USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 8
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 8
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83
LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
In 1851 there was a new building erected on the farm by Levi Overman, costing $790, and was moved into in November of that year. At that date a visiting committee has charge of the asylum and farm. The expense of the place in 1855-56 was $1,619. Each permanent pauper cost the county $80 per year in those times. The rules of maintaining this institution remained the same from 1855 until about 1869. The cost of keeping the poor in 1859-60 was $2,132 ; 1862-63. $1.941. In 1867 the farm rent was free to the superintendent and he was allowed $140 a year to keep each permanent pauper. In 1864-65 the expense had grown to $4,412: 1868 it was $5,004. In 1873 there were eighteen paupers in the asylum. Early in the seventies Archibald Anderson was paid $1.700 to erect a new frame poor house. It was two stories high. In 1884 there were thirty inmates in the asylum.
Among the superintendents of this institution may be recalled the fol- lowing: Greenbury Owens, 1842 on for a number of years; James W. Freeman. John Colwell and Owens served jointly for some time. In 1846 M. A. Malott was superintendent. In 1847 came J. T. Woodward; Jonathan Loveall was superintendent three years in the forties. In 1857-58 Daniel Baker was superintendent: then came John Henderson, 1859-60: W. C. Mitchell, 1861-70; William Day from 1870 on into the eighties.
The state reports show that in 1911 the poor relief fund amounted to $3,067. The receipts from the farm that year was only $249.50.
The present superintendent is Clay Tirey, who is paid a salary and all supplies purchased for the asylum are by bidders among the merchants in the county. The same old asylum buildings that were named above are still in use by the county.
FINANCES OF THE COUNTY.
Like individuals, counties are known by their financial standing. No record of the finances of Lawrence can be given for the earlier years, as the records have long since been scattered. For the year 1833 the total receipts of the county was $3, 145 and the expenditures for that year were, elections, $12.75; wolf scalps, $3.00; poor, $187; attorneys, $40; county board, $48; bailiffs, $41.50; third payment on court house, $1.333: jailor's fees, $32.31 ; assessor's fees, $50; fuel. $19.50: the pay of road viewers, $3.00; contested election, $14: road supervisors, $102.25: associate judges, $36.00; grand jurors, $67; petit jurors, $88: delinquencies, $246: treasurer's fees, $79; collector's fees. $161 ; orders redeemed, $450: cash on hand, $123.27.
At the end of 1835 the county treasurer had on hand $271.65. At the close of 1845 there was a balance on hand of $1,415, and the expenses of the
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
county ·that year had been $3,541. In 1850 the county's expense was $2,730 and the year closed with a balance on hand of $1,352; in 1853 the balance on hand was $809; in 1856 the county expended for all purposes, $5, 170, and had on hand at the close of the year $1,669; in 1860 the cash left on hand, after spending $13,203. was $4,836; in 1863 there was on hand, after paying out $7,821, the sum of $6,679; in 1868, after paying out expenses, $36,988, the sum of $8,998; in 1870 there was on hand $4,098, after paying the running expenses of $26,987; in 1873 there was on hand $11,932, after paying out $36, 141. In 1875-76 there was on hand $22,140; in 1877-78 there were receipts amounting to bridge bond sales, $19,800; county revenue, $49,701 ; bridges, $23,402; county officers, $3,983; balance on hand, $1,454. In 1884 the county indebtedness amounted to $68,248.00, according to the account kept by Auditor Isaac H. Crim.
With the passing of years and the growth of the county the expenses have necessarily grown higher. The matter of providing modern roads, bridges, schools and many other internal improvements have all added to the expenses and made the amounts collected much greater.
For example, as early as 1819 a bridge two hundred and eighty feet long and sixteen feet wide was built over Guthrie creek on the Palestine and Bono road, at a cost of over $2,000. The next bridge of importance was over Salt creek, built in 1832-33, at a cost of $1,258; various other bridge struc- tures prior to 1870 cost the county $25,000. From that date up to 1884 the main bridges of Lawrence county were the Salt Creek, in 1870, $2,400; White River, at Davis Ferry, $27,000; White River, at Tunnelton, $27,000; White River, at Dawson's Ferry, $25,000; White River, at Williams' Ferry, $19,000. These bridges were all built nearly thirty years ago, and many if not all have now been replaced by better structures and have cost vast sums of money. Then the improvement of the roads of the county has called for an endless number of bridges, large and small, which have to be kept in good repair by the taxpayers of the county.
