Greene County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter IV 1884
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Book Title: History Of Greene And Sullivan Counties, Indiana

CHAPTER IV.

EARLY LAND ENTRIES- THE COUNTY LIBRARY- TOWNSHIP LIBRARIES-CATALOGUE OF BOOKS-
THE AICCLURE LIBRARY- THE COUNTY SEMINARY- ITS FIELD OF USEFULNESS- POPULATION
BY DECADES- VARIOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST- THE COUNTY PAUPERS- THE ASYLUM- TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARY ALTERATIONS- THE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY- ITS REORGANIZATION- RAILROADS-
STATISTICS.

IN the year 1816, entries were made by David Lindley, Jonathan Lindley, John
Johnson, John Hawkins. Ephraim Owen, Samuel Owen, Benjamin Owen, William
Hawkins. Joseph Hollingsworth, Solomon Dixson, Joshua Hadley, Joseph Richardson,
John Neldon, John Storms. Isaac Storms, Scott Riggs. John Haddon, Peter C.
Vanslyke, Thomas Bradford and a few others. In 1817, the following entries were
made: John Sanders, George Griffith. Jonathan Osborn, Benjamin Shoemaker, John
G. Gray, James Smith, Thomas Plummer, Abel Burlingame, Joseph Dixson, Charles
Scanland, William Carter, Seth Fields, Samuel Fields, Samuel Perry and Thomas
Bradford, Jr. In 1818, entries were made by Alexander Watson, Joseph Shelton,
Eli Dixson, George Shryer, Julius Dugger, Mark Dugger, Joseph Ingersoll, William
Barker, Elijah and George Chinn, David Richey, Abe Westfall, John Slinkard,
Jesse Stafford, Mathias Killian, Mordecai McKinney, John Hinkle, Abraham Garret,
Isaac Hubbell, E. W. Welton, John Van Voorst, William Lemon, William Harrell,
Edmund Gillam, Thomas Buskirk, John Bradford, William Robinson, R. S. Underwood,
James Warnick, William Scott, Samuel C. Hall, George Lashley, Gordon Phelps,
Jacob Scudder and Williams Adams. In 1819, entries were made by John Arthur,
Thomas Barker, Peter R. Lester, Christian Bruner, John O'Neall, O. T. Barker,
Benjamin Stafford, Garrison Evans, David Wesner, William Dillinger, Zachariah
Dunn, Simeon Hagamon, Peter Hays, Andrew Vanslyke and Martin Wines. In 1820, by
William Bynum, Robert Anderson, William Haneson, Joseph Dillinger, Daniel
Rawlins and John Gardner. In 1821, by Henry Arney, John Craig, Jesse Elgan, John
Elgan, Samuel Hughen, Simon Caress, John Breece, Joseph Kirkpatrick, Oliver
Cushman, John McDonald, Zebulon Jenkins, George Milam and John Mason.

THE COUNTY LIBRARY.

   The act creating the county provided that ten per centum of the proceeds of
the sale of town lots at the county seat should be reserved for the purpose of
founding and maintaining a county library. The first Trustees who entered upon
the discharge of their duties quite early in the twenties, and remained in
office until 1830, were Thomas Bradford, James Warnick, Thomas Plummer, Ruel
Learned, Jonathan Lindley, Norman W. Pierce and William Freeland, the latter
serving as President. In 1830, they were succeeded by Levi Fellows, Peter Hill,
Moses Ritter, Peter C.Vanslyke, John Van Voorst, John Inman, James Boyd and
James Patterson, the latter being Treasurer. Late in the thirties, Elisha P.
Cushman, William M. Norris, John Jones, John C. Brown and John Townsend also
served as Trustees. In November, 1824, the total proceeds of the sale of town
lots, money, notes, etc., were $1,262.12 1/2. After the expenses were deducted,
there was left about $1,200, of which ten per centum, or $120, belonged to the
county library. Only about ten per cent of this was cash. Two or three sales of
lots took place each year, and the notes that had been given were slowly paid.
It is probable that the first purchase of books for the library was made late in
the twenties. After that, as fast as $50 or $60 was received, it was invested in
books, until, in 1840, as nearly as can be learned, about $250 had been thus used.

