Daviess County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 4 of those read), 1915

County Government

It will have been noticed, that, when the connty was (jrganized, a board of commissioners was elected, wliM^e oflice was to transact the comity's business affairs. Under this commissioners' system, some of the most important details, pertinent to the starting of the county's governmental machinery, were inaugurated and carried intu effect. 1"his system was continued until the fall uf 1824, when, by reason of complaints and grie\ances set u]) l.iy certain of the ta.\i)ayer'B,>'the office was abnlished and in its stead was created, by the Legislature, a SMUiewhat similar budy. clnthcd with the same duties, authority and respunsiljilities as its predecesMir, and named the board of county justices, which was made u]) n\ the oldesl ju-^tice (in point of service) from each tdunshi]), whusc members elected a pre'^i(hiig .iflicer with the title of president t'\ the board. This ruling body rtMuained under the law until September 1S31, when the board of commissioners again was placed at the head of the counlv's affairs, only to be superseded once more, in 1 X;/i, liy a board of justices, which performed its functions muil .September, 1S4J, when three commissioners look their seats and conducteil the business of the county under the system first adopted.

broiu iS|j ti' :S()iK a period cosering li fly-seven years, the board oi county coninussiouers lield full sway and carried on the county busuiess m its own way, being deterred in its methods only through fear of each member's constituencv. From time to time members of the board displayed qualities and jier formed official acts that were quite re]irehensible and, it is said, more than one left the county without warning or ceremony. The ta.\- payers, as a rule, were long-suffering and jiatient, but the time came when patience ceased to be a virtue and the Legislature finally was prevailed on to pass a measure restricting the power of the board of cnmmissioners. 'J'his "happy con.summation" reached fruition when the General Assembly passed an act entitled "an act concerning counly business," approved March 3, 1899. The first section reads as follows :

J2 Daviess County, Indiana

"ik it enacted by the Lieiieral Assenilily of the state ul Indiana, 'J'hat there is hereby enacted in tiie several counties of this state a body to Ijc known lIs a County council antl styiedaccording to the name of the county, etc."

Under this law the board ot county conmhssioners was coninianded to nicet within twenl)' (ia}s after the act went into etlect and divide the county into four chstricts, from each of which a member siiLiuld be returnetl by election to the newly-created council and, in addition tiiereto, three councilmen at large, to be elected liy the \'oters (jf the wimle county. The salary for each conncilman is [ihiced at ten dollars per annum and the time for iij)ening" the se>,sic)n nf the council is doiyiiated as the hrst Tuesda_\' after the ; tirst -Monday of Si'ptemfier, nf e\ery )ear, "for the purpose of h.xiiig the rate (d' the tax le\)' and makiny ai)pr(j])riations." Section i^ of the act, a \ery impnrtant one, is as follows:

The power of lixing the rate of taxation for cgimty jjurposes, and for ail purposes where the rale iidl hxed b\' law is re(|uired to be uniform thrcjiighout the county, shall be Nested exclusively in the county C(juncil; and neither the boaril of county cnmmissicjiierb, nor an_\' county til'ticer or officers, shall have power tij fix the rate f(jr any pur])ose whatever. The p(nver of making appro[jriations of mniit)' t<> be paid out of the county treasury shall be vestetl e\clusi\-el)' in such council, and, except as in this act otherwise expressly pr(j\ ided, no money shall be ilrawn from ^uch treasui")' but in pursuance of appropriatiiius so made."

Sectiiiu 32 of the act declares that "the county council shall ha\'e the e\clusi\'e p(jwer to authorize the bi irr(W\irig nf ninney for the county"; and, in .section _'i). the laui^uage is plain and unequiv'ocal in delining the reason tur the measure as follows: "The intent ol this act is to place limits and cliecks up(jn pa\-menls nut of such treasury and not to extend or increase

( )n Mnudax', Auijiist 7, iNiji;, the county council of Daviess ciniut)', Indi- .ina, by order o\ the board of commissioners of said county, met in the circuit court room in the court house, in the city o\ Washington, Indiana, the following members being present: John (i. Leniing, George W. Smith, James W . Cain, .\ndrew T. Myers, I'rank I'., .\rford, John Downey, Anderson \'eale. The cnuncil then adjourned to meet in regular session on the first Tuesday, after the first .Monday in .September, 1^99. The following, in the I'elation, is fakeii from the cnunciVs record of proceedings :

"Come now the members of the Daviess county council, this the 5th day wi September, iXo(j. The meeting is called to order liy John Downey, ])residmt. in the chair, with Robert Russell, clerk nf the council, present upon call

-Rel(j\v are presented some interesting details of the proceedings of the county's Inisiness agents during its formation [jcriod, the following being excerpts ircmi the earl)- i)roceedings of the board i:if commissioners. L'nder date of March 15, 1S17, there is the following entry:

"At a meeting (if the count)- commissioners of said count\-, the commissioners lieing present, 'OA ill iam Hallow, John .\ikinan and l-'phraim Thompson, and they recei\'ed the rc[iort from the sheriff respecting the count\- seat of Daviess count)-, and made the same publicl)- kucjwn, then adjourned to Monday next, nine o'clock. /\ccordingly the)- met on the lylh instant, antl ordered that I'juanuel \'an Trees shall sur\e\- the land gi\en as a donation for the count\- seal ol Hasiess count\'. gi\en b\- iunanuci \ an Trees and Peter A\'ilkins, and found the same to be thirl\--se\ en acres and onedialf and ihirt)-- two I the latter Tigures ])robabl\' that many one-lumdredtbs |. 'The commissioners then |irocecdcd to apiioint an agent for said count)- and unanimoushagreed that John .\llen, senior, shall be the agent, who, accordingh-, came forward and ga\'e his bond lor tweul)- thousand dollars, and his securit\- were James , Sanuiel J. Kelso, and I'eter W'ilkius: and then adjourned tii the I Sill inslant at 1; o'clock", .\ccordingl) met to [b\| apjiointment and proceeded to la\- out the town and ordered the -nr\e\- and i-;illed the name ibereof. \\'a-.biugion. .\nd the sin-\ e\- was performed b\- bjuanuel \ an'Trces until liuislied.

"'The connnissioners appointed the public sipiare to be between Main street and Walnut street and between the lots lunnbered 44 and 45 and f>4 and 65."

".Mondav, the rjtli day of ]\lay, the connnissioners met agreeable to act of the Legislature, at the court Imusc, in our s,-iid count)- of 1 )a\-ie-s, and ])rQceeded tf) business. Ordered ib.-it a township be laid off. tow it : Hcginning at the range hue of ranges 7 and S', lownshi]) 2, sections 7 rmd S; thence east nnniing with the section line to the corner lictween sections [1.1 and 1 1 ; thence

"l'"nrther ordereil that a township be laid off, towil: r>eginning at range /, llience tlow u the west fork of While river to the injnnction [junciioiij ; ihence np the east fork to tiie month of Aiknians creek; thence up said creek to the head; thence to the corner between sections lO and it. To be called \ eel's [Veale] township."

ordered that a township be laid off, beginning at the mouth of Aikman creek and rimning up said creek to the head; thence on a direct Hue to the mouth of Lick creek; thence down White river to the [place of] beginning. To lie called iveeves [IveeveJ township."

"hnrther ortlered that a township be laid off, towit : To commence at the section line between sections lo and ri; thence north witli the said line; thence ea>t to range [Orange county, now] line, and with said line to Lick creek; thence down said creek- to the month; ihence on a direct line to the beginning. To be called J'erry township."

[This subdivision (jf the county extended into what subse<|uenlly became Orange comity, which was i>art and parcel of Daviess at that time.]

"]''or the township of Washington, three justices of the peace; township of Reeves, two; township of Veele [\'eale], two; township of Terry, two.

"And further ordered that electimis be held in the different townships of said county of the lir^t Saturday in June, next, 1^17; and be it further i.idered that the sheriff lie [ordered] to adxertize the election at the following pl.ices, towit: Which are hereby established: Imh" the townshi[) of Washington, at the court house in Liverpool; Veele [W'ale] township, at the house of limes N'eele, junior, now jnhn ("olemans; Reeves township, at the house of .\larim rahnar; i'erry township, ;it the house of Henry Hall.

"And be it further ordered that William J'almar and Aaron Freelan be and they are hereby apixiinted constables for the towushi]) of Wa.shington; and for the constables of Veele township, W-'illiam XT'cle is hereby appointed; ior the township of Reeve, John Davison is hereby apixiinted constalile; for ihe township of ferry, William Hays."

