Bartholomew County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 2 of those read), 1888 (part 2 of 2)

In 1823 Dr. Joseph Rose was paid $12 for services rendered Nancy Burkham, and $10 was allowed James Lash for keeping her five weeks. In 1832 an allowance of $12 was made "for keeping Nancy, a woman of color, a pauper," and in the same year $17.83 was paid for the support of Nanc}^ T3der. In JNIarch, 1827, an allowance of $5 was made "for farming out a pauper and burying a child" - -the first of the kind for either of the services mentioned. In March, 1828, the pa3'ment of $18.25 '^^'^s directed for the support of Samuel G. Rice, and an allowance of $26 was made for professional services rendered him b}^ Dr. W. P. Kiser. The most unfortunate of the early poor was John Powers. He became a public charge earlj^ in 1828, and prior to the Christmas of 1829 there had been expended by the county in his behalf $140.74, all of it for his "keep," except $3 which was paid Nathan Bass and Uriah McQueen for "advertising and selling" him, in November, 1829. From first to last the count}' spent in caring for this one man $424.63, and at length this record closed his career in March, 1835, "allowed $18.50 for the keep and burial of John Powers.'' These facts are recorded not to reflect upon the man named, for povert}^ of itself is never a disgrace, but to show the laudable conduct of the communit}' in thus relieving his want. Up to this ti few expenses for the poor other than those named were incurr but as the population increased there was a natural growth in the dependent class, and the necessity of providing- better means for their care became manifest. In May, 1839, ^ committee was appointed by the County Commissioners to select a site for a poor house, and authorized to purchase a farm, but nothing permanent resulted from the work of this committee. Consequently, in March, 1842, another committee composed of Francis J. Crump, John Prather and William S. Jones was appointed. After examining several tracts of land, the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 14, Township 10, Range 5 east, was purchased from P. H. Redman for $500, of which $372.05 was paid in cash and $127.95 in the individual notes of the committee due one year from date. One hundred and sixty dollars was expended in repairing a house then on the land. In June, 1845, the Commissioners purchased for $1,650, from George G. Gabbert, no acres of land in Section 35, Township 9, Range 5 east, and in the following March sold the old farm to Harve}^ Dickinson in consideration that he should feed and clothe all the paupers of the county for three years, and decently bury those dying at the asylum during that time.

In March, i860, an additional tract of land in the same section, comprising about seventy acres, was purchased from John Young, for $2,000, and in December, 1868, sixty acres of timber land, in Section 2, Township 8, Range 5 east, were bought from Thomas J. Followell, for $2,400. In July, 1848, a brick house, 56x18x8, divided into four equal parts by brick partitions, was built by James W. Betts, at a cost of ^700, and in June, 1861, an additional building, 24x18, was erected at a cost of $150. In June, 1863, the necessit}' for a larger and better house was so apparent that bids for its construction were advertised for. The contract was awarded to Adam Keller, for $2,338.05. In April, 1878, after personal examination of the premises, the Board of Commissioners found the conveniences at the poor farm wholly inadequate, and decided to erect a new as3'lum, which, however, was not to cost in excess of $12,000, the sum to be raised by an issue of county bonds. G. W. Bunting, an architect of IndianapoHs, was emplo3'ed to draw up the plans and specifications. Pursuant to advertisements, the following proposals were submitted in June of the same year:

County Orgaxization

Samuel Ilege, $11,900; McCormack & Sweeney, $13,288; R. M. Rowley & Son, $12,773; Keller & Brockman, $12,975; Perkinson, Dunlap & Co., $10,900. The last named bid being considered the lowest and best, was accepted, and contract entered into June 14th. When the contract was prepared a change had been made in the specifications respecting the kind of mortar to be used by which the proposed and accepted price was to be increased $100, and for this reason Commissioner Gant declined to sign the same, deeming it a bad precedent to establish. When the work was completed the contractors were allowed $12,114.79. The house is a two story brick building, Avell built, spacious, and in all ways well suited for the purposes designed. A barn, 34x40 feet, was built in the same year, by Samuel Hege, at a cost of $352.

The farm is annually inspected by the Board of Commissioners, and the comfort of the inmates is carefully looked after. This duty was performed b}^ the Overseers of the Poor until that ofKce was abolished. They visited the asylum frequentl}^ and made written reports to the Commissioners. These reports show good management and humane conduct on the part of the Superintendents. The first Superintendent was Silas Keely, who received $300 for keeping from one to eleven persons six months. Other earl}^ Superintendents were: Frederick H3-att, Hance Irwin and Thomas Whalen. The last named kept all the paupers in 1848 for the use of the farm and 300 bushels of corn, and in 1849 ^o'* *^^^ "^^ °f ^^^ farm and $125. The present Superintendent is Thomas J. Noland who is under contract for three years to keep all the paupers for the use of the farm and $1,600 per 3'ear. The amount expended for the poor in the asylum in 1878, was $1,734.26; in 1879, $^5420. 55; and in 1887, $1,403.80. Concerning those supported outside of the "asylum the figures below^ are appended to show the fluctuations in this item of expense fi^om 1853. As to the period prior to that date a sufficient idea for the purposes of history has been given above.

Public Buildings.- - Court Houses: On Februar}- 26, 1821, immediatel}' after the organization of the count}-, the Board of Commissioners purchased for $50 from Luke Bonesteel a small, double log house, to be used as a court house. It was inadequate for the needs it was bought to supply, and preparations were soon begun to have it replaced. In November, 1821, the building of a new^ court house was determined upon, to be of brick, two stories high, forty feet square, and about twent3'-five feet high. The contract Avas awarded to Giles Mitchell. In 1824, the house purchased from Bonesteel was sold, and for several years rooms ^vere rented by the Commissioners wherever they could be best obtained. In November, 1824, the "undertakers of the court house" were given another year to complete the same, but when the time expired, the building was not finished. Mitchell was released from his contract, and was allowed $47.73, the balance due him, he having previous^ been paid $1,000. At the same time the County Agent received Mitchell's note, promising to deliver in Columbus, for the count}-, " four thousand brick." In ^panuary, 1826, a Contract for finishing the cupola, doors, windows, etc., of the court house, was awarded to Mr. Jones, and in Ma}' following, he was allowed $3,465. This and $20 paid upon settlement in ATay, 1H27, were tlie only cash pa^-ment^madc to this contractor. The Count}- Agent was directed to surrender to Benjamin Crow John Lindse3'''s note, on which Crow's name appeared as a surety; Crow was to give his individual note to Jones; and the amount was to be charged to Jones on '- what will be due in November next " on his contract. The amount of these notes, or what would be due on the contract, are not stated. The agent was further directed to deliAcr to David Stipp two $52 notes, in favor of the count}-, on his signing over to Jones a bond held by Stipp for lot No. 86, in Columbus. The scarcity of specie rendered such makeshifts necessary. Still the court house was not finished, and the means of raising money were so few that new expedients had to be resorted to. The Legislature was appealed to, and on January 6, 1829, it w-as enacted by the General Assembly " that the Board of Justices of Bartholomew County, shall levy a poll tax of 25 cents on each and every person in said county liable to pay a poll tax for State purposes, which tax shall be paid in specie onl}-, and shall be by said Board appropriated to the finishing of the court house of said county."

