F

CORNELL

UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY

HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE

CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

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COU]^TIES

OF

PORTER ^^'LAKE

INDIANA.

Historical and Biographical,

ILaLaUSTRATB.D.

Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard,

Historical Editor. Biographical Editor.

CHICAGO : , ■;, <'J\

P. A. BATTBY & CO., PUBLISHERS.

1882.

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PREFACE.

THIS volume goes forth to our patrons the result of months of arduous, un- remitting and conscientious labor. None so well know as those who have been associated with us the almost insurmountable difficulties to be met with in the preparation of a work of this character. Since the inauguration of the enterprise, a large force has been employed — both local and others — in gath- ering material. During this time, most of the citizens of both counties have been called upon to contribute from their recollections, carefully pre- served letters, scraps of manuscript, printed fragments, memoranda, etc. Public records and semi-oflBcial documents have been searched, the news- paper files of the counties have been overhauled, and former citizens, now living out of the counties, have been corresponded with, all for the purpose of making the record as complete as could be, and for the verification of the information by a conference with many. In gathering from these numerous sources, both for the historical and biographical departments, the conflicting statements, the discrepancies and the fallible and incomplete nature of pub- lic documents, were almost appalling to our historians and biographers, who were expected to weave therefrom with any degree of accuracj', in panoramic review, a record of events. Members of the same families disagree as to the spelling of the family name, contradict each other's statements as to dates of birth, of settlement in the counties, nativity and other matters of fact. In this entangled condition, we have given preference to the preponderance of authority, and while we acknowledge the existence of errors and our inability to furnish a perfect history, we claim to have come up to the standard of our promises, and given as complete and accurate a work as the nature of the surroundings would permit. Whatever may be the verdict of those who do not and vyill not comprehend the difficulties to be met with, we feel assured that all just and thoughtful people will appreciate our eflbrts, and recognize the importance of the undertaking and the great public benefit that has been accomplished in preserving the valuable historical matter of the counties and biographies of many of their citizens, that perhaps would otherwise have passed into oblivion. To those who have given us their support and encourage- ment, and they are many, we acknowledge our gratitude, and can assure them that as years go bj' the book will grow in value as a repository not only of pleasing reading matter, but of treasured information of the past that becomes a monument more enduring than marble.

December, 1882. THE PUBLISHERS.

CONTENTS.

PART I— HISTORY OP PORTEB COUNTY.

FAOE.

CHAPTER I.

Antiquities 13

Authors 24

Bailly Town 20

Birth, The First 18

Circuit Court, First Session of 20

Coffee Creek, Origin of Name 17

Court House and Jail 20

Geology 11

Hoosier's Keat, Song, Descriptive of. 19

Insurrections and Invasions 14

Jurore, The First 19

Kankakee Talley Drainage Association 23

Mail Route, The First 16

Markets, The Early 21

Memorable Sensation 23

Murder Case 23

Murder .Trials, Late 24

Plank Koad 21

Pnblic Buildings, Early 22

Public OfBceis 25

Bailroads, The Early 22-23

Sensational Trial 22

Settler, The First White 16

Settlers of 1833 17

Stage Line 17

Statistics 29

White Occupants 13

OHAPTEK II.

Action of First Board of Commissioners 38

Acts of Commissioners 49

Agricultural Society 60

Alterations in Boundaries 54

Anti-Horse Thief Societies 67

County Library Association 48

County of Linn 56

County Press 67

County Seminary 53

Creation of County 31

Elections, The First 31

Election of 1836 36

Election Statistics 72

Fair, The First 62

Jurors for 1837 60

PAGE. OHAPTEK U.— Continued.

Land Entries 34

Location of County Seat 41

Morgan Township, First Election in 32

Old Settlers* Association 65

Organization of Present County 35

Poor Farm, The First 59

Politics of County 71

Railroad and Telegraph 58

Recapitulation ofTaxes, 1880 77

Roads ...W.- 43

Ross Township, First Election in 32

School Oommissionera' Report for 1836 52

Treasurers' Report, The First 41

Waverly Township, First Election in 31

CHAPTER III.

Appeal tothe Germans 87

Battery, The Fourth 93

Battery, The Twentieth 93

Cavalry, The Fifth 93

Cavalry , The Seventh 93

Cavalry, The Twelfth 93

Feeling During the War 97

611 Pierce's Song SB

In the Field 85

Infantry, The Ninth 90

Infantry, The Fifteenth 91

Infantry, The Twentieth 91

Infantry, The Tw'enty-uinth 91

Infantry, The Thirty-fourth 92

Infantry, The Forty-eighth 92

Infantry, The Sixty-third 92

Infantry, The Seventy-third 92

Infantry, The Eighty-sixth 92

Iqfentry, The Ninety-ninth 92

Infantry, The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth 92

Infantry, The One Hundred and Thirty-eighth 93

Infantry, The One Hundred and Fifty-first... . 93

Military Statistics 88

Old Soldiers 78

Roll of Honor 94

Sundry Corps ^. 94

War of the Rebellion 79

war Meetings and Enlistments S3

TOIVNSHIP HISTORIES.

PAGE. CHAPTER IV.

Yalfabaiso and Centre Township 102

Banks 127

Centre Township.. 104

Churches 139

City Taverns and Hotels 130

Collegiate Institute 128

Early Tradesmen of Yalparaiso 116

Elections, The First 107

First Buildings in Valparaiso 114

First White Settlers The .' 104

Incorporation of Valparaiso 127

Lakes, Streams, Etc 102

Marriages and Deaths 108,139

Mills and Industries, The Early „ 110

Normal School 134

Physical Description 102

Professional Men 126

Population 112

PortersviUe 113

Retrospective 149

PAQB. CHAPTER IV.— (OmHniierf).

Schools 132

Secret Societies 125

Temperance Crusade 129

Trails and Roads 109

Valparaiso 112

Valparaiso Mayors 129

CHAPTER V.

Westchesteb Township 160

Ancient Cemetery 155

Bailly Family, The 150

Birth, The First 155

Churches 156

Death, The First 186

Early Elections 166

Early Events 156

Early Settlers 155

Homicide....; 161

Industries 165

Marriage, The First 165

Vlll

CONTENTS.

TOWNSHIP HISTORIES— (CouUnued).

CHAPTEE lY.— (Continued).

Schools 166

Societies 166

Stage Line, The Old 156

Villages 162

t

CHAPTER VI.

Boone Township 166

Birth, The First .' 167

Business Pursuits 169

Churches 173

Death, The First 167

Election, The Firet 166

"Free Press," The 172

Hebron Village i 171

Indian AdrentureB 168

"Local News," The 172

Marriage, The First 168

Permanent Settlers, The Firet 167

Schools 169

Secret Organization 177

CHAPTER VII.

Wabhinoton Township 1"^"^

Churches 18^

Early Homes 1'^

Election, The First 1"9

Enterprises, Various 181

Indians 1"^^

Industries, Early 180

Organization 1"^^

Prattville Village 181

Schools 183

Taxation 181

CHAPTER VIII.

Morgan Township 185

Burial, The First 191

Cemeteries 191

Churches 1S9

Early Incidents '. 185

Growth of Township 192

Industries 188

List of Early Settlers 185

Officers, The Early 187

Origin of Township 185

Schools 190

Tassinong Village 187

CHAPTER IX.

Boone Township 192

Accidental, Criminal, Incidental, etc 195

Creation of Township 192

Elections 194

Facts of First Settlement 193

Hoosier's Nest 197

Milling and Merchandizing 199

Origin of Name 192

Physical Features 192

Schools and Secret Societies 199

Wheeler Village , 200

CHAPTER X.

Jackson Township 201

Churches and Cemeteries 204

Early Events 202

Elections, The Early 205

Mills, The Early 202

Origin of Name 201

Physical Characteristics 201

Schools and Teachers 202

Settlers, The First 204

Villages 203

CHAPTER XI.

LiBERTT Township

Early Settlements

Elections, Early

Forest Productions

Indian Incident

Industries, Early

Land Sales of 1835

Pioneer Experiences

Post Offices

Roads, Early

Schools

Secret Society

Stores

Water Supply

Worship, Places of.

CHAPTER XII.

Portage Township

Churches

Crisman Village

Early Conditions

First Settlers and Elections..

Future Prospects

General Description

Mills, etc

Old Stage Line

Origin of Name

Schools and Teachers

Taverns

Wild Animals

CHAPTER XIII.

Pleasant Township

Churches

Crime

Early Events

Fatal Casuality

First Election

Industries

Kent's Village

List of Early Settlers..

Officers, Present

Origin of Name ,

Schools

CHAPTER XIV.

PoETHa Township

Churches

Early Election

Early Events

Formation ,

Mound, Pre-historic ,

Origin of name

Post OfSces and Stores

Reminiscences

Schools

Settlers

CHAPTER XV.

PiNH Township

A Mystery

Firet Settler, The

Fish Lake

Formation

Industries

Origin of Name

Roads

Schools

Settlement

Stores

Surface Features

BIOGRAPHICAI. SKETCHES.

Boone Township 314

Centre Township 280

Jackson Township 355

Liberty Township 363

Morgan Township 347

Pine Township 392

Pleasant Township 374

Portagpi Township

Porter Township

Union Township

Valparaiso, City of

Washington Township... Webtchester Township .

CONTENTS.

IX

PORTRAITS.

FAQE.

Barnard, Nelson 81

Campbell, T. A. E , 27

Green, H 99

O'Keilly, Michael 117

Forbea, J. T 63

VIEAVS.

Besidence of G. W. Merrill 45 ] BeBidence of Albert Hankins .

PART II— HISTORY OF IiAKE COUNTY.

CHAPTER I. PAGE.

Bouadaries 415

Early Occupants 405

Land Kntriea, Table of 411

Landmarks 404

Land Sales at La Porte.. .„ 410

Ixjcation and Dimensions 401

Mail Routes 416

Physical Features 401

Settlers 405

"Squatters' Union" 406

Statistics 417

Streams and Lakes 402

Surface and Soil 403

Swamp Land Speculation..... 412

Wabash Canal Land Entries 414

CHAPTER II. '

Agricultural Society, Organization of 434

Agricultural Society, Fairs of the 435

County Suildings. 437

County Offices 428

County Officers (1837 to 1880).... 444

County Seat, First Location pf 426

County Seat, Relocation of. 427

Early Proceedings of CommisBioners 420

Erection of Township 418

Formation of County 419

Legislative Acts 430

Licenses, Early Tavern and Other 425

Officers before Present Formation 4L9

Old Settlers' Association 444

Political Features 445

PoorFaim 431

Press, The County 439

Recapitulation of Taxes, 1881 450

School Fund, Receipts and Expenditures (fii'st

five years) 424

Tables of Election Returns 447

CHAPTER III.

Bounty and Relief Fund 471

Calls for Troops 472

Companies, First Enrolled , 457

Death of Lincoln 467

Draft Officers 467

Enrollment Table for 1862 463

Fourthof July, 1862 , 461

Fourth of July, 1863 463

Jubilation 466

Mexican War, The 452

Muster Roll of Company H, Sixteenth U. S.

Infantry 453

Old Militia System 451

Rebellion, The 456

Becruiting, General 461

Roll of Honor, Lake County's 473

Roster of Officers of Lake's Four Companies... 471

Soldiers' Aid Society '. 469

Volunteers, Table of. 458

War Meeting, The First 457

CHAPTER lY.

Crown Point and Centre Township 475

Acts ofi Crown Point Trustees 499

Additions to Crown Point 488

Attempts at Settlement, First 476

Bank, The First National 498

CHAPTER TV— (Continued). page

Churches; 501

Claim Seekers of 1834r-35 482

Crown Point 479

Death, First at Crown Point 485

Educational Enterprises, Private 492

First Election of Crown Point Offlcei^ 498

Incorporation of Crown Point 498

Indufatries, Etc .^ 486

Land Entries 484

Marriage Licenses, Early 484

Permanent Settlement 479

Pioneer Experiences 480

Population of Crown Point 601

Postmaster, First 483

Present Business of Crown Point 500

Professions, Etc 486

Schools 489

Secret Societies 494

Trades, Etc 486

White Persons, The First 475

CHAPTER V.

Cedab Creek Township 505

Business of Lowell in 1882 516

Churches 519

Creston Village 518

Early Events 508

Formation and Name 505

Industries, Etc 509

Lowell Village 512

Outlet Post Office 517

Pioneer Life, Incidents of. 506

Press of Lowell 517

Railroad 518

Schools and Teachers 510

Secret Orders 521

Settlers, Early 506

Stores, Etc 509

CHAPTER VI.

HoBAHT Township 522

Baxter's Addition to Chicago 531

Churches 528

Early Settlers 532

General Description 523

Growth of Township 530

Hobart Village 525

Industries 527

Lake Station 528

Liverpool Village 523

Name and Boundaries 522

Railroads 626

Schools and Teachers 530

Secret Orders , 529

Settlement 523

Shaw's Subdivision 531

CHAPTER VII.

North Township 532

Boundaries 532

Churches 537

Lakes and Streams 535

List of Taxpayers in 1839 533

Physical Features 534

Progress of Education 536

Tavern and Other Licenses 533

ToUeston Club 542

Towns and their Industries 538

CONTENTS.

PAOE

PAGE. CHAPTER Vlir.

Boss Township 542

Civil Offlcere 649

Early Bventa 644

Merrillville 646

Miscellaneous 550

Organization .'. 543

Bedsdale 548

Schools 648

Settlements and Villages 545

Settlers, Early 544

Soil, Productions, Etc 543

Boss Village 647

Water Supply 643

Wood's Mill 647

CHAPTER IX.

Hanover Township ^^^

Brunswick Village °°;-

Erection of Township °°'

Hanover Centre rik

Klaasville Village ™^

Pioneers, The Earliest ^^i

Pottawatomie Indians ood

Privations of Pioneers "?J

Religious Growth ??*

Eesidents of 1837 664

Schools ■■ ™°

Statistics of Township Fund in 1858 Obi

Taxed Settlers of 1839 S54

Villages 561

CHAPTEE X.

Sj. John's Township 568

Dyer, Industries of. 569

Dyer, Town of 568

Incidents 575

Industries of Township 574

Large Farm 575

Organization 668

Origin of Name 568

Schererville, Town of 572

Schools and Churches 572

Settlers, Early 576

St. John's, Town of 571

CHAPTBB XI. 5V6

Eaoie Cbeek Township ,.' 680

Birth, TheEiret ' 580

Churches. =80

Early Items "76

Formation of Township 577

Game, Indians, Etc '' 580

Industries v ; 579

Kankakee Marsh, Draining ol gg(,

Marriage, The Eirst sgo

Post Office, Early 680

Schools •• 676

Settlers, First and Early j^g

Timber Thieves

CHAPTEB XII.

582

West Cbeek Township -j;";' roo

Anecdotes and Incidents, Early om

Churches "85

First Events 684

Formation andName ooi

Industries 684

Schools 585

Settlers, Early 682

CHAPTEE XIII.

WiNFiELD Township 589

Cemeteries 596 ,

Churches 595

Creation of Township 590

Death, First 592

Incidents of Early Days 59^

Indian Keljps 591

Leading Products 089

Mounds 596

Occupations 593

Pioneer Hardships 591

Pottawatomie Indians 591

Eoads 596

Sanitarv Condition 695

Schools 594

Settlement 690

Surface and Soil 589

Town Officers 594

Valuation 597

Villages 593

BIOGRAPIIICAIi SKETCHES.

Cedar Creak Township 637

Crown Point and Centre Township 599

Eagle Creek Township 738

Hanover Township 719

Hobart Township 666

North Township 687

Ross Township 704

St. John's Township 726

West Creek Township 762

Winfleld Township 761

PORTRAITS.

GrifBn, Elihn 477

Miller, H. F. C 513

Pettibone, Harvey 531

Wood, John, Sr 459

Wood, T.J 495

PAET I.

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

BT HUBERT o. SKINNER.

Geology— Evidences of Glaciation— The Drift— Topography— Wateb- CoiTRSES— Pre-Histokic Eemains— The French and Indians— The Bailly Family — Summary View of County Settlement— The First Court- Public Buildings— Capital and Other Crimes— The Plank Road— Railways- County Authorship— Statistical Tables— Pub- lic Officers.

THE geologist who delights to enrich his cabinet with fossils gathered from the paleozoic rocks, will find nothing in Porter County to reward his search ; but to one who is interested in the study of glaciation and its effects, this region presents a most interesting field for investigation. The floor of Porter County was laid in the Devonian age, and below us lie myriads of fossilized organisms of this " age of fishes." But these are hidden by the vast deposits of glacial drift, and could be reached only by excavations of great depth. The strata of drift are at least 170 feet in thickness, and there are no outcroppings of the original rock -bed. Upon the surface we find occasional fragments of limestone, crinoids and other traces of the Silurian age ; but they were brought hither from regions far to the north. Upon the surface, and sometimes beneath it, we find granitoid bowlders of various size scattered through the county ; and in the beds of all our streams are innumerable pebbles, worn smooth by the constant action of the water. These, likewise, are not native, but were transported to our borders from the distant northland.

So complete are the evidences which support the glacial theory, that it is unnecessary here to present any arguments in its favor. It is sufficient to give the conclusions at which scientists have arrived, upon the most careful study and investigation of the subject.

Formerly the lake, which beats upon our northern shore, was a part of the great ocean ; and, even now, fragments of marine Crustacea are

12 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

found by dredging deep into its bed. At the close of the Mammali^-n *g^^

was ushered in the glacial epoch. There was then an elevation

crust in the northern latitudes, which was followed by a period oi i

cold. Immense masses of ice were formed, and the procession oi g

moved southward from their mountain home. Over Porter County passe

a sheet of ice which extended hundreds of miles in width, which reare

its head 400 feet above the surface, and which extended in an unbroken

mass a thousand miles in length. Firmly clasped in its icy embrace

were immense bowlders and masses of sand, clay and gravel. Huge

masses of rock were ground to powder by its action. The water, which

flowed beneath this river of ice, deposited its sediment in its course. Far

to the southward, the glacier wasted away, and, melting, formed the Ohio

River. As the glacial epoch waned, lesser glaciers passed down to the

rock barriers of the Wabash region, and, dying, gave birth to the stream.

In the glacial drift, we find the remains of animal and vegetable life.

Some of the bones of the mastodon were found a few years since upon our

eastern border, near Wanatah. Fossilized fragments of trees and of

fruits have been discovered. Geologists rarely estimate in years the

duration of the geological periods. However, it may be of interest to

know that the lowest calculation places the duration of the ice age at

50,000 years, and the time of its termination is thought to have been

175,000 years ago. After the glacial epoch, came the lacustrine period.

The northern regions, which had been raised to such an elevation, subsided,

or were deeply eroded, and the lakes were formed. This subsidence

or erosion, extended to about the center of Porter County, where the

water-shed now extends in an irregular line. The water no longer flowed

in from the ocean, and the inland sea became changed into fresh water

lakes.

The line of sand hills upon our northern shore has no counterpart in the known world. Other lakes have ranges of sand hills, but none a iange like ours. The combined action of the winds and waves through untold ages, has reared these beautiful ridges to a height of one hundred and fifty^sometimes two hundred — feet. In color, they are a bluish white, and from afar they glisten in the sun with an unearthly beauty, contrasting with the deep blue of the lake that dashes upon the beach! On our southern border, the sluggish Kankakee pursues its sinuous course little changed in its appearance and natural surroundings through a lone- lapse of ages. Porter County contains about a dozen small lakes. Th most considerable of these are Flint and Long Lakes, north of Valpara' and Longinus, Mud and Fish Lakes, near the northern shore Tb ' Calumet River flows in a westerly direction through the northern its principal aflluents being Salt and Coff'ee Creeks. Sandy Hook a rl

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 13

Crooked Creeks flow southward through the southern part of the county ; the former discharges into the Kankakee, while the latter is lost in the extensive and low marsh adjoining the river.

While not remarkably rich in antiquities, Porter County contains many objects of interest to the archaeologist. It was once occupied by that strange and problematic people — the Mound-Bailders — who have left numerous traces of their occupation. The Mound-Builders are com- monly supposed to have been a great people, who occupied the Mississippi Yalley, and who migrated to the southward. The Spanish accounts of the Aztecs, Toltecs and Chichemecs, the ruined cities of Mexico and Central America, and the inscriptions found in these have been carefully studied for a solution of the mystery in which this race is involved. But the mystery is yet unsolved. Numerous earth mounds are found in Porter County ; but there are no fortifications or other works of any great mag- nitude. In the mounds have been found human bones, arrow heads and fragments of pottery. Scores of stone ax-heads, and thousands of arrow- flints have been collected from the prairies and from the banks of streams. There is a most interesting earthwork to be found near Deep River, at the western border. Here is a mound of earth, reared by human hands, and rising to the height of twenty feet. It is shaped like a flat-iron, and regularly built, the principal sides measuring each twenty feet in length from the apex. Near the latter, there is a well, which was formerly of enormous depth. The excavation is circular, and has a diameter of eight or nine feet. Into this well, the early settlers threw the dehris of their clearings, with the intention of filling it up ; but the capacity has been So great that it remains yet unfilled. Numerous small excavations in the adjacent soil and rocks have led to the conclusion that this was once a "water-cure" establishment, and resorted to in ancient times for its baths.

