USA > Indiana > Pike County > History of Pike and Dubois counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. : together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 26
USA > Indiana > Dubois County > History of Pike and Dubois counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. : together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 26
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
291
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Elections .- For many years after the organization of the county, the voters at a general election could cast their ballots at any voting place in the county, and as there was more excite- ment and larger crowds at the county seat than elsewhere, the majority of the votes were cast there. Until after the "Hard Cider Campaign" whisky was freely used at elections and political speakings. Usually a barrel of whisky would be rolled out, its head knocked in, and drinking vessels conveniently placed. so that all could partake of it as freely as of water. Of course fights were numerous, but as the fists were the only weapons used the results were not serious. The first general election occurred
in August, 1817. For representative to Congress Thomas Posey received 71 votes and William Hendricks the same number, the vote being a tie. By townships the vote was as follows: Posey- Washington, 53; Madison, 9; Jefferson, 5; Harbison, 4; Hend- ricks-Washington, 23; Madison, 7; Jefferson, 21; Harbison, 20. In 1819, John Jennings received for governor 99 votes, and his opponent, Christopher Harrison, received 37. The decrease in votes from the election in 1817 is accounted for by the fact that Harbison Township had been cut off at the formation of Dubois County. In 1820 William Hendricks received the entire vote of the county for representative to Congress. The vote for State senator stood 130 for Richard Daniel and 66 for Isaac Montgom- ery. The following year for State representative John Johnson received 120 votes and David Kinman 61. In 1822 William Hendricks received the entire vote for governor. For represen- tative to Congress Charles Dorsy received 45 votes, and William Prince, 173. In 1823, for State senator, Isaac Montgomery received 168 votes and David Robb, 73. The next year the vote for congressman stood: Jacob Call, 65; Ratliff Boon, 209. At the presidential election of that year the vote by townships was as follows :.
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN. Jackson and Clay and Calhoun.
WHIG. Adama and Sanford.
Washington
13
59
1
Madison
5
6
0
Jefferson
13
8
2
Clay
0
18
1
Totals
31
91
4
The vote in Monroe Township could not be ascertained.
292
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
In 1825, the vote for governor was Isaac Blackford (Whig), 154; James B. Ray ( Democrat), 43. For Congress the follow- ing year, Thomas H. Blake received 32 votes and Ratliff Boon 245. Two years later the vote for the same candidates show a remark- able change. Two townships gave Blake 169 votes and Boon 113. The same townships gave H. H. Moor for governor, 97 votes; James B. Ray, 110; Isaac T. Canby, 73.
The vote for President and Vice-president was as follows:
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN Jackson
TOWNSHIPS.
Clay and Calhoun. and Sargeant.
Washington.
129
73
Madison
8
25
Clay
3
15
Jefferson
9
27
Monroe
2
16
Totals
151
156
In 1831 the vote for governor was Noah Noble (Whig), 172; James G. Reed (Democrat), 265. The following is the vote at the Presidential election in 1832:
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRATIC. Jackson and Van Buren.
WHIG. Clay and Rush 105
Washington.
157
Jefferson
7
35
Clay.
0
9
Monroe.
5
16
Madison
17
9
Totals.
186
174
In 1834 the vote for governor was Noah Noble (Whig), 182; James G. Reed, (Democrat) 278. The next year for representa- tive to Congress, Ratliff Boon received 252 votes and John G. Clendennin, 193.
The vote at the Presidential election of 1836 was as follows:
TOWNSHIPS.
WHIG. Harrison and Granger.
DEMOCRATIC. Van Buren and Johnson.
Washington.
172
173
Madison
20
6
Clay
11
6
Jefferson
7
28
Monroe
8
13
Totals
218
226
In 1837 the vote for governor stood: John Dumont (Demo- crat), 267; David Wallace (Whig), 286. The vote for congress-
293
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
man was still more evenly divided, Ratliff Boon receiving 284 votes and John Pitcher 286.
The above results show that the strength of the two parties was very nearly equal. In 1839 George H. Proffit, a brilliant and popular candidate, defeated his democratic opponent for rep- resentative to Congress, Robert Dale Owen, by a decided majori- ty, that is so far as Pike County was concerned in the result. The vote stood Proffit, 478; Owen, 227. After the hard cider campaign of the next year this majority suffered but little de- crease. The following is the vote:
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRATIC. Van Buren
WHIG. Harrison and Johnson. and Tyler.