The financial statement of the county officers for 1911 gives this exhibit : Total receipts of treasurer, $136,511.91 ; total expenditures, $96,532.02. The county's debt in 1911 was, for county bonds, $83,000; the amount on hand was $35,801. and the net debt amounted to $47,198.00.
In January. 1912, there were gravel roads in Lawrence county to the amount of three hundred and sixty-five miles. The cost of repairs on these roads at that time was about $36,722 per year. The total outstanding road bonds December 31, 1911, was $354,805.00.
1
85
LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
ASSESSED VALUATION IN 1912.
The assessed valuations of property in Lawrence county, by townships, in 1912, less exemptions, was as follows: Bono township, $406,910; Flinn township, $290,000; Guthrie township, $889,185; Indian Creek township, $945,075; Marion township, $1,662,915; Marshall township, $1, 112, 195; Perry township, $409,845; Pleasant Run township, $689,820: Shawswick township, $1,796,435; Spice Valley township, $692,635.
CHAPTER VI.
COUNTY, STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICAL REPRESENTATION.
While it is not the aim of the writer to go in detail into the political conditions that have obtained in Lawrence county during its history, yet it will be well to note the men who have held local and higher offices from this county, with a few facts concerning the political campaigns, especially the results in presidential elections, etc.
During the early days in this county the vote was usually Democratic, and generally by large majorities. The returns for many years were not preserved. hence it is impossible to note them in this chapter. However, the votes cast in the fifties, as shown below, will give the reader of today an understanding of the complexion of politics at that period of the county's history. When very popular, a Whig candidate sometimes slipped into office, but generally it was Democrats who held the offices from this portion of Indiana. The Free Soil movement, of the forties, had but little following here. From 1858 to 1860 the county gradually went toward the Republican side in politics, and so remained for many years. The Greenback and other independent parties have also had a respectable following among the voters of Lawrence county.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
Commencing with 1852, the results at presidential contests have been as follows : In 1852, the standard bearers of the Democratic party were Pierce and King, who polled, in this county, a total vote of 1, 113, as against the Whig candidates, Winfield Scott and Graham, who had 1,054 votes in the county.
In 1856 there were three Presidential candidates in the field, Democratic, Republican and American parties. The total vote for the first named party, with Buchanan and Breckenridge as candidates, was 1, 126; Fremont and Dayton, Republican, had 480 votes, and Fillmore and Donelson, of the Ameri- can party (the "Know Nothings"), polled 660 votes.
In 1860 four tickets were in the field, Republican, Democratic, Southern
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Democrats, and Union party. By townships the vote of that eventful cam- paign was as follows :
Lincoln, Douglas, Breckenridge,
Bell,
Townships.
Republican. Democratic. Southern Dem. Union.
Shawswick
317
130
216
61
Bono
80
87
4
5
Marion
217
167
37
79
Spice Valley
I32
91
8
41
Indian Creek
96
56
50
5
Perry
141
41
23
Marshall
79
18
28
12
Pleasant Run
55
96
31
I
Flinn
41
IOI
I28
4
Total
1,158
787
525
208
In 1864 the result was: Total in county, for Lincoln and Johnson, Rep., 1,423 ; for McClellan and Pendleton, Dem., 1,087.
In 1868, the total vote for Grant and Colfax, Rep., was 1.781 ; for Sey- mour and Blair, Dem., 1,468.
In 1872, Grant and Wilson, Rep., had 1,833, and Greeley and Brown, Liberal Democrat, 1,503.
In 1876, Hayes and Wheeler, Rep., had 1.941, as against Tilden and Hendricks, Dem., 1,669; Cooper and Cary, Ind., 90.
1880, the three tickets were the Republican, Democratic and Indepen- dent. The votes cast stood as follows: Garfield and Arthur, Rep., 2,057; Hancock and English, Dem., 1,701; Weaver and Chambers, Ind .. 146.