The. First White Occupants. — It is not known when Porter County was first visited by white men. The supposition is that French explorers and traders occasionally passed through this region from about the middle of the seventeenth century. The first Europeans whose visits were recorded were fathers Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon. These famous missiona- ries landed upon the lake shore, and traversed the country to the Kankakee River, inspecting the natural features of the land, and becoming acquainted with the natives. In the summer of the following year, 1673, Father Jacques Marquette returned from his Mississippi expedition, and with his six followers paddled up the Kankakee to its source. Here the party crossed the marsh, carrying their boats to the St. Joseph, and continued their journey down the river and up the lake to Green Bay. In 1679, a celebrated company passed down our winding river. The leader of the

14 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

expedition was Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle ; the lieutena the Chevalier De Tonti. Father Hennepin and the Sieur de la .^ were among the number. This band of about thirty men P* light canoes down the Kankakee and Illinois. The next year, spring, La Salle passed through our territory on foot, with three " ^^ ions, on his march to Frontenac (now Kingston). In the last ay 1681, he returned and passed westward over our lake border with a con- siderable company of followers. In 1711, many of the natives ot this region came under the influence of the missionary Chardon, who was stationed at a post upon the St. Joseph, and many were baptized in the Chris- tian faith. The next year, 1712, many of these natives repaired to De- troit to assist the French against the Fox Indians. A friendly feeling between the French and the natives was the result. Traders resorted to the post and carried on an extensive traffic in furs and corn. A conse- quence of this traffic was a demoralizing indulgence in " fire water," the baneful effects of which were noted by the missionary Charlevoix. In 1759, our territory, together with that of all Northern Indiana, passed into the hands of the British. English and French traders, between whom existed a deadly hatred, now traversed the lake shore. The French had the advantage of their rivals since they enjoyed the confidence of the natives, and understood their language. The Pottawatomies of this re- gion assisted in the capture of the post on the St. Joseph in 1763. This was a part of the general insurrection planned by Pontiac ; and the suc- cess of this expedition was rendered valueless by the failure of the at- tempts elsewhere. The overthrow of Pontiac led to a long peace.

In 1781, our territory was invaded from an unexpected quarter. The Spanish commander, Don Eugenio Pierre, came from St. Louis to seize the lake shore in the name of the King of Spain. A force of sixty In- dians from the West accompanied the Spanish troops. The march was made very early in the year, amid the storms of winter. Don Pierre probably followed the old Sac trail which led from Twenty-mile Prairie through the site of Valparaiso to the eastward.

Over the soil of Porter County had now waved the flags of England, France and Spain, and now a fourth power was to claim the territory. The treaty by which England acknowledged the independence of the United States, at the termination of the Revolutionary war, was signed in 1783. The British, however, continued to occupy Detroit and to claim this region until 1796, at which time the territory of Porter Countv became in reality a part of the American republic. Among the lo 1 Indian legends, the most noticeable is that of the Boundary war wa d by the natives of this region, and a tribe adjoining upon the west Th former possessed themselves of the ford of the Kankakee at Eton's Cr

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 15

ing, as a rendezvous. A battle was fought at the north end of Morgan Prairie ; and the invaded tribe, simulating terror, fled from the field. The second battle was fought near the rendezvous. Those who had before appeared to fear the intruders, now effected their complete rout. The victors pursued the foe to the Chicago River, where the boundary was adjusted satisfactorily. Evidences that some such struggle actually oc- curred have been found upon the prairie and at the river ; but no date can be assigned to it, and it must remain simply a subject of legend and not of history. The troops of Col. John H. Whistler, of Detroit, com- missioned to erect a fort upon the lake shore, at the mouth of the Chicago River, passed through our territory in 1803. Col. Whistler made the journey from Detroit in a Government vessel, the " Tracy," which was the first ship that ever entered Chicago harbor. In the spring of 1804, the fort was completed, and named in honor of Gen. Dearborn. An ex- tensive trading post was here established ; and from the first, Fort Dear- born exercised an extensive influence over the region of Porter County. Trails leading thither became roads of regular travel, and men were to be seen at all times passing to and from the fort. Native trappers and hunt- ers resorted to the shores of the Calumet and the Kankakee, and gath- ered large quantities of valuable furs ; corn was raised in abundance upon the prairies, and carried to the fort for sale. Transportation was con- ducted by means of canoes upon the lake, and also by means of ponies with pack saddles of bark.

One of the leading spirits of this region at that time was Alexander Robinson, a remarkable man, in whose veins were mingled the blood of the English, the French and the Indian. He was in the employ of John Jacob Astor, and was stationed at the fort, but made numerous journeys to our territory, purchasing and transporting corn and furs. Another prominent man of the time was Joseph Bales, or Bailie, a Frenchman who was associated with Robinson in the fur agency. Eventually, he became widely known as a pioneer of Northwestern Indiana, and was the first white settler of Porter County.

Capt. Heald succeeded Col. Whistler in command of the fort. Lah- wasika, the " Prophet," and brother of Tecumseh, sent his emissaries to the tract lying north of the Kankakee to secure aid in his intended war upon the whites. Aid was promised and given. The battle of Tippe- canoe was fought in 1811. At the time of the conflict the shores of the Kankakee were thronged with women and children, the aged and the helpless. Those who returned from that battle were enraged and embit- tered against the white people of Indiana Territory, and were divided in their feelings toward the garrison of Fort Dearborn. Many were disposed to be friendly with their neighbors of the Northwest ; but the influence of

16 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

u • rlpfeat fore- British emissaries and the thirst for blood aroused by their ob

boded danger to the garrison and village on Chicago River. ^ nning ing in August, 1812, Wirinemeg, an Indian messenger, was seen """^^^^^^ nimbly along the beach and over the sand hills of our ^°^^^^^\^^^ ^^ He came from Detroit, and bore the fatal message to the '=0'"'"*" .^^g ^f Fort Dearborn. Capt. Heald called a council, in which ^^^^^^^ -^^^^ this region participated. About the same time, Capt. Wells, o Wayne, accompanied by fifteen Miamis, hastened over the trail in e en- deavor to protect from danger his sister, who was at the fort, i he mas- sacre of Fort Dearborn occurred on August 15. Two noble-hearted In- dians, Winnemeg and Wabansee, endeavored to save their friend, Gapt. Wells, but in vain. He fell in the massacre, bravely fighting. For four years but few white faces were seen in our territory. The fort lay in ruins ; traders feared to mingle with the perpetrators of the massacre. At length, in 1816, the fort was rebuilt and garrisoned. Indiana was now admitted into the Union as a State. The Government purchased from the natives a strip of land ten miles in width, extending across the north end of the State.

In 1822, the first white settler made his home at the place now known as Bailly Town, in Westchester Township. This was Joseph Bailly, or Bailie, of whom mention has been made. Mr. Bailly established a store, and built up a very considerable trade with the natives. He had married an Indian woman, and was thoroughly acquainted with the habits, cus- toms and language of her people. Madame Bailly spoke French fluently, and adopted many of the customs and refinements of civilized life, but always retained the dress of the aborigines. The settlement at Bailly Town became widely known ; travelers, traders, adventurers, mission- aries and Government officers made it their rendezvous. It was the lead- ing place of assembly for religious exercises ; it was an important center of trade ; it was a place of safety in time of danger. Mr. Bailly pur- chased a sloop in order to navigate the great lakes, and gave his daughters the advantages of travel and Eastern education.

In 1831, a road was cleared from Detroit to Fort Dearborn. It passed through what now constitutes Jackson, Westchester and Portage Townships. It was a wild, rude pathway, fatiguing in its roughness abounding in dangers, and often uncertain in its course. Over this road a mail line was established between Detroit and Fort Dearborn, the mail being carried in knapsacks upon the backs of soldiers, two of whom were regularly detailed for this purpose.

In 1832, the entire Northwest was thrown into great consternation bv the tidings of outrage and massacre committed by Black Hawk in the regions near the Mississippi. The territory of Porter County, with its

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 17

single white inhabitant, had little to fear, but the natives were much ex- cited by the events. Government troops were immediately dispatched to the scene of war, and passed over the Detroit and Fort Dearborn road. Alexander Robinson, of whom mention has been made, was now chief of the Pottawatomies, having been chosen to that office in 1826. He was known among the natives by the name of Chechebingway. He convened a great council of the tribe at Fort Dearborn, and successfully used his influence to establish a lasting peace with the whites. Within this year, the Government purchased the Indian title to all the lands of Porter County lying south of the old Indian boundary established in 1816.

The year 1833 was an important era in our history. A stage line was established, and coaches ran from Chicago to Detroit, making three trips per week. The first contractors of this line were Messrs. Converse & Reeves. At a season of high water, the mail carriers lost a sack of coffee in a large, swollen stream, which incident gave to Coffee Creek its name. With the establishment of this stage line, commenced the actual settlement of Porter County by white families. The Morgan brothers, Jesse, William and Isaac, natives of Monongalia County, Va., arrived early in this memorable year. Jesse settled in what is now Westchester Township, on Section 6. The Chicago and Detroit road passed through his farm, and invited him to assume the character of "mine host." He accordingly christened his home the " Stage House," and had no lack of guests in his hostelry. Isaac and William Morgan chose locations upon the fair and extensive prairie which bears their name. Late in April, Henry S. Adams, of Jefferson County, Ohio, arrived at the prairie, ac- companied by his mother, his wife and three daughters, and encamped for a time on what is now Section 9, Morgan Township. In May, he erected a dwelling and otherwise improved his farm. George Cline, of Union County, Ind. ; Adam S. Campbell, of Chautauqua County, N. Y., and Reason Bell, of Wayne County, Ohio, arrived in June and located upon the prairie. Other settlers joined these pioneers, and soon a very considerable settlement of hardy, sober, industrious pioneers grew up in what had been an almost unknown wild.

In May, the site of Valparaiso was visited by Thomas A. E. Camp- bell, then a young man of twenty-two years, who accompanied his uncle, Adam Campbell, in his explorations previous to the settlement of the latter upon the prairie. On the evening of the 21st, these gentlemen arrived at the new home of Isaac Morgan, and on the next day they arrived at the banks of Tishkatawk, the stream now known as Salt Creek. Thomas selected a site for his future home, and returned subsequently to take possession. Jacob Fleming, the Colemans, Ruel Starr and others removed hither within the same year. In the fall, an Indian trading

18 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

• tor Peter post was established near the Stage House, and its propriew ,^ ^^^^

Pravon^, was successful in money making. He disposed ot e j^ur-

rels of " fire water " in a single winter. One of his customers wa

dered in a drunken revel, and it is a matter of surprise that tnei ^^^.^^^^

greater effusion of blood. As a rule, the pleasantest relations su ^^^^

between the early settlers and the natives, and the pioneers, exemp

the horrors of border wars, lived without fear of molestation.

Early in 1834 came J. P. Ballard, who erected the first house upon the site of Valparaiso. It was in the valley of the stream which crosses Morgan street, and in the grounds south of Judge Talcott s present resi- dence that this first cabin was constructed. A. K. Pame settled in what is now Jackson Township, and built the first dwelling in that locality. Jesse Johnston took up his residence near the old Indian town of Chiqua, near Valparaiso. Thomas and William Gosset selected farms in the northern part of the county. Jacob and David Hurlburt repaired to the borders of Twenty-mile Prairie, which then appeared like a lake filled with islands. Theophilus Crumpacker, Jerry and Joseph Bartholomew and Jacob Wolf, arrived within the year ; also, William Frame and Abram Stoner.

On the 11th of January, the first white child was born within the pres- ent limits of the county — Reason Bell, whose father, Reason Bell, Sr., resided on what is now Section 15 of Washington Township. Hannah Morgan, daughter of Jesse Morgan, the first native white daughter of this region, was born at the Stage House, February 11. John Fleming, of Union Township, was born within the same year.

The Government surveyors, Messrs. Polk and Burnside, ran the lines and divided the lands into sections. John J. Foster laid off a town to the east of the " Stage House," and christened it " Waverly," but the enterprise did not prove a success.

The number of immigrants was considerably increased in the follow- ing year. Among the new-comers were Putnam Bobbins, David Hug- hart, E. P. Cole, Hazard Sheffield, Allan B. James, Peter Ritter, G. W. Patton, the Baum brothers, George Z. Salyer and David Oaks. The town of Porterville was laid out on the site of the old Catholic cemetery, but did not prosper. In 1835 was the sale of public lands. This sale was conducted at La Porte, then a town consisting of a few log cabins. Our early settlers were present, almost to a man, and there were a num- ber of Eastern capitalists present who made large purchases. The Hoosier's Nest was a settlement on the old Sac trail, and was established by Thomas Snow. It contained a frame house, built of lumber hauled from La Porte County. It was this place that was described in the once popular poem of John Finley, running :

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 19

I'm told, in riding somewhere West, A stranger found a Hoosier's Nest ; In other words, a Buckeye cabin Just big enough to hold Queen Mab in. Its situation low, but airy. Was on the borders of a prairie ; And fearing he might be benighted, He hailed the house, and then alighted. The Hoosier met him at the door ; Their salutations soon were o'er. He took the stranger's horse aside, And to a sturdy sapling tied ; Then, having stripped the saddle off. He fed him in a sugar trough.

The stranger stooped to enter in,

The entrance closing with a pin ;

And manifested a strong desire

To sit down by the log-heap fire,

Where half a dozen Hoosieroous,

With mush and milk, tin-cups and spoons,

White heads, bare feet, and dirty faces,

Seemed much inclined to keep their places ;

But madam, anxious to display

Her rough but undisputed sway.

Her offspring to the ladder led

And cuffed the youngsters up to bed.

Invited shortly to partake Of venison, milk and Johnny-cake, The stranger made a hearty meal. And glances round the room would steal. ' One side was lined with divers garments,

The other spread with skins of varmints : Dried pumpkins overhead were strung. Where venison hams in plenty hung.

Two rifles hung above the door,

Three dogs lay stretched upon the floor —

In short, the domicile was rife

With specimens of Hoosier life.

The host, who centered his affections

On game, and range, and quarter sections,

Discoursed his weary guest for hours

'Till Somnus' all composing powers,

Of sublunary cares bereft 'em.

And then I came away and left 'em.

The following men were summoned to appear as jurors at the first term of the Circuit Court of Porter County : Grand Jurors — William Thomas, Samuel dinger, William Gosset, Joseph Wright, Samuel Havi- land, James Walton, Asahel Neal, James Spurlock, John Bartholomew, Thomas Adams, Reason Bell, Peter Cline, Royal Benton, William Clark,

20 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

William Trinkle, Robert Wilkinson, J. Todhunter and W. Snavely- Petit Jurors— William Downing, Elijah Casteel, Asahel K. Paine, Jesse Morgan, Henry S. Adams, Lewis Comer, John Jones, Charles ^^^^^^ David Bryant, Solon Robinson, R. Frazier, Joseph Willey, Richard Henthorne, William Brim, Theophilus Blake, Wilson Malone, Isaac Mor- gan, Warner Winslow, Adam S. Campbell, Jesse Johnston, William Frame, Abraham Stoner, James Ross and John McConnell.

The first session of the Circuit Court was held in October, 1836, at the house of John Saylor. Judge Samuel C. Sample seated himself with great dignity behind a deal table, on which were placed a few law books, and court was declared to be in session. The first cause was called, and went by default, as the plaintiff did not put in appearance. The Grand Jury strolled out of the small, close court room, and held their deliberar tions under a large oak tree, on the site of the T. Q. Miller Block. The rain commenced to fall, but they were tolerably well protected by their canopy of leaves. A fire was built, and imparted warmth and cheer to the dismal session.

In 1837, a subscription paper was circulated to secure the funds necessary for building a court house and jail. The subscription reached $1,250. A frame court house was built west of the square in Valpa- raiso, and completed late in the fall. Until this time, court was regu- larly held in the house of John Saylor, on the site of the Empire Block, but was henceforth held in the large room above the post office until the erection of the brick court house in 1853. The county jail was built of logs, on Mechanic street, to the southeast of the square, in 1888.

The settlement of Bailly Town by the French trader Bailly, in' 1822, has been mentioned. This interesting locality and .the remarkable fam- ily which possessed it deserve more than a passing comment. For eleven years, Monsieur Bailly was the only white inhabitant of the region of Porter County. His influence over the natives was unbounded, and his traffic in furs yielded him an almost princely revenue. His home would more properly have been termed a rendezvous than a town, for it owed importance to the large gatherings of the natives for the con- sideration of every important matter, and for the purposes of trade and of religious worship rather than to any considerable resident population. This, indeed, it never possessed ; and, with the departure of the Indians to the new reservations in the West, its importance departed forever. One of the most interesting characters among us in the forties was the good Bishop of Vincennes, Maurice de St. Palais. This untiring apos- tle was accustomed to travel on horseback from Vincennes to Bourbon- nais Grove, a French Catholic settlement near Kankakee, 111., and from that point to Bailly Town. On his arrival at Bailly's settlement he was

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 21

always greeted by a vast concourse of the Indians, in whose presence he ofiBciated at the solemn sacrifice of the mass. Thomas A. B. Campbell, traveling once through the woods to Bailly Town upon a white horse, was seen by the Indians at a distance and mistaken for the good Bishop. Instantly and eagerly the word was passed along, " The Father is com- ing," and Mr. Campbell on arriving at the trader's house met a large and disappointed company of natives. The home of the trader pre- sented an anomalous appearance in the forties. It was a singular compound of the barbarous and the refined, the rudely simple and the tastefully luxurious. The trader had one son, mention of whom is made elsewhere. In education as well as in wealth his daughters were far more favored than those of the most fortunate white families of the county. Capable of adorning any circle of society, they yet preferred the seclusion of their home to association with the families of the immi- grants. Hortense, the youngest, won universal admiration wherever she appeared. She was remarkably beautiful in feature and graceful in form and movement. Mentally, she was bright and quick of perception. She frequently rode to the county seat upon her favorite pony, a beauti- ful snow white animal, in which she took great pride. She was always accompanied by her dog, to which she seemed equally attached. Her dress was simple, but of a richness of which other misses in the county would not have dreamed. A cloak of rich velvet, a cap of silk, with a long, soft plume or a jaunty eagle feather, a severely simple dress, foade of some costly fabric brought from the East — this was the garb of our Pocahontas. She transacted with the county officers the business upon which she came, and amused herself by playing with her dog and pony in the square until after the heat of the summer day had lessened, then, alone and fearless, rode silently away to her solitary home.

In all the early history of Porter County, Michigan City was the great market for produce and supplies. This city dates from 1831. Its young life was full of promise. Vessels sought its harbor, and the farm- ers of the tributary region, extending far to the east, the south and the west, gave it their almost undivided patronage. People reckoned the distance of every point in our county from "the city." Twenty-mile Prairie took its name from the measure of distance which separated it from this port. The roads which led to the city were generally very inferior, and sometimes almost impassable — entirely unequal to the de- mands of transportation. Late in the decade, a grand project was under- taken. It was the construction of a plank-road from Valparaiso to Michigan City. The outlay necessary to thd construction of such a road was immense, considering the sparseness and comparative poverty of the population in that day. But the people demanded that it should be

22 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

built, and -when the people are in earnest, they are apt to ha^®

way. They looked upon this road as something for the future—-

thing that would endure forever — and their vision could descry no

future ages, however distant, when the wheat and corn of Porter

• 1 A Tt was

would not be carried to market in wagons over this plank-roaa.

commenced in 1850, and partly finished in three years. The expec e cost was 1128,000. A number of citizens of this county were stock- holders of the plank-road company. Money was scarce, and much ot the cost of construction was paid in orders. The use oi tnes ,

in a measure, illustrated the English idea that "a national debt is a na- tional blessing." For a number of years, the orders of the plank-road company were in circulation as currency, and formed a large portion of the circulating medium in the hands of the people.

While this road was in process of construction, a greater work claimed and occupied the attention of the people. Railways were pushed through to "the city " and to Chicago. Through Pine, Westchester and Portage Townships, and over the border of Jackson, lay the course of the rails. The Lake Shore road and the Michigan Central appeared at our borders almost simultaneously. They crossed near Calumet, a village which had grown up north of the old "Stage House," and which has since become the town of Chesterton. From this time. Porter County was brought into direct connection with the outside world. From the county seat a rapid drive in an easy coach over the smooth plank floor brought one to the railway, where he might enjoy the luxury of travel in "steam cars." The first goods received in Porter County by rail were sent on a con- struction train from Michigan City in 1851, and landed upon the prairie at Old Porter. They were sent to Hubbard Hunt, then a Valparaiso merchant. They came by way of the Michigan Central. The Lake Shore road was then in process of construction, but the work was not so far advanced as that of the Central. The mails were henceforth carried far more rapidly than hitherto.

