Washington County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 3 of those read), 1916 (part 1 of 3)

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 3 of those read)

As has been stated, what is now Washington comity was first owned by France in 1682. Under French rule in i/Ji it became the "District of Illinois." It was ceded to Great Britain in 1763, and made a part of Canada in J 774. Virginia captured it from the British in 1779 and it was organized as "Illinois County." It became the property of the United States in 1784 and was called the "territory of the United States Northwest of the Ohio river." In 1790 Knox county was laid out. In 1800 (Jhio was formed, and this became Indiana Territory. Clark county was established in 1801, the dividing line between it and Knux county running "due north from the point where the old Indian trail crossed Blue river." Harrison county was laid out in 1808, including all of Washington county lying west of the true dividing ranges 5 and 6 east. There was then no change in boundary lines till Washington county was created by act of the Legislature, approved December 21, 1813, as follows:

"Be it enacted by the I.ei/islalii'c Council and House of Representatives, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the seventeenth day of January, eii^hteen hundred and fourteen, all that jjart of the counties of Harrison and Clark included within the following bounds, to-wit : Beginning at PVeeman's corner, ^m the meridian line; thence southwardly with said line to the intersection of an east and west line running through the center of township i soull; ; thence with the same eastwardly to the summit of the Silver Creek knolis: tlience northeastwardly with the extreme height of the same between the waters of Silver creek and Blue river to the line dividing ranges d and 7 east; thence with said range line northwardly to the Indian lioundary; thence with said l)oundary to the place of beginning - shall compose one ne\v county called and known by the name of Washington.

ton shall enjoy all the rights and pri\ ileges appertaining to the counties heretofore established in the Indiana Territory: and it shall be lawful for the coroners, sheriffs, constables and collectors of said counties of Harrison and Clark to make distress for all taxes, levies and officers' fees, remaining unpaid by the inhabitant within the bounds of said new county at the time such division shall take place, and they shall be accountable for the same in like manner as if this act had never been passed: and the courts of Harrison and Clark counties shall have jurisdiction in all suits, pleas, plaints and proceedings which may before the aforesaid 17th day of January next ha\e been commenced, instituted and depending within the present counties of Harrison and Clark shall be prosecuteil to final judgment and effect, issue process and award execution thereon.

"Section 3. And he it fnrthi-y enacted by tJie authority aforesaid. That Joseph Paddox, Peter ]\lclnto.-^h and Ignatius Abel, of Harrison county, Alarston G. Clark and Joseph Bartholomew, of Clark county, be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners to designate the place for the permanent seat of justice of Washington county, agreeable to an act entitled, 'An act for fixing the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off.' The commissioners above named, or others appointed by the proper court, shall convene at the house of W^illiam Lindley or. Blue river, on the 17th of January next, and then jiroceed to discharge the duties assigned them by law.

"Section 4. And be it further enacted. That the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the new county aforesaid shall within six months after the permanent seat of justice he established, proceed to erect the necessar)' l)ublic buildings thereon.

"Section 5. And he it further enacted. That until suitable accommodations can be had (in the oiiiniun (if said ci mrt ) at the seat of justice of saiil new county, all courts of justice the house of William Lindley. 'I'liis act t and after the 17th d.'u- nf lanuarv. A. D.

This first boundary line of Washing-ton count}', embraced ahnost one-half of what is now Orange, Scott and Jackson counties, and a portion of the southeast corner of Lawrence. The extreme northeast corner of the county extended to a point some six miles northeast of Seymour. Freeman's corner was the junction of se\eral Indian boundary lines and was established by treaty of Fort Wayne in 1803. I^reeman was the name of the surveyor who established the corner and run the lines fixing the limits of the various land grants.

"Be it enacted by the l.ei/islati-c'c Council ami House of Representatives, and it is liereby enacted by the authority) of the same. That all the tract of country contained in the boundary following be attached to and constitute a part of the said C(junty of Washington, to-wit : Beginning at I'reeman's corner on the ]\leridian line; thence north to the present Indian boundary line ; thence with said Indian boundary to the line established by the treaty of Grouseland ; thence with said line to the place of beginning: and the same so attached shall be deemed and taken as a part of the said county, in the same manner and under the same regulations as are prescribed for the said county of Washington.

This addition was in triangular shape, beginning at the b'reeman corner running thence nortli to the new Indian boundary at a point about seven miles northeast of the present site of Bloomington ; thence southeasterly aking said new Indian boundary to a point about four miles southwest of Seymour; thence southwest along the old Indian boundarx' to the place of beginning. Washington county then included nearly all of what is now Jackson county, and a considerable ])ortii)n nf what is now Brown, Monroe and Lawrence counties. Hut with the ra])id dexelopmenl of the country this territory was soon found too larye for convenience, the seat of justice was too remote from nian\ of the scattered settlemetits to gi\e them needed protection and enforce the law. Se\eral new counties were petitioned for and the matter wa^ ;uljnsted ])\ an act of the Legislature, a])proved December _'(). 1S13, <Te;iiiiiL; the comities of Orange and Jackson. The latter took all of WashinL;ioii ,-.,uniN l\uig north of the .Muse.-itatuck and White rivers; Orange count) was gi\en a strip extending eight miles east of the meridian line, togetlier witli Washington count} 's |iossessi(jn w uhin the present

(.)n January u. iS_'o, the county of Scott was created by legislative enactment, again reducing the territory of Washington county by taking a strip five miles in width .ill' the east side of same, or from the line dividing ranges 0 and 7 east, to Jie present l.ioundary line. This virtually established tlie present limits of Washington county, only minor changes being made later, 'i'lie following act was appro\ed December 2(\ 1820:

-7n- // ciiaclcJ by the Genera! .Isseiiibly of the State of Indiana, That so nuich uf ihe county of Scott as is south of a line commencing on the boundary line between the counties of \\'ashington and Scott at the southwest corner of section 20, township 2 north, range 6 ea.st ; thence running east with the sectional line until it intersects the Clark county line, be and the same is hereby attached to and shall form a part of the county of Washington in the same manner as if it had never fonned a part or been attached to the county of Scott. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage."

By an act relative to county lx)undaries, approved February 10, 1831, ibis same portion of territory, consisting of about six sections of land, was described within the boundaries of both Washington and Scott counties, and was claimed by the officials of both counties, but the title was quieted by act ( f the Legislature in 1842, giving to Scott county the disputed territory.

-\s long as the boundary line between Washington and Clark counties vas the indefinite "dividing ridge." or "summit" of the knobs, there was contention and dispute as to which county had the right to exercise jurisdiction in certain ci\il and criminal cases that came up for litigation, and there was some (|\iestion as to where certain portions of this border land should be listed for taxation. This nuich-mooted question was finally settle(l li\- luutual agreement, each county ap])ointing a committee of three to go (wer the ground carefuil}' and establish a fixed boundary along section lines. W ashingion count) was represented by D. W. Gray, John Morris and loel \Vilson. Clark county by Thomas T. Bellows, ]\1. W. I^ayton and H. Packwood. They met on August 5. 1872 and agreed upon the following I)oun<lar\- Hue: "( dmmencing at the southwest corner of section 17, township 1 south, range 5 east; thence north along the line dividing sections 17 and 18. 7 and 8, aiul 5 and 6 to the base line; thence north between sections 31 and 32, township i north, range 5 east, to the southwest corner of section _'0 ; thence east between sections iC) and 3.?, and 28 and 33, of said town and range to the southwest corner of section 2~ : tlience north to the northwest corner of said section 27; thence between sections 22 and 2y, 23 and j'l, 24 and 2^ in said township i north, range 5 east: thence east between sections 19 and 30, township i north, range 6 east, to the southwest corner of section 20; thence north between sections 19 and 20 to the southwest corner of section 17. said township and range; thence east to the southwest corner of section 16; thence north l^etween sections 16 and 17, and 8 and 9 to the northwest corner of section 9, said township and range; thence east between sections 4 and 9 to the southwest corner of section 3; thence north l>etween sections 3 and 4 to Scott county hne."

'I'he reix)rt of the viewers thus agreed upon was forwarded to the Legislature that couNcned in January. 1873, together with petitions from each county asking that this hne l)e permanently established as agreed upon, which was accordingly done by act of the General Assembly. Since this date there have been ud changes made in the boundary lines of Washington county.

The bourn larie- of the county as now established embrace an area of ab(jut rt\e hundred and ten square miles. Beginning at the southwest corner of same and going east it joins Crawford, Harrison and Floyd counties, until (lark county is reached: thence the eastern boundary joins Clark and Scott counties, as far north as the Muscatatuck river; the north line is the Muscatatuck .ind White ri\ers, lying north of which is Jackson county and a small strip of Lawrence county: Lawrence also forms part of the Avestern l)Oundar\-. then comes Orange county line, south to place of beginning. In all Washington county joins eight other counties.

While the act creating a new county out of the counties of Harrison and C]^<rk. to be called and known by the name of Washington, became a law December 21. 1813, the governor took no official step towards its organization till j:innar\ 7, 1814, when Isaac Blackford was commissioned clerk. ( )u tho I ith be \\;is commissioned recorder, and a dedimus was issued to hiin to ^wrar into otlic<- ,ill the ci\il and military officials of said county, and a commission was issued to Col. John Del'auw to take the oath of all member.s of the .\inth Regiment of Territorial Militia then being organized in the county. ( )tlier commissions were sent to William Hoggatt,, sherill': William Lindley. surveyor: Jeremiah Lamb, coroner; Jonathan Lindlew first judge; Moses I loggatt, second judge, and Simeon Lamb, third judg" of the WasliMigtoii circuit court. Neither of tliese judges was a mem- (6) l)er ut the legal i)rofe>^ii)n, hut what was hetter, perhaps, they were practical men of sound, c<jniniijn sense anil understuDcl well the Imsiness they had in hand.

