Daviess County, Indiana - Chapter 7, 1886

Chapter 7

Organization of the County - Concerning the Northwest Territory - Formation of Townships - Public Buildings - Railroads and Other Highways - The Agricultural Society - The Medical Society - The Paupers - Finances - Miscellaneous Items- Outstanding Bonds - Election Returns - Population - County Officers.

AS is generally known all the Northwest Territory fell to Virginia by her chartered rights after the close of the Eevolutionary war. But owing to difficulties among the States Virginia agreed, January 2, 1781, that on certain conditions she would cede all her claims to said territory to Congress ; among other things she reserved the same rights for her French and Canadian settlers that they enjoyed under the laws of Virginia. Congress agreed to accept this proposition September 13, 1783, and October 20, 1783, the Legislature agreed to make the gift, and in March of the following year appointed Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee and James Monroe, delegates in Congress to make the deed. This territory was to be divided into States of not less than 100 miles square, nor more than 150 miles square, being subject to physical conditions, and each State was to be guaranteed a Republican form of government. In 1787 the celebrated ordinance for the government of the Northwest Territory was passed. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was appointed governor of the territory. He served from 1788 to 1800. Winthrop Sargent was his secretary. Kaskaskia and Vincennes were then the two main military posts. In January, 1790, Gen. St. Clair sent Winthrop Sal-gent to Vincennes to take military command, and to lay off a county. The county of Knox was accordingly formed some time between the date of his arrival at Vincennes and the succeeding July, 1790. Soon after his arrival an address was presented to him. It was dated Vincennes, December 10, 1790, and addressed "To the Hon. Winthrop Sargent, Esq., Secretary of the terri- tory of the United States north of the Ohio, and vested with all the powers of governor and commander-in-chief." The letter expressed great pleasure at his coming ; satisfaction at the recent change in government; great loyalty to their new master; paid a glowing tribute to Maj. Hamtramck, his predecessor; expressed implicit confidence in his generosity and magnanimity, and asked him to convey to the President their good wishes. This Sargent agreed to present to his "august President." It was signed by Antoine Gamelin, Pierre Gamelin, Peard Gamelin, John Johnson,

The county of Knox was named in honor of Gen. Henry Knox, Secretary of War. It then embraced all of Indiana and Michigan. In 1798 Wayne County was cut off of the northern part of Indiana, and included Michigan with Detroit as the seat. May 7, 1800, Congress made two distinct Territories, with Vincennes as the seat of the one and Gen. Harrison as governor. In 1802 Clark and Randolph Counties were formed. In 1805 Dearborn was formed. These counties seem to have been formed by proclamation as no record can be found showing their divisions. The Territory of Michigan was cut off in 1805, and Illinois in 1809. Jefferson and Franklin Counties were separated in 1S10. Knox County still embraced almost half of the State, and the pruning went on.

The county, as it is now limited, contains an area of 540 sections or square miles. Knox County has never experienced the contentions of other counties in locating her county seat, as Vincennes was chosen while under the control of Congress, and its' eligibility has never been seriously questioned.

In 1791 the court of quarter sessions ordered the county to be divided into two townships, Vincennes and Clarksville. Vincennes embraced all the territory from the Ohio Eiver on the south to the northern line, lying between St. Clair County on the west and Blue River on the east. Its symbol was the letter "V." Clarksville Township embraced the remainder of the county ; its symbol was the letter "C." An order was made in 1801, at the court of quarter sessions, by James Johnson, Antoine Marechall and Ephraim Jordan, '-esquires justices," that two townships should be laid off as follows, to-wit: "The township of Vincennes shall be composed of the village of Vincennes, the upper and lower prairie and the commons, and shall be known and called by the name and style of Vincennes Township." ''Ordered, that the second township shall be bounded by the road leading from the town of Vincennes to Harbin's Ferry, beginning at the point where the road crosses the line of the township of Vincennes; thence along that road until it strikes the division line between the county of Knox and the county of Clark, and that it be named and styled Harrison Township." It, of course, was named in honor of Gen. Harrison. " Ordered, that the third township shall be bounded by the said road until it strikes the said division line between the counties of Knox and Clark, and should be known by the name and style of Palmyra Township." It further ordered that no respect should be paid to boundaries heretofore laid off.

