Posey County, Indiana - Chapter 3, 1886

Chapter 3

Organization of Posey County - Act of Formation - Alterations IN Boundary - A Son of George Washington - Proceedings of THE County Board - New Townships - Change of the County Seat - Public Buildings-tSecond Change of the County Seat - Later Public Buildings - County Officers - Finances - Elections - Bailroad Projects.

AT the organization of Indiana Territory, a large part of the southwestern portion was embraced within the boundary of Knox County. On the 9th of March, 1813, the Territorial Legislature created all that part of Knox County south of White Eiver and its east fork, up to a point near the present yillage of Haysville, in Dubois County, and south of a line running from there west to the Harrison County line, into two new counties. All that part south of Eector's base line was called Warrick County, and that part north was called Gibson County. Rector's base line is the line dividing Townships 4 and 5 south, and passes through the southern portion of the present town of New Harmony. Each of these new counties is yet too large, and neither of them long enjoyed such extensive dominion, as will be seen by the following act of the Territorial Legislature :

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, and it is hereby enSCted by the authority of the same, that from and after the first day November next, ail that part of the county of Warrick, which is included within the following boundaries, shall form and constitute a new county which shall be known and designated by the name and style of the county of Posey; that is to say, beginning on the Ohio River where the range line passing between the tenth and eleventh ranges, strikes or intersects the said Ohio River north with the said range line passing between the said tenth and eleventh ranges to its intersection with the line dividing the counties of Gibson and Warrick, thence west with the said line dividing the said counties of Gibson and Warrick to the western bank of the Wabash River; thence down the western bank of the Wabash River with the line of the Illinois Territory to its junction with the Ohio River; thence up the Ohio River with the meanders thereof to the beginning. (The second section establishes and bounds Perry County.)

Sec. 3. And be it furtlier enacted, That the said counties hereby formed and established, shall severally and respectively enjoy and exercise all the rights.

privileges and jurisdiction which to separate counties of this territory do or may properly appertain or belong; Provided always that all suits, pleas, plaints, actions and proceedings which may before the first day of November next, have been commenced, instituted or depending within the present counties of Gibson and Warrick, shall be prosecuted to final judgment and execution, in the same manner as if this act had never been passed; and that the territorial and county taxes which are now due within the boundaries of the new counties hereby established, shall be collected in the same manner and by the same oflacers as they would have been if this act had not been passed.

Sec. 4. And be it farther enacted. That until a court house shall be erected in the said county of Posey for the accommodation of the court, the courts for the said county Of "Posey shall be held at the house of Absalom Duckworth, in said Posey County. * * *"

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted. That Robert W. Tevault, William Briscoe, Joseph English, Adam Young and Samuel Snide, all of Warrick County, be and they ar6 hereby appointed commissioners to fix the seat of justice in Posey County, who shall meet at the said Absalom Duckworth's on the third Monday in November next, and proceed to fix the seat of justice for the said Posey County, agreeably to the provisions of an act, entitled "an act for fixing the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off."

Special Acts

On the 18th of December, 1815, an act was jjassed to attach a part of Gibson to Posey County; a portion of it reads as follows: "That from and after the first day of March next, all that part of the present county of Gibson, to wit: Beginning on the township line dividing Townships 4 and 5 where the line dividing Eanges 13 and 14 crosses the said township line ; thence with said range line north till it strikes the Wabash River ; thence with the meanders of said river to a point where the township line aforesaid strikes said river; thence eastwardly with said township line to the place of beginning, shall be, and the same is hereby separated or taken from Gibson and added or attached to the said Posey County."

This embraced a large part of the present town of New Harmony, and the change was made for the accommodation of the citizens of that place. The Eappites were then in full possession there, and it was most likely at their request that the change was granted.

Another act approved on the 1st of January, 1817, added the following to Posey County, taken from Gibson: "Beginning at the northeast corner of Posey County, running thence north with the line dividing Eanges 10 and 11, six miles to the line dividing Townships 3 and 4 south; thence west with said line dividing said Townships to the "Wabash Eiver; thence down said river with the meanders thereof, to where the present line of Posey County strikes the said river."

By the same act "Walter Wilson of Knox County, John Braselton and Isaac Montgomery of Gibson County, Hugh McGary of Warrick County, and Adam Hope of Pike County were " appointed commissioners, whose duty it shall be to repair to the house of Elias AUister in said county of Posey on the third Monday of February next, and proceed to designate the place for the permanent seat of justice of Posey County." The town of Blackford was to be vacated and the town lots sold under the direction of the circuit court, and the proceeds turned into the county treasury. This act was signed by Isaac Blackford as speaker of the House of Representatives. January 7, 1818, an act was passed to create "Vanderburgh County, and for that purpose, one Range, No. 13, was taken from the east of Posey and given to the new county. In this manner the boundaries of Posey County remained until January, 1823, when another row of sections was taken from Gibson County and added to the northern end of Posey. The change since that date has been but little, if any.

