St. Joseph County, Indiana - Chapter 3, 1880

Chapter 3

By an act of the Les^islature, approved Jan. 29, 1830, the county of St. Joseph was formed with boundary lines determined as follows: ''Beginning at range No. 2 west from the second principal meridian of the State of Indiana, on the northern line of the State, thence running east to where range No. 3 east intersects the State line, thence south with the range line thirty miles, thence west to range 2 west, thence north to tiie place of beginning." Its organized existence was to take effect from and after April 1, 1830, from which time it was to " enjoy all the rights, privileges and jurisdiction which to separate and independent counties do and may properly belong and appertain."

Thomas J. Evans and Gil lis McBane, of Cass connty; Daniel Worth, of Randolph county; John Berry, of Madison county, and John Ross, of Fayette county, were appointed Commissioners to locate the seat of justice of the county, and instructed to meet at the house of Alexander [Alexis] Coquillard on the fourth Monday of May, 1880, for that purpose. After the county seat was located the agent appointed for the sale of lots was required to reserve ten per cent, out of the proceeds of the sale, and pay the same over to such person as was appointed by law to receive the same, for the purpose of a county library.

The qualified electors of the county were, at the time of electing a Recorder, Clerk and Associate Judges, to elect three Justices of the Jr*eace who were to perform all the duties prescribed by law relating to the Board of Justices in the several counties.

All the territory lying west of the boundary line of this county was attached to it for civil and criminal jurisdiction, the citizens residing within its territory being entitled to all the rights and privileges, and subject to all taxes and' assessments, as if a part of the county.

Various changes were made from time to time in its boundary lines, territory being added to or taken from it at nearly every session of the Legislature. At the twenty-third session of the General Assembly an act was passed and approved Feb. 16, 1839, fixing the boundary lines as follows: "Commencing on the north boundary of this State at the intersection thereon of the section line running north and south through the center of range 4 east, (358 thence south to the center of township 35 north, thence west to the second meridian line, being that line between ranges one east and one west, thence sonth to the township lino between townships 34 and 35 north, thence west to the section line running north and south through the center of range one west, thence north by said section line to the north boundary of this State, thence east to the place of beginning." This remained unchanged until 1850, when by an act apjjroved January 14 of that year, the following territory was taken from the county and attached to I-a Porte county: " Beginning at the present county line, at the northwest corner of section 22, township 37 north of range 1 west, thence with the north line of said section, and that of section 23, to the northeast corner of said section 23, thence south with the section line until it shall strike the Great Kankakee river, thence with said river to the present county line." Since 1850 no further changes have been made.

The first election held in the county was on the first Monday in August, 1830, at which time L. M. Taylor was elected Clerk and Recorder, and Adam Smith, Lambert McComb and Levi F. Arnold were elected Justices of the Peace. The name St. Joseph was given the county from the river which flows through its territory.

On Friday, Aug. 27, 1830, having received their commissions from the Governor, the Board of Justices assembled at the house of Alexis Coquillard, L. M. Taylor, Clerk of the county, being present, and proceeded in the further act of organizing the county and the transaction of its business. The first entry upon the records of the Board is as follows:

" In pursuance of an act of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, entitled an act to provide for the carrying the laws into eflfect in new counties, approved January the 2d, 1818; and also the act entitled. An Act for the Formation of the Counties of St. Joseph and Elkhart, passed and approved Jan. 29. 1820, the Justices of the Peace met at the house of Alexis Coquillard, in St. Joseph county, on Friday, the 27tli day of August in the year of our Lord one thonsand eiglit hundred and thirty.

'' Adam Smith now comes forth and produces his commission from His Excellenc}^ James B. Ray, Governor of the State of Indiana, commissioning him, the said Adam Smith, Justice of the Peace in and for said count}' of St. Joseph for and during the term of five years from the 11th day of August, 1830; and on the back of said commission is the following endorsement, to-wit:

St. Joseph County. j" Be it remembered, that on the 27th day of August, A. D. 1830, personally came Adam Smith, within commissioned, before me, L. M. Taj'lor, Clerk of the Circuit Court, and being duly sworn on h-s solemn oath, says that he will support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Indiana, and that he will to the best of his abiliiies and judgment discharge the duties of his office as Justice of the Peace in St. Joseph county faithfully, and that he has not smce the first day of January, 1819, either directly or indirectly, knowingly given, accepted or carried a challenge to any person in or out of this State to fight a single combat with anydeadly weapon, and that he will not knowingly accept or carry a challenge to any person or persons to fight with any deadly weapon in single combat, either in or out of this State, during his continuance in office. Given under my hand and seal the day and date first above written.

