Carroll County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter III County Organization 1916
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Book Title: History Of Carroll County Indiana

CHAPTER III.

COUNTY ORGANIZATION-FIRST COURT HOUSE-FIRST COUNTY JAIL-NEW COURT HOUSE-NEW
COUNTY JAIL-TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONS-COUNTY INFIRMARY.

COUNTY ORGANIZATION.

   Carroll county was organized as a corporate body, pursuant to an Act of the
General Assembly of the state of Indiana, approved on January 7, 1828. The Act
provided the boundaries of the new county and named it "Carroll." in memory of
Charles Carroll, of Carrolton, then the only surviving signer of the Declaration
of Independence. Five commissioners were named in the Act, charged with the duty
of fixing the county seat of justice.

   The boundaries of the new county were described as follow: "Beginning at the
northwest corner of township numbered 25 north, range 2 west of the second
principal meridian; thence south nine miles to the center of township numbered
23; thence east seventeen miles to the western boundary of the Great Miami
Reservation: thence north with said boundary eighteen miles to the center of
township numbered 26; thence west eight miles to the southeast corner of section
16, range 1 west; thence north three miles to the township line dividing
townships 26 and 27; thence west thirteen miles to the section line dividing
sections 4 and 5, range 3 west; thence south with said section line twelve miles
to the northern boundary of Tippecanoe county; thence east four miles to the
place of beginning—shall form and constitute a county to be known and designated
by the title of 'Carroll,' and the boundary line of the county of Tippecanoe, on
the east and north, so far as it divides that county from the county of Carroll,
is hereby established and to be deemed and taken as unalterable, unless by
common consent of the boards authorized by law to transact county business in
the counties of Tippecanoe and Carroll, respectively. The new county shall, from
and after the 1st of April, 1828, enjoy all the rights, privileges and
jurisdictions which to separate and independent counties pertain."

   The commissioners named in said Act were Samuel Jessup, of Hendricks county;
Asa B. Strong, of Marion county; Fredrick Moore, of Montgomery county; Enos
Lowe, of Putnam county; and Joseph Bryant, of Fountain county, "are hereby
appointed commissioners for the purpose of fixing the seat of justice in said
new county." The Act provided that "said commissioners shall convene at the
house of Henry Robinson in said county, on the second Monday in May next, and
shall proceed to discharge the duties assigned them by law."

   Under the Act a board of county commissioners was provided for, and pursuant
to the provisions of the law an election was ordered to be held on the 28th of
April, 1828, of all the voters in the county, to elect two associate justices,
clerk and recorder, and three county commissioners. The election was accordingly
held, and Isaac Griffith and Christopher McCombs were elected associate judges;
Daniel F. Vandeventer was elected clerk and recorder, and Jacob Baum, Aaron
Hicks and Graham Roberts were elected county commissioners. At this election
seventy-six votes were cast.

   The commissioners, appointed under said Act, reported, "That they had located
the seat of justice on a tract of land of one hundred acres, being a part of the
northwest quarter of section 29, range 2 west, of the second principal meridian,
township 25 north; the said one hundred acres having been received by us as a
donation from William Wilson of said county, as will more fully appear by his
bond for a title, payable to the county commissioners of said county." Mr.
Wilson, at the time, was living on the one hundred acres of land which he had
obligated himself to convey for a seat of justice, and had reserved the growing
crops and rails thereon. Mr. Wilson died in the year 1829.

   The name given as the name of the county seat, to-wit, "Carrollton," was
changed by the board of county commissioners to "Delphi" on the 24th of May,
1828. There was dissatisfaction among the citizens about the name "Carrollton."
and the influence of Gen. S. Milroy was sufficient to get the name changed. He
suggested the name "Delphi." At that time a small plat of ground northeast of
Delphi, about five miles, called "Carrollton." had a house or two, and the state
commissioners were at first induced to adopt the name "Carrollton."

