Henry County, Indiana - The whole text, 1871 (part 2 of 3)

Commissioners Edwards, Minesinger, and Phelps at once set to work to devise ways and means for the erection of a new building dedicated to justice. There were several essential points to be secured in this proposed edifice. It must be free from dampness, which would destroy the precious records of the county, on which so much of the "peace and quiet'' of our communit}' depends. It must, of course, be fire proof, and sufficiently commodious for all legitimate purposes not only now, but for many years to come ; must be of durable materials, and last, if least, it must be "good looking," a monument of the enterprise and taste of the people of one of the wealthy counties of the State. All these prerequisites have been faithfully complied with, and our county can boast of an edifice second to none in the State in all the essentials of such a structure.

The cut with which this work is embellished gives a very fair representation of the external appearance of the building, coming as near doing it justice as a single view can be well made to do, though we fancy that it makes the building appear a little shorter than it really is, and giving the tower a little more prominence than it deserves.

The main building is sixty-six feet wide by eighty-two feet in length, while the tower, which serves as main entrance and the initial point of the stairway to the court-room, jury room, &c, above, adds some nineteen feet more, making the extreme length one hundred and one feet. The height of the walls is fifty feet and of the tower one hundred and ten feet from the foundation.

There is a cellar under the building with a labyrinth of arched passages, or halls, or whatever the name is, which contain not only the furnaces and flues for heating every part of the building above, but furnish ample room for the storage of the annual supply of fuel.

Of the capaciousness and convenience of the rooms for the county officers, on the first floor, it would exceed the limits of this work to speak minutely, and an attempted description without filtering Into the minutiae would be futile. Then ll I large Bit prOOJ and almost burglar proof vault connected with each of tin- oiiiii- tor the storage of the abundant and valuable erohrvei on tile.

Ihe vaults to the Auditor's and Clerk's oftices have been Mipplit-d with suitable cases and pigeon holes for the ponderous lomes ami innumerable papers, not in daily use but indispensable t..i referenee in emergencies. In the first named vault there are -helvi- to hold ninety-eight of the largest sized records, while there have already accumulated one hundred and forty bound volumes, some of the earliest of which are of a size that w ill admit of three or lour being placed in the niche allotted to the larger ones. This room is also supplied with 1,428 pigeon boles*

The vault to the Clerk's office has room -for one hundred and nineteen volumes ol the larger size on the shelves, while the bound records already accumulated exceed two hundred, most of which an- of a large size. Three-fourths of them probably oost the county little short of twenty dollars each on an aver- I -- -

The court-rooms, rooms for the grand and traverse juries, Sheriff's room, &c, reached by the main stairway, are all worthy of a more extended notice than this work will allow. The court-room itself, about sixty-live feet by fifty feet, is one of the finest and best appointed in the State, both as to convenience and tasteful ornamentation. The fresco painting on its walls and ceiling alone cost about $1,400, and, as a consequence, OOght to be a thing of beauty.

Th«- entire cost of this magnificent "temple of Justice,*' so well constructed and of such materials as to withstand the ordinary ravages of the "tooth of Time," till several generations .-hall have passed away, has been about $120,000. This is seemingly a large sum, but it must be remembered that everything used, 0081 -war prices," and already, by comparison with other public buildings, it is coming to be regarded as not too large a sum for sn.-h a building. Although there has been no little grumbling by some of the tax-payers,it can safelv be predicted that the next generation, at least, will thank the Commissioners who ordered its erection, and give full credit to Mr. M. F. Edwards for having efficiently superintended the construction of the same and completing it in less time than was required for the former botched job which cost but $4,500.

The present county prison* is a fine well built structure, in shape somewhat like a capital letter "T," with the top of the letter representing the front of the building, which is used as a jailer's residence, and a very comfortable and handy one it is at that.

The building is complete in all its appointments, is two stories in height, with a cellar underneath, containing a furnace, &c., for warming the whole. Externally the building has the appearance of being of brick, with stone window frames secured with heavy iron rods, behind which are heavy plate glass of such a peculiar make that they do not obstruct the light while they tell none of the secrets of the interior. Inside the brick wall is a thick stone one, or rather the wall is half stone and half of brick, and just inside the stone is an iron lining of boiler iron. Next comes a corridor about three feet wide, and then an iron grating, made of heavy iron bars through which pass one and one-eighth inch rods of iron. This arrangement extends through both stories. Inside of this formidable grating, is another passage way or corridor, entirely surrounding the cells, or strong boxes, which are made of heavy iron grating and boiler iron.

The first floor is of massive stone slabs, about fifteen inches in thickness, and the second floor is of iron. There are eighteen cells in the building, not likely to be filled at one time soon,

*In a former page, it is stated that the jail of 1836 "stood the racket for about thirty years," which has been discovered to he an error, for the musty records since examined show that the constant bill of expenses for guarding prisoners was such that the Commissioners ordered another one built, February 11, 1851. Elisha Clift seems to have been the architect, and Jacob Elliott was selected to purchase materials and superintend it, under the "immediate orders" of the Commissioners. It was two stories in height, and thirty-six by forty feet, was of brick, with a stone floor, the cell wall being hewn timber, and lined with boiler iron, and cost about $3,500.

The Mm. tuiv mtf built with an eye to the safety of its in- ami. notwithstanding a mishap or two has already oc- . -iirretl. it la not ea-y DO 168 how a safer trap can reasonably be

Our county seems to have been well supplied with villages, "Pact and Present." The plats of thirty of these can be found on the Recorder's books. A few of these have been paper towns only, while a few others, but little more fortunate, made a start, soon got their growth, in short, were finished. In such I Mea, it Is Bald, about the only appropriate thing to be done is to put a good fence around them, whitewash it, and then quit.

A majority, however, of the towns have become quite well established commercial, social, and literary centers. In point of seniority, it is impossible to determine which takes precedence. New ( astle or West Liberty, as plats of each were filed on the same day - April 8, 1823 - at which time the Recorder seems to have commenced his official career, although it is quite evident that lots were laid off and cabins and other improvements begun in each, the year previous.

West Liberty

This early foundation for a city was laid out by Samuel Fu reason. It was located near the mouth of Montgomery's Creek, on the old State Road, or about three-fourths of a mile southwest of Knightstown.

time about twenty houses, and two or more groceries and dry goods stores. Dr. Elliott, who subsequently died of cholera, in New Castle, was the first physician. Bicknell Cole was first postmaster, and Aaron Maxwell first merchant. The first mail route established through the county was from Greensburg and Rushville, through West Liberty and New Castle, to Muncie, and for some time there were but two offices in the county.

Unfortunately for the hopes of the West Liberty people , the National Road was located near half a mile north of them, about 1827, when "corner lots" soon became a drug.

New Castle

The county seat of Henry county, is pleasantly located within one mile of the geographical center of the county. The Gazetteers represent Charles Jamison as "proprietor," "first settler," &c, but a reference to the records show that he had much less to do with it than others.

When the Legislative Commission, already spoken of, were in quest of a site, about one hundred acres of land were proffered by public spirited and interested parties, for the use of the county, on the sole condition that the present site should be chosen. Of this, Absalom Harvey gave twenty-eight acres; John Brumfield, twenty-eight, less two lots; A. Lewis, fourteen acres; Allan Shepherd, ten acres, and Rue and Holeman, of Wayne county, twenty-four acres, less five lots reserved.

This nice little patch in the wilderness was placed at the disposal of the County Agent, Mr. Leavell, and at once surveyed, and, by direction of the Commissioners, thrown upon the market, in July, 1822. This first sale could not have been a great success, as all the money handled by the Treasurer for that year amounted to $154 all told. In August, 1823, another sale was ordered, and the Commissioners showed their appreciation of printer's ink, by ordering the Agent to advertise in the "Richmond Weekly Intelligencer and the Indiana Statesman, a newspaper printed at Connersville." This was followed, in a few months, by another sale, and still much of New Castle remained a wilderness, and, in May, 1824, the clearing off of the public square was "sold to the lowest bidder." William

Charles Jamison wa< soon after made the first tavern keeper, ami. <>i MBrw, "gave bond to the satisfaction of the Board." In 1*23. Isaa. i:. aid, being able to satisfy the Board that his I apital did not exceed $1,000, was licensed to "keep store ." His lir-t -tore room was a twelve hy sixteen cabin, with earthen floor and a clapboard counter, resting on stakes, driven into the MTtlL In tlii- region, IB* mills were yet unknown, and a frame house next to an impossibility. A log cabin was deemed good enough for the proudest

The first preaching here seems to have been by Father Havens, of the M. E. Church, and was had in a log house, a little south of the present residence of B. Shirk, Esq.

The completion of the Chicago & Great Eastern Railroad thla far. in the winter of 1854, and of a branch of the Cincinnati A Indianapolis .Junction, now called the Fort Wayne, Muncie ȣ- Cincinnati Railroad, together with some eight or nine turnpikes radiating in all directions, has opened up a real and prospective future of prosperity for the county seat, scarcely second to any in the State. For cleanly and well graded street-, substantial and palatial residences, fine business houses, churches, and elegant public buildings, it is noted far and wide. Among the leading business houses may be mentioned in the way of

Dry Goods - Mowrer, Murphey & Co.; B. B. Smith; Bhroyer £ c*>. ; L. I,. Burr & Co.; Lee. Harvey, and J.Holland. Bl -ady-inadc Clothing and Dry Goods - Kahn & Co., and N. E. Black.