"The commissioners met on the J 3th of ]\Lay, agreeable to adjournment, uid proceeds to appoint listers (pf taxable projierty in the several townships,, tnu'it: for the township of Washington, \''ance Jones; Veele, Janies C. Veele, iiinior; Reeve, ]\Iason Ikillow ; Perry, George JMitcheltree. Ordered, that

Thomas llradford be and lie is herein' appuinted inspector for Washington township, on the lir.st .Monday in Jnne, next election; Joel IJalbert, inspector for Terry township; Henry lulwards for Veele township; William Hallow for Reeves township.

"Inirther ordered that o\erseers of the poor he a|)pointed in each township, as f(3lluws : Washington township, William JIawkins and Ehenezer Jones; Veele, John Coleman and John livans ; Reeves, James Aikman and Joshua Reeves: I'erry, Joel Ilalhert and Frederick Shaltz.

Then follows a list of ajipointments f(jr road supervisors in tlie various townships, also agents for the same. .At this session of the comnn'ssioners' court an important measure was passed in the appointment of Elienezer Jones, treasurer for the county, "for the time being by law." It should here be stated that G. T. A'anTrees was the lirst clerk of the b(jard of eijmmissioners and the foregoing extracts from the minute Ixxik of that important body were recorded by him. To proceed with the records:

"Jnne, the 2Sth, 1817. 'I'he county comniissioners met and ])roceeded to lay a tax on the ta\'erns in said county, that is to say: The taverns in Li\erpool shall ])ay tweUe dollars annu.ally, e.\ce])t Miss ()gden; she and the ta\'ern kee])ers in all other places in this county shall ])ay ten dollars, that is, for the present year, and each ta\ern keeper shall sell for no more than the following rates, that is to say: b'or whiske)', jier half pint, twel\'e and onehalf cents; rum, brandy or \vine, per half pint, fifty cents; twenty-five cents per meal for breakfast, dinner or supper: for lodging, or bed, twelve and onedialf cents; ;i horse to hay or feed per night, thirty-se\'en and one-half cents."

The prices (pioted above seem ridiculously low to the present-day reatler, especially the rates set for ardent drinks, but these were the da\s before "Uncle Sam'' took over the control of the nianufactinx- of spirituous, vinous and malt lifpiors. I'efore the inauguration of the tax, good whisky could be obtained for twenty cents a gallon, so that the prices laid down by the board of county commissioners were quite liberal for the dealer. The rates determined for the guidance of ta\'ern keepers in ]irovidiiig fijod and pnnender for man and 1)cast would seem, at this dav, to ha\'e been a little arbitrarv.

'["lie time and attenlinn nf the hoard for suine time after its urganization were empluyed in hearing- and granting petitions for appointing viewers and liearnig reports in relation to these prinnti\e lint needed iin|)ro\'enients. As a matter of laet, roatl hnilding is aliont tlie first thing to he eonsidered in a new ^ettlelnent and the authorities in ail new coninumities legislate lihei-ally for roads and Liridges.

At a silting of the hoard on the i ith of Angnst, 1N17, it was ordered that a "ferr\- he estahli^lu-d across the east fork of W'hite ri\er hy Frederick Shollz, or his agent, pro\iiled he shall comply with the laws of the state in that case nuule and provided." .\t this same sessigji it was ordered that "the following rates of taxes shall he collected for the year of 1817 for the count}' tax. On land, for one-half the rates that are jiayahle to the state and on negroes the same; horses, thirl\'-se\ en and a half cents ])er head, as the law directs, llall and Sholtz shall \K\y each for the said \'e;ir fifteen dollars. And their r;ites shall he as follows, and they shall charge no more than the following rates for ierrying ; h'or a loa<led w.'igon and team, $1.00; stages or twi)-horse wagon, 'i-','-j cents; man and horse, 12'/. cents; footmen, per head, G\\ cents,

"Ordered, that judge James (',. Read he ajipointed to judge all monevs that may he shown him h\- the county treasm-er or sheriff, to he hy him adjudged whether it he pa<sahle or not."

At the session of the hoard held on .\ngnst 13, iS'17, it was (irdered ihat "a writ of ail quad dauiuuiit do i>^ue to the sherilT to snmmon a jiirv :ind to meet and \ iew a mill -e;it, the |iropcrl\' k'\ ."^inion .\d.ims and lames iiille\. ' I his formidahle legal writ wa> to he issned to "ihc agent of section No. 1(1, in township 1, r.ange 5, if a]iplied foi-."

"The commissioners met according to adjonrnment on the 14th day of Atigiist, 1S17, and |)rocc'eded to examine all listers' hooks of laxahlc \')Y0\^- erty of the se\'eral townships. The coninns^ioners ]iroceeded to settle, with tl:e sheriff, Daniel fdmer, and hv \ iewing the law and his accmnts the said sheriff is hereliy allowed the sum of hfty-lwo dolkirs. Ordered that the clerk (Icj aiK'ertise the sale of the court hou.se to the lowest hidder on the last Saturday of Sejitemher next."

the 15th, 18 17. Ordered that six acres of land be offered for sale to the highest bidder on Thursday next, with Ephraim Thonipsou donated to the county, to be sold in two-acre lots/' ]t was also ordered that Emanuel X'an'l'rees "receive an order on the coiuity treasurer for fifty dollars, for twenty-live days services done to said c.jmniibsioners/' which was accordingly done.

"Ordered that A\'illiain Bruce and Peter Ruble do receive an order on the county treasurer for such lawful demands as they may claim for establishing the county seal when demanded."

"In vacation of the coininis>i(jners," records Clerk X'anTrees, some time in January, iSiS, "the six acres of land were .sijld, which were given by k;])hraini Thompson to the counly, which were sold |o James (i. Read, on the first Monday of January, [8i<S, for one hundred and eighty-three dollars, ])ayable in eighteen months from the da}' of sale."

Tuesday, I'ebruary 10, li^iN. Among matters adjusted it was "ordered that Ebeiiezer Jones lie and he is hereby aiipointed treasurer for the county of-Caviess for one year from the date lierenf. \\ hereupon he to. ik the oath of office according to law, administered by I'armeiies I '.aimer, Msijr.

"(Jrdered that James G. Read recei\e from the couiUv trcisurer ..ne thousand eighty-se\en di,ll,-irs, and twenty-two and three quarters cents, for building a jail in the town of Washington, in our said c.unty, out cjf any money in the treasury received from the sale of lots in said town.

"Ortk-red that .\lexander I'.rnce receive from the treasury of our said county thirteen dollars, for the use of a house for the county commissioners in the year 18 17."

-At its sitting of May i,^, iSiS, the commissioners' court changed the tariff devised for tavern kee])ers to correspond with the following schedule: Supper or breakfast, 25 cents; dinner, ^:,j^,2 cents; whisky, one-half pint, 121X cents; gin, one-half pint, 25 cents; lo-ench brandy or rum, 50 cents; lodging, 121/2 cents; horse, per night, to h.ay and corn or oats, j^ cents; single feed, 25 cents; hay only, jter night, 25 cents.

The rates for ferrying also were revised, and the jier diem of iurors was certainly no bait to entice the settler from an\' Inisiiiess pursuit in which he (7) li;i])pcnetl t<i be ciis^ai^od, as tlif fulldwiniL; indicates: "OnlcTcd, that each grand juror ilo reccixe an order on ihe county treasurer for ^e\ ent\--ri\e cents jier day for sitting on the grand jury at the circuit court at last March session; wliere tliey may a])ply fcjr tile same."

