Greene County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 7 of those read), 1875

3N the year IBol, all the officers of the year before were continued in office except for Assessor. James M. Buckner was Assessor for the west side of the river, and John S. Owen for the east side.

Fairplay township was established. The ferry across White river at Point Commerce was established. A jury room was built to the court house. Norman W. Pierce took the place of Judge Levi Fellows as Associate Judge. Robert Inman declai-ed hia intention to become a citizen of the United States, having emigrated in 1820.

At the April terra of the Circuit Court, General Tighlman A. Howard was admitted to practice law in our court. General Howard was one of the best men in Indiana, and was, certainly, for many years, the most popular man in his party in the State. In 1840, at the urgent solicitations of his party, he left Congress and bocame the Democratic candidate for Governor. It was thought that his personal popularity throughout the- State would enable him to beat Governor Bigger. But the tide of enthusiasm for General Harrison against Martin Van Buren was irresistible, and Harrison's popularity defeated General Howard. In 1842, he was I the choice of his party for United States Senator, while 0. H. Smith was the choice of the Whigs. Neither got it, and E. A. Hanagan finally carried off the prize. General Howard was afterwards sent to Texas by the Government, and while there he died. His widow was in our county in the year of 1874, visiting Captain John D. Alexander's farfiily, who are relatives.

The whole amount collected this year for the county, from all sources in county orders, tn'qs ?G09 51 : in cash, Sod 44 ; total revenue, SG42 87. In 1^32, the old Commissioners vrere continued in office during the first part of the year. John Crook \vas elected Sheriff and appointed collector. Moses Ritter Avas County Treasurer, John Lemons Assessor for the west side of the river, and Peter Hill for the east side. During the latter part of the year, Joel Sexton appeared as Commissioner in place of James Warnick, whose term had expired. John Shirly, quite a noted man in his day, commenced merchandising on Indian creek. - John S. Moore commenced keeping tavern.- Andrew Downing authorized to sell merchandise. He was a man of wonderful industry and energy. He started the furnace near Bloomfield, and for many years had a large amount of business going on, and giving employment to many hands. He finally broke up, went to Texas, and after the war closed was United States Collector, and served a term in the Legislature. He was finally seized with consumption, the result, probably, of his years of exposure at the furnace, and has since "gone to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no ti'aveier returns,''

The first bridge ever built in the county, except by road hands, was built this year across Richland creek, by Levi Fellows, under the supcrvisi'on of Peter R. Lester, who, at that time, was road commissioner, having been appointed by the Legislature.

Those who take special interest in the early settlers around Bloomfield, would probabl}' like to know what became of the somewhat noted Mr. Shintiiffcr. He finally became disgusted with the "ups and downs" of with- courts, and silently he glided away down the waters of AVhite river, and still dov/nward until he reached the father of waters, the Mississippi. On its banks he erected his cabin ; but, in a few years, he came to an untimely death by being killed in some difficulty with a neighbor. After thio year his name ceased to adorn the dockets of our courts, the last time it appeared there being a nolle prosequi.

In the early part of this year .Congress parsed a law, giving pensions to all soldiers who served in the army, navy or militia during the Revolutionary war. Prior to this only a part drew pensions. It appears that the applicant was required to have a minister of the gospel as one of his witnesses, if such could be done, and if they could not procure the testimony of a clergyman, they musfshow that fact and the reason why. During this year applications for pensions v>ere made by John Storm, Peter Ingersoll, Adam Rainbolt and Joshua Burnett. None of these men were then under seventy years of age.

In 1833, John Robinson was appointed Assessor for the west side and Joseph Storm for the east side of the river. The other officers were the same as the year before. Peter Hill was appointed seminary trustee.

thing else, up to within a few years of the present time. The second bridge in the county was built, being across Done's creek, A State tax Avas levied on poll and land. The occupants of our " temple of justice " being desirous of more light, caused a window to be put in front of the edifice.

The lots now known as seminary lots in Bloomfi'eld were donated by the county for seminary purposes. James Warnick, C> P. VanSlyke, Samuel Simons, John A. Pegg and Elias Crance were the first Board of Trustees. During this year Paris C. Dunning and R. G. Dewey were admitted to practice law, and R. M. Carnam was Prosecuting Attorney. Paris C. Dunning is well known to many of our citizens. He was Governor of Indiana several years ago, and is a lawyer of first-class ability.

