Miami County, Indiana - Chapter 3, 1887

Chapter 3

County Organization - Acts of the Legislature - Proceedings OF the County Board - Public Buildings - Creation OF Townships - County Finances - Expenses of the Poor - Wabash and Erie Canal - Rail Roads - Gravel Roads - Medical and Agricultural Societies - Elections - County Officers.

MIAMI COUNTY became a distinct political organization on the 1st day of March, 1S34. It occupies an area of 384 square miles or 245.760 acres. The surface is level or undulating, e.xcept along the course of the Wabash and its tributaries, the banks of which are fringed by ranges of hills probably not exceeding an average altitude of one hundred feet. The countv was iriven the name of the tribe of Indians that had for so many years owned and occupied the territory.

Be it Eimeted hy the General .Usemhli/ (if the Stiite nf fniiinnn, That from .ind after the first Monda)' in April next, all the territory imluded within the foUowing^ bounds to- wit: Beginuins at the northwest corner of Section .5, Township 29, of Ranjre 5, being the northwest corner of Wabash county: thence south with the westem boundary line of said county twenty-four miles to the north-west corner of Grant County: thence south six miles;" thence west to a point due sontli of range line dividing townships three and four, east of second |)rincipal meridian line: thence north from said range line to a jjoint due west from the place of beginning: thence east to the place of begiiming: shall form and constitute a county to be known and designated by the name of the County of Miami.

Be it further enacted by tlie General Assembly, That the boundaries of the County of Miami, as described in the act referred to in the foregoing, be and they are hereby changed as follows: Beginning at the north-east corner of Section 3, Township 2'j north, being the north-west corner of Wabash County, running thence south with the western boundary of said county twenty-four miles: thence from the south-west corner of the County Wabash, east four miles to the north-west west corner of Grant County: tlience soulli six ndles; thence west fourteen miles: thence north with the range line dividing ranges tliree and four east of the second principal meridian thirty niiles: thence east ten miles on the township line dividing townships twent) -nine and thirty, to the place of beginning.

Section 1. /?c it Enacted Jii/ the Genera! Axxeinhli/ nf the Stale of Indianti, That from and after tlie first day of' March, next, tlie County of Miami sliall enjoy the rights and jurisdiction which to separate and independent counties do or may properly belong.

Sec. 2. That Daniel Harrow, of the County of Putnam, Smallwood Xoel.of the County of Allen, .Joseph Tatman, of the County of Tippecanoe, and Harry Chase and John Baer, of the County of Carroll, be and are hereby aiipointed Commissioners for the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of justice of said County of Miami, agree- ably to the provisions of an act to pstablisli tlie seats of justice in new counties. The coiumissioneis or a majority of them shall convene at the house of Benj. Scott iu said county, on the tirst day of June noxt or soon thereafter as a majority shall agree.

Sec. 4 The circuit and other courts of said county shall be held at the house of Benj. H. Scott, or at any other jilace in said County to which said court nuiy adjourn until suitable acconiuiodafious can be had at the seat of justice thereof, alter which the court shall be held at the county seat.

Skc. .5. The ajrent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots at the county scat of said Miami County, shall reserve ten per centum out of the proceeds thereof, and also ten per centmn out of all donations to said county, and pay the same over to .such person or persons as may be lawfully ajijiointed to receive the same, for the use of a county library for said county.

Sec. 6. The Hoard doins;- count}' Imsiness, when elected and qualified, may hold special sessions not exceeding three during the first year after the organization of said county, and shall appoint a lister and make out all necessary appointments, and do and perform all other uei'essarv Imsiness wluch might have been necessary tobe performed at auy other regubn- session, and take all necessary steps to collect the State and County revenue.

Sec. 7. The territory included in the following, boundary to-wit: Beginning at the soutlnvest corner of the County of Miami, running thence west two miles; thence north with the section lines, thirty (3U) miles to the uortli-east of Section 3, iu Township '2S), Hangf' o: thence east two miles on the line dividing Townshii)s 2!) and 30, to the north-west corner of the County of Miami (being a jjortion of the territory now belonging to the County of Cassj, shall be and is hereby attached to the Coimty of .Miami, and sh.-dl hereafter constitute and form a part and portion of the territory of the said County of Miami.

Sec. 8. The territory shall be attached to the eighth judicial circuit of this State for judicial purposes, and to the Count}' of Cass for representative purjioses.