"May tile i ith, 1S1.S. It is ordered tliat a court liou^e sliall he built of good l)ricl<, lliirty-li\e feet l)y fortx'-lixe feet long, two store's liigli, tlie I'irst story tcj lie twehe feet high lietween tlnors. The foundation to be dug eighteen inches in the ground, to lie well walled with goud, hard-liiirnt lirick, such as will not decay h_\^ wet, at least two and one-half feel high, all the lirick to be eight inches long and the width and thickness in proper projiortions. The outside of the walls shall all be gnud hard brick. The thickness of the walls of the lir^t story shall be sixteen inclie<, or the length of twij bricks, all of which shall be laid on wiili gudd sand and lime ami to he one-third of the ninrtar lime and two-thirds therecjf sand, well sifted and nii.Ked. .\11 such wurk to be done in a complete, workmanlike manner. And tiiere shall be two fire-place cliimnc\'s, each of which shall ha\e a lireplace, above each of wdiich shall be two and one-half feet in the back ]iart thereof, tiie lower floor to be welflaid of bride, the two chimneys to be on the east end of the house. There shall be one double door, each three feet wide, so as to shut and meet each other in the mitldle and make a iloor six feet wiile and seven feet liigh, besides an (i\al arch abo\e that, with sa^h and glass. Said door to be lined and paneled, and with g(jod hinges and lock. There shall he a good stone sill under said door, fastened in the wall of the house. There shall he eight windows in the lower stor_\' and eight in the u]iper Story, each window t<i contain sa^^h and glass eight ))\' ten inches and e;ich window to Cdiitaiu thirt\-six lights, with go<id panel window -shutters to each window. The timber for the llonr between the lirst and secuiid storys there shall lie a girder the short wa\' through the middle of the house, 4x1.*^ inches, thirt}'- two joists, 3''S-xi2 inches, with two columns untler the girder at ]iroper distances; and for the njiper floor shall be a girder length ways through the house fort)--li\'e feet, 9x12 inches thick and fort}' joists 3x9 inches, with one column; all to be done in a nice and gnod workmanlike manner.

"There shall be good, full-trimmed window frames and a door frame, with their proper moUling, to be of lilack walnut, as wide as the wall is by four inches thick. There shall be sixteen pair of rafters, which shall be of good sound wood, four inches the c)ne way by five inches the other way, good sheeting seven-eighths of an inch thick; there >hall lie goud, jx-lluw poplar shingles, thirteen inches lung and hve-eighlhs nT an inch tiiick at the hutt, fonr inches wide, and the ruuf well put on with good nails, all ni" which tu be done in a good, workmanlike manner. All the above work to be done against next Christmas, three years. ( )ne-tliirtl of the payments shall be paid in eighteen months from the day 'of the contract and the other payments in three _\'ears from ne.xt Christmas."

'['he first liipmr license granted by the board, as shown b_\ the clerk's record, was issued to Willi im I'lowen, on the rth of Xovember, iSiS, the same to lie in effect inilil the _'7th of August, iSkj.

"Monday the 8th day of I'Y'bruary, iXnj. Cijunty comiuissioners met in court house. Adjourned to nteet at the house of Judge J. (i. Read, where the sheriff opened the session by ]iroclaiuation."

"The commissioners met on the loth of l^'ebiaiary, 1819, according to adjournment. The commissioners settled with the treasurer, li. Jones. It api)ears as follows :

"Likewise settled with said treasurer for the niouev received and paid oui, arising from the sale ol uiwii juts; whereas this day the counts is indebted to said Jones in the sum ni thiriy-twn dollai's tuehe and one-half cents. The said Jones agrees to take an order on the treasury for twenty dollars only; which order is gi\en in full."

"Ordered thai James (I. Read and Tlenry Cruse do recei\-e an order on the ^.-(jtmty treasurer fcjr the sum of eight hundred dollars out of any UKjuey arising from the sale of lots, as ])art |)ay of building the court house.

"Ordered, that Solomon Su]ilee and John R. lieard do recei\e an order on the treasury for eight dolhirs -and twenty-five cents for preparing a house for a jail."

Criminals Were Branded

12, 1N19. Ordered, that the jjuilding of a jail in the town of Washington will he sold to the lowest bidder, on the lirst Saturday of June, next, when the description will be made known by the agent.

"June the 3th, iSkj. The commissioners, William Uallow, Iqjhraim Jones and John Aiknum, met at the cnurt house [so named by courtesy], for the ])urpose of forming a ]ilan for the building of a jail house, for the connl\' of l)a\'iess, in Washington.

"Ortlered, that a jail be built eighteen feet wide and twenty-eight feet long, two sjorys high, the lir.-^t story tc be nine and unedialf feet between the tn-'.l lloor and the lower ]),art of the jail and the second sturx- in be (.-ight feet between the ^econd <and the under |);irl of the scvcund tier of ioists. 1"wo roi ims and an entr\' ab(we, in the sec( ind stur}-; a criminal rnnui nine b\- sixteen feet in the clear and an eutr\' of four feet in the clear.

"And debtors room nearl_\' twelve li)- sixteen feet in the clear. The one partiiidU next the criminals ri inm to Ije of twehe inch square timber, laid c!(jse, and the ]jartiti('n between the entr\' and the debtor's ro' mi to be of twoinch oak, The upper llnor above the criminal rcjom to be of limber, two iiiclic> thick, laid tnchiug each nlher, and the llimr ot the criminal room to be die s.inie as the upper: lo,i;> of ten inches thick, the edge.s to be si|uared. To be twcKe gnod, oak slee|iers f(jr the lirst Ikx.ir ami the s.aid lirst lloor to lie laid tif one and (jue-fourth inch of well seasoned boards and well laid and nailed with .sullicieiit nails; two nails in each plank on each sleeper. Said lloor to be of (piarter plank. The secnnd ilimr or the lower llcior, of the criminals' and dehtors" room, to be well laid and tunged and grooved and two spikes in each ]il;uik; each joist nf two-inch seasoned oak i)lank', the joists of die llc)or of the debtors' romn to be four inches thick by ten inches deep, and the joists above the said ck'btors' mom to be the same as the criminals' room, with squared timber; all said joists for said floors and entry to be no nil. re than two feet apart from center to center. The floor above the crimiiials' room to be sealed with inch oak plank well nailed fast, tunged and groovetl, and the ui.)|ier ]iart nt ilie entry to ho sealed the same way, also the upper lloDr of the del.itnrs' moni the same sealin.i^-. The 1ol;s for the wails of the house to he <>t good uak' timber, twelve iifches thick, w^ell sipiared and laid close to each other, notchetl with .a half duf tale | dove tail] ; to have good rafters and good sheeting and a gootl joist shingle riiv\\ with the gavel [gable] ends well finished, two common sice [si/e] tloors in the lower, or jailor's room, well checked and cased with plank; common bottom d<jors, two twe]\-e-lite | light] windows well linished and glass put in them. To ha\'e a plain ]iair of stairs to go up in the entry ;md two doors, the one to go (lut into the debtors' room ;md the other in the criminals' room, two feet \\ icle and i'wc feet high, to be made of two-inch o;ik plank and doubled cross- \va\'S and suflicicnth' spiked as the agent (John Allen) may direct, and hung; and the grates to be put in, the coiint)- to fmd the grates and the liinges. All said work to be done in a com|)lete. workmanlike manner, and to be tlnished against the lirst tlay of March next, ihe county to pa}' to the builders one hundred dollars when the walls are raised and two hundred dollars when this is linished and the rest in six months fri.im that lime."

On August 4, 1S19, tlie board met and created the township ol Barr, taking its territory frcjm the east part of Washington township. John Perkins was appointed inspector of elections, and an election was ordered to be held on the first Saturday in September, 1S19, for two justices of the jieace.

"Orderetl, that the jail be built on the west end of the ])nblic sipiare, adjoining the cross street, beginning twenty feet south of the si ray ]ien."

"Ordered, that John Allen, agent for Dax'iess county, do receive the same precent [per cent] on all moneys collected and paid as is allowed to the county treasurer by law ; and also that he, the said Allen, do receive reasonable and full payment for his services, done in laying of? the town of Washington and selling the same [lots], ;md for all imblic duties done by him resi)ecting his agenc\-."

The boartl of commissioners met in adjourned session on Xo\-ember 10, t8i0, and made settlement with James (i. Read, whose contract for building the coijrt house was for the sum of two thousand nine hundred and seventynine dollars. ?Ie had received three hundred dollars on the contract, and the board, after deducting one hundred dollars, which h;id been left undone by the contractor, and allowing him one hundred and forty-nine dollars for extra work, he was given an order on the treasury for two thousand two luindred twenly-live dollars and llfly cents, to be ii.'iid out of any money in the treasury derived from the s;de of lots of the town of Washington.

"TliL- comniissiniKTs agreeil willi Samuel XanTrccs for liini to |)aint the roof 111 the ciiurt house aiut l(j paint the walls on the outside and pencil the same; all the said paintini; to he done with a sufticiency of Spanish hrowii and oils, and to he di)ne in a ,L;inid and workmanlike manner; fur which work the said \ an'l rees is to receive L>ne hundred dollars, so soon as said work shall he linished."

"Decemher 4, i8iy. The commissioners hein,^- notilled that the jail of this couuiN' is completed, met on the present mstant. I'resent, I'lhpraim 'rhom])SLin, William llalluu. ll.txiu^ examined said jail, lind it cnmplele ami receive the same. (Jrderetl, that .\aron hreelaud receive an order on the county treasurer for the sum oi one hundred dollars, to he paid nnl <.d' any mone\' arisini; from the sale ni lots in the tuwn of W'ashini^ton.