   Soon after the new court house was finished, the library was removed from the
house of the librarian to what is now the Treasurer's office, where it remained
many years. Rules for the government of the books were adopted. Any citizen of
the county, by complying with the rules, could take a volume to his home for
perusal. The old county library was an excellent institution in its day. It must
be remembered that Indiana was new then, and the country people were generally
too poor to buy other books than the Bible. But the great difference between
then and now was the almost total absence of newspapers. The press of today is
better than any library. All read newspapers. Then not one home in ten took
regularly a newspaper. Then the newspapers of that day were nothing as they are
at present, either in circulation, scope or usefulness. They contained dry
dissertations on morals and on governmental affairs that possessed scarcely no
interest to the uncultured people of the backwoods, who had all they could do,
and often more, to make a comfortable living. The county library in a measure,
supplied these wants, as all the standard authors of history, biography, travel,
fiction, poetry and general miscellany were found represented upon the shelves.
But the county library, which never exceeded a few hundred volumes, was not
sufficient to meet the wants of the people during the decade of the fifties, as
the population had become too great and too intelligent. The causes which
brought into existence the common school system also demanded greater and
quicker facilities for the diffusion of general knowledge. This demand
terminated in the foundation of the township library

TOWNSHIP LIBRARIES.

   These libraries were furnished by the State from a fund derived from the sale
of certain school lands. Counties containing a population of over 15,000 were
given ten libraries of 325 volumes each. Counties with a population less than
15,000 and greater than 10,000, were given eight, and counties with less than
10,000, six. Greene County was to receive eight libraries, and was divided into
the following eight districts: No. 1, Richland Township; No. 2, Cass and Taylor:
No. 3, Jackson and Center; No.4, Beech Creek and Highland; No. 5, Jefferson and
Eel River; No. 6, Smith and Wright; No. 7, Stockton and Fairplay (including
Grant); No. 8, Stafford and Washington. Each district was to receive one library
of 325 volumes. The first books were received in 1854-55, and were distributed
to the districts by the County Board. Within the next year or two, the eight
libraries were all received, thus sending to all parts of the county 2,600
volumes of reading matter similar to the following: Spark's American Biography,
Prescott's Conquest of Mexico, Irving's Columbus, Dillon's Historical Notes,
Percy's Anecdotes, Howe's American Mechanics, Life of John Paul Jones, History
of the Girondists, Plutarch's Lives, Ancient Egyptians, Pursuit of Knowledge,
History of Greece, Smith's Holliday Abroad, Book for the Homeside, The Czar and
his People, Layard's Ninevah, The Parents' Assistant, Physical Sciences, Orators
of the Age, Curran and his Cotemporaries, History of the Swiss, Boyhood of Great
Men, Floral Biography, Farmers' Instructor, Home Pictures, A Love Token, Live
and Let Live, Benjamin Franklin, Christmas Books, etc., etc. These libraries
served a most excellent purpose, and are still in use in some portions of the
county, though their usefulness is much impaired by the remarkably cheap books
and newspapers of the present.


THE M'CLURE LIBRARY.

   This was founded in the counties of Indiana from the liberal bequest of Mr.
McClure. A large property was left to be invested in useful books for the sole
use and benefit of working men- those who "earned their bread by the sweat of
their brows." A few hundred volumes were received in the county, and an
association of the workingmen was formed to receive the benefits of the bequest.
The library was finally merged in with the county library. All have been
supplanted in effect by the. cheap printing of to-day. These old books remain as
relics of usefulness and progress of former generations, when universal and
liberal education was secured at private expense.

THE COUNTY SEMINARY.