Posey County is unfortunate in its name. It is doubtful if any county in any State is better adapted to agricultural purposes, and certain it is that none in Indiana excels it. Notwithstanding this it has a national reputation for poverty and ignorance, the very antithesis of its actual condition. It was named for Thomas Posey, who was governor of the Territory at the time the county was created. Tradition tells us that he was a son of George Washington, born out of wedlock, and several circumstances seem to indicate the probability of such a story being true. While the future father of his country was surveying in the vicinity of Fort DuQuesne, it is said that he made the acquaintance of a widow who became the mother of Thomas Posey. The personal resemblance of the father (of his country) and the son (of the widow) was most striking. Posey owed his political prosperity to Gen. Washington, who took every opportunity to favor him, and on one occasion went so far as to almost peremptorily interfere with a duel which had been arranged with Posey as one of the principals. These things, among others, are pointed out as evidences of the parentage of Thomas Posey, but it is said that all signs fail in dry weather, and it may have been that the attachment which the illustrious founder of our nation entertained for this early governor of Indiana Territory was only such a friendship as the ordinary intercourse of mankind begets. During the early settlement of this portion of the country no county was more favorably situated than Posey. Two navigable and principal rivers formed more than half its boundary, thus affording, for those days, unusual and advantageous facilities for trade and commerce. So fortunate a location brought with it many of its natural results. No other county in southern Indiana was more rapidly settled, and that, too, with as industrious and as good a class of people as any new country could well expect.

The first session of a board or court of any kind to do business for Posey County, began Monday. January 6, 1815. It was held at the house of Absalom Duckworth, and in the record is called a court of claims. The members were Thomas B. Casselberry and Dan Lynn, the associate judges of the county. It was really a court to do the county business and corresponded to the present board of county commissioners. William B. Stewart filed his bond as clerk and recorder for the county, and John Carson did the same as sheriff. John Graddy was recommended to the governor for justice of the peace for Lynn Township; Peter Wilkinson and Nathan Ashworth for Big Creek Township ; William Wagoner and S. K. Marrs for Casselberry Township. For these three townships respectively, were recommended: Charles Symmons, Samuel Canady and Robert Denny for constables; John Talbert for county surveyor, and Samuel Jones for coroner. The boundary of Casselberry Township was fixed as follows: Beginning on the Ohio Eiver where the line dividing Posey and Warwick Counties, leaves said river and running thence with said line to the Gibson County line, and thence with the line dividing Gibson and Posey Counties until it strikes the main fork of Big Creek ; thence down said Big Creek until it strikesthe line dividing Ranges 12 and 13 ; thence with said line south to the Ohio River ; thence with said Ohio River to the place of beginning. In addition to the present townships of Marrs and Bobinson this comprised all that part of the county that was afterward added to Vanderburgh County. Big Creek Township comprised all that part of the county lying west of the line dividing Ranges 12 and 13, and south of the main branch of Big Creek. It coincided very nearly with the present townships of Point and Black. Lynn Township was all that part of Posey County lying north of Big Creek, and it included the present townships of Lynn, Centre and the southern portion of Harmony, It will be remembered that all the present part of the county lying north of the line between Townships 4 and 5 south, and embracing Smith, Kobb, Bethel and the northern portion of Harmony Townships then belonged to Gibson County. The appointment of a few minor offices and the fixing of the ferry rates concluded the first day's session. On the following day the commissioners appointed to fix the seat of justice made the following report of their work:

We, the commissioners appointed "toy a special act of the General Assembly of the Indiana Territory, for to fix on the permanent seat of justice in Posey County, do certify that we the undersigned have selected 380 acres of land, to wit: The northeast quarter of Section Number 30, in Township Number 6 south of Range Number 12 west, also the southeast quarter of Section Number 19 in township south of Range Number 13 west, a beautiful situation and excellent soil. We do certify to the honorable judges of Posey County that the above named is land selected for your permanent seat of justice of Posey County.

Josbph Inglish

This was to be the county seat of Posey County and the locacation is scarcely a mile north of Caborn Station on the Louisville & Nashville Eailroad, in the northwestern portion of Marrs Township.