Washington
183
309
Clay.
10
17
Monroe
6
7
Madison
34
12
Patoka
59
106
Jefferson.
26
23
Totals.
318
474
The vote for governor was, Tilghman A. Howard (Demo- cratic ), 354; Samuel Bigger (Whig), 472.
In 1843 the vote for governor was James Whitcomb (Demo- cratic ), 423; Samuel Bigger (Whig), 390. For congressman, Owen received 417 votes and John W. Payne 394; a small Demo- cratic majority which was maintained at the next Presidential election. as is shown by the vote:
TOWNSHIPS.
WHIG. Clay and Frelinghuysen.
DEMOCRATIC. Polk and Dallas. 248
Washington
267
Jefferson
9
37
Madison
34
60
Monroe.
11
33
Patoka
101
90
Clay.
37
23
Totals.
459
491
The next year Owen again received a majority of votes for representative to Congress over his Whig opponent, G. P. R. Wilson. The vote was Owen, 459, Wilson, 400. In 1846 the Democratic majority shows a considerable increase, James Whit- comb received 508 votes for governor, and Joseph G. Marshall 372. but in 1847 Elisha Embree, Whig candidate for congress-
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
man received 486 votes, and Owen, 464. The following is the vote at the presidential election of 1848:
WHIG. Taylor
DEMOCRAT. Cass
TOWNSHIPS.
and Fillmore. and Butler.
Washington
156
99
Madison
55
72
Patoka
70
68
Logan
50
63
Monroe.
42
63
Jefferson
75
107
Clay
70
38
Totals.
518
510
But one vote was cast for the Free Soil candidate at this elec- tion. In 1849 the vote for governor was J. A. Wright (Demo- crat), 591, John A. Matson (Whig), 476; for representative to Congress, Nathaniel Albertson (Democrat), 568, Elisha Embree (Whig), 512. The vote for congressman in 1851 was James Lockhart (Democrat), 606, L. Q. DeBruler (Whig), 583. In 1852 the Democratic majority again shows an increase.
The vote for governor was Joseph A. Wright (Democrat), 809, and Nicholas McCarty (Whig), 499. For congressman, Smith Miller (Democrat), received 780 votes and William Reavis, 546. The November election resulted as follows:
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRAT. Pierce and King.
WHIG. Scott and Graham
Washington. .
225
172
Jefferson
131
83
Madison
55
57
Clay
39
66
Logan.
100
56
Patoka
78
72
Monroe.
32
16
Lockhart.
28
16
Totals
688
538
For congressman in 1854 the vote stood, Smith Miller (Dem- ocrat), 701, Samuel Hall (Whig), 668. At the gubernatorial election, two years later, Ashbel R. Willard (Democrat), received 802 votes, and Oliver P. Morton (Republican), 608. For con- gressman the vote was James C. Veatch (Republican), 620; James Lockhart (Democrat), 785.
The presidential election resulted as follows :
205
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRAT. Buchanan and Breckinridge.
REPUBLICAN. Fremont and Dayton.
AMERICAN. Fillmore and Donelson.
Washington.
137
74
211
Jefferson.
181
2
84
Marion
35
0
67
Clay
49
9
54
Patoka
148
3
67
Logan
52
20
34
Monroe
94
1
33
Lockhart
76
1
23
Totals.
772
80
572
In 1858 for congressman, W. E. Niblack (Democrat) received 612 votes, and A. P. Hovey (Republican), 569. In 1860, for the same office, L. Q. De Bruler ( Republican) received 903 votes and John Law (Democrat) 877. For governor, Thomas Hen- dricks (Democrat) received 910 votes, and Henry S. Lane ( Re- publican) 863. The following is the vote for President and Vice-President :
DOUGLAS DEM. BRECKENRIDGE DEM. REPUBLICAN. AMERICAN.
TOWNSHIPS.
Douglas and Johnson. .
Breckinridge and Lane.
Lincoln and Bell and Everett.
Washington
152
0
278
11
Jefferson
194
15
130
5
Monroe
97
30
47
2
Patoka
87
3
97
9
Logan.
72
0
96
1
Marion.
71
3
45
3
Lockhart
91
6
72
1
Madison
60
1
68
2
Clay. .
58
0
61
5
Totals.
