Webster Township

Webster Township

Webster, the youngest of Wayne County townships, is also the smallest township in the county. It is about fout- and a quarter miles in length and three and a half in width, and has an area of about fifteen square miles. Four townships were reduced in size to form Webster - Centre gave six square miles; Green, three; New Garden, three and three-eighths; and Wayne, two and a half. The township was formed by the county commissioners, Dec. 5, 18Y0, and Webster Village, was designated as the voting place. Chiswell Coggeshall was appointed Township Trustee, and Samuel Roberts, Assessor. The township is drained by Nolan's Fork and its tributaries. Farms and improvements are good, and the citizens thrifty and enterprising. Portions of the surface are quite elevated; all the land is arable and fertile.

Joseph and Rachel Bond, whose descendants still remain in the township, moved from North Carolina to a farm situated near the present village of Webster in 1811.

Willis Whitson, one of the very first settlers, located on the farm now owned by his son John Whitson. Rlioda Mendenhall, wife of Nathan Mendenhall, lives on fifty-five acres of land, a part of the farm originallj^ settled by her father, Samuel Bond. Isaac Jessup, from Virginia, settled in this township in 1816. His son Jehu now lives in Webster. Joseph Personett settled in the northwestern corner of the township, on the present Price farm. Daniel Bond, son of Edward, and Aaron Livingston settled in the western part of the township.

Thomas Culbertson was one of the very first settlers. David Culbertson settled on the creek. Eobert Culbertson and his son Daniel came from Kentucky to this neighborhood in 1815. Henry Hoover settled early where Wm. King now lives. Andrew and David Hampton settled east of Webster. Later, Jehiel Hampton and David Smitson settled near by.

The farm on which Alexander Cheeseman now lives was early owned by Richard Cheeseman, who had the adjoining farm. It was improved by a man named Nordyke; then by Charles Thompson. The first road ran through the eastern part of the farm, from Salisbury to Williamsburg, and on this road the first cabin on the place was erected. Later the road from Centreville to Williamsburg - now the turnpike - was laid out on the present township line. Mr. Alex. Cheeseman, one of the oldest residents of this part of the township, says most of the farms were taken up, though but slightly improved, in 1821. Large trees were girdled and left standing, and the smaller trees being cut away left space for the small crops then planted. Log-rolling, raisings, wrestling-matches and weddings afforded the chief amusements of that day. At weddings usually all the young people for miles around were gathered. They rode on horseback in couples. Dancing and whisky gave liveliness to the gathering. Such occasions - of course excepting among the Quakers - were productive of much fun and merriment. Most of the settlers were poor, but they were very helpful one toward another.

Lewis McLain, Samuel Hague, John Cannaday, William Thornburgh, and the Evanses were early settlers in the western part of the township. Joseph Evans, from JSew Jersey, bought several sections of land. He never lived there, but his children - Joseph, William, Samuel and Mrs. Satterthwaite - came out and settled.

Huldah Overman, now in her ninety-second year, is living on land entered by Joseph Overman. Hannah Roberts, widow of Walter Roberts, also in her ninety-second year, is living on land entered by her husband. These are about all of the original early settlers now remaining in the township.

In the northern part of the township Daniel and John Baldwin and Isaac Williams were early settlers. John, Thomas and Joseph Teagle settled early northwest of Webster Village. Benjamin Bishop, who had served in the patriot army in the Revolution, was another early settler. His father, a Tory, lived and died here. Charles Baldwin, son of John, was another early settler,

Stephen Comer, from North Carolina, first settled in Wayne County about two and a half miles northeast of Richmond. From this place he soon after removed to a farm near the village of Webster. During the Indian troubles he was driven to the vicinity of Richmond, but after peace was established he returned to his farm. He died in 1850.

William Thornburgh, who died in Indianapolis, came to Wayne County in 1810, and to Centre Township (now Webster) in 1816. His sons lived on the farm later.

The first grist-mill in the township was run by horse-power. It was provided with a big wheel and built by John Baldwin on the present Compton place. He also had a saw-mill there. These mills were afterward purchased by John Baldwin, an early settler.

The Friends established a school as early as 1821 - perhaps before. John Bishop, John Comer and Charles Johnson were among the first teachers.

The township ofiicers for 1883-'4 are: Eli Kenworthy, Trustee; Jonathan Jarrett, Assessor; H. D. Mendenhall, Justice ot the Peace; Milton Bishop, Constable.

The village of Webster, generally called Dover, after the " Dover Meeting " of the Friends, was laid out about 1850, by Edward Bond and Samuel Clark. It is a neat and pretty country village, containing two churches, and a large and elegant school building. The business of the place is represented by the following: S. H. Bond, Postmaster and general merchant; A. T. Jessup, grocer; John Clinehaus, blacksmith 53 '

The first store in the place was started hj James Thomas, who is now living in Marion, Grant County, about a year before the village was laid out. He sold to Woodward & Wiggins, who continued business a short time. Then came Addison H. Harris for about eight years. He sold out to Wm. Brooks, who sold out to Simon H. Bond about seventeen years ago.

The postoffice at Webster was formed in 1851. The names of Postmasters, and the dates of their commissions are as folovvs: Allen Teagle, Jan. 6, 1851; Joel Jeffrey, Jan. 13, 1852; Isaac G. Sheward, Dec. 19, 1855; Addison H. Harris, April 12, 1858; Samuel Cook, June 1, 1860; Wm. Brooks, June 14, 1860; Simon H. Bond, Oct. 30, 1866, present Postmaster.

Odd Felloios. - Webster Lodge, No. 3T1, I. O. O. P., was chartered May 7, 1871, with the following charter members: Joseph W. Overman, Al. Borton, John N. Irvin, H. M. Irvin, Geo. W. Davis, Thos. Eubank, Milton S. Davis, David Miller, G. W. Stiggleman, J. Milton Harris, Wm. Frame, Jonathan Jarrett, Thos. F. Swain. The lodge now has twenty-eight members and property worth $976.

Dmtghters of Rebekah. - Cassandra Lodge, No. 528, Daughters of Rebekah, was chartered Aug. 1, 1883. Following are the names of the charter members: T. W. Taylor, N. Bishop, S. H. Davis, Jonathan Jarrett, C. R. Unthank, G. W. Stiggleman, Eber Borton, James L. Love, Jesse Borton, A. C. Harvey, L. B. Jarrett, W. W. Roosa, Cassandria Taylor, Mary E. Bishop, Sarah E. Davis, MoUie Unthank, Lydia E. Jarrett, Roselie Stiggleman, Rachel J. Love, Hattie Borton, Maria Evans and Amanda E. Roosa.

Domr Meeting. - This meeting was named after the town of Dover, JS". C, from which many of the early settlers came to this part of Wayne County. Dover Meeting was organized by the Friends in 1821. Among the leading early members were: Willis Whitson and wife; Walter Roberts and Hannah his wife, the latter still living, Isaac and Ann Jessup, Joseph Bond and wife, Stephen and Mary Comer, Samuel and Charity Bond, and Edward and Anna Bond. Elizabeth Band was the first minister belonging to this meeting. Her father, Thomas Bales, who died in Ohio, and was buried near Chillicothe, was the first Quaker preacher that ever crossed the Ohio River. He came from North Carolijia.

The church lot and cemetery was purchased of Edward Bond for $5. It contains three acres. A meeting-house, 16 X 18 feet, of hewed logs, was erected in 1821, and was afterward used as a school-house. A second meeting-house was built of hewed logs, about twenty-five feet square. It had no chimney, but a hole in the roof instead. A charcoal fire, kept upon a stone hearth in the centre of the house, served to warm the building. The third house was a frame about 25 X 40 feet. It was succeeded by a frame house 25 x 50 feet. In 1855 the present meeting-house of brick, 26 x 52 feet, was erected. Each of the earlier meeting-house^, when given up for meeting purposes, were used as school-rooms. The Friends maintained one of the earliest schools in this part of the county at Dover. The meeting now has about 245 members. The Ministers are: Jehu Jessup and Jehiel Bond; Trustees, Levi Bond, Henry J. and Samuel Roberts; Clerks, Wm. Black and Eunice E. Bond; Overseers, Isaac Stiggleman and Wm. Black; Elders, Lewis Bond, Eli Kenworthy, Isaac Williams, Thos. Clark and Mahlon Bond.

Canaday Chapel M. E. Church. - Yriov to 1839 circuit preaching was held at the house of Kobert Culbertson for some years. In 1839 a camp-meeting, which resulted in a revival and the formation of a church, was held on the farm then owned by John Canaday. Shortly afterward a frame church was erected on a lot of land donated by Mr. Canaday. It was used until 1878, when the present house was built on the same lot. Camp-meetings were held for a few years. Amono- the first preachers was Miltietus Miller. Early members: Robert and Rebecca Culbertson, David S. Culbertson a local preacher, son of Robert, Daniel Culbertson, Davidson Culbertson, John Canaday and wife, A. J. Russell and wife and Henry Hoover. The present membership is small. The church is on the Williamsburg circuit.

M. E. Church. - The M. E. church at Webster was organized in 1865, and a house of worship erected the same year at a cost of about $1,000. There had been occasional preachin o- for several -years previous. Among the early members were: Burgess Lake and wife, John Comer and wife, Emsley Overman and wife, and others. The present membership is small. The church belongs with the Wiliamsburg circuit.

Biographical

6br^eZms -So/ic?, a son of Thomas Bond, Jr., was born in Wayne County, Ind., Dec. 2, 1834, and has always resided in what is now Webster Township, engaged in farming. He has one of the most attractive homes in the country. He started in life with forty acres of poor land, but with energy and perseverance equal to any emergency. In his early manhood he received an injury that made him a cripple for life. While splitting wood the ax passed through the timber and buried itself in his knee. He was unable to move for weeks and it was several months before he was able to work. He has often felt almost compelled to give up, but with a determination that was able to surmount many difficulties he kept on. He was married Oct. 13, 1853, to AnnaE., daughter of Hartman and Catharine Eigenbrodt. She was born in Pennsylvania, Nov. 6, 1832, and when three years of age came with her parents to Wayne County, locating in Rich mond, and in 1838 removing to Webster Township. Mr. and Mrs. Bond have seven children - Ada Y. M., Josie A., Elma L., William A., Charley T. H., Cadie E. and Etta J. M. They are members of the Society of Friends.

Joseph Bond, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Bond (who came from England), was born in North Carolina, Aug. 9, 1779. He came to the Territory of Ohio in 1801, raised a crop and then went back to North Carolina. In the latter part of 1802 he married Rachel Harrold, daughter of John and Phebe Harrold. They remained in North Carolina until 1811., when, with five children, they moved to the Territory of Indiana and settled in what is now Wayne County, about seven miles northwest of Richmond. Here six more children were added to their family, making eleven in all, eight boys and three girls, all of whom lived to be men and women. In 1838 he moved to Randolph County, Ind., where he lived about three years, his wife surviving him about two years. The children ot Joseph Bond are the following - Darius, born Dec. 26, 1803, died Sept. 3, 1837; Eunice, born Oct. 3, 1805, died Jan. 24, 1870; John H., born Dec. 6, 1807, still living in Randolph County; Mordecai, born Sept. 24, 1809, died Aug. 8, 1849; Joseph S., born July 29, 1811, living in Randolph County; Amos, born April 9, 1814, living in Grant County, Ind. ; Levi, born Nov. 4, 1815, living in Wayne County, Ind.; Elihu, born April 28, 1817, died June 7, 1870; Rachel, born March 13, 1819, died March 20, 1840; Zimri, born Dec. 25, 1820, died April 14, 1877; Lavina, born Jan, 5, 1826, living in Iowa. Levi Bond, the only son now living in Wayne County, Dec. 1, 1840, married Lydia Williams, daughter of John and Mary Williams, of Wayne County. They now live in Webster Township, having lived there ever since their marriaoe, except fourteen years that were spent in Randolph County, Ind. Their only son, Jehiel Bond, living with them, was born Jan. 30, 1842. April 26. 1866, he married Anna Jane Marshall, daughter of Evan and Gulia Elma Marshall.

Maklan Bond was born in Henry County, Ind., Nov. 30, 1850, a son of Amer and Mary Bond. When he was eight years of age he came to Wayne County to live with his uncle, Thomas Bond, and remained with him or his widow till Feb. 13, 1873, when he married Eunice E. Hunt. She was born Aug. 23, 1852, in Wayne County, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Bond have three children - Leona, Leslie and Lilian. Previous to his marriage Mr. Bond bought a farm of eighty acres, on section 21, Webster Township, where he still lives. He and his wife are members of the Society of Friends.

WUliam Bond was born Oct. 13, 1834, in Webster Town- | ship, Wayne Co., Ind., a son of Jesse and Anna (Cook) I Bond, both natives of Wayne County, his father born Oct 1 7, 180^, and his mother Feb. 4, 1811. His mother was a daughter of Joseph and Lydia Cook, early settlers of the county. His father built the first house used as a place of business, in Richmond. His parents were married June 18, 1829, and to them were born seven children, two of whom are living - Calvin, of Hamilton County, Ind., and William, our subject. Mahala, Lydia, Oliver, Emily and Rhoda are deceased. The mother died Dec. 6, 1846, and in 1848 his father married Mrs. Delana, Stanley. William Bond has always been a farmer, and now has 160 acres of well-improved land. He was married in 1855 to Sarah A., daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Jessup, of Rush County, Ind. She was born May 1, 1837. They have had nine children - Emily Ann (deceased), Thomas J., Franklin W., John M., Charles E , William P. and Robert B. (twins), Rebecca A. and Jesse I. Mr. and Mrs. Bond are members of the Society of Friends.

27, 1831, a son of John and Nancy Clark, of Rush County, Ind. His pareTits came to Indiana in 1832 and located in Carthage, where he was reared, and received a commonschool education. He then attended Earlham College two

. terms, and then entered the Freshman class of Havertord College, near Philadelphia, Pa., remaining there nearly four years, paying his tuition by teaching in the primary department. He afterward taught two years. In 1861 he married Emily J. Grriffin, a native of Henry County, Ind., born July

28, 1833, and a daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Burgess) Griffin, now of Spiceland, Henry County. After his marriage, Mr. Clark commenced farming near Nobleville, Hamilton Co., Ind.. and in 18i'5 exchanged his property there for a farm on section 34, Webster Township, Wayne County. Mr. Clark has always taken an interest in the temperance cause and in education. He and his wife are members of the Society of Friends. They have a family of four children - Mary B., John G., Daniel B. and Anna K.

Warner M. Hooketi. - Yei'y little is known of the Hockett family prior to their leaving England. Philip Hoggatt (as the name was then spelled) came to the United States with, or about the time of, William Penn's colony, and settled in Chester County, Pa., where he died. His son William went to Guilford County, JST. C, when a young man, and bought from the Indians the right to a mile square of land twelve miles south of Greensboro. He built a cabin in the woods, having no neighbors nearer than eighteen miles, going on foot through the forest to New Garden to do his courting. He married Hannah, daughter of John and Lydia Bales. They had three sons - William, Joseph and Stephen. The two latter emigrated to Miami County, Ohio. William inherited the old homestead, and married Hannah, daughter of Jeremiah and Susannah Reynolds, of Randolph County, K. C. They had three daughters and two sons - Lydia, William, Susannah, Rachel and John, who was burned by falling in the fire when small, and died. Lydia married Joshua Chamness. Rachel married Benjamin Benbow; both removed to Randolph County, Ind. Susannah never married. William married Hannah Davis, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Davis. They had twelve children - an infant, not named, Banajah H., Himelius M., Jesse D., William B., Milton, Warner M., David D., Caroline D., Seth B., Sarah E., Susanna M. Banajah, David and Susanna died in childhood. Himelius married Rachel Branson. Jesse married Rebecca Cox, William mirried Eliza J. Branson. Caroline D. and Sarah E. came to Indiana in the time of the war. Caroline married Wilson Charles, and Sarah married William Harvey. Seth B. married Elizabeth Cox. Warner M., our subject, came to Indiana in 1860, and in 1861 married Matilda C, daughter of Elisha and Ruth Dennis. They had three children - Addison Fulton, Martha Ellen and Mary Elma. His wife died of rheumatism of the heart, and he subsequently married Sarah G., daughter of Nathan and Mary Charles, of Richmond. They have one son - William K Mr. Hockett first settled in O^^den, Henry County, where he worked in a cabinet-shop and at the carpenter's trade. He remained there three years, when, on account of his health, he removed to a farm near Economy, Wayne County. In 1873 he bought his present farm of 104 acres, a mile west of Webster, of John Connor, paying $6,000 for it, but having greatly improved it now values it at $7,000. Mr. Hockett's brothers all own farms in North Carolina, near or adjoining the old homestead. Milton is entirely deaf, and has never married. Three brothers were conscripted into the rebel army, but on account of their conscientious scruples against wars and fighting refused to bear arms. William was taken to Yirginia, and was within a quarter of a mile of the battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He was tied behind a forage car, with a rope around his neck, and was obliged to run or be dragged by the neck, and in various other ways punished. Himelius and Jesse were taken to Kingston and subjected to the most inhuman torture, Jesse being hung up bj' his thumbs to a pin in the wall for three hours. After this barbarous treatment they all reached home alive.

Ammiel Hunt, son of Nathan and Hepsibah Hunt, was born in Wayne County, Ind., in 1821, and died Oct. 19, 1870. His early life was a struggle with the hardships of pioneer life, and his advantages for an education were limited. He was ambitious and desirous for the improvement of his mind, and he applied himself to private study and was thus enabled to teach school. He accumulated a large library which he opened for the benefit of those unable to purchase books. He was a devoted member of the Society of Friends, and although very reserved in his manner, won the respect and admiration of all who knew him by his generosity and faithful allegiance to the cause. He married Abigail, daughter of Jeremiah Cox, of Wayne County. They had a family of eight children - Elvira, wife of Isaac Cox ; Jemima, wife of J. W. Jay; Nathan C, married M. A. Pitts; Jeremiah, deceased; Oliver H., married E. Haisley; Eunice E., wife of Mahlan Bond; Alvin B., married M. Carlisle, and Hepsa, deceased.

Henry Jay was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1813, a son of John, Jr., and Mary (Steddom) Jay, natives of South Carolina, his father born in 1782 and his mother in 1784. His paternal grandfather, John Jay, Sr., was of Welsh descent, being a son of one of three brothers who came from Wales. Two of the brothers settled in the east, one of whom was the father of John Jay, of Revolutionary fame, and one, the father of John Jay, Sr., settled in Virginia where John, Sr., was born and reared, but subsequently removed to South Carolina where he reared a family of eleven chilren - Thomas, Jesse, John, Samuel, William, Walter, Denny, James, Mary, Anna, Lydia and Jane, all of whom with their families and parents removed to Ohio in 1802 and located in Warren County. The father died in Miami County, Ohio, in 1827. Mr. Jay's maternal grandparents, Henry and Martha Steddom, then, known as Stidham, were of Swedish descent, their ancestors settling near Wilmington, Del. Mr. Steddom was born in South Carolina, and in 1804 removed to Warren County, Ohio, two brothers and three sisters of Mrs. Steddom going with them. Both of Mr. Jay's grandfathers were left for dead in the Whig and Tory war in the South during the Revolution, for not revealing information as demanded, but both subsequently revived. Hi? parents were married in 1808, and in 1824 removed to Wayne County, Ind., and purchased land in Wayne Township, where his mother died in 1843 and his father in 1844. His father was one of the founders of Earlham College and an earnest worker in the Society of Friends. There was a family of five children, but two of whom are living - Henry and Walter. Martha died in 1847 leaving her husband (Joseph Hill) and three children. John S. died in 1830 at the age of twelve, from being kicked by a horse, and one sister died in infancy. Our subject was educated in the pioneer schools and reared to the life of a farmer. In 1833 he married Leah, daughter of John Nicholson, of Wayne County. She was born in 1813 and died in 1836, leaving two children who died within the following year. In 1838 Mr. Jay married Sarah Strawbridge, of Wayne County, born in 1809. They had five children, but two of whom are living - Jesse W. and Sarah. Leah J. died in 1875, leaving her husband (Ohiswell Cogge- shall) and three children. Mrs. Jay died in 184Y, and in 1848 Mr. Jay married Priscilla Keed, who was born in 1828 and died in 1854 leaving two children, but one living - DeWitt C. In 1856 Mr. Jay married Alice Hollingsworth, of Warren County, Ohio, born in 1838. She died in 1874 leaving three children - Francis D., Dayton H. and William H. H. Mr. Jay is a member of the Society of Friends. Several of the Steddom family (descendants of Henry and Martha) are living in Wayne County at present.

Eli Kenworthy was born Dec. 15, 1834, in Preble County, Ohio. In his youth he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed several years. He received the greater part of his education after he had attained his majority in the schools ot Earlham and Graysville, and subsequently taught two terms. He then engaged in the paper business in Richmond, and in 1863 was emploj^ed by the Freedmen's Department to visit the Southern States and look after the interests of the colored people. He has been engaged in the lumber business and also in the manufacture of coffins, etc., but of late has been engaged in farming. He was one of the leaders in the movement to introduce the graded-school system in Webster. He is now serving his second term as Trustee of Webster Township. Mr. Kenworthy was married in 1866 to Rachel, daughter of Nathan Puckett. She was born Oct. 3, 1834. They have four children - Almira, Robert B., Harriett E. and Florence N.

William King was born Sept. 5, 1823, in Kentucky, a son of John and Judith (Roundtree) King, and came with his parents to Indiana in 1828, where he was reared and educated in the common schools. He has always followed the vocation of a farmer, and now owns 480 acres on section 33, Webster Township, which he purchased in 1855. He was married Jan. 1, 1846, to Jemima, daughter of Caleb and Olive Jackson, of Centre Township. She was born May 13, 1826, in Wayne County, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. King are members of the Christian church. They have had a family of fifteen children - John C, Rebecca E., Caleb J., Joseph W., William A., Charles O., James E., Julia E., Thomas L., Elijah G., Mary A., Asa M., Arthur T., Luther Z., and an infant, deceased. Mr. King's father was born in Virginia, May 13,

1783, a son ot Jesse and Cynthia King. He went to Kentucky wlien seventeen years of aoe, and located near Winchester. Jan. 25, 1810, he married Judith Roundtree, a native of Kentucky, born April 9, 1789. They came to Wayne County in 1828, where they died, Mr. King Jan. 5, 1859, and Mrs. Kin^r in 1866. They had a family of eleven children - Eliza A., Lucinda, James, John, Polly, Joseph, William, Jesse, Presley, Nancy and Jackson. Mrs. King was one of the first members of tlie Centreville Christian church.

Nathan Mendenhall was born in Stokes County, N. C, in 1820, a son of Jonathan and Ann (Phillips) Mendenhall, his father a native of Korth Carolina, and his mother of Pennsylvania. He came with his parents to Wayne County, Ind., in the fall of 1826, and settled in the woods in what is now Clay Township, near Green's t'ork. He has thus from early childhood made his home in this county, and has always followed the vocation of a farmer. He was married in 1845 to Rhoda, daughter of Samuel and Charity Bond, of Webster Township. They had six children - Harvey, Siinuel, Jonathan, Charity Ann, William C. and MaryE. Mr. Mendenhalf's father was one of the prominent men of the county. He always took a great interest in political and educational matters. He contributed liberally toward the erection of Earlham College at Richmond. His children are as follows - Rhoda, wife of L. Arnett; Phoebe, wife of R. Bowman; Mary, wife of H. Willets; Margaret, wife of M. Coffin; Robert, married M. Jessup; John, married E. Haisley; Joseph, married Eunice Davis; Rebecca, wife of J. Smith; N'aomi, wifeofK Elliott; Nathan, our subject; Atma, wife of J. Ozbun; Sally Ann, wife of Eli Haisley, and Keziah, wife of S. Hayworth. The family are members of the Society of Friends.

William C. Mendenhall, son of Nathan and Rhoda (Bond) Mendenhall, was born in Webster Township, Wayne Co., Ind.. Jan. 25, 1857. He was educated in the common schools, and reared to the life of a farmer, an occupation he still pursues. He was married in September. 1878, to Anna R., daughter of William and Eliza Newhy, of Dlinois, born April 25, 1857. They have two cliildren - Wilson N. and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Mendenhall are members of the Friends' society.

Daniel Palmer was born in Virginia, Dec. 26, 1826, a son of Daniel and Nancy (Koles) Palmer. His parents came to Wayne County, Ind. He learned the tanner's trade, and worked at it eleven years, and since then has been engaged in farming. Dec. 27, 1855, he married Martha H. Smith, a native of Colarabiana County, Ohio, born Sept. 17, 1830. They have four children - Elva C, wife of Benjamin Price; Arthur B., Laura B. and Joseph W. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are members of the Society of Friends. Mr. Palmer's father, Daniel Palmer, is a native of Fauquier County, Va., born in 1795. He was married in 1822 to Nancy Roles, and in 1828 came to Wayne County, Ind., and settled in Centre Township, and in 1832 purchased eighty acres of school land in Webster Township, and afterward purchased 110 acres in the same township. He and his wife w'ere members of the Baptist church. Mrs. Palmer died May 12, 1862. Mr. Palmer is living with his only remaining child, Daniel. They had a family of four children - Lucinda, Daniel, Margaret and Joseph. Mrs. Palmer's father, Samuel Smith, was born in Virginia in 1802, and when sixteen years of age removed to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he married Huldah Moreland, who was born in 1806. In 1839 they came to Indiana, and settled in Webster Township, Wayne County, where Mr. Smith died in 1862. They had a family of seven children - James, Robert, Martha, Judith, Rachel, Yates and Hannah. Mrs. Smith married Jesse Lundy in 1865, and died in 1871. Joseph Palmer, Jr., volunteered in the late war, September, 1862, in the Sixty-ninth Indiana Regiment, and was killed at Richmond, Ky., Sept. 30, 1862.

Levi Peacock was born in North Carolina, May 18, 1821, a son of Asa and Dinah (Rich) Peacock, natives of North Carolina, his father born in 1790, and his mother in 1786. His parents were married in 1811, and in 1829 came to Wayne County, Ind., and settled in New Garden Township, on leased land, and seven years later bought a farm in Grant County, Ind. They had a family of nine children - William, Asa, John, Betsey D., Sally, Levi, Patsey, Joseph and Aaron. The mother died in 1848, and in 1850 Mr. Peacock married Dorcas Jones, who survived him eight years. cd Feb. 25, 1873. Levi, our subject, is the sixth child.

He remained with his parents till he attained his majority. He was married Feb. 23, 1843, to Martha, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Haislej. She was born March 28, 1818, and died April 15, 1859, leaving one child - Ruth. In 1863 Mr. Peacock married Sarah, daughter of Peter and Sarah Lawrence, who was born in North Carolina, June 22, 1835, and was brought by her parents to Indiana the same year. They have had seven children, but four are living - Caroline, Daniel L., Mary H., and Levi C. The deceased are - Martha E., Lincoln and Lindley. Mr. Peacock has been very prosperous, starting in life with no means, but being very ambitious; he has now 400 acres of the best land in the county. He has won the respect of all who know him. He is a public-spirited and benevolent man, and the poor can always find a friend by going to him. He!and his wife are members of the Society of Friends.

Nathan Puchett was born in Surry County, N. C, about 1807, a son of Isom and Elizabeth (Holt) Puckett. His father was born in North Carolina, in 1778, and died in 1875. He came to Indiana in 1817 and was one of the first ministers of the old Dunkirk Society of Friends. He was a bitter enemy of intemperance. He was connected with the underground railroad, assisting the negro to liberty, and gave them shelter whenever he could. Of a family of ten children - Gincy, Anna, Lydia, Sally, Olive, Mahala, Mary, Nathan, Benjaman and Thomas - only the sons are living. Our subject married Betsey, daughter of Thomas and Christena Knight, of New Garden Township, Wayne County. She was born in 1809 and died in 1878, in Webster Township, They had a family of eight children - Harriet (deceased), Rachel, Hiram, Joel, Angeline (deceased), Elvira (deceased), Lucinda and Rhoda. In 1862 Mr. Puckett bought the farm in Webster Township, where he still resides. He is a member of the Society of Friends and has always been a liberal, public-spirited man.

John W. Tindall, son of George and Nancy (Brandt) Tindall, was born in Ohio in 1821. He was reared in his native State, near Lebanon, Warren County, and when thirteen years of age began learning the trade of a blacksmith, and worked at it till 1840. In March, 1841, he came to Wayne County, and settled in Webster Township, about a half a mile north of where he now resides. In 1853 he purchased 240 acres of wild land which h^ now has under a good state of cultivation. Mr. Tindall is a public-spirited man, taking an interest in anything that tends to the good of tiie county, especially the cause of education. He was married Feb. 6, 1S40, to Amanda, dauiJjhter of William and Rebecca (Kirby) Evans, and a native of Ohio, born in 1818. They are the parents of seven children - William E., Rebecca J., John T., Ella, Job, Sadie and Bud.

Jonathan B. WAltaore was born in Wayne County, Ind., Jan. 13, 1828. His gi-andfather, Samuel Whitacre. was born in Yiro-inia about 1770. In 1816 he came to Indiana and settled in Richmond, and in 1832 removed to Randolph County, where he died at the age of seventy-four years. He had a family of ten children - John, William, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Levi, Samuel, Joseph, Rachel, Jonathan and Mary. Elizabeth is the only one living. William, the second child, was born Virginia about 1802 and came to Indiana with his parents. He was married in 1823, to Sarah Roberts. She was born in 1804 and died in August, 1836. Mr. Whitacre died the same month leaving five children - Mary Ann, Milton H., Jonathan R., Louisa and Rebecca. Our subject enlisted in 1862 in Company E, Sixty-ninth Indiana Infantry. He was wounded at Richmond, Ky., and lost a leg. In 1863 he was elected Recorder of Wayne County and tilled the office eight years. He then removed to his farm in Webster Township, where he still resides. In 1880 he was assistant doorkeeper of the House of Representatives, and at the organization of the Eighty-seventh Congress, was appointed Messenger on the soldiers' roll. Mr. Whitacre, was married Jan. 13, 1848, to Amanda M., daughter of Fridoline and Sarah A. Schlagle. She was born in Burlington County, N. J., Dec. 18, 1832. They have had a family of fifteen children seven of whom are living - William T., married Emma Ensley; Fridoline L., married Alice Frazier; Joseph D., a clerk in the Pension Department, Washington; Philip S, Albert, Lucy and Sadie at home. Alfred L., Etta M., Samuel B., Mattie C, Franklin, Alice, Charles, and Laura are deceased.

Source changes here: from Memoirs of Wayne County and the City of Richmond Indiana, by Hon. Henry Clay Fox, published 1912; 6,083 words in this source stream.

Webster Township

Webster township is the youngest and the smallest township in the county. Joseph and Rachel Bond moved from North Carolina and settled near the present town of Webster, in 1811. Other early settlers were Willis Whitson, Isaac Jessup, Samuel Bond, Joseph Personette, and Thomas Culbertson. The town of Webster was laid out about 1850. The community had generally been known as Dover, because of the Friends' Meeting, called the Dover Meeting, which was organized in 1821. A Friends' school was also established here about the same time.

County Seat History

ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY - FIRST COURT - COUNTY SEAT ESTABLISHED AT SALISBURY - REMOVAL TO CENTERVILLE - -SEMINARY OF WAYNE COUNTY - BEMOVAL OF COUNTY SEAT TO BICHMOND - RESUME.

Wayne county was organized in 1810. It was composed of that part of Dearborn county lying east of the Twelve Mile Purchase and between the north and south lines of the new county, together with that portion of the Purchase lying between those lines. Only that portion lying east of the Twelve Mile Purchase was then the property of the General Government and offered for sale to the settlers. The Twelve Mile Purchase was land purchased from the Indians, in 1809, and was not surveyed and ready for sale until 1811. The strip west of the Purchase was not acquired until about the year 1820, which completed the present area of the county.

By the act of the Territorial legislature which organized Wayne county, "John Cox, George Holman and John Addington, Gentlemen," were appointed commissioners to meet and locate the county seat, on or before "the first Monday of the following May," and until this was done and a court house completed, the act also provided, that the court was to meet at the house of Richard Rue.

Richard Rue, George Holman and Thomas McCoy were among the earliest settlers in Wayne county. They came from Kentucky, were inured to hardships of almost every kind, having been in captivity three years and a half among the Indians, and they established themselves in this county in 1805.

On Feb. 25, 1811, the first Circuit Court was held at the house of Richard Rue, three miles south of Richmond. The only business transacted at this session was that of dividing the county into civil divisions, and the court then adjourned. At the next session, held at Rue's home, in March, 1811, a grand jury for the first time was empaneled in Wayne county. A Seal of the Court was adopted and consisted of "a wafer and a piece. of paper turned over, with the letters 'Wayne County' written thereon." These early sessions of the court were held in the woods adjoining Rue's house whenever the weather permitted. Family chairs were provided the officers and the jury was furnished with logs as their seats and nature's leafy canopy as a protection from the burning rays of the sun.

Concerning the establishment of the county seat there seems to be a difference of opinion. Most authorities state that Holman and Addington, commissioners appointed by the act of the legislature in 1810 to locate the county seat, designated a quarter-section about three-fourths of a mile north of the present town of Centerville as being the nearest geographical center of the county. John Cox, the third member of the commission, dissented on the ground that this land had not yet been sold by the Government and therefore could not be legally used. However, in the language of John B. Still, a pioneer and a trustworthy gentleman, "at the June term of 1811 the Commissioners, appointed by an act of the legislature, having failed to discharge their duty, according to law, in selecting a county seat of justice for the county, the court declared their duties ended and appointed in their stead, Samuel Walker, Richard Maxwell and Benjamin Harris." These commissioners were ordered to proceed immediately to the discharge of their duties. On the third day of the term the commissioners made a report, "that the permanent seat of justice is and shall be on the donation of Samuel Woods, of sixty-five. acres in the 13th township, range 3d, with a small reserve." The Court, however, confessing the report, ordered it to be entered as received by the clerk, "That the town of Wayne, or the seat of Justice, shall be called Salisbury." Having obtained both a location and a name, the next thing was to build a town. Smith Hunt, Samuel Woods, and James Brown, were appointed trustees to lay off the lots, and Andrew Woods and John Meek, Sr., to superintend the building of a jail and estray pen, all, as a matter of course, under the direction of the Court.

A log court house for temporary use and a rude jail of hewed logs were erected as soon as the town was laid out. William Commons, who came here in 1810, has the honor of building the log court house and jail at Salisbury and also the first court house and log jail at Centerville. In the collection of the Wayne County Historical Society is the paper with the signatures of citizens, subscribing in round numbers $2,400 towards the erection of the court house at Salisbury. Soon these wooden structures were supplanted by brick buildings. It is interesting also to note that Wayne county's first seat of justice cost $229.99. Strange as it appears, no record is found on the minutes of the court of the building. of a court house at Salisbury, but at the October session of 1811 the following singular entry is made: "At a County Court held at the house of Richard Rue, Esq., on the 28th of October, 1811, it opened and, etc., and the Court having been previously informed that the Court House was raised, the Court therefore adjourned to sit one hour in the Court House in the town of Salisbury. Accordingly, the Court met at the Court House, in the town of Salisbury, in the County of Wayne, on the Aforesaid 28th day of October and proceeded, etc."

Such was the beginning of Salisbury, the first town laid out in Wayne county. "Salisbury having now become an incorporated town, the earliest in the county, and its citizens having secured permanently, as they supposed, ees public buildings, they anticipated a long and prosperous career." The high destiny anticipated for the new village may be inferred from the following inscription found on the back of the recorded plat of the town, in the handwriting of George Hunt, at that time clerk and recorder of the county: "The Town of Salisbury stands on a beautiful site, on the waters of Clear Creek, W. C. I. T. (Indiana Territory), in a fine neighborhood, environed by rich land, etc. etc. No better water in the world, the air salubrious, and its elevated situation commands an extensive and beautiful prospect, and we flatter ourselves, that in a few years, Art, with her sister, Industry, will convert it from a forest to a flourishing inland town. Several gentlemen of property have purchased lots, both in the Mercantile and Mechanical line, which will greatly enhance its value."

Turning to the "Emigrants' Guide,' by S. R. Brown, one finds the following pertaining to the year 1816: "Salisbury lies thirty miles north of Brookville, contains about thirty-five houses, two stores and two taverns. It is at present the seat of Justice for Wayne County, but Centerville, a near village, being more central, threatens to become its competitor for that privilege."

The growth of Salisbury was rapid, and it was at one time not only the most flourishing town in Wayne county, but in the State. Salisbury's career, however, was short. It attained only a few hundred inhabitants, when, in 1814, efforts were made to remove the county seat to Centerville. In the midst of the bitter strife between the Salisbury and Centerville parties, the first ses- sion of the Indiana legislature, on Dec. 21, 1816, passed an Act, by which the removal was authorized, on the condition that the citizens of Centerville provide public buildings equal in convenience and value to those already in Salisbury, of the same dimensions, and as well finished, without any expense to the county. Failing to do this, the county seat remained where it was.

Section 3 of the same Act, names Aug. I, 1817, as the day, on and after which all public business shall be transacted in Centerville. Now commenced the' downfall of Salisbury. Bitter strife ensued between Salisbury and Centerville parties, one trying to retain, the other trying to procure, the county seat. All that could be said on either side was brought to bear on the subject; the sickness of the respective places, the population, the convenient and inconvenient location, future prospects, expenses incurred, etc., were among the points canvassed. It is recorded that it was the opinion of William Steele - a burly citizen of Salisbury, its chief politician, a legislator, a colonel, a "New Light" preacher, and a cabinet maker - that Salisbury was destined to become another Moscow. This declaration was received with so much jeer by the opposite party that the term Moscow for awhile bid fair to sup- 'plant that of Salisbury.

Short as the time was, the buildings were all up in due season, some of the citizens of Centerville subscribing $1,000 to $1,500. towards their erection.

In August, 1817, the Board of Commissioners met for the last time at Salisbury. It was ordered by James Qdell and Thomas Beard that the Board adjourn to Centerville. Thomas J. Warman, the third member, dissented and refused to sit, on the ground that the papers accepted at their July meeting were invalid, and that the conditions of the law authorizing the removal of the site had not, in his opinion, been complied with. In the spring of 1818 the court was held at Centerville. The legislature, by an act of Jan. 28, 1818, had authorized the court to convene at Centerville and provided that it should convene on the first Monday of March, June, and October, and should sit six days each term. Accordingly, on the first Monday in March, 1818, the court convened at Centerville, but not with the feeling that Salisbury had relinquished her claim to the county seat.

Only one year afterward the question was brought before the- Court whether Salisbury or Centerville was the legal seat of justice. The presiding judge, John Watts, was absent. The associate. judges - William McLane and Jesse Davenport - were of the op-- posite opinion from the presiding judge in this matter. Their decision was, "that the seat of justice was permanently established at Salisbury, that the Act of Dec. 21, 1816, not having a sufficient repealing clause, has not removed it, but that the Act of Jan. 28, 1818, authorized the court to hold their pro tempore sessions in the town of Centerville, until the legislature should otherwise direct." As the legislature has never otherwise directed the legal county seat, according to the decision of these judges, must still be at Salisbury. The court was held "temporarily" at Centerville ever afterwards, although as late as 1820 we find that the question came before the county commissioners.

On Aug. 14, 1820, the question was finally settled by the Board, consisting of Isaac Julian and Benjamin Harris, accepting the deed to the public square at Centerville.

Centerville rapidly forged to the front. She was settled by a class of citizens, progressive and intelligent, who soon won fame for her wherever they went. It at once became a thriving business place. The United States Government paved the main street with flag stones.

The people of Centerville strongly urged the commissioners to build a place of security for prisoners, but this was construed to mean, and was so worked out, that a jail and palatial residence for a jailer was built costing about $80,000. Then followed the erection of the iron fence enclosing the court yard, at a cost of about $10,000. Evidently the people intended to get so much of the public money there that the county seat could never be removed. The citizens thought their town was destined to become the leading business center of Eastern Indiana. Their dreams for its future far surpassed those of the most enthusiastic promoter of the gas booms of to-day. The metropolis-to-be was laid out on a magnificent scale. The streets were 100 feet wide, and sites were provided for a city hall and market place, besides those already laid out for a court house and jail. Judging that the real estate would soon become scarce, these streets were subsequently narrowed to sixty feet and some of them to forty feet. The new town prospered; lots sold rapidly, and prices were high.

The prevailing mania to have brass knockers on the front street door raged then to as great an extent as it does now, and along the principal streets the residences were built flush to the line of the sidewalk, and many of them had no lawns either at the side or at the front. The demand for front space was so great that the alleys were arched over to make more front room. Sev-

The framers of the Constitution of 1816 made it the duty of the general assembly, "as soon as circumstances will permit, to provide by law for a general system of education, ascending in a regular gradation from township schools to a State university and for the promotion of such, the money which shall be prepaid as an equivalent by persons exempt from military duty, except in times of war, shall be exclusively, and in equal proportions, applied to the support of 'County Seminaries'." In 1831 a general law providing for the establishment of a Seminary in each county was passed. The Seminary of Wayne County was established by an act passed Jan. 26, 1827. The bill was introduced by James Raridan, the senator from Wayne. The bill made it the duty of the Circuit Court of Wayne county to appoint three persons to constitute a Board of Seminary Trustees.

Centerville, alive to her interests, had her representatives ready to confer with the trustees as soon as they were appointed. Lot Bloomfield, Daniel Jenkins, and Robert Hill were appointed, and this board received by donation two lots in the town of Centerville which they accepted and reported as suitable for the Wayne County Seminary. In 1828 the west wing was erected. Nathan Smith taught the first school. Rev. Samuel K. Hoshour taught from 1836 until 1839 and later became State Superintendent of Public Instruction and president of Butler University. Rawson Vaile had charge six years at one time. The east wing was built in 1840, and in 1847 the main building was commenced. Some time in 1850 the building was purchased by the Methodist church and was converted into a boarding school, known as White Water College.

In 1852 the legislature ordered the sale of all county seminaries, with all their property, real and personal, and provided that the net proceeds should be added to the permanent school fund. The one at Centerville subsequently passed into private hands. In 1856, Edwards, A. C. Shortridge, and Roberts, leased the building for five years. The school then taught was not denominational. In 1861 the building was sold to \W. H. Barnes, who conducted a boarding school until 1865, when he sold the building to J. M. Coyner, who in turn sold it to S. S. Potter in 1867. In 1870 it was sold to the town for public school purposes, at about twice its actual value, the trustees issuing long-time bonds bearing ten per cent. interest. It continued to be used for school purposes until 1891, when the old building was destroyed by fire after having stood for fifty years.

County Seat History 95

White Water College numbers among its pupils many eminent men. Here it was that Indiana's distinguished war governor, Hon. Oliver P. Morton, first went to school. Among other pupils were Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, the famous commander of the Army of the Potomac; Hon. George W. Julian, a leading anti-salvery agitator, who was long prominent in national affairs; Gen. Lew Wallace, the soldier, diplomat and author, whose literary work has done so much to make the name "Hoosier" respected the world over; Hon. Henry U. Johnson, one of Wayne's most brilliant representatives in Congress; Robert Underwood Johnson, editor of the Century Magazine; and Henry Mosler, the famous American artist. Many other men not so widely known received their education here, and there is probably not another school of its class, at that date, in the United States that has exerted so wide an influence. Judging from the above, Centerville had more prominent men than any town in the country. George Julian, Neel Mc- Cullough, and others, about 1842, organized a debating club, which became famous in after history, called the Dark Lyceum. Its sessions were generally held in the second story of the Seminary building and, as the name indicates, in the dark. Its purpose was to improve the members in extemporaneous debate, and under cover of darkness it was thought that they could speak and gesticulate with greater freedom. The meetings were presided over by a "premier" and every member in turn introduced some proposition and opened the debate.

But "the paths of glory lead but to the grave." Fortune had decreed that Centerville as the seat of justice of Wayne county, should be short lived, comparatively speaking. A chain of causes and events now began which led to the removal of the court house and belongings from that place to Richmond.

In the early settlement of the county it was desirable that the county seat should be as nearly as possible the geographical center of the county. No section of the county then had a preponderence of population or business, hence this accommodated a majority of the people of the county. But all this had changed with the course of events. The day of building court houses in geographical centers has long since passed by. Our commerce, transportation, and social interchanges are now nearly all conducted through the facilities furnished by railroads, and in this respect one must admit that Richmond was more accessible and convenient to fully three-fourths of the population of this county, to say nothing of the advantages Richmond offered to the farmers, mechanics, and traders, in her mercantile, mechanical and manufacturing interests. We find Wayne township with a population nearly equal to the balance of the county, paying a large proportion of the taxes, and furnishing a large amount of the business of the courts. But this was not all - Richmond had greater advantages than Centerville. Turnpike roads penetrated all parts of the county, rendering access to Richmond comfortable and speedy. In the way of railroads a glance at the county map will convince any one of the greater advantages which Richmond possessed in this line, so far as the speed and comfort of persons from the remote parts of the county reaching the city was concerned. In a word, there was a network of turnpikes and railroads spread over the county that made Richmond the center of travel. The legal voters of Wayne county began to realize how advantageous it would be to have the court house at Richmond. Richmond being the great center of manufactures and commerce of the county, all its citizens came there frequently on business, thus affording them an opportunity of attending to matters in court or the offices at one time, whereas, then only a few went to the county seat, except on special business, at a loss of time and money.

The question then was, where shall the new court house be built? That one would be built was a determined fact. Application had been made to the court, by persons intending its permanent location at Centerville, to compel such action on the part of the county commissioners, and a majority of the voters saw in it a repetition of the proceedings by which the $80,000 jail was built, so much to the surprise of the people. For this had been the past history of events: Commencing with an order for making the old jail safe, it resulted in an unnecessary expense of about $80,000 of the people's money, and wound up with a $10,000 fence around the square. With this showing in small matters, a half million, it was judged, would scarcely satisfy them for a court house. However, they filed their petition with the commissioners, asking the erection of fireproof vaults and offices, stating these should cost at least $75,000, intending by this piece-meal expenditure to get so much of the people's money invested there that the county seat could never be moved; and because the commissioners took the matter under advisement for a short time the petitioners were not satisfied, but rushed into court, asking.a mandamus to compel the commissioners to act at once in the matter.

County Seat History 97

the county desired it spent at Richmond, and not at Centerville, and the friends of Centerville, by their acts, forced them to meet their desires at this time and ask a re-location of the county seat.

The Act of March 2, 1855, as amended in its second section, Dec. 18, 1865, and in its first and third sections, Feb. 24, 1869, was the law which governed the re-location of county seats, under circumstances similar to the present case. Section 1: "That whenever fifty-five per cent. of the legal voters in any county in this State shall, by petition, request the Board: of Commissioners of their county to re-locate the county seat of said county, designating in such petition the site where such re-location is desired, and shall procure the conveyance to such Board, by deed conveying good title of two lots of ground, one containing not less than two acres as a site for the court house, and the other containing not less than one-fourth of an acre as a site for the county jail, to be held by such Board for that purpose, and shall deposit with such Board the sum of $100 to pay an architect, and $150 to pay commissioners to assess damages, then such Board shall proceed to have new county buildings erected thereon, and the county seat removed thereto, in the manner and upon the conditions set forth in the following section; provided, that no such re-location of a county seat shall be made unless it shall be removed at least three miles."

The first thing to be done was to obtain fifty-five per cent. of the voters in favor of the re-location. If, after that, and within three months, anyone, or a dozen, more or less, of the petitioners would pay or secure the value of county buildings, the re-location would proceed; if they did not, it would fail.

The citizens of Richmond started a petition. They had two requirements to meet: that of the law and the combined efforts of the people of Centerville. The people of Centerville tried, personally and by circulars, to show how great a loss the removal would be to them; how insignificant the appraisement of county buildings would be toward the amount needed to erect new buildings; the general convenience and central location of Centerville; how property owners would suffer, and numerous other such objections, which in all fairness were partially true. But the argument that the whole county must pay tribute to them, and at a daily and hourly expenditure of time and money run to their place, simply to keep up fictitious values of the real estate of their little town, was rather too thin to outweigh the advantages in favor of Richmond. The petition, however, was passed around to obtain the fifty-five per cent. The people of Centerville at the same time had a remonstrance circulated to counteract the petition, but the voters, in general, were convinced that the removal was to their own interest. In the meanwhile, a part of the committee looked after the grounds requisite for locating the court house and jail, and gave their report as follows, which is taken from one of the leading papers of Richmond at that time:

"Tn presenting to your attention the question of removal of the County Seat from Centerville to Richmond, we say that we have procured the necessary ground (two acres and a half) in the business center of the city, at a cost of $42,000, and have paid for it by private subscription. We assure you if such change is made that the appraised value of all the county buildings and real estate at Centerville will be promptly paid by Richmond, and no call or tax will be made on any of the county at large for that purpose. We assure you no person signing the petition will incur any liability therein, as the law simply makes this the way of testing the public wish, instead of by vote. You will simply pay the tax that you will pay if built at Centerville, except we think by building here we can save you a large amount of tax, by reason of our facilities for building. These facts we state to our people, and they can be relied on as true." Signed by G. W. Barnes, S. R. Wiggins, J. J. Jordan, D. B. Crawford, J. L. Meek, J. W. Yeo, J. C. Whitridge, Hadley & Bro., Oran Perry, C. C. Binkley, Irvin Reed, T. W. Roberts, A. A. Curme, C. T. Price, E. G. Vaughan, James M. Starr, Joshua W. Starr, W. H. Swayne, A. Earnist, J. M. Paxson, Fred Rosa, W. I. Dulin, C. Fetta, Thomas Nestor, and W. Thistlewaite.

The voters, encouraged by this report, readily signed their names to the petition, until quite a majority was obtained. The petition and the report, naming the site chosen for the erection of a new court house, were given to the Board of Commissioners, who at their adjourned session, in June, 1872, decreed substantially as follows:

Ist. That 4,937 of the legal voters of Wayne county had petitioned the Board, in due form of law, for re-location of the county seat on the premises described in the city of Richmond.

2d. That 6,220 votes were polled at the last Congressional election in Wayne county, held in October, 1870, and that 3,764 votes were fifty-five per cent. of said vote, thus showing a large majority over the requisite number.

County Seat History 99

3d. That the petitioners had paid into court $100 with which to pay an architect, and $150, to pay commissioners to be appointed for the assessment of the value of property at the county seat.

4th. That the petitioners had secured two acres of ground on which to erect a court house, and one-fourth of an acre on which to erect a jail, as set forth in their petition.

5th. That the petitioners had tendered to the county board a deed purporting to convey a good title to said property. And, it was therefore ordered and adjudged by the board that they would take time for the examination of said title, and if said title should be found good, that then the board would proceed to order the notice to be given to the Governor, the architect to be employed, and if the petitioners, or some of them, should thereafter pay or secure to be paid the value of said buildings at the present county seat, then the Board would at once proceed to let out the contract for said public buildings at Richmond; and re-locate the county seat thereat. And the court adjourned said cause until the September term, to examine said title.

The record shows that at the September session of the Board, 1872, a deed for said ground was presented by the petitionets and accepted and approved by said Board. The order granted, things began to assume a lively appearance. Legal proceedings to prevent the removal began, with William A. Peele vs. The Board of Commissioners of Wayne County, et al., in the Wayne Circuit Court, February term, 1873.

The argument was long and spirited. It was argued before Judge Haynes. The remonstrators, having the burden of proof upon them, procured the services of Jonathan W. Gordon, of Indianapolis, a famous lawyer of his day, who argued nobly for them, while William A. Bickle was the leading lawyer for the petitioners and produced his argument in a very clear and concise way. On March 8, at the close of this term, after having the case under advisement two weeks, Judge. Haynes delivered his decision in writing, sustaining the Board of Commissioners.

"Last Saturday, March 8, 1873, the Court House was declared as finally fixed and located in Richmond, and on Monday following work was commenced to clear away the ruins of the old Thomas Mason corner, preparatory to its erection here." belongings were ordered removed in compliance with Section 6 - of the Statutes of 1869, previously referred to, and which provided as follows:

"So soon as such buildings are completed, at the end of one year named in section 4 of this Act, the county commissioners shall cause all books, papers and furniture of the several county officers and of the several courts of the county and of the county prison and the occupants of said prison, to be removed to such new buildings, and from time of such removal such new site shall become and be held and treated as the seat of justice of such county."

In the meantime the court house had been erected in the northeast corner of the present lot occupied by the court house. One should observe that the petition was signed by 4,937 voters on June 3, 1872; the question was definitely decided March 8, 1873, and on Aug. 14, 1873, the records were removed to the new building in Richmond.

This removal was not to be peaceably accomplished. A great deal of bitterness and strife ensued, but the books were removed without injury to any.

"Thursday, Aug. 14, 1873 - This day the records of the county were removed from Centerville to this City, after having reposed there (a part of them at least) since the year 1822. So says Norris Jones, who, when a boy, assisted in their removal from Salisbury, and to-day, at the age of sixty-two, brought over the first load to Richmond. Henceforth this city will be the 'County Seat,' if not the Seat of Justice. The loss to Centerville is a serious one; to us, a material gain. Here may it rest in peace."

The removal of the jail and iron fence was not to be accomplished so easily. Violence was threatened and affairs assumed warlike appearances. The National Guard was called to Centerville and patrolled the court house square for several days before the removal was successfully accomplished.

"Nov. 14, 1873. - Within the past two weeks the material composing the new jail at Centerville and the iron fence surrounding the county buildings have been removed to this City, to be used in the construction of a similar building here. The fence will be placed around the grounds in this city. The removal was not effected without considerable opposition by the people of Centerville, who, on several occasions, threatened and did use violence in order to stay the removal, firing a 'six-pounder' cannon and other

County Seat History Ioi

At last the removal was accomplished and Richmond became the county seat of Wayne county. This ended a strife which will not be forgotten by the participants or their descendants for many years to come; a strife very natural on the part of the Centerville people and at one time so sharp as to cause apprehensions of serious trouble. In 1890 the old court house was replaced by an elegant, new, and commodious structure, to which every citizen can point with pride.

Resume

Salisbury is no more. After the removal of the county seat, the village was rapidly deserted. The few frame and brick buildings were taken down and some of them moved to Richmond. There remains nothing on the site indicating that a town was ever. there, except a single house. This is a large frame structure, two stories high, that is now used as a barn. It stands a few rods southwest of the site of the old court house. This unpretentious building is the birthplace of Hon. Oliver P. Morton, one of Centerville's famous sons. Here he spent his boyhood days. The ground on which Salisbury stood is now used for farming purposes.

Centerville now lives only in the past, but it is readily seen that it is rich in the treasures of memory. It was once a thriving business point and its society was second to that of no town in the State. About its narrow, well shaded streets and moss covered, decaying buildings, cling many associations that have more than local historic interest. The attorneys and many of the wealthiest citizens followed the court house to Richmond, by which Centerville lost a great part of its best society. The old court house which served as a seat of justice for so many years is still standing, though it has been altered a great deal in the last few years. The building is now used for residence and business purposes. The town now contains less than 1,000 people and is so completely overshadowed by its larger neighbor, Richmond, that it will never regain its old-time prosperity, but will probably in a few years become a residence suburb of the latter city.

Richmond was platted in 1816. For nearly ten years maize and small grain had waved over the fields patented to John Smith and Jeremiah Cox. It was thought their grounds would furnish a good foundation for a town. The suggestion was made by the former to the latter, but Jeremiah was not at that time prepared to engage in the scheme. "I would rather see a buck's tail" said he, "than a tavern sign." He had no relish for towns, although he afterwards became part proprietor of one. Notwithstanding this 'unwillingness to co-operate on the part of one of the landowners, David Hoover proceeded to lay out the land of John Smith along Front and Pearl streets, now South Fourth and Fifth, and lots were "five poles wide and eight poles back." An acre, called the public square, was reserved by Smith for such public uses as he should think proper. This was the extent of the town plat at that time, 1816. Two years afterward, 1818, Jeremiah Cox made his addition on the north side of Main street.

Some one might ask why North Front street, now Fort Wayne avenue, was 'run along the brow of the hill, at an acute angle of forty-seven degrees with Main street. At that time there ran along the edge of the hill a country road, the first perhaps laid out in Wayne county. As no splendid anticipations of future greatness were entertained for the new town by its proprietors, no provisions were made for coming necessities, but the conveniences of the present were the ruling principle. To continue South Front street, now Fourth, directly north would run it into wet grounds, unsuitable for a street and for building lots; besides the street would ultimately run into the river. On the hill was a road already established, no ground would again have to be relinquished for a street, and the width of the road was sufficient for the wants of the town. Lots were accordingly laid out along this road, and the corners of Main and Front streets became important points. These are the oldest streets and for a long while were the only ones in Richmond. :

From the authority of John B. Still, taken from George P. Emswiler's diary, we are enabled to present an exact copy of the original proceedings of the citizens with regard to the propriety of incorporating the town.

"Agreeably," say they, "to an Act of the Legislature of the State of Indiana, passed Jan. 1, 1817, the citizens of the town of Richmond convened on the first of the ninth month, 1818, at the house of Thomas and Justice, for the purpose of ascertaining whether they wished said town incorporated, and pursuant made choice of Thomas Swain, president, and Ezra Boswell, clerk, who, after being legally qualified, entered on the discharge of their duties, and taking the state of the poles, it appeared that there were twenty-four votes in favor of incorporating and none against it.