   The organization Act designated the house of Daniel Baum, then situate in the
bottoms of Deer creek, west of where the Wabash railroad is now located, as the
place for the holding of the courts. The land for the seat of justice was
surveyed and platted into lots and streets. The lots were sixty by one hundred
twenty feet. The principal streets were eighty feet wide; under said Act an
agent was selected by the board of county commissioners to sell the town lots at
public auction, the proceeds to be used for county purposes. The first sale took
place on August n, 1828, and only a portion of the lots were sold. The state
commissioners were paid the sum of $126 for their services. At the June session
of the commissioners court a tax list was made, as follows: in each poll, 50
cents; license for sale of foreign merchandise, not exceeding $1,000, the sum of
$10. The bond of the clerk and recorder was fixed at $2,500. On the 12th of May,
1828, the board of commissioners laid out four townships, Deer Creek,
Tippecanoe, Rock Creek and Eel. Elections were held in these townships, June 7,
1828, for the election, of a justice of the peace. The board appointed Daniel
Raum county treasurer, and fixed his bond at $1,000. Constables, fence viewers
and overseers of the poor, were appointed by the board of commissioners. The
first postoffice was opened on April 3, 1828, with Abner Robinson as postmaster.
Eel township was later on struck off and exchanged with Cass county.

   The circuit court, commissioners and probate courts, were held at the house
of Daniel Baum during the year 1828. In the fall of 1829 the courts were held in
a new school house in Delphi. The associate justices were elected and sat with
the circuit judge. This continued until the adoption of the Constitution of
1852. Judge B. F. Morris was the first presiding judge, and was of the fifth
judicial district. Henry Bruce Milroy was the first sheriff, under an
appointment of Gov. J. Brown Ray. There were no resident attorneys. Attorneys
from other counties attended the court here, coming on horseback, along the
Indian trails.

   The business of the courts was very little for several years, but a good
supply of attorneys was always on hand at the court. For several years the
sessions did not exceed three days. Some of the attorneys who were in attendance
upon the courts were James Raridan, Joseph Talman, S. Smith, William Quarles,
Andrew Ingram, Moses Cox, Albert G. White, Cyrus Ball, Calvin Fletcher. W. W.
Wick, Benjamin Hurst, A. Finch, J. B. Chapman, T. J. Evans, E. A. Hannegan,
Henry Cooper and John Petit.

   Among the first attorneys who became residents were L. B. Sims, Levi S. Dale.
H. Graham, H. Allen, J. A. Sims, A. H. Evans, L. Graham and a few others. Some
of the non-resident attorneys became noted men in the state. White, Hannegan and
Petit were members of Congress, and Petit was a United States Senator. From 1850
to the present time the circuit court was visited by attorneys from all the
adjoining counties. Under the head of "Judiciary" will be found a detailed
statement of the judicial proceedings of the courts, from the first organization
to the present.

FIRST COURT HOUSE.

   In the year 1831, the county commissioners proceeded to erect a building for
the courts and other purposes. On the 18th of July, 1831, a contract was entered
into by the board of commissioners and Theophilus Hardman, who afterwards
surrendered his contract and was released. The contract was then awarded to John
Dolason in September, 1831. At that time there was in the hands of Aaron Dewey,
county agent, the sum of $275, money realized from the sale of town lots, which
was in accordance with the grant of the land for a county seat. The contractor
received as a second installment $200; the third installment was $500. The
building was of brick, and was completed and accepted at the September session
of the board of commissioners in 1832. The contractor received the further sum
of $376, making in all the sum of $1,351. This contract did not include
painting, inside work and the cupola. This work was done by T. C. Hughes for
$972.63.

   Afterward the walls were painted a straw color. The plastering cost $300.
Other work required to complete the building cost various amounts. The aggregate
cost of the court house reached the sum of $3,500. The building was fifty feet
square, two stories high. A bell was^ hung in the cupola which served for all
purposes that a bell could be used for in the town and is still in use. This
court house served the county twenty-five years.

FIRST COUNTY JAIL.

   For five years Carroll county was without a jail. When the population had
increased to the extent that it became necessary to have a place to confine the
lawless class, a county jail was ordered by the board of county commissioners to
be erected in 1829, on the lot owned by the county, being lot No. 101, in the
original plat of the town, situate on the block north of the public square. At a
special session of the board, held on September 26, 1830, the board made the
following entry:

   "Ordered, That a jail be built in Delphi, on the following plan; to-wit :
Twenty-six feet long, eighteen feet wide, and a nine-foot story with a partition
in the center; three doors, one window to the dungeon, fourteen inches square,
double-barred with iron bars; floor double, with oaken timber one foot square;
the debtor's room single, the walls of the dungeon to be double the outside
walls of oak timber one foot square, the inside walls of solid timber one foot
square; the debtor's room to be one wall of oak timber one foot square; the
partition to be double, of the same kind and size timbers as the wall; the roof
to be made of jointed shingles."

