Grant County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 4 of those read), 1886

By W. W. Fuller

County ORGANIZATION - EARLY JURISDICTION - ACT CREATING THE CouNTY - LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT - FIRST COMMISSIONER'S COURT - SALE oF LoTs - ESTABLISHMENT OF ROADS - ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIPS - FIRST JAILS AND CouRT HovusEs - CouNnTyY LIBRARY - County PAUPERS - COUNTY FINANCES - COUNTY OFFICERS - ELECTION RETURNS - POPULATION - MEDICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES - INTERNAL [MPROVEMENTS - RAILROADS, ETC.

a petition was presented to the Legislature praying for the organization of a new county, and in response to that petition the following act was passed:

Section 1. Beit enacted by the General Assemblyof the State of Indiana, that from and after the first day of April next, all that tract of country included in the following boundaries shall form and constitute the county of Grant, in memory of, Capt. Samuel Grant and Moses Grant of, Kentucky, who fell in the battle with the Indians in the year 1789, in that part of the State of Indiana now known as Switzerland County to wit: Beginning on the line dividing the counties of Madison and Delaware, three miles north of township line dividing township twentyone and twenty-two in range eight east; thence south to the corner of Delaware County; thence east six miles to the range line dividing nine and ten; thence north to the township line, dividing townships twenty-five and twenty-six in range nine east; thence west on said line to intersect a line ranging with side of Madison County; thence south twenty-one miles; thence east to place of beginning.

Src. 2. That the new county of Grant shall form and, after the said first day of May next, enjoy all the rights and privileges, benefits and jurisdictions which to separate or independent counties do or may properly belong or appertain.

Sto. 8. That Charles W. Ewing, of the county of Cass; James Scott, of the county of Madison; William Edwards and William Hunt, of the county of Randolph, and Peter Nolin, of the county of Delaware, be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners agreeable to ''an act fixing the seat of justice in all new counties. hereafter to be laid off." The commissioners aforesaid shall meet on the second Monday in May next, at the house of David Branson, in said county of Grant, and shall immediately proceed to discharge the duties assigned them by law; and it shall be the duty of the sheriff of Madison County to notify said commissioners, either in person or writing, of their appointment, on or before the 15th of April next and for such service he shall receive.such compensation as the board doing county business in said county of Grant, may, when organized, deem just and reasonable, to be allowed and paid as other county claims.

Src. 4. The circuit court and board of county commissioners, when elected, under the writ of election from the executive department, shall hold their sessions as near the center of the county as a convenient place can be had, until the public buildings shall have been erected, and the said commissioners shall each be entitled to the sum of one dollar and fifty cents per day for their services, whilst transacting county business.

Sec. 5. The agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots at the county seat of said county of Grant, shall receive ten per cent out of proceeds thereof, and pay the same over to such person or persons as may be appointed by law to receive the same for use of county library.

Sec. 6. The county of Grant shall be attached to the first judicial circuit of this State, for the judicial, and to the county of Delaware for representative purposes.

Sec. 7. That the strip of land lying between the north line of county of Madison, and south line of the said county of Grant be, and the same is hereby attached to the county of Madison.

Src. 8. All the territory north of the county of Grant, to the line dividing townships thirty and thirty-one, shall be attached to said county.

Src. 9. The Territory by this act attached to said county of Grant shall form and constitute a part of said county until otherwise provided by law, and the citizens residing in said attached territory shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of citizens of the county to which they are attached.

The boundary as established by the above act remained unchanged but for one year, when the part described in Section 9, which for the time constituted Wabash and afterward Huntington Township, was included within the boundary of Huntington County.

Section 88 of an act entitléd an 'Act Relative to County Boundaries,"' approved February 17, 1889. Beginning at the southeast corner of Section (1) one, in Town 22, Range 9; thence west to a line corresponding with the east boundary line of Hamilton County; thence north to the southeast corner of Miami County; thence north on said line to the south boundary of Wabash County; thence east on said line to the range line dividing Ranges nine and ten; thence south to the place of

The method at that time of locating the seat of justice in a new county was to appoint a committee composed of men who neither lived in the county nor owned land therein, to determine the place. The report of these commissioners appointed for Grant County was as follows:

Report Of Locating Commissioners

We, Charles W. Ewing, of Cass County; William Edwards and William Hunt, of Randolph County, three of the commissioners appointed by the Legislature of said State to locate the seat of justice of said county of Grant, respectfully report that one of our body, to wit: said Ewing, attended at the house of David Branson in said Grant County on the second Monday of the month of May, being the 9th day of said month and the one appointed by law for the meeting of the commis- 'sioners to locate said seat of justice, but by reason of the non-appearance of commissioners to transact the business assigned to them, the meeting was adjourned by said Ewing until Menday, the 16th day of said month of May, and notice of said adjournment forwarded to each of the absent commissioners; that the 16th day of May, the day to which said meeting was adjourned, we, the said Ewing, Edward and Hunt, met at the house of said David Branson in said Grant County, the place appointed as aforesaid, and having severally taken an oath to well and truly discharge the duties assigned to us by law as commissioners to locate said seat of justice, did then proceed in the performance of that duty. After examining the several tracts proposed to be donated to said county, and taking into view the present population as well as the probable future population of said county, as well as all other points, matters and things enumerated in the act of 1824, éntitled an act to locate seats of justice in all new counties as guides to direct us in making said location; we did and have selected a tract of land on the southwest side of the Mississinewa River in Section 6, Town 24 of Range 8, containing sixty acres of land owned by David Branson and Martin Boots, and have thereon located the seat of justice of said Grant County. Said tract of land is now particularly described and set out in the bond of said Branson and Boots (marked A), and is herewith returned as a part of our own report. We further report that said David Branson and Martin Boots have executed and delivered to us bond payable to the commissioners of said Grant County for the conveyance of said sixty acres of land to the agent whom the commissioners of said county may appoint to receive of conveyance a conveyance thereof agreeable to the provisions of sald act of 1824, which bond is marked A as aforesaid and herewith retained.

We further report that said land was and is donated by said Branson and Boots to said Grant County, for the purpose of locating thereon the county seat as aforesaid. as will appear by the condition of said bond, in addition to which donation of land they have donated to said Grant County of $430 in money - $380 thereof is to be paid one year from this date, and the balance $50 within two years from this date, for which sum payable, as aforesaid, they have granted their promissory notes to the commissioners of said Grant County, which notes are herewith retained marked B & C. The said donors have reserved to themselves one-fourth of the whole number of lots, to be laid off on said donated tract, to be selected in manner set out in said bond, viz.: Commencing with No. 1 they will take Nos. 4, 8, 12, 16 and so on through the whole plat of town to be laid off on said donation, which is to cover and embrace the whole sixty acres. They also reserve the buildings, fences, fruit trees and crops now on said lands, and agree to remove them within eight months hereafter if required, but make no reservation of soil other than the portion or part of the lots as above stated. The town is to be laid out by the county commissioners, and upon such plan as they may think fit; and when laid out and the lots numbered and their portion selected, the county agent is to make deed thereto respectively, for which deed he is to make and deliver to them a bond at the time they execute deed to him for said donation. It is understood by said donors that each is to take his share of lots out of that portion to be laid out in their respective parts of said donation, which is thirty acres, which will be seen by said bond marked A.

In making this location we have been guided by what we considered to be the substantial interests of the county, and that such will be the result we hope and' believe. The site is as near the geographical center as we could obtain one without violating our judgment as the permanent and true interest of the present and probable future population of the county. In our decision in all matters taken into consideration there has been no difference of opinion, and making the location we are unanimous.

We further state that we have been severally occupied in the performance of our 'duties, as above stated, and will have been by the time we will reach our respective homes the number of days following, to wit: Charles W. Ewing, from the 7th to the 22d of this instant, inclusive, making sixteen days; William Edwards, from the 14th to the 22d, inclusive, making nine days, and William Hunt five days at this place, two days to come here and two days to return home, making nine days, inclusive.

