HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY  189

George K. Dickson; 1894—Samuel Holden; 1900—John Plumb; 1904—
Thomas Henderson; 1908—Thomas Robinson.
    When this township was organized, in 1868, Dillon W. Bridges was
appointed by Auditor James M. Hoskins, to serve until the election of
1869, when he was elected, and within his term of service resigned,
when, on the 23d day of May, 1870, B. F. Kruzan was appointed to the
position, serving until the election of George P. Stone at the succeeding
October election.
Cass:   1859—John B. Nees; 1860—John B. Nees; 1861—John B.
Nees; 1862—John B. Nees; 1863—John B. Nees; 1864—Lawrence
Athey; 1864—Fred Ahlerneyer; 1865—Fred Ahlemeyer; i866—Fred
Ahlemeyer; 1867—Fred Ahlemeyer; 1868—Elias Syester; 1869—Adam
Tressel; 1870—Adam Tressel; 1872—Fred Ahlemeyer; 1874—Fred
Ahlemeyer; 1876—William Teaney; 1878—William Teaney; 1880—
Frank H. Tapy; 1882—Thomas Burns; 1884—Thomas Burns; 1886—
Francis H. Tapy; 1888—John Schroer; 1890—William Teaney; 1894—
Walter B. Ringo; 1900—John H. Htickreide; 1904—William R. Huber;
1908—David E. Latham.
    Lawrence Athey, who was elected in the spring of 1864, died within
the same year, when Fred Ahlemeyer was appointed by Auditor George
W. Wiltse, to fill out the unexpired term.

POOR FARM AND ORPHANS’ HOME.

    Under a former system of caring for “the poor” in the state of
Indiana there were no institutions in the several counties dedicated to
this purpose, known as “Poor Farms,” “Infirmaries” or “County
Asylums,” but “paupers,” who were then few as compared with the
number of this class in later years, were cared for by individuals at
their homes on contracts made with the board of county commissioners.
Under this system no contracts were let to physicians for the “pauper
practice,” the indigent patient having the privilege to choose his own
physician.
    The first poor farm in Clay county, located two and a half miles
northwest of Bowling Green, was purchased by the board of commis-
sioners, at the March term of court, 1856, from a man named Blunk,
for $2,100.25, which was occupied for twenty years. The present Poor
Farm, lying two miles southwest of Bowling Green, was purchased from
James and Smith Campbell, in the month of January, 1875, for $7,900.
The contract for the buildings was let to Slocum & Co., in December of
the same year, for $10,857.96. These buildings were completed and
occupied the following year.
    Of those who, by contract with the county, were in charge and
keeping of this institution are remembered: Oliver Cromwell, Daniel
Cunning, Adam Moon, John Spurgeon, William H. McCullough, Jesse
Allee, William Mayrose, Kin Thomas.
    An Orphans’ Home has been maintained at Knightsville for the
past eleven years. On the 17th day of November, 1898, the board of
county commissioners purchased the large dwelling-house previously
erected and occupied by John H. Zeller at that place, which was so
converted as to answer the purpose of a home for the orphan children
of the county not otherwise provided for. This institution is conducted
under the supervision of a matron who is assigned to the position by
appointment of the board of county commissioners.