USA > Indiana > Vigo County > History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections > Part 45
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430
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
Johnny fought them, took their club from them, and drove them out of the house. George Smith is said to have erected the first grist-mill in the county, though there are some that dispute it. It was a few miles from where the town of Bloomton is located. His son, Uncle Davy Smith, was still living within a few years ago. He was a good old man, and preached the gospel for years. He preached to all, and asked no pay, and was a hard worker till the time of his death.
CENSUS OF 1835, TAKEN BY CHARLES T. NOBLE, AUGUST 5:
White males
over 10 years.
White females
over 10 years.
under 10 years.
Females
under 10 years.
Blacks
Mrs. Davey
2
2
1
Ed Kirby.
1
1
1
Geo. Cunningham.
1
1
1
Arch Prater.
1
1
1
Ryman
6
2
2
1
1
Robt. Thirlwell.
5
1
2
J. B. Jenckes.
1
2
1
1
Alex. Boatright.
5
2
Hubbard.
1
1
2
1
Spencer.
8
5
1
1
2
Mrs. Hogue
3
3
3
1
John Kirby
1
1
1
3
Tongate.
2
3
2
Doffacy
1
1
2
Mars.
3
3
4
2
Francis
2
1
1
1
A. C. King.
2 5
1
1
A. A. Fuller.
1
2
1
Chamberlain.
7
3
2
2
J. F. King.
2
2
4
Wm. Bush.
1
1
1
2
Ely Stephenson.
1
1
1
Jno. Sibley.
2
1
2
4
John Mills. .
1
2
2
Noah Beymor
2
1
1
Wm. Prater
3
2
2
2
Merriman
1
1
1
Harrison.
1
1
1
1
M. McFadden.
1
3
3
David Sheward.
1
1
2
Mark Florence.
4
2
1
1
Rich Redford.
1
4
1
4
William Denny. McMurren
1
1
2
Mrs. Hodge.
2
2
1
Jno. Britton.
2
3
2
1
J. F. Cruft.
1
2
3
Andy Armstrong
2
4
1
1
M. W. Sedam.
2
2
1
1
E. Tillotson
1
Thos. Parsons.
4
2
Jos. K. Merry.
1
2
1
Males
431
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
White males
over. 10 years.
White females
over 10 years.
under 10 years.
Females
Blacks.
Sylvia Artis.
2
1
Wm. Anderson.
1
1
3
3
Mrs. Haynes
1
1
1
2
Jno. Artis.
4
1
H. Brasher ..
1
1
2
2
Zenas Smith.
4
1
2
1
Robt. Havens.
2
2
Wm. W. Noel
1
1
James Staggs Goben.
4
2
Mrs. Turner.
4
4
2
Wm. Haynes
4
1
Wm. Bennett.
1
1
1
Chas. Haynes.
1
1
1
D. Linton.
1
2
2
1
1
J. Wasson.
1
2
1
1
S. Wright.
2
3
1
S. Crawford.
4
1
3
Jos. Cooper.
4
2
1
Dutch people by the cooper's shop. Mrs. Hannahs.
2
1
1
Robt. Brasher
2
1
Minneck
1
1
2
St. John.
3
1
1
Wm. Bradford.
2
2
1
John Willis. .
1
1
1
2
John W. Smith.
2
1
1
Wm. Harrington
2
2
1
1
3
5
2
1
Sol Cox. .
3
1
1
2
Levi Dodson.
1
1
1
1
Thos. Desert.
1
1
3
John Reeves.
1
2
1
4
John Beymer.
2
1
1
Jabes Casto
9
2
1
1
Harris.
1
1
1
1
D. D. Condit.
1
2
2
Jos. Braton. ..
1
3
1
Wm. McFadden.
12
9
3
1
Cammack
2
1
Oldham.
1
1
Wm. Taylor.
1
1
1
3
Luther Grigsby
1
1
1
Wm. N. Steel.
4 5
2
2
John Barton.
2
2
1
J. T. Moffatt.
3
3
1
1
Dr. Patrick.
3
3
1
C. T. Noble. .
2
3
2
Sol. Smith.
2
2
2
Till Almy
1
1
1
2
N. Mills
2
2
Jos. Hussey.
3
3
Eli Russel.
1
1
Zeba H. Wolcott.