   The contract for the erection of the building was awarded to Henry Robinson,
who was to receive the sum of $550. The board made some changes in the plans of
construction of the building, specifying the width of the doors, providing for
the roof to be of shingles, an inside door to be of iron, one-half inch thick,
the jailor's residence to be sixteen feet square and seven feet high in the
clear. The building to be completed by the 15th of September, 1839. At a meeting
of the board held on September 4, 1839, the contractor was ordered to make an
inside door six inches high and eight inches wide, of iron, with a shutter on
the outside, and provide a strong padlock. This aperture was no doubt a "peep"
hole.

   The board of commissioners, at their session in 1840, the same being the
September session, concluded that the jailor was entitled to a more commodious
residence and ordered that public notice be given in the Delphi Bulletin that
proposals would be received by the clerk for the building a jailor's house and
debtor's room, of the following plan: "The house to be built of brick, two
stories high, with a passage in the middle, the wall to be twenty-four inches
thick around the jail both stories, and the-wall for the other part of the house
to be eighteen inches thick. The house to be forty-two feet long, from outside
to outside; the lower story to be nine feet high and the upper story to be eight
feet high; the debtor's room to be built immediately above the present jail; to
have one window in the debtor's room, twelve light, eight by ten glass, to be
fixed with crossed iron bars in such a manner as to make the same secure. The
floor in the debtor's room to be laid of oak planks one and one-half inches
thick, the same to be sealed with oak planks one and one-half inches thick, to
be strongly spiked on with strong iron spikes. The building to be covered with
good shingles; the rooms for the jail to be plainly and neatly finished off; to
have one chimney, with two fireplaces in the same, one above the other below the
stairs. The hall to be six feet wide, with a strong door on the front, and the
same kind on the rear; to have a good and neat pair of stairs in the hall to
reach the upper story. The foundation of the whole house to be of stone, two
feet thick and two feet high. The door going into the debtors room to be similar
to the wooden door in the present dungeon, with a similar lock; to have two
windows above and two below in front of the jailor's room, one below and one
above in the rear. The debtor's room to have a flue for a stove pipe, to be
topped out like a chimney in the end of the house; the family part of the house
to have two coats of paint. The whole to be completed by the 1st day of
September, 1840."

   The board afterwards increased the length of the building five feet. The
contract was awarded to James Rogers to build this building, at a cost of
$1,800. The building was completed and the board received it on November 17, 1841.

   It will be observed that people who failed to pay their debts were liable to
be incarcerated when a judgment was rendered against them, but they were kept
separate from criminals. This was a wise provision, humane and sensible for
separation. The court records, however, do not show that many were thus
confined, as experience taught our forefathers that a man in jail had no
opportunity to earn money to pay debts or to support his family, if he had one.
This nefarious law went out when a new Constitution was adopted. The old jail
also went out in 1871, when a new county jail was built, which was supposed to
be proof against "jail-breakers." Its history will appear presently.

NEW COURT HOUSE.

   The increased business of the courts and county affairs, made it necessary to
provide more commodious accommodations for the administration of justice, and
proper preservation of the public records. The board of county commissioners in
June, 1855, directed Thomas C. Hughes, a resident reputable architect, to
examine foreign court houses, and to report to the board his information
acquired. He submitted plans at the following term, and the one proposed by M.
J. McBird, of Logansport, was accepted. On April 2, 1856, the board considered
the bids filed, and the bid of James Woods, of Logansport, proposed to build the
court house in accordance with the plans and specifications for the sum of $32,300.

   A building committee was appointed to supervise the work. An extra allowance
was allowed the contractor in the sum of $1,087. The clock cost $800. The court
house yard was graded at a cost of $2,000. A fence enclosed the yard at a cost
of $5,697.15. About twenty-five years ago the fence was sold and the hitch-racks
removed over considerable opposition. Subsequently the walks around the public
square were laid in concrete and the unsanitary conditions that had existed so
long (and by some people wished to be continued) were eliminated forever.
Fifty-nine years have passed since the court house was built, and the growth of
this county, the large increase of county business, the accumulation of records
in all the public offices (storage room being at a premium), the cellar full of
books and papers, office rooms over-crowded when a half dozen men enter them—
the necessity for better accommodations are manifest to everybody. Sooner or
later a new court house or additional annexes will be an accomplished fact.
Carroll county is a rich county, with very little indebtedness and has a
splendid citizenship, and this county need not lag behind sister counties which
have fine court houses that reflect credit upon a wide-awake, advancing and
prosperous citizenship.

NEW COUNTY JAIL.