Samuel K Marrs was appointed county agent to receive the land for the county and to perform other such business as was the custom in those days.- The office of county agent lasted until the adoption of the present constitution. This completed the business for the second day. On the fourth day of the term, or the 19th of the month, it was ordered that the seat of justice for Po- sey bounty be called Blackford. The comity agent was instructed to lay off the town in a certain manner. The first public sale of the lots was advertised for the first Monday in March following. Eight of the lots adjoining the public square were to be sold at $40 each, those on Main Street at $20, and the others at $12 each. On the eight lots one-fourth was to be paid down, one-fourth in six months and the balance in twelve months. The rest of the lots were to be paid for, one-half in six months and the balance in twelve months. The agent was ordered to advertise to receive on the same day, at the house of Absalom J)uckworth, proposals for building a court house and jail. A small house was already built upon the land and occupied by James Martin. This building the county agent was ordered to rent for $3 per month. The first orders for money out of the Posey County treasury were in favor of Thomas E. Casselberry for $102, and Jacob Landers for $60, money loaned to the county. At this same session plans were adopted for the court house and jail. There was but little other business then to do, and the court adjourned. The second session began on Monday, the 1st of May, 1815, and it was held by the same judges as before, at the house of A. Duckworth. It at once adjourned to meet at the tovsm of Blackford, where William Hutchison had offered the use of his house, free of rent. The contract for building the county jail was given to Samuel Jones for $565, and that for the court house to Jacob Winemiller for $125, and each gave bond to fulfil their engagements. Another auction of the town lots was ordered for the first Wednesday after the third Monday in June. The out-lots were to be sold at $12 per acre. Thomas E. Casselberry was appointed to superintend the surveying of the lots in Blackford, and the county agent was to advertise for bids for clearing the streets "smack smoothe."

Additional Acts Of The Board

In November William Hutchison was allowed $6 for whisky furnished at the sale of town lots. At the old price of this beverage $6 would buy enough to make everybody at an ordinary public sale feel very happy and liberal. No doubt it was a good investment for the county. William E. Stewart was allowed $63 for his services during the year as county clerk. Thomas E. Cas- selberry $46 as associate judge, Dan Lynn $35, William Prind $45 as prosecuting attorney. In May, 1816, Jacob Winemiller tendered the court house to the board, but its acceptance was put off until July for alterations to be made, and John Stapleton and Blsberry Alexander were appointed to inspect the building and see that it was done according to contract. Another sale of the town lots was ordered for the second Monday in July. The persons appointed for that purpose reported that the court house had not been built according to contract. In July it was finally accepted by deducting $10 from the original price, making the total cost of Posey County's first court house $115. The jail was received at the same time and $100 was taken out of the contract price for alleged deficiencies, leaving $422. 87 J the total amount of its cost. It is scarcely necessary to say that these were both constructed of logs, and in the primitive style of that period. By the law the associate judges were then the officers before whom people were adjudged insane. The first case of the kind in Posey County occurred in July, 1816, and a jury of twelve men decided that James Cook was non compos mentis.

July 18, 1816, the following orders were made by the court doing county business: "Ordered that all that part of Posey County lying east of the following line be known and designated by the name and style of Wagnon Township, to wit: Beginning at the mouth of the big bayou, up said bayou to the mouth . of EUedges Creek; thence up said creek to the main fork; thence up the main branch of the left hand fork to Black River Road ; thence with said road to the Gibson line."

"Ordered that all the remaining part of Casselberry Township be known by the name and style of Blackford. That the following places be, and they are hereby known to be the places of holding elections: For the township of Wagnon, at the house of William Wagnon; for the township of Blackford, at the court house; for the township of Lynn, in the town of Harmony; for the township of Big Creek, at the house of James Black."

In March, 1817, under the new State law, the county business was done by three county commissioners. These were Samuel R. Marrs, Thomas Robb and Abner Coates. Their first act was to fix upon a county seal, which had these words: "Commissioners' seal of Posey County." Their next transaction of any consequence was to establish and found the several townships of the county. This was done as follows:

"Wagnon Township, beginning on the -Ohio Biver at the range line, between 9 and 10, and running with said line to the center of Township 5 ; thence west with the line dividing Sections 13 and 24 to the line dividing Eanges 11 and 12; thence south with said line to the Ohio Eiver ; thence up the river to the place of beginning.

Marrs Township, beginning on the Ohio Eiver, where the line divides Eanges 11 and 12 ; thence running with said line north to the center of Township 5 ; thence west to the line dividing Eanges 12 and 13 ; thence south with said line to the Ohio Eiver; thence up said river to the place of beginning.

Black Township, beginning on the Ohio Eiver, at the range line between 12 and 13; thence north to the main branch of Big Creek; thence down said creek, with the meanders thereof, to the Wabash Eiver; thence with said Wabash Eiver to the Ohio Eiver ; thence up said Ohio Eiver to th'e place of beginning.