Hardware - S. P. Jennings & Co., and J. C. Livezey & Co. Stoves, Tin, and Hollow-ware - M. L. Powell. Cabinet Makers - W. E. Livezey ; Brenneman & Beam, and L. A. Jennings.

Of Attorneys there is a host. Among them may be mentioned Brown & Polk; Chambers & Saint; W. F. Walker; Elliott & Elliott; James B. Martindale; W. N. Carroll; M. L. Powell ; G. W. Woy ; Joseph Worl ; J. T. Mellett ; Wm. Grose ; W. M. Watkins, and T. B. Redding.

Hotels - The Junction House, by James Mullin, and Henry House, by O. H. Welborn, have each the reputation of being well kept, while there are quite a number of excellent boarding houses in the place.

Foundry and Machine Shop - George Reiser; just being erected, and to be in operation in a few weeks; will be a most valuable adjunct to the business of the place.

In addition to this partial list of the business establishments and men of the place, there are three newspapers and one job printing office, three flourishing picture galleries, several millinery shops, two dental offices, several smith shops, a number of carpenter shops, shoemakers, painters, glaziers, paper hangers, plasterers, brick and stone masons, &c, &c, who always seem to be thronged with work; while the dealers in grain, shingles, lath, lumber, sash, doors, blinds, lime, coal, &c, seem to be doing a flourishing business, and able to compete in prices with similar dealers anywhere in Eastern Indiana.

The Methodist, Christian, Lutheran, United Brethren, and Presbyterian churches, each have good buildings, those belonging to the IfJethodial Episcopal and Christian denominations costing some $12,000 or $i").000 each.

The population of Mew Oastle Is a little the rise of 1,500, with a steady and healthy growth, while the assessed value of the real and personal property on the duplicate tax list of 1870 na- $799^800, a little over |683 to each man, woman, and child.

\.'w Oastle has had it-< stand-etui epochs, but they seem happily to be of the past; and, with new elements of growth, ami a more thorough appreciation of the necessity of encouraging various kinds of manufacture as tin- only true foundation tor prosperity, their are good prospects that it will nearly double

This village, so unknown to fame that scarcely a score of |MT-un» now living in the county ever saw it, was located by William Seward, "sole proprietor,'' on the old State Road, in the BOOth part i>\' Dudley township, in May, 1823. It only reached about the second or third house, before the National Road blighted its prospects,

Tin- next village of the county was so entirely a paper town thai we have tailed to -ec tin- man who could locate it. The recorded plat gives neither section, township or range. All we know i> that the National Road was to be the principal street, and thai Lewis Taokel was proprietor.

The -. ity " of Knightstown i1- pleasantly situated on Blue River, or rather between that stream and Montgomery's Creek, and mi the Central Railroad and National Road aswell. itwas platted in 1827, and plat recorded in 182$, Waitsel M. Carey, proprietor. Mr. Carey kept the only hotel for some years, ami built the first frame house in town. The place was named in honor of Mr. Jonathan Knight, a United States Engineer, who located the Cumberland or National Road through the State about this time. At first the town only extended hack two or three tiers of lots from the river bluff.

Levi Griffith and Isaac .lames owned the first dry goods establishment here about the year 1830. There were about half dozen houses here at that time, and the population was less than three hundred in 18315.

The fust church built here was by the Presbyterians, in 1834-a frame, about thirty by forty feet. The Methodists erected a small frame building, about the year 1837. A distillery was erected just over the river, about 1825, by one John Lewis, and about 1828 a carding machine was built near the

About two years after the inception of Knightstown, ithamar Stewart's splendid farm of 160 acres (now worth $125 per acre; could have been bought for $400, and several years later the country was such a « howling wilderness"- with little more than a bridle-path through the woods-that Dr. Whitsel was badly lost in going to see a patient on Six Mile Creek. One of the best corner lots (Probasco's) sold for $96, which was regarded as a. fancy price indeed. Bears came up out of the river bottom, and were chased through the streets more than once after 1830. A youn«* physician named Hiatt was the first to locate in town ; his stay was short. James Wilson was Knightstown's first

-Whisky was in much more general use in early days than at present. A judge, the squire, and all the constables were seen drunk on one or more occasions in early days, and pugilistic encounters were among the cherished amusements. But great changes have been wrought in forty years.

Churches The Presbyterian, Methodist, and Christian denomination! have eaeh good commodious brick buildings, and the Haptist.s a comfortable frame house.

several carpenter shops, three excellent carriage factories, two boot and shoe stores, two batcher shops, one tannery, one bakery, two saw mills, two jewelry stores, masons, plasterers, restaurants, a nursery, kept by W, F. Ballard, commission merchants, and grain dealers ; a marble shop ; two printing offices ; a national bank, &c.

The Knightstown Academy building is a commodious structure, capable of accommodating near four hundred pupils, and the graded school at that point has for years ranked high. The building, though imposing in size, was built a number of years ago, and some of the citizens are agitating the erection of one with all the modern improvements. There are 537 children of an age to go to school attached to Knightstown for school purposes, of which 442 attended the school year of 1870, and the average attendance was 261.

The popidation of Knightstown, by the late census, was 1,543 , and its wealth, real and personal, according to the tax duplicate of 1870 is $818,390.

Raysville is situated on the east side of Blue River, which separates it from Knightstown. It was laid out as a village by John Anderson, about the time of the location of the Xational Road, and named in honor of Governor Ray. Although having an even start as a place of business, it has had to yield the palm to Knightstown, where quite a number of the citizens of Raysville are engaged in business.

The " heights " around Raysville furnish quite commanding and picturesque building sites, with advantageous views of the Blue River Valley, two great thoroughfares, and of the two towns. For a commanding " out-look," we know of nothing more desirable in the county than the view from the former residence of John C. Teas, now the property of John T. White. Charles White and C. D. Morgan, Esq., have also fine suburban residences, erected regardless of expense, which add much to the importance of the place.

EUj n ill.- bad population of 165 In July last. A dry good! Ud general store is kept by M. Thompson, and a grocery by Charles Baroaby. There Is one wagon-maker's shop, one

There Is also a -rain elevator adjoining the depot (where the potent effect* of steam are Invoked), owned by Charles White, u, extensive grain and stock-dealer. John Bird's nursery is adjunct to the business interests of the place. The Kethodtete and Friends have each acburch in the place, with

Situated on Fall Creek,in the northern part of Pall Creek township, ma laid out by Jacob Koons, and plat recorded Oct. Q lsjd. There was a public sale, of lots on the 25th day of December, L8S9, when the best lots did not sell so well as they do latterly. There was not a frame house in the township at

It is now the third village in the county in point oi wealth and population. It contains one hundred and forty-live residence*, and a population of seven hundred and ten. The real estate la valued at $104£80, and the personal at $115,400. The town was Incorporated, in 1840, by C. H. Burr and fourteen others. There are several fine buildings in the place.

A large body of rich farming lands is tributary to Middle (own, and. as a consequence, large amounts of produce art bandied there, and the sales of dry goods, groceries, Ac, &c. u,v correspondingly large. Among the leading business meno the place, we maj mention :

There i> also one of the hest grist mills in the county, two aw mills, one harness maker, two hoot and shoe houses, a tannery, which has been carried on by C. H. Burr about forty years.

The course of Middletown has been onward, since the completion of the Chicago & Great Eastern Road, which passes through the town. Its proximity to the Bellefontaine line has also been of considerable advantage to it, as it enabled its produce dealers to command facilities for shipping denied to other places on the road, as the dealers could, in many instances wagon their produce to the "Bee Line," if desired facilities we're denied them.

Middletown is not disposed to neglect the subject of education. It has a good two-story frame school house valued at about $1,500, and has been sustaining a graded school for several years. There are 263 children of a suitable age attached to the district, of whom 200 attended school, during 1870, while the average attendance is reported at 175.

The town of Ogden, situated on the Central Railroad and National Road, in the southwestern portion of Spiceland township, was laid out by Hiram Oram, in December, 1829. It was originally called Middletown, from its being the half way point between Richmond and Indianapolis, but when application was made for a post office, a " new name " was given it, as a rule of the Post Office Department would not admit of two offices of the same name in one county. Latterly, the custom is to grant but one of the same name in a State.

Ogden was named in honor of a LT. S. Engineer, engaged in the construction of the National Road, and is the oldest town and firs t voting precinct in Spiceland township. We mention the following among the principal business men and firms of the place ;

( >gden baa, besides, plasterers, masons, painters, carpenters, 9tC, .Mi.- church - the Christians - and a good two-story brick school-house, recently cm-ted. Ogden has a population of about three bundled.

The plat of I.ewisville was recorded December 25, 1829, by Lefri8 C. Freeman and James B. Harris, proprietors. It is lo- < sated i" the southern part of Franklin township, on Flat Rock I Ireek, where the Henry County Turnpike and Central Railroad i toes that stream, and, being in the midst of an excellent body of land <>t large scope, has been for many years a place of considerable business. When the town was laid out, two lots were Deserved for the use of the town. Lewisville has a population of almiit lie It- business interests are chiefly represented as

Besides these, there are two boot and shoemaBems^two tailors, two painters, and one saddle and harness maker, carpenters... masons, plasterers, milliners, watch makers, photographers* &e.

The town has a large two-story brick school house anda graded school, which has been quite successfully, conducted by W. C. Hall and James M. Smith. The Methodists have a frame church building, while the Presbyterians have one in course of erection. The real and personal property of Lewisville isratei for purposes of taxation at $147,GG0.

