Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 8: Organization Op Cass County, 1913

Cass county was named in honor of Gen. Lewis Cass, who was a resident of Michigan, but was instrumental in bringing about the various treaties with the Indians that opened up the lands in Cass and surrounding counties to white settlers. He was one of the commissioners on the part of the United States in negotiating these treaties. After the treaty 4>i 1826, immigration rapidly increased, until in 1828 there was suflScient population to justify the formation of a new county, and the following enabling act was passed by the legislature :

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: That from and after the second Monday in April, 1829, all the territory included in the following, towit: Beginning on the west boundary line of the great Miami reservation at the interesection of the township line dividing Townships 25 and 26; thence north three miles, thence west eight miles to the southwest comer of Section 15, Township 26, North of Range 1 west; thence west three miles to the range line dividing Ranges 1 and 2 west ; thence north to the boundary line of the purchase of 1826; thence east with said line, about 28 miles to the boundary of the Five Mile Reservation, extending from the Wabash to the Eel river ; thence crossing the Wabash to a point due east of the beginning, thence west to the place of beginning, shall form and constitute a county to be known and designated by the name and title of Cass county.

Sec. 2. The said new county shall, from and after the second Monday in April, 1829, enjoy all the rights, privileges and jurisdiction to which separate and independent counties appertain and belong.

Sec. 3. That Henry Restine of Montgomery Co., Erasmus Powell of Shelby Co., William Purdy of Sullivan Co., Hariris Tyner of Marion Co., and Samuel George of Tippecanoe Co. are hereby appointed commissioners for the purpose of fixing the seat of justice in said new county. The commissioners above named, or a majority of them, shall convene in the house of Gillis McBean in said new county on the second Monday in April, 1829, or as soon thereafter as a majority of said commissioners may meet and shall discharge the duties assigned them.

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the sheriff of Cass county to notify the commissioners by written notification of their appointment on or before June 15, 1829.

be held at the Seminary in the town of Logansport or at any other place therein, until suitable accommodations can be had at the seat of justice thereof.

See. 6. The agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots at the county seat of the said county of Cass shall reserve ten per cent, out of all donations of said county and pay the same over to the proper person for use of a county library for said new county.

Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the qualified voters of the county of Cass at the time of electing a clerk, recorder and associate judges, to elect three justices of the peace as well as three county commissioners according to an act approved January 30, 1824. This act to take effect and be in force from and after February 1, 1829.

On January 19, 1829, a supplemental act was passed changing and increasing the territory of Cass county. Subsequent changes were made until the boundaries of the county included the whole northern part of the state to the Michigan state line. Other changes were made from time to time, and new counties were formed from the original territory of Cass county until 1847, when the present boundary lines were fixed by statute, which are as follows:

Beginning on the west side of the great Miami Reservation line, where township line dividing Townships 24 and 25 intersects the same; thence north nine miles to the northeast comer of Sei5tion 23 in Township 26, north of Range 1, east; thence west eight miles to the comer of Section 15, 16, 21, and 22 in Township 26, north of Range 1, west; thence north three miles to the southwest corner of Section 33, Township 27, north of Range 1, west ; thence west three miles to the southwest comer of said Township 27, north. Range 1, west; thence north twelve miles to the southwest comer of Township 28, north of Range 1, west; thence on the township line dividing Townships 28 and 29, east twenty-two miles, to the northwest comer of Section 3, Township 28, north of Range 3, east, that being the western line of Miami county ; thence south on the Miami county line twenty-four miles to a point in the Great Miami Reserve, which, when it is surveyed will be the southwest comer of Section 34, Township 25, north of Range 3, east; thence west to the place of beginning.

Under the act organizing the county the first election was held on April 13, 1829, in the ** Seminary," but no records are obtainable showing the number of votes cast, but the following oflScers were elected:. Three commissioners, towit: Chauncey Carter, James Smith, and Moses Thorp; sheriflF, William Scott.

was held in the Seminary, Friday, May 1, 1829, when William Scott as sheriff produces certificates showing that the three commissioners above named were duly elected: Moses Thorp for one year, James Smith for two years, and Chauncey Carter for three years ; the latter, however, was not present, and did not qualify until the following August ; the two former, James Smith and Moses Thorp, proceeded to transact business, of which the first order was to divide the county into three townships, towit: Eel River, Wabash and St. Joseph, the bounds of which are as follows: Eel River township constitutes all that part of Cass county lying south of the Tippecanoe river and west of the western boundary of the Five Mile Reservation. That all that part of the county lying south of Eel river and east of the western boundary of the Five Mile Reservation shall constitute Wabash township. All that territory attached to Cass county lying north of the Tippecanoe river to the north line of the state shall form the township known as St. Joseph.

country north of the Tippecanoe river was so sparsely settled no house could be designated wherein to hold an election, in fact that township seems to have been a vast wilderness, without inhabitants at that early day. John Tipton was appointed supervisor of Eel township road No. 1, extending from Logansport to the brick house of Lewis Godfrey, and ^1 hands in said township below Lewis Godfrey's brick house shall assist said supervisor in opening this road.