The expenses of the county during this year were larger than usual, owing to the improvements being made and some appropriations for bridges.

The names of many early settlers in and around Bloorafield have been omitted for lack of information. Calvin Moore, a blacksmith, was, in his day, not entirely unknown to fame. He is said to have had an unusually devotional turn of mind - so much so, that he became better known by the name of Priest Moore than by his real name. Then there was John Glenn, one of the very earliest settlers. He was a large, stout man, xind might be regarded almost as a part of the county-seat. At Burlington he was always on hand re'ady to do a chore or take a drink. He followed the county-seat to Bloomficld^ and for some time before his death he became a sort of town loafer, but was always ready to do little jobs of work for money or something to drink. With all his faults it is said that he had a warm, generous heart. Vv'hen he died, some of the citizens, remembering his virtues and- forgetting his errors, gave him respectable burial, and erected a stone to his memory. This stone, or rather, the inscription on it, has caused more inquiry than any other in the cemetery. In addition to the usual inscription, there are two sentences. One is, " A friend upon whom fortune frowned." The other is, -''Nemo est aries viventis.'^ The last one was intended to be, est haeres viiumiis^'^ which means, " No one is heir to a living person." Tliat is, before a person can be an heir, his ancestor or person from whom he inherits must be dead. It is said that this epitaph was put on because his fiitiier was in good circumstances and would not contribute any of it to his son - his son having no legal right to it while his father lived. Wo once heard of a lawyer making an application of this legal maxim, which, perhaps, would not be out of place to relate. It grew out of a clash of wit between a parson and attorney.

" I do believe," the parson cries, " That lawyers all delight in lies. I rank them all upon a level, As heirs and children of tiic dovil." Quoth 'torncy, popping up his hciul, " The devil, then, is surely dead, For the doctrine found in Kent, is * Ut nemo est haeres vivcnlis.' "

In our history, so far, we have neglected the clergy. x\nK>ng the earliest preachers in tho locality of Bloomfield were Mr. Hawley, Hiram Ahiff Hunter, and Eli P. Farmer. The two last are yet living, and are men of distinguished ability.

and been in office much of ihe time, jpinctl the Mormons, and Trent further "west to '^grow tip -vvith the countr>'/' ijevcral other citrzcn* T7en? at the same time. One man and his parted over the question, the man going Trith the Mormons and his Tvife remainisg-at bom*, She livetl to a ripe old age^ sud^wsWie^ey married twice afterwar<is, Wc remensy-- ber two or three ot her names, but not remembering the one she bore at the date of owr b»$ory, -we ivill not give any.

The year 18SS closed fli? term ol Moses Ritter as Treasurer. He wa? succeeded, in 1834, by Samuel D. Chipman, a brother of John N. Chipmanj who is vf^ of our olde&t settlers. John B. Ferrell -was Assessor for the Avest side oi the river and Samuel R. Cavins for the east gide. Oeorge R. H. Moore Sheriff, Andrew Downing and William N. Noriis "were ap pointed Co-ttetitors, aiW Judge Lester Town Agent. Carpus Shaw, Commissioner oi suhool lands for the whole co-i>»ty» !B«fore this period^ several commissioners were appointed each year. Benjamin Brooks, busband of Aunt Eliza Brooks, was authorized to y&nd merchandise. He )ias been dead over tbirly ye.*r», - Lark B. Jones was tbe finrt student authorized by eoTBrtnissi oners to attend the State University'', and that this year.

It appears that the attentJCTi of our Commissioners -was called «o a clefect in our "'Temple of J®»tJce,^' m sojae degree affecting tbe eosEffort of those who had business there; and they ordered that the underpinning of the court house be repaired so as lo keep the hogs from disturbing tbe cotrrt. Judge William S. Cole succeeded Judge Robinson this year as Associate Judge. He lived in the county after this until he was over seventy years of age. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, from Kentucky. In his native State, before emigrating to Indiana, he was a leading, influential man in his coonty, and served a term as Sheriff. He was a Baptist preacher for many years, but for qiuite a ncnsber of years before bis death, he was too feeble to preach a regular sermon.