Vincennes Township at that time embraced the western part of the township, Harrison all to the southeast and Palmyra all to the, east and northeast. In 1808 Busseron had been laid off, and embraced the northern part of the co\inty. It was named in honor of Maj. Francois Bosseron. The next townshir> was Widner, the record of which is lost, but it was about 1812. It was named in honor of John Widner, and embraced the greater part of Vigo Township. Between the last named date and 1823 Johnson and Decker Townships were laid off; the record of these is also missing. In 1838 it was ordered "that part of Harrison Township lying south of the township line between Harrison and Palmyra on the east side of Pond Creek, running down said creek to fractional Sections Nos. 9 and 16 ; thence east to White River, be attached to Palmyra."

The court at the September term formed a new township, with the following boundaries: "Beginning at the juncture of the river Du Chien ; thence up the river to the township line of Decker ; thence north to Vincennes Commons; thence west to the ditcji; thence down the ditch to Grand Coupee ; thence up Coupee to the Wabash ; thence down the Wabash to the mouth of the Embarras, the same to be called Uno Township, and the place of election to be St. Thomas' Church. In 1846 a material change was made in the boundaries of this township. This township was done away with in a few years. These two explanations were given by a gray-haired man for the action of the commissioners - one given was that there were not enough who could read and write legally qualified to fill an election board ; and another given was that a great number of farmers were in the habit of driving their hogs into this township to feed, and so few of the hogs were ever driven out that it came to be known as "hog thief township," and the better class of citizens petitioned to the board to have the township organization abandoned.

Couet House

From 1801 to 1807 courts were held at the house of Laurient Bazadon, corner of Bradney and Second Streets. Grand jury rooms were sometimes furnished elsewhere. The allowances for Bazadon for 1801 were $1.20 a day when fuel was needed, and 75 cents a day on other occasions. In 1807 Antoine Mare'chall was allowed $100 for the use of his house for a court room. Steps were now taken to build a new court house. A committee consisting of Robert Buntin and John Rice Jones purchased the two lots where Judge Niblack's residence now stands, on condition that a good title could be given. This was in 1807. The price paid was $50. The justices immediately advertised for 100,000 brick and eighty perches of stone. William Lindsey received the contract for the brick at $2.50 per thousand; William Dunica received $50 for the shingles, also $100 for scantling. The committee on court house were William Wallace, Jacob Kuykendall, Robert Buntin and Peter Jones. The house was completed in 1813, and its completion was celebrated by a banquet at the Lasselle House, where the notaries were wined and dined. The total cost of the house was $3,156.41|. The tax duplicate then showed only $1,759.55 taxes for the year.

However, in 1808, the inhabitants of the town entered a protest against building the court house so far away from the central part of the town. The house served till 182G, when the question of building a new structure began to be considered. In July, 1826, Samuel Langdon, Joseph Chambers, Joseph McClure, John Black and William Raper, a committee, reported that the old court house ought to be sold and a new one erected. This was in July, 1820. A committee of David L. Bonner, Benjamin V. Beckes and John Moore were appointed to receive bids and select a "scite" for a new building. A new committee was appointed in 1830, who reported that the court house was safe for the present, and recommended $300 worth of repairs to be made on the old house, which act was accordingly done.

In a few months work began again in earnest on a new court house. Lots 310, 311, 328 and 329 were selected and purchased by Martin Robinson, A. G. Roberts and James Thorne, commissioners. The contract was let to John Moore for $3,971.46, to which $100 was afterward added for a cupola. It was stated that the "front end" should be toward the Wabash. The contract for this was let in 1831, and the work completed in due time. In 1868 a new court house began to be talked of. Plans and specifications were furnished by Edwin May, architect, of Indianapolis, for which he received $2,000. The estimated cost was $80,- 000. Bids were called for; they varied from $87,998 to $167,000. The contract was let in 1872, the building to be of brick. Dissatisfaction arose as to the style of building, and a new contract was entered into, Edwin May still being the architect. The commissioners at the time were Thomas Dayson, Asa Thorn and John M. Berry. The building is of light-colored limestone, and is a magnificent building in architectural beauty and style. In a niche in front stands a life-size statue of George Rogers Clark to the left, and to the right stands a full-size United States soldier. In another face of the building is the Goddess of Liberty. On a tablet to the left is inscribed the date, 1702, and to the right 1872. Notwithstanding the contract price, the building from changes, etc., has cost to the present over $500,000.