James Oldham was appointed supervisor for Wabash township, which included Miamisport road, extending to the mouth of the SaUmonie river. Lewis Rogers was appointed supervisor for St. Joseph township. Charles Polk was appointed the first constable of Eel township. Hugh B. McKeen was appointed lister for Cass county and gave bond; and Cyrus Taber was appointed the first treasurer of Cass county.

At a special session held May 11, 1829, Peter Johnson was appointed inspector of election in Eel River township for one year, and Wm. Scott, collector of revenue for Cass county; Gillis McBean aiid Alex. Chamberlain, overseers of the poor; Daniel Bell and Christian Simons, fence viewers, and Alex. Chamberlain appointed superintendent of school section, Township 27, north of Range 2, east. .

Various license and other fees were fixed as follows: Tavern and grocery licenses in Logansport and Miamisport (now Peru), shall be $15.00, and at Treaty Grounds, near the mouth of the Salimonie river, - $7.50 ; that Alex. Chamberlain shall pay a license fee of $7.50 to keep a tavern at his house on the south bank of the Wabash riv.er.

Tavern fees were fixed as follows: For keeping a horse one night, hay and grain, 50 cents; for ** victualing," per meal, 25 cents; lodging, 121^ cents; brandy, per half pint, 50 cents; whiskey, per half pint, 25 cents.

At a special session of the commissioners on June 9, 1829, licenses were granted to Dr. Hiram Todd and Alex. McAllister to retail groceries. At a special session held July 25 in the Seminary, Chauncey Carter presented his certificate of election as a member of the board of commissioners, qualified, and entered upon his duties as commissioner. At this session the board selected from the poll books, submitted by the clerk, the first grand and petit jurors to serve at the November term of the circuit court.

Gillis McBean and Alexander Chamberlain were appointed overseers of the poor. On August 12 the board of commissioners met at the house of Gillis McBean.

First money ordered paid by the board was to John B. Durett, $7.00 for a seal, and $3.00 for a record book. Hugh B. McKeen was licensed to run a ferry opposite his residence on Eel river below General Tipton's mill; fees, $2.00 per year. A public ferry was estabUrfied across the Wabash river from John Tipton's landing, adjoining the northwest comer of the Great Miami reservation, and that a license be granted John Tipton to keep the same open. Gillis McBean was appointed agent for the county, services t6 begin as soon as the seat of justice is located.

"the undersigned three commissioners appointed by an act of the legislature to locate the seat of justice of Cass county met at the house of Gillis McBean in the town of Logansport on Monday, the 10th day of August, 1829, and selected the town of Logansport as the seat of justice of Cass county, the court house to be on Court Square as designed on the plat of said town.

We further received of Chauncey Carter, the proprietor of said town, as a donation, a bond drawn in favor of the county commissioners of said county for a deed in fee simple for town lots in the said town of Logansport as designed on the plat of said town by Nos. 61, 63, 64, 82, 83, 85, 90, 91, 99, 100, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108 and 23; also a note drawn in favor of Gillis McBean, agent for said county of Cass or his successors in office by the said Chauncey Carter, for $530.00 payable the 20th of September, 1829.

The report received and the county agent, Gillis McBean, is ordered to pay Henry Kestine $21.00 for 7 days' services, Erasmus Powell $39.00 for 13 days' services and Harris Tyner $33.00 for 11 days' services as commissioners to locate seat of justice.

The commissioners advertised that the above mentioned lots would be sold at public sale on Friday succeeding the third Monday in November, 1829, and fixed the price of the lots as follows: Lots numbered 61, 64, 85 and 106 not less than $65 each. Nos. 82, 90, 99, 102, 104, 105 and 107 shall sell for not less than $75 each, and Nos. 83 and 100 at $100 each.

On October 14, 1829, the commissioners met in the hotel of Thorp and Wilson and ordered that an election be **holden" at the house of Gillis McBean on October 24, 1829. A license was granted to Lambert Bonean to keep a ferry across the Wabash and Eel rivers and a log jail was ordered to be erected, which will be described in another place. At the November term of court the report of Cyrus Taber, county treasurer, for the previous six months, was received, this being the first treasurer's report ever made in the county. The report shows that $61.44 had been received, mostly derived from licenses issued and the expenditures for the same period was $54.69, leaving a balance in the treasury of $6.75. The report of Gillis McBean, the county agent, was also submitted, towit: Received from Chauncey Carter $530. Expenditures $143.75, leaving a balance of $386.25.

The forests of the county were infested with wolves that were very destructive to the pioneers' sheep, pigs, chickens, etc., and at the January term, 1830, the commissioners offered a premium of one dollar for every wolf scalp presented to the clerk; and the first premium under this order was paid to Joshua Shields on January 4, 1830, $4 for four wolf scalps.

At the September term, 1840, the record reads: **In order to encourage the raising of sheep and hogs a premium of $2 will be paid for every full grown wolf killed within Cass county," and in June, 1845, S. Martindale was allowed $10 for wolf scalt>s.

The treasurer, Cyrus Taber, made his &ial report for two months ending January 4, 1830, showing he had received $2, making a total of $8.75 in the treasury. Mr. Taber resigned and Jordan Vigus was appointed in his stead. At the same time Anthony Gamblane was allowed $16 for services of himself and horse in carrying the senatorial election returns to Winchester; and Moses Scott was allowed $8 for conveying election returns of representative to Ft. Wayne. Certainly quite a contrast in methods of travel between then and now. Dr. Hiram Todd was allowed $11 for medicines and services to the poor, this being the first allowance for medical aid to the poor.

