Porter County, Indiana - Bt Hubert O. Skinner, 1882 (part 1 of 2)

Bt Hubert O. Skinner

Geology - Evidences of Glaciation - The Drift - Topography - Wateb- CoiTRSES - Pre-Histokic Eemains - The French and Indians - The Bailly Family - Summary View of County Settlement - The First Court- Public Buildings - Capital and Other Crimes - The Plank Road - Railways- County Authorship - Statistical Tables - Public Officers.

THE geologist who delights to enrich his cabinet with fossils gathered from the paleozoic rocks, will find nothing in Porter County to reward his search ; but to one who is interested in the study of glaciation and its effects, this region presents a most interesting field for investigation. The floor of Porter County was laid in the Devonian age, and below us lie myriads of fossilized organisms of this " age of fishes." But these are hidden by the vast deposits of glacial drift, and could be reached only by excavations of great depth. The strata of drift are at least 170 feet in thickness, and there are no outcroppings of the original rock -bed. Upon the surface we find occasional fragments of limestone, crinoids and other traces of the Silurian age ; but they were brought hither from regions far to the north. Upon the surface, and sometimes beneath it, we find granitoid bowlders of various size scattered through the county ; and in the beds of all our streams are innumerable pebbles, worn smooth by the constant action of the water. These, likewise, are not native, but were transported to our borders from the distant northland.

So complete are the evidences which support the glacial theory, that it is unnecessary here to present any arguments in its favor. It is sufficient to give the conclusions at which scientists have arrived, upon the most careful study and investigation of the subject.

The line of sand hills upon our northern shore has no counterpart in the known world. Other lakes have ranges of sand hills, but none a iange like ours. The combined action of the winds and waves through untold ages, has reared these beautiful ridges to a height of one hundred and fifty^sometimes two hundred - feet. In color, they are a bluish white, and from afar they glisten in the sun with an unearthly beauty, contrasting with the deep blue of the lake that dashes upon the beach! On our southern border, the sluggish Kankakee pursues its sinuous course little changed in its appearance and natural surroundings through a lonelapse of ages. Porter County contains about a dozen small lakes. Th most considerable of these are Flint and Long Lakes, north of Valpara' and Longinus, Mud and Fish Lakes, near the northern shore Tb ' Calumet River flows in a westerly direction through the northern its principal aflluents being Salt and Coff'ee Creeks. Sandy Hook a rl

Crooked Creeks flow southward through the southern part of the county ; the former discharges into the Kankakee, while the latter is lost in the extensive and low marsh adjoining the river.

While not remarkably rich in antiquities, Porter County contains many objects of interest to the archaeologist. It was once occupied by that strange and problematic people - the Mound-Bailders - who have left numerous traces of their occupation. The Mound-Builders are commonly supposed to have been a great people, who occupied the Mississippi Yalley, and who migrated to the southward. The Spanish accounts of the Aztecs, Toltecs and Chichemecs, the ruined cities of Mexico and Central America, and the inscriptions found in these have been carefully studied for a solution of the mystery in which this race is involved. But the mystery is yet unsolved. Numerous earth mounds are found in Porter County ; but there are no fortifications or other works of any great magnitude. In the mounds have been found human bones, arrow heads and fragments of pottery. Scores of stone ax-heads, and thousands of arrowflints have been collected from the prairies and from the banks of streams. There is a most interesting earthwork to be found near Deep River, at the western border. Here is a mound of earth, reared by human hands, and rising to the height of twenty feet. It is shaped like a flat-iron, and regularly built, the principal sides measuring each twenty feet in length from the apex. Near the latter, there is a well, which was formerly of enormous depth. The excavation is circular, and has a diameter of eight or nine feet. Into this well, the early settlers threw the dehris of their clearings, with the intention of filling it up ; but the capacity has been So great that it remains yet unfilled. Numerous small excavations in the adjacent soil and rocks have led to the conclusion that this was once a "water-cure" establishment, and resorted to in ancient times for its baths.

The. First White Occupants. - It is not known when Porter County was first visited by white men. The supposition is that French explorers and traders occasionally passed through this region from about the middle of the seventeenth century. The first Europeans whose visits were recorded were fathers Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon. These famous missionaries landed upon the lake shore, and traversed the country to the Kankakee River, inspecting the natural features of the land, and becoming acquainted with the natives. In the summer of the following year, 1673, Father Jacques Marquette returned from his Mississippi expedition, and with his six followers paddled up the Kankakee to its source. Here the party crossed the marsh, carrying their boats to the St. Joseph, and continued their journey down the river and up the lake to Green Bay. In 1679, a celebrated company passed down our winding river. The leader of the expedition was Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle ; the lieutena the Chevalier De Tonti. Father Hennepin and the Sieur de la .^ were among the number. This band of about thirty men P* light canoes down the Kankakee and Illinois. The next year, spring, La Salle passed through our territory on foot, with three " ^^ ions, on his march to Frontenac (now Kingston). In the last ay 1681, he returned and passed westward over our lake border with a considerable company of followers. In 1711, many of the natives ot this region came under the influence of the missionary Chardon, who was stationed at a post upon the St. Joseph, and many were baptized in the Christian faith. The next year, 1712, many of these natives repaired to Detroit to assist the French against the Fox Indians. A friendly feeling between the French and the natives was the result. Traders resorted to the post and carried on an extensive traffic in furs and corn. A consequence of this traffic was a demoralizing indulgence in " fire water," the baneful effects of which were noted by the missionary Charlevoix. In 1759, our territory, together with that of all Northern Indiana, passed into the hands of the British. English and French traders, between whom existed a deadly hatred, now traversed the lake shore. The French had the advantage of their rivals since they enjoyed the confidence of the natives, and understood their language. The Pottawatomies of this region assisted in the capture of the post on the St. Joseph in 1763. This was a part of the general insurrection planned by Pontiac ; and the success of this expedition was rendered valueless by the failure of the attempts elsewhere. The overthrow of Pontiac led to a long peace.

In 1781, our territory was invaded from an unexpected quarter. The Spanish commander, Don Eugenio Pierre, came from St. Louis to seize the lake shore in the name of the King of Spain. A force of sixty Indians from the West accompanied the Spanish troops. The march was made very early in the year, amid the storms of winter. Don Pierre probably followed the old Sac trail which led from Twenty-mile Prairie through the site of Valparaiso to the eastward.

Over the soil of Porter County had now waved the flags of England, France and Spain, and now a fourth power was to claim the territory. The treaty by which England acknowledged the independence of the United States, at the termination of the Revolutionary war, was signed in 1783. The British, however, continued to occupy Detroit and to claim this region until 1796, at which time the territory of Porter Countv became in reality a part of the American republic. Among the lo 1 Indian legends, the most noticeable is that of the Boundary war wa d by the natives of this region, and a tribe adjoining upon the west Th former possessed themselves of the ford of the Kankakee at Eton's Cr ing, as a rendezvous. A battle was fought at the north end of Morgan Prairie ; and the invaded tribe, simulating terror, fled from the field. The second battle was fought near the rendezvous. Those who had before appeared to fear the intruders, now effected their complete rout. The victors pursued the foe to the Chicago River, where the boundary was adjusted satisfactorily. Evidences that some such struggle actually occurred have been found upon the prairie and at the river ; but no date can be assigned to it, and it must remain simply a subject of legend and not of history. The troops of Col. John H. Whistler, of Detroit, commissioned to erect a fort upon the lake shore, at the mouth of the Chicago River, passed through our territory in 1803. Col. Whistler made the journey from Detroit in a Government vessel, the " Tracy," which was the first ship that ever entered Chicago harbor. In the spring of 1804, the fort was completed, and named in honor of Gen. Dearborn. An extensive trading post was here established ; and from the first, Fort Dearborn exercised an extensive influence over the region of Porter County. Trails leading thither became roads of regular travel, and men were to be seen at all times passing to and from the fort. Native trappers and hunters resorted to the shores of the Calumet and the Kankakee, and gathered large quantities of valuable furs ; corn was raised in abundance upon the prairies, and carried to the fort for sale. Transportation was conducted by means of canoes upon the lake, and also by means of ponies with pack saddles of bark.

One of the leading spirits of this region at that time was Alexander Robinson, a remarkable man, in whose veins were mingled the blood of the English, the French and the Indian. He was in the employ of John Jacob Astor, and was stationed at the fort, but made numerous journeys to our territory, purchasing and transporting corn and furs. Another prominent man of the time was Joseph Bales, or Bailie, a Frenchman who was associated with Robinson in the fur agency. Eventually, he became widely known as a pioneer of Northwestern Indiana, and was the first white settler of Porter County.

Capt. Heald succeeded Col. Whistler in command of the fort. Lahwasika, the " Prophet," and brother of Tecumseh, sent his emissaries to the tract lying north of the Kankakee to secure aid in his intended war upon the whites. Aid was promised and given. The battle of Tippecanoe was fought in 1811. At the time of the conflict the shores of the Kankakee were thronged with women and children, the aged and the helpless. Those who returned from that battle were enraged and embittered against the white people of Indiana Territory, and were divided in their feelings toward the garrison of Fort Dearborn. Many were disposed to be friendly with their neighbors of the Northwest ; but the influence of boded danger to the garrison and village on Chicago River. ^ nning ing in August, 1812, Wirinemeg, an Indian messenger, was seen """^^^^^^ nimbly along the beach and over the sand hills of our ^°^^^^^\^^^ ^^ He came from Detroit, and bore the fatal message to the '=0'"'"*" .^^g ^f Fort Dearborn. Capt. Heald called a council, in which ^^^^^^^ -^^^^ this region participated. About the same time, Capt. Wells, o Wayne, accompanied by fifteen Miamis, hastened over the trail in e endeavor to protect from danger his sister, who was at the fort, i he massacre of Fort Dearborn occurred on August 15. Two noble-hearted Indians, Winnemeg and Wabansee, endeavored to save their friend, Gapt. Wells, but in vain. He fell in the massacre, bravely fighting. For four years but few white faces were seen in our territory. The fort lay in ruins ; traders feared to mingle with the perpetrators of the massacre. At length, in 1816, the fort was rebuilt and garrisoned. Indiana was now admitted into the Union as a State. The Government purchased from the natives a strip of land ten miles in width, extending across the north end of the State.