Lambert McComb and Levi F. Arnold also presented like credentials, and the Board of Justices was then organized by the election of Lambert ]\IeComb as President.

The first order made by the Board was in the following terms: " Ordered by the Board of Justices of St. Joseph county, that John D. Lasly be appointed Treasurer of St. Joseph county for the year of our Lord 1S30, and lie is required to give bond and security in the penal sum of $1,000." James Ni.xon was then appointed Assessor; Daniel A. Fullerton, Collector; Benjamin Potter, Thomas Skiles and Jaco') Keith, Constables; Jacob Gripe and John Heag, Overseers of the Poor.

At this meeting of the Board, in addition to the appointment of the officers named, fence viewers were appointed, treasurer's bonds approved, and licenses granted to Samuel Hanna and the American Fur Company to sell " fouren [foreign] merchandize" one year for the sum of $10 each.

The second meeting of the Board of Justices was held at the house of Alexis Coquillard on the first Monday in September, 1830. The first business transacted was the selection of Grand and Petit Jurors. Those drawn to serve on the Grand Jury were Samuel Cannon, Jacob White, John Clyburn, William E. Ahart, Adam Keith, John Banker, Samuel Leeper, Charles Lobby, Henry Clyburn, Gamiel Drilinger, Zachariah Grant, Jacob Cripe, Benjamin Potter, James Nixon, Thomas Clyburn, Pliilip Fail, Louis Lancomb and Joseph Adams. The Petit Jurors were Paul Egbert, John Drilinger, Daniel Filer, C. B. Overrocker, John Whiticer, Benjamin Coquillard, Israel Rush, Barzillia Druliner, Jacob Harris, John Hague, Richard Harris, ISTathaniel Steele, Samuel Johnstone, Jacob Egbert, John Ronleau, Jacob Ritter, Jacob Rhae, Alexis Coquillard, John Wills, John Skiles, Lewis Sherley, Joseph Rorer, Horace Marcum and Samuel Garwood.

Further Acts Of The Board Of Justices

Sept. 14, 1830, a called session of the Board was held, at which time Thomas J. Evans was allowed the sum of $51 for his services in locating the county seat. John Berry was allowed the sura of $87; Daniel Worth, $108; Gillis McBean, $27, for the same purpose. William Brooktield was appointed agent of the county for the sale of lands, with bond fixed in the sum of $5,000. Alexis Coquillard and Lathrop M. Taylor were accepted as his bondsmen.

The county seat was located upon the farm of William Brookfield, section 27, township S north, of range 2 east, and a beautiful village was laid out by Mr. Brookfield and given the name of St. Joseph.

At a special session, held on the 25th day of November, 1830, the Board ordered the agent of the "county to proceed to make sale ot the lots of the town, either by "private or public sale to the best advantage and interests of the county." Lots were to be sold onethird cash, one-third in nine months, and the remainder in eighteen months, secured by forfeiture of the lots in case of non-payment when due. A public sale was ordered to be held on the first day of January, 1831, and every three months thereafter, unless otherwise ordered by the Board.

At this session of the Board the county was divided into four townships, as follows: All the district of country lying west of the range line dividing ranges two and three west of the second principal meridian was to constitute a township, to be known as Michigan township; ranges one and two west of the second principal meridian, Deschemin township; from the second principal meridian of the State until the center of range two east, German township; all the district of country lying and being from the center of range two east of the second principal meridian of the State, and thence running east to the eastern boundary of St. Joseph countj'. Portage township. Michigan township comprised all the territory west of the county line to the State line.

Elections were ordered held on the ISth day of December, 1830, for the election of one Justice of the Peace in each township, except Portage; in Michigan township, at the house of Louis Sherl)y; in German township, at the house of David Miller; in Deschemin township, at the house of John Druliner. Aaron Stanton was appointed inspector of elections in Michigan township; John Egbert, in Deschemin township; and David Miller, in German township. Each of these inspectors wag to hold his office for the year 1830.