J. B. Turner was appointed superintendent of sections of school lands in the county. J. B. Richardville and Job B. Eldridge were licensed to vend merchandise.

At the August session of the board the first petition for a road was presented by Jordan Vigus. The following description of the proposed road appears of record: Commencing one and a half miles south of the Wabash river on the Michigan road and running through the town of Logansport and to terminate on the west bank of Eel river. The viewers were Wm. Scott, Silas Atchison and Daniel Bell. At this time the Michigan road had been ordered by the legislature, but had not been opened up. The second road petitioned for in November, 1830: ''To run from opposite the town of Logansport on Eel river over the nearest and best ground to the east end of Samuel Ward's lane on the sixteenth section."

Ordered that John Scott be allowed $3 for advertising sale of lots in the Pottawattamie and Miami Timss. That John Tipton be appointed supervisor of roads on the south side of the Wabash river between his residence and Carroll county.

At the May term, 1830, the first regular tax levy was made as follows: Each poll, 50 cents; each horse, 50 cents; each ox, 25 cents; each four-wheel carriage, 50 cents ; each brass clock, 50 cents ; each gold watch, $1, and each silver watch, 25 cents. A capital of $1,000 invested in merchandise be taxed $10, and $5 for each additional $1,000. Ordered that B. H. Scott be allowed $3.50 for use of the Canal Mansion House

Previous to 1831 the commissioners were chosen by the whole county and did not represent any particular part of the county, but at the May term of that year the county was divided into districts as follows : That Miami and Wabash townships shall constitute the First Commissioners' District; and that the territory lying east of a line drawn due north and south through the county at the mouth of Eel river and east to Miami township shall constitute the Second District; and all that territory lying west of said line shall constitute the Third District.

A pound or enclosure 80x40 feet was ordered constructed on the jail lot, the fence to be made of heavy posts and 12-foot boards and that Samuel Ward shall be superintendent thereof. Wm. Scott was appointed commissioner of the three per cent fund in January, 1832. Of the $500 of the three per cent fund allotted to Cass county for the year 1833, $250 was ordered expended for building and repair of bridges between Logansport and the county line west and the same amount to the county line east. Later Cyrus Taber was appointed commissioner of this three per cent fund and Thomas J. Wilson succeeded Mr. Taber. The legislature made appropriations to this fund for many years and it was used for the construction of bridges and building and grading roads. Thomas J. Wilson makes a report for the four years ending April, 1841, showing the whole amount of principal in the hands of the commissioners to be $6,963.20. Of this amount $557.05 had been loaned, the remainder expended.

The clerk of the board was ordered to purchase certain weights and measures as follows: A measure one foot long; a measure of thirtysix inches; a half bushel measure, containing 1,075.85 cubic inches; a gallon measure and a set of weights commonly called avoirdupois. Said weights and measures to be kept in the oflSce of the county clerk.

As previously noted, the commissioners originally divided the county into three townships. Eel River, Wabash and St. Joseph, but at different times subsequent thereto the territory was subdivided and other townships were organized which will here be described, although the boundaries and the names of some of them were ultimately changed to conform to their present make-up, which will be noticed at the end of this article.

Is composed of all that part of Cass county lying east of the lines dividing ranges 2 and 3 east to the western boundary of the Five Mile Reservation. January 3, 1831.

That all that part of Cass county lying west of the east line of section 16 and north of the Wabash river, form and constitute a township to be named Jefferson township. September 6, 1831.

That all territory bounded by Eel river on the south, west by range line dividing ranges 1 and 2, on the east by range line dividing ranges 2 and 3, on the north by the county line taking in the attached part, shall form and constitute Clay township. May 7, 1832.

All that part of Cass county lying south of the Wabash river and west of the east line of section 16 form and constitute Clinton township. May 4, 1834.

All that part of Cass county lying north of the lines of the purchase of 1826 shall form and constitute a new township known and designated as above. March 4, 1834.

All that part of Cass county commencing at the old boundary line at the section Ime dividing sections 23 and 24 in township 28 north, range 2 east, thence south to Eel river, thence up said river, with the meanderings thereof, to the county line ; thence north to the said boundary line ; thence west to the place of beginning, shall form and constitute a new township to be known and designated by the name of Adams. May 6, 1835.

That all that part of Cass county lying in township 28 north, range 1 east, form and constitute a new township to be known by the name of Harrison. March 7, 1836.

Ordered, that all that part of Cass county lying in township 28 north, range 2 east, shall form and constitute a new township to be known by the name of Bethlehem. May 7, 1836.

Ordered, that all that part of Cass county lying north and west of the plat of West Logan, in township 27 north, range 1 east, shall form and constitute a new township to be known and desigdated by the name of Noble. March 8, 1836.

Ordered, that all that part of Cass county lying in township 28 north, range 1 west, be organized and constitute the township of Boone. May 8, 1838.