Prisons seem to be a necessary accompaniment of courts. Under the common law persons could be imprisoned for debt. The following prison bounds were ordered in 1801 by the justices of the quarter sessions: "Beginning at low-water mark on the Wabash, on the street between Antoine Marchall and Margaret Gameliu's; thence down said street to the lower corner of James

Purcell's; thence up to St. Louis Street; thence up said street, including the same, to the corner of John Ochiltree's house, next to Thomas Coulter's ; thence up the street between Coulter's and Ochiltree's to James Creley's lott; from thence to the corner of street, leading by H. Vanderburg's, to the place of beginning, including the streets." An order was passed by the board in 1808, that no objection being made by the creditor, and the debtor making oath that he possessed neither personal nor real property, he should be released. Numbers availed themselves of the order of the court. Criminal prisoners were at first confined in the casement of Fort Sackville, and later in a temporary jail.

This jail was completed in 1803, and stood at the corner of Third and Buntin Streets. This was a very indifferent jail, as it was declared unsafe for prisoners in 1807, the sheriff (Sullivan) entering his protest at that time against it. Robert Slaughter was one of the first prisoners in the jail. He was incarcerated for the murder of Joseph Harbin. He was executed in 1805, by Daniel O. Sullivan, for which and his coffin, gallows and burial the county paid §17. In a short time a new jail was erected, on one of the lots adjoining the court house. On building the new court house a new jail was soon after built. This was burned down on December 23, 1860, the estimated loss being $2,000. The present jail was erected a short time after, at a cost of $13,071. George C. Smith did the stone work for $6,071; William & Haugh, iron, $4,400, and Thomas Bishop the jailer's residence for $2,000.

Plank Road

A petition, signed by Samuel Judah, Alfred Smith and Thomas Bishop, was presented to the commissioners, praying that leave might be granted them to use any county or State road .from Vincennes to Bruceville, by Kelsoe's and the tan-yard and from Bruceville to Emison's. This prayer was asked in accordance with an act of the General Assembly for the construction of plank roads. The prayer of the petitioners was granted April 23, 1850. A company was formed, called the "Lawrenceville Plank Boad Company." About 400 shares of $50 each were sold, and the road built to Bruceville. Great rejoicing followed the comple- tion of the road. This road soon shared the fate of other similar enterprises, and the company became embarrassed with a non-paying investment, and the enterprise was soon abandoned.

In February, 1849, the commission voted $200,000 to aid in the construction of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. This work was begun in 1851, and it was not completed till 1858. The whole line from St. Louis to Cincinnati being head gauge, was changed to standard gauge from 6 o'clock A. M. on Sunday, July 19, 1871, to 7 P. M. of the same day. Much litigation arose over the Ohio & Mississippi bonds, and not until within the last decade was the matter settled. This road gave excellent outlets to the East and the West. The Evansville & Terre Haute Road, then the Evansville & Crawfordsville, was built between 1850 and 1854. The Indianapolis & Vincennes was completed between 1869 and 1873, and the Cairo & Vincennes between 1872 and 1874.