An interesting Ijit uf !iist(iry is usually connected with the selection and development nf all new ccainty seats. The_\- are nearl\ alwaxs made the center of local commerce and the (ippurtunitics offered for traile and speculation make them ver\- desirahle acquisitions in any localit)'. .\(i sooner had the Ijoundaries nf Washington cnunty I'cen defined than discussion was l)egun as to wliat point should he selected for the seat of justice.

The connnissioners named liy legislatixe enactment to designate the place for this new county seat were Joseph TaddoK, Peter Mcintosh and Igantius .\liel, ot Harrison countv. with Marstou (]. Clark and Joseph Rartholomew of Clark. The\- were directed to meet at th.e house of William Lindley on Blue ri\er, near the center of said count}', on the 17th of January, and then aitd there proceed to discharge the dut\- assigned them hy law. The weather at this date pro\ed to i)e inclement, and as the roads leading across the country were rough and indirect it was a few days after the time set for the meeting before the commissioners got together. Marsten G. Clark, and perhaps one or two others, made the journe}' afoot. Ignatius .\liel was unahle to he ])resent. The commissioners had heen out all da\- in the discharge of their dut\- l)efore Jose])h Piartholomew put in an appearance. .\s the_\- \\ould start out in their Inmter's garh and armed with the trustv rifle the\ looked more like a hand of scouts than a luidy of men appointed tii discharge a i)ul)lic dut_\-.

Tlie\- were eight days \iewing and considering \-er\' carefulK' the ddferent sites suggested Ii\" parties interested. .\nd almost e\er\l)odv in the w-hole country seemed UKire or less interested in the matter. .Vt this time Royse's Pick was the husiness center of the count\". Dr. .'^imeon Panili was running a small store at this ])lace, the only one in the countw where e\ eryhod)- went for their ammunition, coffee, sugar and such notions as were then deemed essential in the pioneer iKniseliold, \ud the whole c<iuutr\- was sui)iilie<l with salt from the "Pick" works. This was the first jilace ins])ected liy the commission. 'Idle gentl\--s|(j|)ing land lying just northwest of the "Pick" were iiointed out as a \-ery suitable and desirable site for a town antl there was an abund.ince of good spring water aroimd ;iboul. .\ \-ery careful inspection of a number of |)laces was made in order that the commission might be ftilly ad\ ised in the |iremises, that no one might lecl slighted and that in the end the most fitting site might be selected. They went as far west as Mill creek, which was near the center of the county (in an east and west line, as then mapped out. The lay of the land in and around the Cani]) spring and on duwn to the fork of FUue river and Highlands creek was inspected. I-'ort Hill. I'.ecks ?\lill and possibly several other places came in f(_)r consideration.

The lieadcjuarters. or st(>p])iug ))lace of the conunission, was at the home I if William I.indley. who. liemg county sur\eyor, accompanied tiie part\- in all their pereL;rinati<ins. and he never lost an opportunity to get in a good word for his favorite site, it lieing the lands that lay in the fork of I'llue rn cr and i '.rocks creek. Those interested in tiiis location sliowed that it was near the center of tlie count} : that it was easy uf access; that the land was dr\- and rolling; that there were streams on two sides of same which would furnish water-power for mills; and. last hut not least, that there were within a radius of a mile from the center of said site more than a dozen fine springs of "pure, cold water." .\n abundance of good water was the sine (]ua lion at this early day in locating homes as well as towns. It was n(j doubt the superior water advantages that won out when the location was tinall\- agreed uiion. .\rrangemcnts were at once made for the purchase of one hundred and se\enty-four acres i.if land of Benjamin Brewer and William Lindkw. and title bontls were executed for the conxeyance of same to the county, k'nim the former the\' obtained the southwest cjuarter of section 17, township J north, range 4 east, at a cost of one thousand three hundred doll.irs, ;ui(l for which the said Iirewer executed his <\eed, March 18. 1814. LiiuUey sold the following tract: Beginning at the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of section _'o. to\\nshi]) 2 north, range 4 east; thence south 7 degrees, east 28 ])o]es, to the middle of Blue river; thence down the same westwardlx' to Brock creek; thence north to the section line; thence In tlie same east 7 degrees, north J>^ imles. to the beginning, comprising fourteen acres, 1he consideration was hft\- dollars, and deed for same was made on March 21, 1814.

Several names were proposed for the new count}- seat. John DePauw wanted it called Mt. \'ernon. but there being a numlier of Germans among the first settlers who could not pronounce the same correctly, this was objectionable. Washington was suggested, which would have been the most appropriate name, but it was thought that some confusion nu'ght arise from ha\ing the county seat of justice having the same name as the count}-. The Liudleys had emigrated to the state from Salem, Xorth Carolina, and as a matter of course had attachments for the names of their native tow-n. The lad\ who hatl been the obliging and hos|)itable hostess to the commission put in her plea to have the place called Salem, and after due Cdnsideratiim the gentlemen very gallantly gave her the honor of naming the new town. .Ml matters and duties devoh'ing upon the afore.-^aid commission were completed February 2, 1S14, ?t which time a special session cif the Washingtnn circuit court was called to take the initial steps toward nrganizing the county.

The circuit court at this time wa> empuwered to transact all county Imsiness, as well as to adjudicate both ci\-il and criminal matters. The place of meeting was at the house of William Lindley. He then lived in a threeroomed log house situated near the center of the northwest quarter of section 20, township 2 north, range 4 east, or on the right side of the road going south from Salem on top of the little hill which is some two hundred vards south of the bridge at the foot of Main street.

The following is the record made of the proceedings had at this first term of court in the new county: "At a special session of the circuit court for the county of Washington. I. T.. held at the house of \\"illiam Lindley in said countv. on \\'eilnesday the 2nd of I'ebruary. in the \ear of (]ur T.ord 1S14. Present. Jonathan Lindlev. Moses Hoggatt and Simeon l.amb. judges.

"John DePauw was apiKjinted ( jiursuant to tiie act for fixing the seats of justice in all new counties), agent, to discharge the duties of siuli ofticc as relate to the seat of justice in this county.

"On motion, ordered that John DePauw. as agent for the seat of justice in this count}', gi\e bond and securit\- for the faithful discharge of liis office in the sum of tive thousand dollars. Wherefore the said John DePauw. with Aiuos Thornburgh, Alex.-mder Little and James llarlies(]n, securities, entered into and acknowledged a IhmhI in the sum o.f \]\v thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful ])erformance i>f his duties as agent aforesaid."

The record of the second day's ])r( jceedings wa-^ as follows; --|,,hii DePauw. the agent ai>iH)inte(l b\- the court, for the seat of justice 111 this county, was instructed to adxertisc the lots in said town for sale in the JVcstcni Eacjlc and Western Cmiricr at least thirtv days previous to the time of sale, which was ordered to lie on the second Tuestla\- in .\pril next. The town to be called Saletu.

"Ordered, That the \o[^ in said town be sold at imblic vendue. u]>.ni the following conditions: One-fourth ])art of the jiurclKise monev to be paid down and the residue in one vear from the time uf purchase, the i)urcli.iscrs to give bond and appro\ed security for the payment. The agent to gi\'e bond, conditioned to make a title at the time of the full payment of the purchase money.

"Ordered, That such part of the improved land, purchased by the commissioners for the seat of justice, in this county, which it may not be thought proper to sell, be leased by the agent for the next season on the best terms he can.

"Ordered, That the clerk delixer to John DePauw, agent for the seat of justice in this county, the title bonds given by Benjamin Brewer and William Lindley. conditioned for the conveyance of certain lands referred to in the report of the commissioners appointed by law to fix such seat of justice."

The "improved land" referred to above, and which the county agent was ordered to rent on the best terms he could, consisted of a small field of cleared land, probably eight acres, on the west side of Brock creek, just abo\e the bridge on West Alarket street, together with the cabin and truck patch on top of the hill near the fort.

Town.Ship Organization

The first regular term of the Washington circuit court convened at the house of William Lindley, April ii, 1814. On Tuesday, the second day of the term, the following order was made, dividing the county into civil townships :

"1st. Madison Townshii^ - ?>eginning where the line between the first and second townships north crosses the meridian line; thence east into the second and third range line; thence south to Harrison county line; thence w est to the corner of said county ; thence to the beginning.

"2d. Lost River Township - Beginning at the same place; thence east to the line between the second and third ranges; thence north to the l)oundary nf the county.

"3d. iUue Ri\er Townshijy - P)eginning at the second and third range on the (south) county line; thence north on said line to the jd township line: theiue east with said line t<j ("lark county line.

"4th. W a-~hington Tf)wnshi]) - Beginning at the northeast comer of I'.lue l\i\er township: thence north along the Clark county line to the main branch of the Muscatatuck ri\er; thence down the same to White river; thence down the same to i.i]>t l\i\-er townshi]).

"5th. Driftwood Townshii.) - Beginning where Washington township strikes the main branch of the Muscatatuck ri\er; tiience nortli with the Clark county Hne to the Ijounds of this CDunty ; thence with said liounds to the beginning."