First term of commissioners court held in Miami County was at the house of John McGregor in Miamisport, on Wednesday the 3rd day . of June, 1834. '^^'^ members of the board, Alexander Jamison, John Miller and John Cruidson were formally qualified by the Sheriff, after which they appointed Benjamin H. Scott clerk pro-tem. The tirst business of the board was the appointment of Wm. M. Revburn, County Agent, and Abner 0\erman, Count\' Treasurer. Petitions were then read praying the honorable board to grant a license to Nathan Mc- Guire and William Thompson to vend foreign merchandise at Miamisport. After some deliberation the prayer of the petition was granted, and the rate for such license fixed at $12.50. The second day's session was held at the house of Benjamin H. Scott. The principal business was the division of the county into two townships, viz: Peru and Jefferson with boundaries as elsewhere described. An election for a Justice of the Peace of the township was ordered held in the former at the house of latter at the house of Widow Wilkinson on the same day. The board then appointed William Bain inspector of election, and John Plaster, Constable for Jefferson Township, and William Coats inspector of elections and James Pett}-, Constable for Peru Township.

The first monev paid into the treasury was $25, for a license to vend merchandise at Miamisport and the first allowance made by the board was two dollars per day each for their services as Commissioners. Lewis Drouillard was assessed $5- ^^r the privilege of operating a ferry on the Wabash River opposite his store (wherever that may have been), for which the following rate was fixed: Each person, 6% cts., man and horse 25 cts. each wagon, 50 cts. each horse or ox attached to wagon, 12 }4 Cts. Each hog or sheep, 3 cts., all children under twelve years of age attached to the family to pass free of charge. The first country road was surveyed and laid out September, 1834 and was described as beginning at a stake at the foot of a hill near an old elm tree in section 20, Township 27, range 4. and running to the town of Mexico. This was deemed by the viewers to be of public utilit}- and therefore declared a public highway.

At a special meeting held June 19th the first Grand and Petit Juries were selected and was composed of the following citizens: Grand Jur}- - Zephaniah Wade, George W. Holman, Jacob Linsee, Abner Overman, William Coats, John Hoover, Joseph Clvmer, Aaron Rhenberger, Ira Evans, John Plaster, John M. Jackson and William N. Hood. Petit Jur}- - George Townsend. John Wiseman, J. T. Liston, Wm. M. Reyburn, Robert Wade, Richard Rausford, Isaac Marquiss, Isaac Stewart, John Ray. Wm. Wilkerson, John Smith, Joseph C. Taylor, Wm. Cannon, Stewart Forgy, "Alexander Jameson, Joseph B. Campbell, Walter D. Nesbit, Ratliff Wilkerson, John Saunders, Nathaniel McGuire and Jesse Wilkerson.

The commissioners appointed bv the Legislature for the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of justice met at the house of Benjamin H. Sett, in Miamisport, sometime during the summer of 1834. ^o report of their proceedings was recorded and if filed was doubtless destroyed by the fire in 1843. It is known however, that in consideration of the donation of ground for a public square and the erection of a court house and jail by the proprietor, the county seat was located at its present site. The court house was not completed until 1843 and court was held in consequence at private residences and in the Presbyterian Church.

In June of the same year William Reyburn was appointed County Agent. The principal duty of said officer was to superintend the sale of lots, receive donation money and dispose of funds as directed by board of commissioners. The school commissioner, road commissioner, tax collector and surplus revenue agent were offices that have long since been disposed of.

County Organization

town lot in Miami County, eighty cents on c\ery Imndred acres of first rate land, sixty cents on every hundred acres of second rate land, and forty cents on every hundred acres of third rate land: polls, lifly cents: work oxen, per pair, fifty cents: pleasure carriages, fifty cents; watches, fifty cents.

Public Buildings. - At the March term of Commissioner's Court 1835, it was ordered that a county jail he built on the northeast corner of the public square, and a court house in the center of said square. Plans and specifications were accordingly adopted for the erection of a court house. The plans provided for a brick building forty feet square, and two stories high with a stone foundation. The building was substantially built, conveniently arranged, and, at that time was considered a very credible structure. The house was built by the proprietors of the town of Peru. Samuel McClure was the contractor in consideration of the location of the county seat at its present site, and it was accepted by the Commissioners in 1843. The house had been used but a short time when it was, with all the records, entirely destroyed b}' fire on the night of March 16,

Second Building. - April the 7th, 1843, it was ordered by the Board that a fire proof building be erected for the county offices and the safe keeping of the records. In furtherance of such orders, Samuel Glass and James UeFrees were appointed to advertise and recieve bids for the construction of said building according to the following specifications: To be 16x45 feet, built of brick with stone foundation, and, when completed, to be divided into three rooms of suitable dimensions for an auditor's office, a clerk's ofTice and a treasurer's office. The contract was purchased by George W. Goodrich for the sum of $769.00, to be paid in two equal installments, the first to become due on the first of June, -1844, and the second in one year after that date.

In June 1848, the Commissioners contracted with George Goodrich for the erection of a recorder's office, dimensions 16x20 feet. The site of said building was near the clerk's office, in the public square.