This act was repealed in January, 1832, but the Board of Justices, a few days prior to the passage of the Repealing Act, or afterward and in ignorance of it, levied the usual poll tax. This led to contests, and in February, 1834, ^'^^ action of the Board was legalized. In the Fall of 1829, William Chapman was awarded a contract to make further repairs, and the County Agent was directed to settle with him for his work. Chapman completed the wood-work, and in September, 1831, the house was at last ready for paint. The contract shows that the building, including the roof, was to be painted " Vanecian Read;" the window "shetters" to be green with , two good " cotes of pant," to be hung with iron hinges, and made " near after the same form of Hubbards store windows." The cornice, cupola and a ball above the same were to be painted white. Painting, plastering, and repairs to the interior cost $386. In March, 1839, ^^^^ ^^'^ court house, which had cost so much time and trouble in its building, was sold for $825. Prior to this de\te the Commissioners, recognizing the fact that the public business, increasing constantly, demanded better facilities for its transaction than tliose enjoyed, appointed a committee composed of John B. Abbett, Ephraim Arnold, and jNIoses Joiner, to consider the question of erecting a new court house. At the suggestion of this committee another was appointed to furnish a draft and model - ^ which, when submitted, provided for a brick building with stone trimmings and fire-proof vaults, two stories high, and to be covered with pine or walnut shingles. In February, 1839, Jo'"'" Elder submitted a proposal to construct the building for $8,500, which was accepted. Upon completion of the work the county in part payment transferred to Elder a judgment obtained against Jesse Ruddick, et al., and paid the balance in cash. This building stood in the center of the present pubhc square, and at the time of its completion, was ample for the heeds of the count}' and an ornament to tlie town. But, thirty years later, in December, 1870, the Commissioners declared it "dilapidated, crumbhng, and unsafe," and sold it for $350. It was then determined to build such an edifice as was demanded b}- the interests of the people who in that year had paid into the treasury more than $200,000, of which $63,912 was for county purposes. I. Hodgson, of Indianapolis, was chosen as architect. The Commissioners then in office were Louis Essex, John P. Iloltz, and John W. Welmer, who met much opposition in the contemplation of this work. It has been said that " though the old court house was frail in its structure and forbidding in its aspect, 3'et it required as much courage to resolve on the construction of a new building and to enter on the execution of that resolve as to meet an embattled and hostile enemy in the field."

Pursuant to advertisements previously given, the following bids were received in April, 1871 : McCormack & Sweeney, $139,900; Frank L. Farman, $147,330; Epperson & Myers, $156,997; Mc- Kay & Goshom, $134,990; D.J. Silver, $163,000; Short Peperl}- «& Co., $200,000. The contract was awarded to McCormack & Sweenc}'. At various times it became necessary to enlarge upon the original plans which increased the cost of the building bej-^ond the amount stipulated in the contract. The contractors received about $175,000; the architect, $8,998.95 ; Jolin Rouser, builder of counters, bookcases, and other fixtures, $7,672; the Howard Watch & Clock

County Orcamzation

Co. of Boston, for the town clock and bell, $5,000; the Union Foundry Works, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for fence enclosing the public square, $8,133.45. Other expenditures, including that for the heating apparatus, swell the cost of the improvements made to above $225,000. The building stands on the northeast corner of the public square, fronting on Third and Washington streets. After the Franco-American st3'le of architecture, its exterior is of pressed brick and stone trimmings. The foundation stone is from the quarries at North Vernon, the finishing stone from those at Ellettsville, and the brick from the manufactories of Indianapolis. The building is three stories in height, with a mansard roof, surmounted b}' a tower twenty-five feet s(]^uare and 154 feet high. The east front is 122 feet 8 inches long; the north front 122 feet long. It is thoroughly fire proof. On the first floor are the offices of the Auditor, Recoi'der, Clerk, Sheriff, Treasurer and Board of Commissioners, all roomy and handsomely furnished; on the second floor are two spacious and loft}' court rooms, one 72x42 feet, the other 52x47 feet, the offices of the Judges, Count}'- Attorneys, and Surveyor; and on the third floor are entrances to the court-room galleries, jury and witness rooms, beautifully designed and substantially built in all their parts. This court house will long remain " an architectural triumph and a proud and enduring monument to the intelligence and enterprise of its founders."

When completed and received the Commissioners determined to open the new building to the public on December 29, 1874. Preparations were made for a gala day and appropriate public exercises. A cordial and general invitation to the citizens of the county to attend the ceremonies and a banquet to be held in the evening, was extended through the press. On the appointed day the streets of the city were thronged at an early hour. The entire people of the county seemed to have assembled, and large numbers from all parts of the State were, present. In the afternoon a great crowd gathered at the new Temple of Justice, the corridors, court rooms and otlices being filled with the old and young, rich and poor, of all classes and trades. In the larger court room an eager throng awaited, with beaming faces and glad hearts, the commencement of the exercises, and each took part in the doings of the day with proud jiloasurc. Ma^or Thomas Essex prcsulcd; api^-opiiate speeches were made b}- Hon. Josepli E. McDonald, Col. W. P. Tomlinson, of Louisville; Judge Samuel II. Buskirk, of the Supreme Bench; Judge J. Y. Allison, of INIadison; Judge C. L. Dunham, and othens; a poem of considerable beauty and pathos, 1^- Mrs- Laura C. Arnold, ^was read, and music suitable to the occasion was rendered by the city bands. The festivities were concluded by a ball and banquet in the evening, when brief addresses were delivered and appropriate toasts proposed and responded to elo;|uently by visiting and resident men of acknowledged ability. The event was notable, important and long to be remembered.

yails. - Among the first improvements made b}- the county was the building of a jail. The contract was let to John McEwen in May, 182 1. He was to receive the first payment of $83 out of the money received at the sale of town lots. The jail was built of logs and stood fift}'- feet from the southeast corner of the public square, on a line from that corner to the center of the square. When completed the Board of Commissioners refused to accept it because it was not built according to contract, and suit was ordered to be brought against McEweu because it was not completed at the time agreed upon. McEwen succeeded, however, in having the matter submitted to arbitration - Newton C. Jones, James Vanzant and Joshua McQueen - - upon whose recommendation it was finally received, and the County Agent was directed to enter a credit on McEwen's note for $112.75. Some repairs were made on it in 1825, but it was not secure. At various times prisoners were guarded over night by watchmen hired for the purpose at fifty cents per night. In this connection it may be proper to state that Joseph McKinney in November, 1822, was allowed $21.25 fortaking a convicted criminal, M. W. Harrington, to the State prison, this being the first allowance of the kind. In Jul}-, 1826, two men were allowed $6 each for taking prisoners to Jeffersonville. The allowance specifies the a;mount as being payment for six days' labor on the part of each. The first pair of handcuffs were bought in March, 1S28, for $2.50. In 1831 a contract was made with Samuel Patterson for the building of a jail for $1,188. This jail stood on the southwest corner of the public square, thirty feet from each

Street, facing Jackson. The foundation, i8xiS, was made of wliite oak timber, one foot below the surface of the ground; this was crossed witli other timbers, all 12x12; between tlie timbers were four inches of trravel. I^he first story was ten feet hiah with double walls; the inside wall of 12x12 inch timbers with plank two inches thick, spiked on with four inch spikes not more than six inches apart; the outside wall of 10x12 inch timbers which continued upward seven feet above the inside wall so as to make a room below 14x14x8, and abo\ c 14x14x7; the second floor of 12x12 inch timber.^ and heavy plank spiked like the inner wall, and the upper room ceiled with six inch timbers. There were two sma'I windows and a door in each room, all grated with iron bars - the lower room with much heavier iron than the upper. This entire house was surrounded b}' a brick wall thirteen inches thick, commencing at the base of timber foundation and running to the top of the inner structure. The whole was covered with a shingle roof. A staircase ran up the outside of the building to the door of the upper room. When finished it was received and the contractor paid $1,088, a deduction of $100 having been made because of some changes in the original plans.

In 1845 a contract was made with John Craig, Joseph Pervis and Michael West, for the building .of a jail on lot No. 106, fronting on Walnut Street, and standing eight feet therefrom, and a Jailor's residence on the southwest corner of said lot for $2,575. The jail was of stone, 20x20. The first floor was of stone slabs three feet square and ten inches thick; the second and third floors were of hewn timber one foot square, covered with heavy sheet iron and then with oak planks and all securely spiked together. The Jailor's residence was of brick with stone foundation,' 25x20, and two stories high. Both jail and residence were under one roof. The building was received by the Board of Commissioners in Januar}'', 1847, and the contractors were allowed $29 for extra work and materials. In March, 1870, a contract was made with Frank L. Farman for the building of the jail and Jailor's residence, now standing near the southeast corner of the public square, facing Washington Street, for $41,900. The plans for the building were prepared by I. Hodgson, architect, of Indianapolis. The building is veiy handsome in design, substantial, secure and commodious. It is two stories high, built of brick, with stone trimmings and lined w^th iron. After a thorough examination of all its parts it was received b}"^ the Board of Commissioners on February 14, 187 1. A bill for extra work done, aside from that specified in the contract, amounting to $875.45, was filed b}' the builder, endorsed as correct and justly due b}' the architect, and allowed by the Commissioners. In round numbers, including allowances to architect and superintendent, the structure cost the count}' $45,000.

In November, 183S, a market house, 50x20 feet, was built b}'' Joseph Bevis on the public square at a cost of about $200. In May, 1S39, it was delivered as a gift to the Trustees of the town of Columbus " to be dealt with or disposed of as the}' might see fit." It has long since passed away, and is mentioned here only because it was a public building erected b}' the count}-.

