USA > Indiana > Miami County > History of Miami County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 24
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SUBSEQUENT ACT. APPROVED, JANUARY 2, 1834.
SECTION 1. Be it Enacted By the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That from and after the first day of March, next, the County of Miami shall enjoy the rights and jurisdiction which to separate and independent counties do or may prop- erly belong.
SEC. 2. That Daniel Harrow, of the County of Putnam, Smallwood Noel, of the County of Allen, Joseph Tatman, of the County of Tippecanoe, and Harry Chase and John Baer, of the County of Carroll, be and are hereby appointed Commissioners for the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of justice of said County of Miami, agree-
273
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
ably to the provisions of an act to establish the seats of justice in new counties. The commissioners or a majority of them shall convene at the house of Benj. Scott in said county, on the first day of June next or soon thereafter as a majority shall agree. * * *
SEC. 4 The circuit and other courts of said county shall be held at the house of Benj. H. Scott, or at any other place in said County to which said court may adjourn until suitable accommodations can be had at the seat of justice thereof, after which the court shall be held at the county seat.
SEC. 5. The agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots. at the county seat of said Miami County, shall reserve ten per centum out of the proceeds thereof, and also ten per centum out of all donations to said county, and pay the same over to such person or persons as may be lawfully appointed to receive the same, for the use of a county library for said county.
SEC. 6. The Board doing county business, when elected and qualified, may hold special sessions not exceeding three during the first year after the organization of said county, and shall appoint a lister and make out all necessary appointments, and do and perform all other necessary business which might have been necessary to. be performed at any other regular session, and take all necessary steps to collect the State and County revenue.
SEC. 7. The territory included in the following, boundary to-wit: Beginning at the southwest corner of the County of Miami, running thence west two miles; thence north with the section lines, thirty (30) miles to the north-east of Section 3, in Town- ship 29, Range 3; thence east two miles on the line dividing Townships 29 and 30, to the north-west corner of the County of Miami (being a portion of the territory now belonging to the County of Cass), shall be and is hereby attached to the County of Miami, and shall hereafter constitute and form a part and portion of the territory of the said County of Miami.
SEC. 8. The territory shall be attached to the eighth judicial circuit of this. State for judicial purposes, and to the County of Cass for representative purposes.
First term of commissioners court held in Miami County was at the house of John McGregor in Miamisport, on Wednes- day the 3rd day of June, 1834. The members of the board, Alexander Jamison, John Miller and John Cruidson were for- mally qualified by the Sheriff, after which they appointed Ben- jamin H. Scott clerk pro-tem. The first business of the board was the appointment of Wm. M. Reyburn, County Agent, and Abner Overman, County Treasurer. Petitions were then read praying the honorable board to grant a license to Nathan Mc- Guire and William Thompson to vend foreign merchandise at Miamisport. After some deliberation the prayer of the petition was granted, and the rate for such license fixed at $12.50. The second day's session was held at the house of Benjamin H. Scott. The principal business was the division of the county into two townships, viz: Peru and Jefferson with boundaries as else- where described. An election for a Justice of the Peace of the township was ordered held in the former at the house of on Saturday, the 21st day of June, and in the latter at the house of Widow Wilkinson on the same day. The board then appointed William Bain inspector of election, and John Plaster, Constable for Jefferson Township, and William Coats inspector of elections and James Petty, Constable for Peru Township.
274
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
The first money paid into the treasury was $25, for a license to vend merchandise at Miamisport and the first allowance made by the board was two dollars per day each for their services as Commissioners. Lewis Drouillard was assessed $5. for the privilege of operating a ferry on the Wabash River opposite his store (wherever that may have been), for which the follow- ing rate was fixed: Each person, 614 cts., man and horse 25 cts. each wagon, 50 cts. each horse or ox attached to wagon, 12 12 cts. Each hog or sheep, 3 cts., all children under twelve years of age attached to the family to pass free of charge. The first country road was surveyed and laid out September, 1834 and was described as beginning at a stake at the foot of a hill near an old elm tree in section 20, Township 27, range 4, and run- ning to the town of Mexico. This was deemed by the viewers to be of public utility and therefore declared a public highway.