Ordered, that all that part of Cass county lying south of the Wabash river, in township 26 and 27 north, range 2 east, shall form and constitute a new township to be known and designated by the name of Tipton. March 3, 1840.

Ordered, that all that part of Cass county lying in township 25 north, range 1, 2, 3 east, shall form a new township to be known by the name of Deer Creek. July 26, 1842.

Ordered, that all that part of the territory attached to Cass county which lies South of the line dividing townships 24 and 25 north, shall constitute a new township and it shall be known by the name of Wild Cat township. July, 1842.

Ordered, that a new township, bearing the above name, be created, with the following boundary: Commencing where the section line dividing sections 34 and 35, township 27 north, range 1 east, strikes the Wabash river on its South bank, thence to the comer of sections 14, 15, 22 and 23 in township 26, range 1 east; thence east to the corner of sections 14, 13, 23 and 24 ; thence south to the comer of sections 35 and 36; thence east with the township line to the comer of sections 33 and 34, township 26, range 2 east ; thence north with section line to where said section line strikes the south bank of the Wabash river, in township 27, range 2 east; thence west with the meanderings of said river to the place of beginning. September 7, 1842.

The above descriptions of the outlines of the different townships are sometimes ambiguous but we give them as described in the record, with the date of organization. The legislature, however, had at different times organized new counties out of the original territory of Cass county when it was created in 1828, until 1847, when the present boundary of Cass coimty was definitely fixed and on June 9, 1847, the county was divided into fourteen townships with the boundaries fixed as they exist today, which we give as follows:

Township No. 1 is composed of Congressional township 28 north, range 1, west of the principal meridian of the state of Indiana and is known as Boone township.

Township No. 4 is composed of all that part of Congressional township 26 and '27 north, range 1 west, which lies north of the Wabash river and is known as Jefferson township.

Township No. 5 is composed of all that part of township 27 north, range 1 east, which lies north of the Wabash and Eel rivers except that part of Barrons reserve between said rivers and the Wabash and Erie canal, and also except that part of Cicotts reserve and fractional section 25 in said town and range which is included in the town plat of West Logan, said township to be known by the name of Noble township.

Township No. 6 is composed of all that part of township 27 north, range 2 east, which lies north of Eel river and included in the whole of Metchineqa reserve, and is known as Clay township.

Township No. 7 is composed of all that part of township 28 north, range 3 east, which lies in Cass county except Little Charley's reserve, and is known as Adams township.

Township No. 8 is composed of all that part of township 27 north, range 3 east, which lies in the county of Cass and north of the Wabash river, all of Little Charley's reserve and the islands of the Wabash river and also that part of township 27 north, range 2 east, which lies between the Wabash and Eel rivers and east of the section line dividing sections 21 and 22, 27 and 28, in the last named township and range and is known as Miami township.

Township No. 9 is composed of all that part of township 27 north, ranges 1 and 2 east, which lies between the Wabash and Eel rivers and west of section line dividing sections 21 and 22, 27 and 28, in township 27 north, range 2 east, and all that part of township 27 north, range 1 east, within the limits of the town plat of West Logan and the additions thereto, also all that part of Barrons reserve in said last mentioned township, which lies between the Wabash river and the Wabash and Erie canal, also the islands in the Wabash river adjacent to said township No. 9, and is known as Eel township.

Township No. 10 is composed of all that part of Cass county south of the Wabash river and west of section line dividing sections 34 and 35, township 27 north, range 1 east, and the section line dividing sections 2 and 3, 10 and 11, 14 and 15, township 26 north, range last aforesaid, and is known as Clinton township.

Township No. 11 is included in the following bounds, towit: Commencing at a point where the section line dividing sections 34 and 35, township 27 north, range 1 east, strikes the south side of the Wabash river, thence south on section line to the southwest corner of section 14, township 26 north, range 1 east ; thence east to the southeast corner of said section, town and range last aforesaid ; thence south on section line to the southwest comer of section 36 in the town and range last aforesaid; thence east on the township line to the southeast corner of section 34, township 26 north, range 2 east ; thence north on the section line to the Wabash river; thence down said river with the meanderings thereof to the place of beginning; said township to be known as Washington.

Township No. 12 is included in the following boundary, towit: Commencing at the northeast comer of Washington township; thence south along the eastern boundary of township No. 11 to the township line dividmg townships 25 and 26; thence east on said line to the eastern boundary of said county; thence north along the said eastern boundary to the Wabash river ; thence down said river with the meanderings thereof to the place of beginning; said township to be known by the name of Tipton.

Township No. 13 is included within the following boundary, towit : Commencing at the northeast corner of section 2, township 25 north, range 2 east; thence west to the northwest corner of section 1, town- ship 25 north, range 1 east; thence south with the section line to the township line dividing townships 24 and 25 north ; thence east on said township line to the southeast comer of section 35, township 25 north, range 2 east; thence north with the section line to the place of beginning; said township to be known by the name of Deer Creek.