This town was platted in February, 1S30, by John Wicker - sham, proprietor. It is situated on the east bank of Duck- Creek, about one mile from its junction with Blue Eiver, and, nearly seven miles north by east from Knightstewn. Being in the midst of a tract of fertile farming lands, it has ever enjoyed a considerable local traffic, though its growth in wealth and importance has not been so rapid as that of some other villages in the county. Greensboro has a number of excellent turnpikes radiating from it ; but it is as a station on the " underground railroad" that it has won a national reputation. As the home of a number of determined and veteran abolition agitators, ithad a reputation, fifteen or twenty years ago, second to no placeof its size in the whole country. In those early days a large building, known as "Liberty Hall," was often filled with enthusiastic audiences, who listened to such apostles of freedomas Arnold Buffum, Abby Kelly, Fred. Douglas, G. W. Julian, and others of note.

Churches-The Methodists and the Orthodox and llirk.it. branchea of Friends haveeacha church-building in the viBage, while .1.- Spiritualists havehere a comfortahle placed worship, known as Progress Hall.

Tll(. population of Greenshoro is ahout 360, and the valualil)U o£ real and personal property within the corporation limits, which does not Include the whole town, is given at

One of the old towns of Henry county, is situated near the little Blue River, in the southeast corner of Prairie township, and ahout three miles northeast of New Castle. It was laid out In 1830, by Thomas Maston and Samuel Rinehart. It has eighteen dwellings and a population of about one hundred. It has two Bmall stores, a Bmith shop, a steam saw mill, &c.,&c. v r ii are located the extensive woolen mills of Ice, Dunn & I . The place i- at present without a post office, as such an establishment, after two or three trials, was not found sufficiently lucrative to Induce a postmaster to longer discharge the duties Incldenl to it. "Dan Webster" was the name of the ollicc formerly established there.

The Methodists and Xew Light denominations have each, good church buildings, while a good two-story brick school house speaks well for the place.

There is also a good flouring mill, a saw mill, smith shop, a hotel, kept by Mark Walradt, carpenters, boot and shoe shop, &C., &c. Several new turnpikes center here, which will have a tendency to greatly enhance the pleasure as well as profit ot living and doing business in the place.

New Lisbon

Formerly called Jamestown (or "Jimtown"), was located in 1S33, by James Tomkinson and Wm. Crane. It is situated on the Xew Castle and Dublin Pike and Fort Wayne, Muncie and Cincinnati Railroad, about eight miles southeast of Xew Castle and four and one-half northwest of Dublin. It is a village of about forty dwellings, and near two hundred inhabitants, and, we believe, has never aspired to become an incorporated city.

located, for ;t -li< nt time, about one-half mile north of Hopewell Meeting Bouse. This was none of your improved instituii..n-. in which ilie -aw dust was amply sufficient for fuel. It had two huge boilers, and required about five cords of the best wood per day to keep up Bteam, while the accumulation of m« dust around the mill In a few months bid fair to render approach to it Impossible; These were undoubtedly the first attempts at utilizing the Dowel's of -team in this county, and from the best Information coming down to us, the effort was not a brilliant success financially.

For many years New Lisbon had the appearance of being tini-lied: but good turnpike- and the inspiring influence of the- Junction Railroad have rejuvenated it, and it now enjoys conable trade, and a number of new buildings are noticeable w 111:1.1. ani>.

A village of this name seems to have been projected in 1833, as is attested on our records over the signature of Caleb William-. Surveyor; but since neither township, range, nor

Another paper village, was plaited February 23, 18:30, by Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Showalter and James Personett; and. although the location is not given, it is probable that it was "laid out" Dear the road now leading from Cadiz to 3iiddletownr and about two and a half miles east of Mechanicsburg.

Luray was laid out in 1836, by Lot Hazleton, and is located in the Dorthern end of Prairie township, on the Newcastle & ftfuncie Turnpike, ten miles due north of New Castle There la a line flouring mill in the vicinity. A church, school house, one physician, smith -hop. &p., are h, the village. The population numbered 66, according to the late census. The completion of the Fort Wayne. Muncle c\. Cincinnati Railroad, which runs

This village, located on the line between Greensboro and j Harrison townships, about live miles northwest of the town of Greensboro, was founded May, 1836, James Atkinson, proprietor. The population of the place is quite limited. The country around is leavel but quite fertile.

Founded September 11, 1836, David Pickering, proprietor, is located seven miles north of Avest from New Castle, and is the principal village in Harrison township.

Besides which then' are carpenters, cabinet-makers, two black-smith shops, a tile factory, boot and shoe shops, a grist mill, saw mill, a good school house, and the Friends, Methodists, and Christian congregations have each a church, and the Spiritualists a hall in which occasional services are held. A hack * line, carrying a daily mail, has been established for several years between this place and New Castle.

At the time Cadiz was founded there was no house within seven miles on the west, and the population of the township was but little in excess of one hundred.

Elizabeth City

Pounded hi September, 1838, by Robert Morris Overman, is lo- : ..ii the Knightstown and.Warrington Pike, in the north- \ -- corner ol Wayne township. There is a fine body of farming land around it. Wilkinson & Brother are dealers in dry I groceries, two smith shops, run by X. McDougaJ and -- i Burris. There are twowagon shops, a carpenter shop, one mill, an M. E. church, :i school house, and twenty-two families in the place.

pike, about one and one-half miles southeast of Millville and half a mile from the raUroad, which seems to have ruined its Be I rospects. At one time it numbered ten or twelve », one or tw<> Btores, and two hotels.

after which a log house was erected for the purpose. The mercantile and manufacturing interests of the village are now considerable. There are engaged in the sale ot

Physicians-Coetean & Stewart; T. S. Basye. Besides these there is an extensive saw and planing mill, owned by ^ . W. Wilson, a pump factory, by Charles Dickinson, a hotel, by \nn E Pleas several shoe and carpenter shops, &c.

The establishments and trades above mentioned are, perhaps, as well patronized here as in other villages, but in educational matters, Spiceland far excels most plaees ot its size in the county. The academy building will accommodate comfortably about 250 pupils, and it is the opinion ot Spicelanders generally that, in range of studies, advancement, and general excellence, the school is not surpassed m the county.

There is a Library Association, with a capital ot $2,<00, half paid in, and near six hundred volumes on its shelves, ^ m. Dawson, Librarian.

Sulphtjb 8Pkihgs

The village of Jefferson township, is situated on the Chicago and Great'Eastern Railroad, about seven miles northwest of New Castle. It was recorded January 1, 1S53, by Wm, S. 1 ost, and now contains about two hundred and fifty inhabitants. The place contains one Methodist church, a school house, one hotel a -ood grist mill, one saw mill, a tile factory, one wagon and two smith shops. Dry goods are kept by Whitworth &

A)r Summit, as it Is generally called, was recorded in April, 1865, by .lose. Ice proprietor, it derives its name from the supposition that it occupies one of the highest points In the county. - Is located In the western part of Prairie township, on the I'ort Wayne, tfuncie and Cincinnati Railroad, and, although -<-arr.lv entitled to be railed a village 1'or the first dozen years -<.f it- existence, Bince the completion of the railroad through the place, it has made fair progress. The business is represented, in part, thus :

Tills village, situated on the Great Eastern Railroad, near the center of Libei'tj tow aship, and about seven miles from the county seat, was founded in 1855, by John Harshbarger. Its business is represented, in the way of dry goods, by Granville, Forkner ft Co. and s. D. Wisehart; drugs and groceries by Howren & Schoolfleld. The physicians are James Stafford and Mr. Schoolfleld. There is also a smith shop, a wagon shop, and a good steam saw mill, from which the place derives its unpretentious name. The population of the place numbers about one hundred and flftj .

Or HuUin's Station, situated on the Great Eastern Railroad, in Liberty low nsliip, about i iiree miles from N'ew < 'astle, was begun iu 1856. Its present population is about sixty. D aler in Drj Good - Wesley Snod grass.

On the dividing line between Blue River and Stony Creek townships, founded a score or more of years ago, has passed the zenith of its glory, and now, as a village, scarcely exists, save in memory. We believe Mark E. Reeves, a retired Richmond merchant, still owns a number of corner lots in the place.

Was recorded by Peter Keesling and others, September 22, 1858, and is located in the southwestern part of Fall Creek township, and about four miles west of south from Middletown. At the last census i'J contained 133 inhabitants and some twenty-one dwellings. X. R. Elliott and Thomas Goodwin represent the dry goods interests of the place; Ezra Buff kin the drug trade; Isaac and M. Woods do the blacksmithing, and Keesling & Elliott's saw mill men attend to the lumber interests of the village. The town is located in the midst of a very fertile tract of country, and, with three or four good pikes radiating from it as a center (although never destined to become a great city), a prosperous growth for years to come may confidently be expected.

Honey Creek

Located on the Chicago and Great Eastern Railroad, in Fall Creek township, three miles southeast of Middletown, was founded in 186 . Adam Evans and a Mr. Conned are engaged in the goods trade, which, with a blacksmith shop and a steam saw mill, constitutes the principal business features of the place.

This is one of the youngest of Henry county villages, and is located in the southeast part of Spiceland township. The first lots were sold by J. W. Griffin, in the year 1865, and was soon followed by additions from Caleb Johnson and Thomas Evans. A station was located here on the completion of the Central memory called the incipient village Dunreith, alter his middle - Mm. Mind thestatlonand post office were re-named aeeordinjrly. The place i- fortunately situated as a poinl for the shipment of a vast amount of produce. I: is one of the liveliest villages of thecounty,and contained 180 inhabitants in < October last. Lois have generally sold here so as to realize fitbm $ 100 to .f 1,000 perj acre. The following are mentioned as anions the enterprising business men of the place : -

Factory - Albertson Brotl There is also a hotel and livery stable,kept by Mr. Young, twq smith Bhops, a carriage shop, and an excellent steam saw mill, run by Smith, Moricle & Simmons.