".\ls(j settled with the said treasurer idr the inniiey arisiiijj fr(/ni the sale Lit the town luts, where it apj'ears there is (hie him >Sdj,:;o."

ruesday. May <;, iSjo. ( )rdei'eil, that a new tnwusliip he lai^l olY; tliat is tn saw all that part nf haviess enumx layin,^ iKH'th eil" I'rairie Creek', and ti) he kiKiwu as Milliard township. 'Idle election lu he held at the house of Michael kohesoii, on tile second Satnrda) in June next."

liie tnllMwinL; order of ih? coniiuissioiiers' court sn^^ests the idea that the jail was ilesiroyed: "( )rdered, that Jesse I'lircell receix'e an order on the count} treasury arisiuj.; from the sale of the town lots, the sum of sixty dollars as part pa\- for huildinu ihe late jail in \\'ashin,!;ton. The order gi\ en iinniediatelw"

".\n,L;ust 11, 1S20. Ordered, that Jesse I'urcell, Aaron Freeland and Willi.am Miiii^le)', receive an order, or orders, on the count\' treasnr\' fi'r six hundred and l'ift\- dollars, which with the orders L;i\en heretofore, will anKaint to one thousand aiul ten dollars, the lull amount for huildiiii; the late jail, to he jKiid out of an_\' iiiouev arising' from the sale of town lots."

"Mav the tenth, iSji. ( )rder'ed, that a county tax he laid tor the year iSji and rateil as follows, to wit: On lown lots at the rate of 50 cents ])er 100 dollars: horse. ^^'J^'i cents; (Hi all white males o\'er 21 _\'ears (d' a,!.(e, 50 cents; on pleasure carriai,'es, 4 wheels. $1.25: z wheels, Si. 00; on each siher watch, 25 cents; s^old watch. 50 cents."'

By iJetitiun the lown.^liip id" EliiKjre was enacted out of the norlli part of Bogard township, hy the l)(iard of eminty ccniiniissioners at its session of the 13th of Au,i;ust, i8_'i. An electinn was ordered t(j ije held at tlie iiouse of James Robes(jn, on the next succeedini^- Saturday in Septeniher. Samuel Doty was appointed inspector of electinns for the town^hip.

County Seeks Aid Of Citizexs

"]\ray the iTith, iSjj. Ordered (hat a subscription ]>aper he circulated among the citizens of l)a\-iess count)', h> raise a fund for the purpose nf repairing the new court Iiouse in W'ashingtnn, su far a^ to ace lUiniodale the ciiurts at their sittings and if the sum of twn hundred and fifty dollars or ni(ire he suhscrihed hv resp()n>ihle citizens the same shall he a])propriated to the repairing of said house; and if at any time hereafter a lax shall he laid fr>r the inir])ose of completing the pul)lic building in r)a\iess cotnitw the amount which any individual or ciim]ian\- shall \oluntaril\- subscribe and pay by virtue of said snltscriptinu shall be deducted from the amnunl which may be levied on him by such tax, and if the sum subscribed and paid shall exceed the amount of any tax which may be laid for the purpose above said then the amount of such excess shall be refunded at any time after two years from the first day of January next."

The last meeting of the board of county comnu'ssiijuers was held in August, i'^24. when the guxerning body of the county was changed Ijy an act .jf the Legislature, not only in the number of its members Init also in name, ;is the following extract from the records slujw :

"At a meeting of the Imard nf CMUuts' justices nf the county nf na\-iess .uid state of Indiana, on >bintlay the sixth ilay of Se])teniber, one ilmusand eight hundred and twenty-four, agreeable lu law in such case nuule and jirovided : Present, the Ilonoraljle Sanuiel Smith, Stephen IMaston, George 11. Routt, Jo.scph Mays, Joseph I'rown, 'riionias ^lorgan, Charles !-". \\'ells, John Sliircliff, Tiiomas Howell, and Amos Rogers, justices of the peace, who proceeded to organize themseh'es into a board and pmceeded to elect a president for said board by joint ballot. Whereupon it ai)pears that George H. Routt was duly elected president of the said lioard."

"January term, 1S30. Ordereil that the clerk advertise, at least twenty davs before the next sitting of this board, that sealed proposals will be re- ceived al the clerk's oIlicL' for the bnildin,^' of a cnuniy jail, the jail to be built after the ]ilan of the late Cduiitv jail that was destrnyed b_\' lire, etc."

At the March term of the justices' court the cnutracl lor a county jail was awarded to James Whitehead, his bid heiuL; for the sum of three hundred iiinet_\-ei.L;lu dnUars eii^hty-sex'en and (jiie-half cents; one-third Xd be paid upon ci:)mmencement of the work of construction, and the lialance upun acce])lance of the complete building. At the January term, I S_:; [ , James Whitehead reported the cnmpletion iii the jail and the hiiar<l nf justice^ accepted it.

In Ma\', jN^i, (lenri^e 11. KdUtl, who had been ]>resiilent of the board of justices .since its orL;anizati' m, died; and at the ses.sinii (jI the board held that monlh (ieor-e 11. Koult was elected successor to the deceased chairman.

".March term, iN_^j. ( trdered that the bo.ard will recei\e sealed ])roposals f(jr wealher-bo.ardinL; the jail in the following;' manner, to wit: l"o be lathed with oak lath one- and-a-ipiarter inch thick', to be pkiced three feel ajiart and pinned with one ])in in each Iol;, with inch pins well fastened, upon which the weather-boartli)ig is to be nailed with suflicientl)' lari^e nails; the weather-hoardint,' to be planed and to show only live inches to the weather."

"Mav term, 183J. Ordered, that the Ri,i;lil llonorable ( leorj^e .Mien Waller, Ksipiire, sheriff of said county of Daxiess, be and he is hereby allowed one dollar for a bucket by him m;iL;nanimously furnished for the use of the courts of .said ccjunty.''

New Forji Of Government

Pursuant to an act of the ( ieneral .Xssembly entitled ".\n act to rep:ulate the mode of dcjini;- county business, etc.," ap]iro\ed January 19, 1S31, the Ijoard of justices divided the county into three districts, from eacli of wliich later was elected a coun.ty connnissioner, to form a board (jf commissioners under the law. .\ccordini;l\', tbi'ee commissioners were elected on the lir^t Moud.iN- in .\uj;nst, iS',^i, and on the 5ih of .Scpteiuber, i S3 1 , this new board of commissioners, eom)iose(l ui .Samuel 1. Kelso, ironi the lu'st district, and Jacob D. (."rabs, from the second district, met at the court iiouse, org.anized the board cd' count\' t'ommissioners and proceeded to transact the business affairs of the county, and superseded the nondescrii)t board of justices. On the second day of the term .Mexander Kn.£;h'sh, member from the third district, aiipeared and took his seat.

"^fav term, 1835. Ordered, that James Calhoun be allowed the sum of five dollars and fifty cents for recordinj^- the indentures of .Xn.i^eline Taylor, Samuel C. Taylor, Cemantha Taylor, Cyrus Taylor, Joseph .\bel, and .Martha

Wallace lnwnsliiii was estalilished in lS-',i and al the Septeniher ( iJ~^35) term dl the ci>niniissiiiners court, on petition of certain of the citizens ol the to\\nshi|), the name was chan.i;"ed to .Madison.

At the Se])lein1>er term (d' the hoard of commissioners the township (.)f Steele was made a separate siihdi\'ision of the county. John ;\lcl'ormicI< was appointed inspector of elections, Jose|)h II. McCloskey and William J^ester tnerseers of the poor.

At the May term of the hoard, in the \ear 1S3C), John \',-mtrees, I'.arfon Peck and James Lireeze were appciinted a commission to superintend the construction of a new court house.

.\t the Xo\'emher session, iN:;S, Lewis Jones was paid oue thousand one hundred dollars, the last installment on his contract for the hrick and stone work.

At the March term, iN.|i, the hoard oi'dered the suhmissioii of sealed proposals for the sale to the connt\' "id 4*), 80 or more acres of land in Daviess comity, snitahle to he coincrted into a farm for the sup])ort of the paupers of said count)'."

During- the June ( 1S41) session of the hoard of justices, the township of riarrison was created out of ])arts of \'eale and Reexe townsliips. Tiie elections were ordered held al the house of Jeremiah .Mien, and that jierson was a])pointed ins])eclor of elections for the newly-created township.