In this division Madison townshij) comprised all of what is now Madison, the west half of Posey, and all the territory west of these t<i the meridian line. Lost River township, all of what is now Brown and the west twothirds of Vernon and extending westward to the meridian line. Blue River township, all of Howard. Pierce, Polk and Jackson and the east half of Posey. Washington township, all of Gibson, Monroe, Jefferson, Washington, Franklin and the east third of X'ernon, togetlier with a strij) fi\e miles wide off the west side of what is now Scott county. Driftwdod township included all the county north of White and Muscatotuck ri\ers which was then the largest township in the county. As soon as these ti.nvnshiijs were created the necessary officers were appointed and the machinery of government set in motion. Superintendents were appointed to lease the schooi sections in the county. Viewers were appointed for a numljer of roads and several licenses to keep ta\ern and ttJ sell goods were issued. The ta\ern and grocery rates were fixed as follows: Bed, six and one-fourth cents: meals, tw'enty-fne cents; horse oxer night to hay and fodtler, tweK'e and one-half cents: rum, peach brandy or wine, thirty-se\en antl one-half cents per half pint; all other spirits, twehe and one-half cents per half pint: cider or beer, sixteen and two-third cents per quart. -\ ta\ern license was tw u dollars per annum. Alexander Little was apjjointed county lister.

The next alteration that was luade in the arrangeiuent of townships, was on December 26, 1813. In the formation of Jrickson and < )range counties W'ashington county lo^t considerable territor\- whereu]ion three townships were established as follows:

"Blue River township begins at a stake where tb.e line of townships I and 2 intersects Orange county line: thence running east on the hue betw-een said townshii)s to the < lark county line, including all the territor\- between this and the llarrivon county line.

In the abo\e di\isiuns all the county lying south of the present southern boundary of Washington township and extending across the county was Blue River township; all north of the present north line of Washington was Ridge township. While Washington embraced a belt through the center of the county just equal to its present breadth north and south.

The first election held in the county, after its formation was in August, 1 81 4, when, for congress Jonathan Jennings received three hundred and eighty-two votes and Elijah Sparks forty-five; for the Legislative council (same as State Senate) to represent the counties of Washington and Knox, John DePauw received three hundred and twenty votes and John Johnson one hundred and se\en. The total vote of the county being four hundred and twenty-seven.

With the admission of the state into the Union came a change in the management of county business, it being taken out of the hands of the circuit court and turned over to a board of commissioners. At an election held on February 3, 1817. Robert Mclntire, Alexander Huston and Nathan Trueblood were chosen first county commissioners. The following is the first record made of their proceedings :

"At a meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the county of Washington in the state of Indiana, holden at the Court House in the town of Salem, on Monday, the loth of February, 181 7, Robert Mclntire produced a certificate from Noah Wright, sheriff of said county, of his election as commissioner of the county aforesaid for three years, on which certificate there appeared an endorsement of Enoch Parr, Esq., of his having taken oath required by the constitution of the state. Alexander Hustin produced a certificate from said sheriff of his election as a commissioner of said county for two years, endorsed as aforesaid. And Nathan Trueblood produced a certificate, from the said sheriff aforesaid, of his election as commissioner of the said county for one year, endorsed as aforesaid."

"W'asliin.i^tnn Township - Begins on the township line one mile west of the line (li\ idiiig ranges 4 and 5 ; thence north on said line two miles into tnwnsliip 3, range 4; thence west two miles into township 3, range 3; thence smith to the line dividing townshijjs i and 2: thence to the beginning.

"Franklin Tdwiisbi]) - Begins on .Muscatatuck one mile west of the line ilniding raiif^es 4 and 5 ; thence south to the line dividing lownships i ,111(1 2: thence ea^t one mile to the line (li\i(ling ranges 4 and 5; thence by

"Posey Township - Begins on the township hue dixidnig townships i and 2 (southwest comer of Washington township) ; thence mie mile south; thence west to the Orange count} hue; thence south (.m s.iid ( )range county line to the ilarrison county line; thence on said Harrison cuunty line to the sectional line dividing sections 14 and 15. township i, range 3; thence nouli to the beginning.

"Jackson Township - liegins at the southeast ctjrner of this county; thence north to the line dividing townships 1 and j; thence on saitl township line two miles west of the line (li\i(.ling ranges 3 and 4; sectional line di\-iding sections _' and 3, in township i, range line of Harris(.in county; tiience east on said Harrison coin beginning.

"Vernon TownshiiJ - Begins on the township line di\ ii 2 and 3, two miles west of the line di\-iding ranges 3 and 4; said township line to the (Jrange county line; thence south 1 line one mile south of the line dividing townships i and 2 ; the sectional line to tlie line dividing sections 2 and 3 m tow 3; thence north to the beginning.

"Brown Township - Begins on the ( )range count)- line sliips 2 and 3; thence east on said townshiji line to the section, sections 34 and 35, in townshii) 3, range 3 ; thence iK.irth tW( east on the sectional line dividing sections 2^^ and 26 in tow 4 until within one mile of the range line dividing ranges 4 north to White river ; thence by said river to the Orange com south on said (Grange county line to the beginning."

Monroe township was created by act (if ooniniissioiiers on Xoveinlier 18, 1817. The following was the entry matle of this proceeding: "Ordered. That Brown tciwnship be divided as follows: Beginning on the townshi|i line dividing townshi]>s 2 and 3, where Rush creek crosses said Hue; tliencc tlown said creek to White river, and all that part of said townshi|) east of said line shall constitute a new township, to be named Monroe."

On May 12, 1818, Gibson township was organized, bv the follow inorder of commissioners' court: "Ordered, That Gibson township be stricken off from I'Tanklin township - and that all that part of l-ranklin townsln]i lying east and north of the Knobs be and form said Gibson township." Thus divided they embraced considerable territory, extending into what is now Scott county.

The last change made in the arrangement of civil townships, which practically fixed them as ihey nuw are, was made on March 3. 1853. 1'he following is the order relating thereto :

"Whereas, the new school law abolishes congressional townships and for school purposes adopts civil townships, and it has been represented to us that all the school houses ha\e been built with reference to the congressional township lines, therefore to preserve the location of the present school houses and render them useful, it is deeiued ad\"isal)le to reorganize and change, the civil township fines and make tfiem conform to and follow the congressional townshii) lines as near as i)ractical)le, therefore after mature deliberation and consultation it is ordered by the board that the following alterations in the civil to\vn>hip^ of this count\- be made, the number increased to thirteen, and the boundaries thereof fixed and established as follows, to wit:

"Township Xo. 1 shall retain the name of Gibson and include all that jiart of thi-. count)" embraced in the f(jllowing boundaries, to wit: That which lies north of the line dividing townships Nos. 2 and 3 north of the base line and east of the line dividing townships 4 and 5 east of the second principal meridian.

"Xo. _' shall retain the name of Monroe township and shall include and emljrace all that part of congressional township X^o. 4 north, range 4 east, in Washington county, as well as sections Xo. i to No. 24, inclusive, of congressional tcjwnship Xo. 3 north, range 4 east.

"No. 3 shall be known by the name of Jefferson township and shall include and embrace the following territory: All that part of congressional townships mmibered 4 north, range 3 east, and 3 north, range 3 east, in said county except sections 24 and 26, 35 and 36, in the last named township.

"Xo. 4 shall retain the Tiame of Urown township and shall include and embrace all tliat |)art of congressional townships 4 north, range 2 east, and 3 north, range 2 east, in said county.

".Xo. 5 shall retain the name of Vernon township and shall include and embrace all that jjart of congressional township Xo. 2 north, range 2 east, in said county, as well as sections 5, 6. 7. 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 2Q, 30, 3! and },2. in congres-^ional townsbi]) 2 north, range 3 east.

"No. 6 shall retain the name uf Wash' igtun township and shall include and embrace all the remainder ul the last named congressional towiiship. as well as the whole of congressional township J north, range 4 east, and sections 25 to 36, inclusive, i_>f congressional township 3 north, range 4 east; also sections 25 and 2(), 33 and 36 in congressional tnwnship 3 north, range 3 east.

"No. 7 shall retain the name of Franklin township, and shall include and embrace all the territory in congressional township 2 north, in ranges 5 and 6 east, in said county.

"No. 8 shall be known and designated by the name of Polk t(.)wnship, and shall include and embrace all that part of congressional township 1 north, in ranges 5 and 6 east, in said county.

"No. 9 shall be known and designated by the name of Pierce townshi]i and shall include and embrace congressional township i north, range 4 east, in said county.

"No. 10 shall be known and designated 1)y the name of Howard township and shall include and embrace congressional township i north, range 3 east, in said county.

"No. II shall be known and designated by the name of .Madison township and shall include and embrace all that part of congressional township I north, range 2 east, in said county.

"No. 12 shall retain the name of l'osc_\- township and >hali include and embrace all that part of congressional township i south, in ranges 2 and 3, m said county.

"No. 13 shall retain the name of Jack^(.)n township and shall include and embrace all that part of congressional to^Miship 1 south, m vanges 4 and 3 east, in said county."

On the 3ril of September. iShi, ;i ])etiti(iii was liled with the count\- commissioners asking that a change be made m the l)oundary line between X'ernon and Aladison t(nvnshi|.)s. The lividing line running east and west ])assed through the center of the main street of Pixoiiia. making it difficult to arrange school districts com enientlv and satisfactorilw and causing trouble and contusion in justices' courts over the question of jurisdiction m certain criminal cases, .\fter due deliberation the board granted the prayer of the petitioners and moved the line one-half mile farther north, where it has since remained.

On June 6, 1873, the east and south boundaries of Polk and Jackson townships were established by commissioners' court so the same would conform to the line described in the legislative enactment of 1873, fixing along section lines the boundary between Washington and Clark counties.