Lynn Township, beginning at the mouth of Big Creek, and running up the main fork of said creek to the line dividing Eanges 12 and 13 ; thence north with said line to the line dividing Townships 4 and 5 ; thence west line to the line dividing Eanges 13 and 14 ; thence north with said line to the Wabash Eiver ; thence down said river to the place of beginning.

Eobb Township, beginning on the Wabash Eiver where the line divides Eanges 13 and 14; thence south with said line to the line between Townships 4 and 5 ; thence with said township line east to the range line between Eanges 12 and 13; thence north to the county line; thence west with the county line to the Wabash Eiver ; thence down said river to the place of beginning.

Smith Township, commencing on the line between Gibson and Posey Counties, at the point where the range line between Eanges 12 and 13 crosses it, and running thence east with the coimty line to the line dividing Warrick and Posey Coimties ; thence south to the center of Township 5 ; thence west to the line between Eanges 12 and 13; thence north to the place of beginning.

At the same time the places for holding elections, and the inspectors were appointed as follows: For Marrs Township, at the house of William Hutchison, with Elsberry Armstrong inspector ; for Black Township, at the house of Thomas Givens, in Mount Vernon, with Samuel Jones inspector; for Lynn Township, at Harmonie, with Elias Alltizer inspector; for Eobb Township, at the house of Langston Drew, with Thomas Eobb inspector; for Smith Township, at the house of George Smith, with Miles Armstrong inspector ; for Wagnon Township, at the house of Mr. Johnson, formerly the house of Mr. Long, at the fork of the Cony branch of the stream, in said township, with Daniel Miller inspector. In May, of this year, Samuel Jones was appointed county treasurer, and he gave bond for $4,000. He continued to serve in this capacity until 1822.

Blackford was not long to enjoy the honor of being Posey^s capitaL Its location was not near enough to the center to suit the people of those days, when a few miles travel consumed a whole day. In order to change the location an act of the Legislature was passed, appointing a committee for that purpose. At a session of the board of commissioners held on the 12th of May, 1817, the following report of the commissioners appointed to change the county seat was received:

We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being appointed by the Legislature of the State of Indiana to fix the permanent seat of justice for Posey County in the said State, did meet at the house of Elias Alltizer on the day appointed by law, and after being first sworn have proceeded to examine and explore the said county in different directions; have received proposals of donation in land from different persons; have maturely considered their several advantages and situations, together with the extent of the county, the advantages of the soil, the weight of the present as well as the prospect of the future population and future divisions; have selected 100 acres of land, a donation given by Frederick Rapp, on which to fix the permanent seat of justice for said county, it being the southeast quarter of Section 33, in Township 5 south, in Range 13 west, and to lie on the south side of said quarter section from corner to corner of the same, it being near the center (of the county) and an eligible situation for a town, do make this our report of the same to the county commissioners of Posey. Given under our hands and seals 33d day of February, 1817.

At the same time Frederick Eapp gave bond to faithfully perform the duties of agent of the county. May 16, following, the board ordered that the new seat of justice in the county of Posey be known and designated by the name and style of Springfield. Agent was ordered to lay out the town and advertise a sale of the lots to take place on the 15th of July, and also at the same time to receive bids for building a court house and jail. The board met on the 24th of May to approve the plan of the new town. The lots adjoining the Public Square were to be sold at $100, and the back lots for $12. This was the beginning of Springfield, and the prestige of being the county capital gave it a boom that for a time threatened the welfare of some other rising places of the county. The second sale of the town lots occurred in October following. A large number of the lots were sold and the buyers were some of the best citizens of the county ; among them several attorneys and a doctor or two. The agent was ordered to keep up the clearing of the land until November.

Public Buildings

At the appointed time, for some unknown reason, the contracts for the public buildings was not let. The plans, however, were adopted in August following. The sale of lots, however, with John B. Stinson as auctioneer, went of as advertised with the addition of $7 worth of whisky furnished by Thomas E. Casselberry. In November the county board met for the first time at Springfield. It is probable that there was a temporary building already on the land that was used by the officers as a court house, for an order for $16.50 appears in the record in favor of Alexander Hindman for laying floor in the court house a,t Springfield. Samuel Jones the county treasiirer took out a license to keep tavern in the new town, and everything seemed prosperous. Abner Coates was awarded the contract for building the county jail at $458. It was to be built much in the manner of the old one at Blackford. Nearly all the jails of that day were constructed with double hewed log walls on the first story, and a single wall above. The first story was called the dungeon, and the second story the "debtors' prison." Imprisonment for debt was then allowed in Indiana. Frederick Eapp did not long remain county agent, and when he resigned Thomas E. Cassel- berry was appointed in his place, who served something more than a year. In November, 1818, he reported the proceeds of the sale of town lots as $2,866.25, a sum that shows considerable activity in the demand for the property. James P. Drake was at that time made county agent. At the site of the town good clay could be procured for making brick, and the agent was ordered to let out contract for making brick for new court house and putting on the public square ready for use. The board had determined to built a good and substantial court house, and the treasurer was ordered not to pay out money for anything except public buildings. Joseph Spalding secured the contract for making the brick and doing the mason work on the court house. The building was to be forty feet square and two stories high. In May, 1819, Elias Roberts, one of the leading attorneys of the county, was appointed county agent, but he only held the office for a short time. His successor was Alexander Mills. James Carter was given the contract for the woodwork of the court house, and Peter Saltzman was appointed to superintend the building on behalf of the county. Frederick Rapp took Carter's place in the court house contract and finished the building. This house is now standing in Springfield, and its total cost was about $4,500, and for the time in which it was built was a remarkably good one.

It was not all paid for until about two years later. James P. Drake had collected, during his term as county agent, $1,087.50 for lots in Springfield ; Elias Roberts, $1,175. These sums, in addition to what was already on hand, made a total of $3,222.34 that Roberts turned over to his successor. In November, 1820, the agent, Alexander Mills, reported the proceeds from sales made by him as amounting to $750.50. The county had already spent about $6,000 for its public buildings. The taxes of these times were light when compared with those of the present day, yet even then they were thought to be heavy and oppressive. But, alas ! it is ever thus with human governments. In May, 1822, Alexander Mills was removed and Peter Saltzman appointed county agent in his stead. In the same year Samuel Jones was succeeded by John Schnee as county treasurer. Things now ran smoothly enough until the next change of the county seat.

method of transacting the county business and instead of a board of three commissioners all the justices of the peace formed a board for doing county business. The first of these met in Posey County in September, 1824, and was composed of these men: Peter Jones, William Mofifatt, Eobert Denny, Josiah Downen, James Conlin, Jonathan Robinson, James Dunn, Joseph Spalding, "William J. Lowry and Peter Saltzman.

In May, 1817, the following order was passed, changing the boundary of Smith and Eobb Townships : "All that part of SiHith Township lying in the following boundary, be added to E.obb Township, to wit: Beginning on the range line dividing Eanges 12 and 13, where the line between Townships 3 and 4 intersects the same ; thence running east two miles, to the line between Sections 4 and 5, in Township 4 ; thence south to the township line dividing 4 and 5 ; thence with said township line west to the range line dividing 12 and 13." In August of the same year, "All that part of Smith Township lying north of the main Big- Creek, and south of Eector's Base, on the old county line, shall be known by the name and taken to be a part of Lynn Township, and is hereby attached to the sa;me."

At the May term, 1818, of the county commissioners, "Harmonie" Township was created, with the following boundaries: "Beginning on the Wabash Eiver at the line dividing fractional Sections 14 and 23, in Township 5 south, Eange 14 west, and running thence east with said line, to the far corner of Sections 14 and 23, in Township 5, Eange 13; thence north to the far corner of Sections 25 and 26, Township. 4 south, Eange 13 ; thence west with the sectional line, to the Wabash Eiver ; thence down said river to the beginning." On the 15th day of May, 1821, the following order was passed creating Eobinson Township: "That the Fifth Congressional Township in Eange 12 west of the second principal meridian form a new township, to be called Eobinson." This name was given in honor of Jonathan Eobinson, an early and prominent resident of the county. Bethel Township was created on the 14th day of August, 1821, with the following boundary: "Beginning at a point at or near Creek's Mill on Black Eiver; thence down said river, so as to include all that of Posey County lying west of said river." At the same time tlie following was created as Daniel Township: "Beginning at the mouth of the "Steep Cut," thence on a straight line to the mouth of the Maple Swamp, on the Wabash River; thence down said river to its mouth; thence up the Ohio to the beginning." John Daniel was the man for whom this township was named. In May, 1822, the name was changed to Point, or "Pint," as the record has it.

On the 11th of May, 1824, the boundary of Harmony Township was fixed as follows; "Beginning on the Wabash Eiver with -the line dividing fractional Sections 14 and 23, Township 5, Bange 14 ; thence east with the sectional line to the line dividing Ranges 12 and 13; thence north to Rector's Base Line; thence west to the line dividing Sections 35 and 36, in Township 4, Range 13; thence north two miles; thence west to the Wabash River; thence down said river to the beginning."

At the September term, 1825, the south boundary of Robinson Township was fixed as follows : ' 'Beginning at the southeast corner of said township line and running thence south two miles ; thence west to the west fork of Big Creek : thence up said creek to the old township line of Robinson Township."

In the meantime the necessity for a change in the location of the county seat had arisen. While the town of Springfield was centrally located in the county, yet it had not the elements to make a flourishing town. That was before the day of railroads, and the rivers were the commercial thoroughfares of the country. Mount Vernon was fortunately located upon the Ohio River, and it rapidly assumed the first importance as a trading point in the county over every other town in it. Springfield had developed slowly ; nothing but the fact of it being the county seat rendered it of the least importance. In February, 1825, the State Legislature passed a law authorizing a change in the seat of justice for Posey County, and appointed a committee for that purpose. According to the law in force at that time, the members of this committee were to be neither residents nor land owners in the county. The report of these commissioners reads as follows :

In pursuance of an act of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana entitled "An act appointing commissioners to relocate the seat of justice of Posey County, and for other purposes," approved February 12, 1835, we, the undersigned, James Smith and James Stewart, of Gibson County, and Richard Daniel, of Knox County (being a majority of commissioners appointed in said act), beg leave to report that on having met at Springfield on the first Monday in this instant, agreeable to law, and being duly sworn to discharge the duties assigned us as commissioners in said act, proceeded to examine into the situation of the said county of Posey, and on finding donations could be procured, which in our opinion would be sufficient to defray the expense of erecting good and sufficient public buildings suitable for said county, and in a more advantageous situation for the interests of the people of said county, have procured said donalions to be made, and thereupon have and do relocate the seat of justice of said county of Posey, in the town of Mount Vernon, on the elegant situation known and designated on the plat of said town by the name of the public square. * *

This report was made to the board of justices in special session May 10, 1825. At the same session the clerk and recorder were directed to move their offices to Mount Vernon, where suitable buildings had been procured for the public use. The furniture and other property belonging to the clerk's office was ordered to be sold at public auction. Jesse Y. Welbom was authorized to receive all subscriptions for the building of public buildings at Mount Vernon. The commissioners for locating the county seat reported the value of town lots in Springfield to be $1,679, and that the value would be decreased one-half by a removal of the seat of justice from that place. This was the death blow to Springfield, and it can scarcely be said to have advanced any since that time. The present assessed valuation of the town lots is only about $1,000, thus showing a complete stagnation of business and enterprise. The first session of the county board held in Mount Vernon, began Monday, the 4th of July, 1825. For the purpose of no unfavorable comparison with that other famous body of men that sat in Philadelphia just forty-nine years before this, we give the names of Mount Vernon's first county board as follows: James Conlin, William Moffett, Jonathan Eobinson, Eobert Denny, John Graddy, James Dunn, William J. Lowry, James W. Swift, Peter Jones and John Williams. Of this board John Graddy was president. The first act of the board was to order the sale of the court house and jail in Springfield.

This was done by the sheriff at public auction, Darius North giving $380 for the cotirt house, and William Hutchison $10 for the jail. A few persons were allowed the amount of damage on their lots in Springfield, and beyond this no business of importance was done at this session. In order to secure the location of the seat of justice at Mount Vernon, Jesse Y. Welborn, John Burlison and Darius North had made liberal donations of land in and around the town to the county. The county agent was ordered to lay this out in lots in order that it might be the more readily disposed of. The first public sale of these lots took place on the 4th of July, 1826. Jesse Y. Welborn had undertaken to build a court house for the county, and it was soon completed. It is probable that the public buildings were all built free of cost to the county. A number of the leading citizens of the place gave liberally.

The county seat had now been located in three different places within ten years, but it had at last been located properly. Many persons had been losers in property at both Blackford and Springfield. Early in May, 1827, the Legislature passed an act for the relief of owners of lots in Springfield.

Philanthropic Lodge of Freemasons finished off the garret of the court house for a lodge room. Almost from the first the building was used for school purposes, but in May, 1829, the following was entered upon the record: "It is the opinion of the » court that it is improper that a school should be taught in the court house: It is therefore ordered that the school shall no longer be taught here, and that the clerk of this court be authorized to institute an action at law against the teachers in behalf of this court to eject them, or either of them, provided they do not desist immediately from keeping a school here." It is more than likely that this caused the teachers to keep out.

The sale of the town lots went on more slowly than it had in Springfield. Jesse Y. Welborn was county agent, but a disagreement between him and the board caused his removal, and William J. Lowry was appointed in his stead. A lawsuit was the result in which judgment was obtained in favor of the county.

Early in 1831 the law was again changed, and three commissioners transacted the county business. Their first session was in September of that year, and the board was composed of John

Hamilton, Jacob Schnee and Jesse E. Craig. Four years later the board of justices again became the authority for the county. In March, 1835, the following order was passed: " That the following letters, viz., W. H. H. with a scroll around them be adopted as the seal of this board until a more regular seal can be procured. The letters are to represent William Henry Harrison." These letters are yet in the seal, but the words " Commissioners of Posey County " have since been placed around them.

In March, 1836, a fire-proof clerk's ofi&ce was ordered to be built 20x36 feet. The contract was let to William J. Lowry for 12,580. By June of the following year it was completed and accepted by the board. It was built near the southwest corner of the present court house, where it stood until the present building was erected.

In January, 1837, Felix Mills was appointed to contract for the building of a new jail to be placed upon the Public Square. The plan was the same as the Gibson County jail, which served as a model for all the counties in this portion of the State for several years. It was to be finished by the 1st of January, 1838, The contract was let to Eben D. Edson and Charles Hovey for $3,800, but Arza Lee soon after assumed all the responsibilities of the contract in their stead. The jail was completed on time, and during the year 1838 the court house was repaired at an of $675.

Later Acts

Again, in 1839, the board of three commissioners came into, power, and soon afterward Turner Nelson was appointed to expend $200 on the Public Square. In that year a strip of land eightyseven feet wide was laid off the north side of the Public Square into four lots and offered for sale. The two lots on the northwest comer were sold to Moses Winings for $757, and the two on the northeast corner to George S. Green for $540. The jail then stood near the north door of the present court house, the clerk'8; at the southwest corner, and the old court house at the southeast comer. A few years later the purchasers of these lots petitioned the county board to declare these sales void, which was accordingly done.

three county commissioners. The first board elected under the new order of things John Moore, James Wilson and A. E. Prer tageot. In December following A. E. Fretageot was appointed to. examine the Evansville prison and others and procure plans for a new jail. In March he reported to the board, and the plans he recommended were adopted. The county auditor was ordered to advertise for bids to construct a new jail. John K. Hugo secured this contract in March, 1855, for $7,603. It was to contain four cells and be of brick and iron, and be attached to the old jaiL The work was completed and the board received the building ofi the contractor in November, 1855. This lasted until the present one was built in 1878.

The New Jail

A special session was held in November, 1877, when theplans of Urydale & Clarke were adopted for a new jail and jaiU er's residence attached thereto. Advertisement was made in the- Mount Vernon Democrat that bids would be received until Thurgt day, December 20, following. The bids were as follows :

John G. Eigenman & Co. received the contract for the amount of this bid, and the work was to be finished by the first day of September, 1878. In June, 1879, the contractors presented theiu bill for extras furnished, which amounted to $10,378; but it was, rejected by the board. A lawsuit was the result, which was; finally determined in the Supreme Court against the contractors. The total cost of the jail when completed was $21,782.05. The. court house had been built before that. The funds for that purpose were derived from the unearned tax of the Mount Vernon &f. Uraysville Eailroad. On a petition from the Mount Vernon &,, Graysville Eailroad Company an election was ordered for the 27tliu of July, 1869. The question was whether the county shouldf give $100,000 to aid in the construction of said railroad. The vote was favorable, and at the June session, 1870, the county board ordered a tax of 80 cents on each $10Q to be collected for that purpose. The company failed to complete the road on time, and in June, 1873, the commissioners extended the time to September 1 of that year.

The New Couet House

Upon the same day the following record was made: "Whereas, a new court house has, in the opinion of the people of this county become a necessity for the preservation of the public records, and, Wheeeas, the financial condition of the county is such that a levy for that purpose is feasable at this time. It is now here ordered that William Loundon, John Pfeffer, James Sampson, Thomas Jq,quess and George W. Thomas be and they are hereby appointed a committee to investigate and consider plans and specifications and costs of a court house, with authority to employ for the county an architect. Said court house not to cost less than $50,000, nor more than $80,000; said committee to report to this board at its next regular session. And for the purpose of raising funds for the erection of said proposed court house, it is now here ordered that a levy of $1 on each and every $100 of all the taxable property of Posey County be and the same is hereby made.

"It is further ordered that in the event of the non-forfeiture of the donation voted by Posey County to the Chicago & Illinois Southern Railway Company at the next regular session of this court, said levy shall at said session be remitted."

This was the beginning of the present court house of Posey County. At a special session held in October following this committee reported that they had selected "a plan submitted to them by Messrs. Vrydale & Clarke, architects, and by employing the said Vrydale & Clarke to furnish the necessary drawings, specifications and detailed estimates of the cost of said court house for the sum of $1,200." In addition to this the architects were to receive $15 per day for their professional services when called upon. On the 4th of February, 1874, the board received bids for building the court house according to the plans of Vrydale & Clarke. They were as follows :

Population County Officers

County Clerks. - William E. Stewart from the organization of the county, in January, 1816, to June, 1817; David Love to 1819, James P. Drake to 1829, W. E. Stewart to 1839, Turner Nelson to 1861, William P. Edson to 1865, Turner Nelson to 1867, William Nelson to 1875, George W. Curtis to 1883, Oliver N. F. Fretageot to present time.

Sheriffs. - John Carson to 1817, William Boyle (one year), James Eobb (one year), Aaron Bacon (four years), John Carson (four years), Felix Mills (four years), William James (four years), John Cox (two years), Felix Mills (four years), Aaron C. Moore (two years), John Patterson (two years), Joseph Showers (two years), Felix Mills (six years), Joseph Showers (two years), Aaron Lichtenberger (two years), Alexander Crunk (four years),, John S. Wheeler (four years), Alexander Crunk (four years), Edward S. Hays (present incumbent.)

Recorders. - Prior to 1851, the county clerk performed the duties that now devolve upon the recorder. In May, of that year, Thomas B. Holt was elected recorder and served to 1855, his successors have been George E. Latham, 1855, serving but two months; John D. Hinch to 1863, George W. Thomas to 1867, F. A. Pentecost to 1875, Philo A. Hutcheson to 1879, Aaron Lichtenberger to 1883, Vincent M. Cartright (present incumbent).

' Treasurers. - It is probable that Samuel E. Marrs, the county agent, acted as county treasurer up to 1817, when Samuel Jones was appointed and served until 1822; John Schnee to 1826, J. W. Swift to 1829, James Eobb to 1830, Felix Mills to 1832, Felix Mills to 1833, George S. Green to 1837, Eben D. Edson to 1839, John Pitcher to 1840, William J. Lowry to 1844, John Cox to 1847, John M. Sanders to 1853, Felix Mills to 1857, John M. Sanders to 1859, John B. Gardiner to 1861, Joseph F. Welborn to 1863, William B. Smith to 1867, Thomas Stephens to 1869, Joseph Showers to 1873, John G. Young to 1875, George Naas to 1879, Nicholas Joest to 1883, Andrew Wasem (present incumbent.

Raileoad Projects

In 1869 the county board was petitioned by 100 freeholders to order an election to decide whether the county should appropriate $100,000 to aid in the construction of the Mount "Vernon & GraysTille Eailroad. July 27, 1869, the election was held with the following result:

The board thereupon ordered a levy of 80 cents on each $100 worth of property, all of which was collected. The above company soon consolidated with another and became known as the Chicago & Southern Illinois Bailway Company. After the completion of five miles of the road $20,000 was paid the company, but further payments were stopped by an injunction sued out by contractors to secure their claims. The company could not proceed and passed into the hands of a receiver, who sold the iron and one locomotive in 1875, to satisfy a mortgage held by New Jersey parties. Mount Yernon had also paid to the company $30,000 in corporate bonds, and stood pledged to pay $170,000 more, but the failure to complete the road rendered void the contract.

The Louisville & Nashville Railway, built as the St. Louis & Southeastern Railway, was constructed through the county in 1869-70, and received from the board $102,000. This was the first railroad in the county, and to Mount Vernon, as well as the whole county, has been of the greatest advantage. Its length in the county is about twenty-three miles, including side tracks. In 1880 the Louisville & Nashville Company leased the road and is yet operating it.

Cynthiana, the tax being $8,468.30. The road was immediately built and the tax paid. In October, 1881, Black Township voted 2 per cent aid to have the road extended to Mount Vernon, the amount being $48,102.20, as did also Centre Township, whose tax was $7,191.60. The road was immediately built and these amounts were paid. In 1880 Eobb Township voted $13,199 aid to the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Railway, and the following year $16,000 was voted by Harmony Township to aid the extension from Poseyville to New Harmony. Few, if any, counties in the State are better supplied with shipping facilities than Posey. November 19, 1872, the county voted as follows on the proposition to aid the Cincinnati, Eockport & Southwestern Eailway, with an appropriation of $125,000:

The first steps toward a medical society in the county were taken in 1857. This society consisted of Drs. Winings, Weever, Farrell, Conyngton, Blunt and Spencer. In a short time after Dr. John B. Weever became a member. The object was more for the establishment of a uniform system of fee bills than for mental improvement. The present society of the county was temporarily organized November 15, 1877, and completed December 20, 1877. There were present E. V. Spencer, A. W. Spain, J. B. Williams, W. J. Cole, E. S. Moore, S. H. Pearse,

F. H. Kelley, D. Kransgrill, D. B. Montgomery, Daniel Neal, Richard Owen (honorary), S. H. Pearse, G. W. Peckinpaugh, D. C. Eamsey, S. O. Eawlings, J. C. Eutledge, E. V. Spencer, O. T. Schultz, J. B. Weever, G. W. Welborn, J. B. Welborn and T. B. Young. The meetings of the society are in April and October of each year.