James M. Miller, 1896; James F. Eller, John Sure, 1898; James Davis, George East, 1900; James W. Davis, J. W. Miller, 1902; Jacob Miller, Samuel Bennett, 1904 ; B. F. Cooter, O. W. Butcher, 1906; O. L. Fletcher, L. Dunlap, 1908; John C. Clay, L. Dunlap, 1910; W. S. Walker, S. Nisely, 1912.
LOCAL OPTION ELECTION, 1909.
At the local option election held in Monroe county, May 25, 1909, the number of votes for local option cast in the county was 2,619 and those cast against the proposition was 2,200, giving a majority for local option of 419.
CHAPTER VII.
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
. While the stone industry is, perhaps, of more financial importance than that of agriculture in Monroe county, yet as the early and many of the later years were blessed with the products of the soil in greater or less abundance, this branch of industry should find a place in the annals of the county. As will be observed later on in this chapter, the pioneers were enthusiastic in the organization and maintainance of agricultural societies and county fair associations.
In 1836, from the county auditor's reports it is gleaned that the county then had 1,252 voters who paid poll tax ; it had 72,480 acres of cultivated land, valued at $699,383.
The following statistical table will be admissible in this connection :
Townships.
Polls.
Cultivated Lands. 20,435
Value Lands. $162,905
Richland
18I
Jackson
55
Perry
I28
4.205
49,207
Bean Blossom
123
10,20I
88.217
Clear Creek
76
5,517
47,134
Indian Creek
175
13,184
149,156
Salt Creek
85
2,027
7,975
Washington
60
1,064
9,600
Benton
66
1,050
8,400
Bloomington
303
14,797
176,739
1,252
72,480
$ 699.383
In 1909 the state reports gave Monroe county the following array of agricultural statistics, which bespeak much for this branch of industry. The corn crop was 36,860 acres, producing in round numbers one million bushels, or an average of about twenty-five bushels per acre: its value was placed at $604,000.
(17)
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
The wheat crop was placed at 16,444 acres, yielding 188,220 bushels, the value of which was one dollar per bushel.
The oat crop was listed at 7.923 acres, with a total number of bushels of 156,000, valued at $62,540.
The rye crop was only 72 acres, with a total of 826 bushels.
The barley crop was in 1909 one acre, producing 25 bushels, valued at $21.
The buckwheat crop amounted to 25 acres, with a yield of 25 bushels, valued at $19.
The Irish potato crop was 348 acres, yielding 27,942 bushels, valued at $14.000
The onion crop was five acres, yielding 616 bushels, valued at $370.
The tobacco crop was confined to three acres, yielding 375 pounds, valued at $26.
The tomato crop was thirteen acres, yielding 31 tons, valued at $248.
Timothy hay, 11,000 tons ; alfalfa, 72 tons ; clover, 2,491 tons.
The number of horses on hand December 31. 1909. was placed at 3.998.
The number of mules and asses was 651, valued at $73,000.
The number of gallons of milk produced was 2,228,000; butter, in pounds 353,401.
The beef and stock cattle sold was 2,514, valued at $73,000.
The number of hogs over three months old was 5,375 ; died of disease, 266.
The sheep numbered 5,143; sold, 3,059: wool, 24,525 pounds, valued at $4,764.
The number of hens and other fowls sold was 3,455 dozen ; the average number of laying hens was 4,524: dozens of eggs produced, 405.294.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
May, 1835, seems to have been the date of the first attempt to form an agricultural society in Monroe county. By petition the county board of com- missoners ordered that three hundred copies of a notice be published of a meeting to be held at the old court house on the last Saturday in May, in pur- suance of an act of the state Legislature. entitled "An Act for the Encourage- ment of Agriculture," approved February 7, 1835. This call was for the pur- pose of organizing an agricultural society. This meeting was held and there was an excellent attendance. the result being the formation of a society, as will be observed by the following certificate : "We, Michael Buskirk, chair-
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIAN.A.
man, and Craven P. Hester, secretary, of the Agricultural Society of Monroe County aforesaid, certify that we were elected according to law for the offices above mentioned, and that said society has elected its officers and organized itself agreeably to the act of the Legislature entitled 'An Act for the En- couragement of Agriculture,' approved February 7. 1835. Done on the last Saturday of May. 1835. Given under our hands June 4, 1835.
"MICHAEL BUSKIRK, "C. P. HESTER."
There appears no record, or even a trace of an intimation. that any- thing further was done toward carrying out the original plans.