A special session of the hoard ot" justices was held on the -,lh ol Augu>t, / 184-', and after certain iinp(jrtaiit altairs of the county were .given proper attention the hoard ceased its functions and adjounieil sine die. On the 5lh <jt Septemher, following, the newly-elected hoard of commissioners organized and took U]i the duties ( d' its office. The personnel id' the hoard follows; llirain Palmer, lirst district; James 1'. Mct.iaughc)', .second; Charles 1). ALorgan, third.

Political History

Idle eil'lice of cmuiU}- auditor, ;is such, was not established in [3a\-iess county until alter se\eral \-ears ui its liist^ry had heen made. Idle clerk of the county bnard was, ho\\e\er, tn all intents and purposes the county auditor, and tlie lirst ])ersiin to Imld this position in this bailiwick was hjnanuel A'and'rees, a \ery versatile ami capable public servant, not withstandint^r his evident lack of a collej:;e education, bjuanuel \'and'rees was a cunnnunitv builder. He knew what he wanted and was ahvf to the interests of Daviess county, for which he t;ave the best that was in him in his oflicial capacitv. Wdiile not fannliar witli the rules of ortho,i;raph}' nor the "art of speaking the I'jiglish jiroperlv," yet the early records of the proceedings of the board of commissioners, in his h.andwriting, show ])lainlv that he knew Ik.iw to make himself understood, ddiis valued pioneer frontiersman and t(j\vn-builder kept the records of the board froiu 1S17 to iS_'4, in which latter year John \ and'rees began his luinistralion of the ollice and contimied the same until 1S45. In the latter year Alatthevv 1.. I'.rett was elected county auditor and remained in the olTice four jears. His .successors follow, namely: 1859-67 - R. X. Read; 1N67-74 - N. C. Read; 1N74-S2 - d". J. Lavelle; 1882-90 - James C. Lavelle; 1890-94 - Fdijah II. d'omey ; iS()4-98 - Robert Russell; 1S98-1902 - Robert Russell; 1002-06 - ddKjmas Xugent ; \uof)-i2 - 'Phonias Nugent; 1912-lf) - Rew S. Core, the jiresent incumbent; I(;i6, Jacob fj. nark.

Ti4 Daviess County, Indiana I'Kesidrnti.M. Ici.Kctio.N' S, I 844 To I9I2

'khe early elections returns of presidential elections, prior to 1844, in which Da\iess count)' partici[)ated are missing from the county records, but ihe following will be sni'hcient to .sIkjw the political drift in the county since that date, ancl also the general result in some of the most important and most exciting political contests in national history- It is said that no election e\er can>ed more disappointment, both to the victors and the \'anf(uished, than that of 1840. CJeneral Harrison had been elected by the Whig party, t)\-er .Martin \ an P>uren, the J democratic camlidate, by an o\'er\\ helming \'ote. d'his result was a surprise to both [larties. idle Whigs were greatly elated and the Democrats were correspondingly depressed; thev were puz/led, they were grie\ed, they were augr\-. d'he ili^- appointment of the Wdiigs came afterward and was of a tlifferent character, fine nuinth after (icneral I lan'ison was inaugurated be died, and John d'yler, the \ice-presideni, became president. I he death ol llarn^ou was a sad disappointment to the Wdiigs, but the succession of d'yler, and his .adoption of a di\erse administration policy, was regarded as a ])arty calamity.

in 1844 the Democrats failed in their elTort to re-nomiu;ite \'an Puren, after an exciting convention C(jntest, and, for the first time in ])olitical con- \ention history, a "dark horse," in the ])erson of James I\. Polk, of lY-nnessee, was made the party candidate. Henry Clay was the candidate of the Wdiig party. The Daviess county vote 011 these two candidates, at the election held in Novemlier, 1844, was: CTay, 807; Polk, 764. Indiana ga\'e its twelve electoral votes for Polk", with a p<i]iular vote of 70,181 for Polk, and 67,867 for Clav. In the national electoral vote, Polk received 170, and Clay 105.

The Election Of 184S

The candidates \ov president in I1S4X' were, Zacliarv Taylor, W'hit,^; Lewis Cass. l3eniocrat, and Martin X'an lUiren, tlie candidate of what was known as tiie "iM'ee Soil" jiarty. in this contest the Whig party was again successful, electing- its candidate hy a total electoral x-oie of 163 to 127 for the o]jposing candidate. Indiana gave its twehe electoral votes to Cass, the ])(.ipular \'ote heing 74,745 for Cass; 69,907 for Taylor. Van Huren, the I'Tee S(jil candidate, received S,ioo \-otes in the state. In this election, Daviess county ga\e 735 votes for Taylor, 708 for Cass and 2 for Van Buren.

The Election Of 1852

The death (jf Taylor, soon after his acees.sii.in to the [iresiilency, \vas tiie second disappointment of the kind e.xperiencetl l)y tlie Whig party. The agitation of the slavery question, and policies for the extension or restriction of sia\e territory hail heconie a prominent pohtical issue. (Jn this question the Whig i)arty was divided, (he northern wing heing anti-.slavery, or, at least, opjjosed to the extension of that institution into the free territories; the southern wing of the ]jarty holding to opjjosite \iews on this question. Tlu)ugli General Taylor was a Southeiaier, and a slas'cholder, he was .su])|)orled by the northern contingent of the party, although with some misgivings. Taylor lived long enough to make it evident that slavery, as a political power, could not rely on him to assist it in its struggle with Northern sentiment. His death was a grievous disappointment of these lio])es. h'illmore, the vice-president, who succeeded Taylor, became an acti\'e agent in ]>romoting the com])romise measures, which the anti-sla\'ery contingent of the Whig part)- abhorred.

In 18^2 the Whigs nominated (ieneral Winlield Scott, as their candidate for president, but the conxentiou that nimiinated Scott was not characterized bv political harnionw The advocates of the respective sides of the domiu.'uit issue, the slaxery questioiL were much in evidence. The Democrats nominated Franklin Tierce as their candidate. John P. Male was the candidate of the anti-slavery faction (if the Democratic jiarty, known as the ITee .Soil I )emocrats. Of tlie total electoral vote, F'ierce received 254, and Scott, 42. Indi:ma gave its i j; electoral votes to l^ierce; the po]iular vote for the several candidates was: Pierce, 95,340; Scott, 80,901 ; Hale, 6,929. ']"he Daviess county vote was: Pierce, 720; Scott, 826; Hale, 6.

Thk Election Ok 1S56

In this election it was the Democratic party that was affectetl h)' tlissen- ^ion and di\-ision, dne to tlie elTorts of eoniendin^!^ facti(jns to control the convention, and dictate the part\' policy res^ardiny the sla\er\- (|ue>tion. The resnlt of this dissension w;i> the nomination nf Stephen .\. l)(iu,i;l;is, hy the northern win,;.^ of the party; and Jdhn C. Ih-eckinrid^ije, hy the sonlliern faction. The Kepnhlic.an parly, which h;id ne'W hecome a slron;^, aggressive

The secessi(Mi of several of the Southern slavery states, and the resulting Civil War, following tlie election of Lincoln, funn ;i chapter in American histi.rv that is lievcnd the scnpe of a work of this character. There was a new alignment of political jiarfies in consec|nence of the rehellions action of the Southern states. ^Maiiy nf the leadiii;; neiiiocrats (jl the Ntjrth came tu the .support of Lincohi. Anmntr iln> i]yst, ami innst pnniiinent of these, was Steplien A. Douglas, Deniocratie caiuh(hite in opiidsition to Liiicuhi in the election. The death of DouL^las, s(]Mn after the inau,i;iiralion <>i I.inculn, was a serinus loss to the latter\ a<lniiiiisiratii/n and ihc cause of the L'nion. Political lines, however, were not win ill}' ohliterated im account of distractions of the I'ivil War. While the Democratic part) wa^ seriouslv disrupted, hecause of the large Southern elenient that had left it. vet it -till was an aggressive, militant part\-, a narly to he reckoned with in the election of iS'q. In that year the Democrats iiad for their candidate ( ieneral ( ienrge l!. Mc- Clellan, a hrilliant soldier, and wry popular. The Kepnhlican partv renominated IJncoln. A fraetioti of the Kepuhlican part_\', who were dissatisfied with Dincoln's ;itlmim'straton, nominated John (". l'"remont, hut he afterward withdrew from the canvass, and left the c<iiitest hetween Lincoln and Mc- Cdellaii. The result of the election was a decided endorsement <if Lincoln's administration. Of the total electoral vote. Lincoln received 2i_', Mc( 'lellan, 21. Tht thirteen electoral \-ote.s of ln<liana were gi\-en to JJncohi. The popular vote was: i50,4_'j for Lincoln; 130,233 for McClcllan. Da\'iess county gave Lincoln, 1,227, ^IcClellan i,2()f).