The public buildings of the public square at Valparaiso were com- menced in 1850. They consist of the court house and two other build- ings for the county offices. The court house was not completed until 1853. Its cost was about $13,000. It was of a style similar to that of La Porte, and had north and south entrances. It had a brick floor and the seats were ranged in tiers. At the time of its construction, it was one of the best in the State. The delay in its construction was due to alleged fraud in the use of unsuitable building materials by the contract- ors. Part of the wall in which these materials had been used was torn down and rebuilt before the work could be approved.

In 1856, the new court house was the scene of a very sensational trial.

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 23

A man named Lovering, by profession a school teacher and minister, was convicted of theft, and sentenced to four years' imprisonment. Three years later, a murderer was brought into court, but, owing to popular fury, was granted a change of venue. It was John Mcintosh, who murdered an old gentleman, Charles Askam, in Pleasant Township. Other changes of venue were obtained, and the murderer escaped conviction through a legal technicality, being set at liberty at South Bend, two years later.

The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway was laid through Porter County in 1858. John N. Skinner and Ruel Starr were the prin- cipal contractors. The road passed through Valparaiso, where a large grain depot was built, and brought a great deal of trade to the county seat.

In 1869, Henry Andrews was murdered by Philip Schaffer, in a saloon, at Valparaiso, and the murderer was sentenced to two years' im- prisonment for his crime.

Among the legislative acts in the sixties was that under which the Kan- kakee Valley Draining Association was organized. The assessments made upon the lands to be benefited by the draining of the Kankakee region were regarded as excessive and unjust. Very bitter feeling was aroused against the company, and vigorous denunciations and threats were uttered at numerous indignation meetings. The scheme as contemplated was never carried out.

The new jail was built in 1871, opposite the southeast corner of the public square in Valparaiso. It cost somewhat more than $26,500, and is a fine piece of architecture. For some years the county had been with- out a jail, and the prisoners had been taken to La Porte County for safe keeping. Notwithstanding the apparent security of the new prison, there were several "jail deliveries " which startled the community and per- plexed the officers. The famous monte man and desperado known as "Texas Jack " was confined here in 1876. His preliminary trial was held before Mayor Skinner at the court house. Dense crowds thronged the court room, and large numbers of people visited the prisoner at the jail. He was held for trial. His pals and supporters in Chicago were determined to elFect his rescue if possible ; and though a close watch and eflScient guard appeared to be maintained, he disappeared one night, hav- ing been aided by accomplices in his escape.

A memorable sensation was caused in 1872 by the discovery of a mur- dered man, or a suicide, hanging from a tree a short distance southwest of the county seat. The circumstance is a mystery which has never been satisfactorily explained.

The Peninsular Railway reached Valparaiso in 1874. A station was established near Prattville and named Malone. It is near the site of the old Indian village called by the aborigines " Skeenwa's Town." The Balti-

24 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

more (

I & Ohio Railway was completed at about the same time. In the lal ,

there was a serious riot at Crisman Station, in Portage Township- Baltimore road was resisted by the Michigan Central in its attempt to cross the track of the latter. Hundreds of men arrived at the scene, lire- arms were obtained, and, for a time, a fierce and bloody battle seeme imminent. Wiser counsels prevailed, the difficulty was adjusted and tne track was laid. The next year the town of Sumanville was laid out as a station upon this line in Jackson Township. A strong, substantial bridge was constructed over the Kankakee River near Mayville, Capt. De Oour- cey being the engineer. The Chicago & Lake Huron Railway, formerly the Peninsular, passed into the hands of the Grand Trunk, and arrange- ments were made to extend the line to Chicago, which work was com- pleted the next year. In 1881, the line of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis was extended through Porter County to Chicago. The Chicago & Atlantic Railway line was also surveyed through our county, and the work of construction vigorously pushed. The first of these lines passes through Valparaiso, and the last crosses the Pan Handle line at Kout's Station.

Court continues to be held in the old court-house of 1853, which has been so greatly changed since its construction as to be scarcely recogniz- able as the same building. A new building is contemplated by' the au- thorities, being greatly needed at the present time. The only murder trials of late years were those of Charles Stevens, in 1879, and Brainerd Taft, in 1881. The former was acquitted of the crime alleged ; the latter was found guilty of the murder of John Dutton, and sentenced to the penitentiary for four years.

While not famous as the home or resort of any large number of authors, Porter County has numbered among her citizens several who have achieved some distinction as writers. Doubtless the most gifted and polished author among Porter County's sons is Col. Gilbert A. Pierce, formerly Secretary of the United States Senate, and later editor of the Chicago Inter Ocean. His " Dickens' Dictionary " is recognized as a standard work in Great Britain as well as in the United States, and has received high commendation from the reviewers of both nations. His novel, "Zachariah, the Congressman," is a charming story, charmingly told, and having a well-arranged plot. Of Col. Peirce's lectures and addresses, that entitled " To Laugh or To Cry," is very popular, and places him in the front rank of American humorists.

Hon. Worthy Putnam, of Michigan, was formerly Professor of Elo- cution in the V. M. & F. College, at Valparaiso, and published a large, admirable work under the title of " Putnam's Elocution." The treatise as well as the selections, showed ability and taste in the authorship and com-

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 2&

pilation. Prof. A. T. Moore, an instructor in the V. C. Institute, wrote the "Life of Schuyler Colfax," a well-prepared and interesting biography of the Indiana Statesman. Rev. Dr. Sims, now Chancellor of Syracuse University, is the author of the "Life of Dr. Eddy," an interesting biography in Dr. Sims' happiest style. Miss Frances R. Howe, a grand- daughter of the first white settler, Monsieur Joseph Bailly, of Bailly Town, is the author of "A Visit to Bois d'Haine," a charming narrative of European travel, in which she describes her visit to Louise Lateau, the Belgian Stigmatica. Dr. E. W. Fish, a former practitioner of this county, and sometime Professor of Chemistry at Pulte College, Cincin- nati, is the author of a large and carefully prepared text-book on chem- istry. Rev. J. Milton Kennedy, a Methodist pastor, formerly stationed at Chesterton, is the author of a highly commended book of Poems. Mr. A. G. Hardesty wrote and published a brief but most interesting his- tory of Porter County in 1876, in connection with his' admirable atlas of the same. J. W. Holcombe, of the Normal, is the author of a text-book entitled "The Latin Sentence," published in 1876. It is a valuable work of a finished scholar and a practical teacher. Mrs. Lizzie Newell, of Fargo, D. T., formerly of Valparaiso, is the author of the " Silent Counselor," a beautiful and ingenious work of Scriptural and poetical compilation. Prof. 0. P. Kinsey, of the Normal, is the author of an admirable little work entitled " The Normal Debater." Mrs. M. Elna W. Haverfield, M. D., has written a work entitled "Enlightened Woman," on subjects of special interest to her sex. Scientific and tech- nical compositions have been written' by Harlowe S. Orton, President of the Law College of Wisconsin State University ; Orpheus Everts, M. D., Superintendent Indiana Asylum for the Insane ; Wooster Beman, Pro- fessor of Mathematics at Michigan University, and other former residents of Porter County. Of musical composers and publishers, J. William Sufi'ene, J. W. Ruggles and Prof. Straub, of Chicago, have been connected with institutions of musical instruction at Valparaiso. The Congressional speeches of Congressmen Calkins and De Motte would form a large volume. These gentlemen resided for many years at Valparaiso, and the last mentioned is now a resident of that city.

Oounty Oommissioners. — Noah Fowts, 1836 ; Benjamin Spencer, 1836-37 ; John Seffon, 1836-87 ; J. Y. Wright, 1837-38 ; James Wal- ton (who is an 1812 pensioner and lives in Michigan, where he went with his son in 1872), 1839 ; Jonathan Griffin, 1838 ; John Jones, 1838 ; Joshua Hobart, 1839 ; John H. Whistler, 1839-40 ; Reason Bell, 1840- 48 ; Thomas J. Field, 1843 (appointed by Probate Court to fill vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Col. Wj^stler) ; Jesse Morgan, 1841- 42 ; John Dinwiddle, 1841-48 ; Russel Dorr, 1843-44 ; Nathaniel Saw-

26 HISTOET OF PORTEE COUNTY.

yer, 1843-45; Richard W. Jones, 1844-46 ; Samuel Olinger, 1845-4 ; Isaac Morgan, 1846-48; J. Dinwiddie, 1847-50; Walker ^''^'f ' 1848-51 ; Azariah Freeman, 1849-50 ; Ruel Starr, 1850-55 ; Asa Cobb, 1850-53 ; Alexander Chambers, 1851-53 ; Ira Cornell, 1853-57 ; H. ^. Woodruff, 1854-57; Asa Cobb, 1857-60; John Hardesty, ^^^^~ '' William Williams, 1857-58 ; Eli B. Lansing, 1858-62 ; W. Stoddard, 1860-61; L. A. Cass, 1861-62; S. P. Robbins, 1862-65 ; A- B. Price, 1862-63 ; William Stoddard, 1863-67 ; Edward C. Osborn, 1865-68 ; T. B. Cole, 1867 ; A. B. Price, 1867 ; A. V. Bartholomew, 1868 ; S. P. Robbins, 1868; Andrew J. Harrison, 1874; L. P. Scott, 1876; Fred- erick Burstrom, 1880 ; Nicholas Pickrell, 1880.

Common Pleas Judges.— First, H. Lawson ; second, William C. Tal- cott ;' third, Hiram A. Gillette. Office abolished in 1872.

Judges Oircuit Court. — First, Samuel Sample, of South Bend ; sec- ond, E. M. Chamberlin, of Goshen ; third, Robert Lowry, of Goshen ; fourth, Thomas Stanfield, of South Bend ; fifth, Andrew Osborn, of La Porte ; sixth, Hiram A. Gillett, of Valparaiso ; seventh, Elisha 0. Fields, of Crown Point.

Treasurers.— W\\\\a,m Walker, 1836-39 ; T. A. E. Campbell, 1839 ; resigned ; G. W. Salisbury, appointed in his stead, 1839-40 ; John W. Wright, 1840-43 ; T. A. E. Campbell, 1841-44 ; Elias Axe, 1844-47 ; E. Campbell, 1847-51 ; John Ball, 1851-53 ; William Wilson, 1858-55 ; 0. L Skinner, 1855-59 ; Warren Dunning,; 1859-63 ; S. W. Smith, 1863-67 ; F. F. B. Coffin, 1871-75 ; J. W. Felton, 1875-79 ; J. W. Cruinpacker, 1879;

Auditors. — George W. Turner, 1841, appointed ; Philander A. Paine, 1841-43, resigned ; Ellis E. Campbell, 1843, appointed-; Ruel Starr, 1843; S, W. Smith, 1843-58; Reason Bell, 1858-66 ; Z. B. Field, 1866-70 ; ,Jleason Bell, 1870-78 ; William B. Brown,. 187,8.

Sheriffs. — Benjamin Saylor, appointed by Governor 1836 ; George Cline, 1837; Charles G. Merrick, 1838-43 ; John W, Wright, appointed, 1843 ; Moses Trim, Richard W. Jones, Vincent Thomas. 1850-52 ; Thomas G. Lytle, 1852-56 ; Thomas B. Cole, Stephen L. Bartholemew, Henry Binamon, Robert Jones, 1872-76; James Malone, 1876-80; Charles Dickover, 1880.

Judges, Probate Court.— 1st. Jesse Johnson— Seneca Ball and James Blair, Associate Judges. 2d. George W. Turner— Enos Thomas and John Herr, Associate Judges. 3d. Nathaniel Campbell — H. E. Wood- ruff and Benjamin N. Spencer, Associate Judges. 4th. William Talcott 5th. John Jones (appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resiena- tion of Judge Talcott, who remained on the bench about six months till the office was abolished in 1852).

HISTORY OF POKTER COUNTY. 29

Olerks.— 1st. George W. Turner, 1836-43. 2d. John C. Ball, 1848- 50. 8d. William W. Jones, 1850-55. 4th. 0. Dunham, 1855-59. 5th. B. J. Jones, 1859-67. 6th. S. W. Smith, 1867-71. 7th. R, P. Wells, 1871-79. 8th. John Felton, 1879—.

Beeorders. — 1st. Cyrus Spurlock, 1836-39. 2d. George W. Salis- bury, 1839-41 (appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the removal of Cyrus Spurlock) ; Obediah Dunham, 1850-55 ; Edna L. Whitcomb, 1855-59 ; Thomas Jewel, 1859-67 ; Henry Stoddard, 1867-75 ; Thomas C. Shepard, 1875-79 ; William C. Wells, 1879—.

Senators. — In 1837, our Senatorial District was composed of the counties of La Porte, Newton, White and Pulaski. Our State Senator was Charles W. Cathcart, 1837-70 ; Sylvanus Everetts, 1840-43. In 1842, the district was changed so as to contain only La Porte, Porter and Lake. Joseph W. Chapman, 1842-45 ; Andrew L. Osborn, 1845-49 ; Abraham Teegarden, 1849-51 (no record for 1852) ; Samuel I. Anthony, 1853-57 ; Morgan H. Wier, 1857-58. In 1859, Porter, Lake and Jas- per— Senator, David Turner, 1859-61. In 1863, Porter, Lake, Jasper and Newton — Senator, Ezra Wright, 1863-65. In 1869, Porter, Lake and Newton — Senator, Erwin Church, 1867-69. In 1871, Porter and Lake— Senator, Richard Wadge, 1871-75 ; D. L. Skinner, 1875-79. Thomas Wood, 1879—.

Representatives. — In 1836, Porter and Newton Counties composed our Representative District. Representatives : Benjamin McCarty, 1836 ; Jeremiah Hamil, 1837 (no report for 1838-39). In 1840, Porter and Lake, represented by Seneca Ball, 1840-41 ; Lewis Warriner, 1841 ; Adam S. Campbell, 1842-43 ; Alexander McDonald, 1843-44 ; Samuel I. Anthony, 1844-45 ; Alexander McDonald, 1845-46 ; Harvey E. Woodruff, 1846-47 ; Alexander McDonald, 1847 ; Benjamin Spencer, 1848 ; Lewis Warriner, 1849-50 ; William H. Harrison, 1850-51. In 1851, Porter County was formed into one distinct district, and repre- sented by Gideon Brecount, 1851-53 ; Artillus Bartholomew, 1858-55 ; Andrew B. Pierce, 1854-57 (no record for 1859) ; Robert A. Cameron, 1861 ; Levi A. Cass, 1863-65 ; Firmin Church, 1865 ; John F. McCar- ty, 1865-67 ; Gilbert A. Pierce, 1867-69 ; William H. Calkins, 1869- 73 ; Theophilus Crumpacker, 1873-78 ; S. S. Skinner, 1878—.

MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS.

Amount of money in County Treasury May, 1882 $53,895.97

Amount of permanent school fund of county May, 1882 $43,037.91

School enumeration of county May, 1882 5,496

Number of schoolhouses — 26 brick, 68 frame, May, 1882 94

Value of schoolhouses, grounds, seats, etc., May, 1882 $124,230

Value of school apparatus May, 1882 $3,317

Number volumes in township libraries May, 1882 460

Population of County.— In 1840, 2,156 ; 1850, 5,229 ; 1860, 10,295 ; 1870, 18,903 ; 1880, 17,229. j5

30

HISTORY OF POETEE COUNTY.

FARM PRODUCTS.					WKKT POTATOM, 1881.
	Meadow and Hat, 1881.	IBIBH Potatoes, 1881.	B
TOWNSHIPS.		§,„■	n ■s 1		h n	1	1	i m	1
	955 1239 952 713 595 813 696 659 4632 14S4 1321	1 2 1 I' 1 1 1*	955 2478 1190 713 892 1626 695 659 3474 1434 1981	66 109 326 129 160 444 150 60 185 186 305	20 50 67 40 15 20 26 50 30 26 25	1320 6450 21842 5160 2400 8880 3750 2500 5550 4625 7625







Porter
	7	25	175


	681	H	908	107 2217 2487	35	3745

Total .	13689 9994	ij	17005	32	72847 170890	7 36	25	175
Total last year	15347 1	2625

	WHEAT IN 1881.	OOEN IN 1881.	OATS IH 1881.
TOWNSHIPS.	-3	ft ■s	1 i	i	Bush, per Acre.	1 ■S	•S	1 1 n
	1		■i
Centre	817 1,351 2,271 2,716 1,684 1,136 1,340 1,642 1,206 698 2,620 1,103	5 8 9 8 6 5 10 8 6 12 5 9	4,085 10,808 20,439 21,720 10,104 6,675 13,400 12,336 7,236 8,376 12,500 9,927	1,466 1,840 2,679 1,680 1,249 1,197 1,174 2,687 2,661 2,228 3,937 716	20 25 27 26 20 20 5 20 15 15 25 32	30 35 "35" 30 25 30 "25" 30 44	29,480 45,360 72,333 42,000 25,295 24,210 6,210 55,040 39,915 20,820 98,815 16,018	837 802 1,174 618 284 986 467 1,205 2,074 939 2,730 382	26 30 26 25 25 25 20 25 25 30 30 26	20,92& 24,060 30,524 15,450 7,100 24,650 9,340 30,125

Washington Jackson


Westchester Pleasant
Porter...;.
Boone	51,850 28,170

Pine	81,900
	9,932
Total	18,382 25,015		136,606 377,775	23,463 35,816			475,496 1,097,061	12,498 12,875		334,026 397,890
Total last year

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 31

OHAPTEK II.

ET WESTON A. GOODSPEED.

Ceeation of Poeter County— Its Existence tjndek La Porte Jurisdic- tion— Early Subdivisions and Election Returns— French and In- dian Land Claims— Sale of Public Lands— Organization of the County — Proceedings of the Commissioners — The County Seat — Public Highways- The Library Association— The County Semi- nary—The Bible Society— Township Boundary Alteration— Linn County— Temperance Organizations- The Poor Parm— The Agri- cultural Society— Old Settlers' Association — The County Press —Politics— Statistics.

THE County of Porter had its first political existence in the month of March, 1835, at which time the County Commissioners of La Porte County, then having jurisdiction over the soil now comprising the counties of Porter and Lake, ordered that all the territory west of the La Porte Cojunty line and attached to that county should be laid off in election districts or townships as follows :

The township of Waverly to be bounded on the north by Lake Mich- igan, east by the La Porte County line, south by the line between Town- ships 35 and 36 north, and west by the line through the center of Range 6 west. The township of Morgan to be bounded on the north by the south line of Waverly Township, east by the La Porte County line, south by the Kankakee River, and west by the line through the center of Range 6 west. The township of Ross to include all the attached territory west of the line through the center of Range 6 west.

At the time of the creation of these townships, an election of two Jus- tices of the Peace and other officers was ordered held at the house of Isaac Morgan for Morgan Township, at the town of Waverly for Waverly Township, and at the house of Cyrus Spurlock for Ross Township. John J. Foster was appointed Inspector of the election in Waverly Township ; Isaac Morgan, of the election in Morgan Township, and Benjamin Mc- Carty, of the election in Ross Township. The following is the result of the three elections, with the number of votes polled for each can- didate :

Waverly Townghip. — Justice of the Peace, John J. Foster, 18 ; Eli- jah Casteel, 11 ; John Sefford, 7. Constable, Owen Crumpacker, 15 ; Jacob Beck, 14. Superintendent of Roads, Eli Hendricks, 16 ; L. G. Jackson, 5 ; Abraham Snodgrass, 11. Overseers of the Poor, Jesse Mor- gan, 16 ; William Frame, 16. Fence Viewers, Alexander Crawford, 14 ;

32 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

Edmund Tratebas, 14. Inspector of Elections, William Gosset, 1; °^ J. Foster, 1. Total number of votes polled, 32 ; the following ^Z^^^^j. only names which appear upon the records : Jesse Morgan, "^ • ' '

William Conant, Lemuel G. Jackson, S. N. Clark, William Gosset, Clark Waldriss, Owen Crumpacker, Elijah Casteel, Peter Ritte^ Mere- deth Bravlock, William Downing, Jacob Beck, Isaac Mossey, Pressley Warnick,"'Abraham Snodgrass, Daniel W. Lyons, William Calhoun and Thomas J. Wyatt. _„ _

Morgan Township.— Justice of the Peace, Adam S. Campbell, ^b ; George Cline, 26. Constable, T. A. E. Campbell, 25 ; Jones Frazee, 25 ; William Morgan, 1. Supervisor of Roads, Henry Rinker, 21 ; R. C. Brayton, 19. Overseers of the Poor, Reason Bell, Sr., 25; Jacob Cole- man, 25. Fence Viewers, Jacob Coleman, 24 ; Benjamin Saylor, 24. Inspector of Elections, Isaac Morgan, 26. Total number of votes polled, 26, by the following persons : Henry Rinker, Benjamin Saylor, Henry H. Williams, White B. Smith, James Blair, Jonathan Moulton, Jacob Fleming, John Coleman, James Frazee, William Morgan, William Bill- ings, James Laughlin, Jeremiah Bartholomew, Reason Bell, Adam S. Campbell, George Cline, Warner Pierce, Jacob Coleman, Edmund Bill- ings, Peter D. Cline, Russel Brayton, Stephen Brayton, Robert Walters, Isaac Morgan, T. A. E. Campbell and Reason Reed.