Township No. 14 is composed of all that part of Cass county south of Tipton township and east of Deer Creek and is known as Jackson towncdiip.

town of Logansport, of which the following is a partial description: Twelve feet square, of hewn logs one foot square, one story high ; also a jailer's house, of round logs, sixteen feet square and one story high. On November 7 W. Gordon was allowed $22.50 for hewing jail timbers, Benj. Talbott $20.00 for raising the jail, Mahlon Clark $8.25 for hauling timbers for the jail and Cyrus Taber $9.75 for 78 pounds of iron for the jail, with other smaller items, made the total cost of the jail when completed amount to the ''munificent" sum of $60.50.

The lock to this jail was a ponderous, home-made affair, with a clumsy iron key nearly a foot long, which is carefully preserved in the archives of the Cass County Historical Society.

As the population increased it soon became manifest that a larger and more substantial jail was necessary and on July 5, 1832, the board ** ordered that a jail for the county of Cass, in the town of Logansport, be built of the following dimensions: Twenty by thirty-eight feet square, two stories high and each story eight feet in the clear; first story of good hewn rock, front walls two feet thick, the balance equally strong. Three apartments: Criminal, fourteen feet square; middle, 8x14 feet; for female criminals, 8x14 feet.'*

Proposals were to be received on July 21 following, but the record does not show any bids received and on January 14, 1833, another effort was made and the following plan submitted : * * Hewn timber one foot thick and so long as to make the house 14x27 feet in the clear; partition in center of hewn timber; under and upper floors to be laid with hewn timber, one foot thick, edges straightened and corners completely dovetailed.'' Roof to be good poplar shingles and the gables to be sided with good yellow poplar weather-boarding. The door to the criminal room was two feet square and placed in the center of the ceiling, this being the only way of ingress and egress by means of a ladder let down by the jailer.

On March 5, 1833, the contract for building this jail as per specifications was let to Thomas Richardson, father of Allen and Wm. Richardson, for the sum of $394.50. The building was completed the following summer, substantially as the specifications required and the work accepted.

At the December term, 1836, the board ordered that the jail be repaired and strengthened by nailing boards over the outside of the criminal room and inside of the debtor's room. At that time the laws permitted imprisonment for debts and two rooms were fitted up in the jail, one the stronger for criminals and the other for debtors.

This hewed log jail continued to be used until about 1842 or 1844, when the court house was completed and jail cells were fitted up in the basement of that building. As time progressed these jail cells became inadequate to meet the increased demands for a prison and in 1870 the present jail with the sheriff's residence, made of brick, stone and ironj was erected and completed in the fall of that year at a total cost of $40,011.17. David D. Dykeman was the contractor. Some additions and improvements have since been made until the Cass county jail is one of the best in the state.

The second public building erected by the county was an office for the clerk, recorder and commissioners. The records do not show the plan of the building, but it was a one stpry brick building that stood near the southeast corner of the present court house.

Turner and Campbell being the lowest bidders, the contract was awarded to them, with Jordan Vigus and Hirtim Tb^d as sureties for the faithful performance of the work which was to be oompleted by December, 1831, but the records show that the first meeting of the commissioners' court met in the (^rt's office March 10, 1833. This was a small brick' structure of flt#o^'rooms, simply for clerk and recorder's offices and meeting of the coininissioners' court, but contained no hall or audience rojom and did not accommodate the circuit and other courts which continued to hold their sessions in the Old Seminary Presbyterian church on Broadway, between Fifth and Sixth streets, and later in the Methodist church that stood at No. 212 and 214 Sixth street, until the stone court house was -completed in 1842 to 1844.

At a special session of the board of commissioners on May 14, 18(39, the clerk was ordered to give notice for sealed proposals for the erection of a court house in Logansport according to the plans submitted by Joseph Willis and the record shows that Laselle & Dillon were allowed $3.00 for advertising in the ''Telegraph*'^ the proposals to build a court house. Prior to this on May 6, 1836, Mr. Willis was allowed $30.00 for making and drawing the plans for a courthouse. Accordingly, on June 15, 1839, notice having been given, the bids, were opened by the board and the contract awarded to Joseph Willis for the sum of $13,190.

The specifications called for a building 50x70 feet, built of cut native stone, with two stories and a basement, the latter to be fitted up for a jail with cells for criminals and debtors. The work to be completed December 30, 1841. Later there were some changes and the contract price was increased to $14,666.80. The work dragged along and it became manifest that the contractor could not complete the building in the time specified and his contract was annulled on January 8, 1841, he receiving $4,063.75 for the materials furnished and the work he had done up to that time and the board advertised for bids for the completion of the building and at the March term, 1841, the board let the contract to Job p. Eldridge, Thomas J. Cummings and Isaac Clary for the completion of the work for the sum of $11,598, but the contract was not entered of record until June 10, 1841.

was not fully completed until December, 1844, but it was enclosed and the circuit court met there in the faU of 1842 and the record shows that the books of the clerk and recorder were removed from their old office into the new courthouse March 9, 1843, and Joseph Douglass was allowed fifty cents for a half cord of wood for the court house.

A cupola and bell tower with a spire surmounted by a ball and seals emblematic of justice, with other extras, brought the total cost up to $16,392.86, exclusive of interest paid on the bonds, which were issued for part payment and were to run ten years with ten per cent interest.