882
58
894
39
For congressman in 1862 the vote was A. Johnson, 618; John Law, 594. In 1864, for governor, Joseph E. McDonald, 957; O. P. Morton, 938. For President and Vice-President, in that year:
TOWNSHIPS.
DRMOCRAT. Mclellan and Pendleton.
'REPUBLICAN. Lincoln and Johnson.
Washington
109
294
Madison
57
64
Jefferson.
240
122
Clay
46
60
Logan.
55
84
Patoka
78
120
Monroe.
155
74
Lockhart
128
59
Marion
103
43
Totals
971
920
Hamlin.
296
IIISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
For congressman in 1866, L. Q. De Bruler (Republican), 1,245; W. E. Niblack, 1,168. In 1868 for the same office, James C. Veatch (Republican), 1,386; W. E. Niblack, 1,381. For governor the vote stood, Conrad Baker (Republican), 1,387; Thomas Hen- dricks (Democrat), 1,380. For President and Vice-President:
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRAT. Seymour and Blair.
REPUBLICAN. Grant and Colfax.
Washington.
165
373
Madison
75
89
Clay
59
83
Jefferson
301
192
Logan
72
121
Patoka
147
169
Monroe.
195
144
Lockhart.
190
147
Marion
165
92
Totals.
1369
1410
In 1870 for congressman the vote stood: H. C. Gooding (Re- publican), 1,106; William E. Niblack (Democrat), 1,215. In 1872 for governor, Thomas M. Browne (Republican), 1,317; Thomas A. Hendricks (Democrat), 1,437. For congressman, William Heilman (Republican), 1,342; William E. Niblack (Dem- ocrat), 1,434. The November election resulted as follows:
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRAT AND LIBERAL REPUBLICAN. Greely and Brown.
REPUBLICAN. Grant and Wilsou.
Washington.
173
343
Clay .
51
88
Madison
65
77
Marion
167
69
Logan
51
119
Monroe
194
91
Jefferson
261
186
Lockhart.
184
170
Patoka.
123
185
Totals
1269
1328
In 1876 for governor, Benjamin Harrison (Republican), re- ceived 1,523 votes; James D. Williams (Democrat), 1,702. For congressman, T. R. Cobb (Democrat), 1,662; Andrew Hum- phries (Democrat), 1,646; Lewis Loveless (Republican)-elev- en of twelve precincts-1,457; W. T. Spicely (Republican)- the same precincts-1,444.
In 1876 the vote for President and Vice-President was:
297
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRAT. Tilden and llendricks.
REPUBLICAN. INDEPENDENT
Hayes and Wheeler.
Cooper aud Carey
Washington
200
389
19
Jefferson
305
181
48
Madison
77
67
4
Clay
84
107
1
Patoka.
193
177
29
Monroe
253
170
16
Logan
80
125
3
Lockhart.
259
193
=
Marion.
189
49
57
Totals.
1640
1458
183
In 1878 the vote for congressman was: Thomas R. Cobh ( Democrat ). 1,651; Richard M. Wellman (Republican), 1,260 William F. Green ( Independent), 478. In 1880 the vote was William Heilman ( Republican), 1,658; John J. Kleiner ( Demo (rat), 1,753; C. Kramer (Independent), 214. For governor Allen G. Porter ( Republican ) received 1,592 votes, and F. Land ers (Democrat), 1,732. The following is the vote at the presi dential election :
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN. Garfield and Arthur.
Hancock and English.
Weaver and Chambers.
Washington
413
256
23
Jefferson
203
286
38
Madison
83
102
()
Clay.
117
94
1
Patoka.
245
215
36
Monroe.
152
237
29
Logan
138
103
5
Lockhart.
211
291
Marion
56
176
70
Totals
1618
1760
229
DEMOCRAT. INDEPENDENT.
In 1882 the vote for congressman was: William Heilman (Republican), 1,629; John J. Kleiner ( Democrat), 1.694: J. G. Nisbet (Independent ), 220. In Isst for the same office: Will- iam H. Godgel ( Republican ), 1,530: John J. Kleiner ( Demo- crat ), 1.889: F. M. English ( Independent ), 104. For governor: Isaac P. Gray ( Democrat ). 1,883: William H. Calkins ( Repub- lican ), 1,525: H. Z. Leonard ( Prohibition ), 133. For President and Vice-President:
298
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
SEPUBLICAN. DEMOCRAT.