The first jail was a small log building erected by Matthew Fenimore on the northeast corner of the public square, and, although built of logs and containing no iron cells, it was sufficiently substantial to retain the prisoners, who at that time, were uneducated in crime. This old building answered the purpose of the county until 1852 when it was destroyed by fire. The present building was completed September 1858. Nathan Crawford, of Hancock County, was the contractor. The contract was purchased for $29,600, but owing to a few changes in the original plans and specifications the cost was somewhat in excess of the contract price. The building is 60x80 feet, four stories high, including the basement, and is of the " Norman Castle" style of architecture. The basement is used for a jail: on the first floor are the Clerk, Recorder, Treasurer and Auditor's offices. Each of these offices is provided with a fire-proof vault in which the records and papers are kept. On the second floor is the court room; the third floor is unoccupied.

Organization of Tozvnsliips. - During the first term of Commissioners Court, which was held at Miamisport, June 1834, '^^ County was divided into two townships by commencing at the east line of the county and running on the line dividing Sections 22 and 15 to the west line of the county, the township north of said line to be known and designated as Jefferson township, the one south to be known and designated by the name of Peru township.

Perry Tozvns/iip. - Beginning at the southeast corner of Section 34, Township 29, north Range 5 east: thence west west to the county line; thence north to the northwest corner of said county; thence east to the place of beginning.

Union Toivnshif was organized November 7, 1837, with the following boundaries: Beginning at the northwest corner of Section 4, Township 29, Range 4 east; thence west five miles to the northwest corner of the county; thence south nine miles to the southwest corner of Section 14, Township 28, Range 3 east; thence si.x miles to the southeast corner of Section 15 of the same township; thence north three miles to the northeast corner of Section 3, TowUvship 28, Range 4 east; thence west one mile to the northwest corner of Section last named: thence north six miles to place of beginning.

Richland Tozunsfiip, organized November 7, 1837, with the following boundary: Commencing at the northeast corner Section 3, in Township 28, Range 5 east: thence west six miles to the northwest corner of Section 2, Township iS, Range 4 east; thence south si.x miles to the southwest corner of Section 35, Township 28, Range 4; thence east si.x miles to southeast corner of Section 34, Township 28, Range 5 east: thence north on the county line to the place of beginning.

ycfferso)i Tozcns/iif, re-organized and with the following boundary: Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 22, Township 28, Range 4 east; thence west to the northwest corner of Section 23, Township 28, Range 3 east; thence south on the county line to the center of Section 14, Township 27, Range 3 east; thence west six miles to the line Sections 14 and 15 of Township 27, Range 4 east: thence north on the section line to the place of beginning.

Townsiiii' Orcanization

east of Jefferson and south of Richland Townships, included in the following boundary, be attached to and form a part of Peru TtKciis/iip: Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 3, Township 27, Range 5 east; thence west to the northwest corner of Section 2, Township 27, Range 4 east; thence south on the line of Sections 2 and 3 two miles and a half to the county line; thence on said line north to the place of beginning.

Blnck Havjh and Eric Tozviis/iips. - On a petition of the inhabitants of the eastern porton of Peru Township, the following described territory was organized into the first named township: All that portion of the territor}' of Peru Township lying east of the recently established Range line and entireh' east of the Wabash County line, form and constitute said new township. Two years later, September 1847, the name of said Black Hawk Township, was changed to that of Erie.

Lake Tozvns/iip. - The following described territory was organized into the above named township, June *], 1842, Commencing at the northeast corner of Miami County in Section 22; thence west with said Section line and the northern boundar\' of the county, to the northwest corner of said county of Miami on Section 19; thence south with the Section line, and western boundary of this portion of said county, to the southwest corner of Section 31; thence east with the Section line between Townships 29 and 30 Range 5 to the center of Section five on said line; thence south through said Section 5. Townships 29 and 30, Range 5 ^'^ t^h^ center of Section five on said line; thence south through said Section 5, Township 29, Range 5, to the Hne between said Section 5 and 8, Township 29, Range

5, thence east with the Section line to southeast corner of Section 3, thence north with the eastern boundary of the County of Miami to the place of beginning.

6, 1843, and bounded as follows, to-wit, : Commencing at the northeast corner of Township 26, Range 4, east, thence west on said north Hne of Township 26, until it intersects the Godfrey Reserve No. 7; thence south with said reserve to the southeast corner thereof; thence west along the southern line of said reserve to the Godfro)- Reserve No 8; thence south to the southeast corner of said reserve; thence west on the south line of said reserve to the Northwest corner of Section 4, Township 26, Range 4, thence south on the section line to Indian boundary; thence east to the southwest corner of Butler Township, thence north on the west line of said Butler Township and the range line to the place of beginning.