But about 1850 a society was formed here and one or possibly more an- nual fairs were held, but no positive record appears of even these exhibits of agricultural products in the county. In 1855 the society was revived and it is known that Austin Seward was its first president and Lewis Bollman its secretary. The directors of this society were Henry Eller, Asher Labertew, Austin Seward. W. S. Stormont, Joshua Shreve, Luke Sanders, Joseph Bunger, James Givens, Edward Blakely. Richard Moore, Willis Spencer, Monroe Houston, Thomas Payne and Lewis Bollman.
The first fair of this society was held at Bloomington. Wednesday and Thursday, October 10 and 11, 1855. There were premiums offered on one hundred and sixty-nine articles, covering all farm products, household ar- ticles, implements of agriculture, live stock, fruits, vegetables and garden products. No premiums ran higher than three dollars and none less than fifty cents. The terms of admission were. per day, twenty cents ; each horse and buggy, twenty cents ; single horse, ten cents ; children under ten years of age, free.
The fair held in 1856 had receipts amounting to $533.20 and the deficit at the close of the fair was recorded as $61.55.
EQUESTRIAN FAIRS.
In 1857 a popular organization known as the Union Equestrian Society was established. It was a district society, and was very well received and at- tended for many years. It was alternately held at Gosport, Bloomington and Bedford. A Miss Jackson won the first prizes for a number of years, despite all opposers. The 1858 program read as follows :
"Open to the World-Second annual fair of the Union Equestrian Society, composed of Lawrence, Owen and Monroe counties, to be held at
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
the District Fair Grounds, near Gosport, Indiana, on Thursday and Friday, the 21st and 22d of October, next, 1858. The exhibition grounds, contain- ing thirteen acres, are the most beautiful in the state, well fenced in, with two wells of water within the inclosure, and a splendid track for gaited horses-three times around for one mile. Two hundred and sixty-five dollars in cash premiums! So bring on all your fine saddle horses, harness and match horses. The premiums are worth competing for. A magnificent premium will be awarded to the best and second best female equestrian. Also to the best male equestrian. Young ladies and gentlemen from every sec- tion are invited to be present and make an exhibition of their proficiency in the art of horse management and equestrian merit. Certainly no art is more desirable than that of complete horsemanship, and every young lady and gentleman in our proud Hoosier state can lay some just claim to profi- ciency in the art. Come on, then; if you cannot make the display that your friends can, come and do your best, which is laudable."
In these latter days of fast spinning automobiles and motorcycles, the art of horse-back riding has been cast aside by both men and women except in the larger cities, where it is still considered a great accomplishment and excellent as a health giver to both sexes.
These earlier fairs were all held just to the east of Bloomington on land owned at one time by Mr. Dunn, where a small yard was leased and enclosed, but it was too small to admit of racing. Here annual fairs were held until the opening of the Civil war, when all such matters were aban- doned, men and women being all too busy in aiding the general government in putting down the unholy Rebellion. In 1868, however, these county fairs were resumed, and continued to be held, with few exceptions, each year until in the eighties, when they went down again. The later fairs were held on new grounds, west of Bloomington.
For various reasons, among which is the lack of interest, generally, and more especially on account of the growing interest and magnitude of the state fair, the county fair in more than sixty per cent. of the counties in Indiana has ceased to exist, so far as practical utility and annual exhibitions of stock, grain, fruits, grasses and the arts and domestic affairs is concerned. It has been a number of years since a county fair in Monroe county has been in the minds of the people, who really should have such things at heart.
CHAPTER VIII.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF MONROE COUNTY.