At a special meeting held June 19th the first Grand and Petit Juries were selected and was composed of the following citizens: Grand Jury-Zephaniah Wade, George W. Holman, Jacob Linsee, Abner Overman, William Coats, John Hoover, Joseph Clymer, Aaron Rhenberger, Ira Evans, John Plaster, John M. Jackson and William N. Hood. Petit Jury-George Townsend, John Wiseman, J. T. Liston, Wm. M. Reyburn, Robert Wade, Richard Rausford, Isaac Marquiss, Isaac Stewart, John Ray. Wm. Wilkerson, John Smith, Joseph C. Taylor, Wm. Can- non, Stewart Forgy, Alexander Jameson, Joseph B. Campbell, Walter D. Nesbit, Ratliff Wilkerson, John Saunders, Nathaniel McGuire and Jesse Wilkerson.
The commissioners appointed by the Legislature for the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of justice met at the house of Benjamin H. Sctt, in Miamisport, sometime during the sum- mer of 1834. No report of their proceedings was recorded and if filed was doubtless destroyed by the fire in 1843. It is known however, that in consideration of the donation of ground for a public square and the erection of a court house and jail . by the proprietor, the county seat was located at its present site. The court house was not completed until 1843 and court was held in consequence at private residences and in the Presby- terian Church.
In June of the same year William Reyburn was appointed County Agent. The principal duty of said officer was to superintend the sale of lots, receive donation money and dispose of funds as directed by board of commissioners. The school commissioner, road commissioner, tax collector and surplus reve- nue agent were offices that have long since been disposed of.
In the spring of 1835 the offices were removed to Peru. A tax of three-fourths of one per centum was levied on each
275
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
town lot in Miami County, eighty cents on every hundred acres of first rate land, sixty cents on every hundred acres of second rate land, and forty cents on every hundred acres of third rate land; polls, fifty cents; work oxen, per pair, fifty cents; pleasure carriages, fifty cents; watches, fifty cents.
Public Buildings .- At the March term of Commissioner's Court 1835, it was ordered that a county jail be built on the northeast corner of the public square, and a court house in the center of said square. Plans and specifications were accordingly adopted for the erection of a court house. The plans provided for a brick building forty feet square, and two stories high with a stone foundation. The building was substantially built, con- veniently arranged, and, at that time was considered a very credible structure. The house was built by the proprietors of the town of Peru. Samuel McClure was the contractor in con- sideration of the location of the county seat at its present site, and it was accepted by the Commissioners in 1843. The house had been used but a short time when it was, with all the records, entirely destroyed by fire on the night of March 16, 1843
Second Building .- April the 7th, 1843, it was ordered by the Board that a fire proof building be erected for the county offices and the safe keeping of the records. In furtherance of such orders, Samuel Glass and James DeFrees were appointed to advertise and recieve bids for the construction of said build- ing according to the following specifications: To be 16x45 feet, built of brick with stone foundation, and, when completed, to be divided into three rooms of suitable dimensions for an auditor's office, a clerk's office and a treasurer's office. The contract was purchased by George W. Goodrich for the sum of $769.00, to be paid in two equal installments, the first to become due on the first of June, 1844, and the second in one year after that date.
In June 1848, the Commissioners contracted with George Goodrich for the erection of a recorder's office, dimensions 16x20 feet. The site of said building was near the clerk's office, in the public square.
The first jail was a small log building erected by Matthew Fenimore on the northeast corner of the public square, and, although built of logs and containing no iron cells, it was sufficiently substantial to retain the prisoners, who at that time, were uneducated in crime. This old building answered the purpose of the county until 1852 when it was destroyed by fire. The present building was completed September 1858. Nathan Crawford, of Hancock County, was the contractor. The contract was purchased for $29,600, but owing to a few changes in the original plans and
276
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
specifications the cost was somewhat in excess of the con- tract price. The building is 60x80 feet, four stories high, includ- ing the basement, and is of the "Norman Castle" style of archi- tecture. The basement is used for a jail; on the first floor are the Clerk, Recorder, Treasurer and Auditor's offices. Each of these offices is provided with a fire-proof vault in which the records and papers are kept. On the second floor is the court room; the third floor is unoccupied.
Organization of Townships .- During the first term of Commis- sioners Court, which was held at Miamisport, June 1834, the County was divided into two townships by commencing at the east line of the county and running on the line dividing Sections 22 and 15 to the west line of the county, the township north of said line to be known and designated as Jefferson township, the one south to be known and designated by the name of Peru township.
