Jackson County, Indiana - Chapter 3, 1886

Chapter 3

JACKSON COUNTY was one of the latest that was organ¬ ized under the Territorial government of Indiana. It was first within the boundary of Knox County, but by the creation of other counties it was at different times under the jurisdiction of other counties. At the time of its creation it was emibraced in two counties, as the following act of the Territorial Legislature, approved December 18, 1815, will show:

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Repre¬ sentatives: That from and after the first day of January next, all that part of the Counties of Washington and Jefferson which is inclosed in the following hounds shall form and constitute a new county; that is to say: Beginning at a ;point on the East Fork of White River, where the line dividing Sections 4 and -5, in Range 2 east, Town 3 north, crosses the same, thence due north to the In- *dian boundary line, thence with said boundary line eastward to the point where «aid line intersects the northern boundary line of the Qrouseland Purchase, thence with the last- mentioned line eastwardly to the point where the line divid¬ ing Ranges 7 and 8 east cross the same; thence with the last mentioned line south to the point where the line dividing Townships 3 and 4 north crosses the same; thence with the last mentioned line west to the east fork of Muscatatuck River; thence down said river with the meanders thereof to the junction of Driftwood Fork of White River; thence down the same with the meanders thereof to the place of beginning.

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted that the said county shall, from and after the first day of January next, be known and designated by the name and style of the County of Jackson, and it shall enjoy all the rights and privileges and jurisdic. tions which to a separate county do or may properly appertain or belong : Pro¬ vided always that all suits, pleas, plaints, actions and proceedings which may before said first day of January have been commenced, instituted and depending /within the now counties of Washington apd Jefferson shall be prosecuted to full judgment and effect in the same manner as if this act had not been passed; and Provided , also, that the Territorial and county levies as taxes which are now due within the bounds of the said new county shall be collected and paid in the same manner and by the same officers as they would have been if the crectioo o i said county had never taken place.

Sec. 8. Be it further enacted that Alexander A. Meek, of Jefferson Coun¬ ty, J. Bartholomew, of Clark County, Peter McIntosh, of Harrison County r Ralph Cotton, of Switzerland County, and William Lindley, of Washingtom County, be and they are hereby appointed Commissioners to designate the placefor a permanent seat of justice of Jackson County, agreeable to an act entitled,, "An Act for the fixing of seats of justice in all new counties hereafter U>be laid! off." The Commissioners above named or others by the proper court shall con¬ vene at the house of John Ketcham on Driftwood River on the second Monday of February next, and there proceed to discharge the duties assigned them by law-

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted that the associate judges of the circuit court shall within twelve months after the permanent seat of justice be estate lished, proceed to erect the necessary public buildings thereon.

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted that until the suitable accommodationscan be had in the opinion of said associate judges, at the seat of justice of saieft new county, all courts of justice for the same shall be holden at the town of Vallonia.

Sec. 6. Be it further enacted that whenever the Indian title to- the Iandsnorth of and adjoining to the lands already purchased and stfld by Unitecfi States, all that tract of country north of said county of Jackson, and south of the line dividing Townships 7 and 8 north and lying between Ranges- 3 and 8 east, shall be attached to and become a part of said county of Jackson, and the said line dividing Townships 7 and 8 nortlu shall be the permanent northern boundary of said county of Jackson.

Sec. 7. Be it further enacted that to prevent future disputes aud in somemeasure to quiet the solicitudes which usually attend the settlement of new counties respecting fixing the county seats, &c.. it is hereby declared that the future permanent northern boundary of the county of Jefferson shall be on tl*e east and west line dividing Townships 5 and 6 north, and that whenever the inhabitants north of said east and west line determined as the future northern boundary of Jefferson County, and lying between Ranges 7 and 12 east, amount to 200 rank and file on the muster roll, they shall be entitled to the privilege of becoming a new county. This act shall take effect from and after January 1, 1816.

north the Indian boundary lines. These lines met in the south¬ ern part of Section 23, Township 6, Range 5. One of them went in a straight line to the northwest corner of Section 17, Township 7, Range 4 east, and the other one passed out of the county near the southeast corner of Section 25, Township 7, Range 0. The land north of these lines had not yet been pur¬ chased of the Indians by the tjnited States, and it was not to be a part of the county until that was done. By the sixth section of the act, however, all the south of the line dividing Townships 7 and 8 was to become a part of J ackson County when¬ ever the Indian title to it was extinguished. This was done by a treaty made at Saint Mary's, October 2 to 6, 1818. All that part of the county lying south of a line extending from the southwest corner of the county to the southeast corner of Section 25, Township 7, Range 6V was purchased by the United States, August 21, 1805, in a treaty made at Grouseland, near Vincennes. Between these two boundary lines the land was acquired of the Indians by what is known as Harrison's Purchase. This was made at Fort Wayne, September 30, 1809. But after the pur¬ chase of IS IS, the northern boundary of the county was about two miles north of where it now is; and it extended six miles further east. The southern boundary has remained unchanged 'since the organization of the county. On the west, two rows of sections was taken from Jackson County and added to Lawrence County in 1823. That part was taken from the east at the organ¬ ization of Jennings County in the winter of 1816.

County Organization

At this time the records for the first four years of the county's existence are missing from the public offices, and without them it is hard to trace the early organization of the county. But there is here given an account of the early proceedings as pub¬ lished in the Seymour Tim-** of February 26, 1876);

Agreeably to the acts of the General Assembly of the Indiana Territory, authorizing the associate judges of the circuit courts to hold special courts for county purposes, etc., etc. The asso¬ ciate judges of Jackson County met in the town of Vallonia on the third Monday in January, 1816.

Joseph Kitchell and John Ketchum produced commissions as associate judges, and were qualified and took their seats. At this date John Millroy produced his commission as clerk of the court, and was duly qualified, and entered upon the discharge of his duties. John Millroy also produced his commission as recorder of Jackson County, and was duly qualified. The commission of Wickliffe Kitchell as sheriff was also produced, and he was qual¬ ified.

The first business shown by the record to have been transact¬ ed by the court was the consideration of "a petition of sundry in¬ habitants for a road from Ketchum's to the corner of fraction Section 24, on the Indian boundary line, by the neardest and best route. The petition was read a first time, and the court adjourned till to-morrow at 9 a. m."

The next day the petition was read a second time. Then William Graham, Henry Rogers and John Sage were appointed to "Leece" Section 16, Town 4, Range 4.

