Franklin Township (part 2 of 3)

"Ordered that the following be the description of the carpenters work on the before mentioned court house to wit : There are to be i Summer across Sufficiently Supported by pillars of Stone, to bear up the Sleepers and all the weight that may come on the same, 2 Summers to cross the house at Each Story Supported by two Sound Posts under Each, well Supported at the bottom, and Sufficiently large to Support all the weight of the two upper floors, and Roof, Summers to be oak and at least 12 inches Square, and C. 3 Joice 4 by 12 inches in the Second floor, and C. 3 Joice 3 by 8 in the upper floor, with a four Square Roof made in a form to receive a cupolo at a future day to be covered with Joint Shingles not more than 18 inches long or 4 inches broad five Eights thick at the but end not to Show more than one third the length. Shingles to be poplar, one Door frame in the center of the South side of sd. House 5 by 7 feet one in the East end 4 by 7 feet 9 window frames to be put in the under Story of a Size Sufficient to take 24 lights in Each, 10 by 12 and 10 window frames in the upper Story Sufficient to take 20 lights in Each ID by 12, the door and window frames to be finished in order to receive the Sash and Shutters, and plain Solid wood cornish around said house, with tin conductors at Each corner to convey the water from said house the cornish to be of yellow poplar all the work to be of good durable timber, and to be performed in a complete. Strong workmanlike manner, so as to bear the inspection of good workmen, the work to be carried on and put in at Such time, or times, as the mason may call for the same so as to hinder the mason as little as the nature of the case may require the work to be completed on or before the first of January 1828.

The undertaker will be required to give Bond and Security in doublfc the amount of his contract and will be entitled to Receive one half the amt. of his contract on the first day of January next and the balance when the work is completed;

Evidently a contract (which was not recorded), was made and entered into between the county and David \\'}'song, to build the walls of the court house. This is shown by the order made by the commissioners September 4, 1826, when they made the following entry:

September Term, 1826

"The Board of Justices agree to give David Wysong who heretofore became the contractor to build the wall of the courthouse in Winchester the sum of two hundred and twenty-five dollars in addition to his former contract and the said David agrees on his part to make the foundation of said house of' rock dimensions to be the same towit: two feet high 27 inches thick one half of said $225 dollars in six months after his former contract becomes due and the balence in six months after.

Mr. Wysong evidently began on the building immediately as he began to receive his pay as early as January, 1827, when it was "Ordered that the county treasurer pay David Wysong $292.50 in part for building courthouse." Again in January, 1828, ^Ir. Wysong was paid $292.50 "in part for building the Courthouse."

In September, 1828, it was "Ordered that the County treasurer Pay David W3'song the sum of one hundred and twelve dollars and fift)- cents with legal interest until paid." It was also "Ordered that the County treasurer pay David Wysong the sum of $2.25 interest on contract for laying foundation of the courthouse."

In ]March, 183 1, it was, "Ordered that the county treasurer pay David Wysong $127,123.-2 in part and Balance of principal and interest for laying foundation of the court house."

Paul W Way, who was a carpenter, had the contract or a part of it at least for the carpenter's work, as on ]\Iay 8, 1827, it was "Ordered that the county treasurer pa}' Paul W. Wa}- the sum of one hundred and ninetveight dollars and fifty cents in part for doing the carpenters work on the court house." 'Mr. Way's duties as we have said, were many and he was practically the moving spirit in all the business. This is shown by an entry of the same day just mentioned, when it was, dollars for 2 days spent in going to Centerville &C to advertize Sale of courthouse and 2 dollars paid to Scott & Buxton for advertizing 2 dollars for writing Conditions of Sale one dollar for crying .Sale 2 dollars for spirits writing 4 bonds to close the Sale i dollar total amt. - $11.00."

Mr. Way, no doubt, employed men to work on the building up until the contract was let for the carpenter's work in March, 1828, as we find in July,

1827, it was "Ordered that the county treasurer pay John Maxwell three dollars and fifty cents for putting an Extra Summer in the lower Storey of the courthouse as soon as the same is done and completed in a workmanlike manner." The real contract for the carpenter's work was made in March,

March Term, 1 828 Copy Of Contract

"Ordered that the lower floor in the courthouse be laid so far back as the south summer to be laid of oak plank not Exceeding 6 inches in width and at least i ^ inches thick to be tongued and grooved and laid down broken Jointed well nailed down on oak Sleepers at least 12 inches in diameter and the bark taken off and not to exceed 2.1 feet from centre to centre.

one pair of Stairs to Start at on near the west end of the north summer to run up the wall till it comes under the centre of the window in the centre of the west end of said house thence to turn east and enters the floor in the gangway the said Stares to be four feet wide to be railed and banastered in a workmanlike manner.

A petition to be run across the upper floor from East to west to Joining the North sound post on the south side of the same with a partition through the centre of the North room two doors to be hung in the first pai-tition so as to fall back against said partition when opened the partition to be of poplar plank not exceeding one foot in width and at least one and J4 inches thick >to be dressed on each side tongued and grooved and put up in a workmanlike manner with chair boards in side of the rooms and wash boai-ds on each side of the partition.

I Door 4 by 7 feet i do 5 by 7 feet 9 windows 24 lights each 1 1 do 20 lights each 10 by 12 inches door shutters to be made folding of panel work out of white walnut plank i inch thick when dressed and lined with half inch plank hung with Strong iron hinges window Shutters to be made in the same form of the doors hung in the same manner and made out of the same kind of materials windows to be filled with Glass and Sash made out of white walnut plank at least one & ^ inch thick when dressed the whole to be done and completed on or before the second monday in August 1828.

The County Agent is ordered and directed to advertise and Sell to the lowest bidder the above named work in two seperate contracts - the doors and windows in one contract and the balance in another. Said Sale to be on the 24th day of this instant at the courthouse door in the Town of Winchester bond with approved Security will be required of the undertaker the undertaker shall receive one half of his pay on the first day of January next and the balance in one year from that date."

May Term, 1 828

"Ordered that the agent have the upper floor in the courthouse laid of poplar plank not Exceeding eight inches broad, the Stairs to Start as before ordered and run within four feet of the South summer then to turn East, the under floor to be completed by the second monday in August next and the balance to be completed by the Second monday in February next.

The door and window Shutters to be made of white walnut yellow poplar plank, the sash to- be made of white walnut or yellow poplar plank the undertaker will have till the second monday in February next to put iti the sash and glass March 24 1828."

There seems to have been some difiiculty concerning the settlement for the work, as we find in July, that "Abel Lomax and John Irvin are chosen to adjudge the Carpenters work of the Courthouse in Winchester Randolph County and report whether said work is done according to contract, and if not done agreeable to contract to assess the damages, said arbitrators to meet in Winchester on the first monday in September next.

September Term, 1 828

carpenters work of the courthouse in Winchester Randolph County and report whether said work was done according to contract and if not done agreeable to contract to assess the damages said Arbitrators to meet in Winchester on the first monday in September 1828 and on the day and year last aforesaid the said Abel Lomax appeared and the said John Irvin not appearing, David Haworth is chosen in place of said John Irvin, and the said Abel Lomax and David Haworth after being duly affirmed proceeded to discharge the trust confided to them who after some time return their award as follows (towit) that Paul W. Way the contractor for said work give Bond with security to the satisfaction of the Board of Justices that he will Warrant said roof and Every part thereof to Stand good for and during the term of five years from and after this date and assess four dollars damages in consequence of the corners of the roof not being made in a workmanlike manner and five dollars damages for three of the sound posts in the lower Story."

In January, 1829, Solomon Wright was paid $112.50 "in part for work done on the courthouse in 1828." David Heaston was paid on the same day, $109.67 "for work done on the courthouse." George Burkett was paid $2.50 for extra work done on the doors of the court house.

On the 4th of May, 1829, we find the following: "This day the Board of Justices have examined and received the work done by David Heaston on the courthouse agreeable to his contract."

Another evidence that Mr. Way hired the work done by the piece and that difificulties of all kind arose, was found in the November term of 1829, as follows :

"The Board now takes into consideration the work done on the court house by Thomas Wright and consider the same as it Respects the doors and windows not finished in a workmanlike manner and leave it to the choice of said Wright to get a painter to inspect said work and if it is Judged by said painter to be done in a workmanlike manner the county is to pay the cost of said inspection if not said Wright is to pay the cost of inspection and finish the work in the manner in which it ought to be done, and if it is deceded by a painter that the work is now done accoidg to contrack by a Report from said painter to Charles Conway he as Clerk of said Board is hereby authorized to issue an order in favour of said Wright for the amount of his contract, if not considered by a painter to be finished when said Wright does finish the work he is to notify five of the Justices of the peace living nearest to the town of Winchester to attend and Exmonin the same and report to the next term of this Board."