David McDonald appeared Prosecuting Attorney of tbe Circmift Court.- He V?S9 afterwards Judge of tbe same court, and finally Judge of the District Court of the Unitedi States. He stood at tbe verj' top of the ladder as an attorney and judge. He is the author of McDonald's Treatise.

At tbe Sr|)teTft'5)CT terts, Thomas Brad-ford again appeared as Associate Judge, taking the place of Samuel R. Cav Jn'S-,wbo bad resigned. A^ tbis tern>, John Cowgill appeared as Frosecuting Attorney. He afterwards became a judge, but not in our circuit.

It appears that at tb'is period a system of inspection y^m afk)pted, and inspectors were appointed for whisky, school teachers, etc. Andrew Downing was appointed inspector of beef, pork, Isrd and butter. John Inman, E. P. CusbjJian and S. R. Cavins, were appointed inspectors of teachers. Samuel Owen was appointed inspector of whisky and other liquors. If we bad s?scb an' office 3s ifjspeelor' of whisky now, we believe there are several persons in our towRS wowld accept tbe office without a money salarj\

We are not able to give tbe receipts and expenditures this year, but suppose tbev were less than tb® year before. The Assessors' fees for the whole county amounted to §44 00, Tbe Treasurer's fees amounted to S20 58- -sometbing" k-ss than they now are. _^

JN 1835 fjttite a nt?mber of new settlers had come into the county, and in the ncigbborbood of Bloomfield, among whom Tfere Frederick Bough, Dr, Jesse Barnes, William Rude, Robert Knox and Edward

West. By the way, it is now in order for some old settler to stand up and inform us how Edward West became better known as Joe West, than by his real name.

Soon after this came Marcus 11. Shryer, and a few years before Dr. Ehvid M. Dobson located at Bloomfield. Mr. Dobson did not remain at that place many years. He was a man of extra abiiity. He was elected to the State Senate in 18 il.

In 1847, when George G. Dunn was the Whig candidate for Congress, the Democrats had great trouble in satisfying theraseives with a candidate to run against him. Dr. Foster was first. nominated, and afterwards taken off the track. He was a man of superior ability, and quite a large man. In canvassing with Mr. Dunn, their personal enmity was carried to such an extreme, that it resulted in a fight, in which Dr. Foster was considerably marked about the face. A very short time after this, another Democratic convention was held, at which Dr. Foster bore upon his face the marks of the encounter. The general drift of the convention was in favor of Dobson, but he did not wish to make the race. Inaspoeoh, that day, speaking of George G. Dunn, he said, "the iron-hoofed, steel-toed war-horse, has run over bigger doctors than I am," casting a glance at Doctor Foster, and passing his finger over that part of his head where the Doctor's head showed the marks. He finally consented to make the race, and was defeated by one vote.

After eight years' trial of doing county business with three Commissioners, the Legislature returned to the system of the Board of Justices, but called them Commissioners. The Board embraced all the Justices of the Peace in the county. This system was both inefficient and expensive. The first Board was composed of Samuel Hartley, Moses Ritter, Jacob Dobbins, John Bullock, Andrew Woodrufr,Ephraim Owen, Amos Owen, George R. Taylor, Frederick

I Hendricks, Isaac Anderson, Raleigli ! Hopper and John F. O'J^eall. The j Sheriff was continued in office. E, I P. Cushuian wag Treasurer, and Car- I pus Shaw Commissioner of school { lands, for the whole county. The Sheriff, G. R. H, Moore, wasappointj ed collector, and Frederick Dayhoff was appointed Assessor, for the west side of the river, and Meredith Gainey for the east side. There appeared, during the year, as additional Commissioners, William F. Williams, James M. Gaston, John Young and John Cochran.

Johnson & Wright \wre authorized to vend merchandise. The revenue collected this year, amounted to $846 05 J, which was considerably in excess of the expenditures. lu fact, at the close of this year, our county was out of debt, and had several hundred dollars in the Treasury'.