William Edwards

The first term of commissioners' court held in Grant County was at the house of David Branson, the session beginning Monday, September 5, 1831, and continuing three days. Jeremiah Sutton, David Adamson and Thomas Knight were the first commissioners elected, but Thomas Knight having died before the board convened, the vacancy was filled by the appointment of Reason Malott. After receiving the oath of office administered by Jesse Vermilya, clerk of the circuit court, they proceeded to organize by electing Jeremiah Sutton president. The commissions of Jesse Vermilya, clerk, and Benjamin Berry, sheriff-elect, signed by James B. Ray, governor of Indiana, were presented, and after receiving the oath of office entered upon the discharge of their respective duties. The first official act of the board was the adoption of a seal, which is described as follows: '"'The seal consists of a piece of white paper in the shape of a diamond, and sealed with a wafer. On the piece of paper is the stamp of a cross, and on said diamond are the words, 'Board of Commissioners' Seal of Grant County.'" The next act was the establishment of commissioners' districts, which were bounded as follows: "That all that part of territory lying north of township line dividing Townships 24 and 25, in said county, running east and west, including the attached part of said county, shall form and constitute the first commissioner's district; that all that part of territory lying north of the south tier of sections in Township 24, running east and west, shall form and constitute the second commissioner's district; that all that part of territory lying south of the south tier of sections in Township 24 to the south line dividing Grant County running east and west, shall form and constitute the third commissioner's district." They next organized the county into three civil townships, consisting of 'Wabash, Pleasant and Union, with boundaries as elsewhere described, and ordered that elections for justices of the peace be held on the last Saturday of September at the house of Richard Helvey,inWabash Township; Riley Marshall's, in Pleasant Township, and at David Hiatt's, in Union Township. At the same time David Branson was appointed county treasurer and Nathan Branson county agent, and each were bound in the penal sum of $6,000. The rate of tavern license was fixed at $5 except at the county seat and Robert McCormick's cross roads, at which places it was fixed at $7. The first allowances made by the board were as follows: "Charles W. Ewing, locating commissoiner, $50; William Elwards, locating commissioner, $27; William Hunt, locating commissioner, $27; Benjamin Berry, sheriff, $21.25, and Jesse Vermilya, clerk, $65... The board ordered Jesse Vermilya to procure a complete set of books for record use, and employed Benjamin Berry to transport them from Indianapolis to Marion. The county seat was named and ordered surveyed and platted, and the first sale of lots advertised for the second Monday in November. These constitute the acts of the first term of commissioners' court ever held in Grant County.

Sale of Lots. - The board met in special session at the house of Riley Marshall, September 24, 1831, for the purpose of establishing terms for the sale of lots. The terms were as follows: Lots to be sold by public outery and to the highest bidder, and when a credit on part of the purchase money shall be requested one-fourth shall be paid at time of purchase and the residue in 'our years, in four equal installments. The county agent was ordered to advertise the sale of lots in the Indianapolis Journal, Pottawatsomie and Miami Times, of Logansport, and the newspapers printed at Richmond. No lots fronting or cornering on the public square were permitted to sell for less than $50; all lots fronting on Adams, Washington, Jefferson and Madison Streets for not less than $40, and all others for $25 and $15, according to location.

mick's, at the cross-roads in Grant County, crossing the Mississinewa at Ichabod Dille's in said county, and thence to Adamson's mill; thence to the county seat of said county, running on the northeast side of said river - the nearest and best way - and making a point opposite the county seat, stopping on the same side, is hereby declared a public highway. George Broadrick was appointed supervisor of said road. This was the first county road established in Grant County. At the same term of court David Conner, Henry Rainbarger and John Hummel were appointed commissioners to view a road from Marion to the mouth of Salamonie River, on the nearest and most suitable ground, said road to cross the Wabash River at the mouth of the Salamonie. Jesse Thomas was appointed commissioner of the three per cent fund and on the same day filed his bond in the penal sum of $800, and at once entered upon the discharge of his duties. January 1, 1832, Robert Massey was appointed to assess the property for said year. The rate fixed was as follows: Poll, 50 cents; work horse, 50 cents; oxen per yoke,~50 cents; brass clock, 50 cents; gold, silver or composition watch, 50 cents; pleasure carriages, 50 cents. Riley Marshall was at the same time appointed trustee of the seminary fund. The following householders, being considered good and discreet men, were selected to serve as grand jurors: James Adamson, George Rainbarger, Jesse Thomas, Soloman Wright, Lewis Roggers, Jeremiah Sutton, David Adamson, Richard Helvey, Martin Boots, Robert McClure, Ephraim Overman, John Lamb, William Hiatt, David Branson, Jesse Adamson, Jonathan Berry, Z. Pricket.

The men who were selected to serve as petit jurors for the first term of the circuit court were Thomas Branson, Josiah Hiatt, Daniel Bagger, Eli Overman, Seth Berson, Richard Jones, Jesse Bogue, Caleb Morris, Robert McCormick, Robert Hurley, Joel Helvey, John Russell, Soloman Knight, Benjamin Knight, Charles Hummel, Aaron Hill, Joshua Small, Henry Rainbarger, Platt Sutton, David Hiatt, Silas Overman, Nathan Branson, John Endsley and Reason Malott. At the same term Nathan Branson was allowed the sum of $14.60 for cash paid Samuel Woodworth for services as surveyor in laying out the town of Marion; Ninevah Berry $3 for services as chain carrier; James Garret $5.25 for services as chain carrier; Joseph Small $3.37 for services as ax-man;

William Berry $2 for services as ax-man; David Branson $3 for boarding surveying party, and Nathan Branson $8 for superintending and advertising the sale of lots. The board then ordered the county agent to advertise the second sale of lots for March 1, 1832, with terms of sale the same as in the first. Then came Nathan Branson, county agent, and made settlement with board. Said agent paid in cash to county treasurer $16.56, and reported notes in his possession amounting to $54.77. This is probably the whole amount that was realized from the first sale of lots.

At the March term, 1832, an election was ordered to be held in each civil township for the purpose of electing overseers of the poor, justices of the peace, constables, road supervisors, fence viewers and election inspectors. Joseph Lugar then presented his report as justice of the peace of Pleasant Township, which showed that Thomas Mason had been convicted of "Salt & Battery" on the person of Edward Mason. . John T. Davis had been arraigned and convicted for disturbing the peace. A fine had been assessed and collected in case of an affray between William Gorden and Isaac Rainbarger. David Branson, county treasurer, made his first settlement with the board, which was somewhat ambiguous, and was made as follows: Amount on hand due county, $17.75, and cash on hand, $14.56. May 9th, Nathan Branson, county agent, made his report, showing that he had in his hands notes amounting to $2,490.25, the proceeds arising from the sale of lots. The Board then ordered that 25 cents should be paid on each wolf sealp presented to the clerk. In September a new board was organized with Solomon Thomas and Silas Overman as new members. Joseph Lugar, justice of the peace of Pleasant Township, filed his report showing that Isaac Rainburger had been fined in two cases for assault and battery upon the persons of Moses Conner and Samuel McClure, and Robert McClure was fined 81 for quarreling with Isaac Rainbarger. John Beard was given a license to keep tavern and also a license to vend merchandise. Robert McCormick made application for a tavern license, which was granted for the term of one year. Riley Marshall was ordered to procure weights and measures, and was allowed $10 for that purpose. The county treasurer then filed a statement showing the receipts and expenditures

This shows that the expenditures exceeded the receipts $77.83, which was the condition of the county's exchequer at the close of the year 1832, not counting the outstanding notes.

One of the first cares of the people of a new county is the establishment of roads, and for many years they are compelled to suffer great inconvenience for want of these avenues of commerce and travel, and for the first twenty-five years of the county's existence the commissioners were besieged at every term of court by innumerable petitioners praying the board to locate and establish new roads. The prayers of these petitioners were nearly always granted and viewers appointed. At the time of organization of the county there were several State roads extending through the territory, and these were at once divided into districts, and supervisors appointed to superintend the repair of said road. There was a road commissioner appointed by the board who under the instructions of the board directed the expenditure of the three per cent fund. Jesse Thomas was the first to officiate in this capacity, and in 1833 was succeeded by James Griffin. The latter expended large sums in the repair of these roads, and it is said that in a few years they were as good as the nature of the soil would admit. It was ordered by the board that the county agent proceed to erect a pound on the northeast corner of the public square in the town of Marion by letting out the contract to the lowest bidder at public outery on the 25th of May, 1833. The pound to be built of posts and rails of good white oak timber, making a fence seven feet high and enclosing a space three rods square. Nathan Branson was appointed keeper of the pound. At the same term. on the petition of sundry citizens, an addition of $1 was allowed on wolf scalps. At the January term, 1834, Solomon Wright was appointed school commissioner, and Solomon Thomas collector of revenue for the year. Nathan Branson at this time presented his report of expenditures, which was as follows: Expenses of jail, $447.90; stray pen, $12.- 93; court house, $100; library fund, $50; surveying town lots,

$14; county treasurer, $16.65; advertising, $5. The county clerk was allowed $37.50 for his services for ten months; Riley Marshall, seminary trustee, reports $43.57 of seminary funds at interest and claims credit for fees amounting to 874 cents. It was further ordered by the board that the commissioners be exempt from working the roads and paying poll tax, Joseph Roberts was appointed road commissioner and instructed to expend for the improvement of the roads $2,000, which was appropriated by the State.