Ordered that Isaac Scott be recommended to the governor for' coroner, and that Richard Wells and Charles Gale be recom¬ mended for justices of the peace.

James Hutchinson was appointed supervisor of the road from Vallonia to the creek on which Crabb's mill is built. John Mc¬ Cormick, Jr., and Isaac Holman were also appointed supervisors, and Isaac Scott, Jacob Salmon and John Lindsey were appointed viewers of the road from Ketchum's to Section 24.

On the 15th day of May, 1816, a special term of the county court was held by Kitchell and Ketchum, judges. At this session the report of the commissioners previously appointed by the Legislature at their last session to fix the county seat was read This report, after reciting their authority and due qualification, concluded as follows:

After research and investigation we have selected and do hereby fix the seat of justice for the county of Jackson on the following tract of land, which we have purchased of John Ketchum for that purpose, at the price of $8 per acre, being 150 acres; which is in Section 14, Town 5, Range 4.

Their fees were $138, which were allowed to be paid out of the first sale of lots. And it was ordered that the permanent seat o£ justice of Jackson County be known by the name of Brownstown; and John Millroy was appointed agent to sell lots, and he was required to give bond in the sum of $10,000.

August 6, 1816, the county court again met. A petition of the inhabitants of Guthrie's and Flinn's settlements was received, asking for a magistate; William Flinn was recommended to the governor for the office.

William Crenshaw was appointed "lister" to take the taxable property of the county. Then an order was passed fixing the boundaries of Brownstown and Driftwood Townships.

- James Flinn and James Tagart were appointed overseers of the poor for Flinn Township, and Stephen Sarks and Peter Har¬ rington were appointed to settle with them.

An order was made that any person applying for license to keep a tavern shall hereafter pay to the clerk $1, and the sum of $2 when kept in the country, and $5 if kept in any of the towns of the county. John Berry was granted license to keep a tavern in a country stand.

The will of Joseph Seirs was produced in open court, and John Berry and Adam Lamb appeared, and being duly sworn, proved the same. The record goes on to say:

"Said John Berry and Adam Lamb also exhibited in writing words spoken by Joseph Seirs before his death, and after he had signed his will, disposing of his property, not disposed of in his will, which was ordered to be placed on record a nuncupative will. Jesse Durham is hereby appointed guardian of James Seirs, son of the said Joseph Seirs, deceased."

John Ketchum and Thomas Ewing were appointed adminis¬ trators of the Seirs estate. And then it was ordered that tavern keepers of this county shall be entitled to demand for "victuals,"

On motion, it was ordered that a temporary jail and court house be built in Brownstown, to be made of "liughed" logs, and shingle "ruff!" to be 12x18 feet "square," the court house to be 24x24 feet square. "The manner in which the jail and court house are to be built will be made known on the day of letting, and the same shall be ordered to be 'let out' on the 18th day instant." #

On the 16th day of September, 1816, the county court met and ordered that the jail at Brownstown, built by John Parker, be received, the contract being complied with agreeably to condi¬ tions thereof ; and John Parker was allowed $60 for building said jail. And the said John Parker, having suffered loss in the building of said jail, he is allowed $16 extra. The sheriff was allowed $8.75 for the confinement, receiving and discharging of William Shields, a prisoner.

John McCormick, Sr., was appointed clerk and treasurer for roads in Brownstown Township, and John Ruddick was appointed commissioner of roads for said township.

The assessment list for the county was returned at this ses¬ sion, and it was ordered by the court that the sheriff shall collect as follows:

For each 100 acres of first rate land, 371 cents; second rate, 25 cents; third rate, 121 cents; for each horse, 37^ cents; for each store. $20, and $2 a year for each tavern.

On the 6th day of December, 1810, a special term was held at the house of John Millroy, in Brownstown. It was made to appear to the judges that the assessment of Abraham Huff was "two high, ''and one horse was struck off his list. William Dud¬ ley declared that his assessment was also " two high,'1 and 28 cents were struck off of his list. A lot in Yallonia, assessed to Clark McAffee was decided to be "two high," and $41 were struck off.

One James Heady was arrested on a warrant for " fellony," and Benjamin Hubbell was allowed $4 for arresting ^nd guard¬ ing him, and Robert Burge was allowed $2 for assisting to guard said Heady. Josiah Jenkins was allowed 75 cents for guarding Brown and Balding in jail.

At a term held January 7, 1817, Wickliff Kitchell was allowed $60 in full for salary as sheriff of Jackson County for the year 1816. John Millroy, clerk, was allowed $30 salary for the year 1816. The judges were allowed $20 each for services for 18i6.

At this term the sheriff made a settlement of tax collected for 1816, the total amount of which was $228.90. The sheriff pro¬ duced county orders taken up, and wolf-scalps received on taxes to the amount of $128.21.

February 10, 1817, it is shown by the record that Abraham Huff, John Ruddick and Thomas Carr, commissioners of Jackson County, elect, met at the house of John Millroy, in Brownstown, and organized the first commissioners' court of the county of Jackson. The first business they transacted was to rearrange the boundaries of the several townships - Driftwood, Flinn and Brownstown.

The "tax rate" was fixed as follows: First, second and third rate lands, respectively, at 50, 43| and 25 cents each per 100 acres; 37£ cents for each horse, and each "covering-horse," the rate charged for the seasons ; 820 for each store.

At this session it was ordered that there be a brick court house built in the center of the "publick" square in Brownstown, forty feet square, and three years were given for the contractor to com¬ plete it.

May 11, 1818, a petition of sundry inhabitants, from the northeast end of Brownstown Township, was presented, praying that a new township be "laid out" in that quarter as follows: "To

It was ordered that the petition be granted, and the township was "laid out" and established, John Blair was appointed in¬ spector of elections for said township.

At this term, on the petition of William Cocherham, a ferry was established over Driftwood, in Section 16, where the Browns - town and "Bason Spring Road crosses the same," and the annual license was fixed at $5.

At the same term William Crenshaw was authorized to pur¬ chase a set of "weights and measures," and have them "sealed." At the same session it was ordered that the tavern or "publick" house keepers in Jackson County are all allowed to charge at the following rates, and no more: Dinner, 25 cents; lodging, per night, 12^ cents; pasturage, per night, 12 £ cents; corn and oats, per gallon, 124 cents ; horse to hay, per night, 124 cents.