NATIONAL.
TOWNSHIPS.
Blaine
Cleveland
and Logan. and Hendricks.
But'er and West.
Washington
461
292
17
Jefferson
195
280
10
Madison.
76
105
0
Clay
132
85
0
Patoka
338
255
31
Monroe
161
290
15
Logan
147
103
3
Lockhart
214
281
8
Marion
102
191
47
Totals
1826
1882
131
CHAPTER IV.
BY PROF. Z. T. EMERSON.
BENCH AND BAR-THE FIRST INDICTMENTS-CHARACTER OF CASES- COURT OFFICIALS-THE FIRST SUPREME COURT CASE-THE FAMOUS NEGRO TRIAL-OTHER SUITS OF INTEREST-PROFESSIONAL CHARAC- TER OF JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS-IMPORTANT TRIALS FOR MURDER- THE PROBATE COURT.
THE record of the first court of Pike County begins as follows: "At a Circuit Court began and held at the house of Hosea Smith, in and for said County of Pike, on Monday, the Fourteenth day of April, 1817, it being the day appointed by law for the set- ting of the First Term of said Court. The Hon. William Prince, Esq., appeared and produced his Commission as President Judge of the first circuit. The Hon. Henry Brenton and the Hon. Arthur Harbison, Esqrs., appeared and produced their commis- sions as associate Judges of said Court, and it appeared that they had severally taken the oath of office provided by the Constitution and Laws of the State." On the same day appeared John MeIn- tire with his commission as clerk of said court, for whose good behavior and official conduct the said John McIntire, John John- son, and Adam Hope bound themselves in the penal sum of "two thousand and five hundred dollars good and lawful money of the United States" to Jonathan Jennings, governor for the time being, or his successors in office. On the same day was Adam Hope appointed sheriff, and George R. C. Sullivan prosecuting attorney.
299
IHISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
The sheriff returned grand jurors as follows: Thomas J. Withers, foreman; Isaac Alexander, Edward Woods, Jacob Har- binson, John Butler, William Shrode, William McDonald, Hugh Redmond, Abram Pea, James Lindsey, John Coonrod, Henry Miley, Peter Bunton, Archibald Campbell and .Moses Harrell, "fourteen good and lawful men." Thomas H. Blake, David Hart, Richard Daniel, Jacob Call, Nathaniel Huntington, Henry P. Coburn, and George R. C. Sullivan took the oath as attorneys and counselors-at-law.
The first official act was ordering a seal for the county, which was simply the word "seal" en vignette. The above named grand jury returned this "true bill" on the next day: "The Jurors for the State of Indiana and for the Body of the County of Pike, upon their oath present that Willis Boon, late of Washing- ton township, of the County of Pike, yeoman, on the fourteenth day of April, 1817, with force and arms at the Township and County aforesaid, in and npon one James Walker in the peace of God and the citizens of the State of Indiana then and there being, did make an assault, and him the said James Walker then and there did beat, wound and illtreat, so that his life was then and there despaired of. and other wrongs to the said James Walker, then and there did to the damage of the said James Walker against the Statutes and against the peace and dignity of the State of Indiana."
GEORGE R. C. SULLIVAN, Prosecuting Attorney."
The sheriff was ordered to take said Willis "if found in his baili- wick" and hold till next term of court. Willis was produced and plead guilty, and was fined $3 and cost; said fine to go to the semi- nary fund. Then followed divers other suits of assault and bat- tery. Benjamin Ashley brought suit against Jeremiah Arnold, whereupon Jeremiah brought counter suit against Benjamin, and both were fined. The first jury case in the county was entitled Henry Coonrod rs. James Ashley. The following twelve "good and lawful men" constituted that jury: Thomas Williams, Henry Coleman, C. Pickens, Hugh Shaw, David Fouts, William Wright, Levi Kinman, J. Millburn, William Shook, William Wright, Sr., Samuel Kinman, and Henry Miley. The case was against de- fendant.
The case being peculiar, as well as the language, we give the
300
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
indictment: "The Grand Jury for the State of Indiana. and the body of the body of the County of Pike, upon their oaths, pre- sent that Tobias Bright, late of Washington Township, * laborer. by force and arms did take, steal. one table-fork, of the value of twenty-five cents, the personal goods of Theodosia Saw- ver, + * against the peace and dignity of the State of Indiana."
