Crawford County, Indiana - Chapter 13: The Terrible Sixties, 1926

William Gibbs and Isaiah Berkshire were ordered to build a bridge over Big Blue for $1,000. The commissioners at their meeting in March, 1860, gave them the contract. It seemed that the board had given William McKinley of Perry County the contract to construct the bridge over Big Blue at Milltown. He appeared before the board on June 5, 1860, and demanded that the board must keep its contract with him. If they did that he would withdraw the suit and the appeal he had made to the cireuit court. The court agreed to accept the proposition and pay the cost of the suits in court. McKinley's contract read thus: '' William McKinley of Perry County agrees and contracts with the board of county commissioners and the commissioners of Harrison County to build a bridge over Big Blue at Milltown, where the New Albany and Jasper road crossed the river. His bond was signed by Wilson Daniels, Ballard Smith and Job Hatfield. He. must comply strictly to the contract. The bridge was to cost $17.60 a foot.''? The work was to begin July 1, 1860, and be completed by July 25, 1860. Later McKinley agreed to surrender the contract made May 15, 1860. He gave up the timber which he had on hand and the rocks in the quarry. The board held a special meeting July 1,

1861, and agreed to pay him $75, in addition to what he had already received. So he left the contract to Calvin White, James Tadlock and David Miller, the commissioners. On June 4, 1862, Harrison County was ready to build her part of the bridge at Milltown. E. C. Powers was appointed an agent to estimate the cost of the Milltown bridge. A joint session of the county commissioners of both counties was held at Milltown on Friday, June 13, 1862, to consider the matter of building a bridge over Big. Blue River at Milltown. After seeing the plans of C. Powers they agreed to have a good substantial bridge built under the supervision of Ben Douglas of Harrison County and E. C. Powers of Crawford County. The cost of the bridge was not to exceed $2,000.

On March 7, 1860, the county commissioners rented out the poor farm to Richard Weathers. He was to board all the paupers sent him at $1.25. His bond was signed by himself, Squire Weathers, G. H. Shaw and Leonard Shaw. The bond was for $700 and the contract to last two years. Weathers was to pay $85 a year rent. On December 4, 1861, the above contract was cancelled. Weathers had enlisted in the army. Shaw was dead and the rent had been paid. Thomas Lynch accepted the contract on the same terms given to Weathers.

July 1, 1861, the commissioners released James Haney who was helping on the Milltown bridge. He was allowed $500 for all the stone on the ground and for the stone on the hill above the town.

The poor farm was a problem which the commissioners tried to handle in an economic manner. July 3, 1861, James Shaw and Alvin Shaw were hired to clean up the fence rows around the farm. They received forty cents for every hundred rails reset and $1 for every one hundred new rails made and laid up. They received $52.75 for the work done on the above farm.

If. P. Rothrock, who owned the land where Wyandotte Cave was found, appeared before the board of review and asked that the assessment be reduced $5,000 which the board had put on this assessment of his because the new cave was found there. That seems a terrible increase for the farm. The board dismissed his petition on June 5, 1860.

County clerk, James M. Lemonds; sheriff, W. W. Cummins; county surveyor, John McCollister; county treasurer, Thomas Vance; county auditor, Dunbar Patrick. Patrick was a Republican. The others were Democrats. Jim Lemonds' bond was signed by J. H. Ray, Jeremiah Belcher, J. F. Sanders, W. W. Cummins, W. L. Temple, Sam Longest, Israel Standiford, Caleb Longest, Jephtha Beasley, J. M. Brown, J. F. Gehr, C. Dunham, T. W. Highfill, Mareus Clark, James Miller, T. B. Cummings, Abraham Wiseman, Philmore Wiseman, John Lynch, Nathan Collins, A. M. Seott, John Behen and Calvin White.

The presidential race was the most exciting. There were four tickets in the field. Lincoln on the Republican, Douglas on Northern Democratic, Breckenridge on Southern Democratic and Bell on the Constitutional and Union ticket. After a bitter canvass the election occurred. The canvass gave Lane for Governor on the Republican ticket

841 votes and Hendricks for Governor on the Democratic ticket 869 votes. Lincoln received 778 votes, Douglas 84, Breckenridge 8 and Bell 42 votes.

Dunbar Patrick was elected county auditor. Tle had a erippled spine, causing a hump on his back, which made him not fit for hard work. Men always voted for him when he ran. They said that they could beat Patrick, but they could not beat the Jump on his back. Ife always made an efficient officer.

June 4, 1861, James Frazier, who was a eivil engineer from Ifarrison County, made a survey for the Milltown bridge. Our county paid $25 for her part of the work and Iarrison paid the rest of the bill.

The cost of the county in 1861 is an interesting item when one compares it with the cost in 1924. Below is an itemized statement of the expenses:

James Lemonds was appointed to act in conjunction with B. P. Douglas of Harrison County to investigate the bridge at Milltown. These men were selected June 6, 1861.