Boss Township. — Justices of the Peace, James Turner, 29, William B. Crooks, 28 ; Constable, George W. Turner, 27, John Huntley, 13, John G. Forbes, 14 ; Overseers of the Poor, Benjamin McCarty, 5, The- ophilus Blake, 22, John G. Forbes, 24 ; Superintendent of Roads, Daniel Turner, 18, Richard Clark, 7, John Huntley, 9 ; Fence Viewers, Moses Wilson, 25, James Walton, 25 ; Inspector of Elections, Benjamin Mc- Carty, 14, Samuel Haviland, 2. Total voters, 29, as follows : Richard Clark, William D. Wolf, Theopilus Blake, John Lyons, Michael Young, Moses Wilson, David Spurlock, John Spurlock, Stephen Spurlock, Cyrus Spurlock, George Spurlock, Barzilla Bunnel, Knighton Parrott, John G. Forbes, Benjamin McCarty, John Huntley, Samuel Haviland, Wright P. Taylor, George W. Turner, Burton Blake, William B. Crooks, Daniel Turner, Noah Fouts, Pascal Coghill, Jesse Pierce, James W. Turner, Ja- cob Hurlburt, John Wolf and Mason Randle.

It must not be thought that the above men were the only ones resid- ing in their respective townships ; for it will be observed that votes were polled for men who were absent, or the names of all present were not re- turned upon the tally sheets by the officers of the election. The follow- ing vote polled in August of the same year shows a population but little heavier. The returns of Waverly Township could not be found :

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

33

	Representa-	8TATI!	Bepresent-	Associate	County	OoTjNTT Com-
	Odnqress.	Senator.	ATITE.	JtJDGB.	Becorder.	missioner.
TOWNSHIPS.	i		1	■.^	a I	1	i	d	1	4^	^	ii	«					^
	n	m 1	6 w	1	S		3	h3	d o 0		a	Q		1	1	1-9	1
	m	4	ft	&^	-sj	d	m 1 h;	5	^	^	a	1	a	o	l-s	o	-<
Morgan	51	s	3	4	4fi	48	2	fi	45	5		46	7		1	44		47
Ross	34	1	19	6	6	4	18	13	1	17	9	1	5	2	7		1	6
Wayerly
Total	85	4	22	10	51	52	20	19	46	22	9	47	11^	9,	8	44	1	53

As the three townships — Morgan, Ross and Waverly — had no exist- ence except as a part of La Porte County, the returns of this election were counted in with the general vote of that county ; and but two of the candidates voted for, so far as known, resided within the limits of the ter- ritory now comprising the county of Porter. These men were John J. Foster and Benjamin Spurlock. At that period in the history of what afterward became Porter County, partisan lines were not strictly drawn, and political ambition was scarcely known. The empty honor of official position was regarded with indifference, as no profit was to be seen, save the stern discipline associated with the self-denial incident to a life lived within the salary received. As such profit was regarded as a burden, and as it was abundantly found, the early settlers were not anxious that it should be increased. With the exception of a few accidentally favored positions, the pay of office was merely nominal, and possessed no attrac- tion to those who were fortunate in owning a goodly share of this world's goods. The few county offices which afforded suitable recompense for time and labor, were as seduously sought as at the present day. Money in this new country was so extremely scarce, and the investments to be made with it were so filled with promise, that men of every degree of in- telligence and responsibility sought eagerly for any employment which would yield financial returns. The settlers were a motley collection of the representatives of every State in the East, and of many European nations, with habits of life and views of public polity diametrically opposed ; and, from the start, the clashing of settled conviction, and the unfavorable in- fluence of personal prejudice were forcibly felt in every public gathering until the waves of disunion in thought were hushed to silence and har- mony. The only unison in views was upon the subject of the accumula- tion of property. Speculators appeared with prodigious pocket books, and founded their fortunes. The impecunious and unscrupulous sought by art and intrigue to accomplish what their conspicuous lack of funds pre- vented. The billows of speculation of that inflated financial period swept over the county ; and unbounded faith in sudden transitions from poverty

?4 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

to wealth took possession of every breast. Notwithstanding the lac money in this new country, commercial transactions were conduc e reckless prodigality. Debts were contracted under the insane de usion that their ultimate liquidation would be the careless pleasure ot some future day. Counterfeiters overran the county, offering tempting baits o the unwise or unwary. Every commercial transaction or relation became filled with the wind of false promise, and was distended out of all propor- tion. Many of the settlers of the years 1834, 1835 and 1836 invested their last dollar in land at spots which, to them, seemed the most likely to become important, and even went so far as to borrow money on the security of their land to devote to the same insane purpose. Scores of mortgages were given under the fancied security that the lifting of the same was an afterthought of no moment or consequence. The result is a matter of history. The distressing financial crash of 1837 produced a chaos. Money, which had so long represented inflated values, fell pros- trate to the basis of actual worth. Men who, the day before, had counted their ducats by the thousands, now sorrowfully counted them by hun- dreds, or even by dozens. The distress was universal, is well known, and need not be detailed. The hard times were gradually overcome ; and the lesson that prosperity is often as dangerous as adversity was taught by wretched experience, and will not be forgotten.

Land Entries. — The following tracts of land were the first entered in Porter county, and all that were entered prior to January 1, 1884, in- cluding the Indian and the French reservations that were made at the treaty of October 16, 1826, when that portion of the county north of an east and west line through the southern point of Lake Michigan, became the property of the Government by cession from the Pottawatomies and the treaty of October 27, 1832, when all the county south of such line became the property of the Government, except, of course, the reserva- tions which were not approved by the President until 1836 :

PUKCHASBR.

Joseph Bailly

Old Man Macito.

Chop-i-tuck

M. A. Bruner

Kesis-shadonah

Lemia-shadonah

Mia-sink-quo-quah Peter Lauglois, Jr..

Mas-coh

Layette AUins

Pa-peer-kah

Louis Burnett

Section.

William Burnett 14

27

23

17

13

22

5

36

37

33 34 35 35 35 35 35 35 35

Kange.

640

159.80 661.41

640

160

578.24

320.33

640

320

160

640

592.44

S. E. J.

nIeVj!

i'T.:::

N. W. } N. E. \.

Date of Entry.

By treaty Oct. 16, 1826;

approred 1837. December 1,1880.' By treaty Oct. 27, 1832

approred 1836. Same. Same. Same. Same. Same. Same. Same. Same. Same. Same.

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

35

PUKOHASBB.

Section.	Town.	Kange.	Acres.
12	36	5	640
18	36	5	632.36
25	36	5	140
31	36	5	651.34
36	36	5	640
17	36	6	640
34	36	7	640
36	37	6	61.10
34	37	6	112.65
27	37	6	80
28	37	6	160
28	37	6	79.50
33	37	6	138.61
34	37	6	6.12
25	37	6	80
36	37	6	61.54
25	37	6	80
25	37	6	160
30	37	5	80

Date of Entry.

Nas-wau-bees

Francis Se Jeans

Polly Griffiths

We-saw

Mis-no-quis

TJrsule Duquindres

Che-apo-tuckey

John Brown aid Isaac Morgan,

Joseph Bailly

Same

William Gosset

James and Ira Morgan James and Josepb Morgan.

John Brown

William A. Welsh....

Same. Same. Same.

E. h N. E. J

S. frac. N. E. J..

W. J N. E. \

S. E. \

E. JS. W. I

N. frac

N. frac. N. E. J.

W. J S. W. J

W. JN. W. \....

E. JS. W. i

S. E. i

W. ^ S. W. \

Same. Same. Same.

Aug. 13, 1833. Aug. 15, 1833. Aug. 15, 1833. Aug. 14, 1833. Aug. 15, 1833. Oct. 21, 1833. Oct. 21, 1833. Nov. 7, 1833. Dec. 18, 1833. Deo. 18, 1833. Dec. 26, 1833. Deo. 30, 1833.

During the year 1834, there were entered in the county fifty-nine tracts of land, representing an aggregate of 5080.75 acres, all of which, without exception, was in Townships 36 and 37 north. In 1835, 938 tracts were entered in the county, as this was the year that the land south of the old Indian line running through the southern point of Lake Michi- gan was thrown into market, and there was a great rush into the new county by speculators and by those who expected to become residents. During this year, 1835, nearly 90,000 acres of land in the county were entered at the Government price of $1.25 per acre. Eight thousand and eighty acres of Wabash & Erie Canal lands were located in Porter County, the first sale of the same occurring in 1843 and the last in 1862. This land was confined to Townships 34 and 36, Range 7. Three thou- sand two hundred acres of Michigan road land were also sold in 1835. The State has derived no little income from the sale of the swamp lands in Porter County, that were donated by Congress. The splendid systems of drainage, both county and State, have reclaimed large tracts of land that in early years were very wet or covered with water. There has been spent in the county for open and underground drainage not less than $200,000. The first great ditches began to be built between 1850 and 1860, and since then many others have been added at high expense. The Kankakee Drainage Company flourished for a time at the very zenith of pleasurable anticipation, but the citizens were too wise to be caught by these Shylocks, and therefore did not have to pay a pound of flesh nearest the heart.

Creation and Organization of Present County. — No other changes were made in the civil division of what, in 1836, became Porter County, than those made by the Commissioners of La Porte County as

36 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

above described, until the winter of 1835-36, at which time the following enactment was passed by the State Legislature :

Section 1.— Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, T * ™ _ and after the first day of February next, all that tract of country included m the o ow ing boundary lines shall form and constitute the county of Porter, to wit : Commencing the northwest corner of La Porte County, thence running south to the Kan a ,

thence west with the bed of said river to the center of Range 7, thence north to the a e line, thence east to the place of beginning. And all that part of the country that lies north of the Kankakee River and west of the county of Porter within the State of In- diana, shall form and constitute a new county, to be known and designated by the name of Lake County.

Sec. 2. That the county of Porter shall, from and after the first day of Febru- ary next, enjoy and possess all the rights, privileges, benefits and jurisdictions, which, to separate and independent counties do, or may properly belong.

Sec. 3. That Joel Long, of Kosciusko, Andrew Wilson, of Fountain, Mathias Daw- son and Judah Leaming, of La Porte, and William L. Earl, of St. Joseph, Counties be, and they are hereby appointed Commissioners agreeably to the act entitled "An Act fixing the seat of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off." The Commissioners afore- said shall meet on the first Monday in June next, or any day thereafter they may agree upon, at the house of Thomas Butler, in the said county of Porter, and shall proceed im- mediately to perform the duties required of them by law, and it shall be the duty of the Sheriff of the county of St. Joseph to notify said Commissioners, either in person or by writing, of their appointment, and for such services, said Sheriff shall receive such com- pensation as the board, doing county business of Porter County, may deem reasonable.

Sec. i. The Circuit Court and Board of County Commissioners shall hold their ses- sions as near the center of the county of Porter as a convenient place can be had until the public buildings shallbe erected.

Sec. 5. The county of Porter shall be attached to the Eighth Judicial Circuit of this State for judicial purposes.

Sec. 6. The board doing county business may, as soon as elected and qualified, hold special sessions not exceeding three days during the first year after the organization of said county, and shall make all necessary appointments, and do and perform all other business which may or might have been necessary to be performed at any other regular session, and take all necessary steps to collect the State and county revenue, any law or usage to the contrary notwithstanding.

Sec. 7. This act to be in force from and after its passage.

Caleb B. Smith,

Speaker of the Souse of Representatives. Approved, 28th of anuary, 1836.

N. Noble. David Wallace,

President of the Senate.

During the same session of the Legislature that the above creating enactment was passed, provision was made for the organization of Porter County by the appointment of Benjamin Saylor, SheriiF, with full power to order an election of two Associate Judges of the Circuit Court three Commissioners, one Clerk of the Court, and one Recorder, and to trans- act other necessary business. Accordingly, an election of such oflBcers was ordered held on the 28d day of February, 1836, and resulted as fol- lows :

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

37


	ASSOCIATB JUDflBS.	THBEB C0MM16BI0NEBS.	BECOEBEB.	* OLEBE.
HOUSE WHERE HELD.	1	1 a	a 1 1^	g 1 d i4	.S o d 1	a i3	1 P		1 CO	"(3 03 N	ti d •E S <d	d a ¥	d d 1	i 1 1	I	1	i 1
	28 15 6 32 9 90	27 12 13 9 61	6 25 18 "ii" 63	40 11 7 « 24 123	3 5	45	46 32 23 15 21 137	18 35 23 21 26 122	39 36 23 35 24 166	3 2	1	26	26 3 2 10 3 44	3 30 17 7 16 72	30 1 2 25 10	22 32 20 14 14 102

		4 21 7
			12	9
William Gosset		1 46	2
		10
TotalB	8	17	58	68	2

The following more fully explains this table : At an election held at the house of William Gosset February 23, 1836, for the purpose of electing two Associate Judges of the Circuit Court, three County Com- missioners, a Clerk of the Circuit Court, and a Recorder for the county the following men voted : James Turner, Pressley Warnick, John Saylor, Jesse McCord, Samuel Haviland, William Nernon, Beda Cornell, James Thomas, Isaac Sanford, John Hageman, William Gosset, Jacob Beck, William Coleman, John Reed, Jeremiah Frame, William Thomas, Enos Thomas, Benjamin Joslin, William McCoy, William Frame, Jesse Mor- gan, John Casteel, Eli Hendricks, Curtis Parkes, Samuel Thomas, Abra- ham Hall. Total, 26.

The vote for the same candidates on the same day at the house of Isaac Morgan, in Morgan Township was polled by the following men :

John Coleman, Jacob Coleman, D. S. Holland, John Blair, Jacob Fleming, Isaac Thomas, Levi Chamberlin, James M. Buel, William Mor- gan, John Herron, P. D. Cline, Reason Bell, Andrew Ault, Stephen Brayton, Joseph Hines, Benjamin Taylor, Orrin Lewis, J. S. Heming, Peter Hesser, Reason Reed, Antony Boggs, Henry Stoner, Sanford Hammond, W. B. Smith, Simon Drouillard, George Cain, Edmund Bil- lings, Asa Hughes, Benjamin Bingham, James Blair, William Bingham, Benjamin Reed, G. Z. Salyer, Henry Rinker, James Laughlin, G. Hughes, John Robinson, John R. Sargent, Robert Wallace, Nelson H. Smith, Benjamin Carr, William Mofford, -Joshua Goodrich, John Jones, A. G. Denison, Isaac Morgan, Samuel Stoner, Peter Wininger, Isaac Wininger, Sperry Howard, Henry Barklow, Enos Neil, Warner Winslow, Frederick Wininger, John B. Taylor. Total, 55.

The vote for the same candidates on the same day at the house of Morris Witham was cast by the following persons :

Adam S. Campbell, Wiley James, Morris Witham, Charles Allen, Washington Ault, Martin Reed, John Bartholomew, Jesse Johnson, Christopher Barns, Asahel Neil, Miller Parker, M. Coghill, George

38 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

Shoultz, G. W. Coghill, Benjamin Spencer, Jacob Kinsey, William Bil- lings, John Adams, James Ross, James Palmer, Joseph Bartholomew, Henry S. Adams, G. W. Turner, Enoch Billings. Total, 24.

The vote for the same candidates, on the same day, at the house of John Spurlock, in Ross Township, was cast by the following men : "Washington Williams, John F. McGrew, Preston Blake, Wright Taylor, William Brim, Richard Clark, Joseph Willey, John F. Walton, Eri Fonts, John Conway, Henry Herold, Ezra Crosby, Sylvester Forbes, Theophilus Blake, James Walton, David Spurlock, John Gr. Forbes, William Wolf, Edwin Abbott, H. S. Webster, Stephen Spurlock, P. A. Paine, Russell Darr, James Conant, W. A. Nichols, Lewis Walton, Edmund Wolf, George Spurlock, Jacob Wolf, John Spurlock, Noah Fonts, Moses Wilson, Cyrus Spurlock, Andrew Wilson, Joseph Wilson ; total, 35.

The vote for the same candidates, on the same day, at the house of L. G. Jackson, was polled by the following men : William Eaton, Sam- uel dinger, James M. Davis, Alexander Crawford, Thomas Crawford, L. G. Jackson, Lewis Todhunter, Lewis Casteel, William Calhoun, Eli- jah Casteel, Joel Crumpacker, Griffin Holbert, Abraham Snodgrass, D. W. Lyons, Jerry Todhunter, William Downing, Solomon Hobaugh, John Casteel, Ruel Starr, James Spurlock, A. K. Paine, Owen Crumpacker, Thomas J. Wyatt, John Sefford, H. A. K. Paine, John P. Noble, G. W. Faulkner, William Snavely, Benjamin McCarty, Joel Walker, H. E. Woodruff, Levi Massey, Joseph Wright, William Walker, Nelson Ellison, Alfred Winter, J. S. Wallace, J. R. C. Brown, Mordecai Massey, Roby R. Parrott ; total, 40 ; grand total, 180.

The following action of the first Board of Commissioners is taken from the record of the Auditor of Porter County :

At a special session of the Board of Commissioners in and for the county of Porter aforesaid, begun on the 12th of April, 1836, the following persons came forward and pro- duced their certificates of election, signed by the Sheriff of said county, with the necessary oath of office indorsed thereon : John Sefford, Benjamin N. Spencer and Noah Fouts. Also present George W. Turner, Clerk of said Commissioners' Court, and Benjamin Saylor, Sheriff of said county.

Ordered by the Board, That for the purpose of electing township ofBcers for the oounty of Porter, the following district of said county shall form and constitute a town- ship to be known by the name of Lake: Commencing at the northeast corner of Porter County, thence south with said county line to the line dividing Townships 36 and 37 thence west on said line to the southeast corner of Section 31, Township 37 north. Range 6 west, thence north to the State line, thence east to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known by the name of Jackson: Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 36 north, Ranse 5 west, thence running south with the county line to the southeast corner of Section 36 Township 36 north. Range 5 west, thence west to the southwest corner of Section 82* Township 36, Range 5, thence north to the southwest corner of Lake Township thence east to the place of beginning.

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 39

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Washington : Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 35, Range 5, thence south with said county line to the southeast corner of Section 36 in said town, thence west to the southwest corner of Section 32, Township 35, Range 5, thence north to the southwest corner of Jackson Township, thence east to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known by the name of Pleasant : Commencing at the southeast corner of Porter County, thence north to the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 34, Range 5, thence west with the southern boundary of Washington Township to the southwest corner of the same, thence south to the Kankakee River, thence east with the same to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Boone : Com- mencing at the southwest corner of Pleasant Township, thence north with the western boundary of Pleasant to the northwest corner of the same, thence west with the line dividing Townships 34 and 35 to the county line, thence south to the southwest corner of Porter County, thence east with the feankakee River to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Centre : Com- mencing at the southwest corner of Washington Township, thence north to the southwest corner of Jackson Township, thence west to the northwest corner of Section 4, Township 35, Range 6, thence south to the southwest corner of Section 33, Township 35, Range 6, thence east to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Liberty: Commencing at the northwest corner of Washington Township, thence north to the south- west corner of Lake Township, thence west to the northwest corner of Section 4, Town- ship 86, Range 6, thence south to the southwest corner of Section 33, Township 36, Range 6, thence east to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Wdverly : Commencing at the southwest corner of Lake Township, thence west to the county line, thence north with said line to the northwest corner of the county, thence east with the northern boundary line of the county to the northwest corner of Lake Township, thence south to the place of beginning.

That the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Portage : ' Commencing at the northwest corner of Liberty Township, thence west to the county line, thence south to the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 36, Range 7, thence east to the southwest corner of Liberty Township, thence north to the place of beginning. And that the following territory shall constitute a township to be known as Dhion : Commencing at the northwest corner of Centre Township, thence west to the county line, thence south to the northwest corner of Boone Township, thence east to the southwest corner of Centre Township, thence north to the place of beginning.