A daily hack line plies between this point and Greensboro] via Spiceland, and twice per day between Dunreith and Spieeland. The town was incorporated last fall. It has a large twoframe school house, and the Christians and Friends have lurishing congregation and good buildings. btraughh's statiox, Yet in it- infancy, was laid out by Merriman Strauglm, in 1SGS. It is located in the south part of Dudley town-hip, on the Central Railroad and Henry County Turnpike (the old National

It has sixty Inhabitants, two -tore-, a post office, an express smith Bhop, awagon shop, a sehool house, and a church, which cost about $2,600. Merriman Straughn the " oldest inhabitant," came to the Vicinity in the autumn of 1822, when all

Grant City

One of the youngest of Henry county villages, is handsomely situated and well laid out, on the Knight-town and Middletown Turnpike, six miles north of Knight-town. It is a lively little place, and was laid out by Jacob Green, Esq., in October, 1SG8. It has a population of sixty-eight, one Friends* meeting house, and a good school house. The Methodists have recently effected a church organization.

There are two general -tores, one drug store and doctor's oflice, one steam saw mill, two smith shops, one cabinet shop, &c. In the vicinity lives John Manlove, one of the pioneers, eighty-seven year- >>! age, aid for about titty year- a resident of the county.

lias not had time to acquire metropolitan dimensions. It is situated in the northwestern part of Prairie township. The population numbers near

And tins brings us to the end of the list of villages, ''past and present," for Henry county. Several of these, it will be observed, scarcely existed, save in the "florid imaginations" of their sanguine projectors. The notice of the " rise and progress " of many of these has necessarily been short, and in some iustances not as full relatively, as the comparative importance of the place would have warranted ; but in the haste of preparation it has not always been possible to obtain the desired information just when wanted, especially of the business interests of this or that locality, and in some instances very import-

Ibe propriety of giving a sort of directory In connection witli the iketob of each village has been debatable from the flnc,rinee changeawere constantly going on; new firms coming nu in the Stage and old ones passing oft". Still it is believed the feature i- of sufficient Interest, in spite of needed emendattona,tO warrant its retention.

While it is not presumed that all Henry county officials have been paragons of virtue, it is nevertheless true that the county has more generally been blessed with honorable and capable men for officers than most counties within our knowledge. No well founded charges of peculation or corruption in office seems ever i<> have been preferred against a Henry county official by any well meaning person, and there is no evidence of a Bingle ei.ni having been lost, to the county by any defaulting public 'servant, nor of their securities ever having suffered from tin- misconduct of the principal, fliosl of them have been what were considered by the standard of the times temperate men; and, although all have not been teetotalers, a regular whisky Moat has scarcely ever been able to command any considerable support in the county, which is far from being the fact in many

With such officials the finances of the county, as will be seen elsewhere, have in the main been judiciously managed, and the burthens laid upon the peoplelighter than in most counties of the State, and. for many years, a "county order*' has been just a~ good as a check on the inn-t flourishing bank, or as so much of the currency of the times paid in hand. These matters are not mentioned tor the purpose of fostering county pride, but as a simple record of facts, which a pretty extensive search among

The following tables give nearly a complete list of the public servants of Henry count}', together with the dates of service. It is proper to mention, however, that, from the changing of the official term, strict accuracy has not always been attainable "without more research than was convenient ; and it is also well to mention that, as in the ease of the Treasurer, the date named of necessity includes the year in which they were inducted into office as well as the outgoing year, a portion of which was of course served.

Our Senators, From 1822 To 1871

Henry county has been represented in the upper branch of the State General Assembly by fifteen "grave and reverend seigniors,*' of whom thirteen have been citizens of the county. Amaziah Morgan, of Rush, and Thomas Bell, of Madison, being the "outsiders" who have had the honor of speaking for us. Our legislators have not all been Solons, but the probability is that they have been, morally and intellectually at least, fully up to the average of the times. Bflow is given a list of such Senators, with dates, and counties composing the districts, &c.

Powell Simon Summers Samuel - <>nin Jesse w. Baldwin M. I.. Bundy w ra. \. Riifner Butler Hubbard Russell Jordan Isaac H. Morris . Josi ph ^ ount \\ . Stewart LnthcrC. Melletl Milton Peden v ii. Ballenger a\ in. i .i ose. J. II. Mellctt I.. Bundj - . i '. Morgan i '. W, < bambers John R. MiUikan i»r. i hlttenden Thomas Lines

Sheriffs, From 1822 To 1872

*Bv an act of the General Assembly, February, 1324, the Justices of the Peace became ex officio County Commissioners, but this seems to have n fallen into disrepute, and, in 1827, the Board of Commissioners was revived.

The Constitution of Indiana provides that tlie "judiciary power" of this State "shall be vested in one Supreme Court, in Circuit Courts, and such other inferior Courts as the General Assembly may from time to time direct and establish."

The official title of the fiduciary dignitary commonly called the " < '-unity < Ink " is " < lerk of the Circuit Court,*' although it i> evident from the records that more than half his onerous duties have at all times bad their origin in the "inferior courts," and while discharging the functions of the various positions he has often attested documents as " C. C. C. P. II. C.,"' or "C. II. I'. ( '.." or "C. H. C.P. ( !," or " Clerk of the Board,"" which, being Interpreted v probably means, "Clerk of the Circuit Court and Probate of Henry County," or "Clerk of the Henry Common Pleas Court," or "Clerk of the Board of Commissioners,*' >\ . The following is a li-t, from the earliest times till the year <-! grace, L871, of the Circuit Court: Bene Julian, 1899 to 18 Eli Murphey, 1888 to 1843,

I-Dled In office. J. W. Grnbbs, was appointed to fill the unexpired term, but Thomas Sogers performed the duties of the oflicc. : Died in office, august 8, i«28.

Presiding Judges

From the organization of the State until the adoption of the new Constitution, in 1S51, the Judges of the Circuit Court were, one Presiding Judge, elected by the circuit (often comprising half a dozen or more counties), and two resident Associate Judges. Hon. Miles C. Eggleston, of Brookville, was the first "President Judge," and T. B. Stanford and Elisha Long the first Associate Judges. Below is given the li«t, with dates of service :

Associate Judges Circuit Prosecutors

These important functionaries, with whom hangs the fate of the evil-doers to a much larger extent than on either Judge or jury, seem to have heen at first appointed, and then elected annually, and afterward biennially. The following is the list complete, except appointments pro tern. :

*Died March 21, 1871, before entering upon the second term of office to -which he had been elected. D. "W. Kinsey was appointed by the Commissioners to the office till the next- eeneral election, in 1872.

Hod of our Attorneys have temporarily filled the positions i Mentor "no or more terms, by appointment of the Court, i. ut it la not deemed necessary to enter into particulars. And bo ..f the Judges1 bench, especially of late years. In case of the aon-appearance of the Judge elect, the Sheriff, Clerk, and Auditor seiecl some suitable person to till the bench, and we find the names of Judges Walker, Brown, &c., frequently occurring on the Order Books of the Court.

Clkkks Ok Probate

At the time of the organization of the county, there was in existence S Probate Court, which had especial jurisdiction In the .settlement of decedents' estates, whether intestate or otherwise, the jurisdiction in this regard being much the same i< that of the Court of Common Pleas of a later day. The Clerk of the Circuit Court was, by virtue of his office, Clerk of the Probate Court, tilling both positions during his term of office, except in the case of S. T. Powell, during whose term the Probate Court was abolished and the Common Pleas instituted. Those who thus served areas follows: Ilene Julian, Abraham Elliott, John Elliott, Eli Murphey, Samuel Hoover, S. T. Powell.

Common' I'Lkas Judges

The Court of Common Pleas appears to have been invented Immediately upon the formation of the new Constitution, to lake tlie place of the old Probate Court, and, it might be added. 0 confuse and complicate litigation - in which respect the existof two courts having so nearly identical jurisdiction, as the Circuit and Common Pleas Courts have, has been quite a success. The flrsl term of the Common Pleas Court for Henry county began in 1853, and the following is a list of the Judges:

District Prosecutors

The office of Recorder, for quite a number of years, does not seem to have been counted a prize of any great value, and, notwithstanding the business continued steadily to grow from the first, as the records abundantly show, the emoluments of the office were less than $900 in 18G3. The following are the names and dates of service of the incumbents :

This office was created in 1S40. Prior to this time, the position of Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners had been filled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the duties, so far as they went, being somewhat similar to those now performed by the Auditor, though in extent not being a tithe of what now devolves upon the office. Indeed, the records of the first twenty years' transactions are hardly equal to those recorded for one quarter at the present day. Some estimate may be formed of the growth of the duties of the office from the fact that Rene Julian was allowed seventeen dollars for his labors as Clerk of the Board for four terms of the Commissioners' Court in 1822, while to-day the duties require the unremitting labors of two persons from early morning until ten o'clock P. M., nearly every day in the year, an amount of duties considerably in excess even of the onerous duties of the Clerk's office, which it about equals in point of pay. So far the office has been filled by but four parsons (and, singular to relate, they have all been preachers, to- wit :

Prior to 1840 the collection of the county revenue appears to have been a duty distinct from the functions of keeping and paying out the same, and generally devolved upon a different person. Now the delinquent taxes only are collected in that way. As it was not an office of record, a complete list is at * Appointed to fill vacancy caused by death of Enos Bond.