What painter was selected to inspect the work is not known, but at least a portion of the work was found satisfactory and in January, 1830, "The Board of Justices having inspected the painting done on the doors and windows of the courthouse receive the same And order the county treasurer to pay Thomas Wright the sum of $150.00 for painting done on the court house."

It is a pretty hard matter to know jusj: when any part of the building was finished and made ready for occirpancy. It would seem that a building begun in 1826 could have been made ready long before this evidently was.

In 1829, Joseph Crown was "allowed to work at his trade in the west room of the courthouse until uext Board of Justices prived he takes the necessary care of the courthouse and suffers nothing to be injured therein."

The peculiar manner of contracting public work in vogue at that early day is shown by the contract made with Joel Ward in March, 1831, as follows ;

"The Board of Justices hereby contract with Joel Ward to proceed to Erect a Bench, Bar and suitable small benches table &c in the court house according to the plan proposed or any better plan in any part of said work that said Ward may think proper and said Ward is to have said work completed against February term of the circuit court 1832 and when said work is done said Ward is to make his charge for the same and if his charge is not agreed to by the Board doing County business then to be valued by workmen at the expense of the county and they do hereby agree that said Ward draw on the county at any time hereafter for the sum of fifty dollars." It is peculiar that men transacting public business should make such a contract, and the only excuse to offer for it, is the confidence the board had in Mr. Ward.

JMr. Ward Was unable to complete his work in the specified time and in March, 1832, was allowed "further time until the February- term of the circuit court in the year of 1833, to finish his contract heretofore entered into to erect a Bar, Bench &c in the courthouse."

W^hen the time for settlement came in September, 1833, it was, "Ordered that the County treasury pay Joel Ward $125 in part for making Bar, Bench & Seats in the Courthouse." They could not agree upon the remainder of the bill. Mr. Ward was claiming $150 for the entire work and as seen above, they paid him $125 and made the following entry: a Bar, Bench Seats &c in the Court house cannot agree upon the price of said work, it is agreed between the contracting parties that Henry Sybowl and Thomas N. Davis value said work and report to the next term of this Board." Let us state here that Mr. Ward held the esteem of the commissioners, because he was this same day appointed by them, a trustee of the county library and also on this day, filed his report as overseer of a public road.

In November, 1833, the following entry was made, "It is further agreed between the County commissioners and Joel Ward that Thomas N. Davis and Henry Sybowl or Abel Lomax, Shall Value the Bar, Bench & seats made in the courthouse by the said Joel Ward & make report of their decision to the next term of this Board." Evidently they had some trouble in doing this, as in the January term of 1834, we find that "the settlement between the County and Joel Ward in Regard to the work done on the Bar &c in the courthouse is continued until the next term." In March, 1834, it is noted that "a settlement between the county commissioners and Joel Ward in regard to making the Bar, Bench and Seats in the Courthouse is continued to the next term of this Board."

Mr. Ward's contention had been for only a little over $50.00, so it is eacy to imagine his gratification when the following report was made by the committee, November, 1834: "The honorable Board of County commissioners for Randolph County November term 1834 we your referees who were appointed by said Board to take into consideration the Value of certain work done on the courthouse in Randolph County by Joel Ward according to a certain contract of the Board doing County business in Randolph County at their March term ;[83i with the aforesaid Joel Ward, now report that we have discharged that duty having taken the whole of the work item by item into consideration it is our opinion that it is worth $188.00 & 88 cents November ist, 1834 Thomas N. Davis, Abel Lomax."

Another evidence in the patch work is that in September, 1835, it was, "Ordered that Charles Conway employ a workman either to seal or lath and plaster the Northeast Room in the Court house over head as soon as convenient."

In the September term of 1836, there are two items a little hard to explain, but we give them for what they are worth. "The filling up of the south side of the court-house floor and laying the same with brick heretofore undertaken by Jehu Robinson is this day examined By the commissioners, approved and received," and "Ordered that the County treasurer pay Jehu Robinson $22.00 for laying the south side of the Court-house floor." This

The final work of completing the court house was started ]\Iarch 6, 1839, when it was "Ordered by the Board of Commissioners that Paul W. W^ay County Agent sell to the lowest bidder the finishing of the Courthouse in Winchester work to be completed on or before the first day of March 1840,"' and "Moorman Wa}^ is appointed to Superintend the finishing of the Courthouse in Winchester."

Mr. Way procured the plans and, specifications of !Mr. Thomas Best and proceeded to advertise and sell the contract, report of which was made at the opening of the !May term, 1839, as follows :

"Pursuant to your order of last session I proceeded to advertise and sell to the lowest bidder the finishing of the courthouse in this Town after the order of the draft produced by Mr. Thos. Best, which draft and Book of explanation is herewith produced the Sale took place on the 30th day of March 1839 in this Town at which time and place the Conditions of the said Contract was fully made Known by me. David Pleaston having become the lowest and best bidder the said contract was cried of to David Heaston at two thousand dollars and the said David Heaston having been called on by me to execute his Bond for his performance agreeable to the conditions of sd. sale refuseth to execute the same Winchester Alay 6th, 1839. Paul \\'. Way C. Agent."

Whereupon the commissioners again took action in the matter by paying Mr. Best Sio.oo "for drawing the draft and making a description of the work to be done on the courthouse," and again proceeded in the matter by making the following order on IMay 9, 1839:

"The Board of County Commissioners of Randolph County order that Paul \Y Way, County Agent, advertise and resell on Saturday the fifteenth day of June next to the lowest bidder the finishing of the court house in said County agreeable to the drafts and descriptions made and deposited with said Agent, by Thomas Best, by order of said Board Except the Plastering of the walls on the outside instead of which the walls are to be painted and Penciled, the floor and wood-work of the first Stor^- and the roof and Cupola to be completed by the third monday in October next, and the remainder of the work to be completed within twelve months from that time the undertaker will be entitled to one-half of his pay on the first monday in March next and the residue twelve months from that time provided the work is done according to agreement The use of the court house is reserved for all Conty Courts at their respective Terms. And Moorman Way is appointed to Superinted the said work and report when called on."

"Pursuant to your order issued at your May Term 1839, I have resold the finishing of the Court house in this Town on the 15th of June A. D. 1839. At which sale MichaelAKer of this Town become the Undertaker at $248o.}'2 of which Sum is to be paid on or before the ist Monday of March 1840 & the balance at twelve months from that date provided the 'said work is completed and reed, by that date, and the said Michael AKer having entered into Bond with surety as required (which Bond is herewith submitted) Winchester Sept. 2nd, 1839. Paul W. Way C Agent."

Mr. Aker completed the work, received his full pay, and on September I, 1841, it was "Ordered that the Job of repairing and iinishing the Course house he received and that Michall Aker and Andrw AKern be released from any further responsibility relative to said job And the Bonn given by the Said AKers be cancelled."

In the meantime another office building had been constructed, for the use of the clerk and recorder. In March, 1836, we find "Jeremiah Smith is appointed a Special commissioner to let the Building of a Clerk & Recorders office and enclosing the public Buildings in the Townsh of Winchester according to the plan of the Board of -Commissioners."

Mr. Smith performed that duty and on the 3d of May, 1836, the following entry was made : "Reed, the Report of Jeremiah Smith the commissioners heretofore appointed to let out the building of a circuit clerk and Recorders office, Privy, and enclosing Estray pen, and the Court-house, Stating that he had performed that duty and produced the Bonds executed by the contractors for said work, which is approved and said report and Bonds are ordered to be filed in the clerk's office of this Board, which is done accordingly And ordered that said commissioners so alter the contract for fencing the Square that the south line of the fence be even with the South side of the Jail door and drawn in as far on the west side as will be necessary to make that line of the Square and to go north and East so as to make the fence ten rods Square making the small gates opposite the doors of the court-hous and omitting to make the large gate if the contractor will agree to discount one third of the amount he i- to receive for his contract to wit $50.06 said fence to be made of Walnut or poplar plank, which alteration in said contract is agreed to by Paul \X. \\^ay said contractor. And ordered that Robinson ^tlclntire be and he is hereby appointed to Superintend the buildings in the place of Jeremiah Smith, who has resigned said Superintendance."

This building was a two-room, one-story brick, situated in front of ana a little to the south of the east entrance of the present court house. The contract excepting the office rooms was let to Paul W W^ay. For some reason the board became dissatisfied with IS'Iv. Wa)^ or his contract, and in September, 1836, declared "The contract heretofore made with Paul ^^'. ^^'ay in Regard to enclosing the court-house and Estra^'-pen is by agreement between the said Paul W. Way and the County commissioners disannulled and made entirely \'oid and of none effect." (This contract was certainly cancelled.) The contract for the construction of the building was let to David Heaston for $587.50.