The pioneers were not so much absorbed in land entries and clearing up farms that they neglected the education of their children, for it is found that in the winter of 1818-19, the same season that the town began its existence, school was taught in the log court house. The first teacher was probably Addison Smith. The next school was taught in a building erected in the summer of 1819, at a point where later stood the old seminary. Two years later another log school house had to be built in order to accommo- date the rapidly growing village, it being located in the eastern portion of the town. In 1822, or possibly 1823, the first brick building was erected for school purposes, which, with the two log cabin buildings and other schools taught at private homes, supplied the place with suitable schools for a num- ber of years. In the thirties, forties and fifties other houses were provided for schools, mostly, however, for the younger scholars. These schools were all of the old style subscription order, that being before there was a free school system in Indiana worthy of mention. Churches were frequently used for school purposes, and the second stories of business blocks on the Square were rented for a series of years by educators, who, in time, trans- formed them into seats of learning. These schools were largely for the younger pupils, too young to enter the seminary or university. Prof. D. E. Hunter was prominent as a teacher in the fifties and on into the sixties. The teachers of the schools were mostly young ladies, who were scattered throughout the town in various improvised school houses. No grading was attempted ; scholars, large and small, attended the school nearest to their residence, or where the "school-mam" or "master" was best liked by the parents. Many of these schools were of the highest excellence, being taught by graduates of the seminary or some university from abroad. Not until 1863-middle of the Civil war period-was there any attempt at grading the schools here in Bloomington. Professor Hunter being the first to lead off in this important feature of education. A public meeting was held in July, 1863. a large number being present. Professor Hunter explained the character of a high school. Other meetings were hield and the first term of a
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
graded school in the county was opened early in September, with Professor Hunter as principal; assistants in the old Baptist church were Miss Mattie Cherry, Miss Lizzie Anderson and Miss Laura Verbryke; assistants in the new building, Miss M. McCalla; assistant in the Second Presbyterian church, Miss Mary Anderson, Professor Hunter held sway in the "new building," which was none other than the old tannery, then standing on the site of what was later the high school building. Milton Hite was trustee and an- nounced that the school system was "free to all in the incorporation." It was necessary to increase the school fund by several hundred dollars, which amount was secured by subscription among the citizens.
Soon after the school started, another primary department was estab- lished with Mrs. S. S. Getzendanner as teacher. The old Center school house, as it was so long styled, was used, also a frame building on Seventh street, between Lincoln and Grant streets. The old tannery building was thoroughly fitted up and four departments were instituted in 1864. This seems to have been about the state of affairs until the high school building was begun in 1871 and completed in 1875, costing fifty thousand dollars. Here should be mentioned such principals and superintendents as Profs. D. E. Hunter, E. P. Cole, G. W. Lee, James M. Wilson, W. R. Houghton and Miss M. H. McCalla.
VARIOUS TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.
In Perry township, where the schools were reported forty years ago as being superior to any other in the country districts of Monroe county, schools were commenced in the twenties-one in the neighborhood of the Pauleys and one in the southwestern corner of the township. By 1854 not less than five houses were standing in which school was taught, all being log structures. In every advancement, Perry was first to adopt advanced methods, and in 1883 there were eight school houses, and more of them brick than in any other section of the county. The six brick buildings in 1883 in one township in this county was indeed a monument to the good sense of Perry's people in educational matters. These buildings were mostly twenty- four by thirty feet in size.
In Bean Blossom township the first school was taught in the Putnam neighborhood, about 1828, by a Mr. Taylor. The house was a log cabin, vacated by some pioneer settler. A school was, about that date, started in the Buskirk vicinity. In 1836 there were four schools established-one east of Mt. Tabor, one west of that place, one a mile and a half south of Stines-
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
ville, and the fourth three miles west of the last named village. In 1846 there were six schools in the township. Three famous teachers during the decade of the thirties were Eusebius, Euraneus and Ambrose Hinkle, broth- ers, who were sons of wealthy slave-holders of Tennessee. All were fine young men. The elder of these was a Lutheran minister and used to preach the Word of Life to German members of his church, who could not well understand English. Clinton C. Owens was another well educated and polished teacher of pronounced success. In 1880 this township had nine good frame school houses, all about twenty by twenty-four feet.
In Richland township the first school was taught during the winter of 1822-23, in a log cabin which stood about where later was built the residence of William Draper. The building was of round logs and a huge fireplace graced its enclosure. It took in logs six feet long and as big as could well be rolled into place. A log of the walls was cut out on the south side, over which greased paper was placed instead of window glass, which was then but little in use in this part of the West. The first teacher, William Raw- lins, was also the county's first treasurer. The term of school was three months. Many prominent men there learned the rudiments of their later higher education. The building referred to was used about five years. Porter Edmundson built at his own expense the next building and in it he taught school. Benjamin Reeves taught in the southern portion of the township in 1823-24. In 1856 the township had eight school buildings, some being good frame structures. In 1880 the reports show that the township had five frame and two good brick buildings. In Ellettsville, prior to 1855, various buildings were used for school purposes, and at that time a new building of frame, with two rooms, was erected, and used till the brick building was built at a cost of seven thousand dollars. It was built by the township and was occupied by five good instructors.
