Greene County, Indiana - Chapter 5, 1875

c^^HE year 1825, found Greene (ub county burdened with, taxes, notwithstanding they were, compared with the present day, very low. But manfully and heroically the people pressed forward. A few cabins were put up at the county seat, and here and there throughout the county, squatters were pre-empting land. The rush from the older States was not like it has been in late years, towards new Territories or States.

Hallet B. Dean was appointed Treasurer, George Baber, Sheriff, was appointed Collector. This year a jail and estray pen were built, and the usual economy was observed. Otis Hinkley, the first merchant in Bloomfield, commenced business this year. Osbon's ferry was established.

This year the Circuit Court convened, for the first time, at Bloomfield. The first divorce ever granted in the county, was this year, and was

We believe it is not saying too much to say that in the organization of the county, and for many years after, Judge Bradford was the active, living, moving and controlling spirit in its civil and political organization.

As stated heretofore, as Sheriff Xiro tern, he called the first election, gave the officers their certificates of election, and put the county in running order. At his house all the elections and courts were held for the first two years. He left a large family, some of wJiom reside in the county now. George Bradford, the pro-- prietor of Bradford's ferry, at Fairplay, is his son. George Bradford and Henry A^anSlyke, (thejatter being a grand son of P. C. VanSlyke who donated the site for Bloomfield) have probably resided in the county longer than any other men in Richland township. 'J^hey came here with their parents when they were children. In many respects these two men are alike, each has selected for his residence a high and dry location, and their houses are surrounded with all the comforts and conveniences of thrifty farmers. Each farm extends to the river, being part ridge and part river bottom. Each commenced keeping house in an early day, andv kept their latch strings out, visible at all times by their passing friends and acquaintances; and have sustained throughout their lives reputations for hospitality. They are noted for having always attended to their own business, and letting other peoples' business alone. And while we are writing more for the old folks than the young, we will make a digression for the benefit of our young folks, and say, that while Mr. Bradford has only one handsome and accomplished daughter, Mr. VanSlyke has several.

string out."' In the early days, our people fastened their doors with 'Avooden latches. A string, usually of buckskin, was attached to the latch, and then extended through a hole above the -latch, the other end hanging outside the door. When out, by pulling the latch string the latch would be raised and the door could be opened. If the latch string was drawn in, then the latch could not be raised from the out side. Hence the "latch string out" was symbolical of hospitality, and the "latch string iti". was symbolical of penuriousness and selfishness.

While on the subject of old settlers who came here boys, there settled here about the time the county was organized, a boy by the name of James H. Hall, who is now about sixty-one years of age. He is a son of- Samuel C. Hall. During his entire life, since arriving of sufficient age, he has at all times been ready to serve his country, and especially in tiroes of war. He served in the Mexican war one year, in the regular army five years, and in the late "unpleasantness" three years ; making nine years service in the army.

W^illiam Mason settled here over fifty years ago, when he was a boy, and after arriving at manhood, took a leading part in the business of the county. We will liave occasion to speak of him again. Abram Mason Avas probably born near Bloomfield. among the very first. John Anderson, who resides in Bloomfield, came here while p, boy, nearly fifty years ago.

This year the levy of taxes on real estate was 93f cents on each one hundred acres of first rate land, and 62^ cts. on each one hundred acres of second rate^land.

During the year 1826, John Crook, Elisha P. Cushman, Leonard Wines and Samuel Daugherty appeared as additional members of the Board of Justices, some of the old members having gone out.

The first order made this year by the Board of Justices, was for the payment of 93| cents for whisky used *'tor the sale of town lots in Bloomfield." That was just one year's tax on one hundred acres of first rate land. Up to this time we had not learned that it was necessary to make people drunk in order to induce them to. invest in Bloomfield lots. But as it did not cost much, perhaps that was the best plan that presented itself.

During this year there appears to tave been a sort of mania for divorces, and a large number of cases, considering the population, were commenced ; but nearly all of them were continued from time to time, until the parties, wearied by the "laws delays," were reconciled.

Cotonel Levi Fellows and Robert Smith commenced their judicial careers as associate judges. We have no recollection of Judge Smith, but Colonel Fellows was one of the earliest settlers, and one of our best educated and most useful citizens. He settled at the place known as "Fellows' Mill," now owned by Abel Faucett, and resided there until a few years ago, when he moved to Terre Haute, and has since died.

During the October term of the Circuit Court of this year, Hugh L. Livingstone was admitted to practice. He afterwards moved to Bloomfield, and made that town his home. Major Livingstone was a man of superior literary attainments, as well as a man of wonderful brilliancy of intellect. He graduated at West Point, served a year in the U. S. Navy, and then turned his attention to the study of law. George G. Dunn once said to him, "that when he first came to Inaiana, he was the most promising young man in the State." He served several terms in the Legislature, from Lawrence county, early in life. In his profession he took front rank at the very out set of his practice. In middle and after life, he was not a close student, but his comprehensive intellect and -quick perception etiabled him to grasp at a moment the points in a case. He could grasp in a moment, what it would take other lawyers days to learn by study. He excelled as a criminal lawyer. His speeches before a jury were replete with eloquence, beauty and force. In his private relations with the people, he was remarkable far his urbanity of manners, his generosity toward all classes of people, and especially his liberality and kindness to the poor. Many old citizens remember him, and will remember a scar on his face, that extended near his mouth, giving a somewhat singular, though not unpleasant, expression to his face,^ This scar was caused by a shot received in a duel with a brother cadet, by the name of Henry, at West Point. Mr. Henry Avas severly wounded in the engagement, and went to Europe for treatment, before he entirely recovered. The Major, manifesting his usual generosity, contributed a part of the money to pay Mr. Henry's expense to Europe. After the duel they became lasting friends. He died in 1856, and was buried in the Bloomfield cemetery. In the coui'se of these chapters, we will have occasion to mention him again.