This office ha- never Inch regarded as a "fat" one, and, so hi :i- heard from, noneofthe Incumbents have died wealthy. The probabilities are that the compensation growing directly out of the position has never in any one year exceeded $250. The following named persons have held the position, the firstnamed having it for twenty years : Thomas R. Stanford, Stephen M. George Ballcngall, Isaac Kinley, Jolm P. Polk James M. Clements, Xoali Hays.

The office of Coroner is a position of more dignity and Importance, and less pay, perhaps, than is generally known. The term of office is for two years, and the incumbent maybe called to till the Sheriff's office when that officer is invited to be party to a Buit. lie is also a peace officer, with the same powers as a Sheriff, and. in case of a vacancy or disqualification of the Sheriff, lie becomes the Sheriff de facto, and yet the pay of such a position in this county has generally been hut a few dollars, perhaps less than twenty-five, per annum. Only once or twice, we believe, has the Coroner been called on to act as Sheriff in the county. William McDowell, familiarly known as " Uncle Hilly Mack," has been Coroner so generally that he lias come to be looked upon as the Coroner.

in addition to the above, ought by all means to be mentioned the almost indispensable and inevitable Bailiff. This position has been tilled for thirty-nine years (up to 18G9) we belicrc, by William McDowell, senior ; and notwithstanding the place may he a- acceptably tilled by the present Bailiff, Mr. John 'Alexander, there would have been a fitness in retaining "Uncle Billy" tor at least a quarter of a century longer.

Statistical And Financial

The steady growth of our eounty in wealth, population, and educational facilities cannot perhaps he hetter presented than in the following brief tables, some of which are not complete, from the fact that the sources of information on which we relied are in themselves incomplete. It is to be regretted that not even a complete file of local papers back of 1S58 can now be found in the county, while tax duplicates of a date prior to 1S42 were destroyed with the Court House in 1S64.

The area of the county is about three hundred and ninety square miles, and, taking the record of the vote for Governor in 1S25, (the first of which we have any account,) and allowing six inhabitants to each vote cast, we have 2,193, or a little little less than six to the square mile. Three years later it was about nine per square mile, and four years later the population had reached about sixteen per square mile, or one to each fortyacre lot; while to-day the population is nearly four times as great, and numbers about one to each ten-acre lot in the county.

Assessixg The Revenue

The cost of assessing the county for the first few years may also serve to throw some light on the past, and, compared with the same service to-day, must be admitted to demonstrate progress at least.

This was all well enough - no needless expense about it at all, one would think ; and, at the same time, it is probable that the Assessors were as well paid as to-day, when the average cost is about $150 per township. In early times a man knew much more about the affairs of his neighbors than at present, and oould tell the number of horses, oxen, gold watches, ©r plflMUTC carriages, witliont going to sec him; so he would just lH down at home and make out a schedule for the township; and M late as 1*4<; tlie coat for the whole county was hut $2GC, little more than the cost for the largest township this year. The cost of assessing the revenue for 1S71 is $1,801.

County Rkvkxues

No complete statements of the condition of Henry county finances, such as are set forth by the Auditor's and Treasurer's books of to-day, seems to have been kept prior to 1S42, and what there was of the earlier duplicates was probably destroyed in 1864. An occasional reference or paragraph, of from two or three to a dozen lines each, interspersed through the Commissioners' record*, furnished about all there is extant of the amount and kind of taxes levied, as well as the condition of the Treasury, for the first twenty years of our history. The total cash in the Treasury, from June 1, 1822, to| November 13 of the same year, was $74 60. This, we are left to suppose, flowed into the Treasury from some natural course, as no account of a tax levy prior to this has been preserved.

Upon settlement entered into with the Sheriff, alter {riving him - redit for delinquency, and the balance being struck, he stands charged to the county of Henry, for taxes due. the sum of one hundred and fiftythree dollars, thirty-seven and one-half cents.

< a-h to Hi.' ( omity Treasurer from the first day of June, 1822, up to the Mth day of Nov.. ls-2-J, the sum of $142 55, in orders against the county, which the Treasurer allowed, and. after allowing his per cent, for receiving and paying, leaves a balance in flavor of the County Treasurer against the county of the sum of eighty-five dollars and eighty-seven cents.

A farther settlement was had with the Treasurer on the 11th of February, lsi';{, which seems to have been the end of the Bnt financial year. From this " balance sheet*' it appears that t line had been received into the county " strong box " the sum oi |153 ;i7'.,, and that he had paid out, since the November set-

From this it will be seen that the county was in debt the considerable sum of $30 90, which the unsophisticated financiers of the time no doubt felt to be a burden, as the theory that the " public debt is a national blessing " was not invented at that early day.

In 1823 the county was placed fairly on its feet, as there appears to have been a balance left in the Treasury, after having paid the Treasurer and Sheriff $11 50 each for their laborious duties. The receipts and expenditures for the year ending Februry 9, 1824, were: Receipts, $296 75; expenditures, $241 37; balance, $34 7G; delinquency, $11 55.

It must not be supposed that this very satisfactory state of the public exchequer was brought about by our present ad valorem system of assessments. Far from it. The amount of the duplicate for 1824, for county purposes, was but $27 28 ; State purposes, $45 50 ; or a total of $72 78.

Excise And Sumptuary Laws

To devise ways and means for meeting the wants of the county was an early concern of our county " administration,'" and to this end it enacted that the rates of tavern license for 1822 shall be $4 ; and well knowing that the tavern-keeper must get this money of his customers, the Commissioners, on the 11th day of November, 1822, enacted that the following shall be the

Ordered by the Board, That the former rates and prices of liquors, diet, lodging, stablage, and provender, for which the several tavernkeepers were allowed to sell, are continued the ensuing year.

hone, or, "oats, per gallon, or corn," while other Items for the comfort ol man oi beast Beemed to have remained stationary. The following la the regular duplicate rates of taxation ordered by tin' Hoard for 1824: - j^old watch, or brass clock in the county, it looks as if.the above schedule of prices was intended to be prohibitory. Take into consideration the scarcity and value of money at that early day, and a portion of these taxes must be considered onerou-, while the small nesa of the duplicate shows conclusively that very few of the tax-payers of Henry county sported such trinkets as gold watches or brass clocks. In our day, when Uncle Sam put a tax of one dollar on a watch or carriage, men have been heard grumbling most unamiably about the burden.

As previously mentioned, much exact information about the county in its infancy is not attainable, and we are forced to rely upon disjointed fragments, collected here and there, for many things.

The taxable polls of the county in 1S25 numbered $405, and there was not a pauper in it. In the same year Wayne county had $2,291 taxable polls and sixteen paupers. Marion county had but $630 taxable puii.< and twenty-two paupers.

Iso 01

The receipts and expenditures for 1829 are not given. From the foregoing it will be seen that the total transactions at the l- treasury department " for seven years, are represented by the suna of $2,786 15 in receipts, and the expenditures were l*ss br $100 24, with which sum the county entered upon the fiscal year 1829. A very considerable portion of the receipts was from the sale of Xew Castle lots, some forty or fifty of which at least must have been disposed of up to this date, the agent having at one time presented his bill for making twenty deeds.

Still greater expansion of the county revenues and expenditures is shown in 1840. They foot up as follows : Receipts, . $4,522; expenditures, $3,085.

The following table, taken from the duplicate, is interesting as an exhibit of the condition of our finances each fifth year, be<rinnin<r with 1S41 :

Wealth And Tax Per Capita

The following estimate gives a very nearly correct statement of the jamount of property for each man, woman, and child in the county, for the periods named :

Per Cext. Of Taxes

TIk above per cent, ii on the entire levy for State, county. school, road, township sinking fund, and every other tax placed pan the duplicate, that for county purposes being often an - onsiderablc part of the whole.

Prom 1840 t<> 1880 the amount of taxes levied increased I retty regularly, but little more than keeping pace with the growth of the county in wealth. About the latter period tke plan of supporting the common schools by taxation was adopted, which, with the additional expenses for better roads, and the increased interest on the State debt, etc., etc., conspired to increase the rate until, in 1855, it had reached a trifle over eightynine cents on the hundred dollars valuation. The rapid increaM of wealth, however, by 1861, had caused the rate to fall off again tosixty-flve cents on the hundred dollars. From 18G1 to 18G5 the increased State tax, the care of soldiers' families, ami bounties to volunteers, together with the tax for the erection of county buildings, increased the rate of taxation beyond all precedent. In 1805 a tax of $212,203, or a trifle Oyer two dollars and fifteen cents on the hundred dollars, was placed on the duplicate. In 1864 the tax for county purposes alone was $42,969; in 1865, $101,45S; in 1866, $98,936; in 1867, $100,822; in 1868, $75,285; in 1869, $51,495; and in 1870 but $12,788. This latter sum, with the accumulated surplus, it was supposed, would be sufficient for the ordinary wants of the county, besides meeting some expenses in completing the Court House grounds, finishing the Jail, and re-roofing the County Asylum, etc.

Kxtkaokdinaky Expenditures

l'li.' largo amount Of unusual expenditures, together with the war prices paid for nearly all the objects of ordinary expense, -welled the amount to a sum that, to a Henry county citizen, seemed enormous, dust how promptly and cheerfully these burdens were paid may be inferred from the fact that the total delinquency on a duplicate amounting to $218,775, was but $4,276, or a trifle less than two per cent, of the whole, and more than two-thirds of this was afterwards collected.