The first agricultural society organized in this county began and ended its career in 1809. John D. Hay and Symmes Harrison were the principal officers, and they devised a premium list aggregating nearly $400, to encourage "domestic products." Premiums were offered upon linen, flax thread, yarn, jeans, linsey and cotton cloth, called "homespun." The largest sum offered was $5 for the best brood mare showing a foal. There was no report of success attending the first exhibition, but in 1826 a call appeared in the Western Sun, signed by Henry D. Wheeler and others, for a meeting to organize a new society, "notwithstanding former failures." In 1835 another effort was made to organize a new society, under the act of the General Assembly for the encouragement of agricultural interests. The county commissioners appropriated the sum of $25 in 1836, and $25 in 1837, and $30 in 1838 (but what became of this does not appear), to assist the enterprise, but no fair was held at that time. The "fifth annual fair" was held at the court house October 11 and 12, 1855. The officers were James D. Williams, president; A.

There was a stock, an agricultural, a mechanical and a domestic manufacture department; also a premium of $5 offered for the best essay on stock raising, and one on agriculture. This was called the fifth annual fair, but when the others were held cannot be determined. The sixth fair was held October 15 and 16, 185(5, one mile from Vincennes, on the plank road. This fair was greatly interfered with on account of inclement weather, but was a success financially. Over $200 were given in premiums. Particular mention is made of knitting done by Miss Baird, and Chinese syrup made by A. B. McKee. The society at this time held $4,000 in funds, as was claimed, but there was much dissatisfaction in regard to the possession of it. The fair of October 28, 29 and 30, of 1858. was called a district fair. Gibson, Warrick, Pike, Sullivan and Lawrence Counties, 111., were represented by exhibits.

This was one of the most successful ever held. The officers for that year were : J. D. Williams, president ; Ab. Smith, treasurer ; Dr. Graff, secretary. Over 1,000 entries were made. Fine displays were made by parties from Evansville and Louisville. It was intended to close the fair on Friday, but so flattering had been the success, that it was concluded to make Saturday the day. It should be stated, also, that Judge Law delivered a lecture on agriculture on Friday, the 29th. On Saturday was the display of horseback riding by the ladies. The entries for this ring were, Miss Parmelia Long, Miss Sallie McClure, Mrs. Alf. Purcell, and Mrs. Ann Langton, of Knox; Miss Devin and Mrs. Mitchell, of Gibson; Miss Merritt, of Lawrence County, 111. ; Miss Paxton, of Carlisle, and Miss Hornbrook, of Pike County. After a display of their equestrianism, the judges, after some deliberation, awarded the first premium to Mrs. Langton, and the second to Miss Paxton (13 years of age), of Carlisle. So enthusiastic were the friends of the Misses Long and McClure, that they purchased for each a saddle and trappings that were on exhibition and presented to the young ladies. Notwithstanding the great success attending this fair it ceased to exist after one more effort, until 1871, when it was revived under the present organization. It is known as the Knox County Agricultural and Mechanical Association. It was chartered by the State June 29, 1871, with a capital stock of $20,- 000, in shares of $10 each. Its creation was largely due to the efforts of late Gov. James D. Williams, who was its first president.

For the association the present grounds were purchased, to which additions and improvements have since been made almost every year. Fairs have become a fixed institution, and their success now rests almost entirely with their officers. This change is noticed in the management of fairs since the decade of 1850, the abandonment of the riding-ring, and lectures on agricultural subjects, and an increased interest in the speed-ring, and a more gorgeous display in all departments. Since Gov. Williams ceased to act as president the following officers have served: Presidents, H. A. Foulks and W. W. Berry; secretaries, E. R. Steen and Gerard Reiter ; treasurers, H. Foulks and C. G. Mathesie. The total liabilities of the association, March 4, 1884, were $2,147.59. The following is a tabulated statement of receipts and expenses for each year, to 1885:

Expenditi-Kkk

This county can boast of some of the oldest and most distinguished men of the medical profession. Among the oldest and most eminent may be mentioned Dr. Tisdale, who came to Vincennes in 1792; Dr. Samuel McKee, who was surgeon in the United States Army, and came to Vincennes in about 1800, and died May 6, 1800 ; also Dr. McNamara, who came a short time later. The physicians of the place met in 1817, and formed the first medical society ever formed in this county or in the State of Indiana. They met again the following year and among other things passed a resolution recommending the formation of a State medical society, and also sent a petition memorializing Congress to pass an act for the formation of a medical pharmacopeia. No further permanent society was formed for fifty-eight years.