1884, Blaine and Logan, Rep., 2,336; Cleveland and Hendricks, Dem., 1,716.
1888, Harrison and Morton, Rep., 2,256; Cleveland and Thurman, Dem., 1,814.
1892, Harrison and Reed, Rep., 2,529: Cleveland and Stevenson, Dem., 2,134 : Bidwell, Proh., 34; Weaver, Nat. Dem., 157.
1896, Mckinley and Hobart, Rep., 3,103; Bryan and Sewall, Dem., 2,421 ; Levering, Proh., 29; Palmer, Nat. Dem., 13.
1900, Mckinley and Roosevelt, Rep., 3.535 : Bryan and Stevenson, Dem., 2,558.
1904. Roosevelt and Fairbanks, Rep., 3.924: Parker and Davis, Dem.,
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
2,672; Swallow, Proh., 97: Thomas E. Watson, Peoples, II; Socialist, 58; Socialist Labor, 12.
1908, Taft and Sherman, Rep., 3,834; Bryan and Kern, Dem., 3,118; Chafin, Proh., 93; Socialist. 119; Social Labor, 4; Independent. 3.
1912, Taft and Sherman, Rep., 1,631: Wilson and Marshall, Dem., 2,579 ; Roosevelt and Johnson, Prog .. 2,106; Proh., 91 ; Socialist, 308: Social Labor, 33.
STATE SENATORS.
John DePauw, 1818; James Gregory, 1821; Samuel Chambers, 1822; John Milroy, 1826: John G. Clendenin, 1829: Samuel Chambers, 1832; Rich- ard W. Thompson, 1836; Gustavus Clark, 1838; George W. Carr, 1841 ; Hugh Hamer, 1844: M. A. Malott, 1847: George G. Dunn. 1850; * *: A. J. Hostetler, 1855: Thomas R. Cobb (Lawrence and Martin counties), 1858; Aaron Houghton ( Martin and Lawrence), 1867; James Hughes (Lawrence and Monroe). 1869; George W. Friedley ( Lawrence and Monroe), 1872; W. B. F. Treat (Lawrence and Monroe), 1877: William Taylor (Lawrence, Monroe and Dubois), 1881 : James H. Willard (Lawrence. Martin and Du- bois). 1883.
The recent state senators have been : William N. McDonald, 1890; Louis Schneck, 1894: T. J. Brooks, 1898; William N. Matthews, 1902: Henry P. Pearson, 1906: Oscar Ratts, 1910.
REPRESENTATIVES.
Samuel Chambers (Orange county ), 1818: Joseph Glover. 1822; Vinson Williams, 1823; William Erwin, 1824; Lewis Roberts, 1826; Vinson Will- iams, 1828; Pleasant Parks, 1829: Hugh L. Livingston and William B. Slaughter, 1832: John Brown and Absalom Fields, 1833; Pleasant Parks and Richard W. Thompson, 1834; R. W. Thompson, Noah Boone. 1835 : Vinson Williams and Noah Boone, 1836; Vinson Williams and Melcher Helmer, 1837; M. Helmer and George W. Carr, 1838: Hugh Hamer and Robert M. Carlton, 1839: H. Hamer and G. W. Carr, 1840: Ralph G. Norvell and John J. Bar- nett. 1841 ; same 1842: R. G. Norvell and William Burton, 1843: W. Burton and Lucian Q. Hoggatt, 1844; G. W. Carr and John Edwards, 1845; same 1846; Samuel W. Short, 1847; G. W. Carr, 1848 (speaker of the House) ; G. W. Carr. 1849: George Isom, 1850: Melcher Helmer, 1851 : David S. Lewis, 1852: *