At a special session held February, 1836, a petition signed by divers and sundry citizens of Center Township, praying the board to grant a license to William Meek and A. How, to keep a saloon, stating that in the opinion of the petitioners it would be a great public convenience. It is probable the prayer of the petitioners would have been granted had it not been for a remonstrance of a large number who were reluctant to concede the necessity of such aconyenience. Stephen Long was at the same time granted a license to keep "tavern" in Marion. Nathan Branson was removed from the office of county agent because of failure to make a report, and Samuel McClure was appointed to fill the vacancy. An investigation of records of the county agent showed that the original amount of donation money was $4,242.38, of which amount $1,423.55 had been expended, leaving a balance of $2,818.83. The three per cent fund was, for the year 1837, $2,416.71, of which $429.21 was expended. Solomon Wright, school land commissioner made his report for the year, showing that there was on hand $2,087.56 of congressional principal. June, 1838, Samuel McClure was appointed agent of surplus revenue vice M. C. Woodworth resigned. James Trimble was appointed library trustee to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Caleb H. Cole. Suit was ordered instituted against Frederick Eltzroth to recover book and papers in his hands. Nathaniel McGuire was appointed county agent vice Samuel McClure resigned. May, 1839, in accordance with a previous order of the board, B. C. Hogin produced the new seal as adopted, containing the words: "Seal of Board of Commissioners of Grant County." It was circular in form with a star in the center.

J. C. Hogin was appointed by the board to represent the county in the State University at Bloomington, in 1840. The price for wolf scalps was raised to $2.50, which was ordered paid for each wolf more than six months old killed within the limits of the coun- ty. Itis said that not a few of the best marksmen at once embarked in the business, and had it not been for the wise provision of the board, in excluding those under six months old, the drain on the county's exchequer would have been considerable.

In the year 1841 John Gilbert, a merchant of Marion, was elected county auditor, and was the first to serve in that capacity. Up to this time it is safe to say that a majority of those who served the county in an official capacity were in some way irregular in their accounts. There were, however, no evidences of dishonesty, but plainly a lack of ability as accountants. Gilbert was a man of superior qualification, a rapid penman, and an accurate accountant, and after a month of the most arduous labor he succeeded in bringing: order out of chaos and of establishing system where it was before unknown.

Organization of Townships. - On Tuesday, September 6, 1831, which was the second day of the first term of the commissioners court, held in Grant County the following described townships were created: Ordered, that all the attached part of Grant County form and constitute Wabash Township; that all that part of Grant County lying north of the center section line in Township 24, running east and west, form and constitute Pleasant Township; and that part of Grant County south of Pleasant Township, commencing at the center section line of Township 24 and running east and west, form and constitute Union Township in said county. At the March term of 1834, upon the petition of sundry citizens of the county the township boundaries were changed so as to conform to the boundaries of the commissioner's districts (elsewhere described), and the township of Center created. Pleasant Township then constituted the First District, Center Township the Second District and Union the Third District. It was further ordered that the place of holding the election of Center Township should be Marion, Pleasant Township, to be hereafter held at the house of D. Conner, and in Union Township at the house of Robert McCormick. Benjamin Knight was the first election inspector of Center Township. At the September term of the same year it was ordered that the following described district form and constitute a new township, to be known and designated as Jefferson Township: Beginning at the southeast corner of Grant County and running west five miles; boundary of said county; thence south eight miles to the place of beginning. Jt is further ordered, that all elections in said township be hereafter held atthe house of Joseph Reasoner. The above named was appointed inspector of election and Samuel Case was first constable.

March, 1836, Pleasant Township was divided so that the dividing line ran on the Range line, dividing Ranges 7 and 8, until it struck the river, then following the river to the township line, dividing Townships 24 and 25 and that part of territory on the east of said Range line was to form and constitute a new township, to be known and designated by the name of Washington Township. The elections were ordered held at the house of E. Badger. Madison Township was formed from territory cut off from the eastern part of Center and a strip off of the northern part of Jefferson. A strip one mile wide was taken from Union and added to Jefferson, which gave it its present boundary.

Harrison Township was laid out at the November term, 1836, as follows: that Union Township be so divided, that the Section line dividing Sections 24 and 25 form the boundary of Union Township on the south, and that all the territory south of said line, commencing at the northeast corner of Section 30 in Township 23 and running to the southern boundary of Grant County form and constitute a new township, to be known and designated by the name of Harrison Township.

Liberty Township, organized May, 1839, with the following described boundary: That all that part of Liberty Township, com* mencing on the northeast corner of Section 5, Township 23, Range 8 east; running thence due south on the Section line to the southern boundary of said county; thence west on said county line to the Miami Reservation; thence north on the boundary line of said reservation to the township line, dividing Townships 23 and 24; thence east on said township line to the place of beginning.

In 1887 the township of Washington was divided, and the township of Monroe organized, with the boundary the same as the present boundary of Van Buren. In the year 1839 the name of Monroe was changed to that of Van Buren.

All that portion of territory aequired by purchase and known as the Miami Reservation was attached to the three townships, Pleasant, Center and Liberty at that time forming the western portion of the county. In the same year, 1845, Richland Township was created, with the same boundary as at present, with the exception that it included a one mile strip that now belongs to Pleasant Township. The order made by the board in 1848 organizing Grant Township was soon after rescinded, and the territory organized into Mill, with the same boundaries as now except on the west, which extended to the boundary line of the Indian Reservation. Sims included all of Center west of the boundary line, and Green all of Liberty west of boundary line. Fairmount Township was organized at the September term of 1851 out of the territory included within the boundary of Liberty, and was described as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 16 in Township 23 north, Range 8 east, running thence south on section line to the southeast corner of Section 4, in Township 22 in Range 8; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 6 in the last named township and range; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 18, in Township 23, Range 8; thence east on the section line to the place of beginning. Said township to be known and designated by the name of Fairmount. At the same term of commissioners' court Franklin Township was organized, as follows: By dividing Sims Township, by running north and south on the range line dividing Ranges 7 and 6 and Townships 23 and 24, and that that part lying east of said range line shall be known and designated by the name of Franklin. Knox Township was formed in 1853 out of a strip three miles wide taken from the northern part of Green Township. At the June term, 1855, there was a general reorganization of townships, and the following boundaries were established: Van Buren Township shall - embrace all of Congressional Township No. 25, north of Range 9 east; Washington Township shall include Congressional Township 25, Range 8 east; Pleasant Township shall include all of Con-. gressional Township 25, north of Range 7 east; Richland shall include all of Township 25, north of Range 6 east; Sims Township. all of Township 24 north, Range 6 east,in Grant County; Franklin. Township shall include Township 24 north, Range 7 east; Monroe Township shall include all of Township 24 north, Range 9 east; Jefferson Township shall include all of Township 23 north, Range 9 east, and all of Township 22 north, Range 9 east, within the county of Grant; all that part of Township 23 north of Range 7 east, and all of Township 22 north Range 7 east that lies within the county of Grant shall be known as Liberty Township; all that part of Township 23 north, Range 6 east, and all of Township 22 north of Range 6 east that lies within Grant County shall form and constitute Green Township; all that part of Township 23 north, Range 8 east, and Township 22 north, Range 8 east that lies within Grant County south of the north line of Sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, Township 23, Range 8, shall be known as Union Township; all that part of Township 23 north, Range 8 east, that lies north of the north line of Sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 of Township 23, Range 8, and all that part of Township 24, Range 8, that lies south of the north line of Sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 shall be known by the name of Mill Township, and all that part of Township 24 north, Range 8 east, that lies north of the south line of Sections 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 shall be known and designated by the name of Center Township.

At the time of the general reorganization Fairmount and Union were consolidated under the name of Union, and the name of Madison changed to Monroe. The same year Union and Fairmount were divided, but in 1858 were again consolidated under the name of Fairmount. .

At the September term of 1863 that part of Township 25, Range 8, which lies west of Mississinewa was attached to Center, and at some subsequent time that part of Sections 11 and 12 in Township 23, Range 8, which lies south of the Mississinewa River, was attached to Fairmount Township, and since that time there has been no change made.