This first court house erected in Cass county was then considered one of the handsomest and best in the state, but in time it became too small to meet the immense accumulation of business that the increased

Previous to rebuilding the present court house there was much discussion as to the advisability of tearing down the old and erecting an entirely new building and the commissioners had concluded to do so and would, have carried out their plans had it not been for the attorneys who recognized the fact that the old court room had remarkably good acoustic properties, unsurpassed by any court room or auditorium in the state. This fact led the lawyers to urge the county board not to tear down the old court house but build to it, which plan finally prevailed and the old original building in 1840 was allowed to stand and a front, with wings, was constructed, giving the county our present commodious and handsome court house.

On Jiuie 22, 1887, the commissioners opened the sealed proposals, having previously advertised for bids, and awarded the contract to John Medland and John E. Barnes for the sum of $37,500, but changes and extras brought the total cost up to about $40,000. The work progressed rapidly and was pushed to completion in the spring of 1888.

From the first organization of the county in 1829 we find the commissioner's court records show a constant and increasing allowance to various persons for boarding, clothing and other aids to the poor and afflicted of the county, proving the adage that **ye have the poor always with you.'* These constant drains on the county treasury became more frequent and in increasing amounts until it was thought to be, not only more economical, but also more desirable from every standpoint to provide a public asylum for the increased numbers of the unfortunate people of the county. Accordingly, on March 6, 1846, steps were taken to purchase a farm and erect a **Poor House'' and the county board closed a contract with Henry H. Helm for ninety acres of land in the south part of the southeast quarter of section 17, township 27 north, range 2 east, situated about three miles northeast of Logansport in Clay township. The consideration was the sum of $1,350. On March 21, 1846, a contract was let to Curtis Long for a suitable frame building. The contract price was $800 and the building was to be completed by the following August and at once occupied and from that day to the present time the county has had an asylum wherein can be comfortably maintained her unfortunate poor and at less expense than before.

The first *'Poor House" was a plain, unpretentious affair, but ample to accommodate the small number of paupers at that time, but in the course of time, although some additions had been made, yet it became inadequate to meet the demands of increasing numbers and on March 3, 1874, bids were received for the erection of a new and larger building to be constructed of brick. The contract was awarded to R. D. Stevens and Bros, for the sum of $12,584 for the completion of the work. The building is heated by steam and is fitted up with baths and modern conveniences. Separate departments for different classes of inmates are provided and furnished with special reference to the condition and character of the occupants. The location is healthy and salubrious and no county in the state has an asylum with finer or more pleasant surroundings than has the Cass county infirmary. The farm gives employment to those inmates who are physically able to work, and when well managed by a competent overseer is a source of revenue to the county. The average number of inmates for some years past is about 45 to 50. The present superintendent is J. W. McLain, who receives a salary of $600 and his wife acts as matron for which she receives $100 and in addition thereto the county furnishes their subsistence.

Prior to 1845 the county paid different physicians regular fees for attending the poor but on March 5 of that year, 1845, the board entered into a contract with Dr. Uriah Farquhar to attend the poor of the county for a stipulated amount, the sum being $50.00, he being the first regularly employed county doctor. The following year Dr. F. 0. Miller bid in the county practice for the munificent sum of $35.00 and from that day to this it has been the practice to employ a county physician for a stipulated annual fee. At present the Cass County Medical Society has the contract to attend the inmates of the county house and jail for an annual fee of $300.00 and each member of the society attends two weeks, making no charge and the salary: is thrown into the society's treasury to meet the expenses of the local medical organization.

About 1875 some of the charitable women of Logansport, realizing that there were many orphan children and some who were not orphans, who were not receiving such training and instructions as a Christian community demands, took measure to supply this demand. The movement met with emphatic approval and under the leadership of Mrs. Minnie Griffith a temporary organization was perfected with Mrs. M. M. Post as president. The following were some of the other prominent charter members: Mrs. D. D. Dykeman, Mrs. Thos. H. Wilson, Mrs. Jane Landis and Mrs. Harriet Tomlinson. On February 1, 1878, a permanent organization was perfected and articles of incorporation prepared and filed with the secretary of state of which the following is a part:

**We, the undersigned residents of the city of Logansport, do hereby associate ourselves for the purpose of organizing and maintaining a benevolent and charitable association for the care, support', discipline and education of orphans and poor children within Cass county, Indiana, and to establish and maintain a 'Home' for the furtherance of the aforesaid objects of said association.

"The corporate seal of this association shall be the impression of the words, *The Orphans' Home Association of Cass County, Ind.,' in the form of a circle, within which circle shall be the wotds 'Peed My Lambs.'

** There shall be each year 12 directors elected in whom shall be reposed the care and management of the affairs of the association and its property and finances. These directors shall have no power to borrow money on the credit of the association or its property by mortgage or otherwise, for the payment of money, but in other respects shall have full power to contract for and transact the business of the association.

**0f these directors, one shall be elected President, two Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer and a Secretary, and said directors shall meet monthly on the first Wednesday of each month. The directors shall elect the above named officers at the first annual meeting after the election of said directors.