In 1822, the first white settler made his home at the place now known as Bailly Town, in Westchester Township. This was Joseph Bailly, or Bailie, of whom mention has been made. Mr. Bailly established a store, and built up a very considerable trade with the natives. He had married an Indian woman, and was thoroughly acquainted with the habits, customs and language of her people. Madame Bailly spoke French fluently, and adopted many of the customs and refinements of civilized life, but always retained the dress of the aborigines. The settlement at Bailly Town became widely known ; travelers, traders, adventurers, missionaries and Government officers made it their rendezvous. It was the leading place of assembly for religious exercises ; it was an important center of trade ; it was a place of safety in time of danger. Mr. Bailly purchased a sloop in order to navigate the great lakes, and gave his daughters the advantages of travel and Eastern education.

In 1831, a road was cleared from Detroit to Fort Dearborn. It passed through what now constitutes Jackson, Westchester and Portage Townships. It was a wild, rude pathway, fatiguing in its roughness abounding in dangers, and often uncertain in its course. Over this road a mail line was established between Detroit and Fort Dearborn, the mail being carried in knapsacks upon the backs of soldiers, two of whom were regularly detailed for this purpose.

In 1832, the entire Northwest was thrown into great consternation bv the tidings of outrage and massacre committed by Black Hawk in the regions near the Mississippi. The territory of Porter County, with its single white inhabitant, had little to fear, but the natives were much excited by the events. Government troops were immediately dispatched to the scene of war, and passed over the Detroit and Fort Dearborn road. Alexander Robinson, of whom mention has been made, was now chief of the Pottawatomies, having been chosen to that office in 1826. He was known among the natives by the name of Chechebingway. He convened a great council of the tribe at Fort Dearborn, and successfully used his influence to establish a lasting peace with the whites. Within this year, the Government purchased the Indian title to all the lands of Porter County lying south of the old Indian boundary established in 1816.

The year 1833 was an important era in our history. A stage line was established, and coaches ran from Chicago to Detroit, making three trips per week. The first contractors of this line were Messrs. Converse & Reeves. At a season of high water, the mail carriers lost a sack of coffee in a large, swollen stream, which incident gave to Coffee Creek its name. With the establishment of this stage line, commenced the actual settlement of Porter County by white families. The Morgan brothers, Jesse, William and Isaac, natives of Monongalia County, Va., arrived early in this memorable year. Jesse settled in what is now Westchester Township, on Section 6. The Chicago and Detroit road passed through his farm, and invited him to assume the character of "mine host." He accordingly christened his home the " Stage House," and had no lack of guests in his hostelry. Isaac and William Morgan chose locations upon the fair and extensive prairie which bears their name. Late in April, Henry S. Adams, of Jefferson County, Ohio, arrived at the prairie, accompanied by his mother, his wife and three daughters, and encamped for a time on what is now Section 9, Morgan Township. In May, he erected a dwelling and otherwise improved his farm. George Cline, of Union County, Ind. ; Adam S. Campbell, of Chautauqua County, N. Y., and Reason Bell, of Wayne County, Ohio, arrived in June and located upon the prairie. Other settlers joined these pioneers, and soon a very considerable settlement of hardy, sober, industrious pioneers grew up in what had been an almost unknown wild.

In May, the site of Valparaiso was visited by Thomas A. E. Campbell, then a young man of twenty-two years, who accompanied his uncle, Adam Campbell, in his explorations previous to the settlement of the latter upon the prairie. On the evening of the 21st, these gentlemen arrived at the new home of Isaac Morgan, and on the next day they arrived at the banks of Tishkatawk, the stream now known as Salt Creek. Thomas selected a site for his future home, and returned subsequently to take possession. Jacob Fleming, the Colemans, Ruel Starr and others removed hither within the same year. In the fall, an Indian trading

Early in 1834 came J. P. Ballard, who erected the first house upon the site of Valparaiso. It was in the valley of the stream which crosses Morgan street, and in the grounds south of Judge Talcott s present residence that this first cabin was constructed. A. K. Pame settled in what is now Jackson Township, and built the first dwelling in that locality. Jesse Johnston took up his residence near the old Indian town of Chiqua, near Valparaiso. Thomas and William Gosset selected farms in the northern part of the county. Jacob and David Hurlburt repaired to the borders of Twenty-mile Prairie, which then appeared like a lake filled with islands. Theophilus Crumpacker, Jerry and Joseph Bartholomew and Jacob Wolf, arrived within the year ; also, William Frame and Abram Stoner.

On the 11th of January, the first white child was born within the present limits of the county - Reason Bell, whose father, Reason Bell, Sr., resided on what is now Section 15 of Washington Township. Hannah Morgan, daughter of Jesse Morgan, the first native white daughter of this region, was born at the Stage House, February 11. John Fleming, of Union Township, was born within the same year.

The Government surveyors, Messrs. Polk and Burnside, ran the lines and divided the lands into sections. John J. Foster laid off a town to the east of the " Stage House," and christened it " Waverly," but the enterprise did not prove a success.

The number of immigrants was considerably increased in the following year. Among the new-comers were Putnam Bobbins, David Hughart, E. P. Cole, Hazard Sheffield, Allan B. James, Peter Ritter, G. W. Patton, the Baum brothers, George Z. Salyer and David Oaks. The town of Porterville was laid out on the site of the old Catholic cemetery, but did not prosper. In 1835 was the sale of public lands. This sale was conducted at La Porte, then a town consisting of a few log cabins. Our early settlers were present, almost to a man, and there were a number of Eastern capitalists present who made large purchases. The Hoosier's Nest was a settlement on the old Sac trail, and was established by Thomas Snow. It contained a frame house, built of lumber hauled from La Porte County. It was this place that was described in the once popular poem of John Finley, running :

I'm told, in riding somewhere West, A stranger found a Hoosier's Nest ; In other words, a Buckeye cabin Just big enough to hold Queen Mab in. Its situation low, but airy. Was on the borders of a prairie ; And fearing he might be benighted, He hailed the house, and then alighted. The Hoosier met him at the door ; Their salutations soon were o'er. He took the stranger's horse aside, And to a sturdy sapling tied ; Then, having stripped the saddle off. He fed him in a sugar trough.

Invited shortly to partake Of venison, milk and Johnny-cake, The stranger made a hearty meal. And glances round the room would steal. ' One side was lined with divers garments,

The following men were summoned to appear as jurors at the first term of the Circuit Court of Porter County : Grand Jurors - William Thomas, Samuel dinger, William Gosset, Joseph Wright, Samuel Haviland, James Walton, Asahel Neal, James Spurlock, John Bartholomew, Thomas Adams, Reason Bell, Peter Cline, Royal Benton, William Clark,

The first session of the Circuit Court was held in October, 1836, at the house of John Saylor. Judge Samuel C. Sample seated himself with great dignity behind a deal table, on which were placed a few law books, and court was declared to be in session. The first cause was called, and went by default, as the plaintiff did not put in appearance. The Grand Jury strolled out of the small, close court room, and held their deliberar tions under a large oak tree, on the site of the T. Q. Miller Block. The rain commenced to fall, but they were tolerably well protected by their canopy of leaves. A fire was built, and imparted warmth and cheer to the dismal session.

In 1837, a subscription paper was circulated to secure the funds necessary for building a court house and jail. The subscription reached $1,250. A frame court house was built west of the square in Valparaiso, and completed late in the fall. Until this time, court was regularly held in the house of John Saylor, on the site of the Empire Block, but was henceforth held in the large room above the post office until the erection of the brick court house in 1853. The county jail was built of logs, on Mechanic street, to the southeast of the square, in 1888.