The Board adjourned to meet the following morning at 9 o'clock A. M. At this session it was ordered that an election of one Justice of the Peace be held in every township that had been created the day before, except in the township of Washington, which was to have two such officers ; and the election for Washington Township was ordered held on the 30th of April, 1836, at the residence of Isaac Morgan, who was appointed Inspector of Election. At the same session an election was ordered for Jackson Township, to be held on the same day (BOthj, at the residence of Asahel K. Paine, and Samuel dinger was appointed In- spector. The election for Lake Township was ordered held, same time, at the residence of Edward Harper, who was appointed Inspector. The

40 HISTORY OF PORTEE COUNTY.

election for Waverly Township was ordered held, same time, in the ovf of Waverly, and William Gosset became Inspector by appointment, election for Liberty Township was ordered held, same time, at the ouse of Daniel Y. Kesler, and Jerry Todhunter was appointed Inspector. n election for the same date was ordered for Centre Township, to be he at the house of C A. Ballard, and G. Z. Salyer became Inspector. An election the same date was ordered for Pleasant Township, to be held at the house of Henry Adams, with William Billings, Inspector. An elec- tion on the same date for the township of Boone was ordered held at the house of Jesse Johnson, with Asahel Neil, Inspector. An election was ordered for the township of Union, on the same day, to be held at the house of George W. Turner, with James Walton, Inspector. An elec- tion on the same day, for the township of Portage, was ordered held at the house of Jacob Wolf, Sr., with James Spurlock, Inspector. George Cline was appointed Assessor for all that portion of the county lying south of the line dividing Townships 35 and 36 ; Peter Ritter, same, for all the county lying north of such line, and John Adams, same, for all the attached territory on the west (Lake County).

At the May term of the Board (1836) the county was divided into Commissioners' Districts as follows : All the territory lying south of the line dividing Townships 34 and 85 to be District No. 1 ; all the territory lying between the line dividing Townships 84 and 35, and the line divid- ing Townships 35 and 36 to be District No. 2 ; and all the territory north of the line dividing Townships 35 and 36 to be District No. 3. At the May term of the board, Benjamin McCarty, County Treasurer, re- ported that no moneys had been received by him yet in virtue of his official position; whereupon Benjamin Saylor was appointed County Col- lector. John P. Noble was appointed Constable of Jackson Township ; Thomas Crawford, Supervisor of Roads ; Joseph Wright and Levi Massey, Overseers of the Poor ; James M. Davis and Luther Jefferson, Fence Viewers ; all for Jackson Township. For Liberty Township, Daniel W. Lyons was appointed Constable ; Jesse Morgan and Richard Clark, Over- seers of the Poor ; William Downing and Edmund Tratebas, Fence View- ers, and Solomon Habans, Supervisor of Roads. For Pleasant Township, Archibald Demand was appointed Constable ; Morris Witham, Supervisor of Roads ; Thomas Adams and Morris Witham, Overseers of the Poor • John Adams and John Jones, Pence Viewers. For Union Township, E. W. Fonts was appointed Constable ; Richard Henthorn, Supervisor of Roads ; Daniel Turner and David Spurlock, Overseers of the Poor • Washington Williams and B. Bunnell, Fence Viewers. For Ross Town- ship, John Young was appointed Constable ; Royal Benton, Supervisor of Roads ; Daniel Wallsworth and William Thornburg, Overseers of the

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 41

Poor ; W. B. Crooks and Jesse Pierce, Fence Viewers. For Portage Township — James Connett, Constable; William Brim, Supervisor of Roads ; T. Blake and Jacob Wolf, Overseers of the Poor ; John Wolf and Stephen Spurlock, Fence Viewers. William Billings was appointed Seminary Trustee of Porter County.

The following is the three months' report of William Walker, County Treasurer, rendered November, 1836 :

From Benjamin Walker, former Treasurer $4 87

From Ebenezer Clark, license ._ 93

From Francis Willey, license 10 00

From Ebenezer Clark, license 10 00

From Samuel Haviland, license 56^

Total $26 36^

By order to G. W. Turner $ 50

By order to G. W. Turner 87^

By order to G. W. Turner 3 00

By order to G. W. Turner 10 00

By order to G. A. Ballard 2 50

By order to 3 00

Balance on hand 6 48|

Total ¥26 36i

The following is the report of the Commissioners selected by the State Legislature, as will be seen by the enactment several pages back, to locate the county seat of Porter County :

The undersigned Commissioners to locate the county seat of Porter County, Ind., make the following report : That they met, pursuant to agreement, on Tuesday, the 7th inst., at the house of Thomas Butler, and were duly sworn to discharge the duties of Com- missioners to locate the county seat of Porter County, Ind. ; that they proceeded to view all the sites on Tuesday and Wednesday following, and inquired upon what terms the same might be secured ; that after duly inspecting the different sites and taking into con- sideration all the matters to which the law called their particular attention, your Com- missioners concluded that the southwest quarter of Section 24, Township 35 north, Range 6 west, was the most eligible site for said county seat. Your Commissioners accordingly gave notice that they were ready to receive proposals, if any were to be made, of this or other parts for such county seat. The Commissioners received from the proprietors of said town (Portersville) and others donations of each alternate lot — 192 lots to be laid out at or near the center of said southwest quarter of Section 24, Township 35, Range 6> and a donation of forty acres of land — part of Section 20, Township 35, Range 6, and donations of money, for a more particular description of which you are referred to the bonds filed herewith. Your Commissioners then proceeded to the said southwest quarter of Section 24, and located the county seat upon said quarter section, and stuck a stake which is half-way between the northwest corner and the northeast corner of the public square, on the north side of said square, and which by a line run with » compass was found to be south 53 degrees east 29 chains and 10 links from the half-mile post on the west side of Section 24. The donations made for said point were upon condition that said site and public square shall be located as they are above described, and for which bonds are filed in the name of different individuals with the Commissioners of Porter County.

42 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

And the county seat of Porter County, as hereby established by the undersigned ^'"'*.|°^ Commissioners, is on the site as above described ; and the stake, having the eari g above, is on the north line of the public square, and the alternate lots are to be ai by the donors on said site— the southwest quarter of Section 24, Township 35 nor , Range 6 west. W. L. Earle,

Mathias Dawson,

JuDAHr LeAMINO,

JPNE 9, 1836. Locating Commmioners.

The amounts of the bonds that were given for the payment of the money that was donated to Porter County by the proprietors of the county seat, for the erection of county buildings, with the names of the obligors, are as follows : Bond No. 1, $500, Benjamin McCarty, John Walker, John Saylor, Enoch McCarty, L. L. Hillis and William Walker; Bond No. 2, |50, James Hutchins ; Bond No. 3, $100, George Cline ; Bond No. 4, $76, A. S. Campbell ; Bond No. 5, $100, Isaac Morgan ; Bond No. 6, $25, Charles Gr. Minick ; Bond No. 7, $100, Thomas But- ler ; Bond No. 8, $100, G. Z. Salyer ; Bond No. 9, $50, Isaac Morgan ; Bond No. 10, $100, Ruel Starr. These several amounts pledged by the proprietors of the county seat, together with the various town lota that were donated to the county, furnished, for many years, quite an important source of revenue. From time to time the anthorized county agent, to whom was intrusted the disposal of the lots, sold the same to citizens or new settlers, usually taking notes for the consideration, due with interest at a future day. As the pressure for means for the first few years after the county was organized, to aid in the construction of bridges, roads, public buildings, and in the payment of public functiona- ries was very great, the town lots and the bonds were converted into money by the Commissioners as soon as possible ; but even the amounts thus obtained were not sufficient to satisfy the clamor for the collection and expenditure of sums that would render the public highways servicea- ble, and the Commissioners, under the stricture, levied heavier assess- ments, and thus, like Oliver Twist, were guilty of the unpardonable offense of asking for " more ; " but, still further, like Oliver, were pressed into the measure by others as hungry as themselves.

At the May term of the board, 1836, A. S. Campbell and George Cline, Justices of the Peace, paid to the County Treasurer $3 fines which had been imposed by them for theft and assault. An election of an addi- tional Justice of the Peace for Centre Township was ordered held at the house of C. A. Ballard. For Centre Township, Charles G. Minick was appointed Constable ; Robert Wallace, Supervisor of Roads ; J. R. C. Brown and P. A. Paine, Overseers of the Poor ; Abraham Stoner and James Buel, Fence Viewers. For Washington Township, Adam S. Campbell and Reason Bell were appointed Overseers of the Poor ; Peter

HISTORY OP PORTER COUNTY. 43

Cline, Supervisor of Roads ; George Cline and John Shinabarger, Fence Viewers. For Boone Township, Isaac Cornell was appointed Supervisor of Roads ; William Frame and John Robinson, Overseers of the Poor; A. Neil and John Downing, Fence Viewers. For Bryant Township, Simeon Bryant, Constable; Payne Bryant, Supervisor of Roads ; David Bryant and Thomas Childers, Overseers of the Poor ; David Chandler and Lyman Wells, Fence Viewers. For Clark Town- ship, Richard Fancher, Constable ; William Clark, Supervisor of Roads ; Solon Robinson and Peter Steinbrook, Overseers of the Poor ; C. H. Paine and J. W. Holton, Fence Viewers. C. A. Ballard was allowed $2.50 for house rent for the County Commissioners for five days, and Reason Reed was allowed 75 cents for making returns of the election in Washington Township.

Roads. — At the June session of the board, the first petition was received for a county road extending from Portersville (Valparaiso) by " the best and nearest route to the new crossway between Andrew Tay- lor's and James Blair's, thence to the county line, intersecting a road leading via Cathcart's Grove to La Porte." Wilson Malone, Morris Witham and James W. Turner were appointed Viewers. At the same time a road was ordered viewed from the northeast corner of Section 24, Town 36 north. Range 5 west, thence west to E. Casteel's mill on Coffee Creek, thence west to William Gosset's mill on Salt Creek, thence west to the county line ; Peter Ritter, Samuel dinger and William Thomas, Viewers. In July, 1836, a county road was established from the quarter post on the north line of Section 30, Town 35, Range 5, to Sherwood's Ferry on the Kankakee ; Jesse Johnson, Joseph Willey and Samuel G. Jackson, Viewers. In September, 1836, a county road was established from the southwest quarter of Section 12, Town 34, Range 7, to Liver- pool, but this road was not built. At the same date as last a road was ordered viewed from Portersville (Joliet road) to the county line near the mouth of Taylor's Run ; Isaac Morgan, Reason Bell and Andrew Taylor, Viewers. One from Portersville to Sherwood's Ferry was viewed, but reported on adversely. In September, 1836, a road was established from the northeast corner of Section 22, Town 33, Range 7, to Portersville ; Isaac Morgan, Henry Rinker and John Shinabarger, Viewers. This road was soon altered somewhat. Other roads established in 1836 were as follows : From Portersville to Thomas Snow's store by a circuitous route ; from Portersville to Elijah Casteel's mill ; from Portersville to Athens, near Gosset's mill ; from Isaac Morgan's on the north side of Morgan's Prairie to intersect the State Road from Portersville to Michi- gan City, but this was not built ; from the new bridge on Calumet River at the mouth of Salt Creek, to Deep River, at crossing of Hickory

44 HISTOEY OF PORTER COUNTY.

county road, John Walton, Preston Blake and John Forbes, Viewers-; from the southwest corner of Section 12, Town 34, Range 7, to Liver- pool, same Viewers as last ; from the southeast corner of Adam Camp- bell's land (Section 20, Town 35, Range 5), to intersect Michigan Oity and Barleytown road (southeast quarter of Section 18, Town 37, Range 5), Viewers, Bnos Thomas, John Sefford, A. S. Campbell, White iJ. Smith and Eli Hendricks ; from Portersville to Michigan City (Septem- ber, 1836), John Taylor and Asahel Neil, Viewers ; from Michigan City (November, 1836), west through Porter and Lake Counties to the State line, Benjamin McCarty, Viewer. The following is from an act entitled "An Act Relating to State Roads," approved February 6, 1837 :

Seo. 9. That Daniel M. Learning, of La Porte County, William Frakes, of Porter County, and WilUam,Hattou, of Lake County, be and tliey are hereby appointed Com- inisBioners to view, mark and locate a State road from the town of La Porte, in La Porte County, on the nearest and best route to the town of Valparaiso, in Porter County, thence west by the way of the seat of justice of Lake County to the Illinois State line, in the direction of Joliet, in the State of Illinois; Provided, however, That if the seat of justice in the said county of Lake shall not be located at the time of the location of the said State road, the Commissioners aforesaid will proceed to locate said road on the nearest and best route from the town of Valparaiso west to the State line in the direction of Joliet, in said State of Illinois.

By an act of the Legislature, approved February 18, 1839, Philander A. Paine and William C. Talcott were appointed Commissioners to locate a State road from a point on the Valparaiso and Sherwood Ferry road, thence by Ruel Starr's, thence to a county road running north on a line dividing Sections 19 and 20, in Township 35, Range 5, to extend such road to City West, and the county road was declared a State road. By enactment also William C. Talcott and A. S. Campbell were appointed to lay out a State road from Portersville west to intersect a State road at Preston Blake's or James Grafton's. Also, by enactment, William 0. Talcott was appointed to lay out a State road from Valparaiso via Enos Thomas' mill to City West. Also, by enactment, William K. Ta,lbot and Henry Rinker were appointed to view a State road from, at or near Pa- gan's Mill, in La Porte County, thence to the center of Section 17, Township 37, Range 5, thence to City West, thence to Long Lake, so as to intersect a State road near the head of the lake. Various State roads were laid out across the county, while the same remained attached to La Porte County. By suitable enactments, the Legislature provided what was called the " 3 per cent fund," apportioning such fund to the several counties throughout the State, and appointing Commissioners to expend the same in the construction of roads. This relief to the early settlers was fully appreciated. The County Commissioners levied as heavy a tax also, as the settlers could bear, to carry on the same work. From that

HISTORY OP PORTER COUNTY. 47

time onward, through the years 1837, 1838, 1839 and 1840, and until the present time, roads were laid out in all directions through the county, at enormous cost in the aggregate, but of indispensable use to the citizens. At a special session of the board on the 16th of November, 1850, the following petition was considered :

To the Honorable the Board of Oommisaioners of the County of Porter: Your peti- tioaeTS, the Board of Directors of the Valparaiso & Michigan City Plank Road Company, would humbly represent to your honorable body that a company has been organized for the purpose of constructing a plank road from Valparaiso to Michigan City, making a point on the Buffalo & Mississippi Railroad at or near the place where the line between Ranges 5 and 6 crosses the same. That the nearest and best route for the construction of said road would probably be to run on the road from Valparaiso to Michigan City between Valparaiso and the above-named point on the railroad, and thence running part or all the way to Michigan City on the road that leads from the above point to Michigan City, as far as the eastern line of the county of Porter, near Michigan City.

Tour petitioners, therefore, ask your honorable board to grant to said company the right of way on said road or roads from Valparaiso to the eastern line of the county of Porter, near Michigan City aforesaid, or to so much or such part of said road or roads as you may deem expedient and right.

W. P. Ward, President of the Board of Directors.

Attest : George W. Tckneb, Secretary. November 16, 1850.

Whereupon the Board of Commissioners

Ordered, That the right of way be granted to the Valparaiso & Michigan City Plank Road Company to construct a plank road from Valparaiso to Michigan City on, over, along or across any or all State or county roads which they may desire.

The road was never built as had been designed, as much of the route over which the plank were to be laid was a compact sandy soil, which, three-fourths of the year, furnished almost as solid a foundation as the plank would. Some two or three miles of plank were laid just south of Chesterton, and about the same just north of Valparaiso, but between these sections of road none were laid, though toll was collected both at Chesterton and at Valparaiso. The stock of the company was largely owned by wealthy men in Michigan City, who were the founders of a private bank there, and the issuers of a paper money, which, from com- mencement to end, unlike the usual wild-cat bank issues of that day, was always at par with coin, and redeemable at any time upon demand. It is stated that a man, on one occasion, becoming greatly scared by the ap- palling depreciation in private bank issues, and having in his possession some $30,000 of the Plank Road Bank bills, presented himself in Michi- gan City and demanded the redemption of the paper of the bank in his pos- session. The gold was paid him, whereupon, becoming satisfied that the bank was solid, he asked to have his gold deposited again, but was posi- tively refused, and, as that was the only bank in the city, he was obliged to cart his coin home with him. Toll was collected on the road a few years and then the company collapsed.

48 HISTORY OF PORTEK COUNTY.

In 1851, another association was formed to construct a plank road from Valparaiso to La Porte, and permission was granted the same to use the roads of the county for that purpose. About seven miles of plank were laid, partly in Porter and partly in La Porte Counties, and toll was collected over this route for a few years, but finally the whole matter was abandoned. While the original plan was to extend the road from Valpa- raiso to La Porte, this design was changed, and, in 1852, the termini of the road were Henry Clyburn's in La Porte County and Beeche's Corners in Porter County.

Library. — As early as the summer of 1838, in pursuance of an act of the State Legislature, approved February 17, 1838, subscriptions to the amount of some sixty-odd dollars having been pledged, a meeting of the citizens was called to elect Trustees and other necessary officers, and to in- corporate the Porter County Library Association. Books were purchased and added to from time to time, as subscriptions were paid, until at last, in about 1850, some 500 volumes were owned by the association. In 1855, the books were distributed to the townships as follows : One set to Centre, one to Jackson and Washington, one to Westchester, Pine and Liberty, one to Portage and Union, one to Porter and Boone, and one to Morgan, Pleasant and Essex. These libraries were added to by the State for several years, but finally they were not replaced, and were soon de- stroyed or lost. It was

Ordered by the Board acting as Trustees of the County Library, That the Librarian be allowed the sum of $10 per annum for his aerTioea as such Librarian ; that aaid Librarian be required to procure a strong book case for the use of said library, and that the follow- ing by-laws be adopted :

1. That none but subscribers shall be allowed to read the books, or draw any of them from said library.

2. That any volume of 300 pages or under may be drawn for one month by any sub- scriber.

3. That any volume over 300 pages and under 500, may be drawn for two mouths by any subscriber.

4. That any volume over 500 pages may be drawn for three months.

5. That the Librarian shall mark each book, showing the length of time said book may be drawn.

6. That any person keeping a book over the time marked as the period for which it may be drawn, shall forfeit the sum of 5 cents for every week it may be kept over said time, and that any fractional part of a week shall be considered as a week, and the fine

collected accordingly.

7 That no person shall draw more than one volume at a time, and after a subscriber shall have drawn a book, he shall not be allowed to draw any more until he shall have duly returned said book, and paid all fines and forfeitures due said library from him

8 That the Librarian shall examine all books upon their return, and if any shall have been damaged or disfigured more than reasonable wear, he shall assess a fine unon said subscriber drawing the same, and said subscriber shall never after be allow J Z draw any book until he shall have duly paid such fine.

9. That said Librarian shall purchase a blank book at the expense of aaid library, in

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 49

■which he shall keep a full list of all suhsoribera, the time subscribing, the date each shall draw a book and return the same, and the amount of fines assessed to, and paid by, each subscriber, and of all other matters of interest to said library a complete and full report he shall make of which at each term of the County Commissioners' Court.

Miscellaneous Acts of the Commissioners. — In June, 1836, the board appointed Samuel Olinger County Agent, with Peter Ritter, B. Saylor, George Cline and Wilson Malone, sureties. They deducted $60 from the levy made by John Adams and George Cline, Assessors, upon the personal property of those families which had been assessed for "bed and bedding." It was ordered that, for the year 1836, a levy of two and one-half per cent be made on all personal property and real estate, and a poll tax of 75 cents be imposed, for county purposes ; but in July this order was rescinded, and in lieu thereof one half of one per cent was levied. The board ordered paid to Peter Ritter $20, to John Adams $26, and to George Cline $22, for services as County Assessors. A road tax of one per cent was levied in July. In May, 1836, a tavern license was granted Samuel Haviland, of Westchester Township, for one year, at $10. A license was granted Andrew Ault to vend foreign and do- mestic groceries. Same with merchandise to Ebenezer Clark, of Porters- ville, and license to sell liquor to Francis Willey, of Bailly Town. Ex- penses of catching W. C. Maley, a horse-thief, were paid by the board. Samuel Haviland was granted license to keep a ferry across Deep River at Liverpool, and to keep a tavern and sell liquor there. Saylor & Reed, a license to sell merchandise in Valparaiso ; same to Solomon Cheney. As early as January 4, 1836, a license was granted Hamell & Hening by the Commissioners of La Porte County, to vend merchandise in Mor- gan Township. This was at Valparaiso, or Portersville, which was then in such township. John B. Turner was granted a license to sell grocer- ies, 1837 ; same, merchandise, to George Bishop ; Seneca Ball, same ; Jeremiah Hamell, same ; Marshal & Bigelow, a tavern at City West. David Oaks, of Washington Township, was granted a license to retail merchandise. Leveret Bradley, licensed to keep a tavern and sell liquor at City West. Palmer & Andrews, licensed to sell merchandise in Boone Township, April, 1838. W. P. Ward, licensed to keep a tavern and sell liquor in Westchester Township March, 1839. In 1843, W. A. Hins- dale and Edmund Woodman were licensed to keep separate taverns in Westchester Township. In 1837, a premium of $1 was ordered paid for scalps of prairie wolves over six months old, and 50 cents for those of wolves under that age. Same ordered paid for the scalps of gray wolves. After that, from time to time, the premium on w;olf scalps was gradually increased until, finally, a number of years ago, as high as $15 was paid for a single scalp of the gray wolf. At present the premium is $10.