The association first opened rooms for the reception of children in the second story over 207-209 Sixth street, with Minnie Griffith as matron and three or four children under her care. About a year later the old Judge Stuart home on Wheatland avenue was secured and Julia and Mary Faucett were put in charge and they successfully conducted the home with increasing inmates a few years when the quarters were

Under an act of the legislature passed about this time, which provided that the county commissioners may establish an orphans' home in the several counties, the board of commissioners purchased the Lewis Chamberlain brick residence, situated on the north side, on Pleasant Hill street. The purchase was made October 18, 1882, for a consideration of $2,500. The building, a substantial brick structure, wag improved at an additional cost of $500 and occupied at once. Additions and improvements have been made from time to time and thoroughly modernized, heated by steam, connections made with the west side sewer, until the present orphans' home is a sanitary and up-to-date building, and situated as it is, on the hill, one hundred and fifty feet above the river, with its salubrious surroundings, overlooking the city and valley of the Wabash and Eel rivers, there is not a finer, better equipped and more healthful home in the state. The additions and improvements made during the year 1903 totaled an outlay of $7,236.

The home has been unfortunate in that it has suffered from two fires, the last very destructive, wholly destroying the main portion of the building. The fire occurred April 3, 1906. The county board, however, took prompt measures to rebuild and repair the damage and had it completed and ready for occupancy in January, 1907, at an expenditure of $8,235. Architect J. E. Crain drew the plans and superintended the reconstruction. In the meantime the children were cared for at the Mexico home in Miami county. The board of managers have exclusive control over the institution, but for many years, or since the county purchased the building, the association receives an allowance from the county of $1.50 to $2.00 per week for each inmate.

The home has been very fortunate and but little sickness has appeared among the children and only three deaths have occurred in the past thirty-seven years of its operation.

The following legacies have been bequeathed to the home by the parties herein named, towit: Noah S. Larose, $1,000; Thos. H. Wilson, $1,000; John Dodson, $2,000. These donations were given as a permar nent fund or endowment and by careful management of the directors have been increased until the interest on the fund is a great help in running the financial affairs of the institution.

The purpose of the association is not only to shelter and administer to the physical wants of the unfortunate children, but also to look after their moral and spiritual training, and as soon as the proper homes can be found, to place the children in permanent homes by adoption and the directors have been fortunate in securing the placement of many boys and girls in Christian homes where they receive the same care and education as their own children.

A public orphanage, be it ever so well conducted, is not like a private home and this feature of the association's work is certainly most commendable and should receive the highest plaudits of a grateful community.

Since the recent establishment of the juvenile courts and the organization of the Associated Charities, that organization and the court have been quite active i^ sending children to the Orphans' Home and also in securing the permanent homes for them, thus relieving to some extent that part of the home association work, yet working in harmony, each supplementing the other's work and reelauning many poor, and unfortunate children and placing them where they can be brought up in a wholesome, moral and Christian atmosphere.

The present officers are: Mrs. Harriet Tomlinson, president; Mrs. John Tipton, first vice-president; Mrs. Harry Thompson, second vicepresident; Mrs. Otto Kraus, secretary; Mrs. W. A. Osmer, treasurer. The following matrons have had charge: Minnie GriflSth, Mary Paucett, Mrs. McLucas, Mrs. J. C. Morris, Maria Denbo, Mrs. Metsker, Mrs. James A. Craighead, Mrs. Rebecca Carney since 1897.

This is a charitable institution, brought about by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in the spring of 1892, Mrs. Ashton, Mrs. Mary Stevenson, Mrs. Caroline Taylor, being the prime movers. The first officers were: Mrs. Esther L. Qrable, president; Mrs. Joseph Barker, vice-president; Mrs. W. T. Giflfe, secretary; Mrs. Harriet N. Kanauss, treasurer. The association was at once incorporated, whose objects and purposes are set forth in the articles of association in part as follows: '

'*"We, the undersigned, voluntarily associate ourselves together pursuant to the laws of Indiana for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a home for the care and support of aged women who cannot support themselves by their own means and industry, and for the care and support of crippled persons who cannot support themselves, and they hereby adopt as a corporate name of the association, * The Logansport Home for the Friendless.' The seal of the corporation shall be a disk with a star in the center and the words, *The Logansport Home for the Friendless in His Name' around the margin of the disk. The business of the home is managed by a board of trustees consisting of seven men and a board of managers consisting of nine women, to be elected annually by the members of the association."

During the summer of 1892 the city of Logansport gave the association a lot situated on the northwest corner of Seventh and Race streets and also an old frame building that stood on the northwest corner of Seventh and Broadway that the school board was moving to make room for the present high school building. The home association removed this old house to their lot on Race street, enlarged and improved it, and converted it into the present commodious Home for the Friendless at an outlay of over $2,000.

The institution was opened October 15, 1892, with Mrs. Girton as its first matron and two inmates, Mrs. Thompson and Chappel. The home has been in operation ever since and for many years past has constantly had on an average of 12 to 14 inmates.

About ten years ago Harry Neftl, who died in Denver, Colorado, left a bequest of about $22,000 as a permanent endowment to the home and in 1907 Wm. E. Haney added $6,000 more to the fund, so the association is in better shape financially than in the first years of its existence and for son\e years past the county donated $500 annually toward the support of the institution, which is doing a noble. Christian work in Logansport by giving home and comfort to many unfortunate old women who otherwise would suffer for necessary care and attention. The present officers are : Mrs. Esther ,L. Grable, president ; Mrs. Catherine A. Howe, vice-president; Mrs. Elizabeth A. Troutman, secretary; Mrs. Jane E. Comwell, treasurer; Miss Jessie Ballon, matron.