The settlement of Bailly Town by the French trader Bailly, in' 1822, has been mentioned. This interesting locality and .the remarkable family which possessed it deserve more than a passing comment. For eleven years, Monsieur Bailly was the only white inhabitant of the region of Porter County. His influence over the natives was unbounded, and his traffic in furs yielded him an almost princely revenue. His home would more properly have been termed a rendezvous than a town, for it owed importance to the large gatherings of the natives for the consideration of every important matter, and for the purposes of trade and of religious worship rather than to any considerable resident population. This, indeed, it never possessed ; and, with the departure of the Indians to the new reservations in the West, its importance departed forever. One of the most interesting characters among us in the forties was the good Bishop of Vincennes, Maurice de St. Palais. This untiring apostle was accustomed to travel on horseback from Vincennes to Bourbonnais Grove, a French Catholic settlement near Kankakee, 111., and from that point to Bailly Town. On his arrival at Bailly's settlement he was always greeted by a vast concourse of the Indians, in whose presence he ofiBciated at the solemn sacrifice of the mass. Thomas A. B. Campbell, traveling once through the woods to Bailly Town upon a white horse, was seen by the Indians at a distance and mistaken for the good Bishop. Instantly and eagerly the word was passed along, " The Father is coming," and Mr. Campbell on arriving at the trader's house met a large and disappointed company of natives. The home of the trader presented an anomalous appearance in the forties. It was a singular compound of the barbarous and the refined, the rudely simple and the tastefully luxurious. The trader had one son, mention of whom is made elsewhere. In education as well as in wealth his daughters were far more favored than those of the most fortunate white families of the county. Capable of adorning any circle of society, they yet preferred the seclusion of their home to association with the families of the immigrants. Hortense, the youngest, won universal admiration wherever she appeared. She was remarkably beautiful in feature and graceful in form and movement. Mentally, she was bright and quick of perception. She frequently rode to the county seat upon her favorite pony, a beautiful snow white animal, in which she took great pride. She was always accompanied by her dog, to which she seemed equally attached. Her dress was simple, but of a richness of which other misses in the county would not have dreamed. A cloak of rich velvet, a cap of silk, with a long, soft plume or a jaunty eagle feather, a severely simple dress, foade of some costly fabric brought from the East - this was the garb of our Pocahontas. She transacted with the county officers the business upon which she came, and amused herself by playing with her dog and pony in the square until after the heat of the summer day had lessened, then, alone and fearless, rode silently away to her solitary home.

In all the early history of Porter County, Michigan City was the great market for produce and supplies. This city dates from 1831. Its young life was full of promise. Vessels sought its harbor, and the farmers of the tributary region, extending far to the east, the south and the west, gave it their almost undivided patronage. People reckoned the distance of every point in our county from "the city." Twenty-mile Prairie took its name from the measure of distance which separated it from this port. The roads which led to the city were generally very inferior, and sometimes almost impassable - entirely unequal to the demands of transportation. Late in the decade, a grand project was undertaken. It was the construction of a plank-road from Valparaiso to Michigan City. The outlay necessary to thd construction of such a road was immense, considering the sparseness and comparative poverty of the population in that day. But the people demanded that it should be commenced in 1850, and partly finished in three years. The expec e cost was 1128,000. A number of citizens of this county were stockholders of the plank-road company. Money was scarce, and much ot the cost of construction was paid in orders. The use oi tnes , in a measure, illustrated the English idea that "a national debt is a national blessing." For a number of years, the orders of the plank-road company were in circulation as currency, and formed a large portion of the circulating medium in the hands of the people.

While this road was in process of construction, a greater work claimed and occupied the attention of the people. Railways were pushed through to "the city " and to Chicago. Through Pine, Westchester and Portage Townships, and over the border of Jackson, lay the course of the rails. The Lake Shore road and the Michigan Central appeared at our borders almost simultaneously. They crossed near Calumet, a village which had grown up north of the old "Stage House," and which has since become the town of Chesterton. From this time. Porter County was brought into direct connection with the outside world. From the county seat a rapid drive in an easy coach over the smooth plank floor brought one to the railway, where he might enjoy the luxury of travel in "steam cars." The first goods received in Porter County by rail were sent on a construction train from Michigan City in 1851, and landed upon the prairie at Old Porter. They were sent to Hubbard Hunt, then a Valparaiso merchant. They came by way of the Michigan Central. The Lake Shore road was then in process of construction, but the work was not so far advanced as that of the Central. The mails were henceforth carried far more rapidly than hitherto.

The public buildings of the public square at Valparaiso were commenced in 1850. They consist of the court house and two other buildings for the county offices. The court house was not completed until 1853. Its cost was about $13,000. It was of a style similar to that of La Porte, and had north and south entrances. It had a brick floor and the seats were ranged in tiers. At the time of its construction, it was one of the best in the State. The delay in its construction was due to alleged fraud in the use of unsuitable building materials by the contractors. Part of the wall in which these materials had been used was torn down and rebuilt before the work could be approved.

A man named Lovering, by profession a school teacher and minister, was convicted of theft, and sentenced to four years' imprisonment. Three years later, a murderer was brought into court, but, owing to popular fury, was granted a change of venue. It was John Mcintosh, who murdered an old gentleman, Charles Askam, in Pleasant Township. Other changes of venue were obtained, and the murderer escaped conviction through a legal technicality, being set at liberty at South Bend, two years later.

The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway was laid through Porter County in 1858. John N. Skinner and Ruel Starr were the principal contractors. The road passed through Valparaiso, where a large grain depot was built, and brought a great deal of trade to the county seat.

In 1869, Henry Andrews was murdered by Philip Schaffer, in a saloon, at Valparaiso, and the murderer was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for his crime.

Among the legislative acts in the sixties was that under which the Kankakee Valley Draining Association was organized. The assessments made upon the lands to be benefited by the draining of the Kankakee region were regarded as excessive and unjust. Very bitter feeling was aroused against the company, and vigorous denunciations and threats were uttered at numerous indignation meetings. The scheme as contemplated was never carried out.

The new jail was built in 1871, opposite the southeast corner of the public square in Valparaiso. It cost somewhat more than $26,500, and is a fine piece of architecture. For some years the county had been without a jail, and the prisoners had been taken to La Porte County for safe keeping. Notwithstanding the apparent security of the new prison, there were several "jail deliveries " which startled the community and perplexed the officers. The famous monte man and desperado known as "Texas Jack " was confined here in 1876. His preliminary trial was held before Mayor Skinner at the court house. Dense crowds thronged the court room, and large numbers of people visited the prisoner at the jail. He was held for trial. His pals and supporters in Chicago were determined to elFect his rescue if possible ; and though a close watch and eflScient guard appeared to be maintained, he disappeared one night, having been aided by accomplices in his escape.

A memorable sensation was caused in 1872 by the discovery of a murdered man, or a suicide, hanging from a tree a short distance southwest of the county seat. The circumstance is a mystery which has never been satisfactorily explained.

The Peninsular Railway reached Valparaiso in 1874. A station was established near Prattville and named Malone. It is near the site of the old Indian village called by the aborigines " Skeenwa's Town." The Balti- there was a serious riot at Crisman Station, in Portage Township- Baltimore road was resisted by the Michigan Central in its attempt to cross the track of the latter. Hundreds of men arrived at the scene, lirearms were obtained, and, for a time, a fierce and bloody battle seeme imminent. Wiser counsels prevailed, the difficulty was adjusted and tne track was laid. The next year the town of Sumanville was laid out as a station upon this line in Jackson Township. A strong, substantial bridge was constructed over the Kankakee River near Mayville, Capt. De Oourcey being the engineer. The Chicago & Lake Huron Railway, formerly the Peninsular, passed into the hands of the Grand Trunk, and arrangements were made to extend the line to Chicago, which work was completed the next year. In 1881, the line of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis was extended through Porter County to Chicago. The Chicago & Atlantic Railway line was also surveyed through our county, and the work of construction vigorously pushed. The first of these lines passes through Valparaiso, and the last crosses the Pan Handle line at Kout's Station.

Court continues to be held in the old court-house of 1853, which has been so greatly changed since its construction as to be scarcely recognizable as the same building. A new building is contemplated by' the authorities, being greatly needed at the present time. The only murder trials of late years were those of Charles Stevens, in 1879, and Brainerd Taft, in 1881. The former was acquitted of the crime alleged ; the latter was found guilty of the murder of John Dutton, and sentenced to the penitentiary for four years.

While not famous as the home or resort of any large number of authors, Porter County has numbered among her citizens several who have achieved some distinction as writers. Doubtless the most gifted and polished author among Porter County's sons is Col. Gilbert A. Pierce, formerly Secretary of the United States Senate, and later editor of the Chicago Inter Ocean. His " Dickens' Dictionary " is recognized as a standard work in Great Britain as well as in the United States, and has received high commendation from the reviewers of both nations. His novel, "Zachariah, the Congressman," is a charming story, charmingly told, and having a well-arranged plot. Of Col. Peirce's lectures and addresses, that entitled " To Laugh or To Cry," is very popular, and places him in the front rank of American humorists.

Hon. Worthy Putnam, of Michigan, was formerly Professor of Elocution in the V. M. & F. College, at Valparaiso, and published a large, admirable work under the title of " Putnam's Elocution." The treatise as well as the selections, showed ability and taste in the authorship and com- pilation. Prof. A. T. Moore, an instructor in the V. C. Institute, wrote the "Life of Schuyler Colfax," a well-prepared and interesting biography of the Indiana Statesman. Rev. Dr. Sims, now Chancellor of Syracuse University, is the author of the "Life of Dr. Eddy," an interesting biography in Dr. Sims' happiest style. Miss Frances R. Howe, a granddaughter of the first white settler, Monsieur Joseph Bailly, of Bailly Town, is the author of "A Visit to Bois d'Haine," a charming narrative of European travel, in which she describes her visit to Louise Lateau, the Belgian Stigmatica. Dr. E. W. Fish, a former practitioner of this county, and sometime Professor of Chemistry at Pulte College, Cincinnati, is the author of a large and carefully prepared text-book on chemistry. Rev. J. Milton Kennedy, a Methodist pastor, formerly stationed at Chesterton, is the author of a highly commended book of Poems. Mr. A. G. Hardesty wrote and published a brief but most interesting history of Porter County in 1876, in connection with his' admirable atlas of the same. J. W. Holcombe, of the Normal, is the author of a text-book entitled "The Latin Sentence," published in 1876. It is a valuable work of a finished scholar and a practical teacher. Mrs. Lizzie Newell, of Fargo, D. T., formerly of Valparaiso, is the author of the " Silent Counselor," a beautiful and ingenious work of Scriptural and poetical compilation. Prof. 0. P. Kinsey, of the Normal, is the author of an admirable little work entitled " The Normal Debater." Mrs. M. Elna W. Haverfield, M. D., has written a work entitled "Enlightened Woman," on subjects of special interest to her sex. Scientific and technical compositions have been written' by Harlowe S. Orton, President of the Law College of Wisconsin State University ; Orpheus Everts, M. D., Superintendent Indiana Asylum for the Insane ; Wooster Beman, Professor of Mathematics at Michigan University, and other former residents of Porter County. Of musical composers and publishers, J. William Sufi'ene, J. W. Ruggles and Prof. Straub, of Chicago, have been connected with institutions of musical instruction at Valparaiso. The Congressional speeches of Congressmen Calkins and De Motte would form a large volume. These gentlemen resided for many years at Valparaiso, and the last mentioned is now a resident of that city.