Every thing was prosperous in the county, and the various townships were being rapidly filled up with energetic, industrious citizens. In view of the general prosperity of the people, the Commissioners determined to build a new Court House, with rooms for county officers, and they appointed John Inman, William Freeland, Levi Fellows, Ruel Learned and HughL. Livingstone, as a committee, to draft plans, etc., and gave them authority to borrow 61. -300, but not to pay a higher rate of interest than 10 per cent. The report of the committee showed that the Court House would cost S5.157. This committee was authorised to superintend the building, etc. The contract was let to Calvin Hertwell, for §5.800, Sl.OOO to be paid April 1st, 1830, 81.500 Novemb_er 1st, 1836, 81.000 April 1st, 1837, and balance at completion of the building. The contractor, after receiving the first payment, left the country, and his sureties, Andrew Downing and Samuel Simons, had to [ finish the building. Mr. Downing unciovtook the completion. The county failed to make the payment accorJiiig to contract, and after Mr. DoAvning had exhausted his means and his credit, the -svork >vas about to stop. The committee, then, on their own responsibility, borrowed of the Bedford bank, e2!000, at 12 per cent., iind the work Avas completed. The committee had some extra done. The buildins: Avas not finished until in 1S39, and cost the county S'd.271 59. The committee, who had charge of it, reported that it had cost ?»lr. Downing considerably more than he had received foj- it. The County Commissioners endorsed the action of their committee, and paid the bank debt.

In the year 183.5, the term of service of Thomas Warnick, as Clerk of the Circuit Court, expired. Up to this time, he held the office of Clerk continuously from the first election to that office. Next to Judge Bradford, ho was perhaps the leading man in the organization of the county. - In the earliest daj's of the county, when no money could be collected on taxes, he advanced money from his own private funds, to purchase the necessary books for keeping records. His oldest son, James Y^^arnick, who now resides in Bloomfield, is about fifty years of age, and was born and raised in the county.

Samuel R. Cavins succeeded Mr. Warnick, as Clerk. The first ad quod damnum case in the county, was on the application of Ruel Leafned, and the jury was Composed of Jcjhn T. Frecland, Paris Chipman, John Milam, A. B. Chipman, Jesse Barnes, Barney Perry, Benjamin Brooks, Hilton "Wagoner, James Ii. Hicks, Thomas Patterson, Carpus Shaw and John Yanvorst. This case was for the purpose of establishing what is now known as the Peden Mill, and assessing damages incident thereto. - The jury reported no damages to any one, and that all the lands on the stream, for two miles above the dam, were public lands.

The first newspaper started in the county, was in 1836, an'd it was called the Camd, and was edited, at first, by William Rude. It was like a comet, in some respects. It blazed with brilliancy for a short period, and disappeared for a long period, but like a comet, continued to return at intervals. Iti 1840 it appeared with more than usual brilliancy. Judge Edwards conducted it then, and it blazed amid the furor of log cabins and hard cider, bearing aloft the standard of Tip. and Tyler, but as the autumn leaves began to fall, the Comet collapsed, and disappeared forever.

About this period, there were several boys in and near Bloomfield, who are there or near there yet, among whom are Captain AVilliam Bough, Joseph Burcham, Colonel James Culbertson, William D. Ritter, Henry Mason, Jeremiah Stropes, James Warnick, Henry Roach, Yincent Shields and Aden G. Cavin.s.

Samuel Culbertson taught school in Bloomfield, about this time. - Among the earl}' Representatives in the Legislature, were Drury Boyd and 'Joseph Storm, but the records of the countj^ fail to give the dates. It is said that Joseph Storm was unusually popular with the people. - He was a large, muscular man, and noted for. his great physical strength. It is said, that in passing through a grove, just west of Bloomfield, in an early day, he was attacked, by two catamounts. They were very dangerous animals for an unarmed man to encounter. He was entirely unarmed, and had to meet the attack without a club or any other weapon of defense. He met it, and sIcm' the two catamounts with his, ponderous fist. This great victory added very much to his renown. As a member of the Legislature, he manifested unusual activity in dispatch of the business of the Legislature.

In 1886 several Commissioners went out of office, and there appeared, as additional members of the Board, John B. Ferrell, Elisha Knox, E. P.