4
2
C. Warren.
3
2
1
1
E. V. Ball.
2
1
1
2
S. Howery.
1
1
2
. ..
2
1
4
John Ashpaugh.
2
under 10 years.
Males
432
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
.
White males
5 4 1 2 THAT over 10 years.
White females
over 10 years.
White males
under 10 years.
White females
under 10 years.
Mrs. Buxton
2
1
2
Geo. Hager
Ruble
H. Tracy. .
1
1
T. Dowling.
5
1
3
Wm. Probst.
2
2
2
2
S. Mann.
2
1
Sanders Phillips
1
1
Morrison
12
5
2
2
2
C. G. Taylor.
1
2
2
G. C. Welch.
2
2
2
3
R. S. McCabe.
2
2
2
1
Thomas Davis.
2
3
Thomas Barton.
4
2
2
1
T. Ooley.
4
2
3
1
Jas. Haynes.
3
1
Madison.
1
2
1
1
Silas Allen.
2
2
1
Ed Cooper
Richardson.
2
1
1
S. Eversol.
3
1
2
Wm. Johnson.
3
1
2
2
Jos. Miller.
1
1
1
Fred Irish.
3
1
1
1
Robt. Wharry
1
1
1
John McClary.
2
1
1
Mrs. Angier. .
1
4
Robt. Glidewell.
1
3
2
1
Thomas Briggs.
4
2
Jas. Lang. .
3
2
2
4
Harry Ross
4
1
1
1
Harvey Ray.
1
1
2
Saml. McIntire.
1
1
Stephen Haven.
1
2
John Brown.
2
1
Lester Tillotson
1
1
3
Lewis Redford.
1
1
3
C. Gilbert. .
1
2
T. Houghton.
6
2
3
Serrin.
6
3
3
1
Anderson.
1
2
2
James Gibbons.
1
2
2
2
Mrs. Crawford. .
5
6
Mat. Stewart.
20
4
5
B. Smith.
3
2
6
1
E. M. Jones.
1
1
2
1
Jno. Burgett.
1
2
2
D. H. Johnson
4
3
1
2
1
H. Allen.
1
2
3
1
1
Jona. Osborn.
12
3
1
4
2
Dr. Modesitt.
3
3
Thos. Case. .
2
4
3
S. W. Edmonds.
2
2
2
1
1
Howard.
1
1
1
Thompson
2
1
1
Mrs. Rogers.
1
2
1
Ralph Wilson.
1
1
-
Blacks.
3
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
433
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
White males
over 10 years.
White females
over 10 years.
White males
under 10 years.
White females
under 10 years.
Blacks.
Polly Bass.
2
2
1
Hudson.
2
2
1
Cunningham.
L. H. Scott.
1
3
1
1
J. B. McCall.
4
2
1
Dr. Hitchkox
2
3
1
7
4
1
Cass.
1
2
Parsons.
8
2
1
1
Dr. Blake.
4
2
1
1
1 1
J. C. Early.
3
2
2
H. Blinn.
3
2
2
Russel Ross.
4
2
4
1
Wm. Mussett.
2
1
1
Mrs. Crim.
1
1
8
Eph. Ross.
7
4
Jos. Miller.
1
2
2
1
Mr. Richards.
2
2
J. R. Edmonston.
2
1
2
2
Jos. McConnells.
1
1
John Bointer.
1
1
1
2
Wm. Miller.
2
1
Jas. McGarvy
1
2
1
Jett Lovelace.
1
1
J. W. Osborn.
2
3
1
A Kinney
2
2
FAMILIES, 182.
Males over ten years of age.
444
Females " 66 66
350
Males under "
66
60
197
Females " 66 6 66
162
Colored females of all ages
22
Colored males 66 66
25
1,200
Population by the census of 1840, 2,300; in 1850, 3,572; 1854, 7,000; 1860, 8,594; 1870; 16,103; 1876, 19,265; 1880, 25,475; 1890, 31,463.
For the year 1876 it was in detail as follows: First ward, 1,613 males, 1,534 females and 56 colored, total, 3,203; Second, 1,142 males, 1,244 females, 4 colored, total, 2,390; Third, 1,801 males, 1,807 females, 167 colored, total, 3,775; Fourth, 1,518 males, 1.589 females, 17 colored, total, 3,124; Fifth, 2,223 males, 2,332 females, 27 colored, total, 4,592; Sixth, 1,012 males, 1,069 females, 100 colored, total, 2,181.