At the meeting of the board on September 1, 1862, the boundary of Ohio and Union townships was changed: Beginning at the southwest corner of section 18, town 3 south, range 1 east, thence north to Little Blue, thence down the stream to where it crosses the meridian about 15 rods north of northwest corner of section 30. All parts in the above boundary were put into Ohio township.

For many years the citizens of Ohio and Boone townships desired a bridge over Little Blue at Fullenwider's mill. So the board met there September 9, 1863, to investigate the affair and see what the conditions really were. KE. ©. Powers and Perry Riddle were ordered to draw up plans and hire hands to build the bridge. December 8, 1863, the treasurer was ordered to pay the expenses of the above bridge which were $450 and legalized the former payment of $500. The work went on slowly for several years. On September 6, 1866, Perry Wilks was authorized to sell all the surplus stone and wood. James Tadlock was appointed to supervise the work on the bridge. On September 4, 1867, William Wilks reported that the bridge had been completed. The board accepted the report and Wilks received $50 for his services.

Guards, a volunteer military company of the Indiana Legion, went into office in 1862. Ile gave a bond for $1,500 for the use of the guns of which there were sixty rifles. Later he resigned the office on September 5, 1864, and Ii. P. Toney was elected. The board released him from the bond and requested Mr. Toney to give bond for the care of the euns.

The Ilome Guards of Leavenworth kept their guns in John N. Bahr's warehouse. The rent on the warchouse was $25 for the year of 1864. The above sum was paid Bahr on September 6, 1864.

At the September meeting in 1865 John Wolf, who was coming from Corydon to Leavenworth, accidentally let his horse run off of the Dry Run bridge. The horse fell to the ground and was killed. Ife made claim to the board for $75 damages on the grounds that the bridge was not safely banistered. The board passed the matter off to the next meeting.. At the June meeting in 1866 the board paid Wolf $65.

On June 9, 1865, the county commissioners made a new township by cutting off a piece of the southern part of Patoka. The township was named Johnson in honor of President Johnson who was in office at that time. The voting preeinct was to be at Henry Rowland's house or Henry ''Rowld.''

For many years the passage around the Big Spring was very dangerous. The spring came out of the ground near the foot of the high cliff. The water being deep at times when the river was high made traveling over the New Albany and Princeton road dangerous. One man, William MeNaughton, was drowned there. Tle was in the water a long time before he was found. To get him out tradition has it that.a box was made for him and sunk under him and then raised until he was floating in the box. Then holes were bored in the box by which the water was drained, leaving him in the box. Then he was buried. Al. Edwards was allowed $5 for holding the inquest. This happened in May, 1837. So in March, 1867, the commissioners appointed James Deushurst to build a driveway around the head of the Big Spring. He went to work with a will and soon had a good quantity of cut stone on the ground. By building a perpendicular wall about twenty feet high and filling in well, he succeeded and had the passage wide enough for wagons to pass. Then cedar posts were set in the wall and fenced well. The wall is still there to-day and will be for years for he did his work well. The bridge over Indian Hollow, which had been built many years, was in a dilapidated condition in 1866. Sam Clark was authorized to draw plans for a new bridge. He employed James Deushhurst, who built'a new bridge for $600. That bridge did a great amount of service. The first bridge cost $184 which was appropriated in November, 1836. Later $50 more was added to that sum. About the first of March in 1867, James Lemonds, who had been county clerk for some time, suddenly disappeared from his home and the office. The board met on March 13, 1867, and appointed David 8S. Barnett to fill out Lemonds' term of office. On September 5, 1867, Horatio Woodbury was ordered to examine the records of James Lemonds to see if any money was due the county. Woodbury reported that from the best of his judgment he had collected and paid into the treasury $384 from outstanding orders, fines

The county commissioners had many problems with which to worry in those days. One finds this statement: ''Whereas, John Ayers, a small boy, who has not been a resident of the county long enough to entitle him to be sent to the poor farm, and who has been deserted by his parents, and may become a public charge, it is hereby ordered that James M. Clark take the boy back to Floyd County and leave him with his relatives, if any may be found, and if not, with friends.'' The parents of the child deserted him and left him at the mercies of strangers.

The elections of 1864 had returned the Democrats to power. These men were elected to hold over until 1868: Dunbar Patrick, auditor; Martin H. Tucker had the hardest race of any. He was a Democrat, and very loyal to the Union. One day just before the election he came to Josiah Shaw and told him that he must have Shaw's vote or he was defeated. He claimed that many of the Democrats of Patoka and Sterling townships had turned against the Union and would not support him beeause he was for the Union. Shaw and Tucker were the best of friends. Shaw finally decided to vote for Tucker, and when the votes were counted out Tucker was elected by one vote.