Avenices of Travel. - -The highw^ay as a means of bringing men into social and business contact is an educator and producer of "wealth. The pioneers had only the blazed trail and the cleared out serpentine road winding its way through dense and wolf-infested forests from settlement to settlement. From this beginning there are now highways of banded steel traversing the land from ocean to ocean and from lake to gulf, as results of the aggressive, enterprising spirit, which has brought into cultivation a rich, but once unappreciated, territory, and built busy towns and magnificent cities where not long since were unexplored forests.

This county and other portions of the State soon after settlement, produced a large surplus of agricultural products, which was likely to become worthless for the want of a market. As early as 1822 Governor William Hendricks in his message to the Legislature urgently called attention to the importance of internal improvement. The Assembly adopted a progressive policy, encouraging and aiding plans for the development of the country without examining closely as to their feasibility, or the necessities which were supposed to demand them. A favorable sentiment grew strong among the people, at one time amounting almost to a frenzy, commencing about 1832 and ending in 1838. New York, Penns}'lvania and Ohio were successfully prosecuting internal improvements. There ap- peared no good reason why Indiana should not follow the example of these older States. Hopes of profit to land and town lot speculatoi's ayd to prosjiective engineers, contractors and jobbers of all sorts gave an additional impetus to the demand for extensive public work. At the session of 1835-6 the Legislature adopted a system of internal improvement, which at length banki-upted the credit of the State. The completion of the works authorized would have cost $30,000,000, and probably the only thing to prevent the expenditure of this entire sum was the inability of the State to secure the necessary credit. Works were commenced that did not lead to a market, where no surplus of labor or produce existed and when the onl}^ interests to be benefited w^er.e those of the speculator in new lands or the promoters of insignificant towns. Notwithstanding the lack of prudence which permitted the overdoing and stranding of the work, some good was ultimately accomplished.

For cartways and w^igon roads, provision had been made long before the date mentioned. When Indiana was admitted to the Union the statutes of the National Government provided that five per centum of the proceeds arising from the sale of the public lands should be set apart for the purpose of building roads; two per cent. for a State road leading to the permanent seat of government, and three per cent, to be used by the several counties on the roads within their borders. At the time of the organization of the count}^ her territory was already traversed by some tolerabl}- well defined roads. On May 15, 1821, the subject was first officially considered by the Commissioners. On that da}- no less than seven road petitions signed by " divers and sundry citizens " of the townships or locality wanting the outlet were presented to the Board of Commissioners, who, upon consideration granted the prayers of the petitioners, and in each case appointed viewers to view, mark and lay out the proposed highwa}', if in their judgment it was of public utility. The routes were not well defined as is required in such petitions at the present day, indeed, only the designed termini were named, the object, as expressed, being to get from one to the other "by the nearest and best w^a}'-," and this was left to the good judgment of the viewers. The seven petitions named were for the following roads: first, from the public sf[uare in Columbus to intersect the

State road to tlic scat of government; second, from the ford on l>ig" Sand Creek to the public square in Cohimbus; tliird, from Big- S<ind Creek to intersect the State road at David ^'anblaricum^s; fourtli, from the pul)lic square in Columbus to ]>rookville, bv Robertson's ford on Clifty as far as the county h'ne; iifth, from Cohmibus to Vernon; sixth, from the public square in Columbus to intersect " a road to Hensley's ferry cui. out by the citizens of Jackson County"; seventh, from the public square in Columbus to intersect the State road from Madison to Indianapolis. The roads described in the foregoing sentence, as the first, second, third, fourth and sixth petitioned for, were, upon the sworn report of the viewers, estabhshed and declared public highways on August 14, 1821, and are thus seen to be the oldest county roads in Bartholomew Count}'. Supervisors were appointed to keep these roads in repair, having power to warn out hands in the manner familiar to most men of the present da}-.

The first Supervisors were David Stepp, David McCoy, Joshua McQueen, David Keller, Anthon}- Head, Jacob Lane, and Richard Wall. From that time road petitions and the roads established were so numerous that at the present a closeh' printed octavo volume of a thousand pages would hardly hold the descriptions of the routes traversed. Many a hot war of words has attended the hearing of these petitions. Remonstrances have been filed; damages claimed and secured; neighborly friendships broken and lifelong enmities made. In 1833, the State road from Greensburg to Columbus via Hartsville was established; that from Shelbyville via Goshen and Newbern to intersect the Madison State road ; that from Napoleon in Ripley Count}-, to Bloomington in Monroe County, passing through Bartholomew County, and many other State roads followed soon thereafter. In every year since the organization of the county and at nearly every regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners road petitions or papers pertaining thereto have been considered. Annually, Supervisors were appointed and road districts formed until the Commissioners were relieved by law from the performance of such duties. As to the " three per cent, fund " referred to, Commissioners were appointed from time to time who were charged with its safe keeping and proper disbursement.

County Organization

They gave bond nnd recei\'cd for their ser\ice.s $i for each day actualh' and necessiirily emjiloyed. As the sale of pubhc lands advanced, the money going to this fund \vas from tnne to time appropriated by tlie Legislature and piud to tlie -proper oilicers of the several counties. ' On the belief that a part of tlie fund was never distributed to the counties entitled to it, in i8Si efforts \vere made to obtain the same from the State officials but without avail.

As the county grew in wealth and population the need of better facilities for reaching the markets began to be pressingly felt. In winter and spring " roads without bottom " were what the farmers had to contend with. It was not deemed wise for the county to undertake the macadamizing of all the roads forniing the vast network in the county, and a field for private enterprise was opened in the matter by the passage of a State law authorizing the incorporation of gravel road or turnpike companies. As a result turnpikes have been constructed on all the principal thoroughfares leading out of Columbus, as well as on many of the cross roads in various parts of the count}'. At this time the following companies are operating such roads in this county, the points connected by them being usually designated in the title: Columbus & Hope Turnpike Company; Columbus & Hartsville Turnpike Company; Columbus & Burnsville Turnpike Company; Geeensburg, Milford & Hope Turnpike Companj^; Junction, Hope & Hartsville Turnpike Company; Morristown, Hope & St. Louis Turnpike Company; Hope & Flat Branch Turnpike Company; Hartsville Junction Tui'npike Compan}-^; Hope & Clifford Turnpike Compan}'; Hope & Hartsville Turnpike Compan}-; Hope & Passing Glory Turnpike Company ; Edinburgh & Kansas Turnpike Company; Legal Tender Turnpike Company (in Rock Creek Township) ; Driftwood Valley Turnpike Compan}- (three branches); Haw Creek Turnpike Cumpan}-. Rates of toll and condition in which the road must be kept are prescribed by law. The purchase of all toll roads by the county, with a A'iew of making them public highways free to every one, was the subject of much agitation early in 1886, and for some time prior to that yeixr. A petition with that object in view was presented to the Board of Commissioners, Avho, after due consideration, ordered an election to be held in tlie several voting precincts in the county, on tlie 5lh da}' of April, iS86, for the jiurpose of taking the votes of the people in regard to it. A majority of the votes cast at this election were opposed to the plan of purchase. The turnpike under tlie management and control of the Columbus c^ Flat Rock Turnpike Company was ^'oluntaril3' and without compensation therefor to the compan}', thrown open to the public, and made perpetuall}' free in March, 1S87, the directors of the enterprise declaring that after a ten 3'ears' trial it had proved a financial failure. In June, 1S87, the Board of Commissioners purchased for the sum of $6,000, the five miles nearest Columbus of the turnpike owned by the Columbus & Greensburgh Compan}', and the remainder of the road was donated by the company to the public.