In 1843 was laid the corner-stone of the court-house, the one on the corner of Market and Ohio streets. Among other things placed therein was an elaborate card made by S. P. Crawford, which was
4
1
1
1
E. T. Hayden.
2
1
434
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
really a work of art, made with the old-fashioned quill pen, and it contained a condensed and valuable history of Terre Haute, as well as much information about the county and State. The corner-stone in which it was deposited was that of the old "Town Hall," the construction of which was commenced July 24, 1843. This build- ing was torn down in 1865, and the contents of the corner-stone were preserved and put in the corner-stone of the old court-house, where they remained until May, 1890, and the building having ceased to be a public building and being sold to private parties, was remodeled and converted into storerooms below and offices above. In the remodeling the workmen uncovered the old corner- stone and the contents were scattered about the street.
The Town Hall was built by the county and city and was owned and occupied in common. It was two stories, 33x50 feet, and cost $2,000. The county rooms below and the city had the second floor. Among the many valuable facts we extract the following:
The business houses of that time in the city are enumerated and aggregate thirty-four kinds of business and 112 establishments, which included everything from the gunsmith to the brewer. Among them were two packing-houses, concerning which the fol- lowing note was made: " Eleven thousand head of logs were packed at these houses last winter, the prices of which per 100 pounds ranged from $1.25 to $1.75; wheat at the same time was bought at 31@43 cents per bushel. Flour then sold for $2.50 per barrel, and corn 10@12 per bushel."
"The Wabash & Erie canal is now completed to La Fayette. Wheat there now commands 80 to 86 cents per bushel. The whole line to this place is let out and to be finished in two years. Goods have been received here from New York this month by La Fayette in twenty-three days, at a cost of $1.62 per 100 pounds, being nearly one-half less than formerly."
There were then nine churches and church societies, three female seminaries, six common schools, one high school, ten law- yers and fourteen practicing physicians.
"In 1840, by estimate made from authentic data, there was expended for liquors drank by retail at the coffee houses in Terre Haute, $20,000. There are at present but three of these houses here, which are scarcely able to pay expenses. In March, 1842, J. A. Patterson, a Scotchman, who for twenty years had been a confirmed drunkard, visited this town. Six months before he had signed the total abstinence pledge. For three nights he lectured on the evil effects of intemperance. A Washingtonian temperance society was formed, which, in a few days, numbered 500 members. Liquor as a beverage is almost unknown."
435
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
Receipts and disbursements of the town of Terre Haute in 1842:
RECEIPTS.
DISBURSEMENTS.
Uncurrent notes. .
$ 13 00
Bal. due Treas
$ 22 21
Tax on Auctioneers.
25 00
Orders paid.
1,056 28
Tax on drays. .
25 00
Do. grave fund.
76 36
Tax on Coffee houses
144 70
Treasurer's per cent.
34 67
Tax on shows .. .
3 00
Uncurrent notes.
13 00
From Market master. 65 00
From Collector.
733 68
From I'ts in gr'v yard.
153 00
For use of hears'.
7 00
For Miscellaneous.
7 50
Balance.
10 64
Total.
$1,202 52 Total $1,202 52
In May, 1882, the town was incorporated under a general act for incorporating towns, which directed that a tax be assessed upon retailers of spirituous liquors, and the proceeds be converted into a school fund. Previous to the act of incorporation of 1838 this fund aggregated $1,127.45. In 1843 this sum was loaned and was bear- ing 10 per cent interest-loaned on personal security.
Amount of taxes assessed in 1843, $1,089.14; amount debt due in bank, $2,739; amount due town by graveyard fund, $300; market house built in 1839, cost, $2,800; * engine house built in 1839, cost, $300; county seminary fund, $4,000; volumes in county library, $1,000.