   After the completion of the new court house it was evident that the old jail
had served its purpose, and was inefficient and unsafe as a place to incarcerate
prisoners, and public opinion being of one accord the board of county
commissioners, at the September session, 1871, took steps to secure suitable
grounds. Lots 37 and 38, in the original plat of the town of Delphi, were bought
of Noah Cory for the sum of $3,000. Plans and specifications were submitted to
the board by C. A. McClure, a competent architect, for a jail and jailor's
residence, which were accepted by the Board, and after notice to contractors, on
April 9, 1872, the bid of F. L. Farman for $36,998.75, was accepted by the board
and the contractor entered into a contract with the board of commissioners to
build said buildings in conformity to the plans and specifications on file.

   Some changes were made during the construction of the buildings. At a special
session of the board held in December, 1873, the architect reported the
buildings completed and that the contractor was entitled to $570.52 for extra
services. The board approved the report, accepted the buildings, and allowed the
contractor the extra allowance. The contractor claimed he had suffered a loss of
$8,000 in the construction of the buildings, and produced the vouchers to show
his contentions to be true, and the board, being human beings and believing in
the doctrine "do unto others as you would have others do unto you," met him a
little over half way and allowed him the sum of $4,430.73.

   The jail and sheriff's residence is situate on the corner of Main and Wabash
streets in the city of Delphi, and is a brick structure, thirty-eight by forty
feet in size and two stories in height. The rear of the building is the main
prison building, built of stone and in size thirty by twenty-eight feet, and two
stories high. At the time it was built it was regarded as containing all the
best features of the most modern buildings of like character. At present M. M.
Pope joy is the occupant of the residence, as jailor and sheriff. He says, "he
don't care to occupy the back part."

ADAMS TOWNSHIP.

   Adams township was organized by the board of county commissioners at the May
term, 1828, and John Scott was appointed inspector of elections. The first
election was held on the first Monday in August, 1831, and John Love was elected
justice of the peace. Three trustees were elected at said election. The first
school house was built on the farm of John Love in 1834. Thomas McLaughlin was
the first school teacher. The first religious organization was the Associate
Presbyterians in 1834. Rev. Nathaniel Ingles was the first pastor of the church.

   Burnett's creek furnished excellent water power and a saw-mill was erected at
Lockport by John A. Barnes in 1832. He built a grist-mill in 1835. Lockport was
the only village in the township. It was located on the Wabash and Erie canal,
and for many years a large amount of business was transacted at this place. John
Newman built a saw-mill on Rattlesnake creek in 1834, and a few years later
added a flouring-mill. A number of saw-mills were built by various persons.

   Among the early settlers were William Hicks, John Love, John Crowell, Joseph
Newman, Jacob Riegel, Peter Speece, Amassa Straight, John Barnes, Charles
Wright, Daniel Hoover, Samuel Neill, James Small and others.

BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP.

   Burlington township was organized by the board of county commissioners in
March, 1832. Alston Wyatt was appointed inspector of elections. The first
township election was held on the first Monday in April, 1832, and Mahlon Shinn
was elected justice of the peace. The first schools were taught in log cabins;
the first of note was in 1836 on the farm of Edmond Moss. Brick school houses
abound in this township. The gospel was preached in the log school houses until
church buildings were erected. Burlington is the principal town in this
township. It is located on the state Michigan, road which runs through this
township. It contains a fine high school building, a bank and churches.
Burlington Lodge No. in, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized at Burlington
in 1851. Burlington Lodge No. 77. Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized
on January 10, 1850.

   Among the first settlers were Henry Bolles, Samuel Anderson, J. M. Darnell,
Robert Johnson, Jacob Brown, William Smith, James C. Smith, W. C. Ewing, Edmund
Moss, William Runnion, S. Harmon, William Stockton, Andrew Gwinn, John T. Gwinn,
Joseph Kingery, Samuel Gwinn, Andrew Beck, Joseph Rinker, Peter Harmon, James
Chittick, Enos James, Thomas Huston, William Trent, Richard Duncan and others.

CLAY TOWNSHIP.