At the September term, 1836, John Saylor was appointed Commis-

50 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

sioner of the 3 per cent fund, which was applied in the construction of public highways. Specifications for a county jail were drawn up in de- tail, the building to be 14x28 feet, timbers one foot square of oak, build- ing to be completed by September, 1837 ; payment for the same to be in installments, one-third when the timber was all delivered on the ground, one-third when the house was raised and covered, and one-third when the work was completed. Bids from contractors were called for. In Novem- ber, Adam S. Campbell became County Agent. The rates of ferriage across Deep River at Liverpool were fixed as follows: Each footman, 6 cents ; man and horse, 12 J cents ; horse and Dearborn wagon, 25 cents; two horses and wagon, 37J cents ; for each yoke of oxen or span of horses over and above one yoke or span, 12J cents. No person was taxed with ferriage who was crossing with his team and who paid the above rates for such team. The ferry across the Kankakee, which had been formerly known as Sherwood's Perry, and upon which no license had been paid, was advertised to be let to the highest bidder, the rates to be as follows : Bach footman, 6J cents ; man and horse, 12J cents ; horse and Dearborn wagon, 25 cents ; two horses and wagon, 37|- cents ; one yoke of oxen and wagon, 37J cents ; four horses and wagon, 50 cents ; two yoke of oxen and wagon, 50 cents ; any higher number of animals to wagon, 50 cents; each head of cattle, 6 J cents; each sheep, 3 cents; each hog, 3 cents ; each horse, 6 J cents ; asses and mules, each 6 J cents; and when the water was high, so that the ferry would have to run up to the head of the canon, three times the above rates were charged.

In January, 1837, it was ordered by the Board that the following persons should serve as Grand Jurors at the April term, 1837, of the Por- ter County Circuit Court : Wilford Parrott, Robert Wallace, John Say- lor, Eli Hendricks, George Spurlock, Joseph Willey, John P. Noble, Edmund Billings, White B. Smith, David Hughart, Henry Adams, John Sefford, G. Z. Salyer, Abraham A. Hall, John Adams, John G. Forbes, Sr., William Walker and William Bissell. The following persons were selected to serve at the same time as Petit Jurors : Thomas L. Hyatt, John B. Turner, Enos Thomas, Jacob Beech, James Laughlin, A. K. Paine, Robert Fleming, William Morgan, Newton Frame, Henry Rinker, George Shigley, Jefierson Tenor, Abraham Cormack, Benjamin Saylor, Sr., Isaac Cornell, Lewis Holton, Barzilla Bunnell, William Malone, P. A. Paine, Henry Herrold, Luther Jefferson, Jaines Baum, William Eaton and Barrack Dorr. John Saylor reported that he had received of the Treasurer of State $1,926.86 of 3 per cent fund due Porter County. This amount came to the county in good time, and was immediately ap- plied toward the improvement and construction of public roads. In Jan- uary, the board again took up the county jail question, and new specifi-

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 51

cations were prepared, the building to be a very strong frame structure, 17x33 feet, with two rooms below — one for debtors, and the other for criminals — and two above. At the same time, specifications for a court house were prepared, the building to be a frame structure, 20x48 feet. In March, 1887, a license to keep the old Sherwood Ferry across the Kankakee was granted Joseph Stearns and John Ship, the license being |9. S. Campbell was paid $85 for his services as Assessor of Porter County in 1887. Cyrus Spurlock was appointed Seminary Trustee of Porter County. A levy of 1 per cent on all real and personal taxable property was levied for the year 1837. At this time (May, 1887), the project of building the Erie & Michigan Canal, or of assisting in the building, began to receive attention from the Commissioners, who made preparations to turn over the 8 per cent fund on hand for that purpose.

In September, 1837, the Commissioners met at the house of Jeremiah Hammell. From this period on, for several years after, the board con- tinued to appoint officers for the various townships. At this term, it was "ordered that Thomas Randall be appointed Commissioner of the 8 per cent fund for Newton County (or the territory attached to Porter County called Newton County), and that he come forward and qualify himself accordingly." It was also "ordered that all the territory attached to Porter County that is called Newton County, shall form and constitute a township to be known by the name of Marion, and that there shall be an election held at the house of John Price, on October 25, 1837, to elect one Justice of the Peace, and William Donahue is appointed Inspector." At this time the county was pushing, in the construction of its highways, to its utmost, and every penny was faithfully applied. The bonds which had been given as a guarantee for the payment of the money which had been donated by the proprietors of the county seat, fell due, and the money was collected and applied upon the roads. The amount of county revenue, for 1836, was $522.29. In November, 1837, the court house was com- pleted by the contractors, Solomon Cheeney and others, and accepted by the board, after examination. The following appears upon the records :

To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of Porter County, /niZ.:— The following i« a list of fines imposed by me on account of Sabbath-breaking : Reuben Meadows, %\, and Leonard H. Coghill, $1. Given under my hand and seal this Ist day of January, 1838. (Signed) John Adams, J. P.

Since that period. Sabbath-breaking has multiplied, and fines for the same have divided. The following fines were assessed in the Circuit Court for 1837 : Michael Ault, assault, $20 ; G. W. Coghill, assault, $10 ; David Cook, retailing without license, $2 ; Ashbal Goodrich, retailing without license, $2 ; Moses Wilson, assault, 1 cent ; Aaron Lewis, retailing without license, $2 ; J. Bartholomew, assault and battery, $2. G. Z. Salyer's report as Seminary Trustee was as

52 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

follows : Received of William Billings, $6.50 ; of G. Z. Salyer, $4 ; of G. W. Turner, $38 ; total, $48.50, which had been loaned at 10 per cent per annum. The County Clerk was ordered to procure a set of law- ful weights and measures, to be kept in his office, and also an iron seal with the letters P. C. S., which should be stamped on all lawful weights. A pound was built for Valparaiso, in 1838, by William Eaton.

SCHOOL commissioner's beport, portee county, 1836:

Received from B. Saylor, CoUeotor of State revenue I 8 65

Received from the sale of Section 16, Township 35, Range 51 360 85

Received from money loaned 205 00

Paid Isaac Morgan interest 205 00

Received State revenue 1 08

Received Surplus revenue 27 77

Loaned interest money 360 85

Paid for notice of sale in Michigan City Gazette 2 50

Received surplus revenue from Seneca Ball, Commissioner 224 40

Received from the sale of Section 16, Township 35, Range 6, with

Interest 91 78

Paid for books 11 50

Money loaned 50 99

Paid John McConnell interest 144 67

Paid John McConnell surplus revenue 30 06

Paid John McConnell State revenue 1 14

Paid G'azeMe for notice of sale 2 25

Received from sale of Section 16, Township 36, Range 5, with interest 24 20

Money loaned 18 00

Paid Phineas Hall surplus revenue 28 67

Paid Phineas Hall State revenue 1 06

Paid Michigan City Gazette 2 25

Received from Treasurer of State amount of poll-tax due for school

purposes for the year 1836 35 60

[Signed.] Ruel Starr, School Commissioner.

The following appears upon the record :

Notice. — A copartnership has this day been formed at Valparaiso, Porter County under the laws of the State regulating limited corporations, for the purpose of dealing in all things relating to trade in merchandise, bonds, notes, exchanges, etc., the business to be conducted by E. Brown Bishop as general partner, who is authorized only to sign for the company; and the name and style of the company will be E. Brown Bishop, and the ifoUowing-named persons will be special or limited partners :

Sylvanus Evarts, La Porte County, Ind., has given bonds to pay

in specie or good Eastern paper, when demanded $1,000 00

John Bishop, Porter County, same 2,600 00

Jesse Johnson, Porter County, same 300 00

Henry Dillingham, Porter County, same 1,000 00

Samuel Shingley, Porter County, same 300 00

George Axe, Porter County, same 300 00

Jonathan Herold, same 500 00

-ot'^l $6,000 00

The copartnership is to commence the 1st of June, 1838, and continue for one year from such date, and to be renewed from year to year by advertising.

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 53

What became of this corporation or what was done cannot be learned with certainty. It did not continue long, however. In the autumn of 1838, Newton County was attached to Jasper County, and the Collector for that county turned over his funds and was discharged. In October, 1889, William Eaton was licensed to keep the ferry over the Kankakee, where John Ship and Joseph Stearns had formerly been. In September, 1840, the board advertised a bounty of $1.50 on each scalp of full grown prairie wolves and $3 for each scalp of full grown gray wolves.

The following order appears upon the records :

Ordered by the Board, That from and after the 1st day of April, 1841, the door of the court house shall be shut against preaching by any denominations of Christians, and that the Sheriif of Porter County is required to procure a lock for the door at the foot of the stairs in the hall, and place said lock permanently on said door, and keep the same locked against all denominations of Christians from and after said 1st of April, 1841, without respect of persons ; and that the Sheriff is further ordered to give public notice of the passage of this order immediately.

For a time during 1841, the county paid $5 and $3 for scalps of gray and prairie wolves respectively. In February, 1842, it was " ordered by the Board, that the Methodists, Presbyterians, Mormons, Universalists, Baptists, Campbellites, Associate Reformers, Infidels and all other de- nominations be allowed to hold meetings in the court house, provided they do not interfere with the business of the courts of the county and political meetings." In June, 1842, John W. Wright reported that $106.87 had been received from the seminary fund. In December, 1842, it was "ordere"d, that John Mcintosh be appointed Inspector of flour, beef and pork for the county of Porter for the term of three years."

County Seminary, etc. — A legislative enactment of February, 1838, made provision for the maintenance of county seminaries throughout the State by the appropriation of certain fines and penalties, such as for break- ing the Sabbath, for assault and battery, etc., etc., and it was made the duty of the Board of Commissioners in each county to appoint Trustees, who were to constitute a body politic with general powers and liabilities in the founding, controlling and maintaining of a county seminary of learning. Such Trustees were appointed in Porter County as early as the autumn of 1838, to whom were paid the funds designed for the jfbove purpose until, in 1849, the amount collected had reached over $2,000, when the project of erecting a seminary building was instituted, but not carried into eifect, for some reason unknown, until the year 1851, when grounds were purchased in the eastern part of Valparaiso and a building erected thereon, the total cost of house and lots amounting to about $2,- 300. The two-storied frame building was furnished with three rooms above and two below, and was not fully completed in the autumn of 1851, when the first school therein was taught by Ashley M. Pierce, Principal,

64 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

and Miss Eliza J. Forsyth, now Mrs. William Wilson, Assistant. The session was held in the upper story, the lower not having been finished nor furnished. About 120 students were in attendance during the win- ter, but the following year, when the new school law came into existence, the County Commissioners, in pursuance of legal requirements, offered the seminary building and the grounds upon which it stood for sale, one- tenth to be paid down and the balance in nine equal annual installments, the proceeds of the sale to go into the common school fund of the county. The sale was advertised by the County Auditor in June, 1852, the day of sale being fixed for the fourth Monday of July, 1853, on which day the building was purchased by the School Trustees of Valparaiso for $1,200, and transformed into the " Union School of Valparaiso." Thus ended its existence as a county institution, three terms only having been taught within it while it remained as such. The building was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1857.

As early as 1850, there was organized the " Porter County Bible So- ciety," a corporate body, whose mission was to place in each citizen's cabin a copy of the "Book of books." In 1853, the Treasurer of the society reported the sale of $3,200 worth of Bibles. At this time D. Crawford was President, and J. C. Brown, Secretary. The society sur- vived some five or six years and then disbanded, as its mission had ended.

Alterations in the boundary of the various townships have been fre- quent, and some townships have been wholly blotted out of existence and others erected in their place. At the second session of the board, the northern boundary line of Pleasant Township was extended west to the great marsh, thence south with the center of the marsh to the Kanka- kee.* At the same time, the eastern boundary of Boone Township was fixed at a point on the west side of the marsh. In 1837, the western half of Section 29, Washington Township, was attached to Centre Township. In March, 1838, Boone Township was confined to its terri- tory south of the line dividing Townships 33 and 34, and, at the same time, all of the territory of Porter County west of the marsh dividing Horse and Morgan Prairies, and between the line dividing Townships 33 and 34, and the line dividing Townships 34 and 35, was organized as Fish Lake Township. In March, 1839, the west halves of Sections 17 and 20, Washington Township, were attached to Centre; but, in May, 1840, they, with the west half of Section 29, were re-attached to Wash- ington Township. Prior to this, in June, 1836, the citizens of Lake and Waverly Townships petitioned the Board, setting forth the inconven- ience of the boundaries of their townships, and praying that the same might be united, which was accordingly so ordered, and the new town-

*ThiB marsh was the one diTlding Horse and Morgan Prairies.

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 55

ship was named Westchester. In March, 1841, all of Township 37, Range 5, and fractional Township 38, Range 5, were stricken from West- chester and created into a new township to be called Berry, and an election of township officers was ordered held at the house of Orson Petty, with George W. Rice Inspector. In June, 1841, the following petition was presented to the County Commissioners :

To the Honorable Board of County Commissioners of Porter County, Ind. :

We, the undersigned petitioners and inhabitants of Westchester Township, most respectfully represent to your honorable body, that the division heretofore prayed for at your March term, 1841, to be injudicious and uncalled for, and is inconvenient for the citizens of your township generally, and that we pray your honorable body to set aside all divisions, and continue the said township of Westchester as it originally was before any alteration at your March term last, and the place of holding elections as before. And in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Enos Thomas, John Miliakd,

W. P. Ward, William Coleman,

GUFFIN HULBEBT, DatID PrIOE,

William Knapp, William P. Jacobs,

Bbazilla Millard, Rufus Pieeoe,

Joseph Claek, Daniel Hulbekt,

Henbt Haqeman, William Thomas,

John Thomas, James Thomas,

Thomas Fraziee, Samuel Wheelbe,

Edmund Teateeas, Vincent Thomas.

Allen Blaib, Ordered, That the above petition be granted, and that the order for the division of West- chester Township, and for the establishment of Berry Township, made at the March term of this board, 1841, be rescinded, and that the elections hereafter be held at the former place.

In June, 1841, Fish Lake Township became Porter Township, and at the same time the division line between Pleasant Township and Boone and Porter Townships was established to commence at the northwest cor- ner of Section 2, Township 34, Range 6, thence south to the squthwest corner of Section 14, Township 33, Range 6, thence west one mile and thence south to the Kankakee River. In August, 1843, Pleasant Town- ship was divided, and Morgan Township was erected from the territory north of the line running east and west between Sections 29 and 32, Township 34, Range 5. During the year 1836, in pursuance of a peti- tion from Solon Robinson and William Clark, the boundary of Clark Township (Lake County) was changed as follows : All that part of Town- ship 35 lying south of the center of the same in Lake County, and Sec- tions 1 and 2 in Township 33, Range 9, were added to Clark Township. In February, 1847, Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, in Township 36, Range 5, all of Township 37, Range 5, and all of Township 38, Range 5, were established as a new township called Calumet. At the same time it was ordered that Township 37, Range 6, and the east half of Township 37,

56 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

Range 7, in such township, should constitute Westchester Township. Jackson Township was constituted as it is at present, except Sections 3 and 4, which then belonged to Calumet. In June, 1847, all that part of Westchester Township lying west of a line dividing Ranges 6 and 7, and Sections 29 and 32 in Township 37, Range 6, were attached to Por- tage. In February, 1850, Sections 29, 30, 31 and 32, Township 37, Range 6, and Sections 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36, Township 37, Range 7, were attached to Portage. In February, 1847, Liberty was constituted as it is at present, except Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4, now forming the south- ern part of Westchester, which then belonged to Liberty. In February, 1850, Sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36, and the east halves of Sections 2, 11, 14, 23, 26 and 35, Township 34, Range 5, forming a part of Mor- gan Township, were erected into a new township called Essex ; but some- time afterward (the exact date could not be found) a strip the same width as the township (one mile and a half) was severed from the east side of Morgan and attached to Essex, making the latter six miles long and three miles wide ; thus the Township remained until 1880, when, upon the petition of sixty-seven citizens of Essex and Morgan , Townships, the former was merged in, or united with, the latter. In June, 1852, Westchester Township was divided by a line commencing at the souths west corner of Section 5, Township 36, Range 5, thence running north on the section line to Lake Michigan, and all the territory east of such line was constituted Pine Township, that west of the line remaining West- chester Township. Sections 2, and 11, Township 33, Range 6, were at- tached to Boone, in June, 1852. In December of the same year. Sec- tions 1, 2, 3 and 4 were severed from Liberty and made a part of West- chester. In March, 1855, Sections 14, 23, 26 and 35, Township 34, Range 6, were attached to Porter. In March, 1864, the east half of the east half of Section 30, Township 35, Range 5, was taken from Centre and attached to Washington ; but upon petition of S. A. Campbell and others, it was re-attached to Centre in December, 1868. In September, 1864, Sections 3 and 4, Township 36, Range 5, were stricken from Pine and added to Jackson. In August, 1848, an attempt was made by peti- tion to create a new township from portions of the present townships of Jackson, Liberty, Westchester and Pine ; but there was too much oppo- sition to the measure, and the board refused to issue the order.

In December, 1859, a petition, or rather a series of petitions, was presented the County Commissioners, praying that a committee of three be appointed, empowered to confer with a similar committee from La Porte County, for the purpose of laying ofiF and establishing a new county to be called Linn, from territory belonging to Porter and La Porte Coun- ties. This was an attempt made by the citizens of Michigan City, to ac-

HISTORY OF POKTER COUNTY. 57

complish a result for which that municipality had vainly struggled for a long series of anxious years — its transformation into a county seat. It had long before given up the oft-baffled attempt of wresting from La Porte the coveted boon, and by a dexterous, and perhaps desperate, policy, sought to effect, by new and novel methods, what it had failed to effect by re- peated and skillful attempts with the old. Upon the petitions were the names of 2,017 citizens living within the limits of the territory to be erected into the new county, and this long array of names called for sober consideration. After mature deliberation, the Commissioners refused to appoint the committee, or to give their approval to the attempt, for the following reasons :

1. The spoliation of Porter County, specified in the petitions, would reduce its territory below the Legislative limit of 400 square miles.

2. The County Commissioners have no power to create new counties, and therefore cannot delegate such power to committees.

3. The new county would not be of the form required by law.

The Commissioners of La Porte County disposed of the question in a similar summary manner, and the plan was abandoned.

^Societies and Other Matters. — The following is taken from the Com- missioners' records, 1859 :

Whekeas. — J. N. Thompson and others, citizens of Centre, Morgan and Washington Townships, in the county of Porter, have formed themselves into an association for the apprehension of horse-thieves and other felons, to be known as the Morgan Prairie Anti- Horse-Thief Society, and

Wherras, The Secretary of said society has notified the Board of Commissioners of the county of Porter of the existence of said society, and the names and residences of the members, and has furnished them with a copy of its constitution, by-laws, or articles of association ; it is therefore.

Ordered, That the objects for which such association is formed, and the laws gov- erning the same, be approved.

At the September term, 1861, the following appears :

In the matter of the Lake and Porter Counties Anti-Horse-Thief Society, now comes Isaac Hardesty, Secretary of said society, and shows to the board the articles of associa- tion, the by-laws, and a list of the members of said society, and on its behalf, asks that the same be approved, and after due inspection thereof, the same are in all things by the board approved.

In 1861, an attempt was made by sundry petitions to change the boundary line between the counties of Lake and Porter, but the scheme, from the outset, met with cold reception, and, after being considered by the proper authorities, was rejected.

In June, 1866, a committee consisting of R. A. Cameron, Joseph Peirce and A. Gurney, appointed by a mass meeting of the citizens of Valparaiso, petitioned the board to aid in building and establishing upon the public square suitable water works or reservoirs for the use of the

68 HISTOKY OF POETER COUNTY.

citizens ; whereupon it was ordered that, when such works were completed in a fitting manner, $1,316 should be paid the Treasurer of the city of Valparaiso. This amount was paid in March, 1867, upon the comple- tion of the works.

The articles of association of another Morgan Prairie Anti-Horse- Thief Society were approved by the Board in 1869. In June, 1880, the Board was petitioned by the citizens of Valparaiso and vicinity to take $20,000 stock in the Joliet & Valparaiso Railway Company ; but before definite action was taken, the project was abandoned or postponed.

In July, 1852, there was great excitement among the citizens of Val- paraiso, and indeed throughout the whole county, in response to the report that the " Ohio and Indiana Railroad Company " had out its sur- veyors, and the line of the projected road was sure to pass across the county. The prospect of connection by telegraph with the outer world was very encouraging, especially to the editor of the Observer, who en- deavored by notices in his paper to excite the citizens to the pitch of substantial help to the railway and telegraphic enterprise. When the projection of the road through Valparaiso became a certainty, that little town could scarcely contain itself, but indulged in bonfires, bell-ringing, drum-playing, gun-shooting, and general noisy, public rejoicing.

Soon after 1840, the citizens of the county became deeply interested in the temperance movement, which was sweeping throughout the entire country on its mission of mercy. The Observer appeared with strong editorials, declaring for total abstinence, and drawing artistic pen-pictures of the numerous sad cases of the work of alcohol, which came under its observation. In about the year 1850, the movements of temperance co- workers in Valparaiso and throughout the county began to assume for- midable proportions ; and the determined attacks upon what in former years was regarded as one of the " necessaries of life," grew bitter and protracted. But the citadel of King Alcohol was not to be taken so easily. People who had been educated to its use, and who had inherited an appetite for it, could not, or would not, forego what they regarded as the luxury of its use. The result was a protracted siege, longer than that of old Troy, and even more hopeless. In 1846, a strong temperance union league was organized at Valparaiso, with branches in some four or five other places in the county. Dealers were besought to relinquish the traffic, and consumers were urged and prayed to quit its use. The churches took -up the matter, and lent their powerful aid to the move- ment.

In June, 1847, in pursuance of ap act of the State Legislature passed during the session of 1846-47, it was submitted to the citizens of the several townships throughout the county, whether a license to sell spirit-

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 69

uous liquors should be granted, each township being called upon to settle the question within its own borders. The citizens of the townships of Centre, Liberty, Jackson, Porter, Morgan, Washington and Portage re- fused, some of the townships by substantial majorities, to grant such licenses ; while in the townships of Union, Boone, Calumet, Westchester and Pleasant, the people declared for license by small majorities. In 1851, the board established the liquor license, in those townships which had voted it, at $100. But this was found no cure for the evil, as liquor was watered and weakened in indirect ratio to the increase in the price of the license. If this did not produce satisfactory results, the price of liquor was increased, or the measure rendered smaller, in any case the loss falling on the unfortunate buyer and consumer ; or, was it his gain ? — as the poorer and weaker the infernal liquid, the less damage it did, and the sooner the money of the debaucher was gone without bringing the curse of inebriation.

On the 7th of June, 1855, the County Commissioners purchased of William C. Pennock, for |3,000, the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 26, Town 35, Range 6, and the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 27, same town and range, and Mr. Pennock became, by appointment, the first Superintendent of this, the first poor farm owned by the county. Upon this farm was a respectable dwelling, which, for a short time, did duty as a home for the county poor.

Prior to this, the care of the county paupers had been intrusted to such responsible persons in the county as were willing to assume the charge, at from $1 to $2 per week, each person. There was not a township that did not have, in its time, some pauper in the care of its citizens. Physi- cians contracted to furnish all county paupers with suitable and necessary treatment, at so much by the year. At length the board felt able to furnish the poor and helpless with that home and care not obtained when parceled out among divers widely scattered individuals. Mr. Pennock rented the Poor Farm of the Board, conditioning to retain two-thirds of the productions, the county getting the remaining third, besides which he was to board the paupers at $1.50 each, per week, exclusive of the expense of sickness. The care of the poor continued in about this shape until 1855, when a contract was entered into with George C. Buel, to erect a frame poor house, 32x45 feet, for $2,482, $500 to be paid on the 1st of the January following, $1,000 on the 1st of March, 1866, and the remainder in county bonds, to be issued on the last date, payable in one year with 6 per cent interest, the house to be ready for occupancy Sep- tember 1, 1866. The building was immediately constructed, and is yet in use, though additions and improvements have been added.

In March, 1866, the board purchased for $3,200 the west half

60 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

of the southeast quarter of Section 26, Township 35, Range 6 west, as an addition to the poor farm. In September of this year, there were fourteen inmates. On the 16th of June, 1875, the Commissioners pur- chased of W. C. Hannah, for $1,200, all that part of the northeast quar- ter of Section 35, Township 35, Range 6, which lies north and east of Salt Creek and south of a line drawn parallel with the north line of said quarter, and distant seventy rods and thirteen feet south therefrom ; subject to this year's (1875) taxes ; the same to be an addition to the poor farm. On the 9th of June, 1876, the Commissioners purchased for $1,200 the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 27, Township 35, Range 6, except ten acres off the south side, and this was also made a part of the poor farm.

On the 14th of June, 1851, a mass meeting of the citizens of Porter County assembled at the court house for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society. Aaron Lytle was made Chairman, and George W. Turner appointed Secretary, and a committee, consisting of the fol- lowing citizens, was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws : "William C. Talcott, David Hughart, W. W. Jones, H. E. Woodruff and Aaron Lytle. The constitution provided that, upon the payment of $1 into the treasury by a citizen of the county, such person became a mem- ber of the Porter County Agricultural Society. In September, the following men became the first Board of Directors : W. A. Barnes, W. C. Talcott, Azariah Freeman, H. E. Woodruff, H. A. K. Paine, W. W. Jones, A. B. Price, Walker McCool and Ruel Starr. At this time, sixty-five citizens had appended their names to the constitution and paid their dollars. It was decided to hold the first fair on Wednesday, the 29th of October, 1851 ; to offer $80 in premiums ; and a specifica- tion of the premiums to be paid was made out and published in the Practical Observer, a Democratic county paper edited by William C. Talcott. As, of course, the society had no ground of its own at that time, the fair was announced to be held at the court house. Premiums were offered for horses, cattle, swine, sheep, fruit and vegetables, dairy products and farming implements. The 19th was a rainy, disagreeable day ; yet, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, about four hundred citizens assembled at the court house. Ruel Starr, H. S. Adams, H. G. Hollister, Isaac Miller, Samuel Burns and T. A. E. Campbell took premiums for draft and blooded horses ; T. Beach and J. J. Caswell, for cattle ; Ruel Starr, for sheep ; A. B. White, for swine ; H. E. Woodruff and W. Barnard for fruit and vegetables, and T. Beach and H. E. Woodruff for dairy products. The fair, though on a small scale, was regarded as highly successful and encouraging, and accord- ingly it was decided to hold another the following year. No man

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 61

did more to encourage this enterprise than William C. Talcott, the editor of the Observer. Every few weeks, articles appeared in the columns of his paper, urging the citizens to become interested in an enterprise such as the county fair, that would so well repay them for the trouble. The citizens mentioned above were also active. In November, 1851, the fol- lowing certificate was presented the County Auditor by the ofiScers of the society :

In accordance with Section 1 of an act of our Legislature, approved February 14, 1851, and entitled " An Act for the Encouragement of Agriculture," this is to certify that there has been paid into our treasury (as fees) the sum of $61, and we therefore ask for the amount in our County Treasury donated our society by said act.

WiiLiAM A. Barnes, President.

AzASiAH Fkeeman, Treasurer.

Section 1 of the act referred to in this certificate is as follows :

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That whenever thirty or more persons, residents of any county or district embracing two counties of this State, shall organize themselves into a society for the improvement of agriculture within said county or district, and shall have adopted a constitution and by-laws agreeably to the rules and regulations to be furnished by the Indiana State Board of Agriculture, and shall have appointed the usual and proper officers, and when said society shall have raised and paid to their Treasurer, by voluntary subscription, or by fees imposed upon its members, any sum of money not less than $50 ; and whenever the President of said society shall certify to the respective County Auditors the amount thus paid, attested by the oath or affirmation of the Treasurer before a Magistrate, it shall be the duty of said County Auditors embraced within the district in which society shall be organized, to draw an order on the Treasurer of his respective county in favor of the President and Treasurer of said society for whatever amount of funds there shall have been received during the previous year for all licenses issued to persons exhibiting menageries, circuses, or theat- rical performances, or other shows ; Provided, said order shall not exceed the amount raised and paid in by said society by voluntary subscriptions or fees, and it shall be the duty of the Treasurer of said county to pay the same.

Accordingly, the Auditor paid to the officers of the society $25, which had been received as stated in the section above. The fair of October 14 and 15, 1852, was even more successful than the first; $100 were paid in premiums. Charles R. Luther, of Washington Township, was paid |10 for the best managed and cultivated farm in the county ; second best, H. B. Woodruff, |5 ; third best, Azariah Freeman, |3. Mr. Woodruff took first premium for the best acre of wheat. H. Bates, Ruel Starr, James Dye and Isaac Miller took premiums on horses; E. West, J. C. Paine, Lewis Connor and T. A. E. Campbell on cattle ; H. A. K. Paine, L. A. Cass and Ruel Starr, on sheep ; Nelson Malone, A. B. White and W. Bartholomew, on swine; Mrs. Phoebe Starr and Mrs. H. E. Wood- ruff, on butter ; Mrs. Isabella Farrington, on cheese ; H. E. Woodruff, Ruel Starr and G. W. Finney, on fruit; Mrs. Eliza Aicks, on bed-quilt, and Mrs. J. J. Fifield, on rag carpet. A long, excellent address was de- livered by President Barnes. The report of the general awarding com-

62 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

mittee was long and interesting. In 1853, over $300 were paid in premi- ums, and the establishment of the fair was permanent, or would have been under all ordinary circumstances. During this year, President Barnes was authorized to invest $50 belonging to the society in an agricultural library. He soon reported that he had purchased twenty-nine volumes of standard works, treating of farming, gardening, stock-rearing, domestic economy, horticulture, floriculture, etc. From this time onward until the year 1862, inclusive, the society continued to hold fairs annually, and to prosper, growing stronger in numbers and means, and offering higher, better and more numerous premiums and other inducements.

The fair was held in the court house and court yard until October, 1859, and, after that and until October, 1862, on the "old grounds" west of the present woolen factory. Upon what terms or conditions the society used the "old grounds," cannot be definitely stated. If the property was purchased, the deed was not recorded, but this is probably the fact in the case. It is probable that the society purchased the grounds, deferring payment until the future ; and, when the war came on, and after it had continued two and a half years, draining the financial resources of the county, and filling the minds of the citizens with almost everything except agricultural interests, it, was found impracticable, if not impossible, to hold fairs after the autumn of 1862 ; and the society did not even make the atteihp'tj but mutually resolved to wait until the dawn of peace before renewing their interest and association with the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. After the war had closed, and peace had come, there also came such a stringency' of money ^matters, and sb universal a shrinkage in values, that the fair question, which required, to be made suc- cessful, a considerable outlay of money ajid no little sacrifice of time and labor, was almost wholly overlpoked. At, last,, on the 4th of Oct^ober, 1871, thirty-two citizens met a,t, the. Auditor's office, and after electing A. V. Bartholomew, Chairman, ; and appointing .Reason Bell,. Secretary, resolved that there be organized the ." .Porter County Agricultural So- ciety." A committee, consisting pf Gyrus Axe, D. F. Jones and J. C. Barnes, was appointed to solicit subscriptions for the purpose of defraying the expense of conducting a fair, which was fixed for the 19th and 20th of October, two weeks after this meeting. Milan Cornell was elected President of the society; G. W. Bartholomew and Theodore Crum- packer. Vice Presidents ; Reason Bell, Jr., Secretary, and M. L. Mc- Clellan, Treasurer. S. S. Skinner, E. Zimmerman and C. W. Dickover were appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws. Milan Cornell A. C. Stanton, Isaac Cross, N. A. Kennedy and A. C. Coates were appointed to prepare a list of premiums. Upon this short notice, with but two weeks before them to prepare everything, the members were so

\ y, ^^ <rYlr^

HISTORY OP PORTER COUNTY. 65

energetic that the fair was eminently successful. About $500 in premi- ums were offered and paid, and the net profits were $400. Over one hun- dred horses were entered, besides almost a proportionate number of cattle, swine, sheep, and large quantities of all agricultural products. Without going into details, it is sufficient to say that since the fall of 1871, no county in the State with the same or less population has had better fairs, or greater interest shown therein by the citizens. Premiums to the value of about $1,200 were offered for the fair of September 27, 28 and 29, 1882. The present officers are L. A. Cass, President ; J. B. Decrow, Vice President ; T. Crumpacker, Treasurer, and T. Keene, Secretary. Board of Directors — James Fulton, William Hughart, A. St. Clair, Isaiah McGinley, Isaac Hardesty, Jacob Peoples, N. Pickrell, Christian Arndt, M. C. Williams, Frank Campbell, T. S. Bull, H. Loomis, A. J. Harrison, S. S. Skinner, George Morgan, Frank Harris, John Morrison, William Rigg, E. J. Green, C. N. Tanehill, Jerome Massey, J. B. De- crow, C. L. Dille, Younger Frame, Charles F. Way and Reason Bell.

On the 13th of July, 1872, the County Commissioners purchased of N. A. Kennedy, for $2,500, the following tract of land : " Commencing three chains and forty-one and one-half links east of the quarter stake on the south line of Section 13, Township 35, Range 6, thence on a mag- netic course north twenty degrees and twelve minutes east twenty-two and twenty-five hundredths chains ; thence north eighty-five degrees east nine and ninety-hundredths chains ; thence south twenty degrees and twelve minutes west twenty-two and twenty-five hundredths chains ; thence south eighty-five degrees west to the point of commencement ; containing twenty acres, more or less." A high, tight board fence was immediately built around this land and suitable buildings and stalls erected, at a cost of nearly $1,800. Thus fitted up, the grounds were turned over to the Agricultural Society. Here the fair has been held since 1872. The principal fact which has rendered the fair so success- ful since 1871 is because the society has not been burdened with a debt, as most societies are, for its fair ground.

Old Settlers' Association. — Quite a large gathering of old settlers met at the house of George C. Buel, on the 26th of May, 1881, to cele- brate his seventieth birthday, and while there, it -was suggested that the occasion was appropriate for, the organization of an old settlers' associ- ation, whereupon Joseph Pierce nominated A. V. Bartholomew, Chair- man, and the selection was made unanimous by vote, and Firmin Church was chosen Secretary of the meeting. It was then decided that all per- sons over forty-five years of age, who had been residents of Porter County not less than twenty-five years, should be considered old settlers, and a meeting to renew old times and perfect the prospective organization was

66 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

fixed for the 15th of September, 1881, and a committee to make full arrangements was appointed as follows: Azariah Freeman, S. R- Bryant, William Stoddard, Stuart R. Spencer, John Hansford, Nelson Barnard, T. C. Sweney, Hazzard Sheffield, Isaac Hardesty, Josephus Wolf, Henry Hageman, Younger Frame and William Henry. This committee met on the 25th of June, and decided to hold the first meeting of the Old Set- tlers' Association in the Court House Square on the 17th of September, 1881. The following rules of government were adopted :

1. We, the early settlers of Porter County, will hold social meetings at such times and places as our Executive Committee may designate, to be called Old Settlers' Meet- ings.

2. Yhat our meetings may be conducted with order and propriety, we will annually elect a President, Secretary, Treasurer and one Vice President from each township, who shall perform the duties usually required of such officers for a term of one year, or until their successors are elected.

3. The President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be an Executive Committee, with power to make such rules and regulations as they may deem necessary and proper, to call meetings and attend to such business generally as will promote the objects of the association.

4. Our meetings, except when otherwise directed by the Executive Committee, to be of the picnic order, each member to bring such refreshments as they may deem suitable for such occasions.

5. All persons over forty-five years of age, and who were residents of Porter County twenty-five years or more previous to the let of July, 1881, and now citizens of the county, shall, by signing these rules, become members of the association during good behavior and, with their children, enjoy all its benefits.

6. Our first general meeting shall be held on the public square at Valparaiso on Saturday, the 17th day of September, 1881, at 10 o'clock A. M., at which time our first board of officers shall be elected.

On the 17th of September, a large number of old settlers met in the court yard, and passed the time until 1 o'clock in social intercourse. Din- ner was then served to over five hundred. At 2 o'clock P. M., Azariah Freeman called the assemblage to order, and prayer was ofiered by Rev. W. J. Forbes. Hon. J. N. Skinner then welcomed the old men and women to Valparaiso. After the song, " The World is Moving On," Joseph Peirce read all the records of the association up to that time, and was then followed by five-minute speeches from Hon. Mark L. De Motte, Jesse Johnson, Rev. G. M. Boyd, William McCool, Russel Cohoon, George C. Morgan, S. P. Robbins, David Merriman, E. S. Merrifield, Firmin Church, Nelson Barnard, H. V. Bartholomew, James M. Buel, Thomas G. Lytle, A. Lytle Jones, William Thatcher, Simeon Pierce and Rev. W. J. Forbes, the speeches being interspersed with old-fashioned singing. A. V. Bartholomew was made President of the association for one year, and Reason Bell, Secretary, but the latter failed to serve, and Joseph Peirce was appointed. The following were elected Vice Presidents : Nelson Barnard, of Jackson ; T. C. Sweney, of Boone ; Ira Corwell, of Porter ;

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 67

Isaac Hardesty, of Union ; William McCool, of Portage ; George Mor- gan, of Westchester ; Samuel Hackett, of Pine ; Simeon Witham, of Pleasant ; Charles R. Luther, of Washington ; William J. Forbes, of Centre ; Blias Cain, of Morgan ; and William Henry, Sr., of Liberty. The meeting was very enjoyable, and it was fully decided to continue the meetings annually.

At the second regular meeting in September, 1882, A. V. Bartholo- mew called the meeting to order, and Rev. Robert Beer offered prayer. The address of welcome was delivered by T. G. Lytle, Mayor. Short speeches were delivered by Rev. Boyd, S. P. Bobbins, John Hansford, S. W. Smith, R. P. Wells, Hiram Loomis, Rev. Forbes, N. S. Fairchild and others. Hubbard Hunt read a list of old settlers of the county, who had died within his recollection. On motion of T. G. Lytle, all oflScers of the association were re-elected for the coming year. A large crowd was present, and much interest, pleasure and enthusiasm were manifested.

County Press. — In 1842, James Castle, who had purchased of Solon Robinson, of Lake County, a small press and a small quantity of type, began issuing a small folio sheet entitled the Republican, a weekly news- paper, 12x16 inches, devoted to the dissemination of independent political views and the diffusion of general knowledge. In 1844, the office was purchased by William M. Harrison, who changed the name to the West- ern Ranger, and the politics to Democratic, and continued the paper with moderate success until the 24th of April, 1847, when William C. Talcott bought an interest, and under the joint editorship and management of Har- rison & Talcott, a new series of the Ranger was begun, the first issue being No. 39, Vol. III. The paper was a small, five-column folio ; subscription price, f 1 per year if paid in advance, and if not paid before the end of six months, fl.50. The editors differed somewhat, politically and other- wise, and, owing to this circumstance, the paper presented the singular appearance of having the initials of each editor signed to the articles writ- ten by himself. On the 16th of August, 1848, the venture had become so prosperous that the paper was enlarged to a six-column folio, and the pages were considerably lengthened. Mr. Talcott was a " Free-Soil Dem- ocrat," while his partner was a "Free-Soil Whig," or, in other words, an Abolitionist. The editorial relations of the two were always pleasant and no doubt profitable, as they prevented that extreme partisan bitterness which too often engenders permanent estrangement. In June, 1849, Mr. Talcott purchased his partner's interest, and on the 20th of June issued the first number owned and edited exclusively by himself. On the 25th of July, 1849, at the end of Vol. V, the name of the paper was changed, and on the 1st of August appeared the first number of the Practical Observer, a Democratic newspaper. A few weeks later, the page was

68 HISTOEY OF PORTER COUNTY.

enlarged to a seven-column folio, and the name changed to the 1^«^«- raiso Practical Observer ; subscription, $1, if paid in advance, and $2 at the end of the year. On the 15th of March, 1852, the word " Valpa- raiso " was dropped from the name, and on the 10th of January, 1853, the entire paper was changed, so that a tri-weekly was issued on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and the usual weekly on Thursday, both issues being furnished one year for the very small sum of $1. At this time, the paper was issued as a five-column folio. On the 3d of September, 1858, Mr. Talcott began issuing a one-page daily after the following fashion, still continuing the tri-weekly and weekly : One page was issued Monday, and the same page and another on Tuesday, constituting the first issue during the week of the tri-weekly ; then one page was issued for Wednes- day, and the same page and another constituted the tri-weekly of Thurs- day, and so on for Friday and Saturday. At the same time, the weekly of Thursday was issued from the six pages of daily matter which had been kept in type for that purpose. The daily, tri-weekly and weekly were furnished for $5 per year. The paper at this time was a credit to the town and to the unwavering enterprise of Mr. Talcott. The pressure which the editor brought to bear upon the county on all worthy social and political problems assisted largely in creating a complete transforma- tion of public opinion on the question of the extension of slave territory. Mr. Talcott had formerly been a Democrat, but even then had advocated the limitation of slave territory, though wishing the result accomplished by Democratic agencies. When the Free-Soil movement was inaugu- rated, and the old parties began to yield up their brightest elements to the new, which was slowly forming, Mr. Talcott entered zealously into the work, and it was mainly due to the light which he concentrated upon the popular political issues of the day that the county took an early and de- cided Republican stand.