Population of Vigo county by the census of 1840, 12,076. The officers of Vigo county in 1843 were: President of Seventh Judi- cial circuit, William P. Bryant; associate judges, Walter Dicker- son and Jacob Jones; probate judge, John H. Watson ; prosecuting attorney, John P. Usher; sheriff, William Ray; coroner, Henry Brasher; clerk, Charles T. Noble; recorder, Daniel H. Dickerson; auditor, Wells N. Hamilton; treasurer, Nathan F. Cunningham; school commissioner, C. W. Barbour; assessor, Stephen Taylor; county commissioners, Orin Dowdy, Edward Miles, Joel H. Kester. The court-house built in 1818 cost $18.
The above is but a general and selected account of the facts that were written on the card by Mr. Crawford. Those facts of the greatest local interest have been selected, and in the selection about one-half of the detailed facts have been omitted. His statements included the population of the State and the United States for every census that had been taken, including 1840, and the value of the nation's products in 1840, and many other such data, the reproduc- tion of which would require double the space here consumed.
Mr. Samuel Crawford, who prepared the data and the card, was treasurer in 1843, the year in which the paper was put in the corner-
*Built on northwest corner of Third and Walnut streets.
436
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
stone of the old town hall. He was one of the wealthiest and most respected citizens of this city at that time, and was the father of Frank Crawford, now paymaster on the Vandalia road. He had a brother, John Crawford, who was also fortunate in business, and was unmarried. They came from Ireland and settled in this city. Mr. Frank Crawford is the only living descendant of the family. Mr. Crawford was assisted in collecting the above facts by Capt. James Hook, who has seen Terre Haute grow from her infancy.
The card also contains prices current in 1843, giving the lowest and highest prices of each of 108 articles, of which the following are most worthy of comparison :
Flour, per barrel.
$ 3 75a 4 00
Corn, per bushel.
12a
15
Cornmeal, per bushel.
16a
20
Wheat, per bushel.
50a
56
Oats, per bushel.
08a
10
Rye, per bushel.
25a
37
Potatoes, per bushel.
10a
12
Pork, per pound.
014a
02
Beef, per pound.
02a
03
Butter, per pound.
05a
06
Eggs, per dozen. .
03a
06
Gingseng. per pound.
12a
14
Hay, per ton.
3 50a 4 00
Coal, per ton ..
2 00
Lumber, per 1,000 feet.
1 75a 2 00
Brick, per 1,000. .
2 50a 3 00
Sugar (loaf), per pound
15a
18
Sugar (Orleans), per pound
06a
10
Sugar (country), per pound
06a 08
Coffee, per pound. .
09a
4 12
Whisky, per gallon
14a 16
Horses, each.
25 00a50 00
Cow and calf.
6 00a10 00
Wagons, each
50 00a90 00
Plows, each.
7 00a12 00
It will be noticed that he says the court-house built in 1818 cost $18. A careful examination of the records does not verify the fact that there was any court-house at all built in 1818. At the second meeting of the county commissioners' court of that year there are bills allowed for work on the walls and foundation of the brick court-house on the public square, and the courts in the mean- time were in rooms that they could rent in private houses. This was a fine brick building for that day, and was not finished, espe- cially the upper room, for a long time, and then it was done by the Masons for a hall.
Fifty years ago .- On the occasion of the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of his residence in Terre Haute, April 27, 1887, Capt. James Hook prepared, from memory, a list of all who were here fifty years ago. There are omissions, of course, but the list is, nevertheless, remarkably complete, and includes nearly every one of any prominence. But few of those who were here fifty years
437
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
ago are now living. At that time there were not over 1,600 people in Terre Haute. Indeed, according to the census made by Charles T. Noble, two years after the date mentioned, there were but 1,200 people here, and it is, therefore, more reasonable to conclude that there were not over 1,000 people. The business part of the town was on Water, First, Second and Third streets, from Ohio to Mul- berry street. On Water street, and along the river, the pork houses were located; and, also, the cooper shops were in the vicinity of these streets. The pork business, from November to April, made business lively, and the building of flatboats and shipping the pork and other produce to New Orleans, the market then for the west, was the leading business interest at that period.
The panic commenced in June, 1837. A general suspension of all the banks, and gold and silver were things to be talked about- but rarely seen. Very little was done in the shops, merchants put- ting in time at some amusements, hunting, fishing, or playing poker or "red-dog " and " blue-pup" at 5-cent ante. The products of the farm were at nominal prices; corn, 10 to 15 cents a bushel; wheat, 35 to 37 cents ; potatoes, 12 to 15 cents; eggs, 2 to 3 cents a dozen; butter, 5 cents a pound; chickens, 50 to 60 cents a dozen; pork, $1.50 per hundred; lumber, 65 to 85 cents per hundred; me- chanics' wages, 75 cents to $1 a day, and usually paid in trade.