   An early law of the State provided that certain fines, penalties,
forfeitures, etc., before Justices of the Peace, the Circuit Court, etc., should
be used to found and maintain a county seminary of learning. The fund began to
accumulate in Greene County immediately, and a Trustee was appointed to care for
it- loan it- the first Trustee, so far as known, being Eli Dixson. Otis Hinkley
succeeded him in 1825. Peter Hill was appointed in 1826, and continued to serve
as such until 183-. In January, 1832, the fund amounted to $253.64 1/2, of which
$38 was drawing six per cent interest. By an act approved January 24, 1832, the
Legislature incorporated the following persons "President and Trustees of the
Greene County Seminary:" Levi Fellows, Willis D. Lester, Elisha P. Cushman, Ruel
Learned, Peter R. Lester, John Inman, James Stalcup, Moses Ritter, Eli Dixson,
Samuel R. Cavins, John Gardner, John Sanders, Benjamin Stafford, Hiram Hayward
and Thomas Plummer. The act fully provided for the management of the fund and
the conduct of the Trustees. For some reason, the next Legislature repealed that
portion of this act appointing the above fifteen men Trustees, and appointed in
their stead by an amendment to the act the following persons: John Inman,
Cornelius Vanslyke, James Warnick, Samuel Simons and John A. Pegg. Mr. Inman was
almost immediately succeeded by Elias Crance. The term of office was three
years. In November, 1833, the County Board "Ordered, That Lots 31, 32, 33, 34,
35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, in Bloomfield, be given unto James Warnick, P. C.
Vanslyke, Samuel Simons, John A. Pegg and Elias Crance, the Board of Trustees of
the County Seminary, and their successors in office, for the use of a seminary
of learning for the said county of Greene; and it is further ordered that Willis
D. Lester, agent for the said town of Bloomfield, shall make unto said Board of
Trustees and their successors in office a good and sufficient deed for the above
named lots."

   In the winter of 1837-38, there was on hand of the fund $879.26 1/2. The law
provided that when the fund reached $400 the Trustees, at their option, might
erect a seminary building, but no attempt of this kind was made until October,
1837, when Ruel Learned contracted to erect on the seminary lots a two-storied
brick building, 25x50 feet, and 23 feet high to the plates, for which he was to
receive $1,100. The contract required the completion of the building within one
year, but this was not done. The exact date cannot be given, though the house
was ready for occupancy in 1844. After the house was finished, though it had
cost more than was expected, the accumulation of the fund was so rapid that
$317.04 was in the hands of T. H. Carson, Secretary of the Trustees. As late as
1852, the fact that no deed of the seminary lots had been made to the Trustees
by the Town Agent, as was ordered nineteen years before, was brought to the
attention of the County Board, whereupon the order was revived and re-issued. In
1852, Chapter 97 of the Revised Statutes provided for the sale of the seminary
property and the transfer of the proceeds into the common school fund. The
property was accordingly advertised and sold in July. 1853, as follows: Lots 31,
32, 33, 34 and 35, and the building to William Mason for $673: Lots 36, 37, 38,
39 and 40 to Joseph Lyons for $113: total proceeds of sale, $786. The transfer
of the property to these men seems not to have been made, as in July, 1863, ten
years later, the whole property was sold for $780 to William D. Ritter, Trustee
of Richland Township. An account of the schools in this building will be found
in the chapter on Bloomfield.

POPULATION OF THE COUNTY.

In 1820 (estimated)                         400
In 1830                                   4,242
In 1840                                   8,321
In 1850                                  12,313
In 1860                                  16,041
In 1870                                  19,514
In 1880                                  22,996

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST.

   During and since the war, large amounts of money were and have been paid as
relief and bounty. In September, 1862, the following was spread upon the records
of the County Board: "Ordered, that the board is hereby adjourned as it appears
impossible to transact business owing to the crowd of persons thronging the
court house for the purpose of applying for exemption from military duty by the
Board of Examiners now in session." The county jail of 1859-60 had forced the
County Board to issue several thousand dollars' worth of bonds, which were
slowly redeemed during the years of the war. In the autumn of 1864, the County
Board, upon being petitioned to that effect, refused to make an appropriation
from the county funds to aid drafted men. Within two or three years after the
war, when the county began to recover its former equanimity, the construction of
costly ditches to drain the wet lands of the county, and costly bridges across
the rivers and larger creeks to afford easier and quicker inter-communication,
was commenced and has continued until the present. One of the first ditches
(under the law of March 11, 1867) was built in the southern part of Jefferson
Township. In September, 1867, a safe for the Treasurer's office was purchased at
a cost of $1,000. The Timmons Ditching Company filed articles of incorporation
in October, 1873, some of the leading members being W. H. Timmons, James Bull,
W. D. Myers, James Hicks. Certain lands in Washington Township were to be
ditched. The White River bridge northwest of Bloomfield was built in 1873-74 by
Miller, Jamison & Co., for $27.80 per foot, there being 580 feet- $16,124. Late
in the sixties, and in the seventies prior to August, 1875, there had been
issued in county bonds, Nos. 1 to 48, each for $500, making a total sale of
bonds of $24,000, for the purpose of building certain bridges, ditches, etc. In
August, 1875, Nos. 49 to 60 inclusive were sold for $6,000, to raise funds to
repair the damages of the famous flood of August of that year, on which occasion
the water rose higher than ever known before, destroying almost totally the
crops of all descriptions on the bottom lands. In 1876, the McKissick Ditching
Company was organized and incorporated.

THE COUNTY PAUPERS.

   The first order which appears upon the Commissioned record for the support of
the county poor was issued to Catharine Slinkard in January, 1829, for caring
for Fanny Law. So far as known, all such help prior to this had been furnished
in the townships under the direction of Overseers of the Poor, two or three of
whom were constantly in office from the earliest organization. It is possible
the above order was not the first made by the County Board. Afterward, the
expense of paupers was an annual recurrence to be provided for as any other
county outlay. Catharine Slinkard continued to care for Fanny Law for some time,
and was paid at the rate of about $1 per week. This was in Plummer Township.
Peter and Jane Graves were two poor persons of Richland Township. John Hower,
Overseer of the Poor, was paid $1.50 for "farming them out" to Christopher
Nation at $1.50 per week. The method of "farming out" the poor was to sell at
auction or otherwise their care to the lowest responsible bidder. Sometimes the
indigent fell into cruel hands and were half starved and otherwise misused. In
the years 1836-37, the County Board paid $158.99 for the care of the poor. In
1843, contract was entered into between the County Board and Obadiah T. Barker,
whereby the latter agreed to take all the permanent paupers of the county to his
home at Scotland and care for them, the county bearing all necessary expense and
paying him for his trouble. The first three paupers under his care were Abner
Hunter, Thomas Roach and Martha Roach.

He took them in March and May, 1843. He presented a bill of $72.54 in December,
1843, which was duly honored. Mr. Barker was an excellent man for the place. He
was intelligent, kind, firm and rigidly just. In March, 1846, a different
contract was made with Mr. Barker. He agreed to provide all necessaries for the
county paupers, old and young, and keep them at his "Asylum" at Scotland, for $1
each per week. He gave bond of $500 for the faithful performance of the trust.
For the fiscal year ending June, 1845, the poor cost $257.80, and for the year
ending June, 1848, poor and poor farm $933.54. In December, 1846, Mr. Barker
reported five inmates of the "Asylum," and presented a claim of $98.61, which
was promptly paid. In March, 1847, Nancy Hatfield seems to have succeeded Mr.
Barker as Superintendent of the Poor. She contracted to care for the paupers for
$1 each per week, and entered into bonds for $500. In September, 1847, the
County Board gave notice that they would receive proposals in October, of land
for a poor farm. At that time several tracts were considered. At last
seventy-eight acres of the west half of the south half of the west fractional
Section 34, Township 7 north, Range 5 west, were bought of Edwin Simpson for $10
an acre, the county to pay mortgages of $270.73, and the remainder, $509.27, in
cash. Immediate arrangements were made to build a log poor house, and Mr.
Simpson took the contract of putting up a hewed-log house, 18x26 feet, as high
as the roof or plates, for $35, the work to be completed December 1, 1847. This
house was duly erected according to contract, and cost $33 instead of $35. The
house was completed during the winter. In March, 1848, Peter Wright was given
charge of the poor and the poor farm for two years for $199, and was to receive
certain extras and allowances. There were eleven paupers at this time.

   In March, 1850, the board bought twenty-five acres of John Bradford for $250,
to be used as an addition to the poor farm. At this time, Nancy Hatfield became
Superintendent of the Poor, and continued as such for several years, or until
1857, when she was succeeded by Samuel Williams. Mrs. Hatfield was paid $1.25
per week for each pauper. Mr. Williams agreed to provide necessaries for all for
one year for $799, he to have certain receipts from the farm. Just before this
change of Superintendents, the poor farm was sold to Joseph Lyons for nearly
$3,000; and ninety-four acres of part of the southeast quarter of Section 23,
Township 7 north, Range 5 west, were purchased of him for about the same amount,
the notes he had given for the old farm being returned to him for the new- exact
figures and dates cannot be given. In 1858, G. W. Osborn contracted to build on
the new farm a frame poor house, 18X40 feet, ten feet high, to be finished by
December, 1858, for $900 in county orders. This contract was faithfully
executed. In March, 1859, George Steele became Superintendent, for $575 per
year. There were nine inmates of the asylum at this time. The poor cost the
county $913.08 in 1857-58. Thomas Flinn succeeded Steele in March, 1860, for
$949 for two years. There were ten inmates at this period, and twelve in
September. Nancy Hatfield again took charge in March, 1862, for two years, at $1
per week for each pauper and the use of the farm. Harry Parsons succeeded her in
1864, for two years, all supplies to be furnished by the county, and Mr. Parsons
to be paid $30 per month. Since that time, among the Superintendents have been
Thomas S. Martindale, 1872: Thomas Cravens, 1876: J. G. Warnick, 1877; James
Warren, 1879; James G. Warnick, 1880; James Inman, 1881; James Stewart, 1882;
Clifton E. Dixson, 1883. There are at the present writing (December, 1883)
thirty inmates. The cost has steadily increased until now the permanent paupers
require an outlay of between $5,000 and $6,000 annually. The temporary pauper
help would more than double this amount. The new brick poor house was erected by
M. K. Tatout, in 1877-78, for $5,840, contract price, and a few hundred dollars
extras. The total cost was about $6,500. The building is a credit to Greene County.

TOWNSHIP BOUNDARY ALTERATIONS.

   When the county was first organized and divided into townships, in 1821, the
present Beech Creek, Center and Jackson Townships were Burlingame Township;
Highland, Jefferson, Smith and Wright were Highland; Richland, Fairpiay, Grant
and Stockton were Richland; Cass and Taylor were Plummer; Stafford and
Washington were Stafford In May, 1828, all of the above Richland Township west
of White River was constituted Dixson Township. It included the present
Stockton, Grant and Fairpiay. At the same time, all of the above Highland
Township west of White River (the present Jefferson, Smith and Wright) was
constituted Smith Township. A week or two later, all of Greene County in the
forks of White and Eel Rivers was organized as Eel River Township. In May, 1829,
Beech Creek was created as it now is except the two western tiers of sections,
and extended south to the center of the present Center Township. Jackson
Township was created at the same time, six miles east and west, and nine miles
north and south. In August, 1829, Fairpiay Township was created out of Dixson,
with the present limits. At the same time, the remainder of Dixson was created
Black Creek Township, thus doing away entirely with Dixson Township. In January,
1830, the name Black Creek Township was changed to Stockton Township. In
November, 1830, Washington Township, with its present boundaries, was organized
out of Stafford Township. The boundary of Beech Creek was changed in May, 1835.
In January, 1838, Wright Township was created out of Smith, and extended two
miles farther east than at present. In November, 1841, Center Township was
created with its present boundaries. In June, 1849, Plummer Township disappeared
and Cass and Taylor were created out of it as they are at present. In March,
1869, Grant Township was created out of Stockton, about as it is at present.
These are the leading township alterations, except that a few years ago Eel
River Township was attached to Jefferson. The creation of the last-named
township was about the year 1S30, the exact date not being obtainable.