This was the last session of the Board of Justices. In pursuance of an act of the General Assembly of the State, approved January 19, 1831, county governments were changed, and in place of a Board of Justices, the government of the county was placed in the hands of a Board of County Commissioners.

Acts Of The Boaed Of Coiinty Commissioners

On the first Monday in September, 1831, the newly elected Board of Commissioners met at the house of Alexis Coquillard. Certificates of election were produced and the oath of oflice duly taken by David Miller, Joseph Rorer, and later by Aaron Stantop. In addition to swearing to support the Constitution of the United States and of this State, the Commissioners were sworn not to receive, directly or indirectly, a county order for a less sum than its face. This was doubtless to prevent their speculation in tlie orders.

N. B. Griffith was licensed to keep a ferry across the St. Joseph river at the east end of Water street, and the rates of ferriage were fixed as follows: For each person, Gi cents; for a man and horse, V2i cents; one horse and wagon or carriage, 25 cents; two horses and wagons, 31^ cents; each additional horse with a wagon, 6J cents; for oxen in wagons, the same as for horses; loose cattle, 3 cents a head; hogs and sheep, 2 cents a head.

License for taverns, or for the ipurpose of retailing spirituous or strong liquors, was fixed at $5 each; for peddling wooden clocks, $S was required.

the State of Indiana at their session in the year A. D. 1831, entitled "An act to re-locate the countj- seat of St. Joseph county," met at the house of William Brookfield in the said county of St. Joseph, on the second Monday of May, A. D. 1831; and after being duly sworn as the law directs, proceeded immediately to examine the present seat of justice for said county of St. Joseph, and are of opinion that public interest requires a removal of said seat of justice, and immediately proceeded to select a suitable site for the county seat of said county of St. Joseph, and after making all the examinations required by law, have selected the town of bouih Bend as laid out and recorded on the records of said county, and have hereby established the same, and have received from the persons hereinafter mentioned the following donations in lands, lots and obligations for the pa}-ment of the sums of money stipulated in the following bonds, to-wit: The bonds of Lathrop M. Taylor and Alexis Coquillard, guaranteed by Samuel Hanna, Joseph Rorer, Samuel Studebaker and D. H. Coldrick, for the conveyance to the use of the county, the following distinguished lots in the town of South Bend ; Lots Nos. 374, 275, 376, 277, 278, 279, 400, 401, 403, 296, 399, 302, 344, 323 and 357. And also the lots specified in said bond to religious societies, school purposes, and four acres of land described in said bond for a public grave yard. In addition to the lots and grounds set apart and marked on the plat of said town for a public square, religious and school purposes, and also the joint bond and obligation of the above mentioned Lathrop M. Taylor, Alexis Coquillard, Joseph Rorer, Samuel Studebaiier, Samuel Hanna and David Coldrick, for the payment of $3,000 to the Commissioners of said county, payable in the annual installments of $ 1 ,000 each, -which said several bonds and obligations are hereby particularly referred to and made a part of this report ; all of which bears date herewith. In witness whereof have hereunto set our hands, this twelfth day of May, A. D. 1831.

Know nil men. by these presents: - That we, Lathrop M. Taylor, Alexis Coquillard, JoSeph Rorer, Samuel Studebaker, Samuel Hanna and David H. Coldrick, do hereby bind and obligate ourselves and our heirs and representatives to well and truly pay, or cause to be paid unto the Commissioners of the county of SL Joseph, in the State of Indiana, or their successors in office, in the full and just sum of three thousand dollars, to be paid as follows: One thousand in oije year from the signing and ensealing this bond, and one thousand in two years; and the residuary one thousand in three years; in consideration that the county seat of St. Joseph cotmty, in the State aforesaid, shall be permanently located at South Bend, in said county. In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and