   Clay township was organized by the board of county commissioners in 1831, and
Albert G. Hanna was appointed inspector of elections. The first election was
held at the house of Jonathan Gillam, on the second Monday of April, 1831, and
George Julian was elected justice of the peace. This township is the southwest
township of the county. Wild Cat creek runs through this township. The first
school house was built on the farm of Alexander Murphy in 1837 and a Mr. Troxell
taught the first school. The next school house was built on the land of John
Beard in 1839. Log school houses were built thereafter as the demands of the
people required. Two churches of the German Baptist denomination are located in
this township. John Wagoner erected the first saw-mill, and also a mill to grind
wheat and corn. The villages in this township, are Pyrmont and Owasco. Pyrmont
is situated on the western border, and Owasco on the Monon railroad.

   Among the early settlers were John M. Beard, Nicholas Garst, Jacob Shigley,
Alexander Murphy, Adam Bates, James Gray, Eli Moore, Samuel Moore, James Enochs,
George Stombaugh, Daniel Wagoner, John Wagoner, Samuel Mooney, N. Campbell, John
Cripe, S. Studebaker, Jacob Cripe, Daniel Metzger, Jacob Saylor, Daniel Saylor,
Samuel Bugher and others.

CARROLLTON TOWNSHIP.

   Carrollton township was organized by the board of county commissioners in
1835, and Elisha W. Lake was appointed inspector of elections. The first
election was held on the first Monday in April, 1835, at the house of E. W.
Lake, and George Fouts was elected justice of the peace. The first settlements
were made in 1832. The state Michigan road runs through this township. The Rev.
John P. Hay was the minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, the first to
hold religious services in this township. In 1836 the first school house, was
erected on the land of George Young. Saw-mills were built in 1835, and the first
grist-mill was erected in 1848. The villages in this township are Wheeling,
Sharon and Carrolton, located on the state Michigan road.

   Among the first settlers were George Trapp, Johnson Kirkpatrick, George
Fouts, Benjamin Kirkpatrick, Martin Wagoner, Francis McCain, Peter Duncan,
Samuel Ayres, John Garrison, John Shively, Abner Shanks, Jacob Shively, William
Martin, Charles Martin, Jacob Cline, Jeremiah Trent, E. W. Lake, Andrew Hunter,
Uriah Blue and others.

DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP.

   Deer Creek township was organized in May, 1828, by the board of county
commissioners, and an election was ordered to be held on June 7, 1828. At this
election Henry Robinson was elected a justice of peace. The board appointed the
constables, overseers of the poor, and the fence viewers. Delphi, the county
seat, is situate in this township. At the time of the organization of this
township, there were about two hundred people in the township. The chief civil
business transacted was the laying out of roads. The Wabash and Erie canal ran
through this township, upon which canal there were a number of warehouses
established. Delphi was incorporated pursuant to a charter of the Legislature of
1837-1838. In May, 1838, William Crooks was elected the first mayor.

   The early schools ware taught in log school houses. The first public school
building erected in Delphi was used for all purposes. The courts were held in it
until the first court house was built. After the new Constitution went into
effect, in 1852, the free school system, which has been in operation ever since,
made provision for better school houses, and provided for a tax for school
purposes. The first building erected in Delphi for school purposes was in 1848,
a brick, two-story house. A Methodist Society was organized in 1826. The
Presbyterian church was organized in 1828.

   The first saw-mill was built in 1826 by Henry Robinson. He erected a merchant
mill on Deer creek in 1830. To this structure was added in later years, by the
owners, a large addition, which was known as the "Red Mill," which was burned
down four years ago. The Wabash railroad was built in 1857 and 1858, and then
the canal soon went out of business.

   Among the first settlers of this township were Henry Robinson, Abner
Robinson, John Carey, B. D. Angel, James Odell, Sr., John Ballard, Daniel Baum,
David Baum, D. F. Vandeventer, Isaac Griffith, R. Manary, R. Mitchell, Dr. E. W.
Eweing, James H. Steward, William Hughes, Thomas Gillam, William Bishop and others.

DEMOCRAT TOWNSHIP.

   Democrat township was organized by the board of county commissioners in May,
1835, and William Dawson was appointed inspector of elections. The first
election was held at the house of James McNeil in 1838. The first school house
was a log building erected in 1833. The villages were Prince William and
Lexington, and later the town of Cutler was established. Cutler is located on
the Vandalia railroad. The Presbyterian and Baptist denominations were the first
to organize churches. At Cutler, Wild Cat lodge No. 311, Free and Accepted
Masons, was organized in 1864; and Cutler Lodge No. 571, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, was organized in 1879.

   The oldest mill was the Adam's mill, located on Wild Cat creek, east of
Cutler, in 1831. Mr. Adams erected a flouring-mill in 1835. Samuel Weaver
operated a carding-mill, also manufactured linseed oil, and later operated a
woolen-mill at Prince William. A tannery was operated by a Mr. Campbell from
1835 to 1840. Lexington was laid out on land of Eli Patty in 1835, and was a
good trading point Prince William was noted in early times as a popular place
for the holding of political meetings. Considerable business was transacted at
this place during the palmy days of the "Plank Road" existence. Wild Cat creek
is the principal stream in the township, having several branches in the
southeastern part of the township.

   The laying out and building of roads occupied the people during the first
years of the township organization. The township trustees had charge of the
management of the public schools and establishing school districts. Dr. R. D.
Herron was the earliest physician in the township. Jacob Watson and family were
the first settlers of this township. David Motter was a close second.

   Among the early settlers were Isaac Watson, David Simpson, Andrew Gee, John
Gee, Benjamin Gee, John Adams, Henry Tinkle; George Sheets, William Chatham,
James McNeil, Phillip Rinker, Jacob Shaffer, David T. Wyatt, William Wyatt,
George Lowman, Alston Wyatt, W. Seawright, Anthony Wilson, Daniel Cleaver, Jesse
Daniel, John L. Ritter, John Jack, James Chittick, Robert Simpson,. Anthony
Burns, Bolton Smith, John Black, Joshua Craner, Jacob Watson, Jeremiah Ashba,
William Mustard and others. All of the above named settled in this township
prior to 1833.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

   Jackson township was organized by the board of county commissioners in
August, 1830, and Moses. Allridge was appointed inspector of elections. The
first township election was held at the house of Enoch Allridge on the third
Monday of October, 1830, and Jacob Humerickhouse was elected justice of the
peace. James Allridge was elected constable. The first log school house was
built on the land of John Odell, in 1830, and George C. Sanderson was the
teacher. It accommodated all the children of the township. In 1831 the township
was divided into school districts, and on the 22nd of October, 1831, a vote was
taken and adopted to raise a fund by taxation to support free schools. This
system prevailed until 1852, when the new Constitution went into effect.

   The early ministers were circuit riders, and held religious services at the
school houses. The German Baptist church was organized in Camden in 1829. The
Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized in 1830. The Methodist Episcopal
church was organized in 1831. Camden Methodist Episcopal church was organized in
1846. Paint Creek Baptist church was organized in 1832. Camden Baptist church
was organized in 1834. St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in
1846. Camden is the only town in this township, and is located near the center
of the township. It was laid out and platted in 1836. It maintains a high
school, has two banks, fine churches, good stores and improved streets. Its
population is about one thousand. It is an incorporated town. The Vandalia
railroad runs through this town.

   Among the first settlers were Moses Allridge, Elisha Brown, Adam Porter,
Jeremiah Ballard, John Ballard, John Little, William Armstrong, John Odell,
Thomas Sterling, David Harter, William Hance, John Lenon, Levi Lenon, Samuel
Lenon, David Fisher, F. G. Armstrong, Phillip Hewitt, Levi Cline, James Martin,
William Martin, Jacob Humrickhouse, Hiram Gregg, R. G. Mundy, P. M. Armstrong,
Enoch McFarland, John Shanks, Daniel Blue, Z. Lake, Thomas Lenon, George Julian,
Peter Replogel, J. E. Snoebarger, William Wilson, John Kuns, David Wise, Samuel
Wise, John Musselman, John Bunker, Charles Bowman and others.

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

   Jefferson township was organized by the board of county commissioners in May,
1836, and Joseph Williamson was appointed inspector of elections. The first
township election was held in 1839, at the house of Robert Mitchell. The first
school house was built in the year 1834, on the farm of Moses Grandstaff. Nathan
C. Gillam was the first school teacher. In 1856 the first school tax was levied
by the trustee. The average length of time of schools was one hundred and
twenty-five days.

   The gospel was preached in this township, as in other townships, in the early
days. In 1855 the Methodist Episcopal, and the United Brethren denominations
erected churches. The first saw-mill was built on the Tippecanoe river in 1834,
by Anthony Sheets, and he afterwards added buhrs to grind wheat and corn. This
mill" was located at what is now known as "Oak Dale." The villages of Yeoman and
Patton are situate in this township, on the Monon railroad.

   Among the first settlers were John Hornback, Samuel Goslee, Jonas Elston,
Robert Gillam, Robert Million, David Lucas, Samuel Moore, John Lynch, James
Dalzell, William Carson, David Carson, John E. Mikesell, Jacob Baum, Henry Ted
ford, David Overly, Peter Prough, John Scott, R. P. Scott, Robert Mitchell,
Thomas Patton, A. Shultz, Peter Pence, J. H. Newman, B. Price, W. S. Montgomery
and others.