ident; F. W. Beard,, secretary; Alfred Pattern, treasurer; H. M. - Smith, O. Fairhurst and A. J. Haughton, censors. The members now are as follows: W. B. Anderson, F. W. Beard, J. C. Bever, E. P. Busse, S. C. Beard, W. B. Bedell, Royse Davis, G. L. Dorsey, O. S Fairhurst, C. A. Foulks.W. B. Grigsby,W. B. Harris, F. M. Harris, S. L. Harrison, J. H Hensley, A. J. Haughton, B. T. Keith, J. W. Milam, W. T. Martin, T. B. Owings, J. W. Pugh, E. Beel, J. A. Bandolf, H. M. Smith and L. B. Staley. The present officers are J. W. Milam, president; F. W. Beard, secretary; J. H. Hensley, treasurer; G. L. Dorsey, B. F. Keith and W. B. Harris, censors. The regular meetings of the society are on first Tuesday in April, July, October and January of each year. The society is in a healthful condition, which is largely due to Dr. F. W. Beard, who has been its efficient secretary since its organization. The following are deceased members : Drs. D. W. Hitt, Alfred Patton, M. Bauer and Emanuel Reel.

" The poor ye have always with you," seems to have been literally fulfilled in this county, as allowances were made for their keeping and burial as early as 1800. Three commissioners of the poor were appointed for each township to look after those who were in absolute want. These commissioners reported their outlay to the County Board for settlement. The " paujDer practice" was soon after let to the lowest responsible bidder, farmed out as it were, something after the present custom. The first step taken toward the erection of a county poor house was in 1820, when the General Assembly appointed David McClure, Thomas Emison, Samuel Chambers, Thomas Jordan, William Gamble, Abraham Kuykendall, James Watson and Henry Ruble, as commissioners to purchase a farm. That the borough of Vincennes might share in its benefits the town board appointed Gen. W. Johnson a committee of one to confer with the commissioners. The commons were then in the hand of the town board, and Johnson was instructed that if the commissioners would purchase the southwest half of commons Lot No. 88 (ten acres), the board would donate the other half. This was accordingly done. This seems not to have been successful, as the custom of making allowances in the various townships with little modification till 1843, when it was thought but to have the poor all brought together and placed under the care of one person as a matter of economy and humanity. Bids were received for keeping the poor for one or two years. Vanarsdale bid $28 for each " regular pauper," and V. S. McClure $25, the county to furnish medical attendance and funeral expenses. McClure received the contract. For the same work in 1845, McClure received $35 for each pauper, with the privilege "of keeping the asylum, if no objections were made." The success of the plan of having all the paupers under one management showed the necessity of the county owning its own farm and buildings. In 1851 the auditor called the commissioners together in special session for the purpose of buying a poor farm. The commissioners, James Polk, William Junkins, and Andrew Gardner, met for that purpose December 30, 1851. They purchased Lot No. 2 of Surveys 45 and 47, containing forty acres, from A. T. Ellis, for which they paid $450.

Those years in which very large sums were paid improvements were made to the asylum or the farm. The cost of the superintendent has also varied. In 1853 it was less than $200.

In 1874 and 1875 Timothy Graham, received $500 for each year; H. A. Johnson about the same for the years 1877 and 1878, and in 1879 and 1880 Eobert N. Keever received $350 for each year. For the years 1881 and 1882 Thomas W. Pea received $400 for each year. J. Steen was appointed superintendent in 1884. In 1881 the commissioners entered into a contract with John H. Piel for the erection of a new asylum, which was to cost $15,544,15. The aggregate of the expenses of the poor in the township and assistance given to other charitable institutions is greater than the poor farm and asylum together.