Deer Creek Toivmhip was organized September i, 1845 and bounded as follows: Commencing at the northwest corner of Section 2, Township 25. Range 3: thence east to the northeast corner of Section 5, Township 25, Range 4; thence south to the southern boundary of Miami County: tlience west to the southwest corner of said countv: thence north to the place of beginning.

yacksoii Tozviis/iip was organized September 2, 1845 and bounded as follows: Commencing at the northwest corner of Section 2, Township 25, Range 5; Thence east to the northeast corner of section 5, Township 25, Range 6: thence south to the southeast corner of the county; west to the southwest corner of section 35, Township 25, Range 5: thence north to the place of beginning.

Clay Township was organized March 3, 1846, as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of Section 4, Township 25, Range 4, it being the northeast corner of Deer Creek Township; thence east with the Congressional, to the northeast corner of Section i, Township 25, Range 4; thence south with the Range line dividing Ranges 4 and 5 east to corner of said Congressional Township, on the south line of Miami County; thence west with the county line to the southeast corner of Deer Creek Township, at the southwest corner of Section 33, Township 25, Range 4; thence east to the place of beginning.

harrhon Towiisliip was organized September 8, 1846, and is bounded as follows: Beirinninfr at the southeast corner of Section 3, Tow^nship 25, Range 5; thence west to the range line dividing ranges 4 and 5, at the northwest corner of Section 6: thence south on said range line to the southern boundarv of Miami County, at the southwest corner of section 31, Township

25, Range 5: thence east with the southern boundarv aforesaid, to the southeast corner of section 34, Township and range aforesaid, thence north to the place of beginning.

Ordered, that Sections 3, 10 and 15. Township 28 north, Range 4 east, be detached from Union Township and be attached to and form a part of Richland Township.

Butler Tozi'iisliip was organized September the ist, 1841, and bounded as follows: Commencing at a point w'here a north line of Township 26. north Range 5 east intersects the line between Miami and Wabash Counties: thence west on the line of Townships 26 and 27 to the northwest corner of Township west corner of said Township 26, Range 5; thence east with the south line of said Township to the boundary line between Miami and Wabash Counties; thence north with said boundary line to the place of beginning, being all of said Township 26, Range 5, which lies in Miami County.

Allen Tozvuship was organized September 6th,' 1859, '^"^ bounded as follows: Beginning at the half-mile on the west side of Section 26, Township 29, Range 3; thence north on the line dividing the Counties of Miami and Cass and Fulton to the line dividing Townships 29 and 30 to the northwest corner of Section 2, Township 29, Range 3; thence east with the line dividing the Counties of Miami and Fulton to the present line dividing the Townships of Union and Perry to the northeast corner of Section 4, Township 29, Range 4; thence south with the line dividing the said Townships of Union and Perrv to a center point on the east line of Section 28, Township 29, Range 4; thence west with the line dividing Sections 29 and 30, Township 29, Range 4, and Sections 25 and 26 Township 29, Range 3, to the place of beginning. And it is further ordered that the said Township of Union, from which said Township of Allen is taken, retain its original name - Union - and that the original lines now bounding it continue to be its boundary, except that the above line separating the Townships of Allen and Union shall be the north boundary of the Township of Union.

Following is a statement of taxes together with the amount of taxable property in the count\- for each decade since the creation of the county.

Poor. - To properly care for the indigent of the county was a matter that called for attention from those in whose hands the public affairs had been intrusted, at the very beginning of the county's existence. At the first term of commissioners court William N. Hood and William M. Re^burn were appointed overseers of the poor of Peru Township. It was the dutv of these overseers to look after the needy of their respective Townships. The children were "bound out" while the adults were "farmed out" to the person who would properlv care for them and pay the highest price for their services. Those who by indolence and prodigality', had been thrown upon the public for support, found the svstem verv objectionable, and finding that they would be compelled to work for those to whom their labor had been sold, thev would refuse to accept the charities of the public and devise some other means of lively-hood. For those unfortunates who had properly became objects of charitj' the system not unfrequently worked a hardship. A County Asj-lum was soon provided and the old method abandoned.

Poor Fiiriii. - In IMa}', 1835, an order was made by the Board of Commissioners authorizing William N. Hood to purchase for the location of a county poor asylum, the northeast fraction of Section 3, Township 27, Range 4. The counl^- paid for said land

$20.8o. From the experience of other counties it had become a well established fact that the poor of each count}' could be better provided for and more cheaply kept in an as3lum provided for that purpose than under the old svstem of township overseers. The Board, in accordance with the above conclusion, appointed I. M. DeFrees and Samuel Glass to contract for the erection of two houses described as follows: Houses to be constructed of hewn logs, 12x8 inches, the buildings to be two stories high. The first story to be 8 feet, 6 inches in the clear, and the second to be 7 feet, 6 inches in the clear. One house to be 26x18 feet, and the other 18 feet square. The contract provided that the buildings should be placed eight feet apart, and in the center of the land previouslv bought by said county. The contract was purchased by George W. Meeks for the sum of $365.00. The buildings were accepted by the Board in March, 1846, and a superintendent appointed to take charge of said asylum and provide for the wants of those unfortunates who were dependent upon the charity of the world for support. O. E. Noland was appointed superintendent, and his report for the first vear showed that not a single pauper had been sent to the asylum.