Section 4 of the act creating Washington county out of the counties of Harrison and Clark, provided that the judges of the court of common pleas should, within six months after the pennanent seat of justice was established, proceed to erect all necessary buildings therein and in pursuance of this act the said court, on the 13th of July, 1814, made the following order in relation to the building of the first court house and jail:

"Whereas, by an act of the Legislature, it is made the duty of this court to cause the necessary public buildings to be erected at the seat of justice ill this county, and it appearing from an examination of the treasury that there are funds 'amjjly sufficient for the purpose aforesaid, and the very fiourishing condition of the town of Salem, the seat of justice for this county, as well as the fertile and prosperous state of the county generally appear to warrant and require the erection of handsome, convenient and durable public buildings, it is therefore

"Ordered, That a court house be erected on the ])ublic s(|uare in the town of Salem, forty-fi\'e feet by thirty, to be built upon an arch not less than eight feet high, supported b\' fourteen ])illars dt stone, sunk three feet deep in the earth, unless founded on solid rock. 'I'he story abo\e the arch to be fourteen feet high, and built of brick, b'our windows in court room of twenty-four panes each, and two in the jur\- rooms of the same size. Two outside and twn i^l^i(lc door,^ made in ])r()portion to the other ])arts of the building. A fire-place in each of the jury rooms. The walls to be laid in lime and >aii(l mortar, well pointed and ])encilled. To be plastered inside and wliitew allied. Tlie curiiish to be handsomely made of brick moulded for the purpose. The material tn lie (if the bc^t kind and all the work to be done in a good, workmanlike manner.

"It is further ordered, that a i)ublie jirisdu be built in the said town ni Salem. twentv-fi\e by eighteen feet, of scpiare Uigs one foot thick and laid cliise together. The outside walls to l)e built on a rock wall sunk three feet helow the surface of the earth. The inside walls to stand on a platform of rock two feet thick the whole size of the Hoor. The partition wall one foot thick let in and extending through the inner wall. To ha\e iron grates and double d(..ors.

"The building i)f the alto\e descrilx-(l court house and prison will be let t(i the lowest bidder at the tnwn nt Salem on the third Saturday in August ne.xt. It was further urdered that publication of the above I>e made in the ir est nil Hat lie and W'cstcni Courier."

On the day set apart tn award contracts for the building of a court Imuse and jad. several bids were presented, and after due consideration I if same the contract for liuilding the court house was awarded to John Del'auw for twti thousand four hundred and ninet_\' dollars. The contract for the jail was let to Marston (_i. Clark for h\e hundred and eighty-eight d(_illars. nel'auw :it once exi.'cuted b( jud to the court in the penalty of five thousand dollars, conditioned to complete said court house agreeable co contract, on or before the 1st of .Ma\, iSid. On December i6, 1814, Clark filed bond for one thousand two hundred dollars, the condition being that the jail lie built according to terms of contract, and that it l>e completed by the 1st of May, following. The said Ijond had been executed in July pre\ious.

The county jail was to be located on a lot reserved for that purpose on the west side of Water street, between f'oplar and Cherry. The contract for clearing off the pulilic s(piare, which was hea\ih- timbered with walnut, poplar, oak and hickory, with a dense undergrowth of redbud, pawpaw, and spicewood, was awarded to Philip Shull, for which he received fifteen dollars. Some of this timber was made into rails and on the 12th of August, 1S17, John DePauw paid into the county treasury- thirteen dollars, eightyseven and one-half cents for rails that had been made from time to time on the square and reserve lots.

The timbers used in both court hou>e ,'uid jail were cut and hewn on the town site, persons having lots to clear u|) being glad of the opport,unity to gi\e trees awa\' to be rid of theuj. The shingles for the court h(iuse were split and sha\-e(l out of a large xellow poplar tree that stood on court square. The r.ifters and joists were whi]i-sawed, while the ilooring was cut out at Lindley's new mill, located one mile down the creek, southwest of town. The lirick used 111 the court house was burned on the square, as were other kilns later on. |,,]in AbAl;ili;iii was allowed to l.)urn one as late as the sum- mer of 1824. the only condition made in granting him the privilege being that he should leave the ground in as good condition as he found it. In 181 7 a clerk's office was fitted up in the court house west of the jury room, and was used also by the county sheriff.

Pioneer House Of Detention

The jail was completed early in the spring of 181 5. It was twenty-five by eighteen feet outside measurement, with double walls, two feet thick, of timbers notched down closely together. It was partitioned ofif into two rooms ten and one-half by fourteen feet in the clear. The outside wall stood on a rock foundation a foot above the surface, the inside one being on a floor of timbers a foot square that was laid upon a rock platform two feet thick. The ceiling was ten feet high from the top of this floor made of like square timbers. The building stood flush with the street line, the long way north and south. The only light admitted into these dungeons was through barred apertures a foot square, one to each room on the side next the street. The north room was the criminal cell, and could be entered only by a trapdoor in the ceiling. The south room was the debtors' prison, and in addition to the trap<loor above there was an entrance at the south end, made secure by double shutters. No means were provided for heating this jail.

It was soon found necessary to give more light and better ventilation to the cells, and September 17, 181 6, the court "Ordered that the jail be altered so as to have in east and west sides of debtors' room windows twenty-four by thirty inches, and in criminals' room, windows sixteen by twenty inches, to be grated in the outside wall and have a sash of glass on the inside of each opening." The contract for this work was awarded Daniel Movers, which he executed for one hundred eighty dollars, eightyseven and one-half cents. The window grates were made of iron bars an inch square, placed six inches apart, and later on, when stoves were placed in the cells, the pipes protruded betwee.i these bars.

In the spring of 181 5, about the time the jail was completed, a contract was awarded Abel Findley to build a residence for the jailer, to consist of one log room eighteen by twenty feet, with a chimney in the south end of the same and a lean-to kitchen in the rear, the room to adjoin the jail building on the south. This was completed in the early part of 1816.

For this work an allowance of one hundred eighty-nine dollars was made. The debtor's cell was entered from the jailer's mom, Imt to reach the criminal's cell there were board steps leading from >aid room to the attic, from which place a small ladder was dropped down tiirough the trapdoor to enable prisoners to enter or leave this dungeon. IMeals were all served through the trapdoor. The only change ever made in this jail building was in 1835. when a brick kitchen fourteen l)y sixteen feet was built, a hall-way of six feet being left between it and the jailer's room. Allen &- Clark were the contractors. The only bed provided for prisoners was a tick of straw laid upon the tloor and boxes were used for seats. .\t the Septem]>er term, 181 5, Nicholas Harrison was allowed eight dollars for "'boarding James Scantling and Austin Holders, who were confined in jail, and for two boxes for the use of said prisoners." They were the first violators of the law to be incarcerated in the new jail.

Prison Boi-Nds

The law which inflicted the ]ienalty of imprisonment for debt also contained a provision which made it possible fur a prisoner to roam at will within certain prescribed bounds a ])ortion of the time, li\- giving bond m double the amount of debt for which he was committed. These bounds were fixed by the court and were not to extend more than six hundred vards in any direction from the jail. The yitn.-dty for \iolation of said bond was its forfeiture in case the prisoner made good his escape, or close confinement afterward if apprehended and retur.ned to pri.son. The first prisori bounds established in this county were defin.ed on December i(\ iS'14. as follows: "beginning at the cornei' of Alain and T^oplar streets in the town of Salem, running with said Poplar street westwardly acru-s the creek to Mill street: thence with Mill street sontlnvanlh to Small -treet : ihence with Small street to Main; thence to starting point, and that e;icli of the aforesaid streets he included." On .\ugust 1 J. 1817. tliese bounds were extendetl to include Main street and the public si|nare.

the town of Salem, together Avitli the contract and bond of the undertaker^ reported that the said house was completed agreeably to contract and that it be received.

The court house stood in the center of the public square, forty-five feet east and west, thirty feet north and south. The court room, thirty feet square, was on the east side, with two jury rooms on the west, each fifteen feet square. There was a door from the court room leading to each of the jury rooms. There was a brick fire-place on the west side of each jury room. The two outside doors were in the center of the building on the north and south sides of the same. There was a window on each side of these doors,. and two in the east end of the building. The judge's stand was placed between these two windows. The basement showed four arches the long" way of the building and three the short way, six feet wide by about seven feet high. Standing thus upon its fourteen pillars, it was dubbed the "stiltedcastle of justice and equity." After the house had been received it was discovered that no provision had been made in the contract for substantial steps leading to the second story, a cheap board stair having been set up. In order to provide for this omission, the following" order of the court was made on May 7.

"Ordered, That steps be built at each door of the court house in Salem^ to be made of hewed timber, nine by twelve inches thick, the steps to be nine inches high and ten inches deep, to be built up in the front and on each side of said doors, together with a straight wall ne.xt the house, with a platfomt six feet square, to be covered with good two inch plank and nine inches below the door, the lower steps to be laid on a stone wall three inches above the surface of the ground. The corners of the steps to be neatly raised by cutting away half of each piece of timber - all of which timber shall be either white oak, black walnut or blue ash and to be completed on or before the 15th of July next." The lowest bidder for this work was Mathew \\'ood who completed the work for ninety-nine dollars.

The court and jury rooms were provided with seats made of rough slabs from the saw-mill. On the bark side of the slab two holes were bored at each end and one in the middle, with a two-inch auger, and into these holes legs were inserted, thus making a good strong seat, if not a very comf()ital)le one. On Sejitember 16, 1816, Noah Wright was allowed two dollars and fifty cents for five chairs, for use in the court room, these for the lawyers. The first benches provided with backs were made by Thomas L.