* *: D. S. Lewis, 1854: * *; Robert Boyd, 1856; Nathaniel Williams, 1861 : Robert Boyd, 1864: Moses F. Dunn, 1866; Will- iam H. Edwards, 1872; A. J. Williams, 1874 : Alfred Guthrie, 1876; Lycurgus
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Dalton, 1878; Joseph Gardner, 1880: James McClelland, 1882: J. H. Willard, 1888; E. A. Gleazen, 1890: Stewart, 1894; Porter, 1894; T. J. Brooks, 1896; R. B. Scott, 1898; S. Adamson, 1900; John H. Edwards, 1902: Edwards. 1904 ; Edwards, 1906; Calvin Faris, 1910; William E. Patton, 1912.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
John Anderson, March, 1818: Samuel W. Biggs, 1819: William Kelsey, 1819; Rollin C. Dewey, 1822; Ezekiel Blackwell, 1823: Rollin C. Dewey, 1824; John Brown, 1828; R. C. Dewey, 1829; Francis F. Williams, 1831 ; Edward C. Moberly, 1832; William Templeton, 1834; A. H. Dunihue, 1835; Joseph Rawlins, 1836: Winthrop Foote, 1839; John W. Thompson, 1841; Henry Davis, 1853; George Sheeks, 1856: Dean Barnes, 1858; Thomas H. Malott, 1862: Hugh Erwin, 1864: John B. Glover, 1868; Robert Kelly. 1872; E. C. Newland, 1874: F. A. Sears, 1877; J. D. Moore, 1880; Robert Kelly, 1882. Robert Kelly, 1884; J. McClelland, 1888; J. N. Daggy, 1890; J. N. Daggy, 1892; J. N. Daggy, 1894: J. N. Daggy, 1896; Brown, 1898; William H. West, 1900: William H. West, 1902 ; Curtis E. Ray, 1904; Curtis E. Ray, 1906; B. Frank Pitman. 1908; B. Frank Pitman, 1910; Lincoln Bur- ton, 1912.
COUNTY RECORDERS.
Robert C. Stotts, March 2, 1818; John Lowrey, 1819: John Brown, 1829; John Vestal, 1831 ; John Lowrey, 1845: Andrew Gelwick, 1852; Charles G. Berry, 1860: W. A. Mathes, 1864; John F. Richards, 1868; William Erwin, Jr., 1875 ; William Erwin, 1880; James H. McPheeters, 1884; James H. Mc- Pheeters, 1888: Frank B. Hitchcock, 1892; - Keithley. 1896: Charles H. Allen, 1904 : Charles H. Allen, 1908; Thomas N. Chapman, 1912.
COUNTY CLERKS.
John Lowrey, 1818; John Brown, 1829; Robert Mitchell, 1832 ; Gustavus Clark, 1845; George A. Thornton, 1852; David Harrison, 1860; John Riley, 1864: John M. Stalker, 1872; Robert H. Carlton, 1880; Thomas V. Thornton, 1884; Thomas V. Thornton, 1888; Isaac H. Crim, 1892 ; Isaac H. Crim, 1896; Boone Leonard, 1900; Boone Leonard, 1904; Elbert J. Stalker, 1908; Fred E. Jackson, 1912.
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
COUNTY AUDITORS.
Before 1841, the clerk was ex-officio auditor. John Peters, 1841 ; James A. Pender, 1855; John M. Harson, 1859; Andrew Gelwick, 1863; Charles T. Woolfolk, 1867; J. E. Dean, 1874; Isaac H. Crim, 1878; Isaac H. Crim, 1882; J. R. Overman, 1886; J. B. Mallott, 1890; J. B. Mallott, 1894; John M. Gainey, 1898; Walter G. Owens, 1902; Walter G. Owens, 1906; Ezra W. Edwards, 1910.
SHERIFFS.