After several years the provisions were found to be inadequate, and the old farm \Vas sold to Charles Pefferman for $r,ooo.o6, and the southwest quarter of Section 3, Township 26, Range 4, in Washington Township, containing 160 acres, was purchased for the sum of $6,400.00. John Clifton was awarded the contract for the erection of a new house, which was completed and accepted July 12, 1864.

The Wabash and Erie Canal. - To the early and rapid development of Miami County, this Canal contributed very larfrely. It furnished means of transportation for the products of the county, which would of necessity have been delaved many year. In regard to its construction, the first boat, &c., Hon. John A. Graham wrote as follows :

Wabash & Erie Canal

"From the letting in 1834, ^'^^ work has progressed steadih',. and it was expected that the division from Fort Wavne to Peru would be open for the navigation of boats bv the 4th of July,

" Its completion was an important event, and had been waited for with interest and anxiety. Hence the Eorester says: 'Before 12 o'clock of that day, the town was filled with people of the county, to witness the grand display to be made on the occasion. Unfortunately, the boats did not arrive. The banks, being porus, absorbed the water much faster than was anticipated.

" P. S. - Since the above was written, we were informed that the packet boat Indiana, Capt. Columbia, had arrived at the head of the lock, about one mile above town, and that it would be impossible for her to reach the basin in consequence of the canal not having been sufficiently filled with water to buoj' her up.' The Indiana was the first canal boat, freighted with passengers alone, who left the canal boat at the lock above, and came down to town during the e\ening, where thev were most cordially received by Mr. Cooper, proprietor of the National Hotel [northwest corner of Canal and Miami Streets, familiarhknown as the Stag Hotel in earlv daj-s and burned down some years ago], at which place they were joined by a large and respectable party of ladies and gentlemen, and a few turns of the 'light fantastic toe,' accompanied with music, told how much the company were gratified at the long expected event. Capt. Columbia informs us he will make another trip to this place next week.' "

"The treat}' of 1834 ^^'^^ "^^ ratified by Gen. Jackson, on account of the numerous individual reservations; but in 1837, the bargain was struck by Martin Van Buren. This brought many lands within the canal land limits. Chauncy Carter commenced the surveys in 1838.

"Early in the spring of 1840, under the direction of J. L. Williams, the Canal Commissioner, these lands were rated and booked, preparatory to the public sale in the fall of 1840.

The Miami Cessions

-engaged in selecting and rating the land in the spring of 1840, and in the summer the safe and other ofhce property was removed to Peru. The building occupied was the Wilson row, northeast corner of Second and Miami streets.

"The individual reservations referred to interrupted the canal grant of e\ery alternative Hve miles on either side, in lieu of this loss the state was allowed to select from anv unsold nfovernment land the equivalent in quantity of what she was deprived of by these reservations. These selections were made in 1844 and a public sale of them took place in the Fall of the same yeav, at the office, south side of Second street, third lot from Miami.

"After the failure of the internal improvement system, large amounts were due contractors for work on the W. & E. Canal, which the State had no means to pay- These amounts were at first represented by certificates of indebtedness, issued to the contractors, on vellovv paper, which had a limited circulation under the name of "vellow dog." At the session of 1840, an act was passed by which this was taken up and a neatly-engraved bill, of the denomination of teij dollars, and afterward of live dollars, issued in its stead. This was made receix'able for interest, and subsequentlv for the principal, due on canal lands, and went under the name of "wjiite dog."' It was worth from forty to sixty cents on the dollar - a disastrous value for the contractor, but a blessing for those indebted for canal lands. "Dog" was a name given bv common consent to corporate promises to pav that were deemed of little value, hi the financial smash of 1S37, Michigan Bank paper, which constituted a large share of the currency, was called "red dog." The canal furnished "vellow dog." "white dog," and for the debts west of Tippecanoe, "blue pup.""

A verv interesting and deeplv pathetic episode in the history of the early settlement of that portion of Miami County lying south of the Wabash River, occurred in the year 1847, which is deserving of a more detailed notice than our limits will permit:

Nearly half a century ago, shortly after its acquisition bv the Government, the territory known as the " Miami Cessions," or the " Great Miami hidian Reserve," began to be settled by a sturdy, honest and industrious class of citizens with a view of making it their permanent home by purchase of the respective tracts settled upon. In view of the extravagant representation the value of these lands, a pre-emption law was obtained with great difficult}' in 1845 at the increased minimum rate of two dollars per acre. This tract of land, consisting of thirt\' miles square, containing nine hundred square miles, at a former treaty with the Government of the United States had been reserved by the Miami tribe of Indians, and, at the time referred to, had only recently been acquired by the Federal

Government, and, for the reason assigned, had become celebrated as the prospective "garden of the State," and in view of the immense value attached to it. Congress refused to embrace it within its pre-emption laws until 1845, as above stated.