JOHN PITCHER, Prosecuting Attorney.
The proceedings were in the exact language, as follows: "To- bias Bright put himself upon the Country, and the attorney prose- cuting doth the same. Wherefore, let a Jury come. Where- upon, came a jury, to-wit: T. C. Stewart, Randle Lett, William Pride, Jonathan Postlewait, Jacob Pea, John Selby, George Saw- yer, Thomas Hargrave, Lewis Thomas, Henry icFetrich, Samuel Kinman and Thomas Young, twelve good and lawful men, who, being duly elected, tried, and sworn upon their oath, do say, we, of the jury, find the defendant guilty, and assess his fine at twelve and one-half cents, the value of the fork stolen, that he return the fork stolen to Theodosia Sawyer, the owner thereof, or on failing to restore the same to pay the said Theodosia twenty-five cents two- fold value of the fork stolen, and adjudge him to be confined at hard labor in the State prison of the State of Indiana, at or near Jeffersonville, in the State aforesaid, for the term of one year.
"T. C. STEWART, Foreman."
The case was tried at the September term, 1823, J. R. E. Good- let presiding, with E. Hammond and Henry Hopkins, as asso- ciates. The court gravely ordered Tobias to pay 123 cents to the State, and 123 cents to Theodosia, and that the sheriff execute the decree of the court and the jury. It was thought the defendant was not guilty. The crime was committed at a camp-meeting, and the fork causing the trouble had but one tine, and was stolen while sticking in a tree to fasten thereto a candle.
To the thirty-second case there had been but two or three suits for debt, four or five for retailing liquor; the remainder, with one or two exceptions, were assault and battery, and in nearly every case either William Wright, Sr., or William Wright, Jr., was a party to the suit. It seems as though fisticuff was not looked upon as a very disgraceful affair then, as nearly every one seems to have tried his hand at the game.
Bob and Anthony .- This was a long and tedious case, wherein
301
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Bob and Anthony. two " free men of color," were plaintiffs. and Luke Decker was defendant. Bob and Anthony were held by Decker as slaves, or he claimed their services. He claimed Boh as an indented servant, setting up the plea that in 1804 said Boh of his own free will bound himself to said Decker for a term of fifteen years, for the sum of $400 in hand paid, to which Bob et .- tered a general denial, claiming that he had had no consideration and was held by force. Anthony was claimed under the laws of Virginia. and the sixth article of agreement on the ceding of Northwest Territory to the United States. This will be shown further on. The case was begun in Orange County, and was brought to Pike County, and a change of venue was taken to Jef- ferson County, and was finally remanded to Pike County. The case first appeared in Pike at the first term of court in 1817, and was finally settled in 1922 by the same court. The following is Bob's plea for a change:
TO THE HONS. HENRY BRENTON AND ARTHUR HARBISON, ASSOCIATE JUDGES FOR THE COUNTY OF PIKE, IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
The Petitioner, Bob, a free man of color, respectfully represents to your Honors that he has at this time a case pending in the Circuit Court holden for the County of Pike within the First Judicial Circuit of the State of Indiana, and undetermined, wherein he, the said Bob, a free man of color, is plaintiff, and Luke Decker is defendant, and your petitioner further states that he is fearful and does not believe that from the prejudices of the President Judge of the First Judicial Circuit, also from the predjudice of the people of Pike aforesaid. and from the undue influence of Luke Decker over the minds of the people of said county, he is fearful and does believe he cannot have a fair and impartial trial in any county in the First Judicial Circuit, and therefore prays your Honors to grant him a change of the venue in the case aforesaid to any County in the Third Judicial Circuit your Honors may think proper to grant.
his BOB, X a free man of color. mark
The following is the plea of defendant :
John Decker, father of Luke Decker, moved from Virginia prior to July 30, 1787; he moved to the northwest of the Ohio River and that territory then be- longed to the territorial limitsof Virginia, but on its cession to Congress was sub. ject to certain terms and conditions, among which is one in the words following That the French and Canadian inhabitants and other settlers of Kaskaskia an.1 St. Vincent* and the neighboring villages who have professed themselves citizens of Virginia, shall have the possession and letters confined to them, and be pro- tected in their rights and liberties ; that long before the said 30th day of July. 1787, John Decker, father of Luke Decker, was a resident and citizen within the present limits of Virginia, and as such citizen, was the owner and possessor of a number of persons of color as slaves, amongst whom was a woman called Rach ;
*The early name of Vincennes.
