Dubois County, Indiana - Chapter 4: Early Public and Private Buildings, 1896

The first settlers, after providing for their most urgent wants, built what were called block-houses. These houses were constructed of blocks of wood ten or twelve inches square and of any desirable length ; about fifteen or tw^enty feet. The ends were dove-tailed or double wedged, so that they could not be forced apart. The logs or blocks were placed one above the other as ordinary log houses are constructed, each block wedging down to one beneath it, so that when completed a solid wall of wood ten or twelve inches thick presented itself to the Indians, or enemy. The chimney was built in the center, so that it could not be torn down. Port holes were cut in the logs ; that is, small holes, large enough to permit a rifle being put through from the inside, aimed and discharged. These holes spread toward the outside so that a rifle could be raised, low ered or aimed by one within the house without much danger from an enemy outside. In this way the pioneer shot plenty of deer, bears, turkeys and other wild game without even going out of his house. The roof was built of logs pinned down with wooden pins, nails being a luxury, too costly for such use. The door usually consisted of two boards, each cut from a log. They were placed on end and securely barred and braced from within. Fort McDonald was similarly constructed, but much larger, for it held several families when the Indians were troublesome. It was considered much as common property by the settlers.

As previously stated William McDonald had built a house near the base line on the banks of Mud Hole Creek, a branch of Mill Creek, or perhaps between these two streams. At this place the commissioners, who were to locate a county seat for Dubois County, met and selected the land upon'

The first Court House in Dubois County, at Portersville, 1818, is shown on the left. It has recently been torn down. The J ail stood north of the Court House. It was torn down many years ago.

which Portersville now stands, perhaps because it is on the banks of White River, streams in those days being valuable as means of transportation. Court was also to be held at the McDonald house until the fllrst court house could be erected.

Part of the first court house to-day (1896) remains, and a cut of the same may be seen in this book. At the time it was built, giant trees stood guard as silent sentinels in the surrounding forest, and on the banks of White River. Parties having suits in court would camp under these "monarchs of the forest" until their suits were disposed of. The court house was two stories high : so was the jail. The jad has long since disappeared. It stood north and somewhat between the old court house and clerk's office, which stood east of the court house, and was a one story log structure. The upper story of the jail was used as a "debror's prison," for it was occupied under the old constitution of Indiana, which permitted imprisonment for debt. (Prior to 1853.) The lower story was more secure and used for the incarceration of criminals.

Portersville was laid out by Hosea Smith, a surveyor of Pike County, and the lots in Portersville were offered for sale in July, 1818. However, nearly the entire county of Dubois was south of its county-seat, and when it became somewhat settled, a demand was made for the re-location of a seat of justice. Thus Portersville lost the county seat to Jasper, in 1830. The land on which a small part of Jasper is now situated was donated for a countyseat, in 1S30, by Jacob and Benjamin Enlow.

When Enlows' donations were made twelve citizens of the neighborhood bound themselves to build a court house and jail at Jasper as good as those at Portersville, free of cost to the county. The buildings were of log, somewhat like those at Portersville. The court house was a two-story-log building. It had a large stone chimney at each end. It faced the south. The building was used for holding courts and other public meetings, for school purposes, and as the clerk's and the recorder's offices. These were about the only officials that really had any need of an office room. Simon Morgan was the both clerk and recorder, and devoted his spare time, which was about five days out a week, to teaching school in the court house.

This court house, with all of its valuable records, was destroyed by fire on Saturday night, August 17, 1839, while Col. Simon Morgan was clerk and recorder. It stood where the present brick structure stands. North of the court house stood an old jail building. It was also constructed of logs, the lower story partly in the ground, with steps on the east side leading up to the second floor. This was torn down before 1848. A few yards northwest of the jail stood a majestic oak, and under its spreading branches, early citizens would congregate during court sessions, and "fist-fights" were common.

After the destruction of the court house 1839, court was held at the residence of James H. Condict, of Jasper, and at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church that stood one square east of the public square in Jasper. These buildings served as court rooms for about six years,

A new court house was to be built. Finally the east three-fifths of the present one were erected, and received as such in 1S47. Rev. Joseph Kundeck, was the contractor. In 1875, the remaining two-fifths were built. The court house cost about $11,000.00.

In 1S49, a brick jail was built just north of the northwest corner of the present court house. It was torn down about 1875, after having been used as an annex to the county auditor's office.

A poor farm was purchased in 1 86 1. It was near the geographical center of the county. An asylum was erected on the farm, but it was also destroyed by fire on a Sunday afternoon in the fall of 188 1.

A new farm was purchased in Madison township, on March 8, 1882. It is one of the finest in the county and contains 350 acres. The buildings on it are frame. It is to be hoped that more modern buildings will soon be erected. Buildings in keeping with the dignity of the county, and in harmony with the kind feelings Dubois County has foi the poor, should displace the present houses.