The years 1845 and 1846 will be remembered by the fewremaining fathers who came to the wilds of Indiana and settled on the great " Miami Indian Reserve," as years of unparalleled sickness, suffering and destitution throughout the Reserve.

It was in the month of June 1847, when the inhabitants of this territory were without means to procure the necessaries of life, that a proclamation of President Polk for the immediate sale of these lands for cash down came upon this distressed people. They " spontaneously laid aside their implements of husbandry and congregated together" at the town of Peru for the purpose of imploring at the hands of the Executi^-e a postponement of the sale. There were gray-headed men there, bowed, not so much with the weight of years as by excessive toil to acquire a home in the wilderness for their declining years, who wrung their hands and cried, " Alas, too late to begin again."

An adjourned meeting was held on the 12th day of June, 1847, to pass upon petitions, one by John U. Pettit, a candidate for the State Senate, one by Andrew J. Harlan, a member of Congress from the Grant County District, and one' by James B. Fulwiler, of Peru. The last named petition was adopted b\- the meeting unanimouslv, and a responsible and trustworthy person was delegated to deliver it in person to the President himself, which dutv was faithfully discharged, and the sale was postponed agreeable to the prayer of the petitioners.

This petition, which was instrumental in saving the homes of some 1500 families from the grasp of avarice, should be perpetuated, and, as it more fully conveys to the mind of the reader the exigencies of the case, we give it in full, omitting the names of the signers:

We, the undersi.ined, be.s le;ive rcspectfiillj' to reprpsent to your Kxt'elleiu'V, that we are settlers upon the lands known a.s the "Jlia'iu Cessions." in Indiana: Ihat we are not i.anorant of theextraoriinarv cost of these lands to the iiovernnient, mainly owiujr to extravajrant representations of their value by distini;uislied men whose foot-prints have nevertracked the soil; that, I0 the serious ))redjudice of settlers, it has continued to lie represented as immensely valuable, and surrounded liy a hisjlily developed and densely |io|iulated country: thus creatinjr and fosterintr that bitter sectional predjudiee whi.h manifesti'd itself in unwonted hostility to the passa.^e of the late pre-emption law. That these re])resentations have been made at random and without a knowledire of the country, and that the impressions which jirevails abroad in resrard to the worth of the lands is incorrect, must sufficiently aiipear by reference to maps and field notes of the survey.s. Instead of meritinir the reputation of being the "sarden of the State," a cosrnomen jrained for it by stransrers to its (|uality and strangers to the surrounding country, it is, in fact, a body of ordinary land: the choicest jiortions thereof liaviim' been reserved by individual Indians by treaty stipulations, and these, together witli numl)erless tracts selected liy the State for canal purposes, comprise nearly all the best U'ud and most desirable locations. That the adjacent country, instead of beinj;' densely pojiulated and valuable, is, in truth, sparsely settled, and its unimproved lands will scarcely command the miuimuni government price. That a large majority of the present occui)ants of this territory settled thereon prior to the passage of the pre-em]ition law, knowing that in the event of its becoming Stale land, they would have the benotit of easy and extended payments, and hoping, sliould it become Federal lands, that their improvements, in case of their inability to purcliase, would not be taken from them without remun(>ration. That, were it possible to blot out these improvements and transform the country in to its primeval state, the condition in which we found it, our honest convictions are that not one-half the tracts, now rendered valuable by our labor, could be sold at their minimum rate.

Permit us further to represent, th;it the number of families occujjjing this territory, as actual settlers, is nearly two thousand, the value of whose improvements will probably average three hundred dollars each, and of this number not more than two hundred will lie prepared to avail themselves of the benefit of the late pre-emption law. unless the sale sliall Vie [lostponed until the Fall of 184S, affording time to reali/<' the proceeds of the labor of tlie present and succeeding years. Unless the sale sliall be thus deferred, the consequences will be, that two hundred settlers will be able to secure eighty acres of laud each, which will bring into the I'nited States Treasury the inconsiderable smn of 80,000 dollars. Eighteen hundred will be unable to buy and must necessarily lose .'540,000 dollars expended in improvements, while the sale of these lands, on account of the improvements, will add to tlie National Exchequer 288,000 dollars, selling at the minimum rate of two dollars per acre, which may be the case, when the settler has not the me.ans to compete with an organized band of speculators.