Mr. Heaston for some reason Avas unable to complete the building in the required time and in Xo\ ember, 1836, it was "Ordered by the Board that David Heaston have further time until the next Term of this Board to finish the Building of the Clerk and Recorders office by him heretofore undertaken." The building, however, was completed and paid for in full in the September term of 1837. A man by the name of Samuel Schaggs made the "Batten window-shutters."

These two rooms proved to be too much space at first, so it was "Ordered that Paul \y. ^Vay County Agent rent the East Room or Recorders office to the highest bidder for a office untill the First IMonday in August Xext and Repport to the Xext Term of this Board."

In January, 1839, ^Ir. Way made the follovnng report: "Pursuant to your orders I have advertised and Sold to the highest bidder the recorders office in this Town till the 4th day of August next to be occupied as an office Doctor Hosea D. Searls become the purchaser at S23.10. Xovember loth, 1838. Paul \Y. Way C. Agent."

completion of the court house, September i, 1841, that it was "Ordered that the Auditor & Treasurer be authorized to rent a house for their respective Offices of Ehas Kizer One Door A\"est of Goodrich & Brothers Store at three dollars per month for both at the Expense of the County from One year from this date. Ordered that Elias Kizer be allowed Eighteen Dollars for rent of Offices for the Auditor and Treasurer for Six Months." This, however, did not prove to be very satisfactory, at least to the commissioners.

It would be interesting to know the exact inside workings of a change that was made February 20, 1846, when it was "Ordered by the Board that the Auditor and Treasurer of said County occupy the East room of the Brick Building on the public Square Known formerly as the Recorders office as the room for their respective offices and to remove all fixtures and other apparatus Building to their respective offices from the rooms now occupied by said Auditor and Treasurer," and it was further "Ordered that Willis C. Wilmore be allowed to move the Book of Record into the west end of the Brick building occupied now as the Clerk office which shall be occupied by both Clerk and Recorder And Court Adjourned till Court in Course. Read and Signed in open court. Henry Leeka,

It is strange, indeed, that the commissioners would put four such important offices as the auditor, treasurer, clerk and recorder's in the two small rooms; perhaps it was a "fit of economy."

The recorder occupied this room until April 18, 1853, when he was ordered to "occupy the Room up Stairs in the courthouse known as the Sons of Temperance Room as his office for the purpose of Recording Deeds &C and all other instruments required to be recorded in said Recorder's office in the County of Randolph."

The crowding of these four important offices into two small rooms and the general feeling that prevailed at that time that the court house was not safe led to the agitation of the building of a new set of office rooms in 1856, when it became known that the county would build a two story brick building on the north side of the court house the Odd Fellows conceived the idea of building a third story to it. This was considered by the commissioner to be an economical plan for the county and we find that on the 22nd day of January, 1856, the following agreement was entered into:

"It is agreed by the Board of County Commissioners now in session and Harrv H. Neft', Silas Colgrove, Martin A. Needer and \Mlliam .A Peelf g committee appointed by the Winchester lodge No. 121 of the I. O. O. F. that the said lodge (upon the Second story of the public building now in contemplation of being built on the public square in the town of Winchester) be permitted at the entire expenses of said lodge to furnish and carry up the wall for a third story and in every respect as to said Story to furnish steps and make floor for said third Story and in every respect as to said third story to furnish and finish the same Excepting the roof and materials for the same and the cornish thereof, the lodge agrees to defray one third the expense of roof & cornish. It is also agreed that the said commissioners secure in some proper way the quiet and uninterrupted enjoyment of said third story for a Lodge room for said order so long as the order may desire it and free ingress and egress to the same. Read and signed in open Court. And the Board adjourned till the ist Monday in March.

With this agreement between the county commissioners and the trustees of the I. O. O. F., the county commissioners advertised for the letting of the contract to build said building and on Saturday, March 8, 1856:

"The Board of County Commissioners proceeded to let the building of the public offices and received sealed proposes according to the advertisement and the building of the brick work was awarded to Benedict Feathers at the sum of $1,316.00; the carpenters and joiners work was let to Thomas Best & Co., for the sum of $744.00 and the plastering of the offices was let to Micaijh Puckett for the sum of $210.00 and bond was given by these parties to faithfully perform the work."

April 15, 1856, it was: "Ordered by the Board that Moorman Way, Esquire, be and he is hereby appointed the Special Agent for Randolph County to visit Dayton, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, Ohio (if necessary) and' there to contract for Stone, Iron and Iron Doors and fixtures necessary to the erection of the County offices of said County, now under contract for building. Said Moorman Way is empowered by this, his said appointment, to make all the purchases of said material, which said material shall be paid for out of the County Treasury of said County in cash on the ist monday in June, 1856."

for the County offices on the following described portion of the public Square, towit : to be set 30 feet from the north wall of the Court House the east side of said offices to be in line with the east wall of the Court House and to be laid out and built north of said first line towards Washington Street and to front to the east."

"That the edifice about to be erected on the public square for the County offices be erected on the north side of the public square, commencing forty feet north of the north wall of the Court House to front with the east front of the court house and run north forty feet towards Washington street."

On this same day : "The Board of County Commissioners sold to George Monks the present edifice occupied for offices of Auditor, Treasurer and Clerk for the sum of $100.00, payable in six months from date; the Board excepting the stone forming the foundation of said building and a book case in the east side of the Clerk's office."

, It was evidently the intention of Mr. Monks to use the material of the old building in the new building but something must have gone wrong as in December of the same year the Commissioners ordered :

"That Carey S. Goodrich be and he is hereby authorized to have and take possession of the edifice known as the old Clerk and Auditors office on the public square except the east case in said office and such pigeon holes as are not affixed to said building for the sum of $50.00 said edifice to be removed by the 15th of May next and that George Monks be released from his said contract heretofore made with the County Board pertaining to said edifice."

But the building of the new office rooms north of the court house did not yet provide adequate room for the various offices of the county. It would have been enough had the old court house been secure. It seems that this building was never considered safe. The recorder was ordered to take the "Sons of Temperance Room" in 1853 and that organization was required to move. Tom Brown rented the grand jury room in 185 1 and various other rooms were rented in the old building but the people generally seemed to be somewhat afraid of it.

In 1864 the county commissioners rented McKews hall for the purpose of holding the Common Pleas Court. They also rented a room of Moorman Way in which to hold the Circuit Court. Court was held in McKews hall until the 8th of January, 1866, when : (")

"It is hereby Ordered by the Board, that the Room known and designated as Locke's Hall in the third story of the building situated on the Northeast corner of Washington and Meridian Streets in the town of Winchester, be and the same is hereby furnished to the County for all the uses and purposes of a Court Room, in lieu of the 'Old Court House' this day sold to the said John Ross by said Board."

"The Board proceed to offer the said Court House & Privy for sale to the highest bidder and John Ross did then and there bid for the same the sum of three hundred and forty dollars and the said sum of $340 being the highest and best price bid for said property the same is openly struck of and sold to the said John Ross for said sum : . And he the said purchaser is to remove from ofif the Public Square said buildings and all the rubbish of same, taking care not to injure any of the public property of the County in the removal of said buildings or rubbish. He is also required to give his note with apjproved security waiving valuation and appraisement laws, to secure the payment when it becomes due of the above price. He the said John Ross thereupon makes and executes his promissory note, to secure the above sum which note is in the words and figures following - towit :

Which said note and security is approved by the Board, and the said Board Order and direct that said old buildings be removed together with the rubbish from ofif the Public Square by the first day of July, 1866, to which the said purchaser agrees."

As will be seen by this entry John Ross had purchased the old court house that day. This old building was torn down and the material useci to

Another contract was made in this location of the court room, March 13, 1867, when the commissioners entered into an agreement for "Bradbury's Hall for Use of Courts"; on this day Mr. Bradbury leased to Randolph county for the term of three years the third story of the building situated on the west part of lot No. 9, north front, town of Winchester, county and state aforesaid, and for the sum of $200.00 per annum, commencing on the 1st day of November 1866 and bound himself to provide said room with sufficient seats for court purposes :

It will be noted that "McKews," "Locke's" and "Bradbury's" Halls is the same room. This hall was afterwards known as "Stone's Hall," and we find that March 10, 1869:

"It is ordered by the Board that A. Stone is allowed one hundred fifty dollars in full of amount due and owing to him for rent of his Hall for Court room, and he by agreement releases the said Board of Commissioners from any further liability for rent for said room under the provisions of a contract with D. M. Bradbury made March 13, 1867. (See Comrs. Rec. No. 3 p.

This contract was cancelled with Mr. Stone because the commissioners had on the 21st of December, 1868, purchased of George McAdams : "His undivided half in value of the property on the north side of the public square, Lots No. 8 and 9 in the north front known as the City Hall in the town of Winchester." The commissioners paid Mr. McAdams the sum of $4,000.00 and received a warranty deed for said property and made the following entry concerning it:

"And it is hereby ordered by the Board that said Hall or room known as "City Hall" situate on Lot Number Eight (8) (We^t part) and east part of Lot No. (9) Nine in the North Front of the town of Winchester in said County be and the same is hereby declared to be for the use of said County of Randolph for the purposes of a Court House in which to hold the Circuit and Common Pleas Court of said County, and for all other purposes for which a Court House is required."

to Mr. Chas. E. Magee for the sum of $3,075.00, "reserving the right to use and occupy the front room in the second story of the building on said real estate for one year free of rent, and the right to use and occupy the residue of said second story of the building on said real estate during the sessions of circuit court for one year free of rent."

It had been evident for some time that it would be necessary to build a new court house and provisions were Ijegun for the same by levying a tax as early as 1870. It was the policy to accumulate a fund for that purpose so that the rate of taxation would not be so high when the building was actually constructed. Quite a sum of money, something like $35,000.00, had been accumulated for that purpose and in 1875 the county commissioners were, short sighted enough to refuse to make a levy for county purposes thus exhausting all the surplus and leaving the county without any funds whatever when it became necessary to build the new court house. It is said the commissioners took this unwise step largely through personal reasons.

"A special session of the Board of Commissioners of Randolph County, Indiana, was begun and held at the Auditors office of said County on Thursday April 8th, A. D., 1875, in pursuance to a summons duly issued on the 8th day of April 1875 by Wm. D. Kizer Auditor of said County, and Served by W. A. .Daly, Sheriff, due return whereof was made on said 8th day of April 1875, by which it is shown that due service thereof was made. Present Philip Barger, F. G. Morgan and Thomas Clevenger, members of said Board. Wm. D. Kizer Auditor of said County, and Ex-Officio Clerk of said Board, and Wm. A. W. Daly, Sheriff of said County. The Board having under consideration the propriety of building a Court House for said County, and having duly deliberated thereon, adopt certain Plans and Specifications and order notice to contractors to be published, which is as follows, viz :

Winchester, April 8, 1875. Notice is hereby given that sealed proposals will be 'received by the Board of Commissioners of Randolph County Indiana, for the building of a county Court House, until June (i6th) Sixteenth 1875, at 12 o'clock M. noon, when the bids will be opened. The Commissioners reserve the right to reject any or all bids if considered for the best interest of the County.

A bond signed by two responsible parties will be required to accompany the bid in the sum of Five Thousand Dollars that the bidder will enter into a contract and furnish sufficient and satisfactory bail if said contract is awarded him. Two setts of Plans and Specifications prepared by J. C. Johnson Archt, Fremont Ohio can be seen at the Auditors office in Winchester Randolph County, from April 14th, 1875, until the day of letting. The building to be commenced July ist, 1875, the foundation to be completed by November ist, 1875, the building to be completed by April ist, 1877. All of the plans will be on file from and after June ist, 1875."

The contract was given to Aaron G. Campfield to build and erect said court house at the sum of $73,000.00. Mr. Campfield entered into contract with the commissioners on the 2nd day of June, 1875, and proceeded immediately to the erection of the court house, which was built according to specifications and completed and accepted by the county commissioners April i, 1877, at which time Mr. George Ennis was appointed janitor at a salary of $425.00 per year. Mr. Ennis continued in this position faithfully until his death on the 2nd day of August, 1912, at which time Charles Puckett was appointed, serving until January i, 1914, when James A. Davis received the appointment.

It no doubt seemed to the county commissioners that the present court house was sufficiently large to accommodate the public for an indefinite period but it fs now entirely too small and inadequate to meet the needs of public business. It seems strange that a building costing the amount that this one did should be built and no protection made against fire of any of the public recoixls and up to date no commissioners or county council has ever had the "back-bone" to provide the protection against so serious a loss.

The attic of the present building is a mass of pine timber of the most inflammable kind, needing only a small start of flame to completely destroy the building.

At this time, 1914, the question of remodeling the building is being agitated and it is to be hoped that such a splendid thing will in the very near future be accomplished.

Were the records of the county to be destroyed the loss from such destruction could not be estimated in dollars and cents. The cost of repair of the court house would be a bagatelle in comparison to such loss.

Jail

It has been noted in the earlier part of this chapter that the first jail built in the county was begun in 1818 and completed in 1820.. This jail is said to have had inter-locking corners and some of the people now living who remember seeing it say that it was a double wall but the records give no evidence of any such construction. Memory is a very treacherous affair and for that reason we are inclined to think that the specifications were followed literally and that it was to have had a wall made of logs hewn to 13 inches square.

This building stood on the southwest corner of the present court house square east of the box-elder tree now growing there. This jail served its purpose well for many years and many desperate characters have been' securely kept in it, but like all materials the logs in time began to give way through age and decay until at last it is said that three prisoners escaped by digging their way through the rotten logs. This building stood until some time after December term of 1857 in which it was :

"Ordered by the Board that William W. Smith be and he hereby is authorized to remove the old log County Jail off of the public square from where it now stands and to sell the iron now attached to said Jail and to pay the proceeds of said sale into the County Treasury and make report of his doing in the premises to the next term of this Board."

this Board to get up a plan and Specifications for a County Jail and for the purpose of enabling said Best and Way or either of them to give the best and most approved plan they or either of them are hereby authorized to visit the several prisons in the adjoining counties or adjoining state for the purpose of giving the most approved plan for said Building and make report of their proceedings in the premises to the next term of this Board."

The architects evidently did not get their plans and specifications as soon as the commissioners expected, but April 14, 1857, the following entry was made :

"Now at this time the Board of County Comrs. had selected the site for, and on which to build a County Jail and Sheriff residence which building is to be set south of the Court House, and in line with the Court House and public offices, and to set forty feet south of the Court House and the east line or east front of said building to be set in line with the east line or east front of said Court House and public offices. The North east corner of said buildmg to set forty feet south of the southeast corner of the Court House and run south forty feet thence west thirty feet thence north forty feet thence east thirty feet to the place of beginning which building shall be two stories high with a permanent stone foundation. According to the specifications which may hereafter be adopted by the Board of Co Comrs."

"Ordered by the Board that Nathaniel Kemp and Thomas Aker be and they are hereby appointed and rec[uired to visit Dayton and Cincinnati for the purpose of employing a Mechanic and contracting with same for the building Iron Cells and the other necessary appendages to the County Jail And said Nathaniel Kemp and Thomas Aker report that they have attended to the same and make report of the following contract made and entered into by them with Cincinnati JNIechanic at the following terms and prices, etc."

The records have three and a half pages blank following this, hence it was evident that they intended to fill in terms and prices at some later time. The contract spoken of was made with Jacobs & Co., of Dayton, Ohio.

"Ordered by the Board that Nathan Garrett. Auditor of said County, give the Notice' to the Contractors for the Building of a County Jail and

Sheriffs Residence as soon as the time can be fixed upon by Nathaniel Kemp & Moorman Way, said Notice to be given by Publication being made in the Randolph County Journal a weekly newspaper printed and published in Winchester." ,

"Board of County Commissioners proceeded to receive the proposals of several mechanics for the erection of the County jail to be together with the sheriffs residence on the south part of the public square and after examining the several proposals the brick work was let to Benedict Feathers for the sum of fourteen hundred dollars it is therefore ordered by the Board that the Brick work be and is hereby let to Benedict Feathers for the said sum of fourteen hundred dollars and that said Benedict Feathers be required to give bond in the penal sum of twenty eight hundred dollars with sufficient free hold security to the acceptance by the Board. And after examination of the several proposals, the Carpenters work was let to Martin A. Reeder for- the sum of six hundred and twenty five dollars, and that said Martin A. Reeder be required to give bond in the penal sum of twelve hundred and fifty dollars with sufficient freehold security to the acceptance of the Board. And after examinations of the several proposals the plastering was let to A. D. and A. O. Neffs for the sum of one hundred and forty five dollars. It is therefore ordered by the Board that the plastering be and the same is hereby let to A. D. & A. O. Neff, for the sum of one hundred and forty five dollars and that said A. D. & A. O. Neff be required to give bond in the penal sum of two hundred and ninety dollars with sufficient freehold security to the acceptance of the Board."

This jail was completed in the spring of 1858. The commissioners were so well pleased with the work of Mr. Way that on March 3d, of that year they passed the following resolutions and ordered it to be "spread" upon the records of this Court :

"W^hereas, the County Buildings being nearly completed and the services of Architect and Superintendent being no longer indispensible, therefore :

Resolved, that the thanks of this Board be and hereby is tendered to Moorman Way Esqr for the faithful, efficient, and skillful manner in which he has discharged the trusts committed to him.

Resolved, that Mr. Way be requested to present his claims for services rendered, at his earliest convenience to the Board, that the same may be passed upon and allowed.

For the first time in the history of the county the sheriff was provided with a residence in connection with the jail and the sheriffs from that time on have lived with their families in the jail.

This jail was peculiarly constructed in the interior. It had a walkaway around the cells. If prisoners were disposed to take advantage, they could make it very dangerous for the sheriff.

At one time three prisoners had planned to do violence to the deputy sheriff and inquired of Mrs. Ford, the sheriff's wife, if Mr. Ford was at home and upon being told that he was not, asked when he would return. Mrs. Ford answered that she did not know. This conversation did not in any way attract her attention, as such a conversation was usual, Mr. Ford being a popular man with the prisoners.

On the evening of May 29th, 187 - , the day of the above conversation, Mr. Ford entered his room to put the prisoners in the cells and Mrs. Ford, as was the custom, stepped to the door to lock him in the "jail room," when, to her horror, she saw one of the prisoners, a man by the name of Dudley, strike Mr. Ford. Dudley was standing on this walk-way and had a small stick of wood attached to his string which was fastened around his wrist.

Prisoners were afterwards overheard to regret their action, as they had not intended to strike Mr. Ford, but had expected to strike the deputy. Being above him they could not tell which one was there.

At one time the jail itself was surrounded by a high board fence no doubt more to prevent prisoners seeing out and people seeing in than for any means of protection. It seems to have been a common playground for the children of Winchester at that time, as we have been told by a number of citizens of their playing in this enclosure and especially of being able to crawl under the building in playing hide and seek.

At one time when some prisoners had escaped it was thought that they were in hiding under the jail and the story is told that Mr. Kb. Hall, a man who is fearless, was the only one who would agree to crawl under the building and endeavor to find them, and much to his 'satisfaction and that of his friends, no prisoners were there.

It seems strange that in the records of the commissioner's court no mention has been made whatever concerning the Free and Accepted Masons, Winchester Lodge, No. 56, having built the third story of the building; however, the fact remains that the building, instead of being situated with the length way north and south, it was east and west and the Winchester Lodge No. 56 built the third story the same as the Odd Fellows built the third story of the north building.

The Masons occupied this room until the building was demolished, at which time, March 13, 1883, they sold their interest to the county for the sum of $500.

The condition of the old jail became so wretched from every point of view that the grand jury in 1880 investigated and censured the commissioners so severely for their allowing such a condition to exist in a civilized county that the commissioners took notice of it and at a special meeting of the board employed E. J. Hodgson, architect, January ist, 1881. Mr. Hodgson was to receive the sum of $600.00 for his services. On the first day of February, 1 88 1, notice was served to contractors and builders that the commissioners would receive sealed proposals in the auditor's office in the town of Winchester, Randolph county, Indiana, until i o'clock p. m., Monday, the 4Lh day of April, for furnishing material and labor required in the erection, construction and completion of a jail and sheriff's residence in the town of Winchester.

On April ist two of the commissioners, Elias F. Halliday and William R. Coggeshall, met in the commissioner's office, with R. V. Murray, sheriff, and George X. Edger, auditor, and received and opened bids which were as follows :

After inspecting and examining the bids they let the contract to Mr. Campfield, who entered into contract with the commissioners to faithfully perform the work in a skillful manner agreeable to the plans and specifications as filed in the auditor's office and gave bond for its completion, with Thomas M. Brown, D. E. Hoffman, C. E. Magee and Thomas Ward as bondsmen.

On .the same day the commissioners entered into a contract with Martin A. Reeder for Lot No. seven (7) in the southeast square of the town of Winchester for the sum of $2,500.00.

The contracts for the inside work of finishing the jail were let to other parties. The contract for tile floor was let to the United States Encaustic Tile Compan}^ for $225.00. The plumbing to J- & F. Niel, $1,350.00. Heating and ventilating to H. M. Crane, Cincinnati, Ohio, for the sum of $1,156.00. The iron work to H. C. Hepburn and William Renschall, of Cleveland, Ohio, for $2,089.00.

The material furnished by Messrs. Hepburn and Renschall was very unsatisfactory. May i6th, 1887, the board met and inspected the plate iron furnished for the floor and decided it was not of the kind and quality as provided for in the contract and specifications and condemned and rejected it and ordered the company not to put any of this iron in the jail building, and Tuesday, Ma}'' 24th, was set for the time of letting same, on which day they received but one bid, being that of William Fitzmaurice. Mr. Fitzmaunce's bid was for $3,100.00.

"And the board having seen and inspected' siid bid and after due consideration did reject said bid." Two days later, however, Mr. Fitzmaurice filed another bid, as follows :

"1, William Fitzmaurice, do hereby propose and offer to the board of commissioners of the county of Randolph to furnish all the material and labor and employments mentioned and described in the specifications as therein stated and required subject to all the conditions therein mentioned for the sum of $500.00, to be paid to me when same is done and accepted and approved by the board. Said work to be completed on or before July ist, 1887." Which bid the commissioners accepted and promised to pay the same when the work was completed and accepted by the board.

The jail, however, was soon completed and was at that time one of the most modern structures in the state. It has since that time borne the test put upon such buildings and at this time, 19 14, is satisfactory and a very good building. At different times grand juries have reported repairs of various kinds, which, fo'r the most part, have been made by the county commissioners.

Infirmary

To care for the poor, to relieve the distressed, to sustain the unfortunate, and to aid those who, by misfortune or otherwise, are no longer able to care for themselves, has been a duty of society since the organization of man. No nation has ever been more attentive to this class of unfortunates than the United States, and nd state has ever done its part more willingly and heroically than Indiana, and we ihope that no county has responded to the needs of its unfortunates with more willingness and a greater degree of consideration than has Randolph county. It is true this county has been governed by state laws and has had to stay within the limits of its means and has no doubt at times seemingly fallen short of what it might otherwise have done, yet the records of the county are clear as to their having always responded to the needs of the poor.

In the organization of the county a building was provided for the courts and offices. The jail was built to care for the criminals, and even a stray pen was maintained to care for the stock that had wandered away from its rightful domain, but no such provision was made for the poor.

Each township had two overseers of the poor appointed and it was the duty of these men to look after the unfortunates in their respective townships in the early history, there being few people, the needs of the people being small and easily furnished, provisions being somewhat lalentiful, being charitable and hospitable and generous to a fault, the poor were cared for without any appeal to the public.

It is improbable that any appointments had been made previous to this time, as the machinery of government was only just starting at this time.

Most of the people helped at this time lived in Greens fork and White River townships. This can easily be explained because most of the people lived in these townships. When it became necessary to care for an unfortunate person they were farmed out. The first entry we have of this is in the November term of 1826, when it was :

"Ordered that the County Treasurer pay Curtis ' Clenney the sum of three dollars and 75 cents fof five days attending as overseer of the poor to farming out Levi Halle, a pauper in greensfork Township, and George T. Wilson $1.50 for two days attending to the same."

It was further : "Ordered that the County treasurer pay Joseph Halle the sum of six dollars in part for Keeping and maintaining Levi Halle a pauper."

The records have a great many such instances as this where people were farmed out and where people were paid for keeping their -own relatives. The county has had a few cases where people were kept by the county for a great many years. The Levi Halle spoken of was kept until he died, February 22, 1830, when it was :

"Ordered that the County treasurer pay Abraham Reins the sum of $2.50 for making a coffin to inter Levi Halle a pauper, who deceased February 22nd, 1830."

Mr. Halle was, we take it, an average pauper of that time and we find that in May, 1829, he was "farmed out at $39.84 to Joseph Halle for the ensuing year."

The bids were taken on paupers and the prices varied from $12.00 or $14.00 a year up to as high as $41.00 or $42.00, depending of course on the amount of help the pauper would be to the man bidding for him.

Another noted case was that of Thomas Morris who was farmed out May 5, 1829, at $17.25 to Stanton Bailey for the ensuing year by Curtis Clenney and Travis Adcock overseers of the poor of Greensfork township. Mr. Morris is still found on the list in 1837 as having been farmed out at $60.00. How much longer he remained we do not know.

A man by the name of James Bailey was put on the list as early as 1827. He was farmed out for the sum of $8.00 to Nancy Bailey, his wife. This was simply a way of keeping a man and his wife and the less decrepit of the two was given the contract of keeping the other, however, in later years, she was also paid for keeping a husband and a son. These people lived in West River township and were kept by the county for a great many years, in fact, in 1854 when the paupers were gathered from over the county and placed in the county infirmary we find, "paupers from West River township, are Nancy Bailey, Hiram Bailey and James Bailey." In June these same people were re-committed to their township which was Nettle Creek and were farmed out to Hugh Bailey for the sum, of $150.00 per year. We do not know how long they remained dependents on the county but we find that in September, 1859, they were returned to the poor asylum from Nettle Creek township.

We mention these cases, not with the idea -of exploiting the unfortunate condition of any special one but to show the great lengths of time from which the county has at time extended this class of protection. In fact, there is a man living in the county today, 1914, who has been receiving public aid since 1855 or for a period of almost sixty years. The county, however, is only doing its duty, and it is well that the county is able to so well take care of its unfortunates. Conditions in some parts of the state were such that the legislature was moved to pass a law in 1848 compelling counties to provide public i^laces wherein the unfortunate poor might have care and with this end in view, December 6th, 1850, it was:

"Ordered by the Board that Robert Irvin Abraham Adams and Peter S. Miller be and they are hereby appointed Special Comrs to select and purchase a farm as near the County seat as can be procured taking into consideration price and quality, etc., the said farm so procured shall be kept and dedicated to the support of the poor of said County. Said Commissioners shall make report of their proceedings in the premises to the next term of this Board."

March 7, 1851, it was: "Ordered by the Board that William A. Peele and David Heaston be and they are hereby appointed Trustees to Superintend and farm out the poor farm of the County to some suitable person and to see that the Paupers are Received on the said farm on the ist monday in may next & properly provided for and make report of their proceeding in the premises to next term of their Board."

March 28th Messrs. Peele and Heaston were authorized to procure horses and wagon and necessary stock and utensils for farming the poor farm of said county, as was always the case were to make report at the next meeting. This they proceeded to do by buying a "horse beast" of Acil Stone for $50.00, a "horse beast" of Samuel Ludy for $59.93, a "waggon" of Henry Lipp for $65.00, "goods, wares and merchandise" of Best & Way, $46.76, the same of Thos. Ward, $32.58, the same of D. J. Cottom, $8.76, "goods" of Zimri Moffett $3.46, plow of Pleasant Diggs, $10.50, harness of Sol Yunker, $7.12, "single trees" John Way $2.75, chairs, Lewis Walker $10.00, harrow, Thomat. Butterworth $1.75, oats, James Forsythe $4.00, tinware James O. Dormer

$2.48, potatoe plants David Wysong, 75 cents, bed steads William Allen $47.50, necessary articles William H. Fitzgerald $90.17 and so the poor farm was started and equipped.

At this time an inventory was made of the property when it was found that the county had property to the value of $1,813.10. We are inclined to think, however, that some of the property was appraised rather high as we find one table, $10.00; three tubs, $4.50, and other things in proportion.

At the end of that year Mr. Fitzgerald reports having thirteen inmates and "here further reports that,none of said paupers are able to perform labor, being all very old, very young, weak minded or diseased and that he has realized nothing from their industry." He further reports that expenses for maintaining his own family and said paupers to be $214.72)4.

There was no building of any consequence on this farm. The commissioners met on the loth day of July, 1852, for the purpose of receiving specifications and bids for the building of a poor house for the accommodation of the paupers when the following order was made :

"Ordered by the Board that the following plan be and the same is hereby adopted by the Board for the Building of a House on the poor Asylum of said County for the accommodation of the paupers at said Asylum. The house shall be sixty feet long and forty feet wide and twelve feet high. A main Hall ten feet wide and sixty feet long through the center of the building And a second hall through the center of the building from east to west six feet wide and forty feet long, etc. And it is therefore further ordered by the Board that Thomas Best or Asahel Stone be and they are hereby appointed to draw the draft and furnish specifications for the erection of said building and furnish the same to this Board on Saturday the 17th instant by 12 O'clock."

In March, 1853, the building' was built by a Joseph Johnson and was accepted by the commissioners December 20, 1852, at which time, however, they reserved $50.00 until the "painting and whitewashing" is completed.

In 1853 Mr. Fitzgerald reports having sixteen inmates, to wit: 7 white males, 3 white females, 2 black males, 4 black females. He further reports that: "all said paupers in said asylum are either from age, infirmity or youth unable to perform much manual labor."

when the "poor asylum" was destroyed. The commissioners found "that the paupers of said County are in a destitute condition" and ordered that the township overseers of the poor be instructed to care for the paupers from the several townships. White River and Greensfork townships were the only townships having inmates 'in the asylum at this time. For some reason the commissioners ordered : "that the personal property appertaining to the poor asylum and belonging to said County be exposed to public sale to the highest bidder on the 3rd day of March, next, on the poor farm of said County" and the business of the county infirmary was practically closed for a year. They, however, proceeded, immediately, to the construction of a new building and March 11, 1854, Thomas Best was "employed to make a draft and specifications for the Building an Asylum on the poor farm." Mr. Best was authorized to visit several asylums and to "adopt a Most Convenient plan for the accommodation of the inmates and for the family of the Superintendant." The auditor was instructed to advertise . for sealed proposals at the next term of the commissioners' court on said building. This duty was performed and on April 17th the commissioners received sealed proposals for the building and let the contract to Joseph Johnson for the sum of $5,950.00 upon condition that the building be completed by May i, 1855. Mr. Johnson, evidently, did not succeed very well in his building as on May 7, 1855, the commissioners met in a special meeting: "visiting the poor asylum of said County and receiving said asylum and superintending the reception of the paupers from several townships in said County and to do and transact such other and further business as the interests of the said County may require. Present, the Honorable Andrew Devoss, George W. Vanderburg and Nathaniel Kemp, lEsqs., members of said Board and after visiting the said asylum they find the same unfinished and do not receive the same."

The matter continued with more or less quibbling for almost a year and finally Ernestus Strohm was "appointed to furnish material to complete the County asylum of said County as near as can be done on the original plan and to be governed by the specifications if they can be obtained." Mr. Strohm completed the work.

"Now at this time the Board of County Comrs. settle with Joseph Johnson and it is approved by and between the Board of County Comrs and the said Joseph Johnson that in consequence of said Joseph Johnson indemnifying said Board with bond and security approved by said Board to hold said County harmless of supposed leins filed against said Johnsons dues or claims against said County, and said Bond being by said Johnson given with Jere Smith his security the Board Order the Auditor to Issue to said Johnson, Orders to the amount of two hundred and eighty six dollars and thirty four cents, the Balance due said Johnson after deducting the amount necessary to finish the said Johnson undertaking with said County," etc.

This building served its purpose with more or less efficiency for a number of years but as the population of the county increased the needs of a better equipment at the poor farm correspondingly increased. Matters went on in their usual way with more inmates being committed from year to year and no additional accommodations being provided for.

During the administration of Mr. Hall matters became such that it attracted the attention of the public and grand jury after grand jury reported after having visited the institution that the needs were wholly inadequate to the necessity. Public pressure finally became so strong that in 1899 the commissioners, William Horn, Adam Slonaker and Thomas H. Clark, contracted with W. F. Kaufman, architect, Richmond, Indiana, January 19, 1899, "to furnish a complete set of drawings, specifications and all detail drawing requisite and necessary to erect a County Infirmary on the present infirmary farm in Randolph County, State of Indiana." Mr. Kaufman was also to act as the superintendent of the erection of such building. Mr. Kaufman furnished the plans and specifications which were adopted by the board and. left in the auditor's office for the use of persons bidding on said proposed work which was to be completed on or before October i, 1899. Mr. Kaufman evidently finished his plans as he was paid $600.00 on the same on March 9, 1899. Just why all bids were not received sooner and contract let is not known but it remains a fact that they were not received and opened until March 19, at which time the following bids were received : Joseph Shetterly, $34,373.00; J. M. Hagerman, $36,290.00; A. G. Campfield, $34,900.00, and W. H. Kreep, $34,950.00. The bid of Mr. Shetterly was considered best and was accepted and contract was awarded to him. The time of completion was extended to November i, 1899.

Much dissatisfaction arose during the construction of the building as to the quality of the material and the work that was allowed to be put into the building. Many additional items of expense were also added, making the final cost of the building somewhere near $40,000.00. The building is, however, splendidly arranged and with the additions and conveniences, that have, in recent years, been added, it is now considered a model infirmary. (12)

Tt should no longer be called a "poor farm" but should rather be called "home for the poor.'" With the character of the superintendent and matron of recent years it has indeed been a home for the unfortunates who have found it necessary to be there. It would be a shame for it to be otherwise in such a county a- ours with its wealth, intelligence and high degree of society.

It is interesting to know at this time that bids were taken and that the position of Superintendent of the poor asylum was let to the bidder, usuall}^ the lowest, who suited the commissioners best. Mr. Gray took the place on the following conditions :

"I do hereby agree to superintend and take care of the poor asjdum of Randolph County for one year for four hundred dollars. Furnish 2 horses and A wagon and gears and .Six cows, Alyself and \Mfe and one girl ten years old and one other woman part of the time, board oursehes and stock till the first of Ma)-, 3 beds, 6 chairs, dishes sufficient for our own use and other apparatus too tedious to mention." Signed, Simon Gray.

A\"hereupon the commissioners entered into contract with Air. Gray. He giving bond in the sum of fifteen hundred dollars for his faithful performance as .such superintendent. January 21, 1856, Mr. Gray submitted two propositions to the county commissioners, the first being:

I do hereb}- agree to take care of the Randolph County poor asylum for one year and furnish three horses and gears, one waggon, 5 milk cows, Myself and wife and one girl eleven 3'ears old for S400.00, furnish our own bedding and "clothes and the increase of all stock to be mine." The second was : "I will furnish three horses and gears and one Waggon 5 milk cows and 12 or 15 head of sheep and let you (the County) have all the increase and profits of all the Stock and furnish labor as before for the sum of S450.00. ' The last proposition was accepted by the Commissioners. 'Sir. Gray entered into contract, giving bond as before, with Thomas W. Coats as his security.

The next year the Commissioners employed Jeremiah Cox as superintendent after they had examined se\-eral bids which were submittd. yir. Cox submitted the following proposal : "to render his aid and wife and four children, two boys, oldest 10 years, youngest nine, two girls, oldest seven years, youngest five years old and to find clothing and bedding for the comfort of his familv and to furnish the use of two work horses. Harness and a two horse Waggon, One two horie plow, one Shovel plow, and the use of four milk cows with the increase to be left on the farm and the use of onu cook stove with other cooking utensils all the above mentioned for the term of one year for the sum of $200.00, prosal made this 3 day of January, 1857.'' Signed, Jeremiah Cox.

Evidently the commissioners begun to think the cost of the poor farm was unwarranted as in December, 1857, they ordered the auditor to make a report of "the whole cost of taking care of paupers of said County at the County asylum for the years A. D. 1855, 1856, 1857, including physicians salary, superintendents salary, and incedental expenses appertaming to this end." They further ordered the auditor : "Ordered by the Board that the Auditor be and he is hereby required to give notice by having publication made for three weeks successively in the Randolph County Journal of the letting of the County Asylum for the next in coming year to the lowest responsible bidder, which letting will be at the Court House in Winchester on Friday the 15th day of January A. D. 1858. The Board reserving the right to decide of the manner proposed, the amount each bidder will undertake to furnish, etc., etc., or perform the duties rec[uired of him according to his particular bid."

These bids were received January 15, 1858, and the commissioners entered into a contract with Mr. Thomas McConochy, Mr. McConochy giving bond with Elias Kizer having "appeared in open Court and offered himself as security for the performance of said Thomas McConochy." Mr. Mc- Conochy was to receive "the sum of two hundred dollars and seventy-five cents to do all the necessary labor in the house and on the farm, without any expense from the County, to furnish two horses and gears, and one wagon and one milk cow and furnish my beds and bedding for my own family my family in number is four, myself. Wife and two children, one boy eight years old and a girl eleven years old."

During the first year of Mr. McConochy's term an incident occurs which shoAvs the spirit of the earl)- Society of Friends. The minutes of this transaction are self-explanatory and show the spirit with which that society practiced the teachings of the Master.

"This Memorandum is to certify I, the undersigned, on behalf of the poor Committee of White Water Monthly meeting of the Society of Friends in the County of Wayne and State of Indiana do hereby Obligate myself to pay to Thomas McConochy Superintendent of Randolph County poor house on or before the ist day of 2nd Mo. (February) 1859 The sum of Seventy Dollars, being for the purpose of assisting to keep and support Samuel Davidson who is now an inmate of said poor house for Two years past & which two years.will expire at that time, and if said Davidson should not live to the end of the time above specified a deduction at the rate of thirty five dollars a year is to be made from this obligation for the unexpired time. 8 mo. 13th 1858. Jeremiah Hadley.

"And it is further agreed and confirmed between us that the said poor committee above referred to is to pay yearly for the same purpose to the superintendent of the above poor house the sum of thirty five dollars, to be paid on the ist day of the 2nd month of each that said Davidson in said poor House after the expiration of the time above mentioned in the above obligation. 8th mo. 13, 1858. Jeremiah Hadley,

Mr. McConochy was employed again January, i860, for the period of one year. He was to receive $350.00 but in addition to his regular work agreed to "re-roof the barn, re-set all the fences on the farm that needs it & clear up a piece of groimd in the south field on the west side of the State road, & put gates where they are needed and make a blind ditch eighteen rods long in the field east of the house."

December 6th, i860, the commissioners received the proposition to superintend the poor asylum from Elias Kizer. Mr. Kizer had been a very prominent man in the history of the county for some years, having served as road supervisor, road viewer, juror and county commissioner seven years. That Mr. Kizer was "onto the game" and understood public pulse is shown by the character of the proposal that he submitted to the commissioners. Evidently Mr. Kizer knew some of the unfavorable conditions existing at the time which he hoped to rectify. His proposition upon which he was hired is such that we feel justified in giving it in full : in Randolph County Indiana. I will furnish team, wagon, plows, & hands sufficient to do all the work on the farm & in the house, & not keep any more hands than are really needed; the family shall be small so as to make the expenses light, as possible on the "County. As for my extras on my table I will account for them to the County outside of what the paupers have to live on. I will be accountable for all neglect on my part. Likewise I will make all the shoes or have them made for the paupers, the County just paying for the leather, mending likewise, And I will keep the farm in good repair, & leave it in the same. This you may be the judges of yourself es. I will do all the dealing that is necessary for the use of the paupers, & keep a correct account & report to you every three months if required. N. B. I will furnish my own beds and clothing.

This labor is worth five hundred dollars per year, but if you think it too much, anything between that & three hundred I will be satisfied with. I leave this with you for I think you to be reasonable men & know what is reasonable & wright, & if I don't perform the labor according to contract, I don't want anything for it. I do this for the good of the County.

N. B. I will give no meals victuals away, uless" I charge myself with it at 25 cts per meal. Thiss I will account to the County for; this is wright and just.

We the Board of County Commissioners accept the proposition of Elias Kizer. He is therefore appointed to superintend the poor asylum & farm for one year commencing Feb. ist 1861 and ending Jan. 21st 1869.

Mr. Kizer made good and was again employed in 1862 under the proposition that, "I will superintend the whole matter that I have done for the sum of $500.00 for the year and of course do the best I can for the County. I will make the expenses as low as possible, doing the land justice, also the paupers." Mr. Kizer was again employed in 1863, this time for $550.00. The County to pay for medical attendance and medicine. Mr. Kizer was again employed in 1864 for the sum of $600.00. "The County to pay for all repairs and Smith work, furnish plows and farming implements, Kizer to pay the Doctors bills except in extreme cases and the County to pay for all medil82 RANDOLPH, COL'XTY, INDIANA.

cine. The farm to be kept in as good order or better than it now is." Again in January, 1865, ]\Ir. Kizer was employed for the year for the sum of $700.00. This time he went into the following agreement : "I will do the Very best for the County and the Paupers ieaving all I Make on the Farm at the end of the Year Except What I take to the farm of my own property."

The Commissioners were called together January 8, 1866, to consider, among other things, "proposals to take charge of the poor asylum for the ensuing year." We. do not know how many proposals were offered or by whom but the one accepted was made by Jonathan Edwards for the sum oi $500.00. The county, "to pay the expenses of all necessary repairs Blacksmithing, making or re-setting fences, making rails, and necessary to protect crops, etc. Said Edwards to keep up all the repairs of his own property at his own expense." Mr. Edwards filed bond for $500.00 with Hamilton Edwards as security. ]\Ir. Edwards was again employed in 1867 for $500.00.

Competition .seems to have been lively for 1868 as proposals were received from Jonathan Edwards, James Shaw, John W Bragg, Xathan Fiddler, W'm. .\. W. Dah-, Andrew J. Aker, Daniel ]\IcConochy. The proposal of Jonathan Edwards was accepted after, "the Board having seen and inspected the several proposals." Air. Edwards this year was to receive $500.00 the same as the year before. The special December term, December 30, 1868 proposals were received from Amos Hall, Joseph Kemp, Joseph Kelly, Nathan Fiddler-, Daniel Barnes, David AlcConochy, Urias Davis, Sampson Summers and Charles AI. Stine, the proposal of Air. Hall was accepted.

Air. Hall's contract was more liberal than any that had preceded and tor the first time in the history of the county the county agreed to furnish the superintendent, "with the assistance of a Matron for said Asylum to assist in the management of affairs pretaining exclusively to the health and comfort of the paupers and the preparation of their food and who is to perform her duties under the direction of the Superintendent and to be included with, and considered as a member of his family." The last condition was one very easily met from the fact that the superintendent's wife serves as the matron as spoken of in the contract.

Air. Flail served the county for a great many years. In 1873 he received the sum of $800.00 for one year from the ist day of February, 1874, with the privilege oi keeping the same for one year more on the same terms and conditions. Air. Hall did this and in 1875 was hired outright for two years from the ist day of Februar)', 1876. Airs. Hall again serving as matron and was to receive $130.00 a year.