The following is the list above referred to:
S. K. Allen, Tillinghast Alvey, John Askin, Milton Andrews, Joseph Armstrong, Chester Adams, Isaacs Andrew, Samuel Archer, William Anderson, Andrew Armstrong, Jesse Andrews, James Arm- strong, John Angier, Robert Anderson, Henry Allen, George Bishop, John Baird, Horris Blenn, James Bigwood, C. H. Baley, M. Byers, John Berriman, Harmon Blood, Thomas H. Blake, George W. Ball, William J. Bull, Joseph C. Baker, Ambrose A. Babbett, Thomas Burton, John Brittain, Henry Brasher, A. Bond, E. V. Ball, John Burget, C. W. Barbour, C. H. Baley (2), Noah Ber- riman, W. T. Bennett, Richard Blake, Martin Burke, Moses Beach, Albert Brown, Scott Bump, John Burton, Gideon Burton, Robert Brasher, Robert J. Brasher, Thomas Brasher, John Boudinot, Ran- som L. Brasher, William Butt, George Corey, Simeon Corey, Eben- ezer Chadwick, William H. Chadwick, E. W. Chadwick, A. B. Chap- man, Francis Cunningham, Mat Cunningham, William Cunning- ham, William Clark, Asa L. Chase, John F. Cruft, Charles Cruft, Samuel Crawford, John Crawford, Thomas C. Clayton, Septer Cam- mack, Leonard Crawford, T. S. Coley, Joseph Cooper, Isaac T. Col- lington, Edwards Cole, John R. Cunningham, William Carter, E. B. Carter, Andrew Carter, William Casto, Jabe Casto, Abel Casto, Tim Casto, N. W. Conn, R. L. Chamberlain, Nelson Coltner, Elonzo Colt- ner, George W. Cutter, B. B. Condit, John Condit, B. Condit, Peter
438
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
Crain, Thomas Davis, James Davis, P. M. Donnelly, C. W. Dobbs, Enoch Dole, William Dole, E. B. Dole, Joseph Dole, C. M. Dole, Thomas Desert, Demas Deming, C. Daniels, Asa Dille, D. S. Donaldson, Williams Denny, John Dowling, Thomas Dowl- ing, Peter Dufficy, John Dufficy, Samuel W. Edmunds, S. W. Ed- munds (2), James D. Edmunds, Ebenezer Edmunds, Joseph East, John D. Early, Jacob D. Early, Joseph C. Early, William Early, Walter Early, Samuel Early, Milton Ellis, Samuel Eversol, Abner A. Fuller, John G. Floyd, Samuel Forman, James Ferrington, Mark Florence, A. B. Fountaine, Henry Fairbanks, William Fennimore, Erastus Flint, William Francis, S. R. Franklin, Curtis Gilbert, S. D. Gookin, Carton Gookin, Luther Grigsby, Daniel Guenther, Will- iam Gorham, Worlim Greg, Galvin Gobin, Charles Groverman, Henry Groverman, Edmunds Glazier, James Gibbons, A. J. Gosnel, S. B. Goodwin, L. D. Gartrell, Samuel Howry, James Hook, Jacob B. Hatfield, L. B. Humble, Henry Horey, R. N. Hebb, William B. Hodge, Elija T. Hayden, Joseph Hayden, Zabina Hovey, C. W. Her- ring, William Haynes, William Haynes (2), James Haynes, Lucius Haynes, Thomas Haynes, Hiram Haynes, Christopher Huff, Marcus Hitchcock, John W. Hitchcock, M. Hitch, James Hitch, B. M. Har- rison, Dennis Harrison, William Herrington, Decatur Hanna, E. M. Huntingdon, Joseph Hussey, Edward Hussey, Benjamin Hayes, Jacob Hollinger, Albert Huffman, M. M. Hickox, M. A. Helms, George Habermeyer, John Habermeyer, Thomas Houghton, George Hager, J. H. Hager, J. B. Hager, L. G. Hager, Charles Haynes, Frederick Irish, Henry Jamison, James Johnson, Ezra M. Jones, J. O. Jones, Daniel H. Jannson, John Justice, Thomas Jennings, M. A. Jewitt, Joseph