At this term Alexander C. Craig, William A. Baty, and others, presented a petition to the board, in which they said that they "presume" a graveyard is wanted in Brownstown, and they pre¬ sume the board has the power to appropriate land for that pur¬ pose; and after "considering of" this petition it was ordered "that the agent of Brownstown have that part of the town land lying on the east side of the town between Walnut and Spring Streets laid off, leaving an alley between it and the east 'tear1 of lots, for the use of a 'publick' graveyard." At this term the agent of Browns¬ town was ordered to sell John Ritter Lot 191, in Brownstown, for $12, agreeably to the "turms"of the last sale of "lotts."

On the application of Richard Hensley a ferry across Drift¬ wood was established in Section 1, Town 6, Range 5, and the fol¬ lowing prices for "fariges" were established at said ferry: For a man and horse, 12£ cents; for cart and "teem," 6J cents; foot¬ man, 6£ cents.

At the February term, 1819, John Ruddick resigned as com¬ missioner, and Charles Crabb was appointed to fill the vacancy. Alexander C. Craig was appointed county treasurer for the ensu¬ ing year. William A. Baty was appointed "lister" to take the list of property.

At the May term, 1819, Stephen Sparks* was authorized to establish Sparks' Ferry. It was also ordered that the road run¬ ning from DePaw's Ferry and Mill, on the Muscatituck River, to Vallonia and Brownstown, and thence to Jonas Crane's, and thence up the boundary line toward Brookville to the county line, is hereby declared a "publiek road and highway."

At the August term, 1819, Jonas Crane was appointed inspect¬ or of "flower," beef and pork in Jackson County. At this term sundry persons were appointed "fence viewers." An order was also made that so much of the order as established the building and putting up the court house on the center of the "publiek" square be disannulled, and that the undertakers be authorized to set the same on the highest part of the "publiek" square.

At the November session, 1819, Andrew Robertson was ap¬ pointed constable of Brownstown Township, and the said Andrew Robertson " came forward with James Hamilton and John Rob¬ ertson, his securitys, and entered into bond and took the oath as the law directs."

Ordered that the undertaker of the court house be allowed the privilege to set the "chimneys" in the comers of the court¬ house "in sted" of sides.

William Crenshaw and Elijah Hawley were granted license to retail "spirituous liquors or strong drink," by paying $10 and giving Adam Miller for security.

At the February term, 1820, it was ordered that from the re¬ turn of the colonel commandant of the Seventeenth Regiment of the "indiana militia," that the following persons being returned "conseentiously scrupilous" of "baring" arms, shall pay a fine of $4 each, to- wit: Joshua Newby, Barnabas Coffin, Harmon Cox, Thomas Albertson, Eli Morris, John Marshall, Peter Draper, Na¬ than Draper, Benjamin Draper and Jesse Draper.

Ordered that there is hereby established a new township on the north side of White River, so as to include all that part of Brownstown Township which "lyes" on the north side of said river above White Creek, including all that part of the new pur¬ chase on the north side of said river as far as the county line.

An election for justice of the peace for said township was ordered to be held at the house of Moses Threlkeld, on the 10th day of June, 1820, and James Hamilton (father of John R.) was appointed inspector of said election.

The first associate judges were John Ketcham and Joseph Kitchell ; and it is more than probable that they formed the first board for transacting county business, as the law was such under the Ter¬ ritorial government. The commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice selected the present site of Brownstown, and the land was purchased of John Ketcham. This was in February, 1816, and at that time John Milroy is said to have been appointed county agent. This office was done away with at the adoption of the present constitution. In the early history of the State the county agent was one of the principal county officers. His special duties were to look after the funds arising from the sale of the town lots of the county seat, and to make deeds of the same. John McCormick was, most likely, the second county agent, and at his death he was succeeded in 1820 by William H. Ewing, who, in November of that year, reported notes on hand to the amount of $3,187.59 and interest $451.36. Like nearly all the early county seats, it is probable that the lots sold for a good price. The fact of its having been selected as the location for the county seat would give considerable valuation to the lots.

It is impossible to give the very first division of the county into townships, but in 1820 there were six townships in the county. They were Brownstown, Flinn, Jackson, Hamilton, Driftwood and Grassy Fork. They occupied relatively the portions of the county as at present, with Flinn in the western part corresponding to the present townships of Carr and Owen; and the first change that oc¬ curred was early in the following year. At this time for a few years the following men composed the board of county commissioners: Abraham Huff, Thomas Carr and Mordecai Ruddick. At the May session, 1821, the following record was made: " A petition from sundry inhabitants of Jackson County ( from the Salt Creek settlement) as follows, to- wit: We, the undernamed petitioners, citizens of the county and State aforesaid, and in the boundaries hereafter described, solicit your honors to grant us the same for a township or an election district running eastward with the line between Townships 5 and 6 from the county to the White River knobs, thence running with the knobs to the county line adjoin¬ ing the late purchase, thence with the county line to the place of beginning." This petition was signed by a large number of citizens from the northwest comer of the county, the first of which were John Haggard and Joseph Hanno. Upon this petition the board ordered " that the township or election district be established agreeable to the above petition, on the waters of Salt Creek, and that the bounds be agreeable to the same, and that the said town¬ ship be known by the name of Salt Creek Township." The elec¬ tions were to be held at the house of Basil Prather, with John Kindred inspector.

The next township was established in August of the same year. This was Redding Township, and its boundary was de¬ scribed as follows: Beginning on the Brookville road above Crane's, where the said road crosses the section line dividing Sections 23 and 24, Township 6, north, Range 5 west; thence on the Brookville road to the county line ; thence north to Sand Creek; thence down the same to Driftwood River ; thence down the same to the section line dividing Sections 13 and 14; thence along the same south to the beginning. The elections were to be held at, the falls of Driftwood River at the house of Benjamin Benson. Adrian Striker was appointed inspector. In addition to this all that part of Sections 26 and 23 lying northwest of the Brookville road were attached to Redding Township. In the order creating this township it is spelled Reading, but as the intention seems to have been to make it Redding it has ever since been so spelled.

At the same session of the commissioner's board, this record appears, which is of some interest and explains itself: " Ordered that from the return of the colonel commandant of the Seven¬ teenth Regiment of the Indiana Militia, the following persons, being returned as conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms, shall pay a fine of $4 each, to- wit: Robert, Eleanor, Gabriel and Joseph Newby, William Cox, Jr., John Parishaw, Jesse Draper, Thomas Albertson, Barnabas Coffin, John Marshall and Benjamin Dra¬ per."