The tax duplicate for 1808 calls for 122 slaves taxed at $1 each, amounting to $122; 1,945 horses at 50 cents each, or $972.50; 2,634 neat cattle at 10 cents each, amounting to $263.46; 183 single men or bachelors taxed at $1 each, or $183; also 121 houses, valued at $66,550, the tax on the same amounting 4o $196.45; seventeen stud horses were taxed $45. The tax on ferries amounted to $34; other taxables brought the duplicate to $1,759. 50. The expenses for the year were about in proportion, to the tax duplicate. The expenses for the courts, including justices, sheriff, clerk, and other items, amounted to $380.32. In addition to these expenses was the cost of the poor and other items, making the total cost of running the county at $1,369.27. This was as a total population of 2,517, according to United States census of 1800. Ten years previous, and in 1798, the expenses of the justices' courts was $217.58, and the amount of revenue collected amounted to about $300; this was a population estimated at about 900. A decade later than the first mentioned, or in 1818, the resources of the county had greatly increased. Notwithstanding the ordinance of 1787 and the State constitution of 1816, there were still about 100 slaves in the county. Two items of taxation had changed - -slaves and single men. The population had increased from 2,517 in 1800 to 7,945 in 1810. The rate was 50 cents on each 100 acres of land ; 50 cents on each horse and mule; $3 on each stud horse; 12A cents on each work ox; 50 cents on each watch; ferry at Vincennes, $10; on White River, $3 each: other ferries on the Wabash, $5; town lots, $1 each; four-wheeled pleasure carriages, $4; tavern license in town, $15; in the county, $7.50. Tavern license always included the item of intoxicating liquors. The total amount of taxes amounted to §5,671.85. The expenses, after paying for the new court house, were but nominal. It will be seen that the rate of taxation was about in proportion to the rate of increase of population, as the population for 1820 is given at 5,437. The same year following in the next decade the rate of taxation was as follows: $70 on 100-acre tracts of land; 50 cents on each horse or mule; 12^ cents on work oxen; 30 cents on pinchbeck or silver watches; $1 on gold watches; $1 on brass clocks; $1.50 on four-wheeled carriages, and $1 on two-wheeled vehicles. The total amounted to $7,140. 06J. The expenses for the same year were $597 for the jjoor; $687.17 for court house and jail expenses; $3,672 for books and stationery for the use of the officers of the courthouse. Clerks' fees, $107,182; sheriff, $102; wolf scalps, $10; printing, $7.80. Counting sundries and all the expenses for the year 1828 amounted to the sum of $7,036. 66f.

In 1838 the rates were as follows: Lands were $1.50, $1.22£, 90 cents per 100 acres, according to quality ; horses or mules, 37^ cents each; work oxen the same amount as the last named. Four-wheeled carriages were $2, and two-wheeled vehicles were $1.50 each; brass clocks, $1; gold watches, $6.50 each; town lots were 90 cents, and tavern license in town, $20 ; in the country, $10; to vend wooden clocks cost $10. The following is the item of expense for the same year: The expense for the poor was $783,874,; court house, $l,170.38i; books and stationery, $37.41£; printing, $15.75; wolf scalps, $8. The officers' fees were for clerk. $390.66; sheriff, $140; assessors, $102; returning judges of elections, $34; associate justices, $76; jurors, $304.25; bailiffs, $92. 31 J; commissioner, $54, and the jail and jailer, $167. 53|, The total of receipts amounted to $11,798.67|, and the total expense to $11,779.98|. This was on a population of 10,657, counting 1,840 for 1838. In 1848 the receipts were for grocery license, $99.97; ferry license, $43; peddlers and shows, $76; county revenue, $4,863.22; interest on seminary fund, $60.80; surplus revenue, $309.50; redemption of land, ceipts for 1884 were $153,410.06, and the expenditures were $97,- 218.83. It will be seen that the receipts since 1876 have largelyexceeded the expenditures. The last report of the auditor, June, 1885, shows the following items of receijjts: From countyrevenue, $63,921.41 ; from , $56,191.21 ; township revenue,