S. Jenckes, Amory Kinney, Henry Keeber, John T. King, A. C. King, William Lake, G. F. Lambert, A. J. Long- dom, Hector C. Lyon, John London, John Lott, Michael Lahey, Jesse Lee, Jacob Lyddick, Sam Little, Frank Lyon, Amassa Lord, Elijah Leak, A. Lange, William Lindley, Morton Lindley, Flem- ing Megan, Malcomb McFadden, William McFadden, Walter Mal- comb, Jolın G. Minnick, R. C. McClure, John D. Murphy, R. S. McCabe, Alex McGregor, Rufus Minor, Joseph Miller, William Miller, Ransom Miller, Nicholas Mills, William Merriman, Joseph McIntosh, Thomas McMullen, Samuel B. Mullen, Charles Modisett, W. M. Modesett, James A. Modesitt, Charles C. Modesitt, William Manning, John McClellan, Evlin Montgomery, Hart Montgomery, J. E. Mizner, H. D. Milas, T. A. Madison, Evan Morrison, Sam R. Mann, William McMurrin, James F. Moffatt, Blackfoed Moffatt, William Morris, Alex Morris, John McClelland, Charles T. Noble, Mahlen Newman, Jasper Newman, James Nelson, Ch. Nantopel, John O'Brian, John H. O'Boyle, John W. Osborn, Robert P. Ober, C. A. Ogden, D. W. Osborn, Caleb O'Dell, John Price, James Pat-
439
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
terson, William Prater, M. Primrose, James Peter, P. D. Praigg, D. W. Patrick, William Patrick, J. A. Pegg, N. Preston, A. M. Pet- tingale, Dixon Porterfield, John Pointer, Thomas Parsons, Walter Reynolds, Edward Reynolds, Chauncey Rose, John Reeves, Henry Rose, Waite Robbins, Parry Rea, John Ray, Jacob Ryman, Eli Russell, William Ramage, Ephriam Ross, Henry Ross, James Ross, Bateman Ross, Russell Ross, William Ross, Lane Romine, Quimby Romine, James Romine, David Reeves, James N. Randon, Nicholas Rippetoe, George Ruble, Richard Redford, Henry Redford, James Redford, Lewis Redford, James Riddle, D. W. Rankin, William N. Rankin, Zenas Smith, William C. Smith, James Sweley, C. Shaw, Rufus St. John, Daniel St. John, A. Steward, John Surns, Alex Surrell, Lemuel Surrell, Alex Surrell (2), Benjamin Surrell, William M. Surrell, Matthew Stewart, W. H. Stewart, James W. Stewart, Robert Stewart, Jacob Y. Smith, Samuel Shafer, Elisha Sibley, John Sibley, S. Sibley, G. M. Sibley, S. K. Sparks, N. C. Sparks, James Serrin, Benjamin Smead, Enon Smead, G. H. Spencer, David Smith, Harrison Steele, Patrick Septer, P. O. Shultz, Sol C. Smith, Jordan Smith, Robert Smith, Bushrod Smith, Matthew W. Sedam, L. H. Scott, John Scott, James H. Turner, A. M. Tucker, Charles Toryford, Josiah Tape, George Tillotson, Robert Thirlwell, William Thirlwell, R. A. Thomas, John H. Thomas, Elijah Tillotson, Lester Tillotson, J. R. Tillotson, S. H. Taylor, A. Watson, W. W. Will- iams, Ralph Wilson, Chauncey Warren, Levi G. Warren, William B. Warren, Guy C. Welch, P. S. Westfall, James Wright, John Wright, William Wright, Nelson Wyeth, William Wilkes, John Wilkes, Stacy Winter, Nicholas Walmsley, William Watt, Joseph Westfall, Levi Westfall, Hiram Westfall, Nelson Westfall, John Wonner, Maxwell Wood, Charles Wood, J. A. Wood, J. Welker, James Wasson, M. G. Wallace, Joseph S. Wallace, Robert Wallace, M. G. Wallace (2), James S. Wyeth, James Wharry, Robert Wharry, Solomon Wright, Lestor Wright, Edward Wright.