It is also worthy of remark that the amount of taxes carried over from year to year has rarely exceeded one or two per cent, of the duplicate, and to-day is only about three and onehalf per cent, of the wh«le, a sum not much larger than the poll-tax on transient citizens, of which every community has its share.

Other Items Congressional Districts

The Congressional Districts in which Henry county has been associated have fluctuated strangely, partly owing, no doubt, to the different ratios «f representation ; and, of course, to some extent, in consequence of the shifting tide of emigration ; but infinitely more because of the struggle for ascendency between political parties, skill in manipulating the material m hand, so as to perpetuate the reign of the party in power, being regarded as the very acme of statesmanship.

° When Elbridge Gerry, a noted Eastern politician, the patron saint of this prominent branch of politics, once manipulated the districts of his State so that an adept in geography would be puzzled to fix the boundaries, someone described them as "meandering," to which another remarked, " Yes, they look like they had been Gerrymandered ;" and from that dar to this- "Gerrymandered" and "Gerrymandering" have been recognized in current literature as synonyms for political trickery.

*The expense of Poor includes part payment on an addition to the I Poor Farm, while the expense of county officers refers only to pay drawn I direct from the Treasury, and, of course, does not include fees.

Fifth District, 1836 to 1840 - Adam*, Allen, Lagrange, Xo )>le, Fulton, Wabash, Huntington, Jay, Randolph, Grant, Dela ware, Henry, Wayne, Fayette, and Union.

It will be seen that from 1832 to 1S40 the district was, in th Widest place, nearly seventy miles, by one hundred and fifty in length, and comprised nearly 7,000 square miles. In 1840 this was suddenly reduced to about thirty-six miles in width, from north to south, by forty-two from east and west, and only comprised 1,100 square miles and four of the twenty counties. In 1868 another change came upon us, and Henry and seven other counties compose the district, which is now about forty-two miles from east to west, and one hundred and twenty from north to south, and containing about 3,800 square miles.

Public Schools

Of our beneficent Bysfrm of common or free schools it is 3t within the limits or scope of this work to treat at length. Of the matter as it concerns the county in particular a few facts are appropriate.

The broad assertion that knowledge and learning generally Iffused throughout a community is essential to the preservation of a free government (see section 1, article 2, State Constitution) meets with as general acceptance in Henry county, perhaps, as in any county in the State. There is certainly no part of the public burdens more cheerfully borne than the very con-

UMB1 UOUMTY; PAST AM> pkkskntdderable tax Imposed, and it La many years since we have heard -.1 much aa one Individual object t" this tax, which at one time wa- believed by many well-meaning cltizdns of ours as well aa other communities to be wrong, In principle at least. At first large numbers in every community argued that it was wrong to tax 1 1 1 « - wealthy to educate the poor, or the man without R»r the benefit of those blessed with a dozen. When the question of free sehools or no free schools was submitted to our people, in lsr.i. In the shape of continuing a tax levied by i former legislature, the vote was close indeed, standing: For - continuance, 1,411 ; against Its continuance, 1,382 - a bare majority of 28.

Our people are so well satisfied that the diffusion of knowledge renders them safer in person and property, and that it is cheaper to educate thon to take care of criminals and paupers, that it La safe to predict that free schools would be sustained today by a vote often to one. The principle lying at the foundation of our common school law is gratuitous instruction to every pupil, rich and poor alike; and while the means provided are far too limited to meet all the wants of the community, they -any inestimable blessings with them, so far as they go.

In 1852 the Superintendent of Public Instruction, who seemed enthusiastic in the work, looked fondly forward to the day when the people of the State would raise, by the various methods provided by law, two dollars per child, in order that schools might be sustained all the year round. At that time the revenue from the various funds only amounted 35 cents per child. By the last report of the Superintendent it will be seen that the total amount of common school funds held in trust in this county La $45,488 G2, at 7 per cent., on which the interest, or [$3,187 85, is available as a tuition fund. To this is to be added the school tax of $19,413 56, which, making allowance fcr probable delinquency, gives an available tuition fund of over $20,000 for the county, or about three dollars to each child of a suitable age to go to school.

School Statistics

Average pay of females. . . . $1: Length of school, in days School fund distributed . . . Value of school property . Tax for building purposes.

The following statistics are taken in part from the census report. The social statistics of the county taken by the United States Marshal for 1870 not having yet been made public, and a number of persons on whom we have called for information having failed to respond, the statistics for 1870 are only estimated : i.rt. The church accommodation of the county, It will be q, nearly equals the entire population. Inadditiod to those named above, we believe the "Tunkcrs," or German Baptists, have one or more congregations In the county; So with the Wesleyans, while the Spiritualists have two good halls and quite a number of adherents.

Stock And Grain

The following table gives, by townships, a few of the leading agricultural products of the county, as reported to the census marshal 8 In June last. The Indian corn and -wheat was of course the crop of 18G9, neither of which was a fair average for the ten years past. Most of the items were taken from the manuscript on file in the Clerk's office, and some mistakes of a trivial character may have occurred, as there was no oppori unity for verifying the result - a re-count.

Prior to the year 1850 no great advancement had been made throughout the county in the way of internal improvements. The National or Henry County Turnpike was in process of construction, and the necessity for better roads was greatly felt by the people of the county.

In 1852 the General Assembly passed an act authorizing the construction of plank, MeAdamized, and gravel roads. By this law extensive powers were conferred on companies complying with its provisions, and under it, with certain amendments made, a number of good pikes were constructed, ramifying in all directions, and connecting the remotest parts of the county with the seat of justice.

. In 1865 the General Assembly passed an act to enable County Commissioners to organize turnpike companies, when persons representing three-fifths of the real estate within certain prescribed limits petition for the same, and to levy a tax for constructing a road, and to provide for the same to be free. By this law only the land within three-fourths of a mile of the proposed route was affected, and upon the report of a commission to survey and estimate the cost of construction, the Auditor was required to enter a tax upon said lands according to its value, as shown by the books in his office, and without any reference to the benefits to be derived from the same, one-third to be collected annually, and in the same manner as other taxes, and it might happen that lands the most remote would be most heavily taxed. This law, however, was but an experiment, and but little attempt was made to work under it.

Y]/: | itsville and Circleville, Blountsville and Morristow 11. Flatrock and Bentonville, Pairview and Lewisville. The first-named was Boon abandoned by the general consent of the Interested parties. Further particulars will be found in ;i tabujtatemenl near the end of this chapter. But one of the roads begun under the law of 1865, we believe, "was completed under that law .

'I'll.' law of I860 was objectionable in many of i:< features and impracticable in its operations, but appears to have prepared the way lor the law of 1867. This authorized the assessment of all lands within one and a half miles on either Bide, am! within the same distance <>i the terminus, when the subscription to Buch route amounts to uol less than $800 per mile, and is not sufficient for tin- completion of tin- -am". These a- - mente were required t" be made by three disinterested free-holders, who were required to estimate the benefits likely to accrue to *\i.h particular tract of land. Underthis law a number of roads

-- case was mad-' before Judge Buckles, of the Circuit Court, who decided that the assessments had not been legally made. for several reasons, among which were, that they had tailed to. view the lands as required, and that nil the lands within- the iimit< prescribed had not been listed.

In view of this decision the assessments on other roads were sonsidered illegal, and no great effort was made by the companies to have the tax collected ; but the Commissioners were petitioned to have the Assessors brought back and make their assessments Id conformity with the law.

The I'.lue River Turnpike, of Prairie township, was an exception. The first installment of about $3,000, being mostly paid in, was deemed sufficient, and the second and third Installments wen- never placed on the duplicate.

The amount of turnpike tax collected for 1867 on assessments declared Illegal was $16,074 04, out of a total of $27,221 93 * 1. the duplicate.

no part of the gravel road tax collected was paid over to the officers of the several companies, but remained a part of the balance in the Treasury, June 1, 1868.

All the roads of lsr,7, except the one mentioned above, werere-assessed in 1868, and the tax again placed on the duplicate. At first the assessment were placed on the same duplicate with other taxes; but in 1868, by order of the Auditor of State, they werc placed on a separate duplicate. Below will be found an interesting- tabular statement :

Miles

It i- proper to Ktate that in a few instances we are not quite sure of having given the exact name of the road, but may have given, instead] that of the points connected, and it is also probable that all the pikes have not been named at all, since branches and junctions or connecting links are being constructed so rapidly as to render it next to impossible to keep pace with iliein. In some road districts the plan of grading and graveling i small portion of the common roads each year is being adopted insomuch that in a few years free, well constructed pikes will form quite an important feature of our road system. H< nry county may well boast of her net work of turnpikes ramifj Ing every part of the county, unsurpassed as they are in extent or excellence by any county in the State.

merit. But it must not be inferred from this that we are destitute of men and women of refined taste and good literary capabilities. Such is not the fact. The great success of local literary societies, especially before the Avar, and the aridity with which the people in many localities seek after the hest publications that flow from the press, and their eagerness to hear the best lecturers and speakers, prove them to be appreciative and cultivated in a high degree.

It is not to be presumed, either, that so old a county as this has not produced its literary aspirants and amateurs, and, like almost every other community in the United States, the efforts of our orators, essayists, and bardlings began with the first newspaper, and have never ceased, except when the county would be left for a short time * ithout one of these literary exponents.