Railroads. - No sooner had the practicability of railroads been demonstrated to the world than there was among the most intelligent and enterprising citizens a desire to adopt and reap the benefits of the new mode of travel. E.xcepting, perhaps, some crude efforts at railroad construction in short local lines the first efforts in this direction - at least the first that resulted in permanent good - were directed toward the construction of the lines now forming the J., M. & I. S3^stem. On Februar}'^ 2, 1832, an act of the General Assembly was approved, which authorized the organization of the Madison, Indianapolis & La Fa3'ette Railroad Compan}^ with a capital stock of $1,000,000, whose purpose was to construct a line from Madison to La Fayette by way of Indianapolis, on such route as would best serve the interests of the public and be most beneficial to the compan}'. On February 3 of the same year, another act was approved authorizing the incorporation of the Ohio «&; Indianapolis Railroad Compan}^ with a capital stock of $1,000,000, whose purpose was to build a road from the Falls of the Ohio River to Indianapolis by way 'of Columbus. To keep the charter alive it was required that all the stock should be subscribed for within five years. The conditions were not complied with, but on January 20, 1846, another act granting similar privileges was approved. February i, 1834, authorit}' was given by legislative enactment to the first named company- to change its name to the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad Company and to reduce its capital stock to one-half tlie amount llrst autliorized. Indianapolis was to be tlie northern terminus, where connections were to be made .with anotlier road running llience to La Fa3'Ctte. Januar}' 27, 1836, b}-- the act providing for the general S3'stem of improvements througliout tlie State, there was appropriated for the use of the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad Company ifii, 300,000. Februar}'^ 6, 1839, an additional $400,000 was appropriated for the same purpose.

B}' an act approved Februar}- 15, 1841, the General Assembly authorized the Board of Commissioners in Bartholomew and other counties along the hne of the proposed road to aid in the further construction of the road by levying a tax of five cents on each $100 worth of taxable property in the counties named, for five 3'^ears, beginning in 1841. At its June session, 1841, the Board of Commissioners of this county, pursuant to the authorit}' thus given, levied the tax and directed that it be put on the tax duplicates for five years thereafter; provided, however, the other counties named in the act would enter a like order on their records before the following August, and provided further, that the Fund Commissioners would receive from the suspended debt or from the Morris Canal & Banking Company' $100,000 worth of iron to be used in the construction of the railroad from Vernon to Edinburgh. The tax duplicates for the years named do not show that the tax was collected, but the facts mentioned prove the public spirit as it existed in this county at the time.

In February, 1843, the railroad was put into possession of a compan}' whose principal office was at Columbus. Geo. E. Tingle was Secretar}'^ of the compan}', but did not long hold the office. From that time the State had nothing to do with the management of the road.

At length the line was completed to Columbus in 1843-44, and a new era v :,s begun. This Madison and Indianapolis railroad was the first built west of Cincinnati, and though the road bed has been much changed and improved the general route traversed remains the same. At first the track was of flat-bar iron and the equipment very modest when compared with the elegant and luxurious accommodations afforded the traveler of the present da3\ The

Jeffersonville road was completed to this point a]:iout 1S53, and subsequentlv the two main hnes were united under one management and witli one main stem from here to Imlianapolis, making the general system of the J., i\I. & I. R. R. Co.

The Columbus & Shelby Railroad Company was in fact a part of the Madison & Indianapolis Company, but enjoyed a separate charter. Of its stock, the M. & I. road held $::5,ooo, and the city of JMadison, $50,000. Its road from Columbus to Shelby\ille was constructed in 1853-54, at a cost of about $300,000. It subsequently became a part of the J., M. & I. system, and as extended, now forms what is called the Cambridge Cit}- Branch. The entire J., M. & I. system is leased to, and is under the control of, the Penn- S3'lvania Railroad Company. It may be interesting to the reader to know, as eyidencing the general improyement brougiit about chiefly through the agenc}' of railroads, that prior to the construction, corn was a drug on the market at 10 cents per bushel; wheat brought but 35 to 40 cents; pork, $1.50 to $2 per hundred pounds, net; and other farm products in proportion.

]Man\' efforts haye been made to induce capitalists to build other roads through this county, but without ayail except in one instance. In March, 18S2, a petition was presented to the Board of Commissioners asking that an election be ordered in Columbus Township for the purpose of taking the yotes of the people on the question of aiding the Columbus, Hope & Greensburgh Railroad Company in building its road through the township, b}' donating $70,000. The election was held April 22, 1882; the votes were: for the appropriation, 813; against it, 521. A like pedtion had been filed in February, 18S2, by the citizens of Haw Creek Township, who proposed that said township should take $24,000 of the stock of said compan3\ The election was held March 20, 1882; the votes cast for taking stock, 338; against it, 190. The construction of this road has greatly benefited the county. Since its construction the city of Columbus has almost doubled in size, and while this increase is by no means sought to be attributed to this single cause, yet it deserves credit for a ver\' large part of the general prosperity now enjo}'ed. The Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis & Chicago Railroad Company are lessees of this line, mak-

In June, iS49,,the Board of Conuiaissioncrs of the county ordered the votes of the people to be taken at the August election of that year, on the question of aiding the Jeffersonville Railroad Company, the Bloomington Railroad Compan}' and the Greensburgh Railroad Company (each of which enjo3'ed a special charter granted by the General Assembly), b}- levying a tax of ten cents on each $ioo worth of taxable property in the count}'. The votes for or against each of the proposed works were to be cast independent!}^ of the otlvrs. A majorit)'- of the tax-payers were unwiUing to thus burden themselves, and voted against the proposition. In December, 1S49, however, the Commissioners subscribed, in behalf of the county, for 400 shares (at $50 per share to be paid for in bonds), to the stock of the Columbus, Nashville and Brownstown Railroad Compan3\ The bonds were issued in 1850, bearing seven per cent, interest, to run for ten 3'ears, and Isaac S. Boardman was made proxy to vote the county's stock. The bonds were delivered to the company, and $400 worth of them went into the possession of Michael G. Bright, who asked the Commissioners, in 1854, ^^ P'^^y ^^^^ interest then due, and had his request denied. Mr. Bright brought suit against the count}-, and the matter finally went to the Supreme Court, where he recovered judgment for $924.50, principal, interest and damages. The Commissioners allowed the amount in June, 1862, and in September, 1863, allowed $30 to W. H. H. Terrell, for incidental expenses as Treasurer of the defunct railroad company, incurred by him in the organization of the company and the survey of the road. The old bonds, which had never been sold, amounting to $19,600 were returned by Treasurer Terrell to the Commissioners, and by them burned in the presence of William C. Abbett, Joseph E. Mitchell, James C. Mitchell, Isaac Helfman, John S. Long, and many others.

In June, 1871, elections were ordered, to aid the Lake Erie, Evansville & Southwestern Railroad Compan}-, in Sand Creek and Rock Creek townships, by donating $10,000 and $8, 000, respectively. In the former township there were 206 votes for, and 17

, In vSepteniber, 1S71, an election was ordered to be held on November 4, iollowing, at all voting places in the county, upon the question of taking stock by the county to the amount of ifi 100,000 in the Cincinnati & Terre Haute Railroad Compau}-. The votes were 1,962 for, an_d 1,345 against the proposition. In January, 1872, an election was ordered to be held in Haw Creek Township on Februar}-^ 10, following, when the question of taking stock to the amount of $S,ooo in the same company by the township was submitted and carried b}' a vote of 306 for, and 224 against it. In February-, 1880, an election was ordered in Haw Creek Township to be held on March 6, 1880, on the question of donating $24,000 to the Hope & Grecnsburgh Railroad Compan}'. The votes were 388 for, and 243 against the proposition. In March, 18S0, elections were ordered to be held in Clift}^, Sand Creek and Columbus townships, on April 10 in the first, and on April 3 in the two last named, on the question of donating to the Evansville, Seymour & Belfountaine Railroad Company $9,782.10, $12,861.98 and $69,714.90, by each to\Miship in the order named. The votes were as follows : In Clifty, 117 for, 21 against; in Sand Creek, 88 for, 209 against; in Columbus, 718 for, and 229 against the donation. In December, 1886, elections were ordered to be held on February 2, 1887, in Jackson, Wayne, Sand Creek and Rock Creek townships, on the question of donating to the Evansville & Richmond Railroad Company the sums of $3,300, $17,000, $12,700 and $9,900, respectively. The votes were : In Jackson, 102 for, 34 against; in Wa3^ne, 185 for, 219 against; in Sand Creek, 204 for, 89 against; in Rock Creek, 61 for, 131 against the donation.

In April, 1887, an election was ordered to be held June 10, following, in Columbus Township, on the question of donating $45,000 to the St. Louis & Cincinnati Railroad Company. The votes were 802 for, and 704 against the appropriation.