In December, 1858, the prices of the paper became $5 per year for the daily, $1.50 for the semi-weekly, and $1.50 for the weekly. In May, 1854, Dr. R. A. Cameron became associate editor, but severed his con- nection with the paper in December of the same year. Various changes were afterward made in the prices and forms of the various issues. In January, 1855, Mr. Talcott, who had long felt the need of assistance, took in as associate editors Lucius Hawkins and W. B. Talcott, but neither remained long. In April, 1857, R. A. Cameron bought the entire office and outfit, and issued his first number on the 14th of that month. With Vol. I, Number 15, of this series, the name of the paper was changed to the Republican, and the sheet continued an earnest exponent of the principles of the new party from which it derived its name. J. F. Mc- Carthy became associate editor September 19, 1857, but left March 23,

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 69

1858, and Thomas McConnell went in with Cameron as joint editor and proprietor. July 15, 1858, Mr. McConnell became simply assistant edi- tor, but on the 29th of the same month purchased the paper conditionally, and took as an associate, Henry W. Talcott. On the 14th of October, 1858, William C. Talcott, the- veteran editor, went in with McConnell and H. W. Talcott, as joint editor and proprietor. On the 3d of Janu- ary, 1859, the Republican, under this able management, began a new series, issuing a one-page daily, a four-page semi-weekly, and an eight- page weekly, Henry W. Talcott being publisher and proprietor. In March, 1859, R. A. Cameron again became owner and publisher, with R. A. Cameron and J. C. Thompson editors. On the 31st of March, the weekly was enlarged, the daily having been discontinued some time be- fore. In September, the last two letters of the paper's name having been lost or stolen during a fire, the name became the Republic. In March, 1860, Mr. Thompson severed his connection with the paper, and on the 25th of April, 1861, with Vol. V, Number 17 (of the Republican and the Republic), E. R. Beebe went in as editor and proprietor. Mr. Cameron having sold out and "gone to the war," Thomas McConnell became publisher with Vol. V, No. 31, and on the 1st of August, 1861, the edi- tors became McConnell, Cameron & Beebe. Mr. Cameron was corre- sponding editor, and sent home long, spicy letters from the field of war. His interest in the paper at this time was owing to the fact that Mr. Beebe could not meet the payments according to the contract. In a short time McConnell bought the entire paper, Mr. Beebe stepped down and out, and Mr. Cameron, who probably held a mortgage on the office, re- mained corresponding editor. On the 10th of April, 1862, as Mr. Mc- Connell had failed to meet the requirements of the contract of purchase, the ownership of the paper reverted to Mr. Cameron, and Mrs. -Jane B. Cameron, wife of the owner, assumed control, with Mr. Beebe as associate editor. Mr. Beebe went out December 11, 1862, and the paper was ad- vertised for sale, though the issues appeared regularly, mainly through the efforts of Mrs. Cameron. June 18, 1863, Aaron Gurney went in as joint editor, Cameron & Co. publishers, R. A. Cameron corresponding editor, but in December of the same year the issue was discontinued, Mr. Gurney having withdrawn, and the paper having no one to properly manage it.

On the 4th of January, 1866, Mr. Cameron having returned from the war, issued No. 1, Volume X, of the Valparaiso Republic, and con- tinued this until May 24, 1866, when Thomas McConnell became joint editor and publisher. In November, 1866, G. A. Pierce bought the office, but immediately sold the same to Aaron Gurney, who was issuing the Vidette, and the two papers were merged, and issued under the title

70 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

of" Vidette and Republic" a nine-column folio newspaper; Aaron Gur- ney, general editor; B. W. Smith, educational editor, and Pomeroy, Kim- ball & Co., publishers. The first number of the Porter Qounty Vidette had been issued January 24, 1866, Gurney & Pomeroy, proprietors ; Aaron Gurney, general editor, and A. D. Cunningham, editor of the edu- cational department. March 19, 1867, J. F. Heaton went in with Gur- ney as joint editor, and, in May, Kimball became joint proprietor with Gurney. August 27, 1867, Mr. Heaton left, Gurney continued sole editor, and the paper was reduced in size, and thus remained until July,

1868.

Mr. Pierce, after buying the Mepublic and immediately selling it to Mr. Gurney, issued during the same month, November, 1866, the first number of the Republican, a new venture, or perhaps a continuation of the old Republic, with J. Harper, associate editor, and Orrin E. Harper & Co., publishers. April 4, 1867, G. A. May became joint editor, but went out October 31, 1867, as also did J. Harper. About this time, W. H. Calkins became associate editor, but on the 5th of March, 18168, left, and in July, 1868, the Republican was consolidated with the Vidette and Republic under the latter name, Gurney & Pierce, editors and proprietors. Not long after this, Mr. Pierce sold out to Mr. Gurney, who continued to issue the paper until June 4, 1874, when the office was bought by Will- iam C. Talcott, who, two issues later, changed the name to Vidette, and thus it has remained until the present. December 1, 1874, 0. R. Tal- cott secured a half-interest, and the paper was continued thus with abun- dant success until November, 1879, when C. R. Talcott bought his father's interest and assumed exclusive management, but December 16, 1880, William C. Talcott repurchased a half interest, and thus the paper re- mains at the present writing.

In the month of June, 1856, Mr. Berry issued the first number of the Porter Democrat, and after continuing the same with moderate success until February 17, 1857, sold out to J. T. Rock and A. Lytle Jones, who issued No. 40, Vol. I, February 24, 1857. At this time the paper was a six-column folio ; subscription, $1.50 in advance, $2 at the end of six months, and $2.50 at the end of the year. Seven weeks later, Mr. Jones went out, and Mr. Rock continued alone until No. 6, Vol. II, when H. P. Lynch became publisher, and writer of poems and miscellany for the paper. Lynch left with No. 37, Vol. II, and in December, 1858, B. D. Harper became publisher. In January, 1859, S. R. Bryant be- came associate editor, and Harper left with No. 44, Vol. III. R. C. Nash became assistant publisher with No. 5, Vol. V, and three numbers later sole publisher, but four numbers afterward left Rock exclusive pub- lisher. The last number of the Democrat appeared November 22, 1860,

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. 71

with No. 16, Vol. V. Rock & Bryant then issued the Porter Grazette, but after continuing the same a short time with some changes, abandoned the venture.

In the year 1871, Engelbert Zimmerman, an able and experienced newspaper man, issued at Valparaiso the first number of the Messenger, a spicy, bright-faced Democratic journal. The ability, enterprise and skill of the editor soon placed the paper on a permanent and substantial footing, and its circulation and influence rapidly increased. The paper continued without noteworthy event under the exclusive ownership and management of Mr. Zimmerman until A.ugust, 1881, when H. B. Brown, Principal of the Normal School, purchased a half-interest, and thus th paper remains at present.

The last journalistic venture in the county is the Valparaiso Herald, an independent newspaper, started September 29, 1881, by P. O'Sulli- van, a young man of bright intellect and promise. It is newsy, spicy, and a credit to the mind and heart of its editor and manager. It has met with satisfactory patronage from the citizens of the county.

The Normal Mirror, a literary pamphlet, was conducted by the students of the Normal School in 1875-76-77. In its place is now the Northern Indiana School Journal, edited by W. J. Bell.

In September, 1878, H. R. Gregory issued the first number of the Hebron Free Press, a small local paper, independent in politics. He conducted the paper with moderate success until October, 1879, when the office was sold to W. H. Mansfield, who changed the name to Hebron Local News, and the politics to neutral. In 1880, the office was removed to Lowell, where the paper is at present issued.

Qounty Polities. — The political features of Porter County since its organization are not peculiarly striking or noteworthy. From the sub- joined exhibit of the county vote for Presidential electors, it will be seen that the Whigs or Republicans carried the county on every occasion, ex- cept the years 1848 and 1852 ; but this does not fully explain the poli- tical past of the county. From 1836 until about 1845, either party lines were not strictly drawn, or else the Whig and Democratic parties were equally matched numerically ; for, during that period, sometimes one party triumphed and sometimes the other, and it was next to impossible for the friends of any candidate to predict with any degree of certainty the future result of an election. The result was that, during the period mentioned, the county offices were filled with men from both parties, and even from mongrel or doubtful political organizations, if the candidate was of unusual prominence and worth. It is found upon examination of the election returns that during the first three years of the county's ex- istence, the Whig party was slightly in the ascendency where test votes

72

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

were given. This was the case in the election of Congressmen and Rep- resentatives to the State Legislature. But in the election of county or township officers, the elections even during those years were just as apt to go Democratic as Whig. After about 1840, it seems that the Demo- crats became stronger, numerically, than the Whigs, though still for a number of years the two were so equally matched that great interest was shown in the elections, owing, perhaps, to the doubtful results. After about 1846, the superior strength of the county Democracy became so decided that usually every county office was filled with representatives of that party. The Western Banger and its successor, the Practical Observer, were Democratic sheets, and the growth of Democracy at the expense of all other political ocracies was doubtless owing to the dissemi- nation by these papers of Democratic principles. The Observer advocated that phase of Democfacy known as Free-Soilism, and prior to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise steadfastly maintained this position. But, in 1854, when the real results of the repeal became apparent and the ex- tension of slavery into all the Territories and even into the Northern States seemed probable, the editor of the Observer, still upholding Free- Soilism, found himself, almost ere he was aware, an earnest worker in the new party — Republican. Through the influence brought to bear by the Observer upon the citizens, the new party immediately went to the front, and has since had control of the official patronage of the county.

The following table shows the mixed condition of politics in the county in August, 1836 :

	SiNATOB	Reprb- eZNTA- TIVE,	Probate JODOE.	Sheriff.	County OOMMIB- BIONBB.	School Commis- sioner.		Coroner.
TOWNSHIPS	f 6		a 1 d M •->	a 1 ?	a 1	I	g" 1 s	§ 1	Ph 1	A e a 0 s	1 i	A t if	A 1 ■3	1 1?	n	S S 22	A' J	a i ? m
Portage	28	1 9 18 3 11 18 13 26 12 5 9 125	28 9 24 1 1 8 18 ...„. 5 14 115	1	21		6	27		1 8 10 7 11 23 2 11 rl 13 109	29 "28" 1 6 8 21 '"5" 6 14			28
	9 4 7 10 32	7 16 7 16 27		9 6 8 11 35	"i"
	16 6 3 24 8 10 4 27 8 133	9 7 13 33 2 35 9 26 3 11R	4		21 8 14 28 1 21 6 22 14 140	22 1 "19" ..„.. 2 76	..„.. 17 "23" 6 14 2 67	17 1		20

Pleasant
Morgan WestoheBter...	1 19	1	10 20	3		1
Clark	24 11 26 3 126	25 6 19 1 122				26 10 29 16 160	1
Jackson)	2 2		8 12 16
Centre
Liberty
	49	1	3	42	1
Total	118	111	2

16 42 21 36 16 33 17

(D.), Democrat; (W.), Whig.

Bryant and Clark Townships were of Lake County, as was also Township, the records of which could not be found. The records

of

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

73

Washington Township were also missing, the remainder of the county being represented in the table under a different arrangement of townships than as they are constituted at present. The following table illustrates the decided Democratic tendency of the county in August, 1847 :

PABTIES AND CANDIDATES.

		a
		^				■£
i	i	bo c I	1	5		1		1	i § n	1
95	37	47	12	12	21	20	26	56	38	21
n	14	30	39	14	12	9	12	38	31	35
'X	2 33	41	10 11					1 50	2 31	16
77	12	19	19	24
89	17	35	43	19	12	10	13	45	37	36
91	37	44	12	12	20	24	4	55	41	10
75	16	33	39	19	12	5	34	38	27	48
9.			7 12
91	37	41	13	20	20	16	54	44	28
74 1	15	35	40	18	12	9	21	41	26	23
?			4 11
98	38	50	12	21	21	23	49	37	18
66	15	27	42	19	11	8	15	44	31	36
9.			4 12
92	37	43	12	16	20	24	55	39	21
74	15	32	39	19	16	9	14	39	31	KO
95	37	47	13	12	19	18	24	56	39	14
71	15	30	39	19	13	8	14	38	31	35
2			7

For Congress: Charles W. Cathoart (D) . .

Daniel W. Pratt (W)

Robert Stewart (L)

For Reprumlative: Alexander McDonald (D)....

Harlo S. Orton (W)

FoT Commissioner:

John Dinwiddle (D)

Samuel Van Dolson (W) ..

Truman Stoddard (L)

For Associate Judge:

H. E. Woodruff (D)

Wilson Malone (W)

Tainter (L)

William Barnard (L)

Collector and Treasurer:

E. E. Campbell (D)

William Cheney (W)

W. H. Pifield (L)

For Assessor:

A. Freeman (D)

T. Freeman (W)

For Coroner:

J. Morgan (D)

A. D. Cole (W)

Orrin Service (L)

415

306

17

333 356

350 346

376

314

1

6

378

314

6

371 818

374

313

9

(D), Democrats; (W), Whigs ; (L), Liberty or Abolitionist.

The following returns of October, 1854, show the superior strength of the new (Republican) party :

PAETIES AND CANDIDATES.

i	1 a	P I	a S 1	i 1 1	1 1	a	S	1	I	i 1		6 § n	1
248	78	59	64	30	63	21	19	74	40	9	6	52	753
202	11	21	26	92	39	18	66	54	19	8	20	39	604
243	78	58	64	28	50	19	19	67	40	9	6	52	733
204	11	22	25	92	43	21	66	61	19	8	20	33	615
140	76	57	64	29	49	19	19	66	40	9	6	60	604
291	13	23	25	92	43	'21	56	61	19	8	20	41	713
229	76	57	64	32	55	20	19	69	39	10	6	51	727
213	10	21	24	90	37	20	57	63	18	7	20	37	617

For Congress:

Schuyler Colfax (R)

, Norman Eddy (D) ,

Prosecuting Attorney. M. H. Weir (R)

D. J. Woodward (D) ,

District Attorney:

Martin Wood (R) ,

J. A. Thornton (D)

Representative: A. V. Bartholomew (R)

E. E. Campbell (D)

149

118

109 110

74

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

PARTIES AND CANDIDATES.

County Commissioners:

John Hardeaty (R)

Philip HaU (D)

Collector and Treasurer:

O. 3. Skinner (R)

William Wilson (D)

Sheriff:

T. G. Lytle (R)

A. W. Rose (D)

Surveyor:

John Garia (R)

T. C. Sweney(D)

Coroner:

R. W. Burge (R)

Isaac Hutchins (D)

239 204

268 181

250 191

241 204

237 205

27 92

29 92

22 99

21 100

11 111

53

51

720 626

727 632

705 628

714 641

707 641

1 I

94

95 77 73 66

(R), Republican ; (D), Democrat.

The following continuous exhibit illustrates the political situation in the county from 1836 until the present time, and shows the electoral vote at each Presidential election since the organization of the county, except where the same was unobtainable :

NOVBMBBB, 1836.	November, 1840.
HOUSES WHEBE HELD.	WHIO. Harrison and Granger.	DEMOOBAT. Van Buren and Johnson.	TOWNSHIPS.	WHIG. Harrison and Tyler.	DEUOOBAT. Van Bum and Johnson.
William Walker's ...	59 14 14	45 18 6	Centre	149 3 11 7 11 20 19	137
Jacob Wolf's	Union	19
George W. Turner's William Clark's	Jackson	9
Liberty
		6
	87	fifl
Total
		13
	Boone	10
	Total
			220	194

NOTEMBER, 1844.

TOWNSHIPS.

Centre

Union .......

Washington

Jackson

Liberty

Portage

Westchester Pleasant ....

Porter

Boone

Morgan

Total ...

d a s

M « rt

62 30 36 18 13 22 12 11 39 43 25

311

57 30 38 16 10 16 14 33 40 40 11

305

14

November, 1848.

TOWNSHIPS.

Centre

Union

Washington

Jackson

Liberty

Portage

Westchester Pleasant ....

Porter

Boone

Morgan

Total ...

d « S

w ^ a

75 29 36 28 24 19 10 17

34

343

100 33 43 16 13 16 24 33 55 39 29

401

>3 S

2

9

3

22

5

21

10

5

77

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY. November, 1852.

75-

TOWNSHIPS.	^11	. a It s	P	TOWNSHIPS.	in	i\| s
	33 30 15 21 13	46 13 17 13 44	3 30 3	Porter	46 32 46	54 40 30	10
Jackson	Boone	14
	Morgan Total

	236	257	60

November, 1856.


TOWNSHIPS.	BEPDBLI04H. Fremont and Dayton.	Buchanan and Breckenridge.	AMBBIOAN. Mlmore and DonelBon.	TOWNSHIPS.	BEPUBLIOAH. Fremont and Dayton.	DEMOOEAT. Buchanan and Breckenridge.
Centre	270 121 65 91	204 23 60 16		Porter	110 86 86 24 19	57 71 47 18 17
	3 4		3

	Pine
Libertv
	73 69 40	23 123 53
Westchester		Total	1054	712	10
Pleasant

November, 1860.

TOWNSHIPS.

BEPTOBMOAS.

Lincoln

and Hamlin.

Douglas

and Johnson.

Breckenridge

and

Lane.

Bell

and

Everett.

Centre

Union

Washington.

Jackson

Liberty

Portage ,

Westchester,

Pleasant

Porter

Boone

Morgan

Pine

Essex

Total...

412

160

77

125

72

84

117

54

124

127

112

39

26

313 44 36 13 44 40 92 42 93 72 56 SO 14

15 5

1529

889

28

November, 1864. Novembee, 1868.
TOWNSHIPS.	BEPUBLIOAN. Lincoln and Johnson.	DEMOOBAT. McClellan and Pendleton.	TOWNSHIPS.	EEPOBLIOAN. Grant and Oolfax.	DEMOOBAT. Seymour and Blair.
	424 152 65 139 80 81 110 50 106 116 107 18 21	300 30 33 63 42 40 101 54 77 91 43 45 17 ■		646 144 77 175 109 105 201 78 133 167 92 43 22	406
		57
Washington	Washington	49 69
Liberty	Liberty	72
	48
Westchester ... Pleasant	Westchester ... Pleasant	106 81
		88
	Boone	147
		44
	Pine	69
	Essex	28
	Total
Total	1269	936	1892	1264

November, 1872.

NOVEMEBB, 1876.

TOWNSHIPS.

Centre

Union

Washington.

Jackson

Liberty

Portage

Westchester..

Pleasant

Porter

Boone

Morgan

Pine

Essex

EEPDBLIOAK. Grant and Wilson.	LIB. BEPUBLIOAN OB DEMOOBAT. Greeley and Brown.	DEMOOBAT. O'Connor and Adams.
436 122 65 144 105 105 257 64 117 147 97 28 18	345 44 42 54 44 30 88 58 57 111 89 59 17	3












1685	978	3

TOWNSHIPS.

Centre

Union

Washington.

Jackson

Liberty

Portage

Westchester..

Pleasant

Porter

Boone

Morgan

Pine

Essex

Total 2082 1577

682

152

105

168

107

140

233

113

131

196

97

33

25

< a «

H ®

589 53 72

114 92 65

133 96 93

154 46 85 37

November,	1880.
TOWNSHIPS.	BEPUBLIOAN. Garfield and Arthur.	DEMOOBAT. Hancock and English.	QBEENBAOE. Weaver and Chambers.
Centre	666 173 108 180 105 186 249 112 148 202 119 45	567 70 71 84 74 69 125 94 93 169 83 89
Union	5
Washington	1
Jackson	3
Liberty	12
Portage	21
Westchester	7
Pleasant	64
Porter	...
Boone
Morgan
Pine
Tnfol	4
	2243	1578	117

HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

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78 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.

CHAPTER III.

BY REV. KOEEBT BEEK.

Military Histoby of the County— Soldieks or the Earlier Wars- War OF THE Rebellion— Political Situation in 1860— Calls fob Troops- Fall of Sumter— War Meetings— Newspaper Comments- Volunteers— The Boys in the Field— Drafts— Facts and Figures - -Muster Eoll— Public Feeling after the Close.

THE territory comprised in this county has been, within historic times at least, the scene of no invasions, sieges or battles. Its settlement having been begun nearly fifty years after the close of the war of the Rev- olution, not many of the survivors of that war could be expected to find homes or end their days here. So far as known to the writer, the only soldiers of the war of Independence who have ever resided in the county were Henry Battan and Joseph Jones. Of the personal history of these but little is now known. The name of the former is found on the poll books of an election held at City West not long after the organization of the county, from which it is inferred that he was a resident of Westchester Township at the time. From the records of the Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso, it appears that he was received as a member of that church at its organization, on the 3d of July, 1840, and upon evidence of his good standing in the Presbyterian Church in the State of Virginia. Sev- eral of the old citizens of Valparaiso remember him as a Revolutionary pensioner residing here with a daughter, but have no recollection of what he may have said as to his services. From the records of the same church, it appears that he died on the 1st of February, 1845. His pas- tor. Rev. Dr. Brown, in an anniversary sermon preached in November, 1859, speaks of him as " Old Father Battan, at once a soldier of the country and of the cross. At ninety-four he gained the victory and the crown."

Of Joseph Jones only these things are known, viz., that before com- ing to this county he had resided for some time in Holmes County, Ohio ; that he was