Joseph Glover, 1818; Moses Fell, 1882; Joseph Glover, 1826; Robert Mitchell, 1828; Joseph Glover, 1831 ; Isaac Fish, 1835; Lucian Q. Hoggatt, 1841; Felix L. Raymond, 1843; Andrew Gelwick, 1847; Jesse K-, 1851 ; William W. Cook, 1852; Thomas S. Enochs, 1852; Dixon Cobb, 1855; E. S. Thompson, 1856; J. R. Glover, 1858; Joseph Tincher, 1862; William Daggy, 1864; V. V. Williams, 1868; Isaac Newkirk, 1872; M. A. Burton, 1876; F. T. Dunihue, 1878; J. M. McDowell, 1882; William Day, 1886; Will- iam Day, 1888; R. W. Day, 1890; George W. Holmes, 1892; George W. Holmes, 1894; E. R. Dobbins, 1896; E. R. Dobbins, 1898; James F. Smith, 1900 ; James F. Smith, 1902; Thomas W. Box, 1904; Thomas W. Box, 1906; James L. Gyger, 1908; William H. Sitler, 1910; William H. Sitler, 1912.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
Robert Mitchell, 1818; William Duncan, 1828; Boliver Duncan, 1852; Lycurgus Duncan, 1858; Dodridge Short, 1870; John B. Mallott, 1872; John Mallott, 1874; J. B. Mallott, 1876; John B. Mallott, 1878; John Mallott, 1880; John B. Mallott, 1880; John B. Mallott, 1884: L. Duncan, 1886; L. Duncan, 1888; L. Duncan, 1890; Henry McIntire, 1892; Henry McIntire, 1894; L. Duncan, 1896; Quincy Short, 1898; Noble McPheeters, 1902; Ernest Hunter, 1902; William M. James, 1906; William M. James, 1908; William H. Field, 1910; Henry Kindred, 1912.
PROBATE JUDGES.
Benjamin Blackwell. 1824; William Erwin, 1829; Rollin C. Dewey, 1832; Asher Wilcox, 1833; William Duncan, 1836; Isaac N. Senter, 1844; William Newland, 1846.
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
John Milroy and William Erwin, 1818; William Field, 1890, vice Milroy ; Joseph Athon, 1831 ; Pleasant Padget, 1831 ; Elzy Woodward, 1835; John Whitted, 1838; Joseph Hostetler, 1841; Alexander Butler, 1845; John Whitted, 1849; Zachariah Whitted, 1851.
COUNTY JUDGES.
Judges court common pleas : Jeremiah Bundy, 1860; William Herod, 1868; Archibald C. Voris (circuit court), 1870; E. D. Pearson (circuit court), 1878; E. D. Pearson, 1884; H. C. Duncan, 1890; W. H. Martin, 1896; James Benjamin Wilson, 1902; James B. Wilson, 1908; Joseph Shea, 1910; Oren O. Swails, 1912.
COUNTY PROSECUTORS.
Ambrose B. Carlton, 1860; Archibald C. Voris, 1868; Joseph Throop (circuit court), 1870; Wilson Swingle (circuit court), 1870; George G. Dunn, 1876; W. H. Edwards, 1878; L. Duncan, 1880; J. E. Henley, 1882; J. E. Henley, 1884: Simpson Lowe, 1886; S. B. Lowe, 1890; Edmondson, 1892; Edmondson, 1894; J. A. Zaring, 1896; J. A. Zaring, 1898; Robert G. Miller, 1900; Robert G. Miller, 1902; Fred N. Fletcher, 1904; Fred N. Fletcher, 1906; John H. Underwood, 1908; William M. Louden, 1910; John H. Underwood.
SCHOOL EXAMINERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS.
Wiley Dixon, Newton F. Malott and James T. Shields, 1858; Newton F. Malott, Eli Baldwin and Wiley Dixon, 1859; A. C. Vorhis, John L. Stewart and Dodridge Short, 1860; W. N. Bullett, A. C. Vorhis and Dod- ridge Short, 1861; George Sheeks, June, 1861, under new law for three years alone. A. D. Lemon, September, 1861, vice Sheeks, gone to the war ; J. M. Stalker, 1866; William M. May, 1867; James B. Crowe, 1868; William B. Chrisler, 1872; James P. Funk, 1873; first superintendent, William B. Chrisler, 1874; E. B. Thornton, 1879; W. B. Chrisler, 1881; W. D. Ellison, 1883; G. M. Morman, W. E. Stipp, R. W. Tirey, L. B. Sanders.
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIAŅA.
CORONERS.