At the February term, 1823, the following record was made: 44 Ordered that, whereas the Legislature of this State has strick¬ en off from the west part of this county and attached it to Law¬ rence County, and it being a part of Flinn Township, we have and do say that the name of Flinn Township shall be done away, and that we do attach all that part of Driftwood Township on the west side of Driftwood River to Flinn Township, and the same shall hereafter go by the name of Carr Township." The house of Elijah Carmons was fixed as the place for holding elections.

On the 31st day of January, 1824, the State Legislature passed an act "to regulate the mode of doing county business." The three County Commissioners were done away with, and in their stead the justices of the peace for the county formed a board for the purpose of doing public business. The first ses¬ sion of this Board of Justices in Jackson County was held on the 13th day of September, 1824, and was composed of the fol¬ lowing men: Samuel Whedon, McKinney Carter, Joseph Hanna, James Sims, Jacob Kester, James Bristow, John Simpson, Adrian Striker, John Turnbull, William Williams, Matthew Tanner, Peter Sewell and Joseph Brown. They organized by electing William Williams president.

At the January term, 1832, a petition from several citizens of Grassy Fork Township on the east side of the Vernon Fork of Muscatatuck. It was "ordered that all that part of Jackson County lying on the east side of the said Vernon Fork of Muscatatauk be and is hereby stricken off and made a separate town¬ ship, and shall be named and styled the Vernon Township of said County." The elections were to be held at the house of Luther Beedle, and he was to be the inspector. They were soon after ordered fco be held at the State ford.

No other change took place in the townships until May, 1833, when the citizens of Carr and Salt Creek Townships petitioned the County Board to make the two townships into three, which was done with the following boundaries: The first to commence on Driftwood River at the mouth of Cedar Creek; thence up said creek to where the line dividing Sections 13 and 14 crosses the same; thence north to the northeast corner of 14; thence west to the northeast comer of Section 21, in Township 5 north, Range 3 east; thence west to the county line; thence with said line to Driftwood River ; thence up said river to the place of beginning. The second to take the balance of Carr Township north of the described bounds of the first township and three miles off Salt Creek Township, which will be to the northwest comer of Section 21, in Township 6, Range 2 ; thence east with center line of Township 6, Ranges 2 and 3, to the east boundary line of Salt Creek Township, which said township shall go by the name of Owen Township." There is an error in this descrip¬ tion of Carr Township, evidently a clerical one. In September following several inhabitants of Salt Creek asked to be attached to Owen Township, which was done as follows: Beginning at the southeast corner of Section 18, Township 6 north, Range 3 east; thence north one mile to the comer of said section; thence running east to the top of the knobs, thence with the top of the said knobs to the northeast comer of Owen Township. Thus the county remained until the early part of 1841, when it was redistricted and Washington Township was created. The bound¬ aries at that time are here given.

No. 1. Driftwood Township - Commencing at the junction of Muscatatauk and Driftwood Fork of White River ; thence up said White River to the line dividing Sections 19 and 20, Township 5 north, Range 4 east ; thence south to the southwest comer of Sec¬ tion 20 ; thence east to the southwest corner of Section 21 ; thence south on the section line to the southwest corner of Section 28 ; thence east on the section line to the southeast corner of said sec¬ tion ; thence south to the southwest comer of Section 34 ; thence east to the southeast comer of said section ; thence south on the line dividing Sections 2 and 3 in Township 4, Range 4; thence south to the Muscatatauk River. Thence down said river to the place of beginning.

thence north to the northwest comer of Section 2 in said town and range ; thence east on the line dividing Townships 4 and 5 to the north fork of said river ; thence down said river to the place of beginning.

No. 3. Brownstown - Commencing at White River on the west line of Section 20 in Township 5, Range 4; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 20 ; thence east to the southwest comer of Section 21 ; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 28 ; thence east to the northwest comer of Section 34 in said town and range ; thence south to the southwest comer of Sec¬ tion 34 in Township 5, Range 4, on the line dividing Townships 4 and 5 ; thence east along the township line to the' southeast corner of Section 33, Township 5, Range 5 ; thence north to said river ; thence down said river to the section line dividing Sections 2 anc 3 in Township 5, Range' 4 ; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 27, in Township 6, Range 4 ; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4; thence south to said river; thence up said river to the place of beginning.

No. 4. Washington - Commencing at the northwest comer of Section 34, in Township 5, Range 5 ; thence east on the town¬ ship line to the Muscatatauk River ; thence up said river to the line dividing Townships 5 and 6 ; thence west on said township line to the northwest comer of Section 3, in Township 5, Range 5; thence south on the section line to the place of begin¬ ning-

No. 5. Jackson - Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 31, in Township 6, Range 6 ; thence east on the township line to the eastern line of Jackson County; thence north on the said line to the line dividing Townships 6 and 7 ; thence west on said line to the northwest corner of Section 2, in Township 6, Range 6; thence on the section line to the southwest comer of Section 11, in said township ; thence west to the northwest corner of Section 16 ; thence south to the southwest comer of said Sec-

No. 6. Redding - Commencing at White River on the line dividing Sections 21 and 22, in Township 6, Range 6 ; thence south to the southwest comer of Section 34 ; thence east on the township line to the southeast comer of Section 36; thence north on the range line to the northwest corner of Section 19, in Town¬ ship 6, Range 6 ; thence east to the southwest comer of Section 16, in said township and range; thence north to the northwest comer of said section ; thence east to the southeast comer of Sec¬ tion 10; thence north to the northwest comer of Section 2; thence east on the township line to the east line of the county; thence north on said line to Sand Creek ; thence down said creek and White River to the place of beginning.

No. 7. Yemon - Commencing on the east line of the county on the line dividing Townships 5 and 6 ; thence west on said line to the north fork of the Muscatatauk River; thence down said river to the junction of the north and south forks of said river; thence up said south fork to the east line of said county; thence north on said county line to the place of beginning.

No. 8. Hamilton - Commencing on White River on the sec¬ tion line dividing Sections 2 and 3, in Township 5, Range 4; thence north to the northeast comer of Section 27, in Township 6, Range 4; thence west to the southwest comer of Section 21, in said township; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 4; thence east to the northeast comer of Section 3 ; thence north to the county line ; thence east to White River ; thence down said river to the place of beginning.