Judges Oircuit Court. - First, Samuel Sample, of South Bend ; second, E. M. Chamberlin, of Goshen ; third, Robert Lowry, of Goshen ; fourth, Thomas Stanfield, of South Bend ; fifth, Andrew Osborn, of La Porte ; sixth, Hiram A. Gillett, of Valparaiso ; seventh, Elisha 0. Fields, of Crown Point.

Judges, Probate Court. - 1st. Jesse Johnson - Seneca Ball and James Blair, Associate Judges. 2d. George W. Turner - Enos Thomas and John Herr, Associate Judges. 3d. Nathaniel Campbell - H. E. Woodruff and Benjamin N. Spencer, Associate Judges. 4th. William Talcott 5th. John Jones (appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resienation of Judge Talcott, who remained on the bench about six months till the office was abolished in 1852).

Et Weston A. Goodspeed

Ceeation of Poeter County - Its Existence tjndek La Porte Jurisdiction - Early Subdivisions and Election Returns - French and Indian Land Claims - Sale of Public Lands - Organization of the County - Proceedings of the Commissioners - The County Seat - Public Highways- The Library Association - The County Seminary - The Bible Society - Township Boundary Alteration - Linn County - Temperance Organizations- The Poor Parm - The Agricultural Society - Old Settlers' Association - The County Press - Politics - Statistics.

THE County of Porter had its first political existence in the month of March, 1835, at which time the County Commissioners of La Porte County, then having jurisdiction over the soil now comprising the counties of Porter and Lake, ordered that all the territory west of the La Porte Cojunty line and attached to that county should be laid off in election districts or townships as follows :

The township of Waverly to be bounded on the north by Lake Michigan, east by the La Porte County line, south by the line between Townships 35 and 36 north, and west by the line through the center of Range 6 west. The township of Morgan to be bounded on the north by the south line of Waverly Township, east by the La Porte County line, south by the Kankakee River, and west by the line through the center of Range 6 west. The township of Ross to include all the attached territory west of the line through the center of Range 6 west.

At the time of the creation of these townships, an election of two Justices of the Peace and other officers was ordered held at the house of Isaac Morgan for Morgan Township, at the town of Waverly for Waverly Township, and at the house of Cyrus Spurlock for Ross Township. John J. Foster was appointed Inspector of the election in Waverly Township ; Isaac Morgan, of the election in Morgan Township, and Benjamin Mc- Carty, of the election in Ross Township. The following is the result of the three elections, with the number of votes polled for each candidate :

Waverly Townghip. - Justice of the Peace, John J. Foster, 18 ; Elijah Casteel, 11 ; John Sefford, 7. Constable, Owen Crumpacker, 15 ; Jacob Beck, 14. Superintendent of Roads, Eli Hendricks, 16 ; L. G. Jackson, 5 ; Abraham Snodgrass, 11. Overseers of the Poor, Jesse Morgan, 16 ; William Frame, 16. Fence Viewers, Alexander Crawford, 14 ;

Edmund Tratebas, 14. Inspector of Elections, William Gosset, 1; °^ J. Foster, 1. Total number of votes polled, 32 ; the following ^Z^^^^j. only names which appear upon the records : Jesse Morgan, "^ - ' '

Morgan Township. - Justice of the Peace, Adam S. Campbell, ^b ; George Cline, 26. Constable, T. A. E. Campbell, 25 ; Jones Frazee, 25 ; William Morgan, 1. Supervisor of Roads, Henry Rinker, 21 ; R. C. Brayton, 19. Overseers of the Poor, Reason Bell, Sr., 25; Jacob Coleman, 25. Fence Viewers, Jacob Coleman, 24 ; Benjamin Saylor, 24. Inspector of Elections, Isaac Morgan, 26. Total number of votes polled, 26, by the following persons : Henry Rinker, Benjamin Saylor, Henry H. Williams, White B. Smith, James Blair, Jonathan Moulton, Jacob Fleming, John Coleman, James Frazee, William Morgan, William Billings, James Laughlin, Jeremiah Bartholomew, Reason Bell, Adam S. Campbell, George Cline, Warner Pierce, Jacob Coleman, Edmund Billings, Peter D. Cline, Russel Brayton, Stephen Brayton, Robert Walters, Isaac Morgan, T. A. E. Campbell and Reason Reed.

It must not be thought that the above men were the only ones residing in their respective townships ; for it will be observed that votes were polled for men who were absent, or the names of all present were not returned upon the tally sheets by the officers of the election. The following vote polled in August of the same year shows a population but little heavier. The returns of Waverly Township could not be found :

As the three townships - Morgan, Ross and Waverly - had no existence except as a part of La Porte County, the returns of this election were counted in with the general vote of that county ; and but two of the candidates voted for, so far as known, resided within the limits of the territory now comprising the county of Porter. These men were John J. Foster and Benjamin Spurlock. At that period in the history of what afterward became Porter County, partisan lines were not strictly drawn, and political ambition was scarcely known. The empty honor of official position was regarded with indifference, as no profit was to be seen, save the stern discipline associated with the self-denial incident to a life lived within the salary received. As such profit was regarded as a burden, and as it was abundantly found, the early settlers were not anxious that it should be increased. With the exception of a few accidentally favored positions, the pay of office was merely nominal, and possessed no attraction to those who were fortunate in owning a goodly share of this world's goods. The few county offices which afforded suitable recompense for time and labor, were as seduously sought as at the present day. Money in this new country was so extremely scarce, and the investments to be made with it were so filled with promise, that men of every degree of intelligence and responsibility sought eagerly for any employment which would yield financial returns. The settlers were a motley collection of the representatives of every State in the East, and of many European nations, with habits of life and views of public polity diametrically opposed ; and, from the start, the clashing of settled conviction, and the unfavorable influence of personal prejudice were forcibly felt in every public gathering until the waves of disunion in thought were hushed to silence and harmony. The only unison in views was upon the subject of the accumulation of property. Speculators appeared with prodigious pocket books, and founded their fortunes. The impecunious and unscrupulous sought by art and intrigue to accomplish what their conspicuous lack of funds prevented. The billows of speculation of that inflated financial period swept over the county ; and unbounded faith in sudden transitions from poverty to wealth took possession of every breast. Notwithstanding the lac money in this new country, commercial transactions were conduc e reckless prodigality. Debts were contracted under the insane de usion that their ultimate liquidation would be the careless pleasure ot some future day. Counterfeiters overran the county, offering tempting baits o the unwise or unwary. Every commercial transaction or relation became filled with the wind of false promise, and was distended out of all proportion. Many of the settlers of the years 1834, 1835 and 1836 invested their last dollar in land at spots which, to them, seemed the most likely to become important, and even went so far as to borrow money on the security of their land to devote to the same insane purpose. Scores of mortgages were given under the fancied security that the lifting of the same was an afterthought of no moment or consequence. The result is a matter of history. The distressing financial crash of 1837 produced a chaos. Money, which had so long represented inflated values, fell prostrate to the basis of actual worth. Men who, the day before, had counted their ducats by the thousands, now sorrowfully counted them by hundreds, or even by dozens. The distress was universal, is well known, and need not be detailed. The hard times were gradually overcome ; and the lesson that prosperity is often as dangerous as adversity was taught by wretched experience, and will not be forgotten.

Land Entries. - The following tracts of land were the first entered in Porter county, and all that were entered prior to January 1, 1884, including the Indian and the French reservations that were made at the treaty of October 16, 1826, when that portion of the county north of an east and west line through the southern point of Lake Michigan, became the property of the Government by cession from the Pottawatomies and the treaty of October 27, 1832, when all the county south of such line became the property of the Government, except, of course, the reservations which were not approved by the President until 1836 :

During the year 1834, there were entered in the county fifty-nine tracts of land, representing an aggregate of 5080.75 acres, all of which, without exception, was in Townships 36 and 37 north. In 1835, 938 tracts were entered in the county, as this was the year that the land south of the old Indian line running through the southern point of Lake Michigan was thrown into market, and there was a great rush into the new county by speculators and by those who expected to become residents. During this year, 1835, nearly 90,000 acres of land in the county were entered at the Government price of $1.25 per acre. Eight thousand and eighty acres of Wabash & Erie Canal lands were located in Porter County, the first sale of the same occurring in 1843 and the last in 1862. This land was confined to Townships 34 and 36, Range 7. Three thousand two hundred acres of Michigan road land were also sold in 1835. The State has derived no little income from the sale of the swamp lands in Porter County, that were donated by Congress. The splendid systems of drainage, both county and State, have reclaimed large tracts of land that in early years were very wet or covered with water. There has been spent in the county for open and underground drainage not less than $200,000. The first great ditches began to be built between 1850 and 1860, and since then many others have been added at high expense. The Kankakee Drainage Company flourished for a time at the very zenith of pleasurable anticipation, but the citizens were too wise to be caught by these Shylocks, and therefore did not have to pay a pound of flesh nearest the heart.

Creation and Organization of Present County. - No other changes were made in the civil division of what, in 1836, became Porter County, than those made by the Commissioners of La Porte County as

Section 1. - Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, T * _ and after the first day of February next, all that tract of country included m the o ow ing boundary lines shall form and constitute the county of Porter, to wit : Commencing the northwest corner of La Porte County, thence running south to the Kan a , thence west with the bed of said river to the center of Range 7, thence north to the a e line, thence east to the place of beginning. And all that part of the country that lies north of the Kankakee River and west of the county of Porter within the State of Indiana, shall form and constitute a new county, to be known and designated by the name of Lake County.

Sec. 2. That the county of Porter shall, from and after the first day of February next, enjoy and possess all the rights, privileges, benefits and jurisdictions, which, to separate and independent counties do, or may properly belong.

Sec. 3. That Joel Long, of Kosciusko, Andrew Wilson, of Fountain, Mathias Dawson and Judah Leaming, of La Porte, and William L. Earl, of St. Joseph, Counties be, and they are hereby appointed Commissioners agreeably to the act entitled "An Act fixing the seat of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off." The Commissioners aforesaid shall meet on the first Monday in June next, or any day thereafter they may agree upon, at the house of Thomas Butler, in the said county of Porter, and shall proceed immediately to perform the duties required of them by law, and it shall be the duty of the Sheriff of the county of St. Joseph to notify said Commissioners, either in person or by writing, of their appointment, and for such services, said Sheriff shall receive such compensation as the board, doing county business of Porter County, may deem reasonable.

Sec. i. The Circuit Court and Board of County Commissioners shall hold their sessions as near the center of the county of Porter as a convenient place can be had until the public buildings shallbe erected.

Sec. 6. The board doing county business may, as soon as elected and qualified, hold special sessions not exceeding three days during the first year after the organization of said county, and shall make all necessary appointments, and do and perform all other business which may or might have been necessary to be performed at any other regular session, and take all necessary steps to collect the State and county revenue, any law or usage to the contrary notwithstanding.

During the same session of the Legislature that the above creating enactment was passed, provision was made for the organization of Porter County by the appointment of Benjamin Saylor, SheriiF, with full power to order an election of two Associate Judges of the Circuit Court three Commissioners, one Clerk of the Court, and one Recorder, and to transact other necessary business. Accordingly, an election of such oflBcers was ordered held on the 28d day of February, 1836, and resulted as follows :

House Where Held

The following more fully explains this table : At an election held at the house of William Gosset February 23, 1836, for the purpose of electing two Associate Judges of the Circuit Court, three County Commissioners, a Clerk of the Circuit Court, and a Recorder for the county the following men voted : James Turner, Pressley Warnick, John Saylor, Jesse McCord, Samuel Haviland, William Nernon, Beda Cornell, James Thomas, Isaac Sanford, John Hageman, William Gosset, Jacob Beck, William Coleman, John Reed, Jeremiah Frame, William Thomas, Enos Thomas, Benjamin Joslin, William McCoy, William Frame, Jesse Morgan, John Casteel, Eli Hendricks, Curtis Parkes, Samuel Thomas, Abraham Hall. Total, 26.

The vote for the same candidates, on the same day, at the house of John Spurlock, in Ross Township, was cast by the following men : "Washington Williams, John F. McGrew, Preston Blake, Wright Taylor, William Brim, Richard Clark, Joseph Willey, John F. Walton, Eri Fonts, John Conway, Henry Herold, Ezra Crosby, Sylvester Forbes, Theophilus Blake, James Walton, David Spurlock, John Gr. Forbes, William Wolf, Edwin Abbott, H. S. Webster, Stephen Spurlock, P. A. Paine, Russell Darr, James Conant, W. A. Nichols, Lewis Walton, Edmund Wolf, George Spurlock, Jacob Wolf, John Spurlock, Noah Fonts, Moses Wilson, Cyrus Spurlock, Andrew Wilson, Joseph Wilson ; total, 35.

The vote for the same candidates, on the same day, at the house of L. G. Jackson, was polled by the following men : William Eaton, Samuel dinger, James M. Davis, Alexander Crawford, Thomas Crawford, L. G. Jackson, Lewis Todhunter, Lewis Casteel, William Calhoun, Elijah Casteel, Joel Crumpacker, Griffin Holbert, Abraham Snodgrass, D. W. Lyons, Jerry Todhunter, William Downing, Solomon Hobaugh, John Casteel, Ruel Starr, James Spurlock, A. K. Paine, Owen Crumpacker, Thomas J. Wyatt, John Sefford, H. A. K. Paine, John P. Noble, G. W. Faulkner, William Snavely, Benjamin McCarty, Joel Walker, H. E. Woodruff, Levi Massey, Joseph Wright, William Walker, Nelson Ellison, Alfred Winter, J. S. Wallace, J. R. C. Brown, Mordecai Massey, Roby R. Parrott ; total, 40 ; grand total, 180.

At a special session of the Board of Commissioners in and for the county of Porter aforesaid, begun on the 12th of April, 1836, the following persons came forward and produced their certificates of election, signed by the Sheriff of said county, with the necessary oath of office indorsed thereon : John Sefford, Benjamin N. Spencer and Noah Fouts. Also present George W. Turner, Clerk of said Commissioners' Court, and Benjamin Saylor, Sheriff of said county.

Ordered by the Board, That for the purpose of electing township ofBcers for the oounty of Porter, the following district of said county shall form and constitute a township to be known by the name of Lake: Commencing at the northeast corner of Porter County, thence south with said county line to the line dividing Townships 36 and 37 thence west on said line to the southeast corner of Section 31, Township 37 north. Range 6 west, thence north to the State line, thence east to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known by the name of Jackson: Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 36 north, Ranse 5 west, thence running south with the county line to the southeast corner of Section 36 Township 36 north. Range 5 west, thence west to the southwest corner of Section 82* Township 36, Range 5, thence north to the southwest corner of Lake Township thence east to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Washington : Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 35, Range 5, thence south with said county line to the southeast corner of Section 36 in said town, thence west to the southwest corner of Section 32, Township 35, Range 5, thence north to the southwest corner of Jackson Township, thence east to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known by the name of Pleasant : Commencing at the southeast corner of Porter County, thence north to the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 34, Range 5, thence west with the southern boundary of Washington Township to the southwest corner of the same, thence south to the Kankakee River, thence east with the same to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Boone : Commencing at the southwest corner of Pleasant Township, thence north with the western boundary of Pleasant to the northwest corner of the same, thence west with the line dividing Townships 34 and 35 to the county line, thence south to the southwest corner of Porter County, thence east with the feankakee River to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Centre : Commencing at the southwest corner of Washington Township, thence north to the southwest corner of Jackson Township, thence west to the northwest corner of Section 4, Township 35, Range 6, thence south to the southwest corner of Section 33, Township 35, Range 6, thence east to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Liberty: Commencing at the northwest corner of Washington Township, thence north to the southwest corner of Lake Township, thence west to the northwest corner of Section 4, Township 86, Range 6, thence south to the southwest corner of Section 33, Township 36, Range 6, thence east to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Wdverly : Commencing at the southwest corner of Lake Township, thence west to the county line, thence north with said line to the northwest corner of the county, thence east with the northern boundary line of the county to the northwest corner of Lake Township, thence south to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Portage : ' Commencing at the northwest corner of Liberty Township, thence west to the county line, thence south to the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 36, Range 7, thence east to the southwest corner of Liberty Township, thence north to the place of beginning. And that the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Dhion : Commencing at the northwest corner of Centre Township, thence west to the county line, thence south to the northwest corner of Boone Township, thence east to the southwest corner of Centre Township, thence north to the place of beginning.

The Board adjourned to meet the following morning at 9 o'clock A. M. At this session it was ordered that an election of one Justice of the Peace be held in every township that had been created the day before, except in the township of Washington, which was to have two such officers ; and the election for Washington Township was ordered held on the 30th of April, 1836, at the residence of Isaac Morgan, who was appointed Inspector of Election. At the same session an election was ordered for Jackson Township, to be held on the same day (BOthj, at the residence of Asahel K. Paine, and Samuel dinger was appointed Inspector. The election for Lake Township was ordered held, same time, at the residence of Edward Harper, who was appointed Inspector. The election for Waverly Township was ordered held, same time, in the ovf of Waverly, and William Gosset became Inspector by appointment, election for Liberty Township was ordered held, same time, at the ouse of Daniel Y. Kesler, and Jerry Todhunter was appointed Inspector. n election for the same date was ordered for Centre Township, to be he at the house of C A. Ballard, and G. Z. Salyer became Inspector. An election the same date was ordered for Pleasant Township, to be held at the house of Henry Adams, with William Billings, Inspector. An election on the same date for the township of Boone was ordered held at the house of Jesse Johnson, with Asahel Neil, Inspector. An election was ordered for the township of Union, on the same day, to be held at the house of George W. Turner, with James Walton, Inspector. An election on the same day, for the township of Portage, was ordered held at the house of Jacob Wolf, Sr., with James Spurlock, Inspector. George Cline was appointed Assessor for all that portion of the county lying south of the line dividing Townships 35 and 36 ; Peter Ritter, same, for all the county lying north of such line, and John Adams, same, for all the attached territory on the west (Lake County).

At the May term of the Board (1836) the county was divided into Commissioners' Districts as follows : All the territory lying south of the line dividing Townships 34 and 85 to be District No. 1 ; all the territory lying between the line dividing Townships 84 and 35, and the line dividing Townships 35 and 36 to be District No. 2 ; and all the territory north of the line dividing Townships 35 and 36 to be District No. 3. At the May term of the board, Benjamin McCarty, County Treasurer, reported that no moneys had been received by him yet in virtue of his official position; whereupon Benjamin Saylor was appointed County Collector. John P. Noble was appointed Constable of Jackson Township ; Thomas Crawford, Supervisor of Roads ; Joseph Wright and Levi Massey, Overseers of the Poor ; James M. Davis and Luther Jefferson, Fence Viewers ; all for Jackson Township. For Liberty Township, Daniel W. Lyons was appointed Constable ; Jesse Morgan and Richard Clark, Overseers of the Poor ; William Downing and Edmund Tratebas, Fence Viewers, and Solomon Habans, Supervisor of Roads. For Pleasant Township, Archibald Demand was appointed Constable ; Morris Witham, Supervisor of Roads ; Thomas Adams and Morris Witham, Overseers of the Poor - John Adams and John Jones, Pence Viewers. For Union Township, E. W. Fonts was appointed Constable ; Richard Henthorn, Supervisor of Roads ; Daniel Turner and David Spurlock, Overseers of the Poor - Washington Williams and B. Bunnell, Fence Viewers. For Ross Township, John Young was appointed Constable ; Royal Benton, Supervisor of Roads ; Daniel Wallsworth and William Thornburg, Overseers of the

Poor ; W. B. Crooks and Jesse Pierce, Fence Viewers. For Portage Township - James Connett, Constable; William Brim, Supervisor of Roads ; T. Blake and Jacob Wolf, Overseers of the Poor ; John Wolf and Stephen Spurlock, Fence Viewers. William Billings was appointed Seminary Trustee of Porter County.

The following is the report of the Commissioners selected by the State Legislature, as will be seen by the enactment several pages back, to locate the county seat of Porter County :

The undersigned Commissioners to locate the county seat of Porter County, Ind., make the following report : That they met, pursuant to agreement, on Tuesday, the 7th inst., at the house of Thomas Butler, and were duly sworn to discharge the duties of Commissioners to locate the county seat of Porter County, Ind. ; that they proceeded to view all the sites on Tuesday and Wednesday following, and inquired upon what terms the same might be secured ; that after duly inspecting the different sites and taking into consideration all the matters to which the law called their particular attention, your Commissioners concluded that the southwest quarter of Section 24, Township 35 north, Range 6 west, was the most eligible site for said county seat. Your Commissioners accordingly gave notice that they were ready to receive proposals, if any were to be made, of this or other parts for such county seat. The Commissioners received from the proprietors of said town (Portersville) and others donations of each alternate lot - 192 lots to be laid out at or near the center of said southwest quarter of Section 24, Township 35, Range 6> and a donation of forty acres of land - part of Section 20, Township 35, Range 6, and donations of money, for a more particular description of which you are referred to the bonds filed herewith. Your Commissioners then proceeded to the said southwest quarter of Section 24, and located the county seat upon said quarter section, and stuck a stake which is half-way between the northwest corner and the northeast corner of the public square, on the north side of said square, and which by a line run with » compass was found to be south 53 degrees east 29 chains and 10 links from the half-mile post on the west side of Section 24. The donations made for said point were upon condition that said site and public square shall be located as they are above described, and for which bonds are filed in the name of different individuals with the Commissioners of Porter County.

And the county seat of Porter County, as hereby established by the undersigned ^'"'*.|°^ Commissioners, is on the site as above described ; and the stake, having the eari g above, is on the north line of the public square, and the alternate lots are to be ai by the donors on said site - the southwest quarter of Section 24, Township 35 nor , Range 6 west. W. L. Earle,

The amounts of the bonds that were given for the payment of the money that was donated to Porter County by the proprietors of the county seat, for the erection of county buildings, with the names of the obligors, are as follows : Bond No. 1, $500, Benjamin McCarty, John Walker, John Saylor, Enoch McCarty, L. L. Hillis and William Walker; Bond No. 2, |50, James Hutchins ; Bond No. 3, $100, George Cline ; Bond No. 4, $76, A. S. Campbell ; Bond No. 5, $100, Isaac Morgan ; Bond No. 6, $25, Charles Gr. Minick ; Bond No. 7, $100, Thomas Butler ; Bond No. 8, $100, G. Z. Salyer ; Bond No. 9, $50, Isaac Morgan ; Bond No. 10, $100, Ruel Starr. These several amounts pledged by the proprietors of the county seat, together with the various town lota that were donated to the county, furnished, for many years, quite an important source of revenue. From time to time the anthorized county agent, to whom was intrusted the disposal of the lots, sold the same to citizens or new settlers, usually taking notes for the consideration, due with interest at a future day. As the pressure for means for the first few years after the county was organized, to aid in the construction of bridges, roads, public buildings, and in the payment of public functionaries was very great, the town lots and the bonds were converted into money by the Commissioners as soon as possible ; but even the amounts thus obtained were not sufficient to satisfy the clamor for the collection and expenditure of sums that would render the public highways serviceable, and the Commissioners, under the stricture, levied heavier assessments, and thus, like Oliver Twist, were guilty of the unpardonable offense of asking for " more ; " but, still further, like Oliver, were pressed into the measure by others as hungry as themselves.

At the May term of the board, 1836, A. S. Campbell and George Cline, Justices of the Peace, paid to the County Treasurer $3 fines which had been imposed by them for theft and assault. An election of an additional Justice of the Peace for Centre Township was ordered held at the house of C. A. Ballard. For Centre Township, Charles G. Minick was appointed Constable ; Robert Wallace, Supervisor of Roads ; J. R. C. Brown and P. A. Paine, Overseers of the Poor ; Abraham Stoner and James Buel, Fence Viewers. For Washington Township, Adam S. Campbell and Reason Bell were appointed Overseers of the Poor ; Peter

Cline, Supervisor of Roads ; George Cline and John Shinabarger, Fence Viewers. For Boone Township, Isaac Cornell was appointed Supervisor of Roads ; William Frame and John Robinson, Overseers of the Poor; A. Neil and John Downing, Fence Viewers. For Bryant Township, Simeon Bryant, Constable; Payne Bryant, Supervisor of Roads ; David Bryant and Thomas Childers, Overseers of the Poor ; David Chandler and Lyman Wells, Fence Viewers. For Clark Township, Richard Fancher, Constable ; William Clark, Supervisor of Roads ; Solon Robinson and Peter Steinbrook, Overseers of the Poor ; C. H. Paine and J. W. Holton, Fence Viewers. C. A. Ballard was allowed $2.50 for house rent for the County Commissioners for five days, and Reason Reed was allowed 75 cents for making returns of the election in Washington Township.

Roads. - At the June session of the board, the first petition was received for a county road extending from Portersville (Valparaiso) by " the best and nearest route to the new crossway between Andrew Taylor's and James Blair's, thence to the county line, intersecting a road leading via Cathcart's Grove to La Porte." Wilson Malone, Morris Witham and James W. Turner were appointed Viewers. At the same time a road was ordered viewed from the northeast corner of Section 24, Town 36 north. Range 5 west, thence west to E. Casteel's mill on Coffee Creek, thence west to William Gosset's mill on Salt Creek, thence west to the county line ; Peter Ritter, Samuel dinger and William Thomas, Viewers. In July, 1836, a county road was established from the quarter post on the north line of Section 30, Town 35, Range 5, to Sherwood's Ferry on the Kankakee ; Jesse Johnson, Joseph Willey and Samuel G. Jackson, Viewers. In September, 1836, a county road was established from the southwest quarter of Section 12, Town 34, Range 7, to Liverpool, but this road was not built. At the same date as last a road was ordered viewed from Portersville (Joliet road) to the county line near the mouth of Taylor's Run ; Isaac Morgan, Reason Bell and Andrew Taylor, Viewers. One from Portersville to Sherwood's Ferry was viewed, but reported on adversely. In September, 1836, a road was established from the northeast corner of Section 22, Town 33, Range 7, to Portersville ; Isaac Morgan, Henry Rinker and John Shinabarger, Viewers. This road was soon altered somewhat. Other roads established in 1836 were as follows : From Portersville to Thomas Snow's store by a circuitous route ; from Portersville to Elijah Casteel's mill ; from Portersville to Athens, near Gosset's mill ; from Isaac Morgan's on the north side of Morgan's Prairie to intersect the State Road from Portersville to Michigan City, but this was not built ; from the new bridge on Calumet River at the mouth of Salt Creek, to Deep River, at crossing of Hickory county road, John Walton, Preston Blake and John Forbes, Viewers-; from the southwest corner of Section 12, Town 34, Range 7, to Liverpool, same Viewers as last ; from the southeast corner of Adam Campbell's land (Section 20, Town 35, Range 5), to intersect Michigan Oity and Barleytown road (southeast quarter of Section 18, Town 37, Range 5), Viewers, Bnos Thomas, John Sefford, A. S. Campbell, White iJ. Smith and Eli Hendricks ; from Portersville to Michigan City (September, 1836), John Taylor and Asahel Neil, Viewers ; from Michigan City (November, 1836), west through Porter and Lake Counties to the State line, Benjamin McCarty, Viewer. The following is from an act entitled "An Act Relating to State Roads," approved February 6, 1837 :

Seo. 9. That Daniel M. Learning, of La Porte County, William Frakes, of Porter County, and WilUam,Hattou, of Lake County, be and tliey are hereby appointed CominisBioners to view, mark and locate a State road from the town of La Porte, in La Porte County, on the nearest and best route to the town of Valparaiso, in Porter County, thence west by the way of the seat of justice of Lake County to the Illinois State line, in the direction of Joliet, in the State of Illinois; Provided, however, That if the seat of justice in the said county of Lake shall not be located at the time of the location of the said State road, the Commissioners aforesaid will proceed to locate said road on the nearest and best route from the town of Valparaiso west to the State line in the direction of Joliet, in said State of Illinois.

By an act of the Legislature, approved February 18, 1839, Philander A. Paine and William C. Talcott were appointed Commissioners to locate a State road from a point on the Valparaiso and Sherwood Ferry road, thence by Ruel Starr's, thence to a county road running north on a line dividing Sections 19 and 20, in Township 35, Range 5, to extend such road to City West, and the county road was declared a State road. By enactment also William C. Talcott and A. S. Campbell were appointed to lay out a State road from Portersville west to intersect a State road at Preston Blake's or James Grafton's. Also, by enactment, William 0. Talcott was appointed to lay out a State road from Valparaiso via Enos Thomas' mill to City West. Also, by enactment, William K. Ta,lbot and Henry Rinker were appointed to view a State road from, at or near Pagan's Mill, in La Porte County, thence to the center of Section 17, Township 37, Range 5, thence to City West, thence to Long Lake, so as to intersect a State road near the head of the lake. Various State roads were laid out across the county, while the same remained attached to La Porte County. By suitable enactments, the Legislature provided what was called the " 3 per cent fund," apportioning such fund to the several counties throughout the State, and appointing Commissioners to expend the same in the construction of roads. This relief to the early settlers was fully appreciated. The County Commissioners levied as heavy a tax also, as the settlers could bear, to carry on the same work. From that time onward, through the years 1837, 1838, 1839 and 1840, and until the present time, roads were laid out in all directions through the county, at enormous cost in the aggregate, but of indispensable use to the citizens. At a special session of the board on the 16th of November, 1850, the following petition was considered :

To the Honorable the Board of Oommisaioners of the County of Porter: Your petitioaeTS, the Board of Directors of the Valparaiso & Michigan City Plank Road Company, would humbly represent to your honorable body that a company has been organized for the purpose of constructing a plank road from Valparaiso to Michigan City, making a point on the Buffalo & Mississippi Railroad at or near the place where the line between Ranges 5 and 6 crosses the same. That the nearest and best route for the construction of said road would probably be to run on the road from Valparaiso to Michigan City between Valparaiso and the above-named point on the railroad, and thence running part or all the way to Michigan City on the road that leads from the above point to Michigan City, as far as the eastern line of the county of Porter, near Michigan City.

Tour petitioners, therefore, ask your honorable board to grant to said company the right of way on said road or roads from Valparaiso to the eastern line of the county of Porter, near Michigan City aforesaid, or to so much or such part of said road or roads as you may deem expedient and right.

Ordered, That the right of way be granted to the Valparaiso & Michigan City Plank Road Company to construct a plank road from Valparaiso to Michigan City on, over, along or across any or all State or county roads which they may desire.

The road was never built as had been designed, as much of the route over which the plank were to be laid was a compact sandy soil, which, three-fourths of the year, furnished almost as solid a foundation as the plank would. Some two or three miles of plank were laid just south of Chesterton, and about the same just north of Valparaiso, but between these sections of road none were laid, though toll was collected both at Chesterton and at Valparaiso. The stock of the company was largely owned by wealthy men in Michigan City, who were the founders of a private bank there, and the issuers of a paper money, which, from commencement to end, unlike the usual wild-cat bank issues of that day, was always at par with coin, and redeemable at any time upon demand. It is stated that a man, on one occasion, becoming greatly scared by the appalling depreciation in private bank issues, and having in his possession some $30,000 of the Plank Road Bank bills, presented himself in Michigan City and demanded the redemption of the paper of the bank in his possession. The gold was paid him, whereupon, becoming satisfied that the bank was solid, he asked to have his gold deposited again, but was positively refused, and, as that was the only bank in the city, he was obliged to cart his coin home with him. Toll was collected on the road a few years and then the company collapsed.

In 1851, another association was formed to construct a plank road from Valparaiso to La Porte, and permission was granted the same to use the roads of the county for that purpose. About seven miles of plank were laid, partly in Porter and partly in La Porte Counties, and toll was collected over this route for a few years, but finally the whole matter was abandoned. While the original plan was to extend the road from Valparaiso to La Porte, this design was changed, and, in 1852, the termini of the road were Henry Clyburn's in La Porte County and Beeche's Corners in Porter County.

Library. - As early as the summer of 1838, in pursuance of an act of the State Legislature, approved February 17, 1838, subscriptions to the amount of some sixty-odd dollars having been pledged, a meeting of the citizens was called to elect Trustees and other necessary officers, and to incorporate the Porter County Library Association. Books were purchased and added to from time to time, as subscriptions were paid, until at last, in about 1850, some 500 volumes were owned by the association. In 1855, the books were distributed to the townships as follows : One set to Centre, one to Jackson and Washington, one to Westchester, Pine and Liberty, one to Portage and Union, one to Porter and Boone, and one to Morgan, Pleasant and Essex. These libraries were added to by the State for several years, but finally they were not replaced, and were soon destroyed or lost. It was

Ordered by the Board acting as Trustees of the County Library, That the Librarian be allowed the sum of $10 per annum for his aerTioea as such Librarian ; that aaid Librarian be required to procure a strong book case for the use of said library, and that the following by-laws be adopted :

6. That any person keeping a book over the time marked as the period for which it may be drawn, shall forfeit the sum of 5 cents for every week it may be kept over said time, and that any fractional part of a week shall be considered as a week, and the fine

7 That no person shall draw more than one volume at a time, and after a subscriber shall have drawn a book, he shall not be allowed to draw any more until he shall have duly returned said book, and paid all fines and forfeitures due said library from him

8 That the Librarian shall examine all books upon their return, and if any shall have been damaged or disfigured more than reasonable wear, he shall assess a fine unon said subscriber drawing the same, and said subscriber shall never after be allow J Z draw any book until he shall have duly paid such fine.

he shall keep a full list of all suhsoribera, the time subscribing, the date each shall draw a book and return the same, and the amount of fines assessed to, and paid by, each subscriber, and of all other matters of interest to said library a complete and full report he shall make of which at each term of the County Commissioners' Court.

Miscellaneous Acts of the Commissioners. - In June, 1836, the board appointed Samuel Olinger County Agent, with Peter Ritter, B. Saylor, George Cline and Wilson Malone, sureties. They deducted $60 from the levy made by John Adams and George Cline, Assessors, upon the personal property of those families which had been assessed for "bed and bedding." It was ordered that, for the year 1836, a levy of two and one-half per cent be made on all personal property and real estate, and a poll tax of 75 cents be imposed, for county purposes ; but in July this order was rescinded, and in lieu thereof one half of one per cent was levied. The board ordered paid to Peter Ritter $20, to John Adams $26, and to George Cline $22, for services as County Assessors. A road tax of one per cent was levied in July. In May, 1836, a tavern license was granted Samuel Haviland, of Westchester Township, for one year, at $10. A license was granted Andrew Ault to vend foreign and domestic groceries. Same with merchandise to Ebenezer Clark, of Portersville, and license to sell liquor to Francis Willey, of Bailly Town. Expenses of catching W. C. Maley, a horse-thief, were paid by the board. Samuel Haviland was granted license to keep a ferry across Deep River at Liverpool, and to keep a tavern and sell liquor there. Saylor & Reed, a license to sell merchandise in Valparaiso ; same to Solomon Cheney. As early as January 4, 1836, a license was granted Hamell & Hening by the Commissioners of La Porte County, to vend merchandise in Morgan Township. This was at Valparaiso, or Portersville, which was then in such township. John B. Turner was granted a license to sell groceries, 1837 ; same, merchandise, to George Bishop ; Seneca Ball, same ; Jeremiah Hamell, same ; Marshal & Bigelow, a tavern at City West. David Oaks, of Washington Township, was granted a license to retail merchandise. Leveret Bradley, licensed to keep a tavern and sell liquor at City West. Palmer & Andrews, licensed to sell merchandise in Boone Township, April, 1838. W. P. Ward, licensed to keep a tavern and sell liquor in Westchester Township March, 1839. In 1843, W. A. Hinsdale and Edmund Woodman were licensed to keep separate taverns in Westchester Township. In 1837, a premium of $1 was ordered paid for scalps of prairie wolves over six months old, and 50 cents for those of wolves under that age. Same ordered paid for the scalps of gray wolves. After that, from time to time, the premium on w;olf scalps was gradually increased until, finally, a number of years ago, as high as $15 was paid for a single scalp of the gray wolf. At present the premium is $10.

sioner of the 3 per cent fund, which was applied in the construction of public highways. Specifications for a county jail were drawn up in detail, the building to be 14x28 feet, timbers one foot square of oak, building to be completed by September, 1837 ; payment for the same to be in installments, one-third when the timber was all delivered on the ground, one-third when the house was raised and covered, and one-third when the work was completed. Bids from contractors were called for. In November, Adam S. Campbell became County Agent. The rates of ferriage across Deep River at Liverpool were fixed as follows: Each footman, 6 cents ; man and horse, 12 J cents ; horse and Dearborn wagon, 25 cents; two horses and wagon, 37J cents ; for each yoke of oxen or span of horses over and above one yoke or span, 12J cents. No person was taxed with ferriage who was crossing with his team and who paid the above rates for such team. The ferry across the Kankakee, which had been formerly known as Sherwood's Perry, and upon which no license had been paid, was advertised to be let to the highest bidder, the rates to be as follows : Bach footman, 6J cents ; man and horse, 12J cents ; horse and Dearborn wagon, 25 cents ; two horses and wagon, 37|- cents ; one yoke of oxen and wagon, 37J cents ; four horses and wagon, 50 cents ; two yoke of oxen and wagon, 50 cents ; any higher number of animals to wagon, 50 cents; each head of cattle, 6 J cents; each sheep, 3 cents; each hog, 3 cents ; each horse, 6 J cents ; asses and mules, each 6 J cents; and when the water was high, so that the ferry would have to run up to the head of the canon, three times the above rates were charged.

In January, 1837, it was ordered by the Board that the following persons should serve as Grand Jurors at the April term, 1837, of the Porter County Circuit Court : Wilford Parrott, Robert Wallace, John Saylor, Eli Hendricks, George Spurlock, Joseph Willey, John P. Noble, Edmund Billings, White B. Smith, David Hughart, Henry Adams, John Sefford, G. Z. Salyer, Abraham A. Hall, John Adams, John G. Forbes, Sr., William Walker and William Bissell. The following persons were selected to serve at the same time as Petit Jurors : Thomas L. Hyatt, John B. Turner, Enos Thomas, Jacob Beech, James Laughlin, A. K. Paine, Robert Fleming, William Morgan, Newton Frame, Henry Rinker, George Shigley, Jefierson Tenor, Abraham Cormack, Benjamin Saylor, Sr., Isaac Cornell, Lewis Holton, Barzilla Bunnell, William Malone, P. A. Paine, Henry Herrold, Luther Jefferson, Jaines Baum, William Eaton and Barrack Dorr. John Saylor reported that he had received of the Treasurer of State $1,926.86 of 3 per cent fund due Porter County. This amount came to the county in good time, and was immediately applied toward the improvement and construction of public roads. In January, the board again took up the county jail question, and new specifi- cations were prepared, the building to be a very strong frame structure, 17x33 feet, with two rooms below - one for debtors, and the other for criminals - and two above. At the same time, specifications for a court house were prepared, the building to be a frame structure, 20x48 feet. In March, 1887, a license to keep the old Sherwood Ferry across the Kankakee was granted Joseph Stearns and John Ship, the license being |9. S. Campbell was paid $85 for his services as Assessor of Porter County in 1887. Cyrus Spurlock was appointed Seminary Trustee of Porter County. A levy of 1 per cent on all real and personal taxable property was levied for the year 1837. At this time (May, 1887), the project of building the Erie & Michigan Canal, or of assisting in the building, began to receive attention from the Commissioners, who made preparations to turn over the 8 per cent fund on hand for that purpose.

In September, 1837, the Commissioners met at the house of Jeremiah Hammell. From this period on, for several years after, the board continued to appoint officers for the various townships. At this term, it was "ordered that Thomas Randall be appointed Commissioner of the 8 per cent fund for Newton County (or the territory attached to Porter County called Newton County), and that he come forward and qualify himself accordingly." It was also "ordered that all the territory attached to Porter County that is called Newton County, shall form and constitute a township to be known by the name of Marion, and that there shall be an election held at the house of John Price, on October 25, 1837, to elect one Justice of the Peace, and William Donahue is appointed Inspector." At this time the county was pushing, in the construction of its highways, to its utmost, and every penny was faithfully applied. The bonds which had been given as a guarantee for the payment of the money which had been donated by the proprietors of the county seat, fell due, and the money was collected and applied upon the roads. The amount of county revenue, for 1836, was $522.29. In November, 1837, the court house was completed by the contractors, Solomon Cheeney and others, and accepted by the board, after examination. The following appears upon the records :

To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of Porter County, /niZ.: - The following i« a list of fines imposed by me on account of Sabbath-breaking : Reuben Meadows, %\, and Leonard H. Coghill, $1. Given under my hand and seal this Ist day of January, 1838. (Signed) John Adams, J. P.

Since that period. Sabbath-breaking has multiplied, and fines for the same have divided. The following fines were assessed in the Circuit Court for 1837 : Michael Ault, assault, $20 ; G. W. Coghill, assault, $10 ; David Cook, retailing without license, $2 ; Ashbal Goodrich, retailing without license, $2 ; Moses Wilson, assault, 1 cent ; Aaron Lewis, retailing without license, $2 ; J. Bartholomew, assault and battery, $2. G. Z. Salyer's report as Seminary Trustee was as follows : Received of William Billings, $6.50 ; of G. Z. Salyer, $4 ; of G. W. Turner, $38 ; total, $48.50, which had been loaned at 10 per cent per annum. The County Clerk was ordered to procure a set of lawful weights and measures, to be kept in his office, and also an iron seal with the letters P. C. S., which should be stamped on all lawful weights. A pound was built for Valparaiso, in 1838, by William Eaton.

Notice. - A copartnership has this day been formed at Valparaiso, Porter County under the laws of the State regulating limited corporations, for the purpose of dealing in all things relating to trade in merchandise, bonds, notes, exchanges, etc., the business to be conducted by E. Brown Bishop as general partner, who is authorized only to sign for the company; and the name and style of the company will be E. Brown Bishop, and the ifoUowing-named persons will be special or limited partners :

The copartnership is to commence the 1st of June, 1838, and continue for one year from such date, and to be renewed from year to year by advertising.

What became of this corporation or what was done cannot be learned with certainty. It did not continue long, however. In the autumn of 1838, Newton County was attached to Jasper County, and the Collector for that county turned over his funds and was discharged. In October, 1889, William Eaton was licensed to keep the ferry over the Kankakee, where John Ship and Joseph Stearns had formerly been. In September, 1840, the board advertised a bounty of $1.50 on each scalp of full grown prairie wolves and $3 for each scalp of full grown gray wolves.

Ordered by the Board, That from and after the 1st day of April, 1841, the door of the court house shall be shut against preaching by any denominations of Christians, and that the Sheriif of Porter County is required to procure a lock for the door at the foot of the stairs in the hall, and place said lock permanently on said door, and keep the same locked against all denominations of Christians from and after said 1st of April, 1841, without respect of persons ; and that the Sheriff is further ordered to give public notice of the passage of this order immediately.

For a time during 1841, the county paid $5 and $3 for scalps of gray and prairie wolves respectively. In February, 1842, it was " ordered by the Board, that the Methodists, Presbyterians, Mormons, Universalists, Baptists, Campbellites, Associate Reformers, Infidels and all other denominations be allowed to hold meetings in the court house, provided they do not interfere with the business of the courts of the county and political meetings." In June, 1842, John W. Wright reported that $106.87 had been received from the seminary fund. In December, 1842, it was "ordere"d, that John Mcintosh be appointed Inspector of flour, beef and pork for the county of Porter for the term of three years."

County Seminary, etc. - A legislative enactment of February, 1838, made provision for the maintenance of county seminaries throughout the State by the appropriation of certain fines and penalties, such as for breaking the Sabbath, for assault and battery, etc., etc., and it was made the duty of the Board of Commissioners in each county to appoint Trustees, who were to constitute a body politic with general powers and liabilities in the founding, controlling and maintaining of a county seminary of learning. Such Trustees were appointed in Porter County as early as the autumn of 1838, to whom were paid the funds designed for the jfbove purpose until, in 1849, the amount collected had reached over $2,000, when the project of erecting a seminary building was instituted, but not carried into eifect, for some reason unknown, until the year 1851, when grounds were purchased in the eastern part of Valparaiso and a building erected thereon, the total cost of house and lots amounting to about $2,- 300. The two-storied frame building was furnished with three rooms above and two below, and was not fully completed in the autumn of 1851, when the first school therein was taught by Ashley M. Pierce, Principal, and Miss Eliza J. Forsyth, now Mrs. William Wilson, Assistant. The session was held in the upper story, the lower not having been finished nor furnished. About 120 students were in attendance during the winter, but the following year, when the new school law came into existence, the County Commissioners, in pursuance of legal requirements, offered the seminary building and the grounds upon which it stood for sale, onetenth to be paid down and the balance in nine equal annual installments, the proceeds of the sale to go into the common school fund of the county. The sale was advertised by the County Auditor in June, 1852, the day of sale being fixed for the fourth Monday of July, 1853, on which day the building was purchased by the School Trustees of Valparaiso for $1,200, and transformed into the " Union School of Valparaiso." Thus ended its existence as a county institution, three terms only having been taught within it while it remained as such. The building was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1857.

As early as 1850, there was organized the " Porter County Bible Society," a corporate body, whose mission was to place in each citizen's cabin a copy of the "Book of books." In 1853, the Treasurer of the society reported the sale of $3,200 worth of Bibles. At this time D. Crawford was President, and J. C. Brown, Secretary. The society survived some five or six years and then disbanded, as its mission had ended.