Pursuant to an act of the legislature passed March 21, 1883, Gtov. Albert Q. Porter appointed a commission, of which Pr. Joseph G. Rogers was the medical adviser, to select a site and erect suitable buildings in the northern part of the state.

This commission selected Logansport and on October 4, 1883, pur^ chased of Andrew G. Shanklin 160 acres of land, paying therefor $14,500 and received a donation from the citizens of Cass county of 121.86 acres adjoining, making a total of 281.86 acres. This place lies on the south bank of the Wabash river about one and one-half miles west of Logansport. Its surface is broken by a rocky ledge running east and ivest through the center, hence the name usually applied to the whole institution, ** Long-Cliff.'* The ground below the cliff is level, as is also that above, comparatively so, and from the cliffs affords a remarkably commanding view across the valley of the Wabash to the city of Logansport and the hills beyond. Quite a large creek flows through the farm, affording plenty of water as well as drainage into the river. About half the tract is a beautiful woodland and the building site is adorned by a fine maple grove. The Yandalia railroad passes through the southeast comer of the place, as does also the Lafayette interurban line. A stone road passes along the south line and a good gravel road along the river on the north to the city of Logansport, thus affording ample, rapid and easy access to the institution.

The board adopted the plans of E. H. Ketchem, architect, and on May 26, 1884, let the contract for the erection of necessary buildings to McCormick and Hege of Columbus, Indiana, for the sum of $362,802.29, to which was added the cost of boilers, heating, lighting plumbing, etc., making the total original cost about $400,000. The work was commenced on July 1, 1884, under the superintendency of Dr. Joseph G. Bogers. The work progressed slowly from various causes and the institution was not opened for the reception of patients until July 1. 1888.

The Northern Hospital, upon completion of the original building, consisted of the administration building, four ward buildings for men and four for women, a rear central building, boiler house and laundry. At the opening of the asylum in 1888, the only institution of the kind in the state, was at Indianapolis and the wards were at once filled and there were demands for extensions which the legislature has granted from time to time until the capacity of the institution now reaches one thousand patients, together with over a hundred attendants and officials, making a colony of nearly twelve hundred housed under the roofs of Long-Cliff asylum, and the total cost for permanent construction amounts to about $750,000.

Dr. Joseph G. Eogers served most acceptably as superintendent from the time of opening the institution in 1888 until his death April 11, 1908. Since then Dr. Fred W. Terflinger, who was assistant physician, has creditably filled the position as medical superintendent.

The dozen or more ward buildings are independent of each other, these, with the administration building of handsome architectural design, the opera house, dining rocmis, kitchen, boiler and engine houses, waterworks, i)Ower house, morgue, stables, storage houses, with other buildings, make quite a town and located as it is on a cliff nearly a hundred feet above the Wabash river, the grounds artistically laid out and beautified by flower beds and shrubbery, altogether presents a most beautiful and pleasing appearance, which can hardly be duplicated in the stat* and Cass county may well take pride in this handsome, healthful and

Every new cuuntry draws people together from many lands strangers at first, it may be of diflferent nationalities, but the wild surroundings, rough life they are compelled to live, lack of refined entertainments and many **et ceteras'' of older civilizations, bring all the pioneers of a new country on a commoner plane and soon their hardships and privations are shared by each other and new and lasting friendships are formed that death alone can sever. And after the forty years of association in pioneer life, when many had passed over the dark river, and others were necessarily approaching the brink, those left on this side were wont to gather together and talk over the trials, privations and hardships of pioneer days, and to facilitate and give opportunity of a rehearsal of anecdotes of the first settlement of the county, and in 1870 an association of old settlers was formed. After due notice had been given, a few of the early settlers met in the court house on February 9th. Geo. T. Tipton presided and Anthony P. Smith acted as secretary. A committee was appointed to secure a list of pioneers whose settlement in Cass, county antedated 1832. The meeting then adjourned to meet Pebruary 26, 1870, at which time a permanent organization was effected. The first oflRcers were : Daniel Bell, president ; Anthony Barron, Geo. T. Tipton, David Patrick, Job B. Eldridge, Cyrus Vigus, vice-presidents, and Qias. B. Lasselle, secretary. Meetings were held annually at which great interest was manifested in relating their trials incident to pioneer life. The original projectors of the movement soon fell by the wayside, when N. B. Barron and Anthony Smith headed the society, later Maj. S. L. McPaddin, then James T. Bryer, who wrote an interesting booklet in pamphlet form in 1892, giving many incidents of early life and a list of persons who had resided in the county over fifty years, which booklet is found in the archives of the Cass County Historical Society. These annual meetings were kept up with marked interest for many years, but finally the old pioneers having nearly all joined the silent majority and the younger generation, knowing nothing of their fathers' hardships and not bound by the ties of pioneer life, ceased to take interest and the society held its last meeting in Spencer park in August, 1908, with W. H. H. Tucker president and Wm. Hilton secretary. Like many other affairs of this life, this society died for want of material to subsist upon or carry it forward.