Ferries and Bridges. - Inasmuch as ferries and bridges are essentially a part of all good highway systems in a country traversed "by streams, they deserve mention in this connection. In earh' days at man}' points along the streams where now spanning them are costly bridges, not even tlic convenience of a fern' was cnjo}ed. At most seasons of the }ear it was not a diOicult matter to ford the wateV, but often frcsliets entirelv blocked travel. These fording places became know n tln-oughout all the coiintr}- and were recognized land marks. It may be noticed elsewhere huw they were ofhcially recognized as starting points for roads or named in the description of a civil township's boundary lines. On the 19th day of March, 182 1, the Board of Commissioners established the first licensed ferr}' in the county by granting to John Lindsey the exclusive right to own and operate a ferry at his place on Driftwood River on fractional Sections 24 and 25 - near the present site of the bridge across Driftwood River at Columbus - Lindse}^ appeared in court with his bondsmen and executed a bond obligating himself to keep " one good and suflicient skiff or canoe, and one boat, commonl}' called a flat, with one suthcient hand to attend the same." For the privileges granted he paid $5 V^'^' y'^'ir and was permitted to charge the following rates of ferriage: For each horse, 6^c.; for a man, woman or child, 6j<(c. ; for cattle three 3-ears old and upward, 6}^c.; for all cattle under that age, 4J5/2C. ; for each sheep, hog or goat, ic; for a two-wheeled carriage or wagon, 25c.; for a four-wheeled carriage or wagon, 50c.; and for lumber per boat load, 50c. In November, 1827, the privileges granted under this license were withdrawn for the reason that he did not compty strictl}' with the 'Stipulations contained in the grant, and Joseph McKinney was granted license to keep a iervy only a short distance from the one vacated. The ferry on Flat Rock Creek where it was crossed by the State road leading from Madison to Indianapolis kept by D. McEwen, and that crossing Driftw^ood "at the mouth of Jackson Street" kept b}' James Parker, were among the earliest established. Then followed those kept by Thomas Hinkson over Driftwood River at his place ; by Samuel Patterson, over Flat Rock Creek near his house; by William Hallowell, over Clift}^ Creek, on the Madison and Indianapolis State road; that where the Greensbur^h and Bloomington State road crossed Driftwood near Columbus; and so on until ferries were estabhshed at almost every point on the larger streams when crossed by a much traveled road. The ferr}- crossing Driftwood at Coluinlnis passed from Josepli jMclvinncy into the liaiids of Isaac B^oardman, who, on Februaiy 25, 1849, '"tjlintpiislied his riglUs to the feny and g:ive the right of way to the hind to a slock company that had been formed for the purpose of erecting- a loll bridge. Januar}' 27, 1847, the General Assembly of the Stale had approved a law authorizing the incorporation of the Columbus Bridge Compan}' with a capital stock of $10,000. The chief promoters of the enterprise were Thomas Hays, Francis J. Crump, John B. Abbett and B. B. Jones, The charter was to continue thirty years and authorized the erection of " a bridge across the cast fork of White River at the end of Vernon Street in the town of Columbus." The toll rates fixed were about equal to ferry rates. The bridge was sold to the County Commissioners in 1S59, for the sum of $6,044.64, and thereafter it was free to the general public until condemned and removed in 18S4. Large sums of money have been expended in a vigorous prosecution of a wise policy early adopted respecting bridges. It is estimated that the first seven bridges of importance built by the county cost $107,500. In 18S6 alone the amount expended in the construction of bridges was $46,707.83, and in 1887, it was $12,415.28. The large amount of country bonds issued to raise funds for this purpose has been elsewhere mentioned. Among the principal bridges deserving special mention may be named that near the town of Azalia on the east fork of White River built in 1878, by INIcCormack & Sweeney at a cost of about $22,000. It is of two spans, each 155 feet in length, with wrought iron trusses twenty-two feet high; .width of roadway eighteen feet; the structure resting upon a central pier and two stone abutments rising twenty-two feet above low water mark. A very handsome and durable bridge was built over Flat Rock Creek in 1880, b}^ McCormack & Sweene3^ Bids for the building of this bridge w^ere advertised for and several w^ere submitted, among them that of McCormack & Sweeney for $13,400. The contract was let November 20, 1879, but Commissioner Jacob Wagner protested against the letting on the ground that the bid accepted was not the lowest responsible bid- The bridge was completed and accepted December 21, 1880. The contractors claimed on contract and for extra work done and materials furnished $16,342.93, and

Couxtv Organization

^vcrc allowed $15,450.52. On Clift}- Creek about two and onehalf miles from Columbus on the ]>urnsville pike there is a j^laoe once called Fatal Ford. There the current of the stream is swift and its bed deceptive and treacherous. On the morning of November 15, 1879, "^ woman and her two daughters when attempting to cross the stream lost their lives. In Ma}-, 18S0, the Commissioners awarded a contract for building a bridge at this point to the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio, for $8,642, $6,000 of the sum named being for the foundation and the remainder for the superstructure. In June, 18S0, the Commissioners examined the work and linding that it was not being built according to contract, condemned it. A necessaiy change was made in the location of the abutments for which $450 extra was allowed. The bridge is a wrought iron high truss with two spans. At the same time and to the same compan}' a contract was let for the construction of a bridge at Hendrickson's ford on Driftwood. It is a wrought iron high truss bridge with two spans, each 158 feet in length. The amount paid was, for superstructure, $9,430, and for substructure, $5,870.60.

Iron bridges of moderate size and cost have been built recentl}'- by the Wrought Iron Bridge Compan}^, of Canton, Ohio, over Little Sand Creek, near Elizabethtown, over Duck Creek, in Haw Creek Township, over the bayou in Wa3'ne Township, and over Haw^ Creek near Columbus.

The finest and largest bridge in the county is that which replaced the old toll bridge across Driftwood, at the foot of Vernon Street, in Columbus. It stands but a short distance up the stream from the site of the old bridge. The contracts for building it were let by Hemy Dipper, George W. Ely and Bluford Sutherland, Commissioners, to the Morse Bridge Company, of Youngstown, Ohio, for superstructure, at $27,000, and to Frank Snyder for substructure, for $12,586.60. The substructure consists of two massive stone abutments and two stone piers; the superstructure, of three wrought iron high truss spans, each 171 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 26 feet high. The bridge Avas received in August, 1884. Though this costly bridge was built by the count}-, and is free to till,- public, it can be approached from the west end only through

Ihc toll gate of a turnpike company, which is located about one hundred "wirds from the end of the bridge. It is practically the f^iteway to the city of Columbus for the people who reside in the western paa"t of the county.

Public Officers^. - Below is a statement of the public ollicers of the count}-, in the order in which they served, Representatives, State Senators and the Representatives in Congress for the district, including Bartholomew County, from the organization of the count}' to the present time:

County Recorders: W. H. II. Terrell from 1850 to 1855; William C. Abbett from 1855 to 1863; Thomas Essex from 1S63 to 1871; Joseph Whitten from 1871 to 1874; David Stobo from 1874 to 18S3; Samuel M. Dennison from 1883 to 18S7; John Callahan, present incumbent.

Count}' Surveyors: John Vawter was employed as surveyor in 1821; Moses Joiner was appointed in 1831; and the records show that various men were engaged in the work of surveying between those dates, but they do not indicate whether or not those so engaged were count}- officials. Among them were William N, Morris, Thomas Essex and Job Gardner. Jasper H. Sprague served from 1843 to 1S47; Nathaniel'O. liinman from 1847 to 1848; Benjamin F.Myers from 1848 to 1851; Burris Moore from 1851 to 1856; John Dean from 1856 to i860; Thomas V. Ilaislup from i860 to 1862; John Dean from 1862 to 1864; W. A. Hayes from 1864 to 1874; George Pence from 1874 ^o 1876; William H. Redman from 1876 to 1880; John W. Dundon from 1880 to 1882; William A. Hayes from 1882 to present.