In view of this state of facts, the jiroclamation of Your E.vcellency designating so early a day for the sale of these lands has given rise to the most lively emotions of regret in the breasts of those for wliose benefit the late pre-emption law was enacted, and we have spontaneously laid aside our implements of liusbandary, and have congregated together for the purpose of imploring at the hands of Your Excellency, a posti>onement of this sale. Vi'e came here as ]iioneers of a country usually come, in humble circumstances, many of us have large families claiming support at our hands, have suffered the privations incident to a settlement in a new country, our labor and the jiroducts thereof have been alisorbed in opening our lields and erecting our cabins, and the general sickness which has prevailed to a fearful extent for the past two j'ears, producing an incalculalile .amount of human .suffering and destitution, has swept away the means that otherwise miglit have been spared to secure at this time our wilderness homes - homes w hich are dear to us, not on account of the supei-iority of the soil, nor in view of their desirable localities, but because we have reclaimed them and rendered them valuable by the sweat of our brows - because of our labor, highways of communication now traverse the vast wilds where a short time ago the trail of the Indian ventured not - homes rendered dear by social and domestic ties, and thrice sacred as the burial ground of dep.arted friends. Yet, if this application for po.-itpouement fails, the homes of eighteen hundred families who have thus contributed their toil and treasure to render them valuable, will pass into the hands of heartless speculator.-*, and these families will become houseless, homeless, dispirited w.anderers after new lields of labor for a subsistence.

In concluding this appeal. Your Excellency will permit us to say, while we are sensible that no ordinary circumstances, at this crisis, should be allowed to check the flow of money into the Xational Treasury, we at the same time feel contident that the voice of humanity, though it comes from the w ilderness, will not plead in vain.

Therefore, we ask, if within the scope of Executive discretion, that Your Excellency may cause the sale of the "Miami Cessions" to be postponed, at least, until the Fall of 1848 or \mtil after the next congre.ss shall convene, and your petitioners will ever pray.

man, the Indianapolis & Peru R. R. Compan}- was incorporated. In the election of the first Board of Directors Miami County was represented by J. T. Miller, G. S. Fenimore, William Kesler, R. L. Britton, W. J. Holman and N. O. Ross. In June 1849, a proposition was submitted to the people of the county a.sking for a subscription of $20,000 for the encouragement of the project. This was carried by a large majority of the taxpayers, and $10,000 of said appropriation was immediately borrowed and placed in the hands of the directors. After much delay and many appeals to the people for additional help, the road was completed to Peru in the spring of 1854. The road was afterward extended to Michigan City, and is now known as the Indianapolis, Peru & Chicago R. R. The entire length of the road in the county is nearly forty miles, and has contributed much to the deyelopment of its resources and added largely to its material prosperity.

Another project, which was contemporaneous with the foregoing, and in which the people of Miami County were much interested, proyided for the construction of a road from Marion, Ind., to Chicago, yia Peru. The compan}' was incorporatdd under the name of the Marion, Peru & Chicago Railroad Company. The object of the scheme was to connect with another proposed route from Marion eastward with Cincinnati the terminal point. Thus the two great trade centers would haye been connected by a road as practicable as any that has since been constructed. In the election of othcers Mr. James B. Fulwiler, of Peru was chosen Vice-President, and be it said to his credit, that if aU others connected with the company had displayed the same energy and zeal, the project would not haye failed. The following account of the project is in Mr. Fulwiler's own words:

" In the year 1853 a compan}' was organized for the construction of a railroad from Peru to Marion, Grant County, Indiana, composed of nine directors, to-wit: Judge M. G. Mitchell, of Piqua, Ohio, President: James B. Fulwiler, of Peru, Vice-President: Ira Stanley, X. O. Ross, C. S. Ellis, John A. Graham, Jesse Higgins, stock was subscribed by substantial men along the yalley of the Mississinewa, and a written contract was entered into with the the President and Directors of the Mississinewa Valle\' Railroad Company, and the agents, legally appointed, of the Columbus, Piqua & Indiana Railroad Company, and duly adopted and confirmed by the respectiye companies, pro\iding for a perpetual business connection between the said companies at Union City, on the State line, of such a character as to full}- authorize and empower either of said parties to giye through tickets and freight bills either way over the several roads; providing for a uniform gauge, using the T rail, and for the erection of water stations, depots, switches, etc. As the road shall then be completed to Peru, Miami County, Jndiana, the Columbus Company agreed to put upon the roads a sutticient amount of rolling stock for the business of the same as soon as the road should be completed in parts to justify it, and after the roads are completed, the said Columbus Conipan\- shall run the same for ten years upon fair and equitable terms to be agreed upon by the parties in interest. It was further agreed, upon the completion of the road, that, upon the election of either company to consolidate the stock, it should be done, and that the stock of each company should be put in at its fair cash value at that time, and new stock certilicates issued for the same. This contract was to be binding upon the parties so soon as confirmed by the boards of directors of the respective companies, and certified copies of this resolution, under seal, were interchanged between them.