Court House Bonds Outstanding June 1, 1885 Miscellaneous Items

In 1801 Henry Vanderburg was granted ferry license for the Wabash at Vincennes for $10. Luke Decker same license for White Eiver for $5. In 1824 John Goffin received 50 cents as returning judge in Vincennes; Jacob Anthis, $1.70 for the same for Decker Township ; Jacob Pea, 90 cents for Johnson Township ; Sam- uel Adams, $1.16 for Harrison ; Daniel McClure, $1.72 for Palmyra Township; William Price, $1.96 for Washington Township ; John Hill, |1.34 for Busseron Township; John Keith, $1.46 for Widner Township, and Charles Polk, $1.46 for the same township. In 1828 Samuel McClure was made judge of election for Busseron Township ; Abe Miller for Widner ; William Price for Washington; George McClure for Palmyra; Joseph Judkins for Harrison; Abe Thompson for Johnson ; Nicholas Browning for Decker, and R. P. Price for Vincennes Township. John Decker was granted ferry license over White River. John Scott, Daniel Judkins and John Stafford were made school superintendents for Harrison Township; William Roper for Palmyra Township; A. G. Roberts for Washington Township; Samuel Chambers for Widner; J. S. Mayer for Johnson; James Dick for Decker; Samuel McClure for Busseron, and R. P. Price for Vincennes Township. William McClure, William Robinson, William Nicholson, Newton Edeline, Ephraim Harrell, Albert Diggs, John Snyder, Edward Calloway and Martin Tade each were fined $1 for "fiddling and dancing on the Sabbath," which was given to the seminary fund. Michael Brouillette was charged $10 for tavern license in 1834. Samuel Thorn and William Mason each were taxed $10 for ferry license on the Wabash. James S. Edwards, Joseph McClure and James Thorn were appointed commissioners to sell the poor house. A. Massy became the purchaser in 1828. Elihu Stout, John Shepard, John Barkman, Solomon Weisbaum, J. McClure, William McCoy, Robert Lemon, William Raper and Samuel Sharp were appointed judges of election for 1831 in Vincennes, Busseron, Johnson, Decker, Washington, Harrison, Widner, Palmyra, in order named. The same year L. Bonner, J. C. Holland, Hiram Decker, Andrew Burnside, Andrew disking, J. S. C. Harrison, G. W. Johnson became trustees of the university. In 1842 C. Robinson, Emanuel Gunther, R. S. Morris, D. Price, G. W. White, J. Dennison, James Wilson, J. Short, J. B. Lapland and S. S. Martin were called as special jurymen. In 1839 Zachariah Pulliam was made collector of State and county revenue with bond at $18,000, James Johnson the same in 1840 with bond at $15,000. The same year Bruceville voted against the selling of liquors by a large majority. James Thorn was granted a ferry license for a point on White Kiver in Section 1, Town 1 north, Eange 9 west, with the following rates: Fourhorse wagon, 50 cents; six horses and wagon, 62 J cents.

The following inquest jury was chosen for 1842 ; H. P. Brokaw, H. D. Wheeler, J. Harper, John Myers, J. Massey, B. H. Cornwell, Jesse Crocker, J. D. Martin. Asa Washburn. In 1843 the line between Johnson and Harrison Townships was run from Wilson Smith's old ferry to White River at Catt's, to include Thomas Small in Johnson Township. The same year Peter Ruby, Charles Polk, J. A. McClure, George Simpson, W. B. Robinson, Zachariah Pulliam, J. R. Snyder, John Barraman and H. Moore were made returning judges of their respective townships. In 1847 the commissioners refused to receive $300 in Illinois paper money because it was not current, and they thought the "sacred fund" should be guarded more carefully. In 1860 the commissioners paid the sister of Riorden $17.56 for the poor. In 1864, $500 to G. E. Green for damages done to his office by the soldiers. In 1866 the commissioners granted to the Vincennes Draw Bridge Company through its president, L. L. Watson, and its secretary, W.H.DeWolf, the privilege of erecting the bridge. In 1876 $500 was appropriated for the proper memorial services attending the death of Gov. James D. Williams, and in 1882 $100 for similar services on account of the death of President James A. Garfield.

Election Ketuens

The following is the vote, by townships, on presidential elections since 1856. In the vote in 1856, the scattering votes for Fillmore and those for Bell are not counted :