Uushman, Lewis Stoiy, J. W. Coffey and John Abrams. The officers of last year'continued in office, except Assessors. Thomas Butler was Assessor for the west side of the river, and (x. R. H. Moore for the east side. This year, Mr. Moore held the office of Sheriff, as well as collector and Assessor. He started out in life under very favorable circumstances. Physically, he was rather repulsive, being a hunchback, but he was a man of fair education and good sense. He was Sheriff for four years, and spent many years in teaching. As an officer, intellectually, he was above the average, but towards the close of his term, he became inefficient as Assessor, negligent as Sheriff, and defaulter as collector. The duties of Assessor, had to be taken out of his hands, and his sureties had to make good his collections. All these misfortunes grew directly out of the use of intoxicating drinks. He very early in life, became a debauched and degraded drunkard, and finally became a county charge. It is a sad thing to see a man, v/ho has the ability and opportunity to do well, allured away by his appetite, down to degradation. On nn occasion of a great political campaign, when the excitement was up high, this man was seen in the gutter, beastly drunk, and presenting a wretched appearance. A Whig and

The Democrat won. Similar guesses or bets are often made in these latter days, in reference to persons who degrade themselves by drunkenness. - On the day before the last election, Doctor Norvell and Captain Dugger were passing through 'the courtyard, and saw a man who had taken in more* tangle-foot than he could hold, and was in the act of spilling some of it. "There," says Captain Dugger to Doctor Norvell, "is one of your friends." The Doctor answered, "I '11 bet you any thing you dare, that he is a Republican." By this time they had come up to the subject of their conversation, and hailed him, "how are you, my friend?" - as candidates usuallv do. The only response was, "'Rah, for Dugger!"

This year, (183G,) .T. M. H. Allison and John F. Allison first procured license to vend merchandise. They are men who have been long and favorably known as two of our best citizens. For many years ' they were the leading merchants of the county.

Democrat, strangers to him, chanced 1 be a few years before. The hunter to see him. The Democrat poivitedl had shot him for a deer, at a deerto him and said: "There is one of j lick, a few years before. It was a your Whigs." The Whig said he wasj terrible shot, going into his breast, a Democrat, and finally the dispute land coming out near his shoulder closed in a bet, which is said to be ! blade. The Commissioners relieved the end of a fool's argument. They him from poll tax and road working, agreed to leave it to the subject of i on account of this wound, and this the bet, and approached him. The was the first case of exemption from Whig said to him that he had made} paying tax, in the State, a bet that he was a Democrat, and i The revenue collected, was SI. 30-5- that they wanted to know his politics. 30. Cost of assessing, §82. Treas- Mr. Moore answered in his drunken, urer's fees, '^^6'S 30. hiccoughing style, "You bet I was a| During the year 1837, the addi- Democrat, did you? Safe bet - win' tional justices of the peace, who apnine tirfies out of ten - have all the pearcd as commissioners, were Samsymptoms - drunk, ragged and filthy, ! uel Ferguson, Drury B. Boyd. Daniel but a^ better Whig, you never saw." I Harrah and Ale.xander Poe. The of- ficers of the year before continued in office, except that John Crooks was appointed Assessor for the west side of the river, and John B. Ferrell Avas appointed Collector. The surplus revenue was distributed to the counties this year, and John Jones, Jr., was appointed agent for Greene county, and he entered into a bond of ten thousand dollars.

Mr. Jones came to this county about the time or before the organixation, while he was a boy, and lived here continuously until his death, Avhich occurred in 1874. lie was a man of uniform good habits and character, and a man of superior intelligence. He filled, with honor to himself and benefit to the people, many offices of trust, among which were County Commissioner, Auditor and Representative in the Legislature.

This year, the system of justices acting as a Board of Commissioners was changed, and the system of three County Commissioners was adopted. The first Board under this change was composed of Samuel Simons, AVilliam O'Neall and Jesse Rainbolt.

The expenses of the county, exclusive of expense attending building of court house, amounted to §1,226 94|, of which over one-third -vras '.pauper expense and jury fees. Under the law at that time, the jury system was ruinously expensive ; nearly onethird of the whole county expenses was jury fees for several years. The gi'^eat cause of this was from the regular number of jurors. At'each term of court there were sixty-six regular jurors - eighteen grand jurors and forty-eight pettit j urors. Of the pettit jury, twenty-four would attend one week and the other twenty-four the second week, but only twelve would try a case.