No. 9. Carr - Commencing on White River on the line divid¬ ing Ranges 3 and 4, thence north to the northeast corner of Sec¬ tion 13, in Township 5, Range 3 ; thence west to the northwest corner of Section 15, in said Township and Range; thence south to the southwest corner of the same section; thence west to the

No. 10. Owen - Commencing at the southeast corner of Sec¬ tion 12, Township 5, Range 3 ; thence north to the southwest comer of Section 19, Township 6, Range 4 ; thence east to the southeast comer of Section 20, in said township and range; thence north to the northwest comer of Section 16 ; thence west to the county line; thence south on said line to the southwest comer of Section 14, in Township 5, Range 2 ; thence east to the southeast comer of Section 16, in Township 5, Range 3; thence north to the northwest comer of said section ; thence east to the place of beginning.

No. 11. Salt Creek - Commencing at the northwest comer of Section 16, Township 6, Range 4; thence north to the northwest comer of Section 4; thence east with the township line to the northeast comer of Section 3, in said township ; thence north to the county line ; thence west on the county line to the northwest comer of the county ; thence south to the southwest corner of Sec¬ tion 9, in Township 6, Range 2 ; thence east to the place of be¬ ginning.

Since then several minor changes have been made in the boundaries, but the general outline has been maintained of each. Between Driftwood and Brownstown, between Redding and Jackson, and between Vernon and Jackson, some changes have been made.

Public Buildings

It has been said that the first court house for Jackson County was erected at Vallonia, but that is hardly probable. The first location of the county seat was at Brownstown, where it has ever since remained. As the associate judges were required to erect the necessary public buildings within twelve months at that place, it is not likely that they would incur the expense of an extra court house at Vallonia. A temporary affair may have been made for the purpose of holding the first courts in, but nothing more was probably built. The first court house that was built in Brownstown was used but a short time, not more than about four years. It was built by John Ketcham, and is said to have been part log and part frame. The first jail in the county of which any record appears, was built in Brownstown, but it is prob¬ able than one had been built some time before this one, as they were almost indispensable in that day.

In November, 1821, the board decided to build a new jail, and the county agent was ordered to advertise the letting* of the contract for the 15th of December following. On that day the commissioners met in special session and adopted a plan for the jail which was as follows : "The foundation to be of stone, twenty feet square, two feet thick all over, the floor to be raised eight inches above ground, and then a floor of hewn timber squared twelve inches thick, then covered with a floor of oak plank inside of the second or inside wall, of an inch and one-half thick laid and spiked down. The first or outside wall to be twenty feet square, of oak or walnut logs one foot thick; the inside wall to be set inside of the first wall seven inches, the walls to be raised seven feet and one-half from the lower floor to the floor above, the vacancy between the two walls to be filled in with shaved poles, round, set perpendicular, of a size to fill the vacancy ; the second floor to be of hewn timber squared, one foot thick, and rest on the inner wall and extend over to the outside wall, and a floor of oak plank laid as the first floor ; the outside wall to be raised above the second floor of the first story seven and one-half feet to the upper or third floor, which is to be laid with timber squared one foot thick to be let down two inches; the plates to be pinned down on said floor; a joint shingle roof, shingles eighteen inches long put on good sheeting, the roof to jut over nine inches. There is to be a partition wall of timber one foot thick in the lower story to be let in the inner. There is to be a trap door in the second floor in the center of the back room, one door in the lower story to open into the jailer's room; to have two shutters, one to open in, the other out, double plank of oak, one and a half inches thick spiked in diamonds, that there shall not be more than two and a half inches clear of a spike; hinges to be of bar iron and extend across the door ; the trap door to be two and a half feet square, to be hung with_ bar iron hinges to extend across the door and to shut on large staples for locking, and two good and sufficient padlocks. There are to be two windows and grates in the south side of the lower story, two rows of grates in each eighteen inches long and nine inches wide. The upper story to have one door to open in the jailor's room ; the doors to be two feet and a half wide and five feet and a half high, to be faced with oak plank two inches and one-half thick, to be dovetailed in the wall above and below, to be pinned on with iron spikes, the shutters to shut on the inside of the logs on the facings ; the second story to have two twelve-light windows filled with glass, sash and grates ; grates in each window to be of square bars of one inch and to stand within two inches apart; a good and sufficient lock to each door and in addition." The balance of the record made at that time is missing, and the next session was held on the 24th of January, 1822. At that time Alexander C. Craig and John H. Springer, the contractors for the court house, were released from further responsibility in that behalf, and William Crenshaw undertook to complete the build¬ ing for the sum of $1,590 within twelve months. This was a brick building and for its times was considered a very good one. The size and plans of it are missing, but as it did not last many years they would be of but little importance.

The next order that appears in relation to the new jail was in May, 1825. At that time the board examined the jail built by Abel Findley, and found it to be sufficient and according to contract They thereupon accepted it as the public jail of Jackson County.

The court house seems to have withstood the rigor of the seasons but poorly, for in 1828 and 1829 repairs were frequently made upon it. In July, 1829, Abel Findley, William Marshall and Austin Gould were "appointed a committee to examine the court house, fix a plan for repairing the breaches in the walls, and the probable cost of the same." The committee was to report at the next regular session of the board. In November following Samuel Wort, David Benton and Abel Findley were appointed to have the necessary repairs made, and $200 were appropriated for that purpose. In September, 1830, Abel Findley, Thomas Ewing and James Ireland were appointed to report whether it would be better to repair the old court house or build a new one.

The report of this committee was not recorded and is not known, but no further action seems to have been taken until the May, 1832, session. Before then, the ' meeting house" had been used for some time. At that session the following petition was presented to the board:

We, your petitioners, citizens of JacksoD County, would respectfully show to you that the court house in Brownstown, the county seat of said county, is no longer tenantable, and therefore the various courts of said county have no place wherein to hold their respective sessions, and have been for some time past re¬ duced to the necessity of renting an inappropriate room for that purpose, to the great inconvenience of the citizens and at the cost of the public. And, further¬ more, that unless the old court house be forthwith taken down and rebuilt, all the materials therein will be finally and inevitably lost to the county; and that, furthermore, the want of a court house is now affording pretext to persons hav¬ ing their own sinister views at heart, and not the public welfare, to throw the county into confusion and to retard the spirit of public improvements by the agitation of the removal of: the county seat, a state of suspense and commotion much to be deplored by every patriotic citizen of the county. We, therefore, Jjn}Y*Your honors to forthwith order the materials of the old court house to be vn, and, together with such new materials as may be necessary, to conone on such plan and under such contracts as you may think most or. convenience, dispatch and accuracy into consideration, hoping a9tinate the matter beyond your present May session. Re-

This petition was signed by a number of the citizens of the county, the first two only being given; they were John J. Judy and Rezin S. Judy. This was presented on the 8th of May, and on the day following a record was made which reads: "A petition from sundry citizens of Jackson County praying that the board would suspend the building or repairing the court house in Brownstown for a further time, as the county is in debt, the said petition being removed from the table in a way unknown, which contained near 300 names. * * * * After mature con¬ sideration it is decided by the board that the building or repair¬ ing the aforesaid court house should be suspended ; to which Matthew Tanner, one of the commissioners, dissents from the opinion of the board and excepts to the same."