In building- this court house no pro\-ision was made for heating the court room. There was 10 suitable place for a chimney, so there was n<.) other alternati\e but to purchase a sto\-e. Accurtlingl}-, on November 18, 18 1 7, Jonathan J, yon and John E, Clark were appointed to investigate the rhatter and purchase the best stove there was to be had anrl have it set up in the court house. This was said to have been the first stove ever brought to the town of Salem. It seemed that they were quite scarce some years afterward, and the judges of the coiirt accommodating, as well, for on November 14, i8ji, it was "Ordered, that Risdan Charles be privileged to take and inake use of the sto\-e and apparatus now in the court house until the Saturday prexious to the next circuit court, at which time he is to have it fixed in the same ]ilace where it now stands, ci~iiuplete for use by furnishing an addition of five and one-half feet of new i)ipe with an elliow four feet abo\'e the sto\'e, on condition that he discount for the use of the county five dollars of the price tif said new pipe fur the use of the stove so granted."

For some three or four years after the court house was built it was without lock or key. Inasmuch as it was public pro|)erty, it was thought that no one would deface or injure the same; but it was found that the confidence in the puljlic was betrayed and the building was being mutilated. Accordingly, on November 15, 1820, it was "Ordered, that the clerk have a lock put on the s<::)uth door of court house immediately, and that the doors ~be kept shut unless in times of public business, and to be o]iened at all times when divine services are wont to be held therein, an<l that the clerk keep the key,"

It was again ordered, November 14, t8ji, that the clerk l)e authorized to purchase a sufficient lock to put to the door of the southwest room of the -court house, which is appropriated to the use of the clerk's office of Washington county. This was made use of by the treasurer also. The only repairs that were ever made to this buikling were new steps in 1825. The logs having rotted badly, they were removed and heavy board steps took their place, and the top platform was railed all around.

The first seal of the court was pro\'ided for Noxember lo, i8'i8, as follows : "Ordered, that a seal for Washington county be procured by the clerk the court as speedily as possible and to have inscribed thereon the words 'Washington county, Ind." together with the form of a lady or God of lustice with a pair of scales suspended in her hand,"

Public Welu And Estray Pen

At the July term of ccuri;, 1815, a public well was aiiaugsd for. It was dug south of the court house at the west edge of the walk, and about fifty feet nortli of the present south gateway. A good vein of water was struck about twenty feet below the surface, and this well continued to be used, not only by the county, but by ahnost every one around the square, fof seventy years. In 1885, when the work of building the third court house was begun, this well was covered over with a stone slab, and it isn't at all likely that it will ever be brought into use again.

On May 7, 181 6, the court ordered an estray pen built. It was located on the north end of the jail lot, beginning at the southeast corner of Water and Poplar streets; thence west fifty feet; thence south seventy-iv/e feet; thence east fifty feet to Water street ; thence north to place of beginning. The specifications called for "the posts to be white oak sunk two and a half feet deep, with seven rails to each panel, rails to be of white oak, walnut or blue ash, the posts to be mortised, the rails split out flat, six to eight inches Ijroad ; a good gate to be hung with strong iron hinges and a good padlock and key to same, which gate is to be placed at the corner of Poplar and Water streets, and all to be completed by September ist following."

Elijah Rinker was awarded the contract and completed the pen for twenty-two dollars and ninety-nine cents. Nicholas Harrison was appointed first keeper. Stock of all kinds then ran at large. Sheep and cattle were belled and turned out to the woods early in the spring and they would seldom be seen except once in every two or three weeks when they came home for salt. Occasionally they would stray ofif and join another flock or herd, in which case they were (lri\'en to the county pound and held till the owner claimed them, or were sold if no owner was found. It was here, also, that all persons who had a difficulty to settle or. desired to test their powers as wrestlers or fighters, repaired, and many a liloody encounter or exciting contest was witnessed on this spot. y\n ofTicer of tlie law liad no authority to arrest nr prevent parties from engaging in fights mutually arranged for or ayreed upon, and combatants were alwavs allowed to continue their bout until one or the other said "enough," which signified that he yielded the palm of victorv to his antagonist. An election or public meeting of any kind was considered tame and uninteresting unless there were plenty of attractions at the "stray pen." (7)

The first bridge built by the county was in 1817, across the Lick fork of Blue river at the south end of Main street in Salem. The contract was lo* to James -Harbeson, who was to build a "good bridge" across said creek, bu. no price was fixed for the work. The order of the commissioners prescribed that if his bill was not satisfactory when the work was completed, the price should be determined by a committee, the commissioners and said Harbeson each choosing some distinterested workman, who were to select a third, if they could not agree in fixing the price. This bridge was built on piers laid up with loose rock, with heavy hewn timbers, one by two feet. reaching across a span of thirty feet to which the floor of the bridge was secured by wooden pins. The bridge was in use fourteen years, or up to September, 1831, when it was ordered sold and removed, the same being regarded as dangerous for the passage of travellers.

Jail Deliveries

In the summer of 1824 two prisoners broke jail by boring through the log floor and tearing out the stone underpinning. They left an auger behind, which had been furnished them by an accomplice, and the following order in reference thereto «as made at the Septemljer term of court: "That the sheriff of this county proceed instantly to sell at auctit)n to the highest bidder for ready money, an auger found in the jail of this county, no owner appearing to claim the same, and that he pay the proceeds arising from such sale to the county treasurer." The breach in the cell was repaired bv lining the floor with sheet iron, on which was laid a floor of three-inch oak plank, spiked down to the timbers. Double grates were also ]nit in the windows. In 1828 a desperado named Kellcx liored out (jf jail and, with sonic others, made good their escape. Tlie\- had also secured an auger some way unknown to the jailer and by piling up such bedding and seats as tlie\- had in the cell managed to reach the ceiling and liored a log in two. so as make a hole twelve b}- eighteen inches, and through this they escaped. 'l"o prexent tools of any knul from l)eiiig handed into prisoners, the windows were made secure on the outside w itli tight. liea\ shutters, which were locked ni nights. A heavy cliaui was i,,rged liy a hlacksmitli and stajiled t.. tlie wall of the ceil, and to this all desperate characters were iastciied. .iiier ^nIiuIi there weie 11.1 uKire escaiies from the old I,.- pnsMU.

Standard Weights And Measures

In the early settlement of tlie conntry there vvas no such thing as a platform scale in use, all the weighing being done with steelyards and balances and these were mostly of home manufacture. Hence it was necessary that there should be some sort of s.avdarci system of weights and measures established, so that when a measure or weight of any size was made it could be taken to the proper official and niade legal by being "gauged" and properly "sealed," or marked with stamp or brand. In May, 1816. Christopher Harrison was directed to purchase for the use of the county the following measures: "One half-bushel measure to contain one thousand seventy-four and one-fifth solid inches, to be made of .strong double tin; also one gallon measure to contain two hundred thirty-one solid inches, and a quart measure to contain fifty-seven and three-fourth solid inches. Also a pair of scales and set of weights, commonly called avoirdupois weights."

On September 7, 1824, Asher Wilcox was directed to procure new standard weights and measures for the use of the county, the measures to be of copper, running from pint up to one-half bushel, the- weights to be of cast metal, running from one-half ounce to five pounds. The balance was a very handsome one, standing about two feet high and three feet long. The law made it a misdemeanor for any merchant to use measures or weights that were not legally "sealed."

Second Court House

One of the matters considered by the board of justices at their first meeting, September 6, 1824, was the building of a new court house. The first court house had been standing only twelve years, but it seems that it was considered inadequate for the transaction of public bu.siness, owing to the rapid growth of the county; besides it had proven to be a rather unsubstantial structure. The arches upon which the superstructure rested were giving way and the walls were cracking so that it was considered unsafe. With this move as a starter, there snun came a general demand for a more pretentious structure; accordingly on January 3. 1826, the board ordered, "That one jiersdu in each township of the county be appointed to receive subscriptions tn be a])])ro|)riated towards building a new court house, as follows: Jeremiah Koland for Washington township: Aaron Hardin, Tosey; .\s1ut Wilcox, liidwii; Roger Sutherland, Wrnon : Elijah Wright,

Jackson; Ezekiel Logan, Monroe: Plulip Lester, Gibson, and Joel Combs, Franklin." Some very liberal subscriptions were secured, but the (|nestion afterwaros --ose whether or not the same could be collected by law, and none w did in, at least there is no record that any moneys were e\er realized .lom this source. However, the matter took definite shape at the May session of the board in i82r), when the following entry of its proceeding.s was made :

"The board of justices, taking into consideration the decayed condition of the court house; Resolved, That a new court house for the use of this county be created in the center of the public sc|uare, in the town of Saleni, or on the ground where the present court house now stands, fifty feet ..quare and not exceeding twent}-four feet in height up to the sfpiare, the outside walls to be built of lirick on a good stone foundation and according to the general outlines of a plan this day accepted by the board ; that the contractor for building said court house be required to complete the same within three years from this date, and that payment be made for said building in three equal installments - the first on the ist day of January next, the second on the 1st day of January, 1828, and the third when the said building is required to be finished; and for the purpose of raising funds to defray the expenses thereof, that a tax be levied and paid annually for the present and two successive years, as near as may be in equal proportii>ns, and that John McMahan, Hugh ATcPheeters, .\bner ALartin and Andrew Housh be appointed a committee with full power and authority, and whose dut}' it shall be to draft the plan, prescribe the kind of materials and the manner in which every particular part of said l)uilding shall be completed and finislied, and to take all other measures necessary and proper to ensure the complete success and completion of said building, not inconsistent with the general outlines of said plan and the tone, intent and meaning of this board. That the said committee let out the building of said court house to the lowest and l)est bidder in the town of Salem on the first Saturday in June next the undertaker being re(|uired to give bond for faithful execution of contract. And that the said committee sell the old court house to the highest and best bidder at same time and place."