Walter Seacat was elected treasurer on September 5, 1867. He appeared before the board and made this statement: That he was treasurer of the county. On Saturday evening, August 17, 1867, he locked the office door, leaving all the books, papers and records in their proper places and usual files. That he did not return till Monday,

August 19, 1867, when he discovered that the office had been opened by burglars and the register of county orders had been stolen together with a large number of orders which had been cancelled. The cancelled orders had all been redeemed by him according to law. The orders amounted to $11,064.94. He had not had time to ascertain to whom the greater amount of the orders had been paid or from what persons they were redeemed. He believed that if time was given him he would be able to procure said affidavits and properly account for all of the orders; that owing to the fact that persons lived in various parts of the county remote from the county seat much time will be needed to examine the papers and records in the auditor's office. He thought that the matter might be attended to by the next term of court. He has accounted for all the money and he believes that if time is given him he can account for all the orders.

The above paper was sworn to before William Wilks, president of the board. After due consideration the board allowed Seacat till the next term of court to get the matter straightened out.

Also, it appears to the satisfaction of the board that the register of county orders of Crawford County will never be found. Therefore, it is ordered that Dunbar Patrick make a blank register and carefully put on it all the numbers of the redeemed orders now on file in his office from June 1, 1865. For such services the county agrees to pay Patrick a reasonable sum of money.

On December 4, 1867, Dunbar Patrick reported that he had made a complete record of all the orders and bounties from 1860 to June, 1867, for which he ought to receive $59. The above sum was allowed him.

Walter Seacat appeared before the board December 6, 1867, and stated that after taking all the evidence which they were willing to allow in the case of the last orders which were stolen from the treasurer's office, he begged to submit the following statement: When Seacat went out of office August 24, 1867, there was due from him to the county $18,125.56. He paid William Temple $7,050.14 and the amount of vouchers was $9,363.63, totaling $17,413.77. Balance due the county was $711.79 which Seacat paid.

The election of 1868 was an exciting one in Crawford County. The result was: Treasurer, W. L. Temple; auditor, Malachi Monk; sheriff, James M. Clark. The registers for the election were: Boone township, W. C. Sherill and Richard B. Leace; Jennings, Casper Kesher and Oliver N. Beals; Johnson township, Bailey Brown and A. B. Tucker; Liberty, S. R. Jenner and William Gibbs; Ohio, James Tadlock and Press O'Bannon; Patoka, Jesse Enlow and Jesse Crecelius; Sterling, H. Miller and J. 8. Temple; Union, John Martin and G. W. Davis; Whisky Run,

Hugh Stewart, who was township assessor of Johnson township, has failed to attend the regular meetings and, having left the state some time during the last summer, leaving the general impression that he never intended to return, the county commissioners being advised of the matter and being an extra session, decided that he had vacated

The trustees who were elected in 1868 were: Boone, H. B. Meylin; Jennings, Joel Lyons; Johnson, Lewis Walls; Liberty, Cyrus Vanmeter; Ohio, William H. Conrad; Patoka, Jacob Tucker; Sterling, Joseph H. Ray; Union, Isaac Hafley, Whisky Run, J. F. Sanders.

The board held a special meeting Monday, October 19, 1868, to hear the complaints of those soldiers who claimed they had not received all which was coming to them. The board met to accommodate the men at various places: Jennings, Monday, October 19; Whisky Run, Tuesday, October 20; Sterling and Patoka, October 21; Johnson and Union, October 22; Ohio and Boone, Friday, October 23.

John Benz, E. R. Elliott, Charles L. Lamb, William Mc- Clain, Jesse McWilliams, J. H. Ray, W. L. Temple. The board approved the bond November 4, 1868.

Leavenworth - J. ©. Lyons, inspector; saiary, $1.00. Milltown - M. W. Spencer, inspector; salary, $1.75. Marengo - J. C. Haskins, inspector; salary, $1.78. English - T. B. Cumming, inspector,; salary, $1.75. Patoka - Jacob Tucker, inspector; salary, $2.50. Johnson - Bailey Brown, inspector; salary, $2.50. Union - E. F. Roberson, inspector; salary, $1.75. Fredonia - W. H. Conrad, inspector; salary, $1.50. Alton - H. B. Meylin, inspector; salary, $1.75.

Charles L. Land was allowed $37.20 for making a map of Crawford County, on which the plat of Leavenworth was shown. Civil townships were located, too, on December 9, 1868. ;

EK. E. Biller presented a petition for a road through Francis Forbes, John Forbes, D. R. Cates, John Byerly, John Collins and John Glosson's land. Biller had no way out to the road from his farm. Many farmers did not like to have a road through their farms. Biller had to come through their land. One night as he was coming home near the residence of John Byerly he stopped to open a gate. When he drove through the gate and came back to close it some one jumped up in the dark and struck him on the arm with a club of some kind and broke Biller's arm. The board refused to allow him a road on December 9, 1868, but granted the road on February 6, 1869.