This secured to Peru the certainty of the road, and J. B. Ful- ^viler and Jesse Higgins, who were instrumental in accomplishing these perpetual connections upon which depended the successful negotiations of their bond, returned to Peru from Marion, Grant County, where the representatives of the various roads had convened, flushed with victory over the combined wealth and talent of Logansport, only to find, to their mortification, that the director}' of the Union, Peru & Chicago Railroad Company had, during their absence, been beguiled by two adventurers, representing themselves as railroad men and capitalists, into a consolidation with another road from Peru to Chicago, and changing the eastern direction from Peru to a southern route by way of Cambridge City, the home of one of the adventurers.

Thus Peru lost the benefit of contracts with the Marion & Mississinewa Valley Railroad Company and Columbus, Piqua & Indiana Railroad Company (by which the construction of the road from Peru to Marion was assured), as assurance had been given the Union, Peru & Chicago Company by certain New York capitalists that, with the above connection duh' and legally entered into thev would furnish sufficient means for the construction of the road upon the bonds of the company."

Toledo (£- IVaha^/i. - The first encouragement given to the construction of this line was at a public meeting held at Logansport, June 23, 1852. The road was completed between Peru and Logansport in 1856. It is now incorporated under the name of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific, with its termini at St. Louis and Toledo. This road, like all other public enterprises, received the financial encouragement of the people of Miami County, who have always showed their liberalit\- h\ their suj port of every movement tending toward public good.

of the southern portion of the county the means of transporting their products direct to Chicago and Cincinnati, and reaching tiie best markets of the country. Several prosperous towns have been built along the line of this road, which adds much to the wealth of the county.

Township 27, Range 3; thence in a northeasterly direction to Mexico and Denver; thence east through Chili to the eastern limits of the county. While the line is not so successfully operated as other roads of the county, yet the benefits to this section of the county have been incalculable. This road traverses the county a total distance of about seventeen miles.

Gravel Roads. - During the past few vears there has been greatl improvement in the matter of public highways. In various parts of the count}- gravel roads have been made, and perhaps nothing contributes more to the welfare and progress of a community than good highways.

The following table gives the date of the establishing of the several roads, together with the total estimated cost of the roads, including interest on the bonds and all other expense up to the lime they are to be paid for in full :

The toll roads are : Peru & Mexico Turnpike Companv, Peru & Chili Turnpike Companv, Peru & Paw Paw Turnpike Company, Peru & Mississinewa Turnpike Compan\', Peru & Santa Fe Turnpike Companv. There are no reliable statistics at hand showing the cost of these, as they are private property.

Medical Society. - The Miami Count\- Medical Societ\' was organized, and articles of association filed Januar\' 3, 1875. The object of the society as set forth in the article of association, are to advance medical knowledge, improve the health and protect the lives of the communitv, and elevate the professional character of its members. Any regular graduate from a reputable medical college, of good moral character may become a member of said society by paving into the treasury the sum of three dollars. The original signers of the articles of association are as follows: J. H. Helm,

M. D. Ellis, E. M. Bloomfield, E. J. Kendall, W. II. Brenton, J. O. Ward, W. A. McCoy, James A. Meek, E. C. Friermood, S. S. Marsh, W. T. Wilson, O. C. Irwin, James M. McKee and C. B. Higgins. The present membership as shown by Secretary's books is as follows : W. K. Armstrong, U. A. A. Ager, E. M. Bloomfield, C. C. Brady, W. H. Brenton, Ezra K. Friermood, B. R. Graham, John H. Helm, Carter B. Higgins, James A. Meek, S. S. Marsch, Henry P. McDonald, Rollin Pence and A. F.. Smith. The present officers are W. K. Armstrong, President; Carter B. Higgins, Secretary; Edwin M. Bloomfield, Treasurer and A. F. Smith, H. P. McDowell and E. K. Friermood Censors.

Agrictdtural Societies. - Early in the history of the commonwealth of Indiana, did the la\y-maker recognize the value that would accrue from the incorporation of such societies, and accordingly provided b}- law for their organization. The first effort to organize a society in Miami County was in the early part of the fifties. After repeated efforts the Miami County Agricultural Society was organized. The grounds were located east of the city of Peru on land owned by William Smith. Fairs were held here for many years, from which much good resulted.

The ne.xt organization of this character was the Peru Driving Park and Fair Association which was incorporated September 20, 1873. The object as set forth in the articles of association were to promote the agricultural, horticultural, mechanical and household interest of the county. The authorized capital stock was $22,000 divided into shares of $100 each. The largest stockholders were J. T. Stevens, J. C. Kratzer, Wm. Rassner, G. and G. W. Conradt. No fairs have been held by this society for several years.

Elections. - From various sources, the following figures have been compiled, showing the results of the Presidential elections for the years named: