USA > Indiana > Rush County > History of Rush County, Indiana, from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 25
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" After the defeat of the Indians at Tippecanoe, they were com- pelled to sell their lands and again move westward. But old Ben Davis, although well aware that he was looked upon with dislike and suspicion by the white settlers, still occasionally revisited his former hunting-grounds. In the year 1820, he had encamped on Blue Creek, some three miles from Brookville. He had been there, perhaps, a week, daily visiting the town and drinking too much whisky. One day, in the Widow Adair's tavern, he was boasting of his bloody deeds, unmindful of the angry glances of the crowd around him, and, among other things, related how he, with his band, surprised a lonely settler in Kentucky, killing him with all his family except one boy, who happened to be a short distance from the cabin, when attacked, and who, although hotly pursued,
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INDIAN HISTORY.
eluded his enemies and escaped. Now, in that crowded bar-room there was one intensely interested listener, a stern man, who heard from the lips of the old chieftain the particulars of the story of his family's massacre; for he was that flying boy who had saved his life by fleetness of foot when all his kindred fell. Without a word he left the room. The next day Ben Davis did not make his appear- ance in Brookville; but it excited but little remark, for he was erratic in his movements. The second day, some one passing his camp found the old chief cold in death, with a bullet-hole in his forehead and his pipe fallen by his side, for he had been sitting by his fire, smoking, when he received his sudden message to visit the happy hunting-grounds of the Indian's paradise. It was fitting death for so fierce a spirit, for, though he had escaped the whist- ling shot and trenchant steel in many a battle, he finally fell a vic- tim to private vengeance. Public opinion, while unanimous as to the author of the deed, recognized the terrible provacation and jus- tified the act, the more readily as many had lost friends by the hands of the red man. No judicial investigation was ever had, and Mr. Young still held a respectable standing in society."
Ben Davis never forgave or forgot an injury. When his tribe, broken and defeated, was compelled to cede its lands, he held him- self aloof, refusing to join in any treaty, though sullenly submitting to its requirements, and while bowing to the decrees of an inexor- able and resistless destiny, declined, by word or deed, to approve or sanction them. His name will be perpetuated by that lovely stream, which waters some of the best lands of Rush County.
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RUSH COUNTY.
CHAPTER III.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION -EARLY ACTS OF THE COUNTY BOARD -TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION - OFFICERS APPOINTED - THE BOARD OF JUSTICES - EARLY REVENUES - YEARLY FINANCES -THE COURT HOUSES -JAILS - LATER TOWNSHIPS - THE COUNTY POOR - MEDICAL SOCIETY - AGRICULTURAL - BLOODED STOCK - ROADS - ELECTIONS - COUNTY OFFICERS.
HEN Indiana was admitted into the Union, no white settler had pitched his tent upon the land now contained within the borders of Rush County. Yet within five years there were many prosperous settlements. At the meeting of the Legislature of 1821, a strong demand was made for the organization of a new county. In response to this demand the following enabling act was passed.
AN ACT for the formation of a new county west of the counties of Franklin and Fayette.
SECTION I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: That from and after the first day of April next, all that part of the County of Delaware contained within the following bounds, shall form and constitute a new county, viz .: Beginning at the southwest corner of Section 27, in Township 12, north of Range 8 east, of the second principal meridian; thence east eighteen miles to the southeast corner of Section 28, in Township 12, north of Range II east; thence north to the line dividing Townships 15 and 16; thence west eighteen miles to the northwest corner of Section 3, in Township 15, north of Range 8; thence south to the place of beginning.
SECTION 2. The said new county shall be known and desig- nated by the name and style of Rush. * * *
SECTION 3. Robert Luce, of Franklin County, James Delancy, of Bartholomew County, Train Coldwell, of Fayette County, Sam- uel Jack, of Washington County, and Moses Hilecock, of Dearborn County, are hereby appointed commissioners agreeably to the act entitled, "an act for fixing of seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off." The said commissioners shall meet at the house of Stephen Sims in the said County of Rush, on the first Monday in June next, and shall immediately proceed to discharge the duties assigned them by law.
285
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
SECTION 4. The Circuit Courts and all other courts of the County of Rush, shall be held at the house of Stephen Sims afore- said, until suitable accommodations can be had at the seat of justice for said county.
This act shall be in force from and after the first day of April, IS22.
SAMUEL MILROY, Speaker House of Representatives. RATLIFF BOON, President of Senate.
Approved December 31, IS21. JONATHAN JENNINGS, Governor.
Organization of Townships .- The first act of the Board of Com- missioners was the division of the territory of Rush County into six townships designated and described as follows, to-wit:
Union .- Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 4, Town- ship 15, Range II; running thence west to the northwest corner of Township 14, Range 10; thence east to the southeast corner of Sec- tion 33, Township 14, Range II; thence north to the place of be- ginning.
Ripley .- Beginning at the northeast corner of Union Township; running thence west to the northwest corner of Section 3, Town- ship 15, Range 10; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 14, Range S; thence east to the southwest corner of Union Township; thence north to the place of beginning.
Noble .-- Beginning at the southeast corner of Union Township; running thence to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 13, Range Io; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 13, Range 10; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 33, Township 13, Range II, to the place of beginning.
Washington .- Beginning at the northwest corner of Noble Township; running thence west to the southwest corner of Ripley Township; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 13, Range S; thence east to the southwest corner of Noble Township; thence north to the place of beginning.
Richland .- Beginning at the southeast corner of Noble Town- ship; running thence west to the northwest corner of Section 30, Township 12, Range 10; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 28, Township 12, Range II; thence north to the place of beginning.
Orange .-- Beginning at the northwest corner of Richland Town- ship; running thence west to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 12, Range S; thence south to the southwest corner of
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RUSH COUNTY.
Section 27, Township 12, Range 8; thence east to the southwest corner of Richland Township; thence north to the place of begin- ning.
Elections were ordered held in each of the foregoing townships on April 27, 1822, for the purpose of electing two justices of the peace for each township. The polling places designated and the names of inspectors appointed are as follows: Noble Township, at the house of Thomas Sailor, Richard Hackleman, inspector; Rich- land Township, at the house of James Henderson, Jesse Morgan, inspector; Orange Township, at the house of Reuben Farlow, Charles Fullin, inspector: Union Township, at the house of Rich- ard Blacklege, George Hittle, inspector; Washington Township, at the house of Richard Thornbury, John Lower, inspector; Ripley Township, at the house of John Montgomery, Montgomery McCalb, inspector.
It was further ordered that Samuel Danner be appointed Su- perintendent of the school section in Township 14, Range II; Henry Sadoras, Township 14, Range 10; George Taylor, Town- ship 13, Range II; Christian Clymer, Township 13, Range 10; P. H. Patterson, Township 13, Range 9; John Parker, Township 12, Range 10; Nathan Julian, Township 12, Range 9.
James McManis was appointed County Treasurer, Benjamin Sailors, lister of property, and J. D. Conde, Jacob Oldinger, John Cook, road viewers. These constitute the acts of the board at the first metting held in the county. The second was an adjourned meeting, held at the house of John Lower, on Monday, the 10th day of May, 1822. At this meeting the tavern rates were fixed as follows: Whisky, per half pint, 121/2 cents; all foreign spirits, 50 cents per half pint; peach and apple brandy, 25 cents per half pint ; gin, 25 cents per half pint; every meal, 25 cents; bed, 614 cents; corn or oats, 1212 cents per gallon; horse standing at hay over night, 1834 cents. The assessment of property for the year was on each male over twenty-one years of age, 50 cents; for every horse, mare, mule or ass, over three years old, 37% cents; every yoke of oxen, over three years old, 25 cents per head; every four- wheel pleasure carriage, etc., $1.25; every two-wheel carriage, $1.00; every gold watch, 50 cents; every silver watch, 20 cents. At the same meeting Benjamin Sailor was allowed $25 for listing the property of the county for the year 1825, which was the first allow- ance made out of the treasury of Rush County.
At a special meeting of the board held at the house of William B. Laughlin, June 17, 1822, the commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice, filed their report, but having never been recorded, its contents is unknown except as remembered by oldest citizens.
287
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
Conrad Sailors was appointed County Agent, with instructions to procure services of a surveyor to lay off the land donated into town lots, and to advertise the sale of said lots in the Indianapolis and Brookville papers for the 29th day of July, 1822. The town was named Rushville, and was ordered laid off after the plan and form of the town of Connersville.
The legislature of 1824, passed an act which took effect in September of said year, abolishing the office of County Commis- sioner, and created instead a board of justices composed of one jus- tice of the peace from each township. The first board of justices was composed of the following justices of the peace: William P. Priest, E. Leach, Amos Baldwin, Baton Halloway, Elisha Scoville, William Beade, Reuben Farlow, William Amber, Alex Young, Daniel Cox, Richard Blackledge, Thomas Sailor and Stephen Sims. The duties heretofore performed by the commissioners were for the next four years transacted by the board of justices. This change proved unsatisfactory and the law was repealed in 1828. It is prob- able that the first license ever issued in the county authorizing the sale of intoxicating liquors by retail was to John Perry, on the first day of November, IS24. The fee for the same was $7.50. The petitioners asked that the license be granted on the grounds that it would be of public convenience. At the same term of court, Sam- uel Cary was granted a license to sell at his residence in the town of West Liberty, and in the January following, Job Pugh was granted a license authorizing him to sell at his residence in Rush- ville.
At the May term, IS26, in order to raise sufficient county rev- enue to meet the public demands, the first assessment was made upon the land of the county. Each 100 acres of the first-rate, 50 cents; second rate, 40 cents; third rate, 30 cents; town lots, 50 cents on every $100 valuation. For the first few years the expenses of the county were small, and the principal source of revenue was from the sale of lots donated to the county for the location of the county seat. The tavern, ferry and merchants' license was another source of considerable revenue, and added to these the small assess- ment on personal and real property, brought into the treasury a suf- ficient sum to keep the machinery of the county in running order. For the year IS22 the receipts as shown by the treasurer's report, were $289.87. The disbursements were in excess of this amount, and so continued in excess of the receipts for many years, and in order to meet the current expenses, county orders were issued which always sold at a discount. For the ten years ending June 1, IS40, the receipts of the county aggregated $25,849, and the disburse- ments for the same period $866 less than the receipts. The aggre-
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RUSH COUNTY.
gate for the ten years ending 1850, were: receipts, $118,459, expenditures, $113.784; and for a like period ending June, 1860, were: receipts $160,659, expenditures $145,784. The following statement will show the receipts and expenditures of the county for each year from 1860 to 1887.
Receipts.
Expenditures.
1860
$12,274 69
$17,104 76
I86I.
22,026 26
16,052 46
IS62
32,899 68
27,692 00
I863
15,592 23
26,810 32
I864
150,751 02
1 30,466 70
I865
179,722 4I
154,700 65
I866
100,776 94
126,137 29
I867
68,461 52
62,440 84
I868
101,887 98
83,024 16
I869
108,615 4I
112,451 73
1870
68,782 00
75,052 70
I87I
73,154 23
So,894 46
I872
70,715 95
SI,278 85
IS73
141,720 47
127,354 02
I875
152,331 55
119,400 00
I876.
197,672 22
174,503 96
1877
155,688 77
175,143 73
1878.
145,213 92
145,213 61
I879
125,630 00
118,506 00
ISSO.
108,173 55
110,152 18
188I
147,004 OI
154,700 00
1882
204,169 99
227,478 00
I883
118,334 20
120,883 23
1884
200,732 90
82,873 00
I885
88,655 76
85,334 34
1886
108,531 09
90,964 09
I887
82,437 79
84,340 04
The receipts as above given show the amount actually collected from the people each year. It is found by deducting the balance in the treasury at the beginning of each year from the total receipts and balance. It shows an aggregate expense of running the county for the twenty-seven years ending June, 1887, of a little less than $3,000,000.
Court House .- The place designated by the Legislature for the holding of the various courts until a court house should be completed, was the residence of Stephen Sims; later, courts were
289
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
held at the residence of Robert Thompson and others until Sep- tember, 1826, when the court for the first time met at the court house, which was not completed, and received by the board of commissioners, however, until November of said year. The house which stood in the centre of the west block of the public square ยท was a two-story brick 40x40 feet. The architecture was of that plain style common to the public buildings of that day. The walls were of hard burnt brick, twenty-two inches thick. The first story was eighteen, and the second fourteen feet in height. 'The lower room was divided into a court room and jury rooms; the upper room was divided into three apartments which were used for county offices. This house cost about $2,500, as nearly as can be ascertained, and answered the purposes of the county for more than twenty years, when on account of its size it became in- adequate and was replaced by the present structure. The con- tractor was Reynold Cory, by whom the work was commenced in the fall of 1823.
At a special meeting of the board held January 15, 1846, the necessity of building a new court house was urged by the various county officials and many of the representative citizens. In com- pliance with these demands, the board authorized John L. Robin- son, County Clerk, to procure the services of John Elder, an architect residing in Indianapolis, to draw plans and specifications for a brick court house 50x80 feet and two stories high. The plan was submitted at the March term, 1846, and the contract awarded said John Elder for the sum of $12,000, with the provision that the building should be completed and ready for occupancy on or be- fore the first day of March, 1848. The building, which still answers the purposes of the county, is plain and simple in its archi- tecture, but very substantial and commodious. As originally de- signed, the lower floor is occupied by the clerk, auditor, recorder, and treasurer's offices, while the upper room is divided into a court room, jury rooms and sheriff's office. Each office was provided with what was intended to be a fire-proof vault for the safe-keep- ing of the records. These in some instances have been torn away to give more office room, and now the records would be exposed' to the ravages of the flames should fire occur.
The building, which has stood for almost a half century, is still in fair condition and would answer the purpose for which it was designed for many years to come. Yet a more modern structure would add much to the appearance of the city and be more in keep- ing with the spirit and progress manifested by the citizens of the town and county, besides furnishing the necessary protection for the large accumulation of valuable public records.
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RUSH COUNTY.
1
fail .- In the settlement of every new country the vicious as well as the good were found; and in order to protect society, against those who sought frontier life for unworthy purposes and punish lawlessness, the pioneer prison was deemed necessary, and the plans and specifications for a jail were accordingly adopted. These plans provided for a two story building 14x18 feet, eight feet between floors; the whole to be raised and constructed of substan- tial timbers, hewed one foot square. The floors to be laid of two layers square timbers, the upper at right angles with the lower. The lower room to be lined with two inch plank; the entrance to said room to be a door in one end, to be closed with iron shutters made of bars one-half an inch thick. The upper room to be divided by a partition, into two departments, one for females and the other for debtors. It must be remembered that at the time of the organiza- tion of the county and for many years thereafter, a debtor might at the direction of the creditor, be imprisoned for debt. The county agent was ordered to contract for the building of the jail, on or near the centre of the east block of the public square. The contract was awarded to Richard Hackleman, and the building completed and received by the board at its November meeting, IS23. The jail which was similar in construction, and material to the prisons in all new counties, was most substantial, and but few, if any, prisoners ever escaped. The first jailor was John Hays, who, after the expiration of his term of office, moved to Hancock County, where he became insane and while trying to escape from jail, where he was confined, by burning out he was himself con- sumed by the flames.
The old jail was condemned as unsafe at the June term of court, 1844, and a contract for the building of a new one was awarded to Royal P. Cobb, at said term for the sum of $3,250.
The building which stood on the public square, directly east of the court house was a stone structure, 20x20 feet and two stories high. The foundation wall was built of stone 2 feet thick, 3 feet long and 2 feet wide. The floors were laid of cut stone ten inches thick, the surface of the lower room was covered with sheet iron, and the three windows secured by heavy iron grates. Built in con- nection with said jail, of the same material, but of a less substantial character, was a jailor's residence, 20x23 feet in dimensions and two stories in height. The entire building was surrounded by a fence six feet high. The building was completed and received by the board January 6, 1845.
The third jail built by the county is still standing. The contract for its erection was awarded to Conover & Murphy with the provision that it should be completed and ready for use by July,
291
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
1862. The estimated cost of building was $10,800, but before its completion, that amount was increased by several thousand dollars. The building, which includes a sheriff's residence, is built of brick, and is two stories high. It is well provided with iron cells and is convenient in all its appointments. It is located on the southeast corner of the public square.
Organization of Other Townships. - Green. - Beginning at the southwest corner of Section 19, Range 10, Township 14; thence east to the half mile stake on the line dividing Sections 22 and 27; thence south to the half mile stake on the line dividing Sections IO and 15 in Range 10, Township 13; thence west to the county line, thence north on county line to the northwest corner of Section 15, Range S, Township 14; thence east to the southwest corner of Section 7, Township 14 and Range 10; thence south to the place of beginning. Organized February 12, 1823.
Rushville. - August 11, 1823. - Beginning at the northwest corner of Section 15, Township 14, Range 8; thence to the half mile stake on the line dividing Sections 10 and 15, Township 14, Range 10; thence south to the half mile stake on the line dividing Sections 10 and 15 in Township 13, Range Io; thence west one- half mile; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 33, Township 13, Range 10; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 31, in said town and range; thence north one mile and a half; thence west to the county line, thence north to the place of beginning.
Walker. -- Organized March 6, 1826. -- Commencing at the northwest corner of Section 15, Township 14, Range 8; thence south to the half mile stake on the west side of Section 27 in said range and township; thence east through the centre of section to half miles stake on the east side of Section 28, Township 13, Range 9; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 16, Range 9, Township 14; thence west to the place of beginning.
Center. - Organized Jan 4, 1830. -- Beginning at the south line of Rush County, at the northeast corner of Section 4, Town- ship 15, Range 10; thence south by said section line to the south- east corner of Section 33; thence west on said township line be- tween 14 and 15 to the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 15, Range 9; thence north on said line to the northwest corner of Section 3; thence on said county line to the place of beginning.
Jackson. - Organized August 18, 1830. - Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 6, Township 14, Range 10; thence west to the northwest corner of Section 5, Township 14, Range 9; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 20, Township 14,
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RUSH COUNTY.
Range 9; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 19, Town- ship 14, Range 10; thence north to the place of beginning.
Anderson .- November 9, 1830 .- Commencing at the corner of Sections 27 and 28, Town 12, Range 9, on the line of Decatur County; thence north to the line dividing Rushville and Orange Township; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 32, Town 13, Range 10; thence south to the county line; thence west to the place of beginning.
Posey .- Beginning on the west line of Rush County at the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 14, Range 8; thence north along the county line to where said line intersects the Con- gressional Township line dividing Congressional Townships 14 and 15; thence east along said Congressional Township line to the northeast corner of Section 4, Town 14, Range 9; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 33, same township and range; thence west to where the line intersects the boundary line of said county at the place of beginning.
At the March term of Commissioner's Court, 1859, there was a general reorganization into the twelve townships with bound- aries as at present.
The Poor .- An essential element in the practical economy of every community, and one of the distinctive features of our civili- zation, is manifest in the measure of charity extended in providing for and maintaining the poor and indigent. A generous public pol- icy demands of those who are selected to make the laws that ample means be provided to secure this branch of society against destitution. Various laws have been enacted by the State for the exercise of a spirit of benevolence toward all who are entitled to be recipients of public benefactions. Among the first provisions made by the law for alleviating the wants of the poor was the appointment of Over- seers for each civil township, whose duty it was to hear and exam- ine into all complaints in behalf of the poor and see that their wants were sufficiently provided for. A further provision made it neces- sary to put as apprentices all poor children whose parents were dead, or found unable to maintain them, males until the age of twenty-one, and females until the age of eighteen years. Indigent men and women were farmed out on contract by the Overseers on the first Monday in May, annually.
In May, 1822, the following Overseers were appointed: Joseph Smith and Andrew Gilson, Union Township; Jonathan Potts and Andrew Thorp, Ripley Township; Thomas P. Lewis and Abraham Hackleman, Noble Township; Jesse Winship and John Hale, Washington Township; Henry Misner and Joseph Lee, Richland Township; Adam Conde
00
William Jackson
*
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COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
and William Nelson, Orange Township. This method of caring for the poor was continued until 1840, when, as a better means of pro- viding for the wants of this class, a farm had been purchased and made ready for their use. In June, 1839, the Board of Commissioners appointed Alfred Posey as their agent, and instructed him to pur- chase for the use of said county a farm conveniently located and suf- ficiently large for the above named purpose. In accordance with said instructions the agent purchased of John Hale 176 acres of land, paying for the same $3,520. No new buildings were erected until March, 1855, when, at the instance of the Board of Commis- sioners, plans and specifications for the erection of a new building were submitted by J. C. Dill, architect. The contract was let to Charles Sheaf for $7,543, and a large two story brick building 50x20 feet; east wing, 48xI8 feet, and west wing, 48x32 feet, was completed March Ist, 1856. Since that time many improvements and additions have been made to meet the all increasing wants. For the first decade but little can be learned as to cost of caring for the poor. It may be safely stated, however, that those depend- ing upon the charity of the people for support were few, and the amount paid did not become burdensome. Indeed, the system of " farming out" and " apprenticing " was almost self-sustaining.
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