Perry Township .- Beginning at the southeast corner of Section 34, Township 29, north Range 5 east; thence west west to the county line; thence north to the northwest corner of said county; thence east to the place of beginning.
Union Township was organized November 7, 1837, with the following boundaries: Beginning at the northwest corner of Section 4, Township 29, Range 4 east; thence west five miles to the northwest corner of the county; thence south nine miles to the southwest corner of Section 14, Township 28, Range 3 east; thence six miles to the southeast corner of Section 15 of the same township; thence north three miles to the northeast corner of Section 3, Township 28, Range 4 east; thence west one mile to the northwest corner of Section last named; thence north six miles to place of beginning.
Richland Township, organized November 7, 1837, with the following boundary: Commencing at the northeast corner Sec- tion 3, in Township 28, Range 5 east; thence west six miles to the northwest corner of Section 2, Township 28, Range 4 east; thence south six miles to the southwest corner of Section 35, Township 28, Range 4; thence east six miles to southeast corner of Section 34, Township 28, Range 5 east; thence north on the county line to the place of beginning.
Jefferson Township, re-organized and with the following boundary: Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 22, Township 28, Range 4 east; thence west to the northwest cor- ner of Section 23, Township 28, Range 3 east; thence south on the county line to the center of Section 14, Township 27, Range 3 east; thence west six miles to the line dividing Sections 14 and 15 of Township 27, Range 4 east; thence north on the section line to the place of beginning.
Ordered, That on and after this date all the territory lying
277
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
east of Jefferson and south of Richland Townships, included in the following boundary, be attached to and form a part of Peru Township: Commencing at the northeast corner of. Section 3, Township 27, Range 5 east; thence west to the northwest cor- ner of Section 2, Township 27, Range 4 east; thence south on the line of Sections 2 and 3 two miles and a half to the county line; thence on said line north to the place of beginning.
Black Hawk and Erie Townships .- On a petition of the inhabit- ants of the eastern porton of Peru Township, the following described territory was organized into. the first named township: All that portion of the territory of Peru Township lying east of the recently established Range line and entirely east of the Wabash County line, form and constitute said new township. Two years later, September 1847, the name of said Black Hawk Township. was changed to that of Erie.
Lake Township .- The following described territory was organized into the above named township, June 7, 1842, Com- mencing at the northeast corner of Miami County in Section 22; thence west with said Section line and the northern boun- dary of the county, to the northwest corner of said county of Miami on Section 19; thence south with the Section line, and western boundary of this portion of said county, to the south- west corner of Section 31; thence east with the Section line between Townships 29 and 30 Range 5 to the center of Section five on said line; thence south through said Section 5. Town- ships 29 and 30, Range 5 to the center of Section five on said line; thence south through said Section 5, Township 29, Range 5, to the line between said Section 5 and 8, Township 29, Range 5, thence east with the Section line to southeast corner of Sec- tion 3, thence north with the eastern boundary of the County of Miami to the place of beginning.
Washington Township was organized. and laid out June 6, 1843, and bounded as follows, to-wit,: Commencing at the northeast corner of Township 26, Range 4, east, thence west on said north line of Township 26, until it intersects the Godfroy Reserve No. 7; thence south with said reserve to the southeast correr thereof; thence west along the southern line of said reserve to the Godfroy Reserve No 8; thence south to the southeast corner of said reserve; thence west on the south line of said reserve to the Northwest corner of Section 4, Township 26, Range 4, thence south on the section line to Indian boundary; thence east to the southwest corner of Butler Township, thence north on the west line of said Butler Township and the range line to the place of beginning.
It was further ordered that the boundary line of Butler, Washington and Pipe Creek Townships be extended to the
278
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
southern line of the county and have jurisdiction over said ter- ritory for township purposes.
About the same date the Wabash River was made the northern boundary of Butler Township.
Deer Creek Township was organized September 1, 1845 and bounded as follows: Commencing at the northwest corner of Section 2, Township 25, Range 3; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 5, Township 25, Range 4; thence south to the southern boundary of Miami County; thence west to the south- west corner of said county; thence north to the place of begin- ning.
Jackson Township was organized September 2, 1845 and bounded as follows: Commencing at the northwest corner of Section 2, Township 25, Range 5; Thence east to the northeast corner of section 5, Township 25, Range 6; thence south to the southeast corner of the county; west to the southwest corner of section 35, Township 25, Range 5; thence north to the place of beginning.