In Van Buren township the first school was taught about 1824, at what afterwards became known as Harmony, Jonathan Nichols being the first . teacher. The building was a vacated log cabin of a pioneer, who had moved away from the county. Probably the next schools were held at the village of Harmony, under the supervision of the "Blue Springs Community" (see account of this community elsewhere). In 1828 a school was started in the southeast part of the township, and one about 1830 in the north part. In 1847 there were eight schools in this township. With the enacting of the 1853 school laws, new buildings went up here and there in this township, and delighted were both pupils and patrons, and teachers as well. In 1880-
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
81 the reports show the township to have had eight good frame school houses, all twenty-two by twenty-eight feet in size.
In Indian Creek township it is believed the first school was taught near the cabin home of Elmore Walker, about 1824, and it is certain that another was taught in the Burch neighborhood and one in the Dick neighborhood about that date. Two of these schools were held in vacated log cabins. Winter schools were the rule then. The Burches were among the earliest teachers. In 1846 the township had five school houses and ten years later eight were found, all prosperous for the day in which they existed. In 1880-81 the township had nine excellent frame school houses and nine school districts. From that date on the schools have kept pace with the advancement in state educational and public school affairs.
In Clear Creek township the first school was probably taught in 1822 near the old Woodward homestead, a short distance south of present Smith- ville. It was held in a vacated log cabin. Another early school was near Fairfax, and still another in the Rogers settlement. The Chambers were the founders of a school about 1830. In 1840 the old log school house at Har- rodsburg was erected and used for both school and church purposes. A school was taught at Fairfax in 1838. The Harrodsburg building was burned in 1851, when a small frame store building took its place. Dr. James Beatley, who was a better teacher than physician, was among the pioneer instructors. A better, larger two-story frame building was pro- vided at Harrodsburg, at a cost of one thousand dollars, in Civil war days. In 1881 the township had nine frame school houses, twenty by twenty-six feet in size, and there were nine districts.
In Washington township, during the thirties, in the Colier and Bales neighborhoods, there were probably the first schools of the township. These schools were taught in the rudest of rude school buildings-simply pole cabins, and in which the children of two, or sometimes three families as- sembled for instruction. Then it was that children in this part of the coun- try went to school winter and summer barefooted. The child would get so used to going without foot protection that the foot became hard and calloused. Sometimes, on severe winter mornings the child might heat a sea- soned hickory board by the fire at home and fasten it to his foot, then start on the run for the school house. These incidents actually happened in sev- eral neighborhoods in Washington township in the pioneer days. By 1880 the township had become fully equipped with good school houses, of which the reports say there were eight, all frame structures. Today one visiting
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
this section of the county would scarce believe that such hardships as have been recited could ever have transpired in the township.
In Benton township the first school was taught near the residence of Hugh McClung about 1838. The next was in the southern part of the township, and the third near what is now the village of Unionville. In the first school named were the children of early settlers-the Coxes, Richard- sons, Robinsons, Youngs, Mosiers, McClungs, Alexanders and others. By 1856 the township had been provided with five fairly constructed school buildings. In 1881 there were eight good frame buildings and an average attendance of about thirty-six in each district. Since then the school system here, in common with all other Monroe townships, has materially improved.
In Polk township the first school was taught in the vicinity of the Todds, early in the forties; the name of the teacher has long since passed from the memory of those now living there. The house was of unhewed logs, and had been built by some squatter who had sickened of the country and left for greener pastures-to do better, or perchance worse! In 1856 the township had only four school buildings. Mr. Todd donated the land on section 26 for a school house, and William Hunter the land for a school on section 31, range 2 east ; the latter included the fine spring of water near by. Early in the fifties the Methodist church, called Chapel Hill, was organized - in this neighborhood. In 1880 the township had seven frame and two poor log school houses, with an average attendance of thirty-seven pupils.
In Marion township schools were not established until late in the forties, and even then they were few and poorly conducted and attended. The first houses were of logs, rudely built, and were indeed uninviting places until cold weather came on, when the huge fireplaces were filled with roaring logs of hickory and birch, casting a deep, dark red glow on the dingy walls. Early in the fifties a good school was opened in the Hendrickson neighbor- hood, and for a time was the only really good common school conducted in the township. Later, one equally as good was opened in the northern part of the township, in the Stepp neighborhood. In 1879 there were five fairly good schools within this township. The early residents in the southern por- tion were compelled to attend school at Unionville, in order to get the relig- jous instruction desired by the parents.
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