To one of the present day, looking over these petitions and records, it is not hard to read, .between the lines, of a strong ef¬ fort to change the county seat. And it seems, too, that much bitter feeling existed, as is always the case in matters of the kind. It shows also that Brownstown has maintained her posi¬ tion as the county capital only by a constant struggle, sometimes of the most violent kind.

On the last day of the March term, 1833, the board "ordered that William H. Ewing, agent of Brownstown, advertise the let¬ ting out the building of a court house in said town, on the 15th day of May next, by advertising the same in the Annotator , a newspaper printed and published in Salem, Washington County, for four weeks, and by written advertisement set up in the coun-. ty, and that the plan will be made known on the first Monday in May, with the terms."

For some reason the contract was not let at the time as or¬ dered, and at the May session the agent was directed to advertise again for the 1st day of June; the contract to be let to the lowest bidder. The Hon. Abel Findley was appointed to complete the draft of the plans that had already been laid before the board. To all of this proceeding Jacob Wells> one of the com¬ missioners, entered a protest on the ground that it ought to be delayed until the old one was fully settled for, and the county treasury in a more healthy condition for such demands. William H. Crenshaw, the contractor for the old court house, was still de¬ manding a balance due him on that building. There was a dis¬ pute as to the amount, and two or three committees had been ap¬ pointed to adjust the matters between the contractor and board. Such was the condition of the matters of the county when it was determined by a majority of the board to build a new court house. The contract was finally let, however, although the rec¬ ords do not show the contract price of the buildings. In Novem¬ ber following Samuel Peck was allowed the sum of $442.50, the first installment on the contract for building the court house in Brownstown. This is the first intimation as to the builder of the old court house. The plans called for a structure 48x32 feet. It was to be built of brick, and was to be two stories high. The building was completed and received of the contractor in September, 1834. The board drew on the 3 per cent fund for $700 to pay on the court house. The building was put in charge of John Crabb, the sheriff, and Jackson Coun¬ ty had her fourth court house in less than twenty years.

Another Jail

At the January term, 1840, the sheriff was ordered to adver¬ tise that a contract would be let to the lowest bidder to erect a new county jail. The date was fixed for the 24th of February, and on the 19th before then the board met and adopted plans and specifications. Its dimensions were to be thirty-five feet long, twenty feet wide, and seventeen feet from the foundation to the eaves. It was to be built of logs of oak. It was in fact a log jail with but little improvement over those of twenty years before that time. It is somewhat surprising that a board would erect a public building of the kind at that day. The building was to be completed by the first Monday in November following, at which time one half was to be paid down by the county, and the balance on the first Monday in March, 1841. The contract was let to William H. Ewing, and the building was completed on the 1st of September, and on the 8th was formally received by the county. At that same term he was allowed "$900 in part payment for building the county jail." Another order allows him $700 in part payment for the county jail. These amounts were allowed out of the 3 per cent fund, which for several years was the principal resource for public improvement in Jackson County.

This jail lasted for about thirteen years. In May, 1853, the county board held an extra session for the purpose of contracting for a new jail. Before then the sheriff had been sent to other counties to inspect the different jails and report on the best plan. The building was " to be rectangular in form with a front fortyeight feet, running back in depth twenty-four feet, in height two stories," and was to be constructed of brick. The following bids were made: Miller & Lowell, $3,995; G. B. Durland, $4,000; Daniel H. Long, $4,950; Z. B. Short, $3,850; B. F. Huston, $3,950. The contract was awarded to Z. B. Short, and it was com¬ pleted ' in due time. Nearly twenty years now passed by before Jackson County found it necessary to build another court house or jail. In that time theiown of Seymour had grown to be the largest and best town in the county, and its citizens made a strong effort to obtain the location of the county seat at that place. Active steps toward that end were taken in the fall of 1869, and at the December term of the commissioners' court a petition was presented praying the change to be made. John H. McCormick, Thomas B. Shields, J ames L. Gardiner and others were among the leaders in favor of the change. The Hon. Joseph E. McDonald, appeared as attorney for the petitioners. Henry G. Smith, John H. Burrell and John J. Cummins headed the Brownstown cause, and Hon. Cyrus L. Dunham was their attorney.

This effort for the change in the county seat was the most inter¬ esting and absorbing contest that has ever occurred in Jackson County. The law required that, in order to make the change, 55 per cent of the voters in the county should petition for it. The first petition contained 2,451 names, the necessary 55 per cent being 2,259. But because of some irregularity in the proceedings the petitioners were defeated. This of course was easier to accomplish when two of the county commissioners were opposed to the change. Another petition was at once presented containing 2,458 names of voters praying for the change. The opposition met this with a petition signed by 231 persons, whose names were on the other petition, asking that their names be stricken off the one in favor of the change. This was accordingly done and there was then a lack of thirty-two names to make the required 55 per cent. William K. Marshall, of Seymour, and B. H. Burrell were among the leaders in the latter part of the struggle.

The New Court House

The same faction that advocated the change in the county seat opposed the erection of new public buildings at Brownstown ; but the Brownstown element being in the ascendency on the board it was determined to build at once. Accordingly, at the Decem¬ ber term, 1869, $100 was appropriated for an architect to draw plans for a new court house that was not to exceed a cost of $30,000 in addition to the material already on hand. To this action of the board, Abel Findley, one of the commissioners, exv cepted. Special sessions were called on the 13th of January, 1870, to examine plans, and on the 29th to let the contract. The plans and specifications of D. A. Bolen, of Indianapolis, were adopted in March, and at a special session on the 6th of April, the contract was let to Travis Carter & Co., of Seymour, for

$38,220, and they were to take the old court house for $500. The payments were to be made $5,000 down, and the balance on monthly estimates, reserving 15 per cent until the completion of the building. A loan of $40,000 was authorized, and $5,000 in bonds were at once issued bearing interest at 6 per cent. In June, $18,000, and in November, $8,000 more of bonds were issued. The building was completed without delay and the set¬ tlements made in due time. The contract for furnishing the offices was let to the builder, and $3,000 paid for heating apparatus.

The present jail was built in 1872 and 1873. The plans and specifications were made by Munson Van Gieson, of Fort Wayne. The contract was let on January 6, 1872, for $17,500, to Travis Carter <fc Co. In June, 1873, the building was completed, re¬ ceived by the county and paid for in full.

The Poor Asylum

As early as 1840, perhaps before then, the propriety of pur¬ chasing a county poor farm was agitated. Nothing was done, however, until the early part of 1847, when the present farm near Brownstown was bought. In December of that year Robert Holmes was appointed the superintendent. He was to have the rent of the farm and be paid $200 besides for a year. In 1849 he was succeeded by Fred Miller. In March, 1850, a log house, 16x25 feet, was erected for housing the poor. John P. Miller was appointed superintendent and he continued in that capacity for several years. In March, 1864, $5,000 were appropriated for building a county asylum. About that time the erection of the present brick buildings on the poor farm was begun, and during the following year completed. The expenditure for this alone was reported in June, 1864, to be $9,981.35, in 1865, $12,870.72, and in 1866, $3,194.56. It is probably not saying too much to estimate the original cost of the buildings now comprising the county asylum at $30,000.

County Finances

Perhaps there is nothing that more fully shows the develop¬ ment of the county than an exhibit of its finances from the ear¬ liest times. The early system of taxation was different from the methods of to- day. Then the tax was placed upon the article with but little regard for its value. One carriage brought as much tax as another. For 1821 the tax rate for the county was as follows: Poll tax, 50c; on each horse or mule, 37^c; gold watches, 50c; silver watches, 25c; pleasure carriages, what the law directs; work oxen, per head, 25c; Ferry, $5, except Stephen Sparks, and his, $7.50. During that year the total tax of the county only amounted to about $300. The principal source of revenue, however, was from the sale of town lots. For 1824 the amount of tax was about double the above sum. For 1828 the county treasurer's report shows the following: Eeceived during the year: For store license, $35.87; estray, $47.00; fees on writs, $7.50; county agent, $11.60; county revenue, $672; total re¬ ceipts, $773.97. The expenditures for the same time were $567.07, leaving a balance on hand for the year of $206.90. Some years later the tax was raised by taxing property according to the valuation. In 1836 the tax levy was 15 cents per $100 in value. By the treasurer's report in June, 1848, the receipts for the preceding year were: For county revenue, $2,975.69; gro¬ cery license, $154.14; merchants' license, $110.25; ferry license, $29; clock license, $32.50; surplus property, $5.85; inquest money, $20.75; penalty, $53.58; fees refunded, $27; total, $3,408.76. The expenditures were $3,354.90, leaving a balance in favor of the county of $53.86. In 1855 the receipts were $7,391.49, and the expenses were $7,832.12. The levy for that year was: State, 20c; poll, 50c; county, 25c; poll, 50c; schools, 10c; poll, 25c; township libraries, 2£c on each $100 valua¬ tion.

Condition In 1861

At the June term, 1861, the receipts were reported at $10,312.41, while the expenses were $9,553.75, leaving a balance on hand of $758.66. At that same term the levy for county pur¬ poses was fixed at 25 cents, and poll, 50 cents. During the war the expenditures increased rapidly. For 1863 the levy for county purposes was 30 cents, and poll, 50 cents, and an additional levy for the county asylum of 10 cents on each $100 valuation. The expenses for that year were $13,459. In 1864, the levy was increased to 50 cents for county purposes, and a poll of $1; the expenses were $26,570.18, which included these sums: county officers, $3,567.06; poor, $3,049.13; soldiers, $4,140.98; asylum, $9,981.35. For the year ending June, 1865, the expenditures were $38,101.27, in which amount were these items: Poor, $8,147.67; stationery, $1,494.70; specific, $1,570.53; county asylum, $12,870.72; assessing revenue, $2,967.50; sol¬ diers' families, $2,119.66; county officers, $6,316.16. At that date there were about $10,000 of county orders outstanding. At the same time $55,000 of county bonds were issued to raise funds to pay the bounties that were offered for volunteers. These bonds, however, were never sold, for the reason that an appeal was taken upon the right of the commissioners to make such an appropria¬ tion. In 1870, the expenditures amounted to $24,861.20 for the year, but in addition to that sum over $19,000 of outstanding county orders had been redeemed. The total receipts were $42,222.91, and there were still $7,000 of unredeemed county orders, besides the court house bonds. These made a total in¬ debtedness of $47,000, if the whole of the bonds be included, although some of them were not issued until the latter part of that year, and this in addition to about $20,000 in bridge bonds. The building of the jail, two years later, brought on another increase of taxation. By the auditor's report to the county board at the June term, 1885, it appears that there was at that date $7,204.36 outstanding county orders, and $12,000 in bridge bonds, making a total indebtedness of $19,204.36. The net county expense for the year was $23,374.72. Adding to this the amount expended for bridges, $14,775.21, gives a total of $38,- 148.93. The county treasury is now said to contain sufficient funds for the redemption of the bridge bonds. This would leave the county out of debt, save some $6,000 or $8,000 on county orders.

Expenses Of The Poor

Nothing more clearly indicates a deep-rooted evil in the or¬ ganization of our social affairs than the alarming increase of the pauper classes throughout the country. That so large a class of people is unable to earn the bare necessities of life is well calcu¬ lated to arrest the attention of all thinking men. The poor we are to have always with us, but, at the rate of increase now going on all over the country, it is only a question of time when it can properly be said, All we have with us are poor. Under the early laws of Indiana there were three overseers of the poor appointed in each township to look after the wants of the needy. At that time the children were "bound out," and the older ones were "farmed out" In this manner they were ostensibly looked after until the adoption of the poor-farm system. When a county asylum was instituted, all those helpless and entirely dependent upon public charity for support were taken to that place, and one person superintended them all. Those who only received aid at intervals were usually left to the care of the township trustees, who gave them township orders for what was needed. That system has been continued to the present time. The figures for poor ex¬ penses during the period of the war have already been given. There are generally two items in the account of public expendit¬ ures that are entirely for the benefit of the poor. These are headed "County Asylum" and "Poor." Beginning with the year 1879, the following figures will show the increase of expenditures for the poor outside of the county asylum:

Besides these sums the expenses for the county asylum range from $1,500 to $2,000. For the year ending June 1, 1885, the total of these sums is nearly $6,500.