First Jail. - As in every new country a certain portion of the virgin soil is set apart as the site of a prison, so we find that in 1832, at the March term of the commissioner's court, the plans for the jail were adopted and the contract was purchased by Samuel Me- Clure, Sr., for the sum of $599.87. The site selected was Lot No. 2, Block 13, now occupied by the residence of Warren J. Sisemore. The size of said jail was 34x18 feet, and outside walls of criminal room to be eighteen feet square, and said walls to compose walls of debtor's room. The foundation was laid of stone sunk one foot below the level of the surface, except under the criminal room, which was trial stone, three feet thick, and under the debtor's room fifteen inches thick. The walls, floor and ceiling were of hewn timber 12x12 inches, except the floor and ceiling of the criminal room which had two layers of logs, the second laid cross-wise of the first. There was but one doorway to the criminal room and this was provided with two shutters or doors which were made of seasoned white oak plank, two inches thick, doubled and securely nailed. In the criminal room' there was but one window, the dimensions of which were 12x18 inches. The provision for light and ventilation in the debtor's room were more ample, and in accordance with the character of offences against the law. Thus we have a . partial description of that primitive building which served to confine the offenders against the laws of the State and society for nearly four decades. In comparison with the architecture of more modern times this old structure was a real curiosity and yet, with the means provided, it is hard to conceive how a more secure prison could be designed even by an architect of the modern school. The debtor's room which is described as one of the apartments, will doubtless strike with wonderment many of the younger readers, who will be astonished to know that in this the "home of the oppressed" a law in harmony with the practice of the "dark ages" should be permitted to remain on the statute books, even after a date so recent as the organization of this county. However strange as this may seem it was nevertheless true that men were imprisoned for debt and according to trustworthy authority not a few of the most respectable people, including ministers of the Gospel were incarcerated because of their inability to pay theirdebts. It is remembered by many of the old settlers that lived near the present site of Marion late in the thirties, a certain man was continually contracting indebtedness beyond his ability to pay, and like old Micawber, while "waiting for something to turn up," was thrust into prison for this lack of punctuality. 'So frequent were these occurrences, that he practically made the debtor's room his home, and being possessed of some mechanical genius, would often remove the doors and hide then in the mill pond or river, and spend the day leisurely strolling about town.

In 1864 the old jail was condemned and considered unsafe for the retention of prisoners educated in crime, and accordingly C. 8. Tibbitts and William Neal were appointed to procure a site and let contract for the building of a new jail, but for some unknown reason this was not done, and not until 1868 was the erection of the new building commenced. The bids were received and contract en- tered into November 19, 1868. The contract for iron work for said - building was awarded to 8. & J. Hulley of Marion, for $12,000, or as was stated in the bid, for $150 less than any other responsible bidder. 'The other work was let out by the piece. According to the reports of the auditor there was paid on the jail in 1869, $6,- 464.47; in 1870, $22,747.80; and in 1871, $8,972.73 amounting in the aggregate to $38,184.09. This amount probably included the current expenses of prisoners for the above period.

The jail proper is 40x42 feet, two stories high, with a basement beneath, which originally contained the apparatus by which the building, before the steam pipes were laid, was heated. The walls are twenty-two inches thick and are built of stone, and the windows are grated with substantial iron bars. This alone would insure safety, to say nothing of the sixteen iron cells, which when bolted against the prisoners, places them beyond the possibility of escape.

The jail is well arranged both for ventilation and water grates into each cell, which admits fresh air at the pleasure of the occupant. The water supply is received from a large tank situated in the main building from which the pipes lead the water to the cells. The sheriff's residence which is built in connection with the jail, is of brick and stone and in exterior appearance is plain. The interior is divided into eight rooms, which are well arranged with reference to light, heat and ventilation, and the building makes upon the whole a very comfortable residence.

First Court House. - At a meeting of the board of commissioners held May 8, 1833, at the house of Riley Marshall, the county agent was ordered to sell at public outery on the 25th of said month a contract for the erection of a new court house. The plan provided that the building should be a frame, 26x22 feet and two stories high. The second story was divided into three rooms, the largest of which was 14x11 feet, the smallest 10x12 feet. These were used for county offices, and were probably sufficient for the few records and limited business of that day. The court room was on the first floor, arranged with the judge's stand, raised two feet above the floor with seat for three judges. The auditorium was provided 'with two circular benches, the rear one raised one foot above the other. It was further provided that the building should be completed on or before the 25th of December, 1833, and that the terms of payment should be as follows: $100 any time after August, 1833; one-half of the balance to be paid on the Ist of May, 1834, and the balance on the Ist of May, 1835. The contract was purchased by James Trimble for the sum of $684, and work at once begun. .

At the time of the building of the first court house it was believed that a house was being erected that would answer the purposes of the county for many years, but so rapid was the county's growth, both in wealth and population, that but three years had _ passed until a larger and more commodious house became necessary to meet the increasing demands, and accordingly, in May, 1837, the county agent was ordered to let the contract for the erection of a new court house.

The new court house was a brick building two stories high. The brick was burned by Dr. Trask, who purchased the contract for the erection of said house, byt sold said contract to the now venerable George Webster, by whom it was completed at a cost of $5,000. It was considered at that time, in comparison with the log cabins and rudely constructed business house, quite a model of architecture. This building answered the purposes of the county for more than forty years, having stood until the erection of the present court house was begun.

The New Court House. - The necessity for a more commodious building, which would provide a more convenient place to transact the county's business and a safer repository for the records which had been accumulating for nearly half a century, became so imperative that in 1880 the county commissioners employed E. E. Meyers, architect, at a cost of $6,700, to make plans and specifications of a new building and superintend the work. The contract was purchased by the Hinsdale Doyle Granite Company and W. D. Richardson. The main building is 154 feet long by 86 feet wide, and from the surface of the ground to the top of the statue is about 136 feet. The outside walls or exterior work of the four fronts, including base steps and buttresses, the exterior window casings, the stylobates, columns, ants caps, cornices and balustrades, are of stone. The interior walls and backing to the stone is of hard burned brick. The roof is of tin, in sheets 20x28 inches in size. The dome which rises from center extends more than forty feet above the roof and consists of two balconies, which are reached from the third floor by two flights of winding stairs. The floor of the colonnade or first balcony is of cast iron with corrugated face. The balconies are encompassed with balustrades and from the floor of the colonnade rises a series of circular galvanized iron columns, enclosing cast iron posts which support the second balcony. The cornices, medallions, brackets, jambs and window heads of dome, . balustrades, pedestals, urns, festoons and all enrichments are of galvanized iron. Surmounting the dome is the statue of justice, holding the balances in the left hand. The statue is of galvanized iron and is more than eight feet in height. The building is four stories high including the basement. The basement is occupied by the postoffice, law and abstract offices. The first floor above the surface is occupied by the auditor, clerk, treasurer and recorder; each of these offices has a fire-proof vault, in which the most valuable records and papers are kept. On the second floor is the court room, judge's private room, sheriff's room, prosecutor's room, ladies' witness room, library and cloak room, probate court room, county superintendent's and surveyor's room.

The entire building is heated by steam from the engine house which stands on the corner of Third and Branson Streets. The steam is conducted to the garret, and from there it is distributed by small pipes to each room.

To this amount may be added $45,000, the interest on court house bond if let run but ten years, which would show the entire cost of building to be $212,775.75.

June 1 was set apart for the formal laying of the cornerstone. Extensive preparations had been made to properly observe this day. The business houges and dwellings throughout the entire city were profusely decorated, and the national colors were waving over every house top. The excursion trains brought no less than _ 3,000 visitors, and the immense delegations that came from every nook and corner of the county when assembled were estimated at 10,000. At 1 o'clock, under the direction of Chief Marshal Steele, the procession began to form in the following order: The Board of Commissioners; Indian Band; Jonesboro Silver Band; Point Isabel Odd Fellows; Jonesboro Odd Fellows; Xenia Odd Fellows; Hartford City Odd Fellows; Warren Odd Fellows; La Fontaine Odd Fellows; Wabash Band; Marion Odd Fellows; Odd Fellows; Chief Commandery of Wabash; Odd Fellows; Chief Commandery of Logansport; Hon. William Cumback, Grand Master I. O. O. F. and D. B. Sheideler, representative of Sovereign Grand Lodge of U. S., in acarriage; Marion Band; Masonic Lodges of Marion, Peru, Warren, Union Grove, Sweetser, Wabash, Bluffton, Decatur; Warsaw Drum Corps; Logansport Knights Templars; Warsaw Knights Templars, Marion Knights Templars; Grand Commanders of Knights Templars of Indiana, and Grand Masters with the officers of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Indiana. After marching through the principal street, the procession halted at the northeast corner of the court house, where the Grand Masonic officers went through the formality of laying the corner-stone, in which was placed a tin box containing the following: History of Grant County, by William Neal; list of the officers of Grant County; list of the charter members of the different divisions of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' lodges, together with the rules and regulations of said lodges; history of the Grant County Medical Society by William Lomax; the first copy of the first paper printed in Marion, furnished by Joseph Horton, bearing date of 1842; a copy of the Marion Chronicle, Marion Democrat, Grant County Republican, Fairmount News, school laws of Indiana, acts regulating taxation, gravel road laws, Logansport paper, Masonic advocate and matters relating to the business of Marion. After applying the square, the level ' and -the plumb, the Grand Master of Indiana then delivered an appropriate address, of which the following is an extract: 'Gentlemen, we have laid the corner-stone of this temple of justice according to the customs of our ancient craft, and while the columns of the edifice here to be erected may not be of Parian marble, the timbers hewn from the forests 6f Lebanon, or the ornaments as gorgeous as those placed by Hiram upon the temple of Solomon, or the sentiment as history in the ages yet to follow, yet it will be in keeping with the progress of art, an ornament to the county you represent, and a monument to the liberality, culture and refinement of her citizens. Not a temple as some of olden times in which repulsive idols presided or where ignorance and superstition caused men to shackle their victims with galling chains and immure them in vile and loathsome dungeons, to be consumed by vermin, or yield up their martyred lives by the no less fearful process of starvation, or when weakened by hunger forced upon racks of torture, too horrible to contemplate; but where men of liberal minds, men who are learned in the principles of justice and equity, men who have kept pace with the progress of the times, especially with the nineteenth century, will hold the scales of justice in equal poise." The Grand Master was followed by Hon. Will Cumback, from whose address we extract the following: "The court house is one of the mile-stones on the highway of civilization. There the civilization of the time as embodied in the law is put to the test. There the theories and obstructions of law makers are tried in the crucible of practical application, and the result shows to the common understanding of men whether the statute is wisely framed and accomplishes the object of its enactment. It is from the court house that the influence goes out to the Legislature and Congress, commanding to alter, amend and repeal. The corner-stone which we have laid to-day becomes one of the pillars on which rests the rights of men in their person, property and reputation, and the administration of law in the temple erected hereon aids to give cast and color to the civilization of the future. The court house is an important factor in the problem of human affairs. It is not only the protector of the right of individual citizens, but to some extent it is the guardian of the peace of society."