On July 3, 1826, the building committee filed bt.i e the board a plan for the new county court house, together with a written contract made with John E. Clark, Chas. B. Naylor and William Naylor for the sum of four thousand, nine hundred and ninty-five dollars for the completion of same within the time specified. The Naylors were to do the carpentering and

Clark the brick work. The committee also reported tlie sale of the old court house to Marston G. Clark for two hundred dollars. With this materia! he built a two-story hotel on the southeast corner of lot vi- South Main street, which is still standing and in fairly good condition.

New Tempt.F Of Justice

The Ixjard appointed Samuel Peck, William Phelps and John G. Henderson a conmiittee :o superintend thf -vvork of building the new court house and to see that ever)thing was completed according to contract. The new temple of justice was built in a much more substantial manner than the hrst one, the walls of same being in a good, solid condition when torn down sixty years afterward. The foundation was of stone, extending about two feel into the ground and laid up "dry"' without the use of mortar, as all foundations for brick houses were built in that day. Upon this loose wall a water table of cut stone eight inches thick was laid in sand ami lime mortar. Tlie hard blue limestone was used for this table, as they did not know the value of th^ oolitic limestone for building purpo.ses, thinking il would not weather or stand under the weight of a heavy structure. The lirick walls were eighteen inches thick, the lower story fourteen feet high, the upper ten feet. The walls were all the same height and covered with a hii)-r(iof. There were two outside doors, one on the north, the other on the south side of the building. There were thirty-eight windows above and below, all the same size. A tower was in the center, extending about thirty feet above the roof. All around the base of this tower was a balcony three feet wide, and twelve feet above was a smaller one. The top was round or dome-shaped, above which a spire about si.x feet in height extended, ornamented with two large brass balls aufl a weatherc(xk. The first "rooster" placed on the court house was made by John Mills, under the direction of Jeremiah Rowland. Ti had been the original intentii.m to put up an immense arm for a weather vane, but everybody seemed to want the "rooster," so the change was made. It is related that while the work of construction was going on and the frame work of the tower was up, a Jackson rally was held in Salem, Januar\- 8, 1829. Old Amos Jones, an earnest supporter of the hero of New Orleans, climbed upon one of the corner posts of the cupola and stantling on the to]) beam shouted' as only he could .shout, "Hurrah for General Jackson, ui the highest degree of honor and promotion." He then very leisurely de-ceiided, and as a matter of course, was the hero of the day.

I02 Washington County, Indiana

and the clerk's office, ten by eighteen feet, was in the northwest corner, the stajrway being on the northeast corner. The stairs started up on the south side of the hallway and ran east to a landing half way up, from which they ran west to a hall on the ^econd floor. Situated about twelve feet apart in the center of the building were four huge columns, two feet in diameier at the -base and twenty inches at the top, turned out of poplar logs, placed there to support the up])er floor and tower. The judge's stand, five steps high, was on the west side of the court room. To the left of this stand was the jury box ; in front the clerk's table and on the right, the sheriff's desk. The bar occupied the remaining space back to the first line of columns, or to the pass way running north and south through the room. The court space was floored with plank, with railing on the outside. The passway and the floor east of the same was paved with brick and without seats. A gallery twelve feet wide, extended across the east side of the court room, entrance to which was from the landing in the stairway. On the second flour a hallway ten feet wide ran north and south, with two rooms partitioned off on each side for use of juries and county officers. ProN'ision was made to heat the house with stoves, convenient flues being built in the walls for this purpose.

The contractors were given three years' time to complete iheir work, from May i, 1826, but on March 3, 1828, Chas. B. Xaylor, on behalf of the contractors, proposed to have the clerk's office finished and the court room made comfortable for holding court and sessions of the board of justices by the third Monday in April, following, a year in ad\ance of the time set for completion, providing they were allowed twenty-two dollars and fifty cents for each term of court held and two dollars per month for the use of. the clerk's office, until such time as the said contractors were gi\en to complete the building, which proposition was accepted. While the court house was being built, courts were held in a room furnished by Marston G. Clark on South Main street. The first term of court held in the new court house began on May 5, 1828, and the house was finally received on July 6, 1829.

The brick used in this structure were burned on the east end of lots 198 and 199, west of Brock Creek. Lime was burned in the regulation logheap kiln of that day. This was made by building up a solid pen of logs twelve or fifteen feet scjuare and about eight feet high, with a rim of timbers around the top, into which broken stone were piled about two feet thick. Hickory was generally used in making these kilns as it made the hottest fire.

Very few alterations were ever made in this court house. In 1856 the gallery in t'le court room was taken out and an inclined floor was laid on the east side of the room, leaving a ten-foot walk-way north and south through the center of the room. The balconies were removed from around the tower anil a new "rooster" was put up by B. F. Huston. In 1875 the wooden columns were replaced with six-inch iron pipe . the entire floor of the court room was put on a level and laid with plank and a door was opened on the east side of the court room for convenience in going to and from the county officers' luiilding, which stood iiuout twenty-five feet east of the court house.

In the fall 'jf 1829 a brick wall was' built around the court house, fifteen feet from the Iniilding. This wall was three feet high from the ground and was capped with hewn timbers one foot square. Then new gates were placed opposite each door of the court hou^e. The work was done by John E. Clark and Noral F, Kennedy at a cost of four hundred eight dollars and seventeen cents.

.\t the September term of the commissioners' court in 1840, the clerk was directed to draft and submit plans and specifications for a new jail, with cost of same. No further steps were then taken toward building this jail till March fr, 1844, when E. Ncwland, John MclNIahan and Henry Young were appointed to complete the plans and let the contract to the lowest and best responsible bidder. Plans were furnished by George Bradley, for which he received five dollars. On July 6, 1844, the contract was awarded to Benjamin F. Huston for three thousand four hundred and fifty dollars. The site selected was on the lot just north of the old log jail.

This new jail was a two-story building, forty-four feet long, north and south, by twenty-four feet in width, two stories high. It stood flush with the street line. There was a hallway running east and west, the prison cells being on the north, and the jailer's residence on the south, the stairway being on the south side of the hall. A large chimney was built at the south end of the residence, with a fire-place on both floors. Board partitions divided the two residence rooms into four apartments. The partition down stairs ran just west of the fire-place, while on the second floor it was on the east side, .\fter the completion of the building the brick kitchen that had been built near the log jail was torn down and rebuilt in the rear of the new jail.

arranged for the safekeeping of prisoners charged witli high crimes and misdemeanors. The floor, walls and ceiling of this cell were lined witii timbers twelve inches thick and on these logs heavy sheet iron was secure!}- nailed. Over this iron two-inch oak planks were set up perpendicularly and spiked through to the logs, and this again was co\ered with heavy sheet iron. Two dungeons were constructed on the west side of this cell, built of heavy boards and lined on both sides with iron. The doors opening into the>e dungeons were only two by four feet and when closed it was as black as night in these "sweat-boxes."' The outside cell door was made of four-inch oak boards, lined inside and out with heavy iron, all bolted solidl\' together. Through this door was a '"feed hole" six by twelve inches. There were r,, o windows on the east side of the cells, made secure with double bars of hea\y iron. The lower cell was less secure. It was jjartitioned off with two doors opening into the hall. These rooms were first lined with twn-inch oak boards, over which sheet iron was securely nailed. This prison was completed in the spring of 1S45. and no one ever succeeded in breaking out df the upper cell during the thirty-seven years it continued to be used for the safekeeping of the county's criminals.

Twenty years after the building of the second court house the structure was found to be too small to accommodate the courts and county ufticers. Accordingly, on March 4, 1847, I^avid G. Campbell, Elijah Xewland and three hundred and thirty- four other residents and taxpayers of the county petitioned the board to build new offices for the clerk and recorcler. showing the inadequacy of the then existing accommodations and the necessit\- (if having hre-proof oftices for the preservation (if the county recnrds. 'I'o this petition there was a remonstrance signed liy two hundred and thn-ty-(.-ight taxpayers, but the prayer of the petitioners was sustained and the Ixiaul appropriated one thousand two hundred dullars to be expended for new offices, and directed that the sup[ilemental building should be located directlyeast of the Cdurt house and about twenty feet distant from the same. Ik-njamin F. Huston was tlie contractor f(jr this structure, under contract to do the work for one thousand one hundred and forty-fixe dollars.

This supplemental structure was a (.me-story brick house, twent\ liy forty feet, standing the long way north and south, with an eight-tiinl hallway running east and west thnnigh the center, the offices l)eing entered through this hall, the clerk's office on the south, and the recorder's office (jn the north side ot the entry. The floors were ui brick and the space between llie joists of the ceiling were tilled with dirt. This, tor a ti*ne, sjave ample room for the iransaction of coiint)' business, Init when the new office of auditor \\a.-~ created and the county treasurer was required to keep an office where taxes could be i)aid. instead of sending the collector through the county, more room was demanded, h'or a few years the clerk, recorder and sheriff (KCU])ied the south room of the count}' officers' huiWmg, w^hile the auditor and treasurer were assigned lo the north. (~)n December g, 1857, the commissioners were petitioned to ijuild a second story to this building and an order for same was made. John I. Morrison w'as appointed to let the contract and superintend the work. James B. Hicks was the contractor, for which he received se\en hundred and eighty dollar^. The rooms on the second floor were of unifiirm size with those below, the stairway being in the hall.