In the year 1827, George Anderson perfected his naturalization as a citizen of the United States. He had emigrated in 1821, and came directly to the west. This year Norman W. Pierce was appointed Treasurer, and John Lemons, Assessor for the county. It appears that Mr. Lemons exhibited some reluctance about accept- ing this office, but the office sought }iim diligently. He finally accepted the office on condition that his fees should not be less than thirty-five dollars for assessing the Avhole county. Tlie county jail -vvas completed and its cost determined. It cost e201 25.

After three vears of trial, the system of Board of Justices proved to be cumbersora and expensive, and the Legislature returned to the old system of County Commissioners.

The first Commissioners under the now law were Jonathan Lindley, Benson Jones and John Crook. They appeared and were sworn in by John Storm, a Justice.

During this year Moses Ritter, an old settler of the county, moved to Bloomfield and entered into the mercantile business. We believe he first settled in Plummer township. Many of our citizens remember him. He lived in our midst many years, and filled many offices of trust. It is said that "an honest man is the noblest work of God;" he entirely filled that measure.

During the year there was considerable revenue coUeeted from fines. A very large proportion of the fines were reported for *'scrmis7(m^" - an offense that we have not heard of in our day.

In a very early day the attention of our early settlers was directed to the importance of furnishing themselves and their families with some means of education, and a public library was one of the earliest means adopted. The laws of the State required this library to be purchased from time to time as the finances of the county would admit. It Avas in this that the Trustees were first elected in our county. The first Trustees were Thomas Bradford, James Warnick, Thomas Plummer, Ruel Leonard, Jonathan Lindley, Norman W. Pierce and William Freeland. William Freeland was elected President of the Board of Trustees. The records kept by the library trustees, are remarkable for their neatness. These trustees held their positions until the close of 1830, when they were succeeded by Levi Fellows, Peter Hill, Moses Ritter, P. C. Van- Slyke, John Vanvorst, John Inman and James Boyd. For the first trustees, W. D. Lester was Treasurer, and for the second, James Patterson was Treasurer.

It is a little wonderful to find so old a record, so nicely written, so accurately kept, and so free from interlineation. There is one singular order recorded by the Board. It was, "that the Board adjourn sic J- die." They otten adjourned for long periods, but after this order they met again seemingly in good health and as live as ever.

Among the early settlers who died within a few years after they settled in the count}', were John Slinkard, Robert Harrison, John Smith, Samuel Morrison, Robert Anderson, Edmund Gillum, Joseph Ingersoll, Solomon Dixson, John Stokely, John Arthur, Abel Westfall, John Burcham, Frank Robeson, Seth Fields, George Wilkey, Samuel Hughes, Augustus Passmore, Mark Dugger, (grandfather of our present Sheriff,) Will. Anderson and Stephen 0. Aton. There is one serious difficulty in writing up the history of early times in Greene county, that we have found no remedy for, and that is, there are no election returns of early times preserved. We are unable to tell who were elected to Congress or the State Legislature. Solomon Dixson, as heretofore stated, is said to have been the first representative in the Legislature. Soon after, Eli Dixson represented the county for several sessions. Both these men have been dead for many years. Eli was the father of William Dixson, who died a few years /ago, and John H. Dixson, who now resides east of Worthington, a little over a mile. By the way, John H. Dixson, al- tViongh a comparatively young man, must be one of our oldest settlers. If we are not mistaken, he came to this county before 1820, while he was a sucking babe. This would make him a very old settler, if not a very old man. John is a brick. Clever, genial and hospitable. A visitor at his house always feels wekome.- "We heard an ajiecdote of him not long since, which might be given as another instance of the saying, that *'the ruling passion is strong in death." John was very sick, and he thought his time had come. But before stepping into the dark and turbid waters of the river of death, he concluded it was best to make provisions for the future comfort of the partner of his life. She had helped him make their property, and he desired that she should be bountifully provided for. He sent for a Notary to write his will, and in it he made unusually liberal provisions for his expectant widow. After the will had been carefullj'' prepared, the Notary said, " John, had you not better put a provision in your will that your wife shall hold this property during the .time she remains your widow?" John meditated for a moment only,, and said, "yes, you may put that in, and put it in, also, that if she gets married, she shall have that property and five hundred dollars more, because it will take that much to get up a good wedding."

Our readers will pardon us for using a slang word here, and saying *'bully" for John. It turned out that John was not required, at that time, to cross the dark and turbid waters. Years have passed away since, and John's better-half has gone before him, leaving him a hale, stout man. If, in the events of providence, John's heart should he again turned toward connubial bliss, his spouse may rest assured that John is all right on the property question.