Clay Township was organized March 3, 1846, as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of Section 4, Township 25, Range 4, it being the northeast corner of Deer Creek Town- ship; thence east with the Congressional, to the northeast corner of Section I, Township 25, Range 4; thence south with the Range line dividing Ranges 4 and 5 east to corner of said Congression- al Township, on the south line of Miami County; thence west with the county line to the southeast corner of Deer Creek Township, at the southwest corner of Section 33, Township 25, Range 4; thence east to the place of beginning.
Harrison Township was organized September 8, 1846, and is bounded as follows: Beginning at the southeast corner of Section 3, Township 25, Range 5; thence west to the range line dividing ranges 4 and 5, at the northwest corner of Section 6; thence south on said range line to the southern boundary of Miami County, at the southwest corner of section 31, Township 25, Range 5; thence east with the southern boundary aforesaid, to the southeast corner of section 34, Township and range afore- said, thence north to the place of beginning.
Ordered, that Sections 3, 10 and 15, Township 28 north, Range 4 east, be detached from Union Township and be attached to and form a part of Richland Township.
Butler Township was organized September the Ist, 184I, and bounded as follows: Commencing at a point where a north line of Township 26, north Range 5 east intersects the line between Miami and Wabash Counties; thence west on the line of Townships 26 and 27 to the northwest corner of Township 26, Range 5; thence south with said Township line to the south-
no Abraham
28I
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
west corner of said Township 26, Range 5; thence east with the south line of said Township to the boundary line between Miami and Wabash Counties; thence north with said boundary line to the place of beginning, being all of said Township 26, Range 5, which lies in Miami County.
Allen Township was organized September 6th, 1859, and bounded as follows: Beginning at the half-mile on the west side of Section 26, Township 29, Range 3; thence north on the line dividing the Counties of Miami and Cass and Fulton to the line dividing Townships 29 and 30 to the northwest corner of Section 2, Township 29, Range 3; thence east with the line dividing the Counties of Miami and Fulton to the present line dividing the Townships of Union and Perry to the northeast corner of Section 4, Township 29, Range 4; thence south with the line dividing the said Townships of Union and Perry to a center point on the east line of Section 28, Township 29, Range 4; thence west with the line dividing Sections 29 and 30, Township 29, Range 4, and Sections 25 and 26 Township 29, Range 3, to the place of beginning. And it is further ordered that the said Township of Union, from which said Township of Allen is taken, retain its original name-Union-and that the original lines now bounding it continue to be its boundary, except that the above line separating the Townships of Allen and Union shall be the north boundary of the Township of Union.
The following are the receipts and expenditures of the county for each fiscal year since 1843:
Date.
Receipts.
Expenditures.
1843
$4,428 00
$1,780 80
1844
4,662 34
5,856 24
1845
5,067 84
6,517 20
1846
5,962 48
7,275 75
1847
7,712 05
7,562 96
1848
8,748 27
7,173 27
1849
7,682 50
8,824 17
1850
10,719 78
10,906 78
1851
11,249 83
8,444 14
1852
16,855 49
11,326 35
1853.
18,280 51
15,305 21
1854
21,349 03
16,740 20
1855
26,883 40
21,256 05
1856
30,792 30
27,690 13
1857
31,550 16
28,366 08
1858
32,842 87
25,976 52
1859
42,879 91
36,211 46
1860
37,005 76
30.139 41
1861
35,475 86
33,659 41
1862
33,494 97
30,148 59
1863
36,965 29
39,124 24
1864
56,329 59
46,329 59
1865
83,512 58
63,110 21
1866
153.506 66
110,999 45
1867
130,325 76
1 4,309 20
3
282
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
Date.
Receipts.
Expenditures.
1868
116,194 73
101,052 87
1869
105,347 47
101,476 94
1870
87,862 15
.83,669 59
1871
78,131 40
72,754 46
1872
93,317 64
78,650 04
1873
100,641 12
81,612 06
1874
106,815 67
86,278 96
1875
109,864 39
88,500 85
1876
117,827 55
110,510 53
1877
73,058 77
58,676 85
1878
86,776 00
83,691 23
1879
72,933 34
55,806 30
1880
.105,723 12
96,581 83
1881
89,049 43
74,505 37
1882
222,553 13
167,511 73
1883
. 202,635 99
149,681 50
1884.