In December, 1S77, proposals were again submitted by Amos Hall, Madison Hill, Wm. Smith, H. T. Study, Lemuel Grimes, Marion Harter, Samuel Witter, C. M. Stine, James Edwards, Samuel Bright. The proposal of Mr. Hill was considered "the best and most satisfactory bid for such services and was accepted." He was to receive $650.00 for one year from the 1st day of February, 1878. Mrs. Hill also to serve as matron. Mr. Hill served for one year only when Mr. Hall was again employed for one year from the ist day of February, 1879, with the privilege of keeping the same for one year more for $600.00 per year.

The commissioners at this time attempted to stop an abuse which had crept into the management of the poor farm when they put into Mr. Hall's agreement, "that in no case shall the paupers or inmates of said asylum be taken from the farm to perform labor for others." Mr. Hall entered into contract and gave Simon Ramsey and John R. Philips as security on his bond.

Mr, Hall was again chosen in December, 1880, for $700.00 per year from the ist day of February, 1 881 with the privilege of keeping the same one year more on the same terms. Mr. Hall again contracted in December, 1882, for $750.00 per year for one year with the privilege of keeping it two years. December 10, 1884, Mr. Hall again contracted at $800.00 for one year with the privilege of one year longer on the same terms. December, 1886, Mr. Hall contracted for $800.00 per year for one year with the privilege of continuing the contract for one year on the same terras. Mr. Hall again contracted January 8, 1889 for $800.00, payable quarterly for one year with the privilege of continuing one year longer or until February i, 1891, at which time Mr. Hall is again employed under the same conditions as before for one year with the privilege of continuing until February i, 1893.

On the loth day of December, 1892, the commissioners received proposals from Henry T. Study, Amos Hall, Uriah Davis, Elisha Thompson and after due consideration accepted the bid of Henry T. Study and entered into contract with him for the sum of $800.00. Mr. Study was to "take possession of said poor asylum on the ist day of February, 1893, and it was mutually agreed and understood that this contract shall begin and be in force from and after the ist day of February, 1893, ^"d shall continue in force until the first day of February, 1894." Mr. Study was also given the privilege of extending the time one year.

December 12, 1894, Messrs. Study and Hall again put bids before the commissioners, Mr. Hall's bid being accepted. Mr. Hall was again emjjloyed for $800.00 per annum for one year with the privilege of continuing one year and executed his bond with T. F. Moorman, J. W. Macy and Ed I.* Brown security. Mr. Hall again contracted December 15, 1898, for $800.00 for one year with the privilege of continuing two, or until February i, 1901. Mr. Hall, however, was not permitted to serve the entire time of his contract as death relieved him of his long service to the county and on the morning of February 15, 1900, the last respects were paid to him by his many friends and on that day the commissioners made the following entry : "No business was transacted to enter of record and the Board adjourned until tomorrow morning on account of the funeral services of Amos Hall, superintendent of the County Infirmary." Mr. Study was selected in Mr. Hall's place to take possession the 6th of March, 1900, and to continue until the 31st day of August, 1901.

June I, 1903, the commissioners began a new policy of no longer taking bids or proposals but elected otherwise. "The Board proceeded to the election of Superintendent of County Infirmary. Roy Ford receiving the majority of votes cast was declared elected as such Superintendent for a period of two years and that he received a sum of $978.00 per year for the services as such Superintendent and also the services of his wife as matron of said infirmary.'' Mr. Ford, however, remained but one term, as on the 4th of June, 1905, the commissioners entered into contract with Henry C. Hull for a period of two years begiiming September i, 1905, at $1,200.00 per year.

Mr. Hull continued as superintendent until March i, 1914. Mr. Hull, it is said, is the only superintendent who has ever been able to make the poor farm self-sustaining.

March i, 1914, Mr. Hull was succeeded by Henry Judy, who had been elected January i, 1914, for a period of four years at the consideration of $1,500.00 per annum.

The matter of medical aid for the poor of the county has been one that has attracted a great deal of attention and been given a great deal of serious thought throughout the entire history of the county.

In the earlier day bids were received on this the same as the other care of the poor and oftentimes it was not the skill or the success of the physician that determined the matter but rather the man that had the lowest bid. Too often the pauper has been considered a pubhc care to be gotten rid of with the least possible attention and expense. Thanks to civilization that time has passed and today the unfortunates receive the same medical care as those of their more fortunate brothers.

One of the first contracts let in the county was in 1857 when Dr. George W. Bruce was "employed as a physician for the County Asylum and Physician for County Jail for the ensuing year at $25.00 per year as per contract. Said physician to find his own medicine and drugs."

In 1858 Mr. John E. Beverly was appointed "physician and surgeon" for county asylum and for county jail and the poor of White River Township for one year from this date, the said Beverly to furnish out of his own cost all medicine, ointment, drugs, oils, etc., for the sum of one hundred dollars for the term aforesaid.

Matters went on in this way until 1870, the law was changed whereby the paupers were to have the physician of their own choice which worried some of the county commissioners quite a little. It must be said, to the everlasting disgrace of some of these men, especially about 1876, that instead of considering the bill of physicians or any bill relative to the poor as they would any other bill the commissioners upon the insistence of one of their number would refuse to allow the bill of the physician. It is said on good authority that when a bill was presented these commissioners, this commissioner would say to the others, "now let's each one of us mark to see how much we shall pay," whereupon each would go into one corner of the room with his back towards the others, for fear they might watch him, and would mark some amount considerably below what the physicians had asked. This of course naturally led to abuses and people making claims would put their claims considerably higher than they otherwise would be because they knew of the unbusinesslike habits of the commissioners at that time. But this custom died with the expiration of this man's term of office and since that time this branch of the business has been conducted along business-like principles.

Some of the men who have acted in the capacity of county physicians have been : J. J. Evans, Bruce & Harrison, H. P. Franks, N. D. Berry, H. H. Yergin, J. S. Berry, David F. Orr, A. H. Farquhar, J. S. Blair, Pleasan'- Hunt, Aaron G. Rogers, W. A. Rickard, James V King, T. W. Botkin, G. W. Bruce, C. M. Kelley, Franks & Trent, E. T. Bailey, John F. Kinney. J. L. McShirley, R. Bosworth, G. C. Baldwin, N. E. Ross, J. L. Conti, Granl86 RANDOLPH COUNTY, INDIANA.

Another interesting item concerning the care of the paupers has been the burial expenses; this expense has constantly increased. In 1843 coffins cost $2.50; 1847, $5.00; 1848, $6.50; 1857, $8.00 and so on until $30 at the present time.

The responsibility of caring for the unfortunate poor has been one of the greatest ever placed upon local government. This responsibility carries with it the caring for both adults and children. Adults being more or lessable to care for themselves at least being past the formative period of life are not so difficult to care for as are the children. Indeed, the task of caring for and rearing the children of the unfortunate poor has been a Herculean one.

The state appreciated that it must be responsible for the intellectual and moral elements of the children as well as the mere physical. Children have been cared for by the state in two ways. First : By being bound out to serve as apprentices, which we shall speak of later on, and second: by being cared for until homes could be found for them. Formerly, these children were kept at the infirmary, under all the evil influences that would necessarily arise from associating with such an indiscriminate people as would naturally be found there. It must be expected that all classes of people would be found in the county infirmary. The county cared for these children the best they could under the circumstances but no one has ever claimed that any of the finer elements of society could possibly be inculcated in children under such circumstances.

The commissioners, during the course of years, recognized this and established a home for the children to which the children of indigent poor were taken. Mrs. John D. Howard was selected by them as the matron. This was a wonderful step in advance of what had been done prior to that time but it remained for a citizen of the county to present the final solution of the problem and strange to say the problem was solved By a man who had no immediate responsibilities toward childhood. This gentleman, Mr. James Moorman had, long before his death, determined to provide a home for children and wrote his will in accordance with that plan. Mr. Moorman became incapable for caring for his business affairs long before his death. The will was opened by the judge of the circuit court and the policy of Mr. Moorman

Last Will And Testament Of James Moorman

"Item I. I give and devise the North east Quarter of section twenty four (24) in Township Twenty (20) North, of Range thirteen. (13) east and all that part of the south east quarter of section thirteen (13) in said Township Twenty North of Range Thirteen (13) east which is south of the Indianapolis and Belief ontaine Railroad and west of the gravelpit owned by the town of Winchester Randolph County, Indiana said lands lying and being in Randolph County, Indiana to the Board of Directors of the Orplians' Home of Randolph County, Indiana in trust, however, for the purposes hereinafter set forth and I hereby appoint the following Board of Directors of the Orphan's Home to be located on lands above bequeathed, Nathan Cadwallader, of Union City, John A. Moorman, of Farmland, Davis Kitselman of Ridgeville, Clements F. Alexander of Spartansburg and Nathan Reed of Winchester and all of said Board of Randolph Comity and State of Indiana.