The names of those who have conducted the various county newspapers appear in another place, so that it is not necessary to catalogue them here. Of these, Alfred J. Cotton, for a brief time connected with the New Castle Banner in 183G, made some pretense to literature in other fields, and but a few years since he published in the Courier, and almost every other local paper in the State, a poem of considerable length, addressed "To a Snow Bird." The rhyme had little merit aside from showing the genial poetic spirit and warm-heartedness of the old man. His autobiography, published in 1S5S, contains most of his poetic effusions, but will be remembered by our citizens, a number of whom have copies, more for the most refreshing egotism peeping out from every page than for any other merit. The author introduces the work with a likeness of himself and lady. and charmingly discourses about the intellectuality of his own physiognomy and the grace and charms of his lady. He appears to have had a horror of being forgotten, and would not be surprised if rising generations should yet be taught that the " Man in the moon " was Judge Cotton. He signed himself The Rev. Judge Alfred Johnson Cotton.

Walter Edgertox, of Spiceland, in his earlier days and the early days of the anti-slavery movement, wrote articles of great force for the anti-slavery papers, and some for papers that were not anti-slavery. These latter were often of so much force as to be denied publication. He has also, from time to time, contributed many articles of note on doctrinal and scientific topics to tin- religious and other papers pf the day, and is the author of a work of several hundred pages, giving a " History of the Separation" in the Society of Friends on account of the anti-slavery movement. He also edited, we believe, -'The Journal of Charles Oaborn," a distinguished minister of the Society.

.John YV. Grubbs, now of Richmond, for a dozen years connected with the press of this county, commenced his career when very young, i»ut. from lonjr continuance and perseverance, gained a reputation as one of the most skill till and caustic political editors of the State. We presume that Ids "situation" in the wholesale house of Howard & Grubbs is more lucrative, if not more congenial.

Isaac Parker, a man a tew years Mr. Grubbs1 senior, some times contributed to the Indiana San, and wrote political letters of a local character for the Indianapolis Journal, which attracted much ( qmment. A poem of his, written for the Sun in 1840, is distinctly remembered. It was entitled "Johnson's Sukey," ami was intended as a burlesque on Colonel Richard M. Johnson, tor having (as the Whigs asserted) a black wife, Johnson teing then the Democratic candidate for Vice President. A handsome reward would be paid for a copy of that old rhyme.

If. I.. IitxDV, of New Castle, has, for more than twenty year-, been what might be termed a literary amateur, writing letters for the press and articles on numerous topics of interest with more than ordinary ease and grace. Though he might have won greater distinction had he labored more with his pen, it is doubtful whether it would have yielded him such returns of golden gains as he has received from other pursuits.

l>'i BSi ii, B. Abbott, at one time Principal of the New < lastle Academy, i- a man of line culture, who has written much excellent prose, some Of which deserves to live alter its author -hall have mouldered into dn-t.

.---Tan, Caleb Wlckersham, wrote many ai.le articles on the topics Of the day. especially in behalf of freedom for the slave. She at one time conducted a correspondence with the noted

Elizabeth Pease that awakened much interest among her antislavery associates. She died many years since, in the vigor of early youth, while that which she had accomplished was but the promise of what might have been in the future.

William Edcektox has long been widely known to a certain class of readers as an aide essayist and original thinker, especially on controversial and theological subjects. His style is characterized by logical force, depth, and earnestness, rather than by ornament ; and his essays must always command the serious attention of thoughtful people. His popularity would have been greater, though his usefulness might have been less, had he not taken upon Himself the thankless job of stirring up certain theological dry bones.

Xaxcy Kinley, the first wife of Major Kinley, wrote verses full of the inspiration born of a loving heart and generous disposition. An early grave closed the music of a harp that might have been attuned to higher song.

Isaac Kixley, who won the rank of Major in the late war, has perhaps performed more thorough and masterly literary labor than any other man claimed as a citizen of the county. Some of our readers will recollect a lecture he once delivered on the force of the English language, in which, when he came to treat of the strong points in Shakespeare, Scott, and Byron, the hearer was carried along as by a master-hand. Of course all his auditors did not thus enter into the spirit of the composition, which was without any effort after elocutionary effect. He has written a few fine poems and many essays and short articles of rare merit. Among his poems, "Astrea " and "I forgive" are still deservedly popular. In the summer and autumn of 1869 he, in company with his wife, visited Europe and reported the results of their tour in a series of most enjoyable letters to Julian's Radical. -'The Beech Tree,*' the only Henry county magazine, although it died on Mr. Kinley 's hands several years ago, has left a host of pleasant memories, and doubtless, if again revived, would be much better sustained. It is to be hoped Mr. Kinley will see fit to embrace the best of his poems, sketches, and memories in book form for the "ratification of his numerous friends. In Mr. Kinley's capacity as legislator and one of our early anti-slavery politicians, he baa made speeches worthy of preservation, but want of space forbids further notice.

Jeht T. Elliott, whose long and successful career at the bar and on the bench has proven him one of our most vigorous thinkers, and although writing but little outside of a few political articles, he deserves mention as a man of generous self-culture.

Miss .Tosik V. Hickman has for some years past been a frequent contributor to some of the newspapers and magazines of the country. She writes essays, stories, and poems with equal facility, and lias been connected with Mrs. Bland in conng the Ladies' Own Magazine, at Indianapolis, for some time past. This magazine announced, nearly a year ago, that Miss Hickman had a volume of poems in course of preparation.

Clalkson Davis, for several years Principal of Spiceland High School, is one of the best essayists and lecturers in the State. There is a charm about his writings that renders them exceedingly popular. Like Major Kinley, a tour through some of the European States has furnished the theme for inany pleasant lectures. Our people may well hope to see and hear more from his pen.

Thomas R. Stanford is one of those men whom it is not \\ i I to forget, in going back to the past. He served our people faithfully for many years, though we do not now remember but a single literary effort from his pen - a farewell to his constituents, written at the close of a long and useful career.

C. 1). Morgan, Esq., in addition to his reputation as temperance lecturer, lawyer, and banker, has produced a few good addresses on literary and historical subjects. Mrs. C. D. Morgan is also, we believe, the author of a capital burlesque on the Love-sick stories that craze the brains of many modern misses. E. E. Parker, once of the county, has published, in Arthur's Home Magazine and other papers and periodicals, a number oJ po< ms exhibiting a high order of poetic talent.

tice at the bar, and several of our younger practitioner.'? are following in their wake. Without a good degree of literary ability of a certain kind, success in this field is scarcely attainable.

Of Mr. B. S. Parker, whose many essays, sketches, and poems, published, as they have been, from East to AVest, we shall not speak at length. He is still amongst us and still writing as opportunity offers, and undoubtedly wields the readiest pen of any writer in the county. The close friendship known te have existed between him and the writer of this book for years renders it difficult to speak of his varied and extensive labors in such terms as their merits deserve without, perhaps having somewhat set down to the score of friendship and partiality, but the writer of the following needs no encomiums from us:

"So upward through darkness ami 9orrow, Through pleasing that halo the night. We grow, till we reach the to-morrow: Expand, till we enter the light."

Albert Hodson, the young and enthusiastic tourist whose letters from the high-ways and by-ways of Europe to The Republican, during the past and present years, are attracting much attention, is a writer of much promise. He has the elements of a most successful tourist, and the rare faculty of not only seeing all that he passes, but of giving most apt and vivid pen-pictures of what he does see.

L. R. "Woods, for some time a Henry county boy, is proving himself a first-class correspondent, as his frequent letters to the county papers attest.

Nathan Newby, one of the faculty of the State Normal School, born and reared in the county, is the author of many creditable articles, that have appeared in print from time to time, on scientific and familiar topics.

Benjamin Eranklin, a noted minister of the "Christian" denomination, was bred, if not born, in the county, and has, for a number of years, been largely engaged in literary labors, mainly in the realms of denominational and controversial theology. He began his career, we believe, at Milton, Wayne county, by publishing a small serial, entitled the Western Reformer. This was soon merged into a paper owned by Alexander Hall.

i tailed the Proclamation, and this was soon connected with the Christian Age, owned by I). 8. Burnett, and published at Cincinnati. Burnett was soon bought out, and the name changed the Christian "Review, under which name it is still edited by Mr. Franklin.

Adolphus Rogers, the accomodating Deputy Treasurer of the county, is a young man of most excellent literary attainment-. II icasionally furnishes articles for the county papers.

John C. Teas, now residing at Carthage, Mo., was long known in this county as one well posted in literary matters, and, although seldom appearing in print, had few superiors in - - li literary productions as grace a literary society.

Rev. M. Mahin, presiding elder for the M. E. Church, is a solute " defender of the faith" and literary man of fine attainit8. Hi- field of labor has been almost exclusively of a denominational character.

James <;. Bubk, one of our "gallant dead," was a literary man of some taste and the editor and publisher of a book of eral hundred pages, entitled, "First Quarrels in Married Life."

Dr. Joel Rekd, almost the first Henry county physician, - a frequent contributor to the comity papers in former years. lie was a man of good alility, and the generous good- . i - of his heart impressed itself upon his composition.

Benjamin Wrigley, once an editor of the Courier, had a rare faculty ot imitation of some of the choice songs "i the language, and was the author of a few meritorious as. He believed that people in general knew nothing; lacked faith in himself and every body and so run his paper down to naught and left the county.

Hawaii Maria Parker, of Wayne township, wrote several meritorious poems in blank verse, one entitled "The Exile of Scio," telling the woes of a noble Greek banished

Prof. Elijah Evan Edwards flitted into our county once and rested the soles of his feet at New Castle a tew months, but this fact hardly gives us the right to claim that gifted bird of song as a Henry county man.

Dora J. Gilbert, (afterward Williams,) when at college and a 1'e^v years afterward produced some articles that attracted considerable attention on account of their promise of future excellence, but death closed her career before the full scope of her abilities were indicated.