In September, 1839, another change was asked to be matle in the matter of proviiling fire-proof vaults, which was accordingly done. The \aults were made l)y running partitions across the halls and turning arches ov^v the ceilings, h'.ach of the four oHices then had a secure vault, entrance to the same being through lieav\- iron doors. This work was done by Z. S. Garriott for the sum of one thousand one hundred seventy-six dollars and ninety-four cents. At this time the clerk occu]Hed the south room on the first floor; the recorder, the north room: the auditor, the south room on the second flo<.)r and the treasurer the north room, .\fterwards it was found conx'enient for the treasurer and recorder to exchange offices. .\ stairway to the second floor ran U]> outside tlic building.

()n June 15, 1880, the couiit\- commissioners decided to build a new jail and jailer's residence, the grand jurv hax'ing condemned the old one several tinu-s as being unhealthful and unsafe. The location of the old jail was bad, and all things considered, it was not deemed advisable to try to repair the same. Plans and specifications for a new prison throughout were ad\'ertised for, and cpiite a number were presented to the board for consideration on October Ji, i8'8o. The cost of the entire structure was limited to fifteen thousand dollars. Joseph Balsley's plans were ci^nsidered best and were accepted, for which he was paid four hundretl dollars. 1 he contract tO' put up this building was awarded to a combination of contractors, H. H. Kouth, of Salem getting the wood work; Alfred Shrum, of the same place, the brick work, and Krunibo & Melchoir, of Xew Albany, the stone work, their collective bids being fourteen thousand five hundred eighty-nine dollars and thirty cents. This jail was c()m])leted in 1881, and has proved to be a very substantial struciure, safe and satisfactory as a prison. The residence part is thirty-six by forty feet, two stories high, with stone front and l>rick side walls. It fronts on Main street, with the ])rison, thirt\- by thirtvthree and one-half feet in the rear. The residence part has a halUvay running from west to ea^t, on the snuth side of which is a compan\- room fifteen by fifteen feet. Xorth (jf the hall is the uFfice, fifteen by fifteen feet, in the rear of which is a combnied kitchen and dining room, fifteen by seventeen feet. There arc corresiKinding chambers on the secc.md fioor, the up-stairs cell being arranged and designed for female ])risoners.

The i)rison is entered from the hall of the residence, it contains si.\ stone cells, five by seven and one-half feel, rhree facing south and three north, with hea\y iron lattice fronts. .Around these cells is a ])risoners' walk, three feet wide, luiclosing this walk and cells is a heav_\' iron lattice, extending from floor to ceiling and outside of tliis the guards' walk three and one-half feet wide. The outside walls are built of hea\y st(jne, eighteen inches thick, with strongly-barred windows. The floors ami ceilings are made of \'er\- hard stone slabs ten inches thick.

On January 6, 1885, the \\";ishingt demned by the secretaries of the boards o also by a committee of architects ai)por court. On June 8, 1885, the grand jury together with public sentiment strongly finally induced the coimty commissioners December 12, 1885, the}- fi.xed upon present'ation of plans and specifications, the following points :

I'^irst, the court house to be of brick ond, the said house to not cost o\er sixt\- in. Third, to be Iniilt on the site of the south. Fourth, the house to be fire])roof ers. b'ifth, dimensions, ninety feet long by seventy feet wide. Sixth, house to be two stories high, with |)roper tower and in due pro])ortion to building. Seventh, first storv to contain tw(j rotims for the clerk's office.

iwo fur the auditor, une for the treasurer, one tor the recoidcr aiui one for the sheriff, two sniah room.-, and a hahwa}-, with stairs: second story to cfjntain court room, two jury rooms, one judge's room and a pri\-ate stairway. Eighth, roof to be of first-class slate. Ninth, no galvanized iron to be used for cornice or finishing. Tenth, cellar to be und'.r entire building, nine fe^t in the clear. Eleventh, corridor to be tiled with, one-inch marble.

On the da}- fixed to consider the matter, four sets of plans and specifications v\ere submitted, all of winch were taken undei advisement till April 17, i8'86, at which time the ])luns presented by ^McDonald Brothers of Louisville, Kentucky, were adopted, with some changes. The auditor wa» directed to advertise and sell the old court house. .Mfred Shrum was the purchaser, at two hundred and eiglity-fi\e dollars.

On Wednesday, May 5th, the final plans and specifications were approved and the auditor was instructed to advertise for bids, the same to be presented to the board on June 2O, 1886. (_"ourt and county ofiicers' rooms were jirovided for in Warriners' Block, a three-story structure on lot Xo. ], south side of the puljlic square. On the day set for awarding the contract there were ten bids presented, ranging in price from fifty-seven thousand seven hundred and fifty-one dollars to sixty-nine thousand eight hundred dollars. The lowest bid was the combination offer of Crumbo & ]\lelchoir, of New Albany, H. H. Routh, ^\lfred Shrum and George Duncan, of Salem, and the contract was a\varded to them, and they executed bt)nd in the penal sum of thirty thousand dollars for the completion of all work according to plans and s]jecifications. McDonald Brothers were allowed one th(jusand one hundred and fifty-five dollars for plans and superintending the work till the Iniilding was completed.

This court house has lieen in es'ery way most satisfactory, creditable alike to the county and the men wdio planned and executed the work. It was built of native stone, taken from the i|uarries one mile southwest of Salem. The outside measurement, exclusive of porticos on north and south fronts, is seventy-two by ninety feet. It is two stories high with an eight-foot basement, mostly above ground. There is a hallway, twenty-four feet wide, running north and south through this basement, on the east side of which are four rooms, the surveyor's office being in the southeast corner; the other rooms rented. In January, 1006. the two north rooms were turned over to the Washington County Historical Society, where old-time papers, early history and valuable relics are to be preserved and handed down to future generations. On the west side of the basement hall there are tive rooms, two of wliich. in the northwest corner, are used by the county superintendent of sciiools ; one for gents' closet, in tlie southwest corner, the others being rented. The Hoor of tiie hall is of sawed stone, while the several rooms ire concrete, o\erIaid with Ijoards.

The main floor is approached l)\' substantial stone steps at the north and soutii entrances. The lobbv extends the full length of the building and is twenty-four feet wide, -with county offices conxeniently arranged on the east and west sides. In the southeast corner is the treasurer's office, with a large vault. Adjoining this (ju the north is the auditor's office, with a large vault in the northeast corner, aiid the commissioners' room west of same, with entrances from botli auditor's office and lobby. The recorder's office is located in the southwest corner, with two vaults. The clerk's office is the center room on the west side, with private office and stairwav in the northwest corner, and a large \ault on the south side (jf the main office. On the west side of the north entrance, and opening on the lobby, is the sherifif's office. The floor of the lobby is laid with sawed stone.

The main stairway leading to the second story is on the east sitle of the lob])y, turning over the south entrance. The court room is in the northeast corner of the building, forty by .sixt)- feet, with ceiling eighteen feet high. The judge's stantl and the liar are at the west end. The judge's room is in the northwest corner; grand-jury room in the southeast corner, with waiting room adjoining the same on the west side; petit-jury room in the center of the west side; old records and file room in the southwest corner and the ladies' waiting rO(_im and toilet on the south side of the building.

The January term of the circuit court. iS8y. was held in the new court hou,se and the county officers moved in on March lo. following. The court house was completed and turned o\er to the county mi August o. i S<SS.

The entire cost of building, with all fiirnisliing>, was as follows; Iontractors' allowance, $S7-7?'^'- lli'it" i^- Kelley, shebes, cases, etc.. Sj.ooo; Andrews & Company, furniture, chairs, etc.. ,~*^3,ooo; Howard &- Company, clock and bell. $1,200; John Owens, walks and gateways, ,S^i,7()(); gradnig, plumbing, gates and sewer, $857; lightning rods and all extra work, S1.1S4; steam-heating outfit. $.^,000; boiler room and steam heater. $i.io-'. Total cost, $72,882.

The Inn'lding was first fitted u]) with grates, but tliese were not sufficient to warm the rooms, and a steam-heating plant was put in. the boiler being located in the basement under the tower. In a short time it was discovered that the furnace was injuring the walls, so a boiler room, with brick smoke stack, was built, under ground, some fifty feet southwest of the court house.

County Paupers And Asylum

The dependent poor emigrated to this county along with the earliest settlers, even while Indiana was yet a territory. On April 12, 1814, the county was first divided into civil townships, and the day following overseers of the poor were appointed, as follow: Owen Lindley and William Moore, for Madison township; James Moorefield and Jesse Roberts, Lost River; George Beck and Henry Wyman, Blue River; William Lindley and Zacharia Nixon, Washington ; Abram Huff, Driftwood. There continued to be overseers of the poor, appointed by the court doing business for the county, or elected by the voters of each township, until 1852, when it was made the duty of township trustees to look after paupers. Until a county asylum was provided, permanent paupers were "farmed out" on the best terms that overseers could make with private individuals, and to keep poor people from becoming permanent charges, many were given assistance from time to time as their necessities seemed to demand it.'

The first pauper to receive aid from the county was Elizabeth Ray, who became a county charge in 1814. She continued to be "boarded around" at a cost of about fifty dollars a year until her death in 1833, when she received pauper burial, a shroud being furnished at a cost of one dollar and fifty cents; coffin, two dollars: digging grave and burial, two dollars and fifty cents.