C. W. Lynch, who had been elected assessor of Ohio township, moved away and vacated the office. The board appointed Houston Goldman to fill out the term of Mr. Lynch. The new trustees for 1869 were:

'"Comes Real Strand in a wagon in poor health and is still in poor health. George Padgett was afflicted with white swelling. He is in a serious condition. Both hips and thigh seriously affected. Derby Miller, who was moved in a wagon, is sick and in poor health. Isaac Thornbury was insane but able to do some work. James H. Thornbury was allowed $1.25 for a bottle of cod liver oil for one of the patients. Signed: Wm. McCuatn."'

John M. Miller, who had been a faithful and loyal soldier, and had now lost his hearing from the effects of the war, was exempted from paying poll tax.

The board raised the assessment of H. P. Rothrock $800 on account of the new hotel and the cave and other improvements. Members of the equalization board were Malachi Monk, George Riddle, W. N. Bullington, Finley Nash, C. W. Lynch and Hamilton Miller.

The assessors and their salaries for 1870 were: Boone, A. K. Rice, $48; Jennings, Brice Patrick, $62.50; Johnson, Turley Nash, $43; Liberty, Nathan Vanmeter, $46; Ohio, Esau MeFall, $65; Patoka, William Highfill, $75; Sterling, John Beasley, $80.50; Whisky Run, Henry Shafer, $80.50.

Crawford County has always been a patriotic county. Before Indiana became a state the people residing then in what is now Crawford County gave a good account of themselves in battles.

Peter Funk, who later became a captain in the War of 1812, led General Harrison's cavalry at the battle of Tippecanoe. General Harrison came from Corydon to near where Leavenworth now stands and held a powwow with the Indians at what is now called Indian Hollow. A keg of brandy was given to the Indians who promised to remain friends of the English. Tradition has it that one Indian became drunk and went to sleep. His clothing caught fire while he was asleep. On awaking he dashed down the bank and jumped into the river to put out the fire which was burning him all the time. It is said that he hollowed so loudly that the old settlers named the ereek Indian Hollow. The Indian drowned in the Ohio River. Harrison visited old Salt Peter Cave, near Wyandotte, where he got salt peter out of which to make gun powder to equip his soldiers for the march to Tippecanoe. Peter Funk was a famous Indian fighter. He owned a farm in Whisky Run township till about 1835 when he sold out and moved away.

Just how many Revolutionary War heroes lived In Crawford County one can not tell. After Congress enacted the law of March 18, 1818, providing a pension for these men, one finds several who applied for the pension. Timothy Bennett made oath that he enlisted in Captain Pierce's company in 1776. He fought in the battle fo White Plains under General Washington. After the defeat of the American army he escaped across the Hudson River. He is now an old man, broken in years, in poor circumstances financially, and begs that a pension be allowed him which the law of 1818 enacted by Congress provides.

Then Archibald Neal, being unable to attend court, Constable Williams, one of the justices of Crawford County, visited him and he made oath that he was born in Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the spring of 1776 in York County, Pennsylvania. He was in Captain Thomas Church's company, which was in the regiment commanded by Captain Anthony Wayne, till 1777 when he was discharged at Chester, Pennsylvania. He was under the impression that he had to prove his service by living witnesses, of whom none were then living in the state to his knowledge. He did swear that he was a resident citizen of the United States on March 18, 1820. That he had not given his property away so that he could come under the provisions of that act. He stated that his income was derived from one old mare, a colt eight or nine months old, two cows and two calves, one sow and nine pigs, five shoats, four sheep, three chairs, one broken kettle, one oven, one skillet, one small pot, one water bucket, one small pail, three plates and cups and one broken glass. By occupation he was a weaver, but had not been able to pursue his work for twenty years on account of a pain in his side, head and breast, and afflicted with spitting of blood. He had a wife named Margaret Neal, age fifty years, who was not able to support herself on account of rheumatism. He had one son, Jonathan Neal, who was able to support himself by his work. The above data were taken on March 10, 1827, by Constance Williams, one of the county justices.

The court records show that Constance Williams made oath that he was born in Plainfield, Connecticut, and that he enlisted in Captain Kellogg's company. Later he entered the army before the surrender of General Burgoyne. He was drafted for four months' service and taken to Lake George and put under Ethan Allen. No written discharge was ever given him. His captain's name was Dewey, but he did not remember who his general was. He did. not have any discharge and could not prove his service, but claimed that he came under the provisions of the '' Law of June 7, 1832.'' The above oath was approved by Blackwell and Abraham Bates.

The county commissioners' records of March, 1848, show that Alexander Black was refunded $1.85 for erroneous taxes charged him, he being a Revolutionary War soidier.