General Ulysses S. Grant was the Repulilican candidate for |)resident in 1868; Lloratio Seymour was the Democratic candidate. The military achievements of Grant, and his great poinilarity, especially among the .soldiers who served in his command, made his election a foregone conclusion. The \oting was a mere formality. Of the electoral vote Grant received 214; Seyiuour, 80. Indiana gave thirteen electoral votes to Grant, and a popular vote "i 170.532. .Soyniour's Indian.a \-ole was i (')(), (j8c:). Daviess county ga\e (irant 1,082, Seymour, 1,732.

The caiupaign for the presidency in 1872 was characterized h\' something in the nature of political freaks. General firant was the necessary and logical cantlidate of the Republican party, but there was a considerable disaffection in that jiarty. Several leading Republicans had been in disagreement with certain features of Grant's administration policies, and refused to support him for re-election. Among the leaders of the opjiosition was

Jli)race Grecle_\-, who was actively iclcntilifil with the ori^anization of the kcpuhhcan party. The disaffecteil element held a convention ami organized die Liberal-Kepublican party, and nominated Horace Greeley for candidate for President, lly action of the Democratic eon\enli()n, (Jreelev was endorsed as the Democratic candidate. Greeley had been most bitter in his dennnciation of the Democratic party and it was regarded as a political freak for that party to ado])t (ireeley as a party leader. A straight Democratic candidate, in the jierson of Charles O'Conor, was brought out by an element of the parly who declined to f(;llo\v the Greeley leadershii). The I'rohibition part\' made its I'lrst ajjpearance in this campaign, with a presidential candidate in the ]>er^on of James l^lack'. Greeley died a few da\-s after the election, and before the electoral \'otes were counted. In the eleclion Grant recei\ed .^No of the 341) electorrd \-otes. Indiana's fifteen electoral \otes were coiuited for (u-ant. Indiana's po])uIar vote: Grant, iHh,- 147; Greeley, lO^.i'i^J ; ( )'Gonor, 1,417. Daviess C(iunt\' vote : (_lrant, 1,014; Greele\-, i.OuS; D'Conor, 17. . .

The Election Of 18S4

The candidates in 1884 were James G. Pdaine, kepuhlican ; Grover Cleveland, Democrat; Benjannn \\ lUiller, I'oinilist; John P. St. John, Prohibition. The electoral vote was di\ideil between (/leveland and iilaine, Cleveland receiving 219, and IMaine, i8_'. Cleveland received Indiana's fifteen electoral votes. The popular vole was: Cle\'eland, 244,990; Plaine, 238,463: Ikitler, 8,293; St. John, 3,028. The vote of Daviess county was 2,480 for Cleveland; 2,278 for P.laine; 113 for P.utler; 2 votes for St. John, in \'an [^)uren townshi]).

W'illi.im .McKinlev was the Pepnblican candidate for President in 189O; W. J. Pi-\an v\as the candidate of the Democratic party, on a free-silver pl.atform; John Al. P.almer was the candidate of the fac.tion of the Democratic party that was not in accord with Pryrm's free-silver ideas; Joshua Pevering was the Prohibition candidate. Of the electoral vote, McKinley

The Election Of 1 9Oo

Tiie election of 1900 was practically a renewal of the contest of 1896. William .McKinley was the Reimblican candi<late for re-election to the presiclenc)', and William Jennings rir)an made his sec(ind race as the candidate of the Democratic part}'. John (j. Woolley was the candidate of the I'rohibition party, and h'ngene Dehs, candidate of the Socialist part}-. ?\lc- Kinley was again elected, Indiana's fifteen electoral \-(ites contrihnting to that resnlt. The following is the popnlar vote of Indiana in this election: .McKinley. 33f>.ori3 ; L'.ryan, 305,584; \\'o(jlley, 13.71S; Dehs -',374. The vote of Daviess county was; McKinley, 3.298; J'.ryan, 3,424; Woolley, t75 ; Dehs, 168.

The Election Of I9O4

The death of Mclvinley within a }-ear after the heginning of his second term made Theodore Roosevelt, who had heeiT electetl as \ice-president, successor to the presidency. Ivoosevelt was the candidate of the Reinihlican party for President, in 1904; .Mton I!. I'arker, the Democratic candidate; Swallow, the I'rohibition candidate, and Debs, the Socialist candidate. Roosevelt received a majority of the electoral vote, including the fifteen from Indiana. Of the- popular \'ote of Indiana, Roosevelt received 368,289; Parker, 274,345; Swallow, 23,496; Del)s, 12,013. Daviess county divided its vote as follcjw : Roosevelt, 3,682; I'arker, 2,802; Swallow, 169; Debs, 148.

The Election Of I908

William Jennings Jiryan made his third race as candiilate of the Democratic party for the presidency in 1908. WiUiam Howard Taft was the candidate of the Republican party; Chafm of the I'rohibiti(jn party; Del^s of the Socialist party, and Watson, of Georgia, was the candidate of the Populist party. Indiana's fifteen electoral votes were given to Taft. The popular vote of the state for the several candidates was: Taft, 348,993; P)ryan, 338,262; Chafin, 18,045; Debs, 13,476; ^Vatson, 1,193. Daviess county's vote: Taft, 3,424; Bryan, 3.253; Chafin, 134; Dehs, 204; Watson, 53.

The Wahasu And Ickik Canal

In the early tliirties tlie people of Indiana went wild in their ellurts t(i compete with some of the (jlder i'.astern .states in the location and construction of internal inipro\-ements. l\ailr(.ia(l projects which had heen promoted in some of the ha>tern states, were still in the ex]>eriniental staye. I""or land transportation the old statue coach was considered the ni(jst depenilahle, and for (he "greater ci>n\'enicnce and comfort of this means of tra\el the puhlic enterprise was enlisted in the construction of |)lank roads. Taxes were laid anil larj^c expenditures were ni.ade in \.h\^ method nt impro\ement of some of the main lhoroui;hlares tra\eled 1)\' the sta!;e coach. The lari;er handliuL;' 'if pnhlic tr.allic and the nmre e>.ten>i\e tra\el nt tlio.se times was h\' boats, and ihe localmn cil e;irl\- -etLlements and towns at points, either on a ri\er or ea.sih- accessilile t(.) a n;i\it;ahle watercourse, was considered an important adxantat^e. .\s the i)hysical formation of the coiuitry did not pro\itle for navij^ahle watercourses sulficieni to meet the dem.and, puhlic enterpri.se turned to the construction <d' canals to su|iply (he dellciency. The construction of canals w;is not a new ]>iiijecl. .Most of the ancient nations had canals. Tln' l\iL;A']itiaiis \-er\- carle made a canal coiinecliuL;' the X'ile with the i\eil .^ea. The i;fe:it canal of China was constructed ahonl the seventh century. The I'.rie canal, so imiiortant to Xew ^ Hrk cit\', was hei;un ill 1N17 and com]iIeted in i(Sj5. Main' of the older I'lasteru states had couliaicted canals, and lhe\- had heen in successiul operation lor several X'cars hefore the cau.il iilea striuk the people of Indiana.

Ihe act of t oMi;rcss uiakmi; llie lirst l.md L;ianls |,ii- ilie construction 1.1' the W aii.ash ^K- krie caii.d was passed in 1SJ7. The act of the Indiau.i J .e^islature, authoriziut; the commencement of the work, was [jassed at the session of 18^50-31. A second "[rant of hands for the continuation of the canal from the mouth of the Tip])ecaiioe ri\er to Terre 1 haute was ]>;issed hy ('ouf^ress in i8_^i. .\ third ,L;rant <if half of the unsold lands in the N'incennes land district, for the continuation of the canal from Terre Haute In the Olhr) ri\er at lA'ansville, was made hy (."on,<4'ress in 1845. The work on the canal was l)ei.;"un at k^irt W'a^iie in 1832, hnished from Toledo, Ohio, t 1 Lafayette in 1841, to Terre Haute in i8-)<), and to Evansville in 1S52.