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

   Madison township was organized by the board of county commissioners in March,
1837, and Joseph Hanna was appointed inspector of elections. The first election
was held in 1839, at the house of Peter Tanner, and Michael Kite was elected
justice of the peace. The first log school house was built in 1837, which served
as well for church purposes for a number of years. Nelson Gillam was the first
school teacher. Much of the time the people were engaged in building roads. The
towns of Radnor and Ockley are in this township, and are located on the Monon
railroad.

   Among the first settlers were Thomas Gillam, John M. Gillam, John Thompson,
Michael Kite, Albert G. Hanna, Robert Gillam, Amos Thompson and others.

MONROE TOWNSHIP.

   Monroe township was organized in March, 1840, and Isaac Price was appointed
inspector of elections. The first election was held on the last Saturday in
June, 1840, and James C. Todd was elected justice of the peace. The first log
school house was built on the farm of Amos Ball, in 1833. The Dunkard church was
established in 1831. Other church denominations followed as the population
increased.

   Flora, an incorporated town, has a population of one thousand six hundred,
and is located on the Vandalia railroad, in this township. Bring-hurst is a town
of about six hundred inhabitants, situate in this township and on the Vandalia
railroad. Flora and Bringhurst each have fine high school buildings. These two
rival towns are only one mile apart.

   Among the early settlers were Thomas Ross, Samuel Ross, Joseph Beckner, Amos
Ball, John Flora, Jacob Zook, George Cline, Jonathan Barn-nard and others.

ROCK CREEK TOWNSHIP.

   Rock Creek township was organized by the board of county commissioners in
May, 1828, and an election ordered for the township, to be held at the house of
Isaac Atkinson in 1833. Isaac Atkinson was elected justice of the peace. The
first school was taught in 1830 in a log school house. The Methodist Episcopal
church was organized in 1836. A year or two later other religious denominations
organized churches.

   The town of Rockfield is located in this township, also the town of Burrows.
The Wabash railroad runs through this township, and the towns mentioned are
situate on this line of railway and on the Ft. Wayne and Northern Indiana
traction road. Rockfield has a bank, as has also the town of Burrows. A fine
school building is located in Rockfield. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Lodge No. 301 is located in Rockfield and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Lodge No. 495 is located in Burrows. The first saw-mill was erected in 1831 by
Emanuel Flood, on Rock creek. Later, on the same site, a flouring-mill was built
by John Mullendore in 1848. This mill was known in later years as the
"Dougherty" mill.

   Among the first settlers were John Kuns, Aaron Merriman, Jacob Kuns,
Christopher McCombs, John Farneman, John Corder, George Kuns, Emanuel Flora,
Samuel Williamson, Thomas Millard, Lewis. Neff and William Atkinson.

TIPPECANOE TOWNSHIP.

   Tippecanoe township was organized by the board of county commissioners in the
year 1830. The Tippecanoe river runs through the western side of the township,
and the Wabash river is its boundary on the south.

   Pittsburg is located on the Wabash and dates its settlement to the year 1825.
The town of Sleeth is situate in this township, on the Monon railroad. The
Associate Presbyterian church was the first church to organize in this township.
Other denominations organized in later years. At one time Pittsburg did a large
business in produce shipping, had a foundry, a tannery, a woolen-mill, a
flouring-mill and a saw-mill. A canal was taken out on the north side of the
river, above the dam, and it was used to ship on canal boats the products to
Toledo.

   Pittsburg was laid out by Merkle & Kendall in 1836. Bolles & Colton, Spears
Brothers, T Dona van and Merkle & Kendall were the principal buyers and
shippers. In February, 1882, the Wabash dam was blown out with dynamite. After
this affair the canal soon ceased to be a water highway. Deer Creek prairie lies
on the west side of the Wabash river and was land reserved to A. Burnett by
Indian treaties.

   Among the first settlers were John Burkholder^ Daniel Vandeventer, Robert
Gibson, John Lindsey, Graham Roberts, John Anderson, John Smith, James L.
Johnson, Charles Angel, Greenup Brothers, George Malcom, James Malcom, John
Brookbank, John Benham, Richard Sibbitt, Abner Robinson and others.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 
By Effie Guickin.