Thomas Henton, 1818; Peter Harmason, 1819; Joseph Rawlins, 1820; Samuel F. Irwin, 1824; T. H. Briggs, 1826; Elbert Jeter, 1828; Russell Mitchell, 1832; E. P. Kennedy, 1833; Lewis Younger, 1837; E. P. Kennedy, 1841 : James W. Freeman, 1845; Henry Anderson, 1847; L. W. Thompson, 1850; Henry C. Hardy. 1852; Christian Seibert, 1854; Henry Anderson, 1856; William A. Cook, 1857: J. P. Potter, 1860; H. C. Hardy, 1861 ; John Reath, 1863; A. G. Young, 1864; Charles Cramer, 1865: W. C. Carson, 1867; Lewis Younger, 1870; Joseph Stinehazen, 1872; Ezekiel Stout, 1874; Joseph Stinehazen, 1876; Alfred C. Harrison, 1877; Alfred Hamm, 1878; A. C. Hamm, 1880; A. C. Hamm. 1882; Hamilton Stilson, 1884; Julian Calonge, 1886: J. C. Pearson, 1888: J. C. Pearson. 1890; James Pearson, 1892: Dr. Rariden, 1894; Harvey Voyles, 1896; Harvey Voyles, 1898; Perry Woolery, 1890; Richard E. Plummer, 1902; Richard E. Plummer, 1904; Harvey Voyles, 1906; Harvey Voyles, 1908: George L. Gibbons, 1910; Thomas L. Harris, 1912.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Ambrose Carlton. Thomas Beazley and James Stotts, March, 1818; James Fulton, 1819, vice Carlton; Richard Williams, 1819, vice Fulton : James Wagoner, 1820, vice Stotts; James S. Mitchell, 1820, vice Wagoner; Benjamin Blackwell, 1821, vice Beazley; Winthrop Foote, 1821, vice Black- well; William McLain, 1821, vice Williams: Moses Lee. 1822, vice McLain; John R. Crooke, 1823, vice Mitchell; John D. Laughlin, 1823, vice Foote; John Brown. 1824, vice Crooke; Winthrop Foote, 1824, vice Laughlin. In September, 1824, the justices of the peace took the place of the county com- missioners in the transaction of county business, but were replaced by the following commissioners in September, 1831: Samuel F. Irwin, Absalom Fields, John Newland, 1831 ; Hugh Hamer, 1833, vice Fields; Joseph Raw- lins, 1834. vice Irwin; Vinson Williams. 1835, vice Rawlins ; Thomas Lemon and William Fish, 1836, vice Williams and Newland: William Johnson, 1838, vice Lemon ; Felix G. Rawlins, 1839, vice Hamer ; Vinson R. Williams, 1840, vice Fish : Thomas Dixon, 1841, vice Johnson ; Ephraim Brock, 1842, vice Rawlins ; Vinson Williams, 1843: Thomas Dixon, 1844: Ephraim Brock, 1845: Vinson Williams, 1846; Thomas Dixon, 1847: David S. Lewis, 1848, vice Brock; Abraham Kern, 1849, vice Williams: Thomas Dixon, 1850; John Rains, 1851, vice Lewis: David McIntire, 1852, vice Kern: Thomas
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Dixon, 1853; Uriah Dilley, 1854. vice McIntire; John Rains, 1854; Lewis J. Baker, 1855, vice Rains; Thomas Dixon, 1856; David McIntire, 1857, vice Dilley ; James W. Prow, 1858. vice McIntire; John Rains, 1858, vice Baker; Robert R. Stewart, 1858, vice Prow : Henry C. Huston, 1859: J. W. Prow, 1860; Stewart; Ambrose Kern, 1861, vice Rains; W. A. Holland, 1861, vice Huston ; Allen C. Burton, 1862, vice Huston; William H. Ander- son, 1864, vice Kern; H. M. Guthrie, 1865, vice Holland; Allen C. Burton, 1865; Alfred Guthrie, 1866, vice H. M. Guthrie; Oliver P. Anderson, 1867, vice W. H. Anderson; Thomas Reed, 1868, vice Guthrie : Allen C. Burton, 1868; David L. Sheeks, 1870: Ari Armstrong, 1870; William A. Holland, 1871; Wesley Edwards, 1872, vice Sheeks; Ari Armstrong, 1873: William Hunter, 1874, vice Holland; Wesley Edwards, 1875: Alexander C. Glover, vice Armstrong; Cranston T. Dodd, 1877; David L. Sheeks, 1878, vice Edwards; A. C. Glover, 1879: William Stickles, 1880, vice Dodd; Tilghman H. Williams, 1881, vice Sheeks; A. C. Glover, 1882; William Stickles, 1883; John M. Sellers, Aaron Wright, 1884; T. S. Stipe, Wesley Edwards, 1886;
J. W. Cossner, - Stipp, 1888; J. W. Cossner, W. Edwards, 1890; Aylett R. Houston, William H. Bryant, 1892; J. W. Cossner, M. Robertson, 1894; Sears, Henry C. Trueblood, 1896; Wesley C. Denniston. Henry C. Trueblood, 1898; Amos Scoggan, George B. Ross, 1900; Amos W. Scoggan, Anselm Wood, 1902: James M. Sowder, Anselm Wood, 1904; Preston M. Mavity, Joel L. Hobbs, 1906: Preston M. Mavity, William T. Embree, 1908; Joel L. Hobbs, David S. Cox, 1910; Walter A. Jones, 1912.