D.W'Iess Cocxtv, Ixdiaxa. I23 Financial Crash Of 1 847

In the meantime Indiana was yi'ing to the limit in the [jrumotiun of plank roads, railroads, and other internal imi)r()\ementb. During these years so much work in the wa}' ui pulilic imjiroN ements was in progress in the state that wages were high, and all kinils of produce and pro\isions were ' bringing good prices. The great amount of money that was paid out for labor and produce, ap[)arentl)', made go(jd times in all i)arts of Indiana where this work was being tlone. lUit this was lictitii>us priisperity. The jm'osperity was onK- apparent. '1 he peoi)le had gone wild m extravagance; they engageii in much speculati(jn lor which promis'-orv' note-, were gi\en. with little regard for the future pa_\--da\-. 'I"he retail merchants C(jntracte(l debts with the wholesale merchants. They sold ijuantities of goods on credit to then" customers, wlm were whull}' dependent nw tliese works lor the moni'y witli which to pa\- their store accounts. The cra^h came in 1S47, and ihci'e was a general suspeusiun ol e\er\ m irl o( business. 1 he state was in\cil\ed in the hnancial di.^a-'ler; thou^'anil.-i of men who were on the rcjad tw fortime Could do Udthing Ijul >tand idl\- b\- and see their foud hopi/s disappear. (LI. W. Al. (.'ockrum. of ( )akland ( Uy. Indiana, anlln'r i<\ the "I'idiieer llislciry of Indiana," relating the condition t<\ financial di>iresN pre\ailing at that time, sa_\'s :

"So wide was the disasler in the countrv' bordering on ihcse undertakings of the slate that it was verv' distressing. In iSoS there were sd many indi\idnals in\ol\ed in thai ruin that it was \ery eniliarrassing to all ihe people. At the meeting of the 1 .cgislatnre, in iN.V'^, <io\ei"ru.'r Wallace, in his message said: "Never before - 1 speak achisfdly - ne\-er before lia\e \-on witnessed a period in (jur local bistorv which more nrgenlK' calls I'nr llie e.\erci>iug m| all ihc soundc.^l .uid be>l allnluUes o| gra\e and |iairii'lic legi.^lalion ill. Ill ihe present.'

"Tu 1S3^' work was susi)eiuled nii most of the slate impr< i\ emeiits and tlie contracts surrenderetl. It became evident that the slate could ih>l limsli all tiiese works. The Legislature of 1S41 passed an act auihori/mg amprixate company to lake charge nf and complete any of the work, e.xcejtt the Wabash & b>ie canal, it was tliMcght ihat by the aid of the go\erriment the state cimld finish the canal in the next few )ears. The slate made several allem|)ls in this direction without success. l'',\er\thing lay (|uiet until 184O, when Charles lUitler. who re])rescnted the bondholders, nlfered to lake the state's inlerest in the canal for one-half the debts, and f(jr the laiuls grained fur its cinisiniclion. J Ic prupnsL'd [n finish the canal nii this CiiiuhtiDii, and the further eijnditiun that the slate wnukl issue new eerlilicates for tiie other half, ami pay interest at four per cent. ])er annum, the state reserving the right of redemption."

d he stale accepted this proposition and the canal was fnushed under this management. It was completed and began o]ieration from Terre Haute to lL\'ans\ille in 1S52. I he entiie length of the canal in Indiana was three liundred and mnet_\-li\e miles; in ( )hio, eighty-four miles, making its entire length luur hundred mid se\ent\'-niiie miles.

The construction <.)f the W'ahash & I'lrie canal, and the h(j[)es and ambitions the enteri>rise aroused, the lailures and disappi iiniments e.xperieiicetl, is all a part of the liistor)' (jf l)a\iess count)', .\long the meandering course of the canal, through the county, sex'cral towns were located, ami thei'e was (piite a demand lor town lots, the ])rice oi |-ual estate in the \'icinity of the canal route materially increasing. .Some of these towns were laid out on a large scale; se\'eral houses were built, including stores, ami small industries of \arious kinds were established. 1 )uring the short time the canal was in (Operation, some (jf the towns became extensi\'e shipping ]ioints for grain and produce, and the merchants located tliere enjoyed a large trade from the surrounding country. lUit all the Ijright prospects and ])runiising financial investments went glimmering when the canal failed. The site of these nourishing towns is now but a memory. The thousands of thjllars expended by Daviess county in the canal project was com])ensated, in some meastire, however, by the bringing in of a large immigration and the consequent de\elopnient of the material rescjurces of the countv.

The anionnl of labor and patient energy expended in the digging of the canal is a wonder to the i)rcsent age. That w.is before the da\' of the steam shovel and other modern macliinerv for such work, all work of excavating being laboriously d<jne by pick and sho\-el. Irish laborers were mostly employed for this work, as they were the most expert in handling the implements used. The dirt was loaded into a wheelbarrow, or a dump cart drawn by a mule, and carried to the place of duni])ing. The ]j1oW' and scraper were nsetl to some extent by a few of tlie contractors; but most of tlie work in the construction of that great ditch was the slciw jjrocess abo\'e stated. The trace of tlie old canal can still be followed in its course ihrough l)a\iess count)'. In many places tleep exca\ations are seen, giving some idea of the inl^len^e cost, .uul the ,^re:it anviunt of time and hilmr required in the rem(.i\al (jf aU the dirt w itli sh(i\el and wheelharrow .

There are still a few uf the citizens ui l)a\iess cuunt\- li\ing wlin were emplo_\-ed in the dis^ginj^' of the canal in this count)', and ilio>e who lia\e had that experience, and a memor)- reachint; hack to tiial time, can relate man\- interesting incidents connected with that i,'reat eiUerprise. Amoni^- iIiom.- who ha\e hail this e.\pi.-rience. and a nieuKjry to relate it, i^ Warren ("Dodge") Hart. Mr. I lart li\es at May>vil!e, one of the tl(juri>hing towns in canal days; nuw a ileserted \illage. .Mr. liart i^ the authority for the following statements relating to the digging of the can.il through this county :

Mr. Marl introduces himselt as the "iigger" ho\', a \er\- imp(irtant and necessary function, second only to tlie paynmster with the canal diggers. The "jigger" was aliout two swallows (d" \\lu>ke\', and the numhei" of "jiggers" that a contractor would gi\e a da\- to his emplo\ee>- was a> important a consideration a-^ the amount of mone\' he would gi\'e f(ir lahor. ( )ne dollai" per day was the usual monc}- con.sidL-ralion, ,ind the numlier of "jiggers" was fixed li}- agreement, fixe to ten a d;i\- being tla- usual allowance. It was not unusual for .a contractor who was short of hands l^ increase the numher of tlaily "jiggers" over the allowance hy other contractors. Tiiis i)ro|)osed increase Ijrought the contractor ;ill the hands he needeil. it was the dut\- of Mr. Hart, as "jigger" hoy, to see that the agreed numher and specil"ied anioimt was deh\ered on time, ('ontractors houLdit whi^l<e\- h)- the liarrel, at ahout twenty cents per gallon, --o the "jigger" was not an e.\])eiisi\ e lu.\-ur\- in thoM- times.

.*sonie of the contractors who had contracts for wurk m tin- counte were 'd)oo" .Mun->on, t'oflee and I'.urns. Most of their emplo\ees were irisli. .After the canrd w.as linished mrin\- of these had s;i\ed up enough mone\- to huy land and locate in the count\-, settling mostl\- in I'.arr and Washington townships. Man\- ni the-e families liecame i>rominent in C(.'unt\ afl'airs, and have contrihuted no small part to the de\elopnient of the countv.

I.ahorers li\'ed in rude shanties, sometimes cooking their own meals. Others olnained meals from ho;irding houses that were estahlished at e\ erv "(lumi)." The rations usually consisted of hread, potatoes, and ])lent\' of i)lack coffee, sweetened with molasses. Meat was on the hill of fare ahout once a week. The lahorers recei\ed their wages e\'er\' three months. l';i\-

In most cases tlie C()ntractijrs liad one section eacli, and these sections, as a rule, were a mile lon;^-. Where the sections rc(jnired heavy work they were made shorter, in order that llie work mi^ht ;dl he cnmiileted ahout the same time, d he embankments were made hy hanlini;- the dirt in one-horse carts. The nsn;d outfit iur a crew of men, -where the haul was not o\'er two Inmdred \ards, was lour carts and four men to each cart to slio\-el in the dirt. I he work was so timed that the loaded cart w;is read\- to pull out as soon as an empty cart was returned to he loaded. ( )\'er each sffuad of forty men there was a hoss ; nsuall}' the most inijjortant man on the \vi)rks, the hoss let no opportiniitv escajjc to magnify his office.