Mrs. Jennie G. Kixley, though scarcely to be claimed a Henry county writer, is the author of articles in prose and verse of rare merit. Her notes on European travel, published in the School Journal, cannot fail to please everyone.

The Misses Edwards, Elizabeth and Mary Jane produced before the local literary societies essays of considerable merit, some of which found their way into print, and may yet be seen in old and well thumed scrap-books.

Ezra Spencer, of Greensboro, has been for several years recognized as a pleasant writer of sketches and essays, and a general advocate of temperance and moral reform.

Besides these, we might mention a host of "locals" and reporters whose talents are being called into active play by the requirements of the public press. Of these we will merely mention John W. Shockley, of Blue River township; Flem. Ratcliff, of Dunreith ; O. H. Bogue, of Dudley; Oll Nixon and J. B. Antrim, of Spiceland ; and a host of others of more or less celebrity, whose bright and shining lights have been partially hidden by the thin veil of a nom de plume.

Anil thus ends the chapter, while many as noted as some mentioned may have been omitted, lor the reason that they have been unknown to us, or we cannot now think of their names. Perhaps at some not very distant day some one w ill take hold of the matter and make a much better showing for the county than it lias been possible for us to do.

County Newspapers

Printing is styled " The art preservative of all arts;" but a little research alter copies of the earlier newspapers of this county has led to the conclusion that newspapers, however potent as chroniclers of passing events, pass away almost as rapidly as the events themselves. To find sufficient data for giving the name and polities of the newspapers of the county - when they were founded, how long each lived, and by whom edited and published, was supposed to be quite an easy task, while the effort has shown it to be one of the most difficult we have had to perform. Where certainty was expected, only guesses and conjectures were met with.

The First Taper

Mitchell, foreman of the office. Grant was succeeded by James Silvers, and he. by J. T. Langdon, each for a short time. The name of this paper is variously reported by those who remember it well, as the Knightatovm Ham, a; Knightstown Situ, and Indiana Sun. The weight of the testimony we belitve to lie in favor of its having been called the Knl-jhtstoion although this would necessitate its having been suspended for several years, or for several considerable periods, as the Sun \. - only in it- third year in 1839.

Sun, or revived the old paper. The fact that the list of letters remaining in the post office at Knightstown was advertised in the Richmond Palladium in 1835, is pretty good evidence that this county was without a paper at the time. About the first the Sun for $600, seemingly a large sum at the time. Before the purchase money was all paid, Hannum left unceremoniously for parts unknown, leaving J. W. Grubbs in possession of the field. On the 10th of June, 1841, Mr. Grubbs changed the name to Indiana Courier, and about the first of December following removed with it to New Castle, " solely for the convenience of the people of Henry county/' He continued its publication until about the middle of the year 184G, when he sold to C. V. Duggins.

About the first of January, 1850, Mr. Duggins died, and the Courier was published by his executor, Mr. James Comstock, until in March, 1850, when J. W. Grubbs again became propi'ietor. George W. Lennaed purchased the office in January, 1853, and, after a few months, found a partner in Coleman Rogers, who assisted in conducting the paper the balance of the year. Nation & Ellison became its proprietors in January, 1854, with H. C. Grubbs as editor-in-chief, and D. Nation "local." Mr. Grubbs, however, soon retired and D. Nation was promoted.

Benjamin Wrigley purchased the office before the close of the year 1854, and took in as partner a Mr. Lyle ; but before the close of the year 1855 they disposed of the office to Chas. E.Harwood and T. B. Bedding, who conducted it for about one year, and turned it over to E. B. Martindale, who also seems soon to have tired of it, and sold out to I. S. Drake early in 1857. In 1859 Mr. Drake secured as partner Walton P. Goode, who became sole proprietor about a year afterward, and continued alone in the business till November, 1862, when the office was sold to E. Pleas, who conducted the paper until the first of March, 1869, a period of six years and four months, when it was sold to M. E. Pleas and H. H. Hoover. This firm continued the publication of the paper until the 15th of May, 1870, when M. E. Pleas sold his interest to A. G. Wilcox, who, in connection with Mr. Hoover, continued its publication until

The Sun, which was the forerunner «of the ' U tbevol- .iii 1 li'im't sr of the form -;- b ang for Bom \ rim \ retained in the Latter , was what is termed a five-column paper, 21 by 32 i j i - 1 1 < * - in dimensions, the columns being ab »ut one-third wider than ;ii present. Forseveral years after the change of name, size was but little changed, though treated to an occasional dress. In 1850 the columns were reduced in width about one-half an inch, bo a< to admit of six columns to the page, and -M i; was enlarged to a H by 36 sheet,6even columns to page, and in 1858 again enlarged to li by but in war times Slay, 1861 . it was reduced in size, by Mr. Goode, to sis columns, and a sheet 11 by 32. At the end of the year 1SG3 it _ In eidarged, by ES. Pleas, to seven columns, or a sheet i\ by 36, and further enlarged, three year- Inter, and made an s t-column paper, and while owned by Wilcox & Hoover it - -till further enlarged and made :i nine-column paper. The politics both of the Sun and Courier were Whig so long as that party remained to lit- battled for. Soon after the demise of that party the paper seemed to have Know-Nothing proclivities; but upon the organization of the Republican party it espoused the cause of Republicanism.

New Castle Banner

We have the pleasure to state that, notwithstanding we i>-ued our first number of the Banner without subscription list, we issue the third wiiii a List rising 800. We confidently anticipate 600 ere long.

Notwithstanding these brilliant prospects, it only reached iu twenty-sixth number by the 20th of October, and was suspended BOOS afterward. .Mr. Swayze started a paper at HagerstOWD, Indiana, and Mr. Cott< n shut up his house and went to Dearborn county, and "stood a poll "for Judge and was elected.

The B - ' profi - 1 to be in iependent in politics, and to give >d from all sides, while the editor and publisher both voted the Democratic ticket.

The Democratic Banner

made by J. Fenwick Henry, about the first of August, 1851. It was started as a six-column sheet, 21 by ;i>, and was ornamented by a wonderfully imposing wood cut head. In about eighteen months, the erratic J. F. II. .sold the concern to Xel- BON Abbott, who enlarged it to a seven-column paper, 24 by 3t>. hut soon changed the name to "New C stle Banner? reducing the size to six-column page and 22 by :!2 sheer. It was conducted with considerable vigor. In 1854, a literary page was conducted under the /"<«' d6 plume of De Wit Mullinix, real name nor now remembered, though we believe tin- sai Writer was employed on a Cincinnati magazine, the departure] under his charge being regarded by some as equal to the Knickerbocker Papers. The Banner was issued as a small semi- weekly for some time, but its demise, which occurred about 1855, was probably hastened by the stand taken on the Nebraska question, The Baltimore platform and resistance to anti-slavery agitation appears to have been it- "pole star."

In September, 1865, R. F. Brown, for some time publlshei ot a paper in Connersvile, Inch, removed his office to Xew Castle, and commenced the publication of a seven-column sheet, styled the BCenry County Times, the first number of which was i dated October 13, 1SG5. At the end of a month, he removed his office to Knightstown, and the fourth number appeared as the Henry County Weekly Times. At the end of about five months. Brown "pulled up stakes'* and went to "Western Illinois, and, a few weeks later, to Lamar, Missouri, in search of a more appreciative community.

shins OP Tin-. TIMES, iboul the 1st of January, 1868. Miller continued the paper mil -Him' time in April, when be became bo badly demoralized flic company procured the Bervicea of a Mr. s. s. Darling?

The New Castle Examiner

THE NEW CASTLE EXAMINER, : ad ran on quite lively till some time in August, when an examination showed that he too had decamped, and an arrangelent was made with I.. L. Dat.k, Esq., to conduct the paper. hi May following, Mr. Dale removed the office to Camb ridge City, to til! a vacancy caused by the sale of the Demoratic organ at that place to the Republicans. The name was hanged to Democratic Ttmes, and after being published there r about five months, the office was again established at New Castle, and in December last sold to L. E. Buxdy and Wm. Johnson, the present proprietors.

The Knightstown Banner

ime and i< now quarto in form and printed on a sheet 25 by 36 inches, and -oems to be well sustained by the citizens of Knightstown and vicinity. In politics it has been radically afterward conducted by Will C. Moreau, and then by A. M. Woodin was discontinued about the latter part of 1861. It was a fair-sized sheet, Republican in politics. Not being in possession of a copy or any very definite information about it, the notice must be correspondingly brief.

The Beech Tree

This was a 32 page literary magazine, conducted by Isaac Kinley, and started, we believe, in 1858. It was discontinued after a few months for want of a sufficiently generous support such as its merits really demanded.

The Westekn Ruralist

An agricultural magazine, published at Knightstown in 1865, by John A. Deem. It was only published a few months when Mr. Deem went to Plainfield, Indiana, and engaged in the publication of a weekly paper.

Advertising Sheets

In addition to the regular newspapers of the county, several little papers intended chiefly as advertising sheets with enough reading only to make them go, have from time to time been projected. Such were the Knightstown Trade Journal of 1867, M. H. Chappell Publisher, and The Henry County Advertiser, recently issued by J. B. Martindale.

Benevolent Societies

The -rganizations known as " benevolent societies" form too important a feature of our " domestic institutions" to be over-looked, although want of room compels us to pass from the subject with little more than a notice of the strength, and date of the organization of each lodge.

The oldest Masonic organization in the county is that of Knightstown, which, from the following table it will be seen was formed near thirty years ago.