Prairie Township (part 2 of 4)

for a court house, and ordered that the Auditor give notice that he will receive sealed proposals for the erection of a court house in the town of Oxford, in accordance with such plans and specifications, and that G. P. Randall be employed to superintend the building of said court house. Also, at this session, it was ord(ired that the order made at the June session, directing the Sheriff to sell the material of the old court house be rescinded ; and that the Sheriff take down the old house in a careful manner, and pile up the material on the public square, and that he advertise the sale of material at public sale, one-third of the price to be paid in cash, one-third in six months, and the balance in one 3'ear from the date of the sale. A second special session of the board was held in the month of July, 1873, at which the order made at the first special session in the same month, directing the Auditor to give notice of the letting of the contract for the erection of a court house was slightly modified ; the modification consisting principalhin this, that the Auditor is ordered to give notice that the Commissioners will receive proposals instead of the Auditor, and the size of the building, and the materials to be used are specified, and it is provided that the contractor shall give bond for the performance of the work in accordance with the specifications. At the regular session in September, 1873, Moses Fowler and Adams Earl, and their wives, produced and delivered to the board a deed for two lots of land, the one containing two and one-fourth acres and upward, and the other more than one-fourth of an acre, upon which to erect a court house and jail, together with an abstract of title thereto. At this term a petition for the relocation of the county seat, which petition, the record shows, was accompanied with S250, of which SlOit was for the purpose of employing an architect, and the balance to defray the expenses of assessing the value of the property of the county at Oxford, the then seat of justice of the county. On September 11, 1373. during a term of Commissioners' Court, there being but two of the Commissioners present, namely. Henry Robertson and Robert M. Atkinson, and the question of the relocation of the county seat being then pending in said conrt, Robert M. Atkinson, one of the Commissioners, resigned, and Henry Robertson, the only other member of the board present, and William Snyder, the Auditor of the county, appointed William Marvin a Commissioner to fill the vacancy. At the same time, the petitioners objected to the consideration of the question of the relocation of the county seat by the board as then constituted, " upon tlie ground that William Marvin was not appointeil a Commissioner according to law, and had no authority to sit as a Commissioner of said county."

Upon their objection being overruled, the petitioners dismissed their proceedings, and asked leave to withdraw their petition and other papers from the files. Leave was granted to withdraw the deed and the money which they had deposited ; but the privilege was denied as to all the other pleadings in the case. Thereupon an order is made by the hoard recitino- that "Whereas, on the 5th day of September, 1873, His Houor, E. P. Hammond

Judge of the Benton Circuit Court, l\y virtue of a petition filed in his court b}- Leroy Templeton. granted an injunction restraining this board from letting a contract for the building of a new court house in the town of Oxford, the count}' seat of Benton County ; and, whereas, afterward the said Judge did, at the instance of said Templeton, continue said injunction until such time as a certain petition for the relocation of the count}' seat then pending before this board should be heard and determined ; and, whereas, said pending petition has been this day dismissed by the said petitioners, and is not now pending before this board, or any other court of competent jurisdiction, but is fully determined ; and, whereas, said injunction has been dissolved by the dismissal of said petition, and by the terms of the order of injunction ; it is therefore considered to be the duty of this board to proceed to let the contract for the erection of a new court house in the town of Oxford." The board then proceeded to open the bids that had been received prior to the institution of the injunction proceedings, and to award the contract to Isaac W. Lewis and John F. McConnell, for the sum of S55,U00 ; and the said Lewis and McConnell thereupon filed their bond in the penal sum of $100,000, which was accepted and approved by the Board. At a special session in September, 1873, it was " Ordered by the board that, whereas, an injunction suit is now pending before His Honor, E. P. Hammond, Judge of the Benton Circuit Court, to enjoin this board from proceeding to build a court house, the Auditor is authorized to employ counsel to appear and answer for and defend the interests of the county in that behalf" From this it appears that a new injunction had been granted, restraining the board from proceeding with the erection of a court house under the contract entered into with Lewis and McConnell at the regular session in the same month. Why the petitioners should dismiss their proceeding in the Commissioners' Court, thereby dissolving the injunction which they had obtained in the Circuit Court, and leaving the Board of Commissioners at liberty to proceed to let the contract for the building of a court house at Oxford, which thev did without loss of time, thereby placing those who desired a removal of the county seat from Oxford, under the necessity of beginning de novo in both the Circuit and Commissioners' Courts ; and why the Board of Commissioners, who were evidently in favor of retaining the county seat at Oxford, should let the contract in such haste, when they must have known that those who favored the change, being represented by as good legal talent as could be procured in the State, as they were, could not permit their object to be thus frustrated, are questions which will naturally present themselves. Was this a bit of yjjiesse on the part of the legal luminaries who were of counsel for the respective parties, with the object of gaining some advantage over their opponents '>. Or was it the object to thus prolong the case, and make it appear a very tedious and toilsome one, requiring a vast amount of legal acumen and no end of labor, so that attorney's fees might be increased ad JiLitum, without creating in the minds of their clients any dissatisfaction on account thereof, thus proving the truth of those lines in Hudibras :

"Lawyers, lest the bear defendant, And plaintiff dog, should make an end on't, Do stave and tail with writs of error, !;-, Reverse of judgment and demurrer,

- To let them breathe awhile, and then Cry whoop, and set them on agen '!" At the December term of Commissioners' Court ia 1873, an election having been held in the county since the dismissal of the petition for the relocation of the county seat, and the Board of Commissioners, as now constituted, being favorable to the change, a new petition, having 1,221 signers, was filed. The petition was accompanied with S250 in money, with which to employ an architect, and to pay the expense of having the property of the county at Oxford appraised ; together with a deed for two lots, on which to build a court house and jail, the same as had accompanied the former petition. Joseph Perkins, John F. Boswell, and Kobert M. Atkinson constituted the board of Commissioners at that time. On Tuesdaj-, the second day of the term, Commissioner Atkinson being absent, the question of the removal of the county seat from Oxford to Fowler was passed upon hy the Board, and the prayer of the petitioners granted. An order was made for the removal of the count}' seat to Fowler, and the Auditor was ordered to employ G. P. Randall & Co., of Chicago, to prepare and present plans, specifications, and estimates for new eountj- buildings. The records show that Commissioner Atkinson was present next (Wednesdaj-) morning. At the March term, 1874, the report of James B. Foley, Mahlon D. Mauson and John Brownfleld, Commissioners appointed \i\ the Governor for the purpose of appraising the public property at Oxford, was filed, showing the value thereof to be 86,750. It appears of record, in the record of the proceedings of this term (March, 1874), that a certificate of deposit was issued by the National State Bank of La Fayette, for $40,000, to the credit of Thomas Johnston, Edward C. Sumner, and William J. Templeton, to be by them held in trust for the purpose of building a court house at Fowler, the trustees named signing a contract to pay the money over upon the order of the Board of Commissioners. This sum was contributed by Moses Fowler and Adams Earl, the largest land owners, by far, in the county (neither of whom resided in the county, liowever), each contributing a sum proportional to the amount of land that he owned in the county, the value of which T\ould be enhanced by the location of the county seat at Fowler. No other question that was ever before the people of Benton County so convulsed society to its very center as this question of the relocation of the county seat. Of a truth, the antipathies then engendered have not yet altogether died out ; and there arc many in Oxford who stoutly declare, and with seeming sincerity, that ere many years, the county scat will again be established at Oxford. As before observed, it was certainly not the part of wisdom to establish the county scat at Oxford in the first instance, on account of its being so far removed from the geographical center of the county ; yet, it bavins^ been once located there, the act of removing it was certainly of doubtful propri- et}', to say the least. The fact of its not being conveniently accessible to those residing in the northern and western parts of the county, does not constitute a very potent argument in favor of the removal of the countj' seat from Oxford ; for those citizens who resided in those portions of the county bought their land, and located there with a full knowledge of the existent state of things, so far as the location of the county seat was concerned, and they ought not to be heard afterward to complain. On the other hand, those who invested their capital in and about Oxford, did so knowing that it was then the county seat, and in the reasonable belief, no doubt, that it would remain so ; and no doubt they paid more for their property than they would had they had any apprehension that the county seat would be removed. Since the change has been made, however, and since there have been such magnificent county buildings erected at Fowler, costing, in the aggregate, over $85,000, and especially since it would be impossible to again change the location of the county seat without occasioning the most intensely bitter feelings between the citizens of the different portions of the county, it is certainly the duty of all good citizens, who have the well-being of their county at heart, to discountenance any further agitation of that vexed question and to treat it as forever settled. It is probably true that the town of Oxford sustained a temporary check to her progress in wealth and population by the removal of the county seat to Fowler ; yet, if such was the case, that check was but temporary, as she seems to be at present entering upon an era of greater prosperity than she has ever heretofore known. It would appear, from the fact that Fowler, which has had an existence of but about eleven years, has already outstripped Oxford, which has had an existence of about forty years, that the removal of the county seat, at §ome future time, on account of its being so far from tlie geographical center of the county, must have been anticipated ; and, that the fact of the removal being anticipated was what so retarded the growth of Oxford would seem to be a reasonable presumption. As has been stated, the action brought to enjoin the Board of Commissioners from proceeding to build a court house at Oxford, was instituted in the Circuit Court of Benton County ; but the cause was afterward transferred to Warren Cqunty, by change of venue, as appears from the following entry in the record of the proceedings of the Board of Commissioners at their March session, 1874 ; Whereas, the Warren Circuit Court has, at the suit of Leroy Templeton, granted an injunction against the performance of an alleged contract between the Board of Commissioners of the county of Benton and Isaac W. Lewis and John F. McConnell, for the building of a court house at the town of Oxford, Benton County, Ind., and in the opinion of this board the public interest of the county requires that said injunction should be continued, it is ordered that the board will no further -resist the proceeding for injunction. An order having been made for the removal of the county seat, the next thing in order was to proceed to build a a court house at Fowler, the new county seat, in accordance with plans, specifications and estimates furnished by G. P. Randall & Co., architects of Chicago, for the sum of $54,884. By the terms of the contract, monthly estimates were to be made by the architect of work done and materials furnished, and eighty per cent of the estimate was to be then paid, the other twenty per cent to be paid when the building should be completed. Six months after the order was made by which Fowler became the county seat, that is, at the second session of the Board thereafter, which occurred in June, 1874, the following order was made by the Board : "Whereas, Moses Fowler has made a conditional donation of §40,000 to aid in the erection of a court house, provided that such county seat is permanently located at Fowler within one year from August 2, 1873 ; and whereas, there is no court house in the county of Benton, and no ofBces for the use of the Clerk, Re. corder or Treasurer, and the county records are in insecure places ; and whereas, a two-story brick slate-roofed building, with commodious fire-proof brick vault, situated on the corner of Fifth and Washington streets, in Fowler, is tendered to the Commissioners for the use of the county, free of charge, until the court house is completed, it is ordered that the books, papers, and fuiaiture of the offices he removed from Oxford to said building in Fowler on or before July IQ, 1874, and that all courts shall be held, and all business transacted at said town of Fowler, on and after said date. This action on the part of the Commissioners called forth a remonstrance from Alonzo Cowgill, Cyrus Foltz and others, which the Commissioners overruled, and the remonstrators thereupon appealed to the Circuit Court, and filed an appeal bond. On account of the remonstrance, or for some other reason, the Commissioners did not carry out their purpose of removing the files, records and other appurtenances of the diflTereut offices to the building in Fowler, as the order quoted above indicates that they contemplated doing ; but at a special session begun on the 30th dav of December, 1874, the record of the proceedings at that session shows that a report of G, P. Randall, architect, was filed, showing the whole cost of the court house to have been $57,192.- 3G, and tliat the Board of Commissioners accepted the house as being substantially in compliance with tlie terms of the contract, and made an order directing " the removal of all books, papers and furniture of the several county offices, from Oxford to said new court house at Fowler, in said county, forthwith." At the same session, the board entered into a contract with William S. Wooton for furniture for the court house, at the price of $l,(i95. G. P. Randall was allowed the sum of $3,032.91, for his services as architect at the same term. The grounds of the public square, about the court house, were graded in tl>e fall of 1874, at a cost of $2,032.50. The court house at Fowler, taking into account the grading of the public grounds, cost $02,257.77, as follows ; contract price, $54,884 ; extra work, $2,308.36 ; paid to G. P. Randall for services as architect, $3,032,91 ; grading of grounds, $2,032.50. There probably is not a county in the State, with no greater popuhition than Benton, that ha.s as good public buildings, includ- ing court house, jail and infirmar_y. The court house is situated well to the east side of the town of Fowler, it being about half a mile from the central portion of the town ; and, exactlj- in the geographical center of the county, it is said. Of course, it maj' be an inch or two this way or that, but then it is near enough for all practical purposes. A few years after the removal of the county seat from Oxford to Fowler, a paper was found among the public documents that had been removed from the old to the new county seat, in which the writer, whose name this paper does not disclose, thus apostrophizes the old court house :

Apostrophe To The Old Court House

" 'Death loves a shining mark,' and ere many days our court house had fallen. Where once it towered in majestic beauty, naught but ruins lie ; the breezes float over it, gently sighing, ' It might have been.' As I step along over the pavements that once composed that noble structure, every step beats its funeral march. Dear old court house, had we let thee stand as thou mightst have stood, a fit emblem of our architectural powers, Moses would not have drawn from his huge bosom $40,000, and crushed out our budding prospects and taken our capitol from our midst. Never again will a court house grace the square, but the weeping willow alone will mark thy grave. The gloomy owl will flit about in mournful silence, finding no cupola upon which to rest his weary flight, no high-toned bell to greet his ear, and in harmony with his might3' hoot send forth its clarion notes upon the sighing wind. Ere long, whilst the county seat is flourishing in the centre, we can onlj- walk our lonely streets, and in the words of Selkirk

" 'Oh! Solitude, where are the charms That sages have seen in thy face ? Better dwell in the midst of alarms Than reign in this horrible place.' "

When I remember the games of ball against its friendly wall, which now, alas ! are o'er forever, heart sighs with heart, and dark melancholy reigns. Could we restore thee back again, as ye stood not long ago, gladlj' would we sacriflce labor and wealth. The world may say it was not much, but the associations that were formed within its walls are dear to us. Youth and beauty soon pass away, and we, too, will soon follow in the footsteps of the departed. But we had hoped to leave the court house as a monument to future generations. But its memory alone remains to tell, and that, T hope, may live forever. When I ponder o'er what might have been ours, I cannot refrain from quoting that old familiar hymn ;

The Jail At Fowler

The contract for the building of the Benton Countj- Jail at Fowler was let to Meteer & Scovill, of Kankakee, 111., for the sum of $25,000, at a special term of Commissioners' Court in February, 1876. Notwithstanding the county had not, at that time, any jail in which to confine its criminals, this act of the Board of Commissioners was quite severely censured by many, and a remonstrance was presented, signed by ninety-seven of the one hundred and sixteen voters in York Township. The jail was built, however, and with so little deviation from the terms of the contract that the extra work amounted to but $175. This was a magnificent building, substantially built, and as commodious as any exigency is likely to render necessary in Benton County for manj- j-ears hence. This building was composed almost exclusivelj- of incombustible materials, and was probably considered practicallj' fire-proof, as well as proof against all eflForts on the part of those incarcerated within its walls to reclaim their much-coveted libert}'. But, notwithstanding the extraordinary precaution taken iu its construction to insure its durability, as well as to render it efficient to a - degree for the purpose for which it was desigaed, in the month of February', 1880, it took fire, and was damaged to such an extent that it cost the sum of $7,791.50 to " rebuild and reconstruct " it. The contract was let to Henry C. Pelton and Leroy Templeton, at a special session iu Julv, 1880, " to furnish all neoessaiy labor and material to rebuild and reconstruct the county . jail and Sheriff's residence " within four months from the date of the con- . tract. The greater portion of the material of the old building - the most expensive portion at least - was used in the construction of the new. The present jail is a very fine structure, and has the appearance (viewed extern^lly) of being a very secure place wherein to confine malefactors.

TTTHEN the great rebellion of 1861 was precipitated upon the country, V V deluging the laud with blood, and robbing thousands of households of their loved ones, Benton County was not found wanting in those who were willing to pour out their life-lUood, if need be, a free-will ofl'ering upon the altar of their country.

Benton's First Company. - Among the first to march into Camp Tippecanoe, at La Fayette, was a company of men from Benton County, composed of ninety-eight enlisted men and three commissioned officers. The names of the commissioned officers, all of whom were from Oxford, were William J. Templeton, Captain; John Burns, F^ -i^ieuu-iant James Youn>v Sec- ond Lieutenant ; and the names of the enlisted men were : First Sergeant, James F. Parker ; Sergeants, Robert J..Templeton, John Thompson, James Mitchell and Commodore P. Huff; Corporals, Daniel D. Redmond, George T. Clark, Alvin Maxsou, Mark Walker, William Snj'der, Abram S. G-askill, Oliver P. Murphj- and George Furgeson ; musicians, John Jay Wright and William H. Claspill ; Wagoner, Ira Brown ; Privates, Washington L. Adams, Frederick M. Adams, Hiram Adams, Watson Allison, John Barnes, Calvin Barkhurst, Absalom Beaver, Benjamin F. Booth, Sanford Boweu, Edwin F. Bolmer. Thomas H. Burns, Columbus M. Bushong, Benedict Climeaged, Lucian Clark, Russel Cole, John B. Creviston, William H. Curl, xlbram Davenport, John Dopson, George W. Dusenberry, William H. Duncan, Wallace E. Edwards, John Ekey, John Enlow, Adam Everheart, Michael Flanigan, Conrad Ghering, Frederick Ghering, Allen C. Gobble, Thomas Graham, William Graham, Benjamin Hawk, Sherman Haskill, William Hanley, George Hedges, Riley Hickman, William H. Hauck, Edward Houghton, Leroy Hove^-, Henry Holmes, Aaron R. Hudson, Charles D. Irwin, John Jett, Hugh Johnson, John Kennedy, John Kelley, Levi Kemp, John Kinney, John Krummel, Edward Lovejoy, Martin Loyd, Ephraim Ludlum, Oliver N. Maxson, William McFarland, Barney Miller, William S. Moore, Walter S. Osborne, John Pankey, Zachariah Perdy, Oliver H. Perry, Edward Popplestone, David L. Ream, John F. Richard, William L. Ross, Charles F. Russle, John Saunders, Frank Sewell, John Shafer, Henry L. Smith, James D. Smith, John J. W. Smith, George W. Snodgrass, Benjamin F. Stabler, John A. Sullivan, Isaac Thorp, John S. Tracy, Joseph P. Turner, Abram Wainscott, Isaac X. Williams and John B. Williams. This company was attached to the Fifteenth Regiment, which was originally organized as one of the six regiments of State troops, at La Fayette, in May, 1861, and was re-organized and mustered into the United States service for three years, at the same place, on the l-lth of June, 1861, with George D. Wagner as Colonel. This company was designated as Company D, in the regiment to which it was attached. The regiment, soon after its organization was completed, went from La Fayette to Indianapolis, where it remained until July 1, 1861, when it started for West Virginia, stopping at Cincinnati until July 4. The regiment was transported by railroad to Clarksburg, whence it marched to Rich Mountain, arriving on the 11th of July, during the progress of the battle. Nest day, the regiment joined in the pursuit of the enemy, and assisted in capturing many prisoners. Afterward, the regiment moved to Elkwater Valley, and remained stationed there until November 19, when it left Huttonville for Louisville, at which place it arrived the latter part of the same month, and reported to Gen. Buell. While at Elkwater Valley, the regiment took an active part in the operations of Gen. Reynolds, among which were the repulse of Gen. Lee, and the battle of Greenbrier. The regiment reached Shiloh while the battle was in progress, and rendered very efficient aid in the nick of time 'to save the Union army from utter defeat. During the siege of Corinth, the regiment was constantly in the van ; and, after the evacuation of that position by the enemy, it returned with Buell's army to Louisville, Ky., arriving there about the 25th of September. It left Louisville in time to take part in the closing scenes of the battle of PerryviUe. The Fifteenth joined in the pursuit of Bragg toward Cumberland Gap, and the duties were very arduous, forced marches and skirmishes being the daily routine for some time. The regiment marched to Nashville in November, 1862, in connection with other troops, at which place the army of the Cumberland was re-organized, with Gen. Rosecrans chief in command. On the 29th of November, Col. Wagner was appointed a Brigadier General, and Lieut. Col. Gustavus A. Wand was commissioned to succeed him as Colonel. The regiment bore a conspicuous part in the battle of Stone River on December 31, 1862, and January 1 and 2, 1863, losing 197 officers and men killed and wounded, out of 440 engaged. The loss of the company in this action was : Killed, Capt. Robert J. Templeton, Sergt. Commodore P. Huff, privates Columbus M. Bushong and Isaac N. Williams ; mortally wounded, private Benedict Climeaged. The regiment remained at Murfreesboro after the battle of the Stone River, until June 24, and took part in the various expeditions sent oat from that place. Upon leaving Murfreesboro, it marched to Tullahoma, where, as part of Crittenden's corps, it aided in turning the rebel position on the left, compelling the evacuation of Tullahoma. The regiment then rested in camp at Pelham, Teun., until August 17, when the advance upon Chattanooga was begun ; which place Gen. Wagner's brigade (of which the Fifteenth constituted a portion) was the first to enter. The regiment remained on post duty at Chattanooga from September 9 until shortly before the battle of Missionary Ridge, in which the regiment sustained a ver^' heavy loss. The loss of the regimen was 202 out of 334 engaged, whilst the loss of the company in this action was two (Benjamin Hawk and Frank Sewell) killed, and several wounded, among whom were William Graham and Sergt. George Hedges. On the day succeeding the battle of Mission Ridge, the regiment marched to the relief of Gen, Burnside at Knoxville. This march of over 100 miles was made in six days, a great many of the men being without shoes, and all on very short rations the while. The regiment remained in the vicinity of Knoxville, on ver^v severe duty, destitute of tents or baggage, and on very short rations, until February, 1864, when it was ordered to Chattanooga to do garrison dutj-. A portion of the regiment liaving re-enlisted on the 15th of February-, 1804, the non-veterans remained at Cluxttanooga, under Gen. Steadman, until June 16, 1S(!4, when in obedience to orders from Gen. Thomas it left for Indianapolis to be mustered out of the service, its time having expired on the 14th of June, The veterans and recruits were transferred to tlie Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers in the month of June, 1S64, and served with that organization until the 8th of August, 1864, when thev were linallv disbanded.

A brief history of the regiment, as shown by Adjt. Gen, W. H. H. Terrell's report, is here given, for the reason that the compauv's historv is inseparable from that of the regiment, and in giving the history of the latter, the leading points in the history of the former, which is all that is practicable or desirable to give, are given. It will be of interest, no doubt, to many into whose hands this book may come, to know when and how each member of this company ceased to be connected therewith. For the benefit of such, the following statement of facts drawn chiefly from Adjt. Gen. Terrell's report, is given :

John Burns, the first First Lieutenant in the company, resigned in Julj-, 1861, and John Pearce, of Attica, Second Lieutenant in Company A, was commissioned First Lieutenant in Companj- D, to fill the vacancy. In November, 1861, TVilliam J. Templeton, the first Captain, resigned to accept a commission as Major in the Sixtieth Regiment ; and about the same time, First Lieut. John Pearce also resigned, whereupon First Sergt. James F. Parker was promoted Captain, and Sergt. Robert J. Templeton was advanced to the position of First Lieutenant, both being promoted over Second Lieut. James Young. Lieut. Young resigned Maj- 4, 1862, and Sergt. John Thompson was promoted to fill the vacancy. June 3, 1862, Capt. Parker resigned, and First Lieut. Robert J. Templeton was promoted to fill the vacanc}', whilst Second Lieut. John Thompson was advanced to the position of First Lieutenant, and Corporal Daniel D. Redmond was promoted Second Lieutenant. November 22, 1862, First Lieut. John Thompson resigned,' and Second Lieut. Daniel D. Redmond was promoted to fill the vacancy, whilst Corporal Mark Walker was made Second Lieutenant. Capt. Robert J. Templeton was killed at the battle of Stone River, December 31, l8'^27~and Tirst Lieut. Daniel D. Redmond was advanced to the position of Captain ; Second Lieut. Mark Walker, to the position of First Lieutenant, and Corporal Alvin Masson to that of Second Lieutenant, all of whom were mustered out at the expiration of their term of service, June 26, 1861. Sergt. James Mitchell was discharged July 2, 1862 ; cause, disability ; Sergt. Commodore P. Huff was killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862 ; Corporal George T^Clark was discharged to accept commission in the Ninety-first Regiment, in 1862 ; Corporal William Snyder was appointed Sergeant, and discharged in May, 136-t, on account of wounds ; Corporal Oliver P. Murphy was discharged August 25, 1861, cause, disability ; Musician John Jay Wright was discharged on account of disability, July 9, 1862 ; Wagoner Ira Brown, was discharged October 14, 1S61, for disability ; Washington L. Adams, missing at Nashville, December 12, 1862 ; Frederick M. Adams was appointed Corporal, and subsequently transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, on account of wounds received at Stone River ; Hiram Adams was appointed Principal Musician ; Watson Allison died at Camp Wickliffe, Ky., January 25, 1862 ; John Barnes died at Camp Dennison, Ohio, February 18, 1863, of wounds received at Stone River; Thomas H. Burns was discharged for disability, August 21, 1861 ; Columbus M. Bushong was killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862 ; Benedict Climeaged died January 18,

1863, of wounds received at Stone River; Lucian Clark, a veteran, was transferred to the Seventeenth Regiment, May 13, 1864; Rassel Cole was discharged October 7, 1861, on account of disability ; John B. Crevi.ston was transferred to the Fourth United States Artillery, February 3. 1863 ; William H. Curl, discharged November 7, 1861, for disability ; Abram Davenport, discharged April 21, 1863, wounds received at Stoue River ^ John Dopson discharged July 22, 1862, disability ; William H. Duncan, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, November 15, 1863 ; Wallace E. Edwards, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps November 15, 1864 ; wounds received at Stone River; John Ekey, missing at Vervilla, Tenn., August 21, 1862; John Enlow, discharged September 10, 1861, disability ; Adam Everheart died at Bardstown, Ky., October 7, 1862 ; Frederick Gehring, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, September 30, 1864, wounds received at Stone River ; Thomas Graham, missing before Chattanooga, August 29, 1863 ; Benjamin Hawk, killed at Mission Ridge, November 25, 1863 ; Sherman Haskill, discharged August 14, 1861, disability ; Riley Hickman, died February 3, 1864 ; William H. Hauck, veteran, transferred to the Seventeenth Regiment ; Henry Holmes, missing before Chattanooga, August 29, 1863 ; John Jett, discharged August 28, 1861 ; Hugh Johnson, appointed Corporal, and transferred to the Fourth United States Artillery, February 3, 1863 : John Kennedy, discharged March 30, 1863, wounds received at Stoue River ; John Kelley, missing at Louisville, Ky., October 1, 1862, while under sentence of general court martial ; Levi Kemp, missing at Vervilla, Tenn., August 21, 1862 ; John Kinney, apprehended and transferred to the Seventeenth Regiment ; John Krimmel, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, November 1, 1863; Martin Loyd, discharged May 24, 1862, disability ; Ephraim Ludlum, missing at Nashville, December 12, 1863 ; Barney Jliller, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, July 1, 1863 ; William W. More, died May 21, 1862, at Corinth, Miss.; Walter S. Osborne, missing at Louisville, Ky., October 1, 1862 ; John Paukey, discharged October 7, 1861, disability ; Zachariah Perdy, missing at Louisville, Ky., October 1, 1862 ; Oliver H. Perrj-, died May 27, 1862 ; David L. Ream, died at Chattanooga, November 28, 1863, of wounds; John F. Richards, leg amputated May 24, 1S62, and discharged ; William L. Ross, discharged November 18, 1861, disabilitj' ; Charles F. Russle, transferred to the Mississippi Marine Brigade, February 19, 1863 ; John Saunders, ilischarged November 27, 1862, disability ; Frank Sewell, killed at Mission Ridge, November 25, 1863 ; John Shafer, deserted, afterward joined the Twenty-fourth Ohio Regimeut, and died at Cheat Mountain ; John W. Smith, deserted December 10, 1861, and afterward jiiined the Nineteenth United Slates Infantry ; George W. Snodgrass, appointed Corporal, and afterward transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, January 15, 1864 ; Benjamin F. Stabler, discharged November 19, 1861 disability ; Jolui A. Sullivan missing at Louisville, Ky., October 1, 1862 Isaac Thorp, discharged December 16, 1862, disability ; Joseph P. Turner, discharged February 2, 1863, disability ; Isaac N. Williams, appointed Cor- poral, and afterward killed at battle of Stoue River ; John B. Williams, discharged Maj' 24, 1862, disability ; Augustus Adolphus, Samuel Blue, Harvey H. Pugti and Guilford D. Snodgrass, all recruits, transferred to the Seventeenth Regiment, May 31, 1864.

The following were mustered out at Indianapolis, at the expiration of their term of service, June 25, 1864 ; Abram S. G-askill, George Ferguson (appointed Sergeant), Calvin Barkhurst, Absalom Beaver, Benjamin T. Booth, Edwin F. Bolmer, John H. Burns, George W. Dusenberry, Michael Flaniganr Conrad Gehring, (appointed First Sergeant), McAUen C. Gobble, William Graham (wounded at Mission Ridge), William Hanley (wounded at Stone River), George Hedges (appointed Sergeant, wounded at Stone River, and also at Mission Ridge), Edgar Houghton, Leroy Hovey, Aaron R. Hudson,. Charles D. Irwin, Edward Lovejoy, Oliver N. Maxson, Edward Popplestone, Henry L. Smith, James D. Smith (appointed Corporal), Thomas F. Stockton, John S. Tracy, (appointed Sergeant). The Adjutant General's report from which the foregoing facts were obtained, does not show when or how the following members of the company severed their connection therewith : William H. Claspill, Sanford Bowen, Abram Wainscott and Hiram Adams. To sum up : Number mustered out at expiration of term of service, thirtyfour ; discharged before expiration of term of service on account of disability, eighteen ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps and other organinations, seventeen ; deserted, ten ; discharged on account of wounds, five y killed, six ; died of disease, five ; died of wounds, three ; promoted und resigned, two ; discharged to accept commission in another regiment, one ; veterans, two. This company is justly entitled to a fair share of the glory won by the renowned old Fifteenth Regiment. No higher encomium could be bestowed upon them.

Benton's Second Company. - The next company that marched to the front from Benton County was officered as follows : Joseph F. Taylor, Captain ; Job H. Yan Natta, First Lieutenant, and Stephen Sappington, Second Lieutenant. The enlisted men of this company were First Sergeant, James Dougherty, died March 7th, 1862 ; Sergeants, James Laroe, promoted Second Lieutenant ; Warren Sheets, promoted First Lieutenant ; Levi Hawkins, promoted Second Lieutenant ; Alonzo Cowgill, appointed First Sergeant, and mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Corporals, Hallet Swift, transferred to Vereran Reserve Corps, February 15, 1864 ; Ross McGee, appointed Sergeant, and mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Wilber F. Stephenson, appointed Sergeant, and mustered out September 19, 1864 ; James Killen, discharged for promotion, February 22, 1863 ; James Godman, i-^' killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863 ; David MillhoUanct; appointed Sergeant and mustered out September 19, 1864 ; James B. Shaw, mustered out September 20, 1864 ; Anthony C. Thompson, detached as Sergeant Thirteenth Battery, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Musicians, Salathiel Cowgill, discharged October 15, 1862, disability ; Perry L. Jennings, veteran, transferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment, and mustered out May 25, 1865 ;

Wagoner, William A. Wells, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Privates, Joseph M. Adwell, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Garret Auth, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; John Auth, died October 14, 1861 ; Samuel Ballentyne, died February 20, 1863 ; George W. Bannin, mustered out September 19, 1864; John W. Barnard, veteran, transferred to the Fifty-eighth Regiment ; Ira D. Barnard, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Charles Baker, discharged June 8, 1863, to enlist in the Marine service ; Thomas F. S. Bennett, died at Campbellsville, Ky., January 30, 1862, disease ; John M. Bockover, mustered out September 19, 1864; Daniel C. Boyer, mustered out September 19. 1864 ; Alexander Campbell, discharged October 14, 1862, disability ; James M. Coffman, mustered out September 19, 1864; John N. Coffman, mustered out September 19,1864; Thomas M. Cook, died February 12, 1862 ; Calvin Creek, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Moses Cnppy, died January 23, 1862 ; John G. Davis, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, December 15, 1863 ; Charles M. Dawson, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; John F. Dolan, died November 10. 1863, of wounds received at Chickamauga ; Ancil B. Downing, mustered out September 19, 1864; Wingate T. Downing, mustered out September 19, 1863 ; Joseph H. Evans, mustered out September 19,1864; Jonathan Evans, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Nelson D, Felters, mustered out September 19, 1864; William Fisher, mustered out September 19, 1S64 ; Henry Foster, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Daniel R. Gaines, veteran, appointed Corporal, transferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment ; John M. Gear, veteran, transferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment ; John A. Grant, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; George M. Haigh, appointed Sergeant, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; John M. Harbison, killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1S63 ; James H.aw kins, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Joseph Hinate, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; William B. Holton, killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1803 ; Samuel Horner, transferred to A^eteran Reserve Corps, April 10, 1863; Michael Jakes, discharged February 27, 1863, disability ; Nelson M. Jakes, discharged September IS, 1862, disability ; Elnathan C. Jennings, mustered out September 19, 1864; John F. Killen, discharged October 29, 1862, cause disability ;Elisha Little, appointed Corporal, mustered out September 19, 1864; Luther Loomis, veteran, appointed Corporal, transferred to the Fifty-eighth Regiment ; Elisha M. Mattox, appointed Corporal, mustered out September 19,1864; Patrick M. Head, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Samuel Mcllvaiu, appointed Corporal, died of injuries received at Shell Mound, September 8, 1863 ; Robert G. McQueen, appointed Corporal, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Anthony C. Miller, mustered out Septcnnber 19, 1864 ; George Miller, veteran, transferred to Fifty -eighth Regiment; Henry C. IMoore, discharged December 23, 1S62, disabiHtv Benjamin R. Mollitt, discharged June 18, 1862, disaliility ; Samuel E Nuss' mustered out Septemlier 19, 1864 ; George W. Nuss, mustered out September 19, 1861 ; William M. Owens, discharged October 14, 1862, disability - Nathan J. Page, mustered out September 10, 1864 ; George M. Puoh, appointed Cor- poral, missing at Cbickamauga, supposed to have died of wounds ; John Riley, died of wounds received at Kenesaw, June 21, 1864 ; Charles Reed discharged at Louisville, date unknown ; William 0. Robinson and Henry Rogers, veteran, transferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment ; James Ross, Joseph Rittenour, James Sauster, Jacob Shambaugh, Samuel Simmons, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; James M. Snyder, discharged January 31, 1863, to marine service ; Ebeneeer E. Sparrow, appointed Corporal, died October 22, 1862 ; Joel Staufield and John W. Switzer, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; John W. Timmons, died March 1, 1862 ; Thomas J. Thompson discharged Februarj- 12, 1863, disabilitj- ; James K. Turvey and David Vorhees, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; John Whitmore, died March 5, 1862 ; Renjamin P. White, died October 14, 1862 ; James Whited, died May 8, 1862; Philip Woodhams and Henrj* Woodhams, mustered out September 19, 1864; W^illiam Finlej', transferred to Fiftj'-eighth Regiment ; Alexander Williams, killed at Chickamauga, September 19th, 1863 ; Peter M. Wilds and George Willis, mustered out September 19, 1864.

The following recruits were received bj' this company : Charles Rowling, veteran, transferred to Fiftj'-eighth Regiment ; Robert N. Brink, transferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment, mustered out August 7, 1864 ; William H. Rrown, missing October 15, 1862, at Danville, Ky.; Isaac N. Chenoweth, George J. Dexter, Thomas M. Davis, John Foster and Josiah Foster, transferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment ; Jonas Herron, killed at Chickamauga September 19, 1863 ; Robert W. Hampton, died April 9,1864; Charles J. Johnston, William Loufton, Henry H. B. Moore and Perry Moore, transferred to Fifty -eighth Regiment ; Elihu Mason, discharged February 22, 1864, for promotion ; Meredith B. Mason, transferred to Fifty -eighth Regiment ; Ferguson McLain, died May 30, 1864 ; Amos W. Nash, died at Newburg, Ind., May 29, 1862, of disease ; Albert H. Nagle, transferred to Fiftyeighth Regiment ; John P. Nagle, died May 13, 1864 ; William H. Pratt died March 13, 1864 ; Edward Riley, died November 24, 1863 ; Francis M, Robinson, transferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment ; Alfred Sheets, discharged February 19, 1864, disability ; Charles W. Stackhouse transferred to Fiftyeighth Regiment ; Albert Stair, appointed Corporal, transferred to Fiftyeighth Regiment ; Frederick Sheets, George W. Shigley, Frederick Woodhams, John Welch and John Weber, transferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment.

This company rendezvoused at Indianapolis, and was mustered into the service September 18, 1861, as Company D of the Tenth Regiment, of which Mahlon D. Manson was Colonel. On the 22d of September, it left Indianapolis for Kentucky, and after remaining a few days at Louisville, was moved to Bardstown, where it went into camp. Here it remained for about a month when it was marched to New Haven and Lebanon, in which vicinity it remained until the advance to meet Zollikofer's forces in January, 1862. On the 19th of January, it participated in the battle of Mill Springs, or Logan's Fields, and there achieved an enviable reputation for gallantry, the regiment at one time saving the day by its firm resistance of a desperate charge of

Zollikofer's forces. After the battle, it remained in that vicinity until the march of Buell's army to the Tennessee River in March, in which it took part. The regiment reached the field of Shiloh after the battle and remained there until the siege of Corinth was commenced. It then marclied with the army and participated in the investment of that place, and the marches which followed the evacuation. Returning to Nashville, it joined in the pursuit of Bragg through Kentucky, engaging in the battle of Champion Hills, at Perryville. It was then stationed in the district of country south of the Cumberland River, and east of Nashville ; and afterward joined in the march of the Army of the Cumberland across the Cumberland Mountains to Chattanooga, and participated in the battle of Chiokamauga, on the 19th and 20th of September. 1863, in which engagement its commanding officer, Col. \Yilliam B. Carroll, was filled. On the 14th of January, 1864, a portion of the regiment re-enlisted at Chattanooga. Tenn., and in the spring following, participated in Sherman's march upon Atlanta, taking part in the manj' engagements of that campaign. On the 8th of September, 1864, the veterans and recruits were, by order of Gen. Thomas, transferred to the Fiftyeighth Regiment, and on the 19th of September, 1864, the non-veterans were mustered out of the service. The transferred men served with the Fifty-eighth Regiment in Sherman's march through Georgia to Savannah, and through South Carolina and North Carolina, and finally were muetered out with that organization at Louisville, Ky., on the 25th day of July. 1S65. Joseph F. Taylor, the company's first Captain, was discharged December 31, 1861. About the same time (the exact date is not known). Second Lieut. Stephen Sappington resigned, leaving the position of Captain and Second Lieutenant vacant. First Lieut. Job H. VanNatta was promoted Captain, Sergt. 'VVarren Sheets was advanced to the position of First Lieutenant, and Sergt. James Laroe to that of Second Lieutenant. November IS, 1862, Capt. "\'anNatta was commissioned Major, and First Lieut. Sheets was made Captain, whilst Second Lieut. Laroe became First Lieutenant, and Sergt. Levi Hawkins, Second Lieutenant. First Lieut. Laroe resiiined December 24, 1863, and Second Lieut. Levi Hawkins was promoted to fill the vacancy, leaving a vacancy in the office of Second Lieutenant, which does not seem to have been filled. 3Iaj. VanNatta was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel September 21, 1863, but was not mustered as such. Ho was mustered out as >Lijor at the expiration of his term of service. Seiitember 20, 1864.

Bt'iiloii'i: Third Cmupdiiii. - The next company from Benton County was recruitcil in the sin-ing of 1862, being mustered about March 20. The commissioned ollicers of this company were: Jolui Burns, Captain; Samuel L. Young, First Lieutenant; and John A. Savage, Second Lieutenant. The enlisted men were: li'irst Sergeant, John JM. Crossou, promoted First Lieutenant ; Sergeants, Hiram Y. Wilkinson, promoted second l;ieutenant ; 'William F. Baker, transferred to Eleventh United States Infantry November 18, 1862 ; James J Keys, discharged November 30, 1862, disability; David AV. Miller, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; Corporals, Hugh H. Keys, died at St. Louis, April 4, 1863, wounds; Thomas Kenned}-, discharged December 1, 1862, disability'; Elijah McVej', promoted Second Lieutenant ; William Smith, died in Louisiana, June 1, 1863 ; William M, McConnell, discharged Xovember 23, 1863; Edward D. Pugh, discharged Januarj- 24, 186.5; George D. Yarborough, discharged Jauuarj' 24, 1865 ; Walter F. Sei-geant, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; Musician. Hiram Benedict, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; Frank Wager, missing August 20, 1862 ; Privates. William B. Adams, discharged August 11, 1863 ; Abraham Aldridge, missing Xoveralier 14, 1862 ; John Ale. discharged August 4, 1862, disabilit}- ; Joseph H. Alexander, discharged August 15, 1863, disability ; Da\'id xVshler, discharged August 4, 1862, disal)ilitj ; Israel Balch, discharged : John A. Barns, discharged, disability ; Lee Beans, transferred to Eleventh United States Infantry November 23, 18(52 ; Charles Bechtold, died February 5, 1863, of wounds received at Arkansas Post ; Frederick Bechtold. mustered out March 21,1865; John E. Bliss, discharged September 14, 1862, disability ; Cornelius Boice, transferred to Eleventh United States Infantry November 22, 1862; Joseph Borders, killed at Jackson, Miss, July in, 1862; Charles Buwecker, transferred to Eleventh United States Infmtry Xovember 29, 1862; Amos Campbell, killed at xVrkansas Post January 11. 1863; Philis Canette, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; Matthew W, Clark, discharged November 22, 1862, disability ; Charles B. Conklin, discharged November 29, 1862, minor; Washington Crabb, discharged August 8, 1863. disability ; William L. Dewj-ear, missing June 4, 1862 ; Mortimore Ford, missing June 1, 1862; Jacob Gibbons, discharged October 2, 1863, disability; Willi.am Gillespie, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; Hiram J. Gilbert, missing November 22, 1862 ; Daniel S. Harris, discharged August 22, 1862, disability ; Samuel C. Harris, Henry C. Harris and Myer Harris, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; Thomas E. Hamilton, discharged June 10, 1862, disability ; Joseph Hale, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; Josepli Hatclier, died at Lebanon, Ky., August 14, 1862 ; Charles JI. Hatcher, mustered out ;\Iarch 21, 1865 ; Samuel Henry, transferred to Veter.au Pieserve Corps 3Iarch 15 1864 ; George W. Helfield, missing May 8, 1862 ; William I. Hixson, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; Isaac Hoagland, died at Mempliis April 4, 1863, wounds; Andrew P. Johnson, mustered out March 21, 1863, as Sergeant; Albert Leneke, transferred to Eleventh United States Infantry November 25, 1862 ; George Liptrap, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; Jackson McDaniel, died at St. Louis, May 12, 1863 ; Thomas B. McClelland, discharged January 24, 1865; Thomas McGregor, mustered out March 21, 1865, as First Sergeant ; John L, Mehaffy, discharged December 8. 1863, disability ; Henry Mayer, mastered oat March 21, 1865 ; William J. Newman, missing November 1, 1862; John Prosser, missing June 17,1862; Abel Pugh, missing June 1, 1862 ; William H. Kickstraw, mastered out March 21, 1865 ; John Selby, died at Carrollton, La., December 8, 1863 ; Frank Sliell, missing May 12,1862; Francis H. Shrade, mastered out March 21. 1865; ^Villiam F.

Smith, discharged September 28, 1864, clisability ; Reuben D. Steeley, died at Thibodeaux, October 11, 1864 ; James C. Tea, Milton B. Thompson and Abram L. Thompson, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; William Vanover, discharged November 20, 1862, disability ; Frederick D. Walker, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; Peter Ward, missing November 22, 1862 ; James E, Warren and Sylvester Warren, missing November 9, 1862 ; Joel C. Wilmoth, transferred to Signal Corps, September 5, 1863 ; William C. Wilkinson, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; Robert V. Williams, discharged December 19, 1863, disability ; James W. Williamson, discharged July 15, 1864, disability ; James G. W. Woods, missing November 15, 1862 ; Recruits, George Blessing, George Boynton and James W. Cook, transferred to Twenty-sixth Regiment February 24, 1865 ; iMorris C, Freeman, discharged August 6, 1863, disability; John McCaslin, missing December 26, 1864 ; Robert Stanley and James Starr, transferred to Twenty-sixth Regiment February 24 1865 ; Wade W. Williams, transferred to First United States Cavalry November 20, 1862 ; Robert A. Young and John A. Young, transferred to Twentysixth Regiment February 24, 1865. Capt. Burns resigned November 30, 1862, and Lieut. Savage resigned on the same da}-, thus creating vacancies in the olliees of Ca])tain and Second Lieutenant. First Lieut. Samuel L. Young was promoted to Captain ; First Sergt. John M. Crosson, to First Lieutenant, and Sergt. Hiram V. Wilkinson, to Second Lieutenant. February 9, 1863, Capt. Young resigned, and John M. Crosson was advanced to the position of Captain ; Hiram V. Wilkinson to that of First Lieutenant, and Corporal Elijah McVey to that of Second Lieutenant. There were no further changes in the commissioned officers of the company up to the time when the entire regiment was mustered out.

This company was assigned to the Sixtieth Regiment (Richard Owen, Colonel), in which it was designated as Company D. " A partial organization of this regiment was effected at E\-ausville, in November, 1S61, and during the progress of enlisting the regiment was ordered to Camp ^Morton, Indianapolis, on the 22d of February, 1862, to guard rebel prisoners. While there the organization was perfected, the last companies being mustered in in the month of INLirch. On the 20th of June, it left Indianapolis for Louisville, Ky., whence it proceeded to Lebanon. After remaining there for a time, it moved to Muufordville, where, on the 14th of September, the advance of Bragg's army surromuled the place and its works, and compelled the garrison to surrender after a gallant resistance. Among the captured were a nuuibor of Indiana regiments, and seven companies of the Sixtieth, under command of Col. Owen. The other companies were, at the time of the capture, guarding a railroad bridge over IvoUing Fork, near Lebanon Junction, under command of Maj. Cox, and were not captured. The captured corapauies were paroled, and iiroceeded to Indianapolis, where they went into parole camps, and were there joined by the other portion of the regiment. Upon being exchanged in November, the regiment proceeded to Memphis, joining the Army of the Mississippi, and participating in the movements of that arm}- during the winter of 1862. On the 10th of Januarj-, 1863, it took part in the battle of Arkansas Post, losing a number in killed and wounded. In the campaign against Vicksburg, it moved with the First Brigade (Burbridge's), Tenth Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, from Milliken's Bend, on the 14th of April, making rapid and fatiguing marches through swamps, bavous and streams, under scorching; suns, drenchina; rains, and encraging in five desperate and hard-fought battles. At Port Gibson, on the 1st of May, it was among the first to enter the town ; at Champion Hills, on the 16th of May, it was in the advance, and at Black River, on the 17th of Maj', it behaved with gallantry. In the siege of Vicksburg, it took an active part, remaining in the trenches until the surrender on the 4th of July. After the capitulation, the Sixtieth marched with its brigade to Jackson, participating in the skirmishes on the route and the siege of Jackson, losing several in killed and wounded. Returning to Vicksburg, it remained there until August, when it was transported to New Orleans, where it was assigned to Banks' army. From New Orleans, it moved to Berwick City, and thence up the Teche, engaging in the battle of Grand Coteau Plains on the 3d of November, losing a few in killed- and wounded. Returning to the vicinity of New Iberia, it remained there a short time, and then proceeded to Algiers, near New Orleans, where it embarked on steamship for Texas. Landing in that State, it was stationed at Pass Cavallo for a brief period, and then returned to New Orleans, where it joined Banks' unfortunate expedition up Red River. This expedition was organized early in March, and proceeded with but little opposition to Alexandria, reaching there on the 19th of March. At Sabine Cross Roads, on the 8th of April, the Sixtieth lost heavily in killed, wounded and prisoners.

" After this campaign, the regiment went to Indiana on veteran furlough, the regiment having re-enlisted. Its re-muster was not, however, approved by the War Department, the regiment not having, in its opinion, served a suflflcient length of time to entitle it to be mustered as a veteran organization. Returning to the field, it was stationed at Thibodeaux, La., where it remained until the fall of 1864. On the 3d of November, it was engaged in the battle of Carrion Crow Bayou, losing largely in killed, wounded and prisoners. After this the regiment was stationed at Algiers, near New Orleans, remaining there until February 24, 1865, when the remaining recruits were transferred to the Twenty-sixth Indiana, and the balance of the regiment proceeded to Indianapolis, where it was mustered out on the 21st of March, 1865."

Other of Benton's Volunteers. - It might be possible to give the names of all those who went out from Benton County to do battle against their country's foes, but, as the task of ascertaining them would be a very onerous one, owing to the fact of there having been a great many companies that had been principally made up elsewhere, in each of which there were a few - from one to twenty - Benton County men, the information is not deemed of sufficient importance to justify the attempt. Some of those c.jiiipanies are Company C, of the Ninety-ninth Regiment, in which there were twenty man from Benton County; Company E, of the Fortieth Eegiment, in which there were six ; Company H, of the One Hnnclred and Fifty-fifth Regiment, in which there were fifteen; Company A, of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment, in which there were thirty-nine ; Companv K, of tlie One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment, in which there were thirty ; and Company K of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth, in which tliero were twelve ; Company C, of the Ninety-ninth Regiment was raised principally in Porter County. The members of that company from Benton County were David R. Lucas, First Lieutenant, promoted Chaplain September 27, 1862 ; Charles M. Scott, promoted from Sergeant to Captain, February 8, 1864; Miles A. Barber, mustered out June 5, 1865, as Sergeant; James Beazell. died at Louisville, Ky., November 10. 1862; Henry J. Busliong, discharged; Charles Catey, James Campbell and James D. Campbell, mustered out June 5, 1865 ; Ether A. Cook, died at Keokuk, Iowa, January 15, 1863; Henry (lermau. mustered out June 5. 1865 ; Reason Johnson, died at Camp Fowler, Tenn., February 26, 1863 ; Milton Keys, mustered out June 5, 1865; William. D. Kolb, mustered out June 5, 1865 ; Rol)ert B. Lank, discharged March 6. 1863 ; George W. Parker, transferred to V. R. C, October 26, 1863; William Savage, promoted First Lieutenant February 1, 1865; James Vanovcr, supposed lost on Sultana, April 27, 1865, Joseph Williams and William H. Young, mustered out June 5, 1865.

In Company E of the Fortieth Regimeut were Richard Kolb, promoted First Lieutenant, April 17, 1863, and resigned December 13, 1864 ; Jasper Kolb, promoted First Lieutenant 3Iareh 20. 1865, and mustered out with the regiment; Frederick Cain, discharged; Brooks C. Dunwiddie, veteran, mustered out December 21, 1864, as Sergeant ; Joseph Greenwood, veteran, mustered out December 21, 1865, as Sergeant ; Smith W. Perigo, veteran, mustered out December 21, 1865, as Sergeant.

Those in Company H of tlie One Hundrcil and Fifty-fifth Regiment were John H. Barber, mustered out May 15, 18t!5; Robert Brinkley. William W. Clark, Charles W. Clifton, David S, Clifton, Jetferson Donahue, Henry Eller, Aaron Jones, Benjamin ^Miller, Beujamiu C. Miller, Franklin Obermyer, George Rover, Natlian Tliompson and Arza B. Truitt, all mustered out August 4, 1865 ; and James F, Waterman, missing April 27, 1865; and those in Company K of the same regiment were James Bell, pr(jmoted Second ]jieutenaiit April IT, 1865, mustered out with regiment ; All'red Cover, mustei'ed ont August 4, 1865 ; .loseph A. Chandler, promoted Assistant Surgeon ; William I.. Fuglen, mustered out August 4, 1365, as First S(Mgea\it ; John W. l^ites, ^ViUiam W, l''itra\v, William Jenkins, Jeremiah Manihan, Leroy A. Swill, John Slonebcrger, George J. Thompsou and Sannul E, Walton, all mustered out .Vngust 4, 1865.

In (.\inii)any K of tlie One Hundred and Forty-seventh, tliere wore Capt. Tlioinas Kennedy, mustered out with the regiment ; Serjeants James J. Keys, William M. .McConnell, (ieorge W. Crosson and Heurv yi. Smith

Corporals William H. "\^anover, Alonzo Sleeper, John Elaiore, John F. Stokes and Joseph Emer}' ; and Privates Jacob Albangh, Robert Balantine, Edward Bromlej, ^lark J. Briar, James Blanchtill, Jerr}- Doj-le, John Gillespie, William Greenwood, Daniel W. Henderson, Alexander Hukill, James H. McDaniel, Andrew J. McConuell, William E. Orr, George Perigo, James Ritner, Lewis Rolaue, David Sn\-der, Jonathan Vanhorn, Isaac S. Wade and Isaac Ward, all of whom were mustered out August 4, 1-865, except Alonzo Sleeper, who was mustered out June 2, 1865, and David Sn3-der who died at Indianapolis, March 14, 1865.

Companj' A of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment had in it the following : First Lieutenant, William S. Freeman, promoted Captain December 1, 1864, and mustered out as such with the regiment ; First Sergeant, Lewis A. Campbell, promoted Second Lieutenant January 10, 1865, and mustered out as such with the regiment ; Sergt. George D. Boyd, discharged February 2, 1866 ; Corporals Jacob Shirm, mustered out October 5, 1865 ; Jeremiah Anstill, discharged Julj' 10, 1865, and John B. Crane mustered out April 10, 1866, as First Sergeant ; Privates, James Beal, Joseph Carter, Rinaldo Childs, James K. Coleman, Charles B. Conklin, P. A. Carnahan, mustered out April 10, 1866, as Quartermaster' Sergeant ; Strawder DeHart, William H. Dugan, John M. Ford, Allen Ford, William C. Garland, Owen Ganothy, Eugene B. Glasgow, James M. Hobson, William H. Hopkins, John Huffman, William Handy, George Kee, died at Atlanta, Ga., October 9, 1S64 ; Stephen S. Kitchen, discharged May 21, 1865 ; William Louderback, John McBride, William McConnell, William Michaels, Isaiah R. Morris, transferred to V. R. C, April 1, 1865 ; John W. Odle, discharged January 5. 1866 ; Charles R. Tate, John Templin, Robert Wright, died at Galesville. Ala., October 20, 1864 ; Henry Wight, Paul Windier, William Phillips, discharged July 10, 1865; Milton Young and James C. Young, discharged July 10, 1865.

The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment was a three-years, regiment, and was mustered in between October 1, 1863, and January 31, 1864, the greater part of the men being mustered December 15, 1864. They were mustered out at various times, but the majority of them were mustered out April 10, 1864, none of them serving the full term of their enlistment. The Ninety-ninth was also a three-years regiment, and a large majority of the men were mustered into the service August 15, 1862. They were all, with a very few exceptions, mustered out June 5, 1865, the time served being a little short of three years.

The One Hundred and Forty-seventh, the One Hundred and Fortyeighth, and the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiments, were in the service but a very short time, and during that time saw but little, if an}', of the hardships and dangers of .active military duty. Neither of those three regiments had a man killed or mortally wounded during the time they were in the service. They performed quite an important part in the closing scene of this great drama, however, the part that they were doubtless designed to perform. They were employed to garrison posts at various points along the lines of railroad over which our supplies were conveyed, thus relieving and sending to the front several thousand soldiers who had had long experience in the service, and whose valor had been proven on many an ensanguined field.

The Ninety-ninth and the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiments, although not among the first to respond to their country's call for succor, nevertheless entered the service in time to render very efficient aid to the cause of the Union, the loss of the former, in killed and mortally wounded, being forty-one, and that of the latter twenty-eight. The Ninety-ninth participated in Sherman's campaign against 'Vicksburg in the summer of 1863, and in the operations which led to the evacuation of Jackson, Miss., the same summer. After remaining in camp at Big Black Ei\'er until the latter part of September, 1863, the regiment moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., by way of Memphis, Corinth, luka, Florence, Decherd and Stevenson, arriving at Chattanooga on the 24th day of November, and engaging in the battle of Mission Ridge on the following day. It took part in the Atlanta campaign, and participated in many of the most sanguinarj- engagements fought during that campaign. It accompanied Sherman in his march to the sea, and on the IStli of December, 1864, took part in the charge upon Fort MeAlister. Leaving Savannah, after a short rest, the regiment started on its way through the Carolinas, skirmishing with the enemy at Duck Creek and Edisto River, and occupying Columbia, S. C, on the 17th of February, 1865. The regiment broke camp at Columbia, after a brief rest. and. marching by way of Camden, Cheraw and Fayetteville on the 19th of March, reinforced the Twentieth Corps at the battle of Bentonville. By way of Goldsboro, Raleigh, Warrenton, Petersburg and Richmond, the regiment marched overland to 'Washington, D. C, and was there mustered out of the service of the United States on 15th day of June, 1865. During its term of service, the Ninety-ninth Regiment marched over four thousand miles, and endured man}- hardships.

The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment was raised in the Ninth Congressional District, during the fall and winter of 1863, rendezvoused at Michigan City, and was mustered into the service on the 18th day of March, 1864. On the 23d, the regiment left Michigan City by rail, and proceeded to Nashville by way of Indianapolis and Louisville. The regiment proceeded on its way southward, passing through Stevenson, Bridgeport and Chattanooga, and reaching Charleston, Tenn., April 21. From Cliarloston it marched in the direction of Atlanta, actively participating in that most energetic, sanguinary and decisive campaign. The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment was conspicuously engaged in many of the .severest engagements of this campaign, and " from the 8th of May until the 5th of Sepleuiber, under the broiling sun by day and the pestilential dews by night, through difficult ravines, skirmishing in dense forests, drenched l)y heavy rains, struggling through mud and mire, our troops pressed on. Some portion of the regiment was on ttie skirmish line nearly every day for four months." After the fall of Atlanta the regiment marched from Jonesboro to Decatur, Ga., where it went into camp with the rest of the corps. The regiment was in the engagement at Franklin, Tenn., in which it lost several officers and men. It was also engaged in the battle of Nashville, December 15 and 16, but its loss was verj' light. On the 5th of January, 1865, the regiment left Columbia, Tenn., and, marching to Clifton, on the Tennessee River, there embarked on a transport for Cincinnati, Ohio; whence it moved by rail to Washington, and thence to Alexandria, Va., from which place it sailed, on the 20th of Februar3', on the steamer Atlantic, to Fort Fisher, N. C, and thence to Morehead City, N. C. On the 10th of March, the regiment took an active part in the battle of Kingston or Wise's Fork, losing several in killed and wounded.

Pahlic Sentiment and Civil Action. - It is said by those who then resided in the county that there was not in Benton Countj^ the same bitter resentments and deep-seated animosities engendered by the war that there were in many other portions of the countrj-. The sentiment in favor of the suppression of the rebellion was, it is said, almost universally prevalent. The alacritj' with which Benton County responded to the call to arms, won for it the following commendator}' notice from the State Sentinel in Maj-, 1861: " The little countj' of Benton, with a voting population of 500, has sent a companj' of ninety men to the war, and fine looking fellows thej' are. Good for Benton Countj-. Capt. W. J. Templeton commands this compan}-." Benton County was not lavish, in anj- marked degree, in the expenditure of money for the payment of local bounties; yet it does not appear, from the Adjutant General's report that there were ever more than two men - one in Prairie Township and one in York - drafted. The amounts of money paid by the county, and by the several townships, for local bounties, as shown by the Adjutant General's report, were as follows ; Benton County, 830,840; Parish Grove Township, $10,715.50; Pine Township, $7,310; Oak Grove Township, $2,250; York Township, $2,500; Prairie Township, ^-tlS; Bolivar Township, $9,550; Union Township, $900; making a total in the county of $64,510.50. The amounts paid for the relief of soldiers' families were : By the county, $3,635.08; by Pine Township, $345; by Oak Grove Township, $330; by Prairie Township, $15; by Bolivar Township, $60, making a total in the countj' of $4,385.08.

At a special session of the Board of Commissioners, held April 30, 1861 (Benjamin Hawkins, Robert M. Atkinson and Samuel Mcllvaine, Commissioners; William Jones, Auditor, and Samuel Chapman, Sheriff), it was " Ordered that $1,000 be, and is hereby, appropriated out of the county funds, or so much of the same as may be needed for the purpose of defraying the expenses of board and lodging of the volunteers of the Benton County Guards, and for the benefit of the families of such volunteers as may need assistance, arising from their absence. The orders for the money for volunteers to be issued in such amounts as the Captain, or other officer in command, maj', from time to time, require. Tliat used for the benefit of the families to be used in such amounts as David McConnell, Dr. J. J. Rawlings and Basil Justus, who are hereby appointed to act as agents for the count}' in expenduig the same, may, from time to time, require."

At the June session, 1861, it was " Ordered that a county order be made to Tippecanoe County for $7.3 for quartering ninety men by order of Capt. W. J. Templeton, as by his bill on file." At the same term, it was ordered that the order made April 30th, which has been alluded to, be amended to read as follows : That there be a suitable person appointed to inquire into the necessities of all destitute families of those that have husbands and sons now in the army, on whom they have heretofore depended for support, and also that the merchants of Oxford be notified not to sell to such persons without an order from said person, appointed bj- the Board of County Commissioners."

At a special session, held November 10, 1363, it was Ordered that a bounty of $50 be paid out of the county treasury to each \'olunteer enlisting from the county of Benton uader the late call of the President for 300,- 000 men ; and that there be an allowance made monthly of $5 to the families dependent on voluuteers so recruited, and to all families whose supporters have heretofore enlisted in the army of the United States and still remain in the service of the same. Ordered that the Auditor draw orders on the Treasurer for the above bount}-, when the certificate of the mustering officer is produced that the applicant has been duly received and mustered into the service of the United States."

At a special session, held February 23. 1364, it was -- Ordered by the board that a bounty of $50 be paid out of the county treasurv to each volunteer enlisting from the county of Benton under the late call of the President for 200,000 men, upon the certificate of the mustering officer being produced that the applicaut has been duly mustered into the service of the United States." December, 1S64, it was Ordered by this court that an order made by this board at a special term held on the 10th day of November, 1863, allowing $5 per mouth to the wives of soldiers in the service of the United States, from this county, be, and the same is, hereby rescinded; and further, that, in lieu of said order, the following be substituted : ' Ordered by the board that the wives of private soldiers and non-commissioned officers (until they receive their pension from the G-overnment), who are credited to this county, shall receive as a bounty the sum of |3 per month to each woman, and $2 per month to each child under ten years of age; and further, that, in order that the Auditor may know the proper amount due such families, such women, or their representatives, shall file with the County Auditor a sworn statement of the number of children entitled to pay under this order.'"

At a special session of the Commissioners' Court, held Februarv 8, 1865 .(present Benjamin Hawkins, llobert iM. Atkinson and William Marvin, Commissioners), it was "Ordered that a bounty of $-tOO be paid out of the count\i.

treasurj' to each volunteer who may be mustered into the service, and credited to the several townships of this county ; provided, that no bounties be paid to volunteers after the quotas of the several townships are filled ; and provided further, that no bount}' shall be paid to an}' person or persons resident or enrolled in one township who shall volunteer in any other township and have himself credited thereto, until the quota in the township in which he resides or is enrolled shall be full ; said bounty to be paid as follows, to wit : County orders shall be issued bj- the Auditor in denominations ranging from S25 to $400 ; and, inasmuch as the funds are not now on hand for the redemption of the orders above named, it is hereby further ordered that if the residents of any township shall furnish the funds uecessar}' to redeem said orders up to the amount necessarj- to fill the quota of such township, the funds so furnished b}' such township shall be paid out to volunteers to fill the quota of such township ; and, in case the qnota of any township is not filled by volunteering, the Auditor shall issue to such persons as may be drafted to fill up such quota, orders to the amount of S400 each to such drafted men as maj- be accepted and mustered into the service, and all bounties, whether to volunteers or drafted men, shall only be paid on the presentation to the person who may be authorized to pay the same, the certificate of the mustering officer, which certificate shall specify the township to which he is credited."

The last order made by the board in relation to bounties was made in March, 1865, and was as follows : " Ordered that the order made at the special session of the board, held on the 8th day of February, 1865, allowing a bounty to volunteers and drafted men, be so amended that any person in any township in this county, who may be drafted to fill the quota of his township, and who shall procure and have mustered into the service of the United States for one year an acceptable substitute, shall, on the presentation of the proper certificate of the Auditor that such substitute has been mustered in, be entitled to receive the amount of county orders allowed in said order ; and, any person in any township which has not filled its quota, who shall procure and have mustered into the service as aforesaid, and credited to his township, a representative volunteer for one year, shall, on the presentation of the certificate as aforesaid, be entitled to receive the bounty provided for in said order. And it is further ordered that the Auditor be, and he hereby is authorized and directed to issue to James Emerson, of Bolivar Township, orders to the amount of $8,400, being the amount necessary to pay the bounty on the number of men required to All the quota of said Bolivar Township, taking the said Emerson's receipt for said orders, which said receipt shall contain the number and date of said orders, and require the said Emerson to return to said Auditor all of said orders not used in filling the quota of said township ; and for each S400 of said orders not returned to the Auditor by said Emerson, he shall be required to 61e with said Auditor the certificate of muster-in of a volunteer for one year, credited to said township."

Condusion.-T\x^ men, a very large majority of them, at least, who went out from the county to serve in the army during the late rebellion, were men who had been residing in the county prior to their enlistment ; and those of them who survived the perils of war returned to the county, and are, most of them, still residing therein ; wherefore it is believed that all facts of interest pertaining to those companies, and fragmentary companies that went out from Benton County, will have a peculiar interest for a very numerous class of the citizens of the county. It is in view of these facts, and of the further fact that the Adjutant General's report, from which the foregoing has been chiefly drawn, is not readily accessible to the general public-, that so much space has been devoted to this subject.

ON the 15th day of November, 1882, a double murder and suicide occurred in York Township, of which the Oxford Tribune gives the following account : " On the Uth inst., James P. Spaulding, of near Raub, Ind., murdered his wife and child, and then committed suicide. Spaulding had sold his farm recently, and received cash in consideration. This money was deposited in the Banli of Kentlaud, where it now is. On the previous evening, he was heard to complain of selling the place too cheap, and seemed very morose in consequence. He was seen in the morning with lantern in hand, doing the chores about the barn, where later the horses were found with harness on. The cows had been milked, and wood chopped for the da_v. The bodies wore discovered by a relative. The lamp was burning on a table ; the mother and son lay side by side, while the father lay across them, face downward. Spaulding was thirty-five years of age ; his wife, thirtj' years of age, and the boy four years and six months. At the time the murder was committed, the wife was engaged in making bread, as her bauds were covered with dough, and all preparation had been made for baking. From what investigation has been made, it is firmly believed that the husband killed the wile and child, and then cut his own throat. It is supposed that he first came in from the barn quietly, and knocked his wife in the head with a singletree that was found on the fioor covered with blood and hair, and then cut her throat with a razor which was found covered with blood, and identified as his own. The door knob had finger marks, showing signs of a struggle. The little boy ran out into the back yard, whither his father pursued him and knocked him down with the singletree, lie then cut the boy's throat from ear to ear. dragged him into the house, and laid him alongside the mother. Spaulding then cut his own throat, and fell across the bodies of his wife and child. It is plain that the murder was not committed for the purpose of robbery, as Spaulding's purse, containing a considerable sum of money, was found on his person, while his watch was taken from his vest pocket, and the crj'stal found to be covered with finger-marks and blood." The foregoing newspaper article contains tlie faats in the case, except a5 to one or two particulars. The Coroner's report shows that tiae tragedy occurred on the loth, instead of on the lith of tlie month, as stated in the article. It also shows that Spaulding's name was Jasper, and not James K. as stated in the article. The Coroner's report discloses the further facts that Mrs. Spaulding's name was Georgia, and little boy's, Harry.

Lands Entered By H. L. Ellsworth

Henry L. Ellsworth, of La Fayette, entered about 65,000 acres of land ia the county, a great deal of it being entered as late as the year 1851. He entered a great manj' entire sections, and never less than a quarter section in any one section, fie entered land in each Congressional township in the count}', except in Township 25, of Range 6. The number of acres entered by him in each township was as follows : Township 21:, Range 6, 4,G36 acres ; Township 26, Range 6, -1,020 ; Township 24, Range 7, 1,800 ; Township 25, Range 7, 9,700 ; Township 26, Range 7, 4,302 ; Township 24, Range 8, 1,280 ; Township 25, Range 8, 4,000 ; Township 26, Range 8, 6,320 ; Township 24, Range 9, 11,200 ; Township 25, Range 9, 8,600 ; Township 26, Range 9, 5,940.

In 1842, there were twenty-four voters in Parish Grove Township, thirtythree in Pine, and twenty-five in Oak Grove ; in 1846, there were forty-one in Parish Grove, forty-two in Pine, and thirty-seven in Oak Grove ; in 1849, there were fifty-one in Parish Grove, forty-two in Pine, and sixty-nine in Oak Grove; in 1854, there were eighty-six in Parish Grove, seventy-two in Pine, and one hundred and seventy-six in Oak Grove ; in 1859, there were thirty eight in Parish Grove, eighty-two in Pine, two hundred forty-two in Oak Grove, and seventy-two in West Pine ; in 1864, there were seventeen in Parish Grove, seventy-seven in Pine, one hundred thirty-seven in Oak Grove, sixty-four in West Pine, sixteen in York, twenty -one in Prairie, one hundred seven in Bolivar, and ten in Union ; in 1869, there were eleven in Parish Grove, sixty-nine in Pine, two hundred two in Oak Grove, fifty-six in York, forty in Prairie, one hundred thirty-nine in Bolivar, thirty-three in Union, sixty-seven in Gilboa, forty -three in Richland, and one hundred twenty-four in Grant; in 1874, tliere were fifty-eight in Parish Grove, ninety-eight in Pine, one hundred fifty in Oak Grove, eighty-seven in York, one hundred ninety-seven in Prairie, one hundred thirty-nine in Bolivar, one hundred thirty-three in Union, one hundred thirty-nine in Gilboa, one hundred sixtysix in Richland, and two hundred forty-six in Grant ; in 1879, there were one hundred thirty-three in Parish Grove, seventy-six in Pine, one hundred twenty-nine in Oak Grove, one hundred nine in York, one hundred seventy in Bolivar, one hundred fifty-two in Union, one iiundred forty-two in G-ilboa, two hundred two in Riehland, two hundred fourteen in Grant, and one hundred sixty-six in Center, one hundred sixty-seven in Hickory G-rove, ninetyeight in Oxford, and one hundred fifty-eight in Fowler ; in 1882, there were one hundred fifty-five in Parish Grove, ninety-five in Pine, one hundred thirty-seven in Oak Grove, one hundred thirty in York, one hundred ninetyseven in Bolivar, one hundred sixty in Union, one hundred forty-three in GUboa, one hundred sixty-seven in Richland, two hundred forty-seven in Grant, one hundred twenty-two in Center, one hundred ninetj'-seven in Hickory Grove, one hundred fifty-three in Oxford, and one hundred eighty-one in Fowler. It will be seen that in certain townships the number was less at some periods than it had been at previous periods. From this it might be inferred that tlie population of the county was becoming less, for some reason. It will be seen, however, that the population of the county has been steadily increasing, if the aggregate population of all the townships be considered. Thus, in 1842, the population of the countj' was eighty-two ; in 184G, it was one hundred twenty, being an increase of thirty-eight, or over forty-seven percent; the increase from 1846 to 1849 was sixty-five, an increase of over fifty-four per cent ; from 1 S49 to 1854, it was one hundred fortynine, or seventy-nine per cent ; from 1854 to 1859, it was one hundred, an increase of over twenty -nine per cent ; from 1859 to 1864, it was fifteen, an increase of three and one-fourth per cent ; from 1864 to 1869, it was three "hundred thirty -five, an increase of over seventy-four per cent ; from 1869 to 1874, it was six hundred and twenty-nine, and increase of eighty per cent ; from 1874 to 1879, it was five hundred three, an increase of over thirty-five per cent; and from 1879 to 1882, it was one hundred and sixty-eight, an increase three and one-fourth - was from 1859 to 1864. This period covers the greater portion of the late civil war, and it is probably due to this that the rate of increase is so small. That some of the townships appear to have lost ground at times is due to the fact that their territorial limits have been dimuiished by the creation of new townships, out of a part of their territory. The changes made in the townships of tliis county have been very numerous. Wlien the county was first organized, and for several years afterward, there were but three townships in the county, and now there are eleven. Again, Ihere have been several townships unmade by rescinding the order creating them, whilst the names of otiiers have been chanoed.

Uailuo.Vps

The first railroad projected in Benton County was called the La Favette, Oxford & Bloomington Railroad. The Board of Commissioners, at their March session, 1S68, undertook and agreed to make up to the company any delin(|uency, not exceeding $10,000, that the company might not be able to collect of $!50,000 that the citizens of Benton County luursubscribed to aid in the construction of the road, which was to run from La Fayette, in Tippe- canoe Count}', Ind., to Bloomington, 111., passing through Oxford en route. The road was never huilt, however, as originally projected, and the board, at their June session, 1869, I'escinded the order they had made at their March session, 1868, above alluded to. At the Jul_v session of the board (special session). 1869, a petition was presented to the board, signed by 108 freeholders of the countj-, praj-ing the board to order elections to be held in the several townships of the county, to vote upon the question whether the county should aid the La Payette, Muncie & Bloomington Railroad, to the amount of S40,000, either by wa^' of an appropriation of that amount or by taking stock in the compan}-. The Commissioners decided to talre stock, and ordered elections to be held in the several townships on the 28th day of the next ensuing month. The vote in the several townships was as follows : Parish Grove Township, none for, none against ; Pine Township, twenty-nine for, forty-seven against ; Oak Grove Township, two hundred and fifty-one for, seven against ; Gilboa Township, none for, none against ; York, two for,twentj- against ; Prairie Township, thirtj'-nine for, five against ; Bolivar Township, one hundred and twent3--two for, none against ; Union Township, none for, none against ; Richland Township, twentj'-tive for, nineteen against ; Grant Township, one hundred and thirty-nine for, none against ; making the total vote of the count}' six hundred and seven for, and ninetv-eight against. In three of the ten townships - Parish Grove, Gilboa and Union - no votes were cast, either for or against ; whilst two - Pine and York - gave a majority against the appropriation, and two - Bolivar and Grant - voted unanimously in fiivor of it. The townships in the northern tier - Gilboa, Union, Richland and York - being situated farthest from the line of the proposed road, and there being already a railroad within a mile or two of their northern boundary, it is not strange that they should give a majority against making the appropriation ; for it would benefit the people of that section but little, notwithstanding the benefit to the county would be incalculable. But that Parish Grove, Prairie and Pine, constituting the middle tier of townships, should have given as small a majority in favor of the appropriation as they did, is somewhat surprising, inasmuch as those townships must have been benefited but little less than the southern tier of townships, through which the road was proposed to be made. In the northern tier of townships the majority against the appropriation was twelve, whilst the middle tier gave a majority of sixteen, and the southern tier a majority of five hundred and five in favor of it ; there being but seven votes against it in the southern tier of townships, all of which were cast in Oak Grove Township. It being discovered by the Commissioners that $40,000 was in excess of one per cent of the taxable property of the county - the utmost amount that could be lawfully levied in aid of a private enterprise - it was ordered at the June term of Commissioners' Court, 1870, that one-half the amount of the appropriation, $20,000, should be then levied, and that the balance of it be levied at the June session, 1871. The construction of the road does not seem to have been pushed forward very energetically, for we find in the record of the proceedings of the Board of Commissioners, at their December term, 1875, after reciting that quo warranto proceedings by information, in the name of the State of Indiana, on the relation of William B. Walls, Prosecuting Attorney of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, are pending in the Clinton Circuit Court against the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomiagton Railroad, to wrest from .said company its corporate franchises, and that the county is a stockholder to the amount of $39,150, the board " request the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General to dismiss said proceedings, as said road is now nearly completed." This road runs in a northwesterly direction from La Fayette to Templeton, thence nearly due west to Boswell, and thence to the State line, a little south of west. The L., M. & B. Railroad, after several successive consolidations with other roads and changes of name, has come to be known as the Lake Erie & Western Railway, and with its connections forms one of the great trunk lines of tlA country. It is doing a good business both in freight and passenger traffic. The construction of this road has been of incalculable benefit to the countj-, causing the towns of Templeton, Chase, Boswell, Talbot and Ambia to spring up, and greatly promoting the settlement of the southwestern portion of the count}'. Besides the $10,000 of stock subscribed by the county, the citizens of the county subscribed some $60,000, making in the aggregate $100,000 obtained by the road out of Benton County to aid in its construction. Verily, the county ought to be greatlj- benefited by the construction of the road, for although this enormous sum of $100,000 was not designed to be a donation, yet bj' the chicanerj' usually resorted to, the}' being small fish, tropically speaking, were swallowed up by the leviathans into whose power the}' had unwarily placed themselves, thus making it in etfect a donation. Neither the county, nor any individual of the county, ever received a dollar for the stock subscribed to this road. It is ever thus.

About the same time that the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington road was projected, or verj' soon afterward, a road was survej-ed to run from La Fayette to Chicago, to be known as the Cincinnati, La Payette & Chicago Railroad, which was to diverge to the north from the line of the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington Railroad, at Templeton, and run centrally to the northwest corner of the county. This road was completed about the same time that the other road was completed, and, like it, benefited the county at large very greatly, and those near the center of the county immeasurably. On this line of road, the towns of Atkinson, Fowler. Earl Park and Raub sprang up. This road, like the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington road, has been consolidated with other roads, and the name has been changed, until it is now a continuous line from Cincinnati to Chicago, and is known as the Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis & Chicago Railroad, or, otherwise as the Big Four road, and is one of the best lines of road iu the country. All trains on this road pass over the track of the Lake Erie & Western road between La Fayette and Templeton, under some sort of agree-