County Library. - It was provided by an act of the Legislature that 10 per centum of the proceeds from the sale of town lots should be used in the purchase and maintenance of a county library. This furnished a large fund for that purpose and at an early day a large library was collected. In the later part of the thirties Caleb H. Cole, Dr. E. L. Trask and M. Jones were appointed library trustees, and a few years later W. C. Jones, James Jones, James Trimble and John Brownlee served in the same capacity. Several hundred volumes were purchased by the txustees, consisting of works of fiction, history, travel, etc. For a few years the books were eagerly sought for, but the growing popularity of newspapers and the cheap publi- _cations that began to appear soon took the place of the old library.

Township Libraries. - Under the provisions of an act of. the Legislature and the instruction of superintendent of public instruction, the board met by the call of the auditor, November 17, 1856, for the purpose of distributing in the various townships of Grant County the books provided by an act of the Legislature establishing township libraries. The books were apportioned by the board to the township trustees as follows:

Center Township, forty classes (twelve of which had not been received at the date of first distribution) containing 176 volumes; Fairmount Township, fourteen classes, containg 92 volumes; Franklin Township, eighteen classes, containing 117 volumes; Green Township, ten classes, containing 80 volumes; Liberty Township, sixteen classes, containing 105 volumes; Mill Township, twenty-eight classes, containing 176 volumes; Monroe Township, eighteen classes, containing 117 volumes; Pleasant Township, twenty-seven classes, containing 169 volumes; Richland Township, sixteen classes, containing 105 volumes; Sims Township, eleven classes, containing 80 volumes; Jefferson Township, twenty classes, containing 129 volumes; Union Township, eleven classes, containing 80 volumes; Van Buren Township, fourteen classes, containing 92 volumes, and Washington Township, twenty-three classes, containing 142 volumes.

The books were divided into classes containing from three to five volumes of well selected books that were well suited to the various wants of the times. Additions were made to the first apportionment which increased the number of volumes to about 300. These libraries were placed under the management of the township trustees and were by them let out to the people. This method placed the books within reach of the people of the rural districts, by whom they were eagerly sought, and the influence that followed the estabblishment of these libraries left its mark on every community. For many years these books were almost universally read, but of late the old library has lost its popularity and the books have been retired to the dusty shelves, and newspapers and later publications have supplied their place.

The County Pawpers. - Lomrg before the organization of this county, the Legislature, acting,under a benevolent impulse, passed an act providing for the care of paupers at public expense. This, however, did not prove burdensome to the people of the county for several years. The first allowance, according to the records, was made to John Chambers, in 1836, for the care of a man by the same name. The amount was $25, and was probably the whole amount paid that year. In 1837 Z. Prickett was appointed overseer of poor, Washington Township, vice Riley Marshall, who resigned after a service of a few months. B. W. Ruley was appointed overseer of Union Township, and John Entsminger and Robert Griffith overseers of Center Township. The business of the overseer was to look after the paupers of his township, farm them out to the lowest responsible bidder, and make settlement with the county board. The expenses gradually increased from this date, and for a period of twelve years following amounted in the aggregate to about $2,300. The expense for the year 1848 was $337.03. It was now believed by the board to be impolitic to longer continue the care of the paupers under the management of so many hands, and a committee, consisting of Jonathan Seegar, Robert Wilson and Jesse Jackson, was accordingly appointed to select a site and purchase a farm.

The committee recommended the purchase of a farm in Franklin Township, which at present is but a short distance from the city limits. Eighty acres have since been added to the original purchase, and the house which was built in 1855 has been enlarged and otherwise improved.

The original building is a two-story brick with small rooms inconveniently arranged, The addition is a frame, one-story high, the entire length of the whole being fifty-eight feet.

The annual expenditure for the paupers from 1856 to 1885 inclusive, are shown in the following statement, which, in most cases, was taken from the official report of the auditor:

The above tabulated statement of expenses of the poor for the thirty years ending with 1885, shows an aggregate expense to the county of about $122,439.69. This amount includes the $200 paid in 1863 for the erection of a barn; $1,292.50 for an addition to the house, and $3,600 for eighty acres of land bought of Job S. Mills in 1872.

Bonded Indebtedness. ee 11, 1881, court house bonds _consisting of a series of fifty in denominations of $1,000 were issued, These were 5 per cent bonds, due in twenty years, and redeemable in ten years at the option of the board. June 25, 1882, a second series was issued consisting of forty bonds denominations of $1,000 with the same condition as in the first series, except that they were redeemable in five years at the option of the board. On the same day a third series was issued consisting of twenty-five in denominations of $1,000 bearing the same rate of interest and payable and redeemable as in the second series. This shows the total bonded indebtedness of Grant County as it stood at the close of the fiscal year ending June, 1885, to be $115,000, to which must be added a temporary loan of $17,500 making the total indebtedness (not including gravel indebtedness) of $132,500.

June 26, 1880, a series of ninety-six gravel road bonds amounting in the aggregate to $48,000 was issued. Said bonds were made payable in eight years and are bearing interest at the rate of 6 per cent. July 9, 1881, $52,000 more were issued in denominations of $500, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent, payable semi-annually. It was provided that $13,000 should be paid in two years and $6,500 payable each year thereafter for six consecutive years. July 23, 1883, a third issue was sold. This consisted of a series of eightysix bonds which amounted to $43,000, $7,000 of which were due two years from date, and $6,000 due each year thereafter until the entire series is redeemed. This shows the total amount of gravel road bonds issued is $143,000. On the above amount the county is credited with $19,500 of redeemed bonds. This leaves a total gravel road indebtedness of $123,500. This added to the $132,500 county indebtedness amounts in the aggregate to $256,000, the total indebtedness as shown by the auditor's report for the fiscal year ending June 1, 1880.

Commissioners. - Jeremiah Sutton, Reason Malott and David Adamson, 1831; Silas Overman and Solomon Thomas, 1832; Charles Hummell, 1833; William Roberts, 1835; James Barnett and Thomas Kirkwood, 1836; John James, 1837; James Sweetser and John Russell, 1838; William E. Hendricks and Samuel N. Woolman, 1839; Benjamin Morgan, Joseph B. Allen and William Smith, 1840; Thomas Dean, 1841; Stephen D. Hall and Greenup F. Holman, 1842; Thomas Colman, 1844; Samuel Doyle and Thomas Wall, 1845; Robert Griffin and J. L. Dolman, 1847; Robert Lenfesty, 1848; Robert Wilson and Spencer Reeder, 1849; William C. Miles, 1850; Joshua Cannon, 1852; Robert Griffin and Daniel Coleman, 1853; Hugh Hamilton, 1855; John Secrist and Robert Beatty, 1856; 'George Cairens, 1858; Jonathan Seegar, 1860; Charles S. Tibbitts, 1862; John Spears, 1863; Edmund Duling, 1864; John Secrist, 1865; Jacob Minnick, 1866; Piner Evans, 1867; William Wharton, 1870; D. F. Horton and Robert Beaty, 1871; J. P. Winslow, 1873; Nicholas D. Holman and George White, 1874; A. C. Jay and B. F.

Senators. - Daniel Worth, Randolph (Randolph, Allen, Cass and Delaware), 1829; Samuel Hannah, Wabash (Randolph, Allen, Cass, St. Joseph and Delaware), 1832; Ezra S. Trask, Grant (Wabash, Jay, Huntington and Grant), 1835; James Trimble, Grant, same, 1838; John Foster, Grant (Grant and Delaware (1839; James Hodge, Delaware (Grant and Delaware), 1842; Richard Winchel, Grant, same, 1845; Joseph S. Buckles, Delaware, same, 1848; I. Van Devanter, Grant (Grant, Delaware and Blackford), 1853; Walter March, Delaware, same, 1857; Harry Cravens, Madison (Grant and Madison), 1859; John D. Marshall, Grant, same, 1863; John Hunt, Madison, same, 1867; M. S. Robinson, Madison, same, 1869; Asbury Steele, Grant (Grant, Jay and Blackford), 1871; Isaac Underwood, Jay, same, 1875: James S. Shively, the present Senator.

Prohibition

Medical Society. - At an early day in the history of the county, when the rude face of the native forest was but slightly scarred by the transforming implements of civil industry, Dr. Henry Buchman, a native of England, cast his lot among the adventurous pioneers, pitching his humble cabin upon the banks of the Mississinewa River, just above the present site of Marion. He came in 1830, the year before the county was organized, and was the first physician who located in the county; practiced a few years, and removed West, and died; was said to have been a student of the late Dr. Ithamer Warner, of Richmond, and a reputable and successful physician.

In 1831, or early in 1832, Dr. Joseph, Cadwallader came into the county, and was the first physician to locate in Marion, and the second in the county. He practiced medicine some two or three years, and he and his wife both died in this place. The old citizens who knew him represented him as a pleasant, affable man, neat and tasty in person, polite in manner, and most winning and chaste in conversation.. He is said to have been a respectable physician and an exemplary Christian gentleman.

Dr. Ezra Stiles Trask, a native of Vermont, and graduate of Dartmouth College, came to Marion in 1833, and was the third physician in the order of time that located in the county. He did not practice medicine, however, as a regular employment, but ran a factory for clarifying for ginseng some foreign markets, and turned his attention to general trading and sports. He was a man of fine acquirements, having taken a literary course, and graduated in the same college with the renowned Daniel Webster, and a professional course with the late Prof. R. D. Mauzy, M. D. Dr. Trask had the misfortune of falling into habits of dissipation, and finally died a ~ vietim of intemperance in 1839, leaving a most amiable wife and two promising sons. He was something of a politician, and represented his district one term in the State Senate.

Dr. John Foster, a native of Highland County, Ohio, came to the place in 1834. He had attended a course of lectures in the Ohio Medical College, and practiced a short time in Morgan County, of this State, before locating in Marion. He identified himself with the county when it was a wilderness, there being probably less than 200 voters in the county at the time. Dr. Foster entered upon the active duties of the profession, with fair prospects of success, and, had he given his undivided attention to it, would have ranked among its brightest ornaments. Unfortunately he yielded to the allurements held out by other employments, giving himself at various times to the mercantile business, the sale of drugs, politics, the ministry, etc., but never entirely abandoned the medical profession. He served a term in' the State Senate, devoted several years of his life to the work of the itinerant ministry of the Methodist Episcopai Church, and, at his death, was a local preacher in the same. Dr. Foster was one of the original organizers of the Grant County Medical Society, and always felt a lively interest in its welfare and success. He died in Warsaw of this State, in the fall of 1871, respected by all who knew him.

Dr. James Scott Shively was the fifth physician who located in the county, coming to Marion in 1836, where he still resides, and is doing a large and lucrative practice. He was one of the organizing members of the County Medical Society, and is still an active member init. At times the Doctor has manifested a propensity for politics, and has served the county three times as representative in the State Legislature. He is a native of Virginia, and a graduate of the Ohio Medical College.

In June of 1837 Dr. William Lomax, a native of North Carolina, located in Marion, and went into partnership in the practice of medicine with Dr. Foster. This partnership continued nearly three years. He still resides in Marion, and is engaged in the active duties of his profession. In the summer of 1837 he performed the first amputation, and probably the first surgical operation ever performed in the county. He was one of the organizers of the County Medical Society, and is still an active member. He is a graduate of the Indiana Central Medical College, and the Medical Department of the University of New York. He was surgeon of the Twelfth Regiment Indiana Volunteers from 1861 to 1865, serving in the various capacities of surgeon-in-chief of division, and medical director of the Fifteenth Army Corps.

Dr. Stephen D. Ayres, a native of New Jersey, and a graduate of the Ohio Medical College, was the seventh physician that located in the county. He came in the fall of 1838, taught a school, married and located on a farm in the county, where he practiced some years; then removed to Marion, where he now resides, and is still engaged in the practice.

In the fall of 1842 Dr. Vierling Kersey, a native of North Carolina, and graduate of the Ohio Medical College, located in Marion, and practiced in partnership with Dr. William Lomax, until the close of 1844, when he removed to Wayne County, continuing in the active duties of the profession until his death, on the 3d of June, 1875, in Richmond. He was a true physician, an earnest, industrious cultivator of science, and, at his death, stood in the front rank of the profession of the State.

Dr. Samuel St. John, a native of Connecticut, and a graduate of a medical college in western New York (Geneva perhaps), in 1815, practiced two years in the vicinity of his residence, and in 1817 came to Franklin County, of this State; practiced ten years, when he removed -to St. Stephen's, Ala., practiced for a time, and went to Mississippi, where he remained until it was evident his wife's health could not endure the depressing influence of the climate. He returned North, and practiced in various parts of southern Ohio and Indiana, until in 1845 he removed to and located in Marion, iemained nine years, and, in 1854, went to Lagro, in Wabash County; in 1860, returned to Marion and engaged in the sale of drugs, which he continued until his death on the 10th of January, 1862, in the seventy-second year of his age. Dr. St. John was one of the organizing members of the Grant County Medical Society, and its first president. During his stay in the South, he encountered the first visit of Asiatic cholera, and acquired a fair reputation for success in his treatment of that terrible epidemic.

Dr. W. F. Spence was born in Westmoreland County, Penn. ; studied medicine with Dr. Gardner, in Ohio; attended medical college in Cincinnati; located and practiced some years in Alexandria, Madison County; and in 1846, with impaired health, came to Jonesboro, in this county, being the first regular physician that ever located in the place; engaged in the sale of drugs, and did only a light practice, as his health was not sufficient for the burdens of a full and heavy business in the condition of roads prevailing at the time; joined the county society soon after its organization, and died in 1864, in the sixtieth year of his age, a quiet, estimable man and a useful physician.

Dr. John A. Meek, of Wayne County, arrived at Jonesboro on the 14th day of February, 1848, where he located and has practiced ever since. He became a member of the county society soon after its organization; served creditably as surgeon of the Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry in the late war; is still an active member of the county society, and is doing a lucrative professional business where he resides.

In the autumn of 1846 Dr. Constantine Lomax, a native of North Carolina, and graduate of the Indiana Central Medical College and the Ohio Medical College, came to Marion and commenced the practice of medicine in partnership with his brother William, in the spring of 1847. He was one of the organizing members of the County Medical Society, and still continues an active member. He served the Government in the capacity of examining surgeon of the enrolling board of his district in the late war for the Union. He still lives in Marion, and is engaged in the active duties of the profession.

Shortly after this, perhaps in June of the same year, the late lamented Dr. Samuel S. Horne, a native of Scotland, and an alumnus of the University of Edinburgh, located in Jonesboro, where he continued to practice medicine until disabled by his last illness. He joined the Grant County Medical Society soon after its organization, and was ever afterward an active, faithful and zealous member, contributing largely to its prosperity and success by his untiring efforts in its behalf. He served the society in the capacity of president more frequently than any other member, was faithful in attending its meetings, never being absent when health and professional engagements would permit him to attend, contributing many valuable papers to its transactions, and by his courteous, respectful deportment toward the members won their confidence and esteem. His kindness and unselfish labors for the relief of the suffering of his patients, through a long career of professional usefulness, enshrined him in the memory and affections of all who knew him. He died of a lingering, painful illness, on the 19th of April, 1874.

There being some eight or nine physicians in the county at this time, it was thought a medical society might be organized and maintained to mutual advantage. Upon consultation, notices were put up and invitations extended to the physicians of this county, and those of the adjoining counties, to meet on the 16th of June, in the office of Drs. William & C. Lomax, in Marion, for the purpose of taking into consideration a proposition to organize such county medical society. Accordingly, on the day appointed, seven physicians responded to the call and were present, viz.: Drs. John Foster, J. S. Shively, Samuel St. John, S. D. Ayres, A. W. Henley, C. Lomax and William Lomax. Dr. Henley was called to the chair, and Dr. William Lomax appointed secretary. Upon canvassing the project it was found that the meeting was unanimously favorable to the proposed county society, and proceeded to take the preliminary steps to consummate the organization. Committees were appointed to draw up a constitution, by-laws and a code of ethics, to be presented for adoption at a future meeting; and the convention adjourned to meet again in the same place on the 5th of the ensuing month.

July 5, 1848, the following physicians were present, viz.: Drs.. Samuel St. John, J. S. Shively, Reuben D. Mauzy, John Foster, Constantine Lomax and William Lomax. Dr. St. John was called to the chair, and Dr. William Lomax was elected secretary.

Dr. William Lomax, chairman of the committee appointed at the previous meeting to draw up a constitution, reported a form, giving the title of the society, organization, government, etc., in regular. order, a brief abstract of which is as follows:

The constitution, as reported, was adopted, with but slight, if any, alterations, and is the one by which the society is still governed. The meeting then went into the election of officers for the year, which resulted as follows: President, Dr. Samuel St. John; secretary, Dr. William Lomax; treasurer, Dr. J. S. Shively; censors, Dr. R. D. Mauzy, John Foster and C. Lomax. The society had six offices to fill, and there being but six members, every member had to become an officer. The organization having been completed, the members were impatient to witness its practical workings, so the meeting was adjourned to assemble again in nine days. On the 14th inst., Dr. J. M. Norris, of Ashland. attended this meeting and joined the society, giving one member who was not an officer.

There was a very encouraging increase in the roll of members during the first year, and with it a laudable emulation to excel in professional attainments and merit. All were interested and profited by the agreeable scientific contests, commingled with the investigations and pleasant exercises of these professional convocations. +

The following physicians became members of the society: Drs. W. F. Spence and Samuel 8. Horne, of Jonesboro; John Horne, of Yorktown, and A. W. Henley, of Wheeling, Delaware County; James R. Mills and Michael Chadwick, of Warren, and Marchin Croninger, of Mt. tna, Huntington County, increasing the entire number from six to fourteen the first year. Seven of these were residents of Grant County, and the same number of the adjoining counties. To secure as full attendance as possible the members in Marion adopted a rule among themselves to take care of and defray all expenses of members and visiting brethren living out of town, while in attendance upon the meetings.

With a view of promoting a greater efficiency of the organization, the society, at a meeting on the 27th of December, 1850, ordered the secretary to have the constitution recorded in the recorder's office of the county, according to the provisions of a general law of the State providing for the formation of voluntary associations. This having been done the society became a corporate body with the privilege of holding property, of suing and being sued, and the power of enforcing the observance by its members of its rules and regulations. Every attention was given to stimulate improvement in medical knowledge by the members, and to make the society useful to the community. An engagement was entered into with the commissioners to do the pauper practice of the county ; the physicians of Marion to render services to the inmates of the jail and county asylum, while all others receiving county aid should be attended by the nearest physician, unless the patient or township trustees ordered otherwise, in which ease the physician selected should render such service. By this arrangement competent medical aid was extended to the paupers with the least possible trouble, and at a "trifling expense to the county, enabling the society to accumulate a fund out of which a valuable microscope, worth $200, and a full set of meteorological instruments, adopted by the Smithsonian Institute, was purchased for observation and improvement in their respective departments of knowledge.

At an early day in its history a policy was adopted by the members of preferring graduates to fill the offices of the society, as far as this could well be done, as an incentive to the younger members to attend lectures and complete a collegiate course of medical education. This worked well for professional education, and there are now but few members who are not graduates of some respectable medical school. The Grant County Medical Society may be justly regarded as the pioneer of medical organizations in the State. It is true many medical societies here and there, at different periods, had preceded it, but not one of them is now in existence. The Grant County Society is the oldest medical society in the State, and to the credit of the zeal of its members it may be said truthfully that during the twenty-nine years of its existence four failures to form a business quorum are all that have ever occurred. Its history has been a marvel of success. It is now looked upon by the profession generally as one of the most influential local societies of the State. It may be remarked that the liberality and professional magnanimity of the organizing members were not confined to the narrow limits of their own county. A broader and more extended field of usefulness opened up to their view. They contemplated a union of the great profession of the entire country in all laudable efforts to promote that professional culture and skill which may disarm disease of its destructive power, and devise such wholesome sanitary regulations as may protect the lives of the people against the ravages of epidemics. Not only were invitations to the physicians of the surrounding counties sent out soliciting their aid to carry out the prime objects of the society, but they were encouraged, and assistance rendered them, to get up similar organizations in their own counties.

Some time during the year 1849, the year after the organization of the Grant County Medical Society, a few physicians of liberal professional purposes and justly cherished memory, organized a State society in Indianapolis. In 1847, the year prior to the formation of the county society, the national association was organized in Philadelphia. The third annual meeting of the latter body was to be held in Cincinnati in May of 1850, and the first anniversary of the State society later in the same month. Drs. J. S. Shively and William Lomax were sent by the county society as delegates to attend the association. They had to travel to Richmond on horseback, where they left their horses and took a stage to Cincinnati. They attended the National Association, secured the recognition of their county society, and were admitted as delegates.

The honors of representing the profession or society of this isolated portion of the' earth in State and national conventions, held in distant cities, were no trifling burdens to those who bore them. Without railroads, turnpikes, or even safe corduroys, in many instances, they had to reach the places of meeting by long and tedious rides on horseback, stage coach, canal-boats, ete. It required six days' travel and three days' attendance at the convention, losing their time and defraying their own expenses, to faithfully acquit themselves of the honors the society had conferred upon them.

The society has provided itself with a commodious hall, leased for aterm of years, and handsomely furnished it with desks, tables, chairs, etc., for the accommodation of its meetings and safe keeping of its records; books, papers, instruments and other property. Ithas had the good tasteto embellish its walls with beautiful portrait paintings of all its deceased presidents, from which portraits the group given in the atlas were taken, thus showing a commendable respect for its honored dead. In the first part of this history personal notices have been given of all the deceased presidents excepting Drs. Batson and Elliott.

Dr. A. J. Batson was a highly accomplished and successful practitioner of medicine, a graduate of the Indiana Central Medical College, and by his professional brethren was considered an unusually correct and brilliant anatomist. He died from the effects of a fall from his horse, which happened while returning late in the night from visiting a sick child.

Dr. Elliott, of Quaker parentage, a graduate of the University of Michigan, and a man of the most gentle and amiable qualities of mind and heart, was the youngest member that has ever filled the office of president of the society. He practiced medicine at Fairmount, where he was highly esteemed, not only for his professional attainments but for the unexceptionable purity of his life and his honorable conduct toward his fellow-men. His health failing he visited Europe, hoping thereby to recruit his failing energies and be able to return with renewed zeal to his chosen life work; but continuing to decline, he reached the home of his parents, near Richmond, in this State, where he calmly sank to rest, meeting death as becometh the Christian, quietly and assuredly.

$2,000. This fund enables the society annually to furnish each member with 'Transactions of the State Medical Society," a handsome and interesting volume, at little or no cost to himself. The annual meeting of the society is held in June of each year, at which time the officers for the ensuing year are elected by ballot. Its present officers are as follows: President, Henry Charles, M. D.; treasurer, Lewis Williams, M. D.; secretary, S. C. Weddington, M. D.; censors, James S. Shively; M. D.; Constantine Lomax, M. D.; A. D. Kimball, M. D.

S14 History Of Grant County

Grant County Agricultural and Stock Associations. - In the spring and summer of 1853 the necessity of an agricultural society began to be felt among all classes in Grant County, both business men and farmers. So general was this necessity expressed, that on the 3d of September of the same year, 1853, a meeting was called at which was perfected the 'organization known as the " Grant County Agricultural Society."

The following were its first officers: President, Nathan W. Frazier; secretary, Iredell Jackson; directors, Isaac Anderson, Robert Lenfesty, Alexander Dunn, Ol. McGuire, J. M. Smith, Nathan Small, Jonathan Kelley, Dr. P. Rigdon, J. Fankboner, Daniel Dwiggins, David Wall, Isaac Roush, H. Richardson and Joseph Morgan. This meeting also appointed a committee of three, consisting of D. W. Fowler, Daniel Dwiggins and George White, to select suitable grounds upon which to hold the annual fairs. They selected a lot just south of the railroad, on Washington Street. Work was immediately commenced for the purpose of arranging this ground suitably for the holding of a fair. The work soon being completed, the first fair of Grant County opened October 21, 1853. The premiums offered were not large, as may be seen from' the following: First premium, best pair match horses, $1; second premium, a certificate of merit; best improved farm, $3.

Since 1853 fairs have been held annually, with the exception of one or two years, when the grounds were changed or undergoing repairs. The fair ground of the society at present numbers thirtynine acres. It is all enclosed, and contains a splendid half-mile track, with large and well finished halls; while pens, stalls, etc., suitable for all kinds of stock, are in abundance; in fact, all pertaining thereto is complete and commodious. In the last five years thousands of dollars have been expended on the improvement of the grounds and building and in consequence the treasury is depleted. The present officers are Hezekiah Steelman, president; Clarkson Willcuts, vice-president; OC. 8. Tibbits, superintendent; D. S. Hogin, treasurer; Cary Zombro, secretary.

New Cumberland Fair. - Delaware, Grant and Blackford Counties' Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Grange Fair was incorporated in the year 1874, for the purpose, as set forth in the articles of association, of developing the agricultural, horticultural and mechanical resources of the counties above named. The officers were to consist of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, superintendent and board of directors. The first board of directors consisted of the following named persons: William Millspaugh, J. D. Kirkwood, P. R. Shafer, Henry Moore, H. W. Brady, J. M. Secrist, William K. Secrist, W. F. Reasoner, Dodge Swift, A. Quackenbush, 'Andrew Williams and David Taylor. Henry Moore was first president, W. F. Reasoner, secretary, and William K. Secrist, treasurer.

The articles of association were signed by the masters and secretaries of the following lodges: Liberty, No. 115; Washington, No. 273; New Comer, No. 274; Mississinewa, No. 326; Union, No. 270; Lick Creek, No. 262; Pleasant, No. 184; Centre, No. 242; Forest, No. 278; Hazle, No. 353; Washington, No. 271, and Grove, No. 442.

The association leased twenty acres of ground. near the town of New Cumberland, Grant County, and held their first fair the first week in October, 1874. Since that time annual fairs have been held and always with success. The present officers are O. Hinslins, president; J. Thurston, vice-president; W. F. Reasoner, secretary ; J. T. Corn,' treasurer; R. A. Lyon, superintendent and William Millspaugh, John Walker, George Moore and J. D. Kirkwood, directors.

The Fairmount Union Joint Stock and Agricultural Association was incorporated September 1, 1884, with a capital stock of $8,000, consisting of 800 shares. The largest stockholders are Levi Scott and Dr. Henley, who own a controlling interest. The first exhibition occurred September 1, 1884, and be it said to the credit of the management that every premium was paid in full, besides a dividend of several hundred dollars, which was expended on the improvement of the gronds and buildings.

Plank Road Company was organized late in the forties, and upon application in 1849 were granted the privilege of constructing a plank road upon any of the public highways of the county, subject, however, to a remonstrance by a majority of voters of the county. A few years later the construction of a road from Marion to Jonesboro was commenced and after some delay was completed. That part of the road leading from La Gro to Marion was never completed. This for a time was considered the most practicable way of improving public highways, but after a few years' experience the method was decided impracticable and in 1863 the road was abandoned.

Gravel Roads. - Marion and Liberty Gravel Road Company was organized in 1869, with Nathan Coggeshall, president, and D. B. Sweetser, secretary and treasurer. The capital stock was about $18,- 000. They at once commenced the construction of a road leading from Marion to Center Schoolhouse in Liberty Township, a distance of nine and one-half miles.

Marion and Wabash Gravel Road. - This road leads from Marion to the Wabash County line, a distance of about eight miles. The road was built by a stock company, of which James Sweetser was president and David Seegar secretary and treasurer. The authorized capital stock is $20,000.

Marion and Salem Gravel Road. - The company was organized January 15, 1869, and elected John Y. Parlett, Aaron C. Swayzee, John Secrist, Harry Tinkle and David Hilshamer directors. The road commences at the bridge across the Mississinewa and runs north to Secrist's Mills; thence on the Marion and Warren State road to the northeast corner of John Y. Parlett's farm. The entire cost of the road was about $8,000.

The Marion and Eastern Gravel Road. - March 29, 1871, 8. A. Campbell, J. Shambaugh, Charles Breedlove, William Middleton, Henly James, Jonas Wolf, Alexander Frazier, John Marshall, Lewis Jenkins, William M. Evans and David Bevard associated themselves together for the purpose of constructing a gravel road on the line of the Marion and Montpelier State road. The entire length of the road is five miles and cost in the aggregate about $8,000.

Marion and Jalapa Gravel Road. - The company that built this road, was organized January 10, 1872. The first officers were John Rennaker, president, and John B. Campbell, secretary and treasurer. The first board of directors were John Rennaker, John

B. Campbell, John A. Dunn, Nelson Conner, Joseph Bloomer and James 8. Renbarger. The length of the road is seven miles and was built at a cost of $1,700 per mile.

Marion and Monroe Gravel Road. - This road extends from Marion to the center of Monroe Township, a distance of eight miles. The company was organized in 1872, with an authorized capital stock of $7,000. George Strange, James Daulter and David Overman were the first directors. George Strange was the first president and David Overman secretary and treasurer.

Free Gravel Roads. - The Marion and Delphi Gravel Road was completed October 7, 1880, at a cost of $17,160. The entire length of the road is a few feet less than eleven miles.

The College Corner and Roseburg Gravel Road commences where the Marion and Libert Gravel Road crosses the line of Sections 18 and 19, Town 24, Range 8; thence west-and north to the northwest corner of Section 22, Town 24, Range 7, a distanee of three miles and 2,160 feet. The cost of the road was $3,628.

Fairmount and Muncie Gravel Road was completed October 10, 1882, at a cost of about $11,920. The entire length of said road is eight miles. .

Pipe Creek and Pleasant Chapel Gravel Road was completed October, 1880, Its length is five miles and 3,440 feet and cost of construction $5,861.29.

The Delaware County Line Free Gravel Road was laid out in 1881 and with the following described route: Commencing on the center line running east and west through Section 33, Township 23 north, Range 9 east where the Jonesboro and Muncie State Road crosses said center line; thence a southeasterly direction along and upon said State road to the south line of Grant County, a distance of two miles and 440 feet. Estimated cost of said road $4,028.50; John Ratcliff, engineer. Said road was completed and accepted in 1885.

No Name Gravel Road commences at a point on the county line dividing the counties of Grant and Blackford at the terminus of a gravel road leading from Hartford City to the Grant County line in Section 12, Township 23, Range 9 east; thence west with a few variations six miles and 5,120 feet, intersecting the Jonesboro and

Wheeling Gravel Road at a point east of James Wilson's residence. Estimated cost of said road is $12,118. The road is now in the process of construction. L. M. Overman is the engineer.

Peru and Sweetzer Free Gravel Road was laid out in 1881 by E. C. Murray, engineer. The. length of said road is 34,740 feet, and its estimated cost was about $10,924.84. An extension of two miles has recently been constructed.

Upland and Harrisburg Gravel Road was surveyed and laid out by William Neal, engineer, in 1881 and is between six and seven miles in length. The total estimated cost of construction is $8,565- There is at present about one mile that is not completed.

Upland Free Gravel Road was laid out by John Ratliff, civil engineer. The total length of road is five and a half miles. The aggregate cost of construction was $7,140.80.

New Cumberland and Blackford County Line Gravel Road was surveyed by John Ratliff, engineer, on the 25th day of April, 1881. The length of said line is 17,650 feet, three miles 1,810 feet, and the cost was estimated at $6,204.50.

Marion and Deer Creek Free Gravel Road was examined on the 9th of May, 1881, and was by the viewers and engineer considered of public utility and convenience. The entire length is four miles and 1,810 feet, and the estimated cost $4,651.60. David Overman was the civil engineer.

Marion and Jonesboro Gravel Road was completed August 11, 1881, at a cost of $4,836.60, but was shortly afterward improved at an additional cost of about $1,500. The length of the road four miles and 780 feet.

The Jonesboro and Muncie Road was surveyed by John Ratliff, civil engineer, March 5, 1880. The entire length of road is eight miles and a half and 220 feet, and cost $11,408.60.

Railroads. - The first attempt to build a railroad through Grant County was made about the year 1856, by the Cincinnati, New Castle & Michigan Company. This proposed line entered the county through Section 2, Township 25, Range 7, and crossed the Missis- sinewa River just above Sutton's Ford; thence south to the town of Leachburg. A large portion of the grading was done, but for some reason the road was abandoned, not, however, until many of the private donations had been collected.

The Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad was completed in the year 1867, running the first train to Marion October 19. This afforded the people of the county excellent means of transporting their products direct to Chicago and Cincinnati, two of the best markets of the West. The county donated $25,000 to secure this road, which is a small amount compared with the increased value of property as aresult. The road traverses the county a total distance of about twenty-five miles.

The Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan. - This road extends through the middle of the county, entering the county from the north in the eastern part of Section 2, Township 25, Range 7; thence in a southeasterly direction to Marion, crossing the track of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis near the southeastern limits of the city; thence south through Jonesboro and Fairmount to the southern limits of the county. There are within the county about twenty-three miles of track. The road was completed through the county in 1875.

The Narrow Gauge. - This road extends from Toledo to St. Louis and traverses this county a distance of about twenty-six miles, entering the county near the northeast corner and extends in a southwesterly direction through Van Buren, Washington, Center, Franklin and Sims Townships. Numerous small towns have been built along the line of this road, from which a large amount of lumber is shipped annually. The road was constructed through the county in 1881. The townships along the line voted a tax to assist in the construction. Large contributions were made by individuals, for the collection of which suits are now pending. The conversion of this road into a standard gauge is now in contemplation.