Bartholomew Countv

The Fifth Congressional District, now represented by Col C C Matson, is composed of Bartholomew, Brown, Johnson, Moroan' Hendricks, Putnam, Owen, and Monroe counties. ^ ' and the political com]t1cxion of a county from time to time are of such general interest that a table showing the vote at all Presidential elecfSons occurring since the organization of the county, is here appended :

OrL^'(iiii:.cit/oii of T^oz^' i/s// //>.<. - Th>' carlv dix'ision of llic rounty into three voliny districts lias been elsewhere nienlionecl. On oMay i*j., 1821, upon the petition oi William Ilanmer and others, a new township, to be known as Sand Creek, was laid off out of the Southern District, and bounds were llxed as follows: Ijeginning' where the Jackson County line crosses Driftwood River, thence up said river to the mouth of Clifty, thence up Clifty to the line dividing Townships 8 and 9, thence with said line to the Jennings County line, thence with said line to the Jackson Count}- line, thence with said line to the place of beginning. James Hamner was appointed inspector of elections for the township, and his house was designated as the polling place. June 13, 1859, the last of several changes in the extent of this township was made, leaving it bounded as follows: Beginning where the Jackson County line crosses Driftwood River, and running in a northwesterl}'^ direction with said river to the northeast corner of Wayne Township, thence east on the section line, first south of the township line dividing Townships 8 and 9, to the southwest corner of vSection Nc). 6, Township 8 north, of Range 7 east, thence due south to the northern line of Jackson Count}', thence along said county line in a southwesterly direction to the place of beginning.

Wayne Tozvushi^ was organized November 12, 1821, with the following boundary: Beginning on the Avest bank of Driftwood River where crossed by the Jackson County line, and running with said river northwesterly to where the line dividing Townships 8 and 9 crosses the river, thence west with said line to the line dividing Ranges 4 and 5, thence south to the county line, thence east to the place of beginning. July 4, 1831, the line on the north end of the township was changed and fixed as follows: Commencing wdiere the line dividing Townships 8 and 9 strikes Denois Creek, and running east with the meanders of said creek to the bridge on the Mark's Ferry State road, thence on a due east line to Driftwood River. September 4, 1832, the township boundary was again changed as follows: Commencing where the Jackson County line crosses Driftwood River; thence north with its meanders to the line dividing Sections 6 and 12; thence west to the Jackson Township line; thence south to the Jackson County line, thence east to the place of l:)eg-intnn^-. jaiuiarv 3, 1837, to accord willi clian^H'S made in the county line the following" change in the township boundary was'inade: Commencing at the southwest corner of Section i8, Township 7 north, of Range 5 east, and running west to the southwest corner of Section 15, Township 7, of I'lange 4 east; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 10, Township 8, of Range 4 east; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 12, Township 8, of Range 4 east. This added territor\-, together with sixteen sections contiguous thereto on the east side, was taken from Wayne Township in the formation of Ohio Township.

Driftzvood Tozuns/ii'^, organized May 10, 1824, was bounded as follows: Beginning where the north county hue crosses Driftwood River at the point commonly known as Berry's ford and running down with the meanders of said river, to the line dividing Townships 9 and 10, thence east on said lii;e to where it strikes Flat Rock, thence up said stream w^ith its meanders to the county line, thence west on said line to the place of beginning. David Mc- Coy's house was designated as the first place for holding elections. No changes have been made in the boundar}' of this township, but on the 9th day of August, 1824, its name was changed to German Tozuushi-p.

Nineveh Tozi'iis/iip, organized May 10, 1824, was bounded as follows: Beginning where the north county line crosses Driftwood River and running down with the meanders of said river to the line dividing Townships 9 and 10, thence due west to the line dividing Ranges 3 and 4, thence north to the count}' line, thence east with said line to the place of beginning. Thomas Roberts was appointed inspector of elections, and the house of John Macomb was designated as the polling place. On January 3, 1837, the west line was changed to commence at the southw^est corner of Section 34, Township 10, of Range 4 east, and run north to the northeast corner of Section 4, in the same township and range. In the formation of Union Township, twelve sections were taken from the south end of this township; 'otherwase it remains as here described.

Flat Rock Tozvnshif^ organized May 11, 1S24, was bounded as follows: Beginning where the line between Townships 9 and 10 crosses Flat Rock Creek, and running up with the meanders of said creek to the county line; thence east on said line to tlie nortlieast corner of Bartholomew County; thence south to the line dividing Townships 9 and 10; thence west on said line to the place of beginning. .The first jiolling place was the house of Daniel Akin; the first inspector of elections, Jesse Ruddick. The creation of Haw Creek Township diminished the territory of Flat Rock; otherwise it remains unchanged.

Clifly Tozcus/iip, organized I\Iay 11, 1824, was bounded as follows: Beginning on the line dividing Townships 8 and 9, at the corner of Sections 33 and 34, in Range 6 east, and running north to the hne dividing Townships 9 and 10; thence east on said line to the county line; thence south to the line dividing Townships 8 and 9; thence west to the place of beginning. The house of Rachel Robertson was designated as the first polling place; William P. Nelson was appointed inspector of elections. Subsequent changes made by the formation of Clay and Rock Creek townships are hereinafter set forth.

Colniiilms Tozuuship, organized IVlay 11, 1824, was bounded as follows : Beginning at the northeast corner of Wayne Township and running Avest to the county hne; thence north on said hne to the hne dividing Townships 9 and 10; thence east on said line to the corner of Clifty Township; thence south with the west hne of said tow^nship to CHfty Creek; thence with its meanders to the mouth of said creek; thence up Driftwood River to the place of beginning. The territory of the township was diminished by the formation of the old Jackson or Salt Creek Township, and after- Avards when the county was diminished in size the township was enlarged. This change was made January 3, 1837, adding the following territory : Commencing at the southeast corner of Section i, Township 8, of Range 4 east, and running west three miles to the southwest corner of Section 3, same township and range; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 9, Range 4 east; thence east to the northeast corner of Section i, township and range last named; thence south to the place of beginning. Subsequent changes in the west part of the township were made by the formation of Union and Harrison townships; and the line between Rock Creek, Sand Creek and Columbus townships was also cliangcd as slated Ix-low. At present the townslii]-) is boinuled as follows: Beginning at the southwest corner of Section 4, Township 8, of^Range 5 east, and running east to the southeast corner of Section 2, Township 8, of Range 6 east; thence nortli two miles; thence west two miles to the northeast corner of Section 33, Township 9, of Range 6 east; thence to. the northeast corner of Section 4, same' township and range; thence west to Driftwood River; thence south with the meanders of said stream to wliere it is crossed by the section line between Sections 9 and 16, Townsliip 9, of Range 5 east; thence west on said line to the northwest corner of said Section 16; thence south to the place of beginning.

Salt Creek Tozviis/iip, organized on the first iNIonday in Jul}', 1828, included all that part of Bartholomew County west of Range 5 east, and south of the center of Township 10 north. The house of John Adams was the first polling place ; Benjamin Welmans w-as first inspector of elections. On Januar}' 5? 1829, the name of this township was changed to Jackson, and on May 4, following, a part of its territor}' was attached to Nineveh. This Jackson Township is in no way identical with that now bearing the same name. It is true that the old Jackson Township included in its territor}' that now called Jackson, but Ohio Township, formed later, at first included the present Jackson Township; and the first Jackson or Salt Creek Township had gone entirely out of existence before the organization of the present Jackson Tow^nship.

Ilaiu Creek Tozuiishfp, organized March 2, 1829, included all that part of Bartholomew County lying within Township 10 north, of Range 7 east, and remains unchanged.

Rock Creek Tozuus/u'p, organized March i, 1830, was bounded as follows: Beginning at the count}^ line one mile north of the southeast corner of Clifty Township, and running west with the section line to the Columbus Township line; thence south to the State road; thence east with said road to the Jennings County line; thence to the place of beginning. This, it will be noticed, took one row of sections from Clift}' Township on the south, fixing the southern boundary of that township as it now is.

iS^6: tlie line botwccn Columbus and Rock Creek townshiits was made to commence at tlie northwest corner of Section 36, Town- &*liip 9, of Range 6 east, and run south to include A. Gibb's farm; thence on the line dividing Sections i, 12 and 13, Township 8, of Range 6 east, from Sections 6, 7 and iS, Township 8, of Range 7 east, to the boundary hue of Rock Creek and Sand Creek townships at the Slate road leading from Madison to Indianapolis near northeast corner of Section 13, Township 8, of Range 6 east; thence in a northwest direction with said road to the line dividing Columbus and Rock Creek Townships near the southwest corner <.f Section 34, Township 9, of Range 6 east; thence north on the hne dividing Sections 33 and 34, Township 9, of Range 6 east, to the southwest corner of Section 27, same township and range; thence east on the section line to the place of beginning. In March, 1851, the Board of Commissioners fixed the line between Columbus and Sand Creek townships to be the line between Sections 3 and 4, and the center line running east and west through Sections 8 and 9, all in Township 8 north, of Range 6 east. June 13, 1859, ^^^^ line between the three townships named was fixed as follows : Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 24, Township 8, of Range 6 east, and running north to the northeast corner of Section 12, same township and range; thence w-est on the section hne dividing Sections i, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 from 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, to where said line strikes Driftwood River in the township and range aforesaid. The territory thus cut out of Rock Creek and Sand Creek townships was attached to Columbus.

VanBiiren Tozvnshif^ organized May 5, 1834, was located in the southwest corner of the county, with the line di\'iding To\^'nships 8 and 9 on the north, the Monroe Count}^ line on the west, the Jackson County line on the south, and the Wa3-ne Township line on the east. This township, like the original Jackson Township, was destroyed b}- later organizations and the contraction of the count}' limits.

Harrison To-u-'uship, organized December 7, 1841, was formed out of the west end of Columbus Township, with bounds as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 9, Range 4 east, and running south with the line between Brown and Bartholomew counties to the southwest corner of Section 3, Township S, Range 4 east; thence east to tlie southeast corner of Section 5, Township 8, along the line of Columbus and Wa^'ne townships to the northeast corner of Section 5, Township 8, Range 5 east; thence north along the section line to the northeast corner of Section 5, Township 9, Range 5 east; thence west to the place of beginning. The house of Lawson Dowel was named as tlie first polling place.

9, of Range 7 east, and running west to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 9, of Range 6; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 27, Township 9, of Range 6 east; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 29, Township 9, of Range 7 east; thence north to the place of beginning. The house of William McFall was the first polling place. June 7, 1S43, the west line of Clifty Township was moved one-half mile west; that is, made to divide Sections 5, 8, 17, 20, and 29, on the half section line, thus fixing the present line between Clay and CHfty.

Ohio Townships organized June 6, 1843, was formed out of Wayne with the following bounds : Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 8, Township 8, of Range 5 east, and running south to the Jackson County line; thence west to the Brown County line; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 10, Township 8, of Range 4 east, thence east to the place of beginning. The house of David Lock was the first polling place. This township remains as here described except the southern part now embraced in Jackson Township.

Union Toiunshij), organized September 3, 1845, was formed out of Nineveh, Harrison and Columbus townships, with bounds as follows: Beginning where the section line dividing Sections 9 and

10, Township 9, of Range 5 east, strikes the west bank of Driftwood River and running north with the meanders of s^id river to the line dividing Sections 28 and 21, Township 10, of Range 5 east; thence west to the Brown County line; thence south to the line dividing Sections 10 and 15, Township 9, of Range 4 east; thence east to the place of beginning. The first polling place was Peter Snyder's house.

yaclsoii TiKviisJilp, organized March 6, 1S47, was formed by dividing- Ohio Township on tlie lines separating Sections 25, 26 3nd 27 from 34, 35, and 36, in I'uwnship 8, of Range 4 east, and Sections 29 and 30 from 31 and 32, in Township 8, Range 5 east, and giving the new name to the southern portion thus laid out. The polling places were David Lock's in Jackson, and Samuel Thompson's in Ohio.

Ag-ricuUural Societies. - One of the most important of man's occupations is that of agriculture. It in fact forms the ground work for all other classes of labor, and no other industrial branch holds to its service a larger portion of the population. In tilHng the soil, as in ever}'^ other vocation, action, to result in success, must be guided by intelligence. The best results in educating the masses in any particular branch of science are brought about, and always have been, by concerted action. The needs of organization for the dissemination of useful knowledge, coming together for the exchange of ideas and the comparison of various results obtained through different modes and processes, were early recognized by some of the more advanced citizens, and led to attempts at the formation of societies for the promotion of agricultural, horticultural and industrial interests. These, however, did not-meet the degree of success deser- ed. It is not the purpose here to trace the rise and fall of the different granges and other organizations that have been effected among the rural populace in this county from time to time, but to refer briefly to those organizations in which all the people have been to some extent interested. As early as 1829 the General Assembly enacted laws for the organization and encouragement of such societies. In Ma}'^, 1835, the Board of Commissioners called a meeting of the citizens of the county to be held in Columbus for the purpose of organizing a county agricultural society, and the public was notified b}^ notices posted at the usual voting places. Nothing permanent resulted from this meeting, and another was called at the same time in the next year. The encouragement given was not sufficient to justify organization, and the matter rested for a time, when in May, 1839, the Commissioners again determined to feel the public pulse, and called a meeting of the citizens which was no more fruitful than its predecessors. After these fail- ures, about fifteen years passed without any particular effort toward organization. February 14, 1851, a law was enacted which afforded means of encouragement not contained in former laws. By its provisions a State Board of Agriculture was formed with Gov. Joseph A. Wright as President, and through the influence of this organization and that of tlie Governor, man}^ district and county societies were formed.

The Bartholomew County Agricultural Society was among the first of these, organized early in 1852, with forty- four members, Thomas Lawton being President, S. H. Kindclbaugh, Secretary, and W. H. H, Terrell, Treasurer. Its first annual fair was held October 14, 1852, on the ground near where, in later years, the public school building stood, a small plot being fenced in with rails for the purpose. Small cash premmms were given and diplomas awarded. With becoming zeal and public spirit the citizens of the county pushed forward their work in aid of the society and it advanced with rapid strides. The buiWing of the railroad had developed agricultural interests wonderfully. The era of flat boating was gone; there was a ready cash demand for all surplus grain and live stock. The people were becoming enlightened as to the dignity and importance of agricultural pursuits properly followed.

In 1854 t^^ drouth was excessive, and much suffering resulted, but the hay, oat and wheat crops were excellent, though corn and garden vegetables turned out poorly. A creditable display in all departments of the fair was, however, made. The receipts were over $600, and premiums were offered to twenty-two classes of exhibits, including all sorts of live stock, fowls, dogs, products of the field, garden and orchard, pickles, preserves, butter, etc., agricultural implements, mechanical productions, machine woolen goods, domestic manufactures, needlework, plowing, horsemanship, plans for farm house, farm barn, cottage, model farm of 160 acres, essays on farming generally, hog raising, etc., etc. In the class " Pogs," diplomas were offered for the best farm dog for general purposes, best house and yard watch dog, best rat hunter, best fox hunter, best coon hunter, best "possum" hunter, best bird dog, best Newfoundland dog, and best children's play dog. Owners were required to have chains to their dogs and to keep them fastened.

In the following year a great variety of silverware and other use- ^ful articles were offered as premiums for the best of every conceivable thing that might be exhibited, from the finest and best of horses and cattle to a pair of socks or a "petty-coat." Only the exhibitors of dogs were to be rewarded with nothing more substantial than diplomas. However, the "best collection of all sorts of dogs " was this year added to the list, and the successful contestant was to receive one dog collar. To the lady over sixteen years of age who could best manage her horse, ride most gracefully and lad3-like was to be given a beautiful silver goblet valued at' $10, and to the second best a gold thimble worth $5. To the young Miss under sixteen who possessed these accomplishments in the most marked degree was to be given $7 worth of silver spoons, and to the second best under that age a silver sugar shovel .worth $3. At all of these early fairs speeches were made by learned men upon agricultural subjects and the topics of the times. The fair grounds were early permanently located one mile north of the city of Columbus where the fairs were held until 1S60, when, through the influential work of William McEwen, a new site was obtained about one mile southeast of the city. For many years an annual appropriation, small in amount, was made for the use of this society out of the county funds. Much substantial good was accomplished through its agency by the scattering of useful knowledge among the people, by directing their energies to a more telling activity and by pricking their ambitions. In many a household its annual meeting, held when " the frost was on the pumpkin and the fodder in the shock," was looked forward to as the social event of the year, and what things were there heard and seen furnished themes for conversation on long winter evenings to many a family gathering about a wide-mouthed, cheerful fire place. During the early part of the war the fair grounds were used as a camp of rendezvous for a company of volunteers under Isham Keith, commander, and later, by Col. Stansifer, Provost Marshal, for recruits and drafted men. The property was badly damaged in consequence and no fairs were held for several years. The society led a checkered career and its ending was unworthy the high objects of its creation. The story of its downfall is told by Gen.

Couxtv Orcjanizatiox

Terrell in bis reminiscences as follows: " In 1875, stroiHT and energetic effq;-t was made to get up a county fair on a larger scale than had ever before been attempted. The propiietors of the Rcfnhlicau, with commendable enterjirise, issued a small daily commencing on Tuesda}- and ending with Saturday, under the tide of JJailx Fair Bulletin. The misfortune with this pulilicalion was that it contained ver}- little about the fair beyond a pretty free description of the grounds and arrangement, the principal feature being a wordy w-rangle with the editor of the rival newspaper, the Dcniocraf, about Jeff. Davis. That notorious individual had been engaged by the Board of Directors to deliver an address at the fair, the object being not to dignify him or endorse his course in the rebellion of which he was the head, but to ' draw a crowd ' and thus add to the financial success of the exposition. He was engaged just as Barnum would have engaged a giant, a fat woman, a six-legged calf, or an}' other monstrosity for his big show, solely as an attraction. This move, however, was ver}' ill-timed and unfortunate, and the indignation of the people became so great and outspoken the Directors were forced to cancel Mr. Davis' engagement. The newspapers, whose editors had both been soldiers in the late w^ar, - but on different sides - kept up a fight about the matter through their respective columns for several weeks and contributed much toward inflaming the public mind, and engendering a bitter party feeling in regard to the management of the fair. This feeling continued so strong that it was found impracticable to hold a fair in 1876. Meanwhile a mortgage which had been given on the grounds of the society, matured, was foreclosed, and in January, 1877, the property was sold by the Sheriff to pay the debt, which by prudent and conciliator}'^ management, could have been prevented."

The purchasers at this sale were, however, desirous of continuing the good work of the old institution and united with other citizens in the organization, in 1881, of the second Bartholomew County Agricultural Societ}-, This organization was not long continued, and in 1883 gave way to the Bartholomew County Agricultural and Industrial Association, with Simeon Boaz as President; W. O. Hogue, Vice President; S. M. Glick, Secretar}-; John D. Crump, Treasurer; Joel S. Davis, General Superintendent. This Associa- tion holds annual meetings, but as the years advance, proportionately less attention is paid to agricultural and meclianical features, the attention of the management being mainly directed to the turf. The pnrsent oflkers are: William Brockman, President; J. G. Schwartzkopf, Vice President; Richard Thomas, Secretary, and Joseph R. Gent, General Manager.

Medical Society. ~Oi the early history of the profession but little can be said. There were no early organizations, and consequently there exists no records now containing data. Dr. S. M. Linton is probably the oldest of the physicians, and his physical afflictions are such that he is no longer in the practice. ' Anion o- the early and more prominent physicians were: Drs. A. W. Davidson, John Baxter, Joseph A. Baxter, R. M. McClure, and later Drs. Jackson, Crary, Collier, Fenley and Grove. The only organization among the physicians now is the Bartholomew County Medical Society, which was organized July 23, 1881, with the following officers: Dr. M. N. Elrod, of Hartsville, President; Dr. C. H^Butler, of CHfford, Vice President; Dr. W. H. Lopp, of Columbus, Secretary; Dr. J. S. Arwine, of Columbus, Treasurer. The present officers of the Association are: Dr. Eugene G. Regannas, of Hope, President; Dr. J. S. Clark, Vice President; Dr. J. S. Arwine, Secretary, and Dr. Fred Falk, Treasurer. The present members are: G. O. Cosby, N. S. Winterrowd (now of Leavenworth, Kas.), A. J. McLeod, E. G. Regannas, J. B. Roesgen, J. S. Arwine, F. D. Norton, G. T. McCoy, I. T. Clark, A. J. Banker, T. E. Smith, S. M. Voris, F. Falk, C. H. Butler and K. D. Hawley. Those physicians who have obtained license to practice in the county under the provisions of the acts of the Legislature of 1885, are as follows: John S. Arwine, David S. Armer, William H. Allen, John W. Arnold, Thomas E. Allen, Wilham H. Buder, S. W. Biddinger, A. J. Banker, Wilson T. Banker, W. H. Beck, Charles S. Boynton, Stinson J. Barrett, Charles H. Butler, Wilham H. Banks, George W. Bernard, A. B. Barker, John A. Bland, William T. Carmichael, Joseph B. Crisler, George O. Cosbj-, Isaac S. Clark, George E. Clark, Henry M. Connelly, J. W. Dixon, Joseph H. Davis, Frederick Dickman, Moses N. Elrod, Erastus Eads, Frederick Falk, Edward T. Francis, Walter jNI.

Co.Unty Organization

The incidents of the early practice are similar to those of all new countries of the West. The most troublesome of all diseases was the ague. Barring this dreadful destroyer of health and happiness, the county boasted of its healthfulness. No one escaped the chills and fever occasioned b}^ the miasmi then common to all new countries in this latitude. At times entire famihes and settlements were prostrated by it. It greatly discouraged many of the new comers and drove some back to the lands they had left, while others wanted to get away from its reach but were too poor. The disease was not contagious, but all were so exposed to its causes that few escaped. The bottom lands were full of malaria which floated on every breeze and penetrated every system. The sufferer first became stupid and morose, began to turn yellow m the face and about the eyes, felt a pain in the side and an ache along the back and in the head; and then periodical shocks came, first of chill "hnd then of fever. When having the " shake " no cover could keep him warm; his teeth chattered and he felt most woebegone and miserable. The fever was intense and often resulted in delirium; all efforts to allay it were in vain. The treatment resorted to by physicians was heroic indeed. When quinine came into use it became a necessary article of diet, but before its da}- the practitioner resorted to the use of lobeha and sweats. Patients tvere steamed until limp and almost exhausted. The "steam doctors" would ask the suffering patient in the sweat box: " Do your eyelids feel limber?" If a negative response was received more lobelia was given and the steaming continued. It was believed that tea made of boneset leaves stripped downward from the stalk would act as a physic, and if stripped upward as an emetic.

One day a stranger rode into the village of Columbus during the ague season and saw no one on the streets. At length he espied a solitar}' individual at work on the new court house,, and, riding up, asked where all the villagers were. The workman somewhat of a wag, was John White, a bricklayer who had considerable local pride. He informed the horseman that the residents of the town, all except himself, were attending a camp meeting then being held a few miles east of the town. The fact was all were sick with the ague. This story is told by W. H. Stader, who 833-8 he has known ever}* member of ever}' family in the settlement where his father lived to be " laid fiat," all at one time, b}^ this dread disease. The black tongue, malignant d3'senter3-, cholera and milk-sickness were maladies that added to the hardships of the pioneers. The last named disease is supposed to have prevailed at times between 1830 and 1840, but authentic cause of it was difficult to discover. General Terrell has this to 833- concerning it:

" When an emigrant from ' Nawth Kearlina ' or the mountain regions of Kaintuck3'- ventured to move his famil3' west to ' the Indiana ' or ' the El3'no3',' the first question upon entering a settlement north of the OhiO; was, ' Ha-aveyou an3' milk-sick h-e-3'-a-r? ' 't'he standing answer was, 'No; but the3'' have it over that way (pointmg), about six miles from here.' The number of miles was regulated by the distance to the nearest adjoining county. No man probably ever lived where the terrible disease existed in his own immediate neighborhood, from whom an open acknowledgment of the fact could be squeezed. The question was alwa3'^s evaded in some wa3'^ or another. In this count3' the disease was never acknowledged to prevail, but was alwa3'S ' located ' in some adjoining count3'. I remember, during m3' bo3'hood, however, to have met two persons who werOi afllicted with a very peculinr and unpleasant odor, which it was said resulted from this disease. No cases of it have been heax'd of for many years, and land hunters, who in early times were so anxious to know where it prevailed, no longer make inquiries on the subject." Milk-sickness, or niorho lactco, was supposed to be caused [by drinking the milk or eating the meat of cattle afflicted with a disease of the same name, and though not nee ssaril}- fatal, was most disagreeable and often caused death. The first and only appearance of cholera, in Columbus, in epidemic form, was in the summer of 1849, ^vhen it was introduced by some German emigrants, who reached here by the railroad from Madison, whither they had come from New Orleans by the river route. Some fifteen][or twenty of them died. The citizens of the county, though almost paralyzed with fear and alarm, gave the poor sufferers every possible care, and medical attendance was freely bestowed. The excitement and consternation was very great and extended throughout the county; the disease, however, did, not spread be3'ond the limits of the town. Some citizens removed their families to the country, and business was almost entirely suspended for about three weeks. Several citizens died, among whom were Dr. Isaac Fenley and a Mrs. Randolph Griffith and her child. Of late 3'ears the county has been particularly free from epidemics.