Ihere were nu restrictions then on the sale of into.xicating lic|nor. Whiskey was as free as water, and td'ten more easily obtained than water, ddiere was great opporiunit)- for pmlitable business in setting up a "grocery" or "doggery," as drinking places were called, in the \icinit)' of the canal works. A board shanty and a liarre! of whiskey was all the preparation necessarv to ei|uip a business place of this kind. As a rule, contractors (objected to establishments of this kind l>ecause of the tlenioralizing effects among their emplo)'ees, and the_\' would not jiermil whi.ske)' joints to remain within their jurisdictitjn.

The canal followed the water-le\'el (jf rivers as far as [jracticable. In many places the fall was so great that it was necessary to bnih.l locks in order to secure a new water-level. The locks were made of sufticient length to accommodate the largest boats, and were about eighteen feet wide. The material useil was heavy hewn timber, with \erv hea\\' double g.ates at each le\'el. Se\eral locks of tliis kinil were built on the canal in Da\iess county by Contractor Alunson. (Jne oi these was about two miles below lilnura, called the "l'atters(jn Lock." There was one at Plainx'ille, one at Jordan station, one at 'fhomas station and one at Sandy Hocjk. .American laborers were exclusively employed in the building of locks, culverts and constructive work wdiere timber, was re(|uire(l. Irish sk'ill \\as better adapted to the handling of a sho\el than the bmadaxe.

An ai|ueduct was built across ihe east furk ol White ri\'er, just east of the junction of the cast and west forks of that stream. This w;is quite an extensive :uul expensise slnuiure, anil an inipMrlanl link ccnneetinn the canal in Da\'ie.ss ci innly with its Miulliern exti-einilx. 1 )nrinL; the ('i\il War, A\hen southei'n Indiana was in a stale of teiTur cm aecdinil ut the .Miiri^an raid, Gu\'ernor Ahirtun oi-dercd a hattery tn he sent, on rei|ne.st of citizens of Daviess connly, to defend this a([nednct aijainst a ](o>silile atleni]it of the ruthless raider to de>trov it. If Afori;an e\er lia<l an\' such designs, or had e\er heard of the a(|ueduel, he was too ]>usy Inidini; a way of esea|je from the invincilile "llouie (iuards" to oive the matter an)' special attention. The aqueduct was lun-ned Ii\- ferry-lioat men aliout the close of (hf C"i\'il \\'ar, hut the canal had ceased operati(jns prior to that time and the hiSS was not material.

The canal was tested in 1S.S2 hv letting' in the water to disciwer if there were an\- leaks. Iloats hej^an runnin<^ in the earlv part of 1S53 and continued until 1860. wdien na\igation was suspended and the canal was practically abandoned on account of railroad couipetition. The motive power was mules, two or more nniles heini; hitched tantlem for the hea\-y freighters.

The .Asiatic cholera, which had been |)re\aleut throu!:^hont (3hio, fudiana and mine lis during the years 1S41) to US51, made its appearance in Daviess county in the summer of 1852. 'i"he disease was most ]irevalent among the laborers on the canal. Their manner (jf living, with little regard lor sanitary conditions or cleanliness of habit, offered a special invitation to this disease, and the attack was almost universally fatal. Within a few days after the appearance of the disease a number of deaths occurred. These were mostlv in the camps located in the \'icinity of l'lain\ille and Sandy 1 look. l'"ollo\\ing the first attack a number of men lied from the camps. Some of ihc^c bail abeadx' the ])oisou of tlk- disease in their svstems and this soon liecame \'irulent, resulting in dt^alb within a few hours. It was not an unusual occurrence for men lleeing from the afllicted camps t(j be attacked with the disease and die on the roadside. X'ictims oi the disease in camp were often left l\'ing for da\'S before being gi\en burial, few able persons being left io attend to this duty. Some were liuricd in the little shanties where the\- died. Other bodies were buried in long trenches b\- fiaends who br;i\'eil danger and remained to care for the sick and dying. .\ number cjf graves of cholera \'iclims were located in the vicinity of Sand\- ilook, but all traces of these ha\e disa])]ieared. There is no record of the miniber of ik-;itlis resulting Ironi this e]iidemic.

In 1850, an iMij^lisli ij;\Mitlenian. naincil Pieslf, anil his family, came o\-er from l'jiL;"lanil. and, like all lo America licfurc the (."i\il War, they had III make a tour nf the W'est. The)- reached Indiaiiapi ilis, tra\-eling by ri\er and rail, and alter remaining;" at that jilace fur some time, Ijcmght a team of horses and a sprin.t^- wagon and proceeded hy the Xational road to Terre Haute. They were detained there for sexcral months on account of sickness. They then decided to aliandon their contem]ilated trip to St. l^ouis in the wagon and return In' the W'ahash iK: I'^.rie canal, which was then in operation. The following extract from a ^k'etidi written hy .Mr. I'e^te relating his experience on this trip, and describing the appointments and accommodations of a canal boat, is reproduced from "Readings in Indiana History," published b}- Indiana Uni\-ersity :

"At fi\'e o'clock in the afternoon, we ste]i]>eil from the little (|uay at Terre Haute on board the Indian;i canal boat. Three horses were harnessed to a ro|)e, alxint lilt\- \ards ahead ot the boat; they starteil at a moderte trut, and the town where we had tarried so long was soon lost to our sight. No other iiassengers were on board, and we wandered over the vessel well pleased with the promise it ga\-e us of loler.able accommodation. The captain, a Aery >'oung man, was ci\il and attenti\e to our waiU>, and told us that tea wiiuld be served at .se\'en o'clock, which theri.', on that ila\', was the jirecise hour of suiT^et.

"The construction of the canal boat wa^, in miniature, much the same as that of the ri\er and hake steamers. Thcs-e was no hold or under deck, luit on the deck at the stern were raised the kitchen, steward's room and offices; m the center of the boat was the Large >aloon - the sitting room of all by da\', the slce]iing room of male pa-seiigers b\- night, .\djoiniug it was the ladie>' >aloon ; be\ oud which, again. wa> a sniall cabin conlaimng onl\ four berths. This cabin was separated li\' a iloorwa\- and curtain from the ladies' saloon, and the other side o]iened upon the bow of the \-essel. In it was a looking glass, a h:ind basin, two /towels, a comb and a brush for the use of the ladies.

"It was a rule in the boats that no gentleman should go into the ladies' saloon without exjiress inxitation from the ladies. Consequently the third little room was s.acred to the fem.ale sex, unless entered from the bow, in which case a male occu]i;uit would cut off the ladies fmni their wash house. jJoctor Read had, howe\-er, declared that it was necessary that I should have this small room, in unlcr ihat I mi-ht be secure from the drau-hts and the night air that would be let into the men's saloon at night ; and the canal boat agents at Terre Haute had contracted to secure the same for me throughout the length of the passage. Doctor Kead had particularly insisted on this fearing that the slightest chill would produce a return of the illness from which 1 was, in truth, scarcely convalescent.

"A ilat roof spread over the whole of the saloons, and on it was piled the luggage; and here passengers Avalked up and down or sat to enjoy the view.

"The view, however, 'was nought,' as yet. The banks were low, and thick woods, in which Nvere only partial clearings, shut us in on both sides.

"Our children wondered where they were to ^leep, as there were no visible berths amid the red moreen curtains that hung around the ladies' salo..n, to give it an air of comfort ih ihi. Augu.l weather. They dreaded to have to pass four nights on the lloor, as they had done at Mrs. Long's liotel; but they said they were more used to hardships than they had then been; and they also drew comparative comfort from seeing a wasli-liand basin and two Knvels, in,iead of that amiable woman's small, tin pie-dish Ihe steward, hoNve\er, soon solved tbeir doubts by hooking np some shelves to the wall, and laying mattres.ses and slicets upon them.

"We were summoned to tea. but after the g.,od living at the Prairie House (Terre Haute), all complained ni the bad tea and coli'ee, of the hot, heavy corndjread, and of the raw beefsteak.

"Alter tea we ail began a most murderous attack upon the mosquitoes that swarine.l <,n the windows an<l inside our berths, in expectation of feastmg upon us as soon as we should go to bed. lint those on whom we made war were soon replaced by others, and the more we killed (he more thev seemed to come to be killed, like Mr.s. P.ond's ducks; it was as though thev would dety us to exterminate them. .\t last we gave up the task as hopeless and resigned ourselves, as ^yd\ as we could, to pass a sleepless night "