The industrious pioneer, who labored hard to develop the country, had no use for idlers. All able-bodied persons were compelled by law to earn a living, but if they would not work, they were arrested and upon conviction of vagrancy, were sold to the highest bidder for a specified time, or until they would give bond tiiat they would thereafter pursue some lucrative calling. While thus engaged at hard labor, their wages, or rather what they were sold for, went to those dependent upon them for support.

About the year 1825 two men named William Overman and Stafford Smith, residing in Gibson township, concluded that they didn't have to work and their families were reduced to sufferance. They were proceded against bv the officers of the law and a judgment was rendered that they should be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Micajah Williams bid them off at twent\-five cents a day. and they were put to work at Robinson's iriili, on Delaney's creek. The funds ensuing from their hire was pai<l to tiieir respective families at the end of each week. The Hmit to this kind of bondage was nine months. These fellow ^ worked ahout two months, when they became anxious to breathe the free air a,L;ain. and f'nind the necessary security for then future good l)eha\ior.

On Monday, July 5, 1830, the board of iu'-tices tonk the tir^t stej) ni the matter of purchasing a county asylum, by appointing a committee of eight to investigate the expediency of purchasing a farm, as well as to ascertain the probable cost of a suitable location together with the necessary buildings for the accommodation of the poor of the county. This committee consisted of Joel Combs, John AIcl'hettTs, Stephen Hole, John Pew, Andrew Housh, Thomas D. Young, J'llm Hardin an.d William Perdue. Having th(jroughly inxestigated the matter they met :it ine ccjurt house in Salem and unanimously decided that a [loor farm wDuld be a means of great saving in the funds of the county and of ameliorating the condition of the jKior. They so made their report to tlie board, and further ad\ised that a committee of three person-- be appointed to contract for such farm and ii necessary proceed to erect suitable buildings thereon, tlie cost of ^amc not to ex:eed one thousand dollars.

This report was concurred in. by the board arid the comnnttee named consisted of Stephen Hole, John C. McPhLters and Joel Combs. I'hey were instructed to buy not less than a ciuarter section of land, and were given discretionar}- jjowers as to location and improvements to be made. This committee reported January 3, 1831, thai they had inspected a numljer of places and had finally selected an.d pnrchaseil a farm of Xoah AX'right, it being the .southeast quarter of section 25, township 2 north, range 4 ea.sl, for one thousand dollars, full possession to be given the ist of May following. A commodious two-story log hou-e had been built on this farm about 1820, sutTicientl}- large to accommodate tho^c who were then likely to become inmates of the cottnty asylum, so no additional improvements were ordered.

The contract reported by the committee was adopted. The law pro- \'ided that coimty asylums shtjuld lie placed im<ler the management of one or more directors, whose duty it should he to select some suitable person to take charge of the asylum and care for such paupers as might from time to time become county charges. Thomas Hodge, Henry Dawalt and John S. Wilson were made directors. A committee was also appointed to digest and prepare a code of by-laws for the management of said asylum.

"It shall he the dut\ of saiil directors on or before the i st of March, in each vear, to eniploN some ht person as agent to support paupers who may he legally transferred to saitl asylum, and at the expense (jf the county to furnish said paupers with sufficient beds and bedding.

"The said directors are authorized to lease t(j said agent the farm antl buildings purchased 1)\- said county for an asxlum for any length of time not exceeding one vear. in part consideration for the support of said paupers, and ma\ further contract with said agent to pay him ([uarterly out of the county finuls a specific sum in addition to the rent of said farm for all or each of said paupers.

"They shall ref|uire said agent to furnish the paupers good wholesome food without stint, also with comfortable clothing and rooms: and scrupulous cleanliness as to their ])ersons. wearing api)arel. beds, bedding and apartments must be obser\ed. the cmnity physician to have especial jurisdiction over such matters.

"'riicy shall also re(|uire saitl agent to manage said farm consistently with good luisliandry. and to cijninnt no waste of timber other than for hrewood and the ordniary purposes of farming. The agent shall give bond in the penalty of one thousand dollars for the faithful performance of his duty."

On .\lontla\', March 7, 1831, the directors reported a contract tnade with Tilman Hartley as first agent of the county asylum at a yearly salary of three hundred and fifty dollars. Dr. Charles Hay was named as county ])hysician. which rejiort was concurred in.

The comnussioners at their Januar\ term. 1X3-', ordered the directors to let the asylum to the lowest bidder for any term not exceeding five years, to take efifect March 1. On March 5 the directors reported contract and bond executed by Tilman Hartley as agent, to which report Antony Hinkle objected, he ha\ing made a c(.)ntract with the county commissioners. Hinkle was gi\en the ])lace. but it was afterwards held that the appointing ])0wer rested with the directcjrs of the asvhun. and Hartley was reinstated. His services, however, were not satisfactory, for ui)on final .settlement his allowance was cut twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents on accoimt of maltreatment of ]iaupers. f)n May (>, 1S33. he was superseded by Samuel M. Huston at a salary of two hundred and fifty dollars per annum. Levi Wright was made sole director of the asvlum, Xo\ ember 7, 1832, and continued in this ca]5acit}- for several \'ears.

Then followed supenntendents in the order given below : James McKinney, September 7, 1835, with an annual allowance of three hundred -dollars, and use of farm; Obadiah Thomar.. 1853, who was paid forty-two dollars annually for each permanent pauper; John W. Day, 1858, paid forty do!lars for each inmate of the asylum, or at that rate per annum ; George Williams, 1865, at fifty dollars a year for each pauper, which was raised to sixty dollars in 1870 and reduced to fifty -five dollars in 1S76; Thon^.as Se^^tin, 1878, with salary of six hundred arid fifty dollars, surplus farm products, not used in asylum, to belong to county; James Cavanaugh, December 9, 1892, with, eight hundred dollars salary: Luc>- E. Cavanaugh was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death, of her husband, March ^o, 1897, at same salary; William A. Hal!, June 3, igoi. salary four hundred -and fifty dollars, with hired man furnished by county: Matthew Kinney took -chafge January 5, 1903, at a salary of eight hundred dollars.

The first improvement made on the asyUini i'arm was ordered March S, 1837. This became necessary to accommodate the increasing number -of paupers. A brick house was built thirty feet square, with a hallway "through- the center and two rocjms on each side, with double chimney in partition walls. John K, Clark and James B. Hick-^ were the contractors, for seven hundred dollars. This liouse was burned in 1858, but the walls ^ere injured very litde and at an expense of about two hundred dollars it was repaired and put in good shape again

At the September term of commissioners' court, 1872, George Williams was given contract to build a "mad house." This was made of large hewn logs, a one-story building twenty by thirty feet Tbe floors and were made of two-inch oak, and windo\^s were securei\ liarred, and Tvas completed for four hundred and twelve dollars.

The next building was a new residence for the superintendent, built in 1878, which took the place of the old log house that had seen ,ser\-ice for sixty years. It was a frame cottage, a story and a Iialf high, with four rooms below and two abo\e. It was ]nit up liy John I'. Strouse for five "hundred and ninet\-three dollars. In 1882 it was decided that a building for men was needed, accordingly a two-stor\ frame liouse twenty-five by forty feet was built by William R. Grimes ;it a co.st (">f three thousand one "hundred and seventy dollars. Three rooms on the fir-^t floor were made strong to secure the incurable insane.

Stead on March 5, i8'85. This building was forty by fifty feet with a halJ running the long way, east and west, through the building, on both floors. The first story was twelve feet high, the second ten. Flues were so arranged that each room could be heated with a stove. On the first floor there was a kitchen and dining room for women, but the men were served with meals in their own building. This house was completed and occupied on December I, 18S5. Duncan & Shrum were the contractors and were paid five thousand three hundred dollars.

On the 17th of October, 1902, the first county board of charities and correction was created. by the following order of the Washington circuit court: "The court now appoints the following named persons to constitute, a board of county charities and corrections, to serve without compensation, viz: Mrs. Alice Caspar Stevens, Mrs. Ann Wright, Charles Lindley, Foster Heacock, Dr. W. C. Cauble and Asa Elliott. The said Charles Lindley and Foster Heacock to serve one year, the said Mrs. Ann Wright and W. C. Cauble to serve two years, and the said Mrs. Alice Caspar Stevens and Asa Elliott to serve three years from and after the date hereof. The clerk of this court is ordered and directed to notify the said parties of their appointment as members of said board, the said notice to be given by mailing to Mrs. Alice Caspar Stevens a copy of this entry, with request to her to notify other parties of same and of time and place of meeting for purpose of organization."

This board was organized on the 1,7th of October by selecting Asa Elliott, president, and Mrs. Alice Caspar Stevens, secretary. It was made the duty of this board to visit and inspect once each quarter the county poor asylum, the county jail and any other charitable or correctional institutions in the county and ascertain their condition as to effective and economical administration, cleanliness, discipline, comfort of inmates, etc., and make a report of same to the proper authorities. On January i, 1903, the board visited the county asylum and made the following report as to its condition to the county commissioners :

"Superintendent, Mathew Kinney; salary, eight hundred dollars, said superintendent to furnish teams and hired help needed. Tillable land on farm, one hundred and twenty acres: timber, forty acres: orchard, six acres. Land \ery poor. Capacity of asylum, forty. Inmates, thirty-nine. Incurable insane, two. Sexes kept in separate buildings. Heated with stoves. Construction and condition of buildings verv poor. Fencing almost worth- (S)

1 he board also recomnieiided the purch^ase of a new farm, convenient of access and good fertile 'and and upon same, the erection of modern, up-todate buildings aderpiate in >n-ery way for the comfort and good health of inmates.