THE GREENE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

   On the 27th of February, 1S58, the following resident physicians of the
county met at Bloomfield and organized the Greene County Medical Society: W. C.
Smydth, S. M. Wright, J. A. Minich, J. N. Conley, David Detor, F. F. Blaser, J.
S. Mayfield, S. C. Owen, J. W. Harvey and E. B. Maxwell. The meeting was called
to order, and on motion W. C. Smydth was made Chairman and E. B. Maxwell
Secretary. The following doctors were then appointed a committee to draft a
constitution and by-laws, which they did and reported for adoption, and which,
with some modification and improvements, was formally received as the law of the
society. The constitution provided for the necessary officers and committees,
prescribed their respective duties, specified and regulated the proceedings of
the society at the regular monthly meetings, and made the necessary arrangement
for special lectures and discussions on ail questions of interest to the local
medical profession. The following officers for the first year were then elected:
William C. Smydth, President; David Detor, Vice President; E. B. Maxwell,
Secretary; J. A. Minich, Corresponding Secretary; F. F. Blaser, Treasurer; J. N.
Conley, S. M. Wright and J. S. Mayfield, Censors. At the next meeting of the
society, an important paper was read on "The Benefits of a County Medical
Society." After this, meetings were held monthly. In October, 185S, Dr. Detor
read an essay on the subject of "Typhoid Fever," which attracted much attention
from the county physicians, owing to its depth and to the originality of many of
the views. About this time, also, Dr. W. D. Armstrong delivered before the
society an address of unusual power. In a year or two, the society seems to have
become defunct, from what cause cannot be positively stated.

   In May, 1864, the society was re-organized by the following physicians: W. C.
Smydth, J. N. Conley, W. S. Green, C. A. Meacham, S. C. Cravens, S. A. Connell,
W. A. O'Neal, J. A. Minich, C. P. Gerstinger, John Halstead, W. B. Squire, W. F.
Sherwood, Evan J. Jackson, N. P. Merret, E. Morgan, M. L. Holt, A. J. Axtell, S.
L. Stoddard and C. W. McDaniel. Later than this, a fee bill was adopted, but
what further was done cannot be stated, as the records seem not to have been
preserved.

   In May, 1867, the society was again re-organized, with the following
membership: M. G. Mullinnix, A. H. Secrest, W. F. Sherwood, J. N. Conley, W. C.
Smydth, J. A. Minich, S. C. Cravens, J. W. Gray, H. V. Norvell, M. L. Holt, W.
S. Green, Jacob McIntosh, W. B. Squires, ____ Dowden, W. C. Hilburn, S. L.
Stoddard, C. W. McDaniel and A. J. Axtell. The following permanent officers
retired: Jason N. Conley, President; C. A. Meacham, Vice President; John W.
Gray, Secretary; Samuel C. Cravens, Corresponding Secretary; Horace V. Norvell,
Treasurer. Another "fee bill" was adopted at this time. The following permanent
officers were elected for the ensuing year (1867): W. C. Smydth, President; W.
F. Sherwood, Vice President; S. C. Cravens, Secretary: J. A. Minich, Treasurer;
J. N. Conley, M. G. Mullinnix and J. W. Gray, Committee on Ethics. The old
constitution and by-laws was revised and adopted. The next meeting was held in
August, 1867, at Worthington, and the next at Linton. After this the minutes of
the meetings were misplaced until May, 1869, when the society convened in the
old seminary building at the county seat. At this meeting, one of the members
was expelled for "conduct unbecoming an honorable member of the medical
profession." At this meeting. S. C. Cravens was elected President; J. N. Conley,
Vice President; J. N. Jones, Secretary; J. W. Gray, Treasurer; W. C. Smydth, A.
H. Secrest and A. J. Axtell, Committee on Ethics. The next recorded meeting was
held at Bloomfield in 1871. After this the meetings became more interesting and
were held quarterly quite regularly. Essays on all conceivable medical subjects
of local interest were read