Agricultural Societies

Early efforts were made to organize an agricultural society in Jackson County. The county board, in May, 1835, ordered the sheriff to advertise a meeting to be held in Brownstown, on the last Saturday of that month, for the purpose of organizing a county society. The following year another was held, and for nearly twenty years constant efforts were made to create an associa¬ tion for holding agricultural fairs. Nothing but failure had at¬ tended such attempts up to 1853. Early in that year an enthusi¬ astic meeting was held, at which time Gov. Wright was present. The following is an account of the proceedings:

A large meeting of the farmers of the county was held at the Methodist Church, in Brownstown, on Monday, February 28, 1853. John F. Carr was appointed president of the meeting, and John H. Benton, secretary. The object of the meeting was briefly stated by Frank Emerson, after which Gov. Wright was introduced, and he made a long speech on agricultural matters. They then proceeded to organize on the plan recommended by the State board of agriculture. It was decided that the regular fairs should be held between September 1 and November 1 of each year. The following officers were chosen: John F. Carr, president; Samuel P. Mooney, vice-president; JohnH. Benton, secretary; William T. Dobbs, treasurer. For directors of the several townships: L. C. Shewmaker, Driftwood; John Downing, Grassy Fork; John B.

In June, 1855, on the application of John F. Carr, president of the Jackson County Agricultural Society, the county commis¬ sioners leased, for a period of ten years, a portion of the county poor farm. The society was to erect buildings thereon, which, at the expiration of the lease, was to become the property of the county. The ground leased was along Huff's Creek, and afforded good facilities for water.

This society continued to hold yearly fairs for more than ten years, and some of them were the best in the State. The press¬ ing times of the civil war did much to impair the vigor of all associations of the kind, and this one survived but feebly. In 1875 a new organization was effected, and fairs have been held at Browstown ever since. A new arrangement was made for the grounds. Fairs are held there now each year that are well at¬ tended.

County Medical Society

The first meeting of the physicians of Jackson County for organizing a medical society was held at Brownstown, April 3, 1852. Dr. S. Wort was called to the chair, and R. L. Roe ap¬ pointed secretary. Proceedings were at once entered into for perfecting an organization, and the necessary constitution and by-laws were adopted. The preamble was as follows: "Whereas, the vast importance of the medical profession to the welfare of our fellow-beings, and the abuse of so noble and useful a profes¬ sion is more pregnant with evil to the human family than any other human, inasmuch as the life and health of the confiding sick are placed in the hands and at the disposal of the medical practitioner, for the weal or woe of his confiding and suffering patient; and, therefore, we agree to form ourselves into a society to be known as the Jackson County Medical Society." The first article of the constitution declares that the society shall have constantly in view - first, the association of the profession for the purpose of mutual recognition and fellowship; second, the maintenance of union, harmony and good government among its members, thereby promoting the interest, honor and usefulness of the profession; third, the cultivation and advancement of medical science and literature, and the elevation of the standard of professional education. The election for officers resulted as follows: President, Samuel Wort; vice-president, D. B. Hillis; recording secretary, J. L. Roe; corresponding secretary, E. Williamson; treasurer, A. G. Collier; librarian, E. Long. Others present were Drs. Ford, Morgan and Bain. At the meeting in June following these men were duly elected members: John Williamson, James Green, Dr. Wilson, J. D. Monroe, E. D. Wort, and S. H. Charlton.

In June, 1862, Dr. Samuel Wort, on behalf of the County Medical Society, presented a petition and series of resolutions by that society to the board of commissioners. The county had long been employing the lowest bidder to do the doctoring for the paupers, and the physicians rebelled against this method. They offered to do the poor practice at half rates, but refused to bid asheretofore. The petition was signed by the following doctors: S. Wort, S. J. Stage, C. T. Wilson, L. C. Shewmaker, Jacob Boazr Dr. Fields, Joseph Hagins, Dr. Smith, Dr. Kimberline, Dr. Max¬ well, T. A. Wilson, J. H. Bland, J. H. Ramsey, Dr. Wilson, Jr.f C. Sapper, Nelson Hatfiel, H. Daniels, Thomas Robertson, James H. Green, W. C. A. Bain, John H. Payne. The resolutions were signed by W. C. A. Bain, president, and John H. Payne, secre¬ tary of the Medical Society.

County Officers

In the early days of the county the crossing of the streams was effected either by fording or by ferries. As society developed and neighborhood commerce increased, the former became im¬ practicable, and the latter both inconvenient and expensive. Bridges began to be built, but at first they were private bridges and a toll was collected. The first covered bridge in Jackson County is said to have been at Newry. The proprietors were John M. Lewis, Henry C. Foster and John T. Foster, and it was constructed in 1860, at a cost of about $500. The toll rates were: two horses and wagon, 20 cents; one horse and buggy, 15 cents; horse and man, 10 cents ; man on foot, 5 cents ; each extra horse in harness, 5 cents ; horses and mules in droves, 3 cents ; cattle in droves, 2 cents ; sheep or hogs in droves, 1 cent. This bridge was bought by the county in 1865, for $200. In June, 1869, the Crothersville and Grassy Fork Bridge Company was organized for the purpose of building a bridge over the Muscatatauk River, where the line between Sections 17 and 18, Township 4, Range 6 west, crossed it. The amount of stock subscribed was something in excess of $1,200.

Brownstown And Seymour Bridges

In June, 1868, the county board offered to take $10,000 stock in each of two bridges, to be built at Brownstown and near Seymour, over the East Fork of White River. In response to this the Seymour and Brownstown Bridge Companies were or¬ ganized, each with a capital stock of $20,000. The Seymour bridge was completed by the early part of the following year, Robert Pattison being the contractor. John Bowman was ap¬ pointed toll-keeper, and the receipts from the bridge amounted to about $1,000 a year. J. J. Daniels was the contractor of the Brownstown bridge, and it was not completed for more than a year later. In June, 1870, the county treasurer reported over $9,000 in bridge bonds, having been redeemed during the year then closed. Bonds to the amount of $11,000 were then out¬ standing. Both of these bridges are yet standing and are among the best in the county. Since then a number of first-class iron bridges have been erected, and it is estimated that the county now contains at least $200,000 worth of good bridges. These are all paid for or nearly so, thus showing a judicious manage¬ ment of the public revenues.