302
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
that long before the said 30th day of July, 1787, the said John Decker removed with his slaves and family aforesaid from the State of Virginia to St. Vincent where he continued to dwell until his death ; that a short time after his residence at St. Vincent the said John Decker departed this life having first made and as- serted his last will and testament in writing, which said last will was duly proved and recorded ; that among other decrees is to be found the following to wit: "I likewise give and bequeath unto my wife Dinah, a negro wench named Rach during her natural life, and at her death to revert to my son Luke ; which said Rach is the said Rach before mentioned and the mother of the said Anthony; the said Dinah continues to hold the said Rach as her slave under the decrees afore- said until the death of the said Dinah, after which the said Rach, together with the said Anthony, reverted to the said Luke Decker under, and by the authority of said decree ; that after the death of the said Dinah took possession of the said Anthony, son of said Rach aforesaid, as her lawful slave as he might ; that said Anthony continued peaceable and quietly in the possession of said Luke until the 14th day of July last past, when the said Anthony without the will and consent of him, the said Luke, desert his services and keeping and contract, and to continue out of the service or contract of the said Luke until the 29th day of January last past, on which day, and prior to the service of the writ on the said Luke, he the said Luke, did receive the peaccable and quiet possession of him, the said Anthony, from Zachariah Lindley, Esq., sheriff of Orange County, and hath. in like manner detained the said Anthony as lawfully he might, and this is the cause of the detention of the said Anthony, the body of which he has. "LUKE DECKER."
Thus, after nearly five years of contest the case was decided before J. R. E. Goodlet, Henry Brenton, and T. J. Withers, that Bob and Anthony should not be held, and that Luke Decker should pay the costs of the suit. The first appeal to the supreme court was made in the case of J. W. Loan against James Reedy, about the same time the Hon. David Hart became president judge, a position which he held about one year, 1818 to 1819. He was followed by Richard Daniel who held the place from 1819 to 1820, before whom were triel several cases entitled scire facias, Trespass vi et armis, trespass on the case, etc. Soon after J. R. E. Goodlet came upon the bench, a case of considerable in- terest was tried in which John Chamber and wife sued Thomas Young for slander. Young was accused of having called the wife (Rachel) of Chambers many ugly names, such as murderess, adulteress and such terms, while Rachel claimed that she was "a good, true, honest, just, faithful, discreet, chaste and virtuous citizen of the State of Indiana" which was. made evident to the satisfaction of the following jury of "good and lawful men" John Catt, Ebenezer Case, Levi Kinman, Charles Williams, H. B. Merrick, Henry Miley, M. Thomas, John Kinman, Phillip Coffee, Jere Gladdish, John Kinman, Sr., and Richard White, whore-
303
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
turned a verdict against Thomas for 825 damage and costs. A second suit was brought against Elizabeth, wife of Young, with about the same results. This seems to have been a decade for slander suits, as Hugh Shaw brought a $3,000 suit against Han- son More for calling him "hog thief;" Paul Tislow, a $500 suit against T. J. Withers; William Wright, a $10,000 suit against Thomas Mead; Martin Miley, a $2,000 suit against William Wright for saying: "You stole money and I can prove it;" Thomas Case a $2,000 suit against Graves Mead for asserting, "you are a ---- rascal, rogue and liar ;" Hannah Crayton claimed $1,000 from Charles A. Lamb and wife for saying "she stole a stran of beads from me;" and, in turn, Lamb and wife brought suit against the Craytons. Nothing was recovered in any case ex- cept the last two in which there was a verdict for $36 for the Craytons in the first, and one for $50 for Lamb in the second suit.
In 1829, Henry Coonrod brought suit against George Miley, for alienating the affections of his wife, Elizabeth, and recovered $1,000 damages, and was granted a divorce from her. In the same year, the grand jury returned their first "true bill" for assault, with intent to kill. It was against Cain Hudspeth, in "language and figures," as follows: "That Cain Hudspeth, pick- maker, otherwise laborer, not having the fear of God, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, did assault with a peach tree limb and withe of no value, upon the head and neck, and drug upon the ground a great distance, and from an oven and a hat * * did throw water upon the body so that by his wounds and a mortal distemper, he, John Hewit, did die." However, a jury of "fifteen good and lawful" men found him "not guilty."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.