.347,455 73
282,100 63
1885
.281,231 41
196,751 44
1886
171,749 80
130,945 93
Following is a statement of taxes together with the amount of taxable property in the county for each decade since the cre- ation of the county.
Date.
Poll.
Total Taxables
Total Taxes.
1841
559
$ 401,354
$ 3,933 42
1850
1,851
977,270
16,200 20
1860
3,606
4,265,763
39,826 48
1870
3,278
5,346,505
116,595 75
1880
4,059
7,358,540
135,877 24
Poor .- To properly care for the indigent of the county was a matter that called for attention from those in whose hands the public affairs had been intrusted, at the very beginning of the county's existence. At the first term of commissioners court William N. Hood and William M. Reyburn were appointed overseers of the poor of Peru Township. It was the duty of these overseers to look after the needy of their respective Town- ships. The children were "bound out" while the adults were "farmed out" to the person who would properly care for them and pay the highest price for their services. Those who by indolence and prodigality, had been thrown upon the public for support, found the system very. objectionable, and finding that they would be compelled to work for those to whom their labor had been sold, they would refuse to accept the charities of the public and devise some other means of lively-hood. For those unfortunates who had properly became objects of charity the system not unfrequently worked a hardship. A County Asylum was soon provided and the old method abandoned.
Poor Farm .- In May, 1835, an order was made by the Board of Commissioners authorizing William N. Hood to purchase for the location of a county poor asylum, the northeast fraction of Sec- tion 3, Township 27, Range 4. The county paid for said land
283
THE COUNTY'S POOR.
$20.80. From the experience of other counties it had become a well established fact that the poor of each county could be better provided for and more cheaply kept in an asylum provided for that purpose than under the old system of township overseers. The Board, in accordance with the above conclusion, appointed I. M. DeFrees and Samuel Glass to contract for the erection of two houses described as follows: Houses to be constructed of hewn logs, 12x8 inches, the buildings to be two stories high. The first story to be 8 feet, 6 inches in the clear, and the second to be 7 feet, 6 inches in the clear. One house to be 26x18 feet, and the other 18 feet square. The contract provided that the buildings should be placed eight feet apart, and in the center of the land previously bought by said county. The contract was purchased by George W. Meeks for the sum of $365.00. The buildings were accepted by the Board in March, 1846, and a superintendent appointed to take charge of said asylum and provide for the wants of those un- fortunates who were dependent upon the charity of the world for support. O. E. Noland was appointed superintendent, and his re- port for the first year showed that not a single pauper had been sent to the asylum.
After several years the provisions were found to be inadequate, and the old farm was sold to Charles Pefferman for $1,000.06, and the southwest quarter of Section 3, Township 26, Range 4, in Washington Township, containing 160 acres, was purchased for the sum of $6,400.00. John Clifton was awarded the contract for the erection of a new house, which was completed and accepted July 12, 1864.
The following are the annual expense for the poor of the county for the dates as below given :
Date.
Expenditures.
Date.
Expenditures.
1845.
$ 310 20
1866.
2,812 84
1846
506 25
1867
3,310 18
1847.
155 94
1868
3,271 56
1848.
490 65
1869.
5,831 60
1849.
662 09
1870
7,780 49
1850
838 78
1871
10,357 51
1851
435 10
1872.
6,309 65
1852
637 18
1873
5,882 59
1853
365 66
1874
5,859 02
1854
609 70
1875
7,624 82
1855.
2,327 62
1876
6,438 44
1856
2,869 28
1877
9,622 70
1857
1,854 71
1878
6,836 64
1858
1,220 90
1879
5,131 14
1859.
1,602 63
1880
7,115 73
1860.
969 92
1881
6,744 71
1861.
1,062 73
1882
7,795 45
1862.
1,438 68 1883
8,971 61
1863.
1,157 88
1884
0,112 14
1864.
2,135 65
1885
8,864 40
1865.
1,964 49
1886.
8,470 91
284
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
The Wabash and Erie Canal .- To the early and rapid development of Miami County, this Canal contributed very- largely. It furnished means of transportation for the products- of the county, which would of necessity have been delayed many year. In regard to its construction, the first boat, &c.,. Hon. John A. Graham wrote as follows:
WABASH & ERIE CANAL.
"From the letting in 1834, this work has progressed steadily,. and it was expected that the division from Fort Wayne to Peru would be open for the navigation of boats by the 4th of July, 1837.
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