   Washington township was organized by the board of county commissioners in
1835. The first election was held in 1836, and John G. Treen was elected justice
of the peace. Washington township is situate in the northeast corner of the
county. It. contains nineteen thousand two hundred acres of land. The principal
creeks are Rock creek, Deer creek and Paint creek. This territory was heavily
timbered and the land is generally level. The soil is mostly black and after
drainage is very productive. The public lands in this township were all taken up
by the year 1836.

   The first school was taught in a log cabin on the farm of Moses Stanley by
Amanda Huston in 1838. The teacher was only sixteen years of age at the time,
but was well qualified and was successful. The following is a true description
of the first log cabins that constituted the homes of the early settlers. It was
built of round logs, fourteen feet by eighteen feet, one room, a large fireplace
in one end of the house; two windows, one door, floor made of puncheons, roof
made out of clapboards, four feet in length; the joists were smooth round poles,
wooden pins in place of nails; the chimney made out of slats, mortar placed
between; a crane placed in the mouth of the fireplace, made to swing out, with
hooks to attach the pats. "Johnnycake" was baked before the coals on the hearth.
The cabin was used for a parlor, sitting-room, dining-room, bed-room and
kitchen. By the light of tallow candles or a lard lamp the family ate their
evening meal, and the children studied their leessons. [sic] They were a happy
and contented set of people and there were none their right to dispute.

   There was an incident occurred in this township that did not occur in any
other township in the county. About the year 1840 two Mormon missionaries came
into the township to proselyte for members of the Mormon church. They procured a
cabin to hold their meetings and were very saintly and soon had not only large
congregations, but converts to their religious views. After securing about one
hundred converts, and after baptizing them by cutting the ice in Rock creek,
they made propositions to their followers—as being a part of their religious
duty—to sell all their property, place the proceeds in their hands, as
representatives of the church organized by Joseph Smith, and pack up their
personal goods and go with them to the West to the Mormon people. This was too
much, the people showed their displeasure, and as a result the Mormons left
unceremoniously.

   Deer Creek is the principal town in the township, situate on the state
Michigan road, and during the time of the building of this road ¥was quite a
lively place. The various church denominations have their organizations and fine
schools are found in this township. Improved roads and permanent iron bridges
make this township a model one in the county.

   Among the first setlers [sic] were Moses Stanley, J. G. Treen, Daniel Dunham,
Anthony Brown, J. G. Cohee, W. McClain, Thomas Trimble, R. Cornell, C. Hinkle,
V. D. Cohee, James Cooper, Jacob Shusser, Aaron Cline, William Mills, William
Wright, J. Yenkis, J. Shank, J. Tipton, L. West, J. Lake, R. Harris, A. Stipp,
William Crocket, A. Hardy, William Cox, James Newer and others.

COUNTY INFIRMARY.

   Carroll county has been the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land
three miles southeast of Delphi for more than seventy-five years. It has been
known as the "Poor Farm," as the "County Asylum," and it now bears the name of
"County Infirmary," a term more appropriate for the purposes intended. In 1910
the board of county commissioners, on the 5th of April, contracted with Carl J.
Horn, of Logansport, to present plans and drawings for a modern building to be
erected on the south side of the farm, for an infirmary. On May 3, 1910, the
architect filed plans and specifications. On June 7, 1910, the board ordered the
county auditor to give notice to contractors of the letting of a contract to
build an infirmary building, according to the plans and specifications on file,
and that bids would be received until June 25, 1910.

   At a special session, held on July 25, 1910, the board awarded the contract
for the plumbing to Linton & Graf for the sum of $2,155. The lighting system was
awarded to A. P. Flinn & Company for the sum of $1,294.60. On October 3, 1910,
the board awarded the contract for a heating plant to Wallace Brothers, of
Lafayette, who constructed the buildings. On May 15, 1911, the board contracted
with Mahlon Rohrabaugh to build a barn on the farm, for the sum of $1,900.

   The main building when completed presented a beautiful appearance externally,
and internally was arranged for comfort and safety, and is sanitary throughout.
The buildings cost $40,000. The superintendent, Fred Furling, has been in charge
of the infirmary and farm for four years, at a compensation of $650 per annum:
The county furnishes everything for the superintendent. The average number of
inmates is eighteen a year. The farm is self supporting, leaving a surplus to
the credit of the county.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY INDIANA

ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS
BY
JOHN C ODELL
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and
Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families

ILLUSTRATED
1916
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc.
Indianapolis, Indiana


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