CHAPTER VII.
LAWRENCE COUNTY NEWSPAPERS.
The newspaper has always, since its first introduction into civilized life, been a potent factor toward advancing the best interests of the community in which it is published. It is true that sometimes designing men get control of a newspaper and through its columns mislead the rank and file of the people, but this only lasts a short time, because public opinion, as a general rule, especially under a democratic form of government, can be relied upon as standing for the right. So, as a general rule, editors are in harmony with the best interests of a community. The weekly and daily press has, of late years, come to be the household guide and these publications are read with interest by almost all thinking, reasoning men and women. It is the greatest medium for the dissemination of truth and knowledge.
The first paper published in Lawrence county was the Western Sun, a small five-column folio, subscription rate two dollars per year, and its politics was Whig. It was owned by a stock company of about seven leading Whigs, who bought the material and placed it in charge of C. H. Allen, as publisher, and whose name appeared as editor, though R. W. Thompson was in fact the editor of the paper, and he gave full tone and strength to the publication. Allen was succeeded by several others, including Marcus L. Deal. For five years it was conducted under many disheartening circumstances, and was at last abandoned.
In 1841 Isaac Smith founded the Bedford Review and conducted it three years, more or less. He had William Newland associated with him for a short time. This paper also had the Whig banner at its head. In 1845 Comingore and Marts commenced the publishing of a paper known as the Bedford Sun, a Democratic sheet, edited by Judge James Hughes, but pub- lished by Jacob Marts. It was discontinued about 1848.
In the spring of 1848 James V. S. Maxwell began the publication of the Bedford Herald. and continued for about two years, and it is believed that it was succeeded by the People's Advocate, conducted for a short time early in the fifties by James C. Carlton. In September. 1849. the White River Stand- ard made its appearance with Leonard Green as its editor and proprietor. Green was an able man, far above the average, and his was the best paper
95
LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
published in Lawrence county up to that date. It was a strong Whig organ. In November, 1852, it passed to Judge E. D. Pearson, who ran it until 1855, when it was sold to Mathis & Berry, who, after a few issues, on January 24, 1856, changed the name to the Bedford Independent. In May, 1856, C. G. Berry was alone in its management, and later his son was associated with him, as well as others. Still later a religious journal was issued here by S. H. H. Mathis. Just how long Berry conducted the Independent is not now known. It is certain that in the year 1863 it was in the possession of Eli Dale, who had changed its name to the Bedford Press. October 6, 1863, number 7, volume XIV, was being issued. Early in 1864 it passed into the hands of William A. Gable, who changed the name after a few issues back to the Independent. Later in 1864 and early part of 1865 S. H. H. Mathis was again at the head of this paper, but was later succeeded by Gable, who continued until May, 1867, when the property passed into the hands of W. S. Benhanı. At this time the paper was a seven-column folio and was an excellent newspaper. In April, 1868, I. H. Thomas took the property over as his own and became its editor, conducting it until 1874, having for his associate, for some time, A. B. Cole.
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