Terre Haute was incorporated as a town by virtue of an act of the general assembly, approved January 26, 1832, under the name and style of the president and trustees of the town of Terre Haute. The territory embraced by this act of incorporation included the in-lots of the original plat of the town, together with two tiers of out-lots on the south side, three tiers on the east, two tiers on the north and one tier on the west side of the town. In pursuance of this act a meeting of the citizens was held at the court-house on March 5, 1832, at which James B. McCall presided and William Taylor acted as clerk. This meeting subdivided the town into five wards, and pro- ceeded to elect a trustee for each ward. The following persons were chosen : James Wasson, James B. McCall, Thomas Houghton, James Ross and William Herrington. The trustees so elected held a meet-
440
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
ing on April 7, 1832, and elected the following persons, who were the first municipal officers of the town: James B. McCall, president; James T. Moffatt, clerk; Charles G. Taylor, assessor; Samuel Craw- ford, treasurer; William Mars, constable and collector. The trust- ees were elected annually thereafter, and adopted sundry ordi- nances from time to time for the government of the town, and elected officers. This system of government continued until 1838, when, by a charter from the legislature, approved February 17, 1838, it was changed.
The new charter provided for the election of a mayor and ten councilmen, and was to be submitted to a vote of the citizens for adoption or rejection. At an election held March 17, 1838, the charter was accepted by a majority of 63 votes. On the first Mon- day of the following May, at an election for mayor and councilmen, the following persons were elected, who were the first officers under this charter, viz .: Elijah Tillotson, mayor; Curtis Gilbert, Robert Wallace, Tindall A. Madison, Samuel W. Edmunds, John F. Cruft, Thomas Houghton, Jacob D. Early, Ransom Miller, Russell Ross. and John Burton, councilmen.
The common council at their first meeting elected Charles T, Noble, clerk; B. M. Harrison, marshal and Samuel Crawford, treas- urer.
On August 10, 1838, Mayor Tillotson resigned his office, and Dr. Marcus Hitchcock was elected to fill the vacancy, who held the office until June, 1839, when he resigned. On June 4, 1839, Brit- ain M. Harrison was elected by the people as mayor, Mr. Harrison was re-elected in January, 1840, 1841, 1842 and 1843, at the regular elections.
February 9, 1843, the office of mayor was abolished by a special act of the legislature, the ordinances were to be enforced by magis- trates, and all the other duties of that office were transferred to the president of the common council.
Under the new constitution of the State of Indiana, a general law was enacted by the legislature, providing for the incorporation of cities, approved June 18, 1852, authorizing towns having a popula- tion of 3,000 and upward, upon petition of one-third the voters of any town to cause a census to be taken. It appears by the United States census of 1850 that the population of Terre Haute reached then 4,051. An election was ordered on April 30, 1843, to take the sense of the voters whether or not the town should become incorpor- ated as a city under said act. The result of this election showed a majority of 121 in favor 'of such incorporation. The first elec- tion of city officers was then ordered and held on May 30, 1832, the whole number of votes cast was 752. The following per- sons were elected: William K. Edwards, mayor; Noah Beymer,
441
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
George F. Lyon, Henry Fairbanks, Thomas I. Bourne, James S. Wyethe, James H. Hudson, S. R. Franklin, Robert N. Hud- son, Henry Ross, Zenas Smith, councilmen; J. B. Edmunds, clerk; S. H. Taylor, assessor; Thomas Houghton, treasurer; James Oakey, civil engineer; James T. Moffatt, street commissioner; Thomas Robbins, marshal; B. B. Moffatt, city attorney. These of- ficers were elected for one year, and at the succeeding election held on May 2, 1854, the whole number of votes cast was 781, and the following persons were elected officers : William K. Edwards, mayor; Chauncey Rose, Henry Ross, T. A. Madison, R. L. Thompson, Samuel Crawford, W. R. McKeen, S. R. Franklin, H. B. Smith, Henry Fairbanks, Noah Beymer, councilmen; I. N. Coltrin, clerk ; T. Houghton, treasurer; J. E. Jones, assessor; J. B. Hager, civil engineer; H. D. Milns, street commissioner; Samuel Dodson, mar- shal ; B. B. Moffatt, city attorney.
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