Know all men by these presents:~ThsX we, Lathrop M. Taylor and Alexis Coquillard, do by these presents obligate ourselves and representatives to well and truly convey and donate by an indisputable title to the county whom the Commissioners shall appoint Agent of the county of S(. Joseph, in the State of Indiana, for the use of said county, fifteen in lots, situated in the town of South Bend, and designated on the plat of said town by being numbered 274, 275, 270, 277,278, 279, 400, 401, 402,296, 299, 302, 344, 323 and 2.57, and to give and donate and convey in lot number 341, in said town plat, to and for the use of a religious denomination of people, called the United Brethren, to build thereon a church for worship ; also in lot No. 403, in said town plat, for the same purpose for the German Baptist congregation ; also in lot number 234, in said town plat, for a church for the denomination commonly called the Presbyterians; also to give and to donate to and for the use and convenience of said town, four acres on the east half of the southwest quarter of section No. 13, in township No. 37, of range No. 2 east, to be dedicated and used for a public grave yard; all of which said several donations are to be legally conveyed in a reasonable time after the patents shall have been issued to the said Coquillard and Taylor, in consideration that the county seat shall be permanently located at South Bend, in said county. Witness our hands and seals on this twelfth day of May, 1831.

Know all men by these preienU: - That we, Samuel Hanna, Joseph Rorer, Samuel Studebaker and David Coldrick, do bind and obligate ourselves and our representatives, under a penalty of two thousand dollars, to secure and guarantee the stipulations and obligations of the said Coquillard and Taylor, in the above bond, according to the true spirit and equitable meaning thereof, waiving all legal technicalities or inaccuracies, if any there be. Witness'our hands and seals this 12th day of May, 1831.

John Egbert was appointed county agent to carry out tlie provisions of the bonds and obligations given. He gave bond under the penal sum of six thousand dollars, for the faithful discliarge of his duties, with William McCartney and Jacob Egbert as bondsmen.

The Board of Commissioners at this session repealed tlie order of the Board of Justices in regard to the political divisions of tlie county, and fixed the boundary lines and named the several townships as follows: Ranges two and three east of the second principal meridian, or so much of it as lay in this county, was to be known as Portage township. This township was to form the first County

Commissioners' district. Eanges No. 1 east and No. 1 west of the second principal meridian was to be known as Centre township, and the second Commissioners' district; all the territory lying west of the range line dividing ranges No. 1 and No. 2, west of the second principal meridian, Highland township, and the third Commissioners' district. The Sheriff was ordered to notify the electors of the several townships as organized to meet and elect officers on the fourth Saturday in September.

The next meeting of the Board was held at the house of Alexis Coqnillard, on the 31st day of October, 1831. A jail was ordered built, and William Clark was appointed County Surveyor, which was about the only business transacted.

At the iMovember (1831) term of the Board of Commissioners, Calvin Lilly, Joseph Cissna, Barzilla Druliner, and John Garrard were appointed Constables. At this time Benjamin McCarty was Sheriff, and was allowed forty dollars for assessing tiie unassessed property in the county, a service which the owners would just as soon he had neglected altogether. William Clark was appointed County Surveyor, and was ordered to procure certified copies from the Eegisters of different land offices where land had been sold; field notes of townships, ranges, sections, fractional sections, as originally surveyed, and deposit them in the Recorder's office of St. Josepii county, according to law. With reference to a county jail, which had previously been determined upon, the following order was made:

" Ordered by the Board of County Commissioners, that the County Agent be required to sell out to the lowest bidder on the eighth of this month, at the hour of one o'clock on said day, the building of a county jail of the following dimensions, to-wit: The gaol to be 30 feet long and 16 feet wide, with a partition wall through the center of the building; all the timber of the walls to be good white-oak timber, and to be hewed at least one foot square, as also both the under and upper floor to be of like timber of one foot square; the foundation of the building to be laid one foot and a half below the surface of the ground, and to be raised six inclies above the ground ; the sills to be fifteen inches wide, and the logs for the floor to be let in onto the sills six inches, and the logs to be rabbeted out that goes on the top floor, and let down over so as to completely cover the ends of the logs and prevent the floor from being raised; the building to be raised with a half dovetailed notch in each of the corners as well as the partition wall; the story to be eight feet between the under and upper floors; tlie upper floor to be the ends of the logs cut off about six inches at each end, and the under side of the ends to be cut out or blocked off about four inches, and let down on the logs so as to prevent them from slipping out; the plates to be rabbeted out and let down over the ends of the floor logs, and onto them, the roof to be put on with good white-oak rafters covered with good sheeting, and good joint pine shingles; the gable ends to be done up with good poplar weather boarding; the corners of the building to be raised up plumb, and the corners to be sawed down smooth; the outside door to be cut one foot from the partition wall, and to be two feet wide and four feet high in the clear when finislied. There shall be an iron rod run up through the ends of the logs on the side of the door opposite the partition-wall of one inch bolt and to extend six inches into the log below those cut out and six inches up into the log aliove those cut out, and running tlirough the same. The door sliall be made of white oak plank of two inches thick, and to be made douljle with said planks; the door shall be hung on the strap-hinges, tlie straps to be three inches broad and a half inch thick, and the door shall also be lined with iron straps to be put on within four inches of each other, and on each side of the door, and all straps as well as the hinges shall be riveted through the door within four inches of each other; the straps other than the hinges shall be at least one-eighth of an inch thick; the door to be hung on liooks to be in proportional size to the straps, arid two of the hooks to be set upward, and one turned downward; the lock of the door to be set on the inside bj the contractor, the lock to be furnished by the Agent. The hooks on which the door is to be hung is to be entered into the timber well, and the cheeks of snid door shall be lined with good white oak plank one and a half inches thick, to lie well spiked on. There shall also be another door made in the center of the partition wall to be two feet wide and four feet high in the clear of said door, after being finished ; the cheeks of said door shall be faced with good oak planks one and a half inches thick and well pinned on;, the door shall be made of two-inch whiteoak plank; the door shall be hung on two strap hinges to extend across the door and hung on two sufficient hooks drove into the wall; the whole of the door to be drove with spikes within four inches of each other; the contractor shall put the lock on furnished by the Agent. There shall be a window cut out in each end of the house two feet wide and one foot high, and there shall be bars of iron put in each of said windows of one and a quarter inches square, and shall be placed up and down in the windows within two inches of each other, and the ends of such bars shall be sunk in the lower and upper logs at least three inclies. And the jail shall be put in the southwest corner of the public square in the town of South Bend, and shall be set lengthways north and south on the line of said lot, and the door shall be on the east side of said house. The undertaker shall be required to give bond and security, to be approved of by the Agent, in the penal sum of one thousand dollars, the contract to be completed by the last Monday in April next ensuing the date hereof The contractor shall be entitled to receive a county order on the county treasury as soon as the contract is completed for the building of said gaol. All the work to be done in a good workmanlike and substantial manner." Tiie contract was awarded to Andrew Woods and Dennis Mc- Cormick. It was completed and accepted by the Board on the

At a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners held January, 1832, it was resolved to build a court-house, and the County Agent was instructed to advertise in the Northwestern Pioneer ior sealed proposals for building the same. On the 6th day of February, 1832, the Board again met to receive the proposals, but declined to accept any that were made. On the next day, however, thev met, received and acted favorably upon the proposals of Peter Johnson, letting the contract to him for building a court-house according to the following agreement.

Know all men by these presents: That we, Peter Johnson, Alexis Coquillard, L. M. Taylor, Pleasant Harris and Samuel Martin, all of the county of St. Joseph, in the >taie of Indiana, are held and firmly bound unto Aaron Stanton, David Miller an I Joseph Rorer, a Board doing county business in and for the county of St. Joseph, and their successors in office, in the penal sum of |6,000 lawful money of the United States, for the payment whereof weU and truly to be made, we hereby bind ourselves and our representatives firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this 7th day of February, A, D. 1832. The condition of the above obligation is such that if the said Peter Johnson, the above bounden, shall well and truly build a courthouse in and for the said county of St. Joseph, of the following description, to-wit : The building to be 40 feet square and made of good merchantable brick. The foundation shall be made of good durable arch brick and sunk one foot below the surface of the ground, and the said wall shall be raised three feet high above said foundation, and the wall that high shall be 22 inches thick, and lliei-f shall :ilso be a foundation wall run through said house north and south in I lie center of said building and raised so high that when a sill of 18 inches square, with the joists raised in said wall, shall raise the floor of the first-story only three feet from the foundation. The walls of the firststory of the budding shall be raised so high as to leave 12 feet between the first floor and the ceiling. The walls of the first-story shall bo 18 inches thick. The walls of the second-story shiU be raised ten feet above the second floor, and be made 13 inches thick. There shall be a plate of yellow poplar timber of 13 inches square placed on the top of the wall all around said building. There shall be four stacks of chimneys carr ed up in said building, one in eacli corner of the house, and there shall be a fire-place made in each of said chimneys in the lower story, of three and a, half feet wide in the back and five feet in the flare or front of the jambs except the southeast, which may only be three feet in the back of the fire-place and four|feet in the front; and there shall be also a fire-place made in each of said chimneys in the second story of said building, except the southeast, of three feet wide in the back and four in the flare or front of the fire-places. The east half of the under room shall be filled up with earth nearly to the top of the aforemeiitinned sill, and then well laid over with good hard brick. There shall be good sulistaniial iron bars placed under the arch of each of said fire-places. And in the north end of said under room there shall be joists placed east and west across in said sill and wall, and within two feet of each other, of good wliite-oak timber of 14 inches wide and three inches thick, and placed so that when the floor is laid oil that the floor shall be only three feet from the foundation. The floor of said end shall be laid of good white-oak boards ot one and a quarter inches thick and six inches wide on an average. There shall be four airholes left in the west side of said building of nine inches deep and four inches wide to let the air in under the floor. There shall be two columns set up on said sill, running through the cent r of said building, one twelve feet from the north side of said building, and the other twelve feet from the south side of said building. The columns shall be turni'd by a beliction with a handsome mold on each end of the same, and there shall be a hole bored through the center of each of said columns with a common pumpauCTur. There shall be a poplar giider of 14 inches square, running across said building north and south, placed on said columns. And the joists for the second floor shall be laid into said sirder on the walls east and west. The said joists shall be three inches thick and 14 inches wide, and placed within two feet of each other ; and the second floor shall be made or laid on said joists of poplar boards one and a quarter inches thick, and to average six inches wide. There shall be a door made on the east side of said house, and in the center, and in the lower story, of at least four feet wide, and shall be prepared for a transom light sash above the door, and made so high as to correspond with the height of the windows ; and also another door of the same description to be placed in the center of the north side of the building, in the lower story. The door shall be made with eight panels and lined and braced on the inside of the door; said doors sliall be three inches thick and hung on three good strong butts, and have each a good wrought thumb latch with a IS-inch stock lock placed thereon. There shall be three 24-lights windows of glass, 10 by 12 inches square, placed in on the west side of said building, and placed so in the "walls lis to have the columns even on each side; and also two windows of like description on the north side of said building, and the door, and also two windows on the east side of said building of the aforesaid description to be placed half way between the corners of the building and the door ; and also two windows on the south side of said building of the aforesaid description, to be placed in the wall a proper distance apart so the columns on each side shall be even of a width; and in the second story there shall be three windows, of the aforesaid description, put in on the north side of said building to be placed parallel over the door and windows in the lower story; and on the west side two windows placed over the two windows in the lower story nearest to the corners; and on the south side of the building two windows to be placed parallel over those in the lower story; and on the east side of the building three windows to be placed parallel over the windows and door in the lower story, all of the aforesaid description. There is no glass nor sash to be put in said windows or any of them, but only the window frames to be made and put in ready to receive ihe sash; but there shall be Venetian shutters made and hung to each of the aforesaid. Therj shall be Venetian shutter-blinds fastened into the stiles and hung with good strap hinges, put on with screws ; and there shall be shutter-holders put into the wall to hold the shutters open, and have bolts put on for fastening saidshuiters. And said shutters shall be painted green. In the third story there shall be two poplar or oak girders running across north and south through said building, of ten by twelve inches square, and placed in the center of the building and 13 feet from ' each other to start the cupola on, and all further necessary work for the foundation of the cupola. The building shall be covered with a hip roof drawn from each corner, and covered with good joint pine shingles. There shall be a cornice put on each side of said building of 18 inches wide, with a bed mold thereon. The tubes shall be fixed in said cornices to receive the conductors. The cornice is to be put up with good screw bolts of three-quarter inches square, and five feet to each cornice. There shall be a temporary rough pair of stairs run from the lower story up into the second. The cornice to be painted with three good coats of white lead and oil. The door frames shall be made the width of the walls, and the door frames as well as the window frames shall be painted with two coats of white lead and oil. The doors shall be painted with a mahogany color. There shall be pieces of timber of four inches square and four feet long framed on the ends of the principal girders and joists for the better support of the walls, at suitable distance from the corners. All of the aforesaid materials for the aforesaid building to be of the best and most durable kind that Ihe country aflords; and all and every part thereof of said building to be done off' and finished in good workmanlike order, according to the particulars aforesaid. And the said courthouse shall be set and placed on the northeast corner of the public square in the town of South Bend, and county and Stale aforesaid ; and all of said work to be done for the consideration that the aforesaid boundens, or Commissioners, shall pay unto the said bounden on the 1.5th day of May, 1832, the sum of $400 ; on the 1st of December, 1832, the sum of $400; on the 15th of May, 1833, the sum of |900; and on the 15th day of May, 1834, the sum of $1,300. Now, therelore, should the said Peter Johnson, the above bounden, have the aforesaid court-house fully completed and finished off according to the true spirit and equitable meaning of the aforesaid particulars, on or before the 1st of December next ensuing the date hereof, then the aforesaid obligation of the said Peter Johnson, Alexis

Coquillard, L. M. Taylor, Pleasant Harris and Samuel Martin to be null and void ; else to be and remain in full force and virtue in law and equity.

Mr. Johnson, on the second day of September, 1833, reported to the Board the fulfillment of his contract. After inspection the work was received. Although in an unfinished condition, the house was used for some years. In May, 1837, Lathrop M. Taylor was appointed to superintend the work of completing the building, and in September, 1837, a contract was made with William Keeley and Samuel C. Russ to build a Clerk and Recorder's office 40x20 feet "one story, of sufficient height." Lot Day was appointed to superintend the work.

Among the dealers in South Bend, John McCIellan was licensed to retail foreign and domestic groceries. The number of stores and taverns at that time it would seem was amply sufficient to meet all demands.

At this session, the Clerk was required to publish a statement of county expenses, which was published and placed on file, and it only needs comparison with the present county expenses to show the ijruwth of the county in wealth and material prosperity.

Calls were ordered for the election of School Commissioners for the county, and three School Trustees, and the county was divided into two school districts, numbered one and two.

At the March term the Board ajipointed Aaron Miller County Treasurer, and laid oft' Pen n township, naming the house of Joseph Pemberton as the place of holding the elections; also laid off Olive township, and appointed the place of holding the elections at the house of Jacob Egbert. They also divided the county into four road districts. At this time Benjamin McCarty was Sheriff, and R. West Scott Deputy Sheriff. The State road, as surveyed by George Crawford from Fort Wayne to South Bend, with field notes, was ordered recorded May 15, 1832.

Complaint having been ftiade to the Board of Commissioners, it was ordered at the March term, 1833, tliat N. B. Griffith's ferry license be discontinued. At tlie same session Samuel L. Cottrell was allowed a license to sell " strong liquors and groceries" in South Bend.

The field notes of the State road from the Yellow river to the month of Trail creek, surveyed by A. Burnside, were placed on record at this session.

At the November term, Benjamin Hardman, David Miller and Jesse Frame were appointed to lay out three county roads. The Commissioners of the Vistula road were paid off, and other unimportant business transacted.

On the sixth day of January, 1834, German township was set off, and the place of election was designated at Lot Day's hoiiae. At the March term, the election for Penu township was ordered t be held at " St. Joseph Iron Works," which place (now Mishawaka was rapidly becoming quite a town. Joseph Nichols was licensed to retail spirituous liquors, and Orlando Ilurd to keep tavern at the same place.

At the September term, the " St. Joseph Iron Works," through their officials, made application for incorporation, and John Brownfield was licensed to vend foreign merchandise.

At the November term, the field notes of the State road, from South Bend through Sumption's prairie, down the Kankakee river to the western boundaiy of the State, were ordered recorded. Hiram Dayton was the Commissioner appointed to locate the road.

At tlie May term, 1835, it was ordered by the Board that public notice be given that the citizens of the county assemble at South Bend on the last Saturday of that month to organize a County Agricultural Society agreeable to the statute made and provided. It was also ordered that notice be given the citizens of German township for the purpose of organizing a Township Agricultural Society.

At the September term, a petition was presented for an order incorporating the town of South Bend. The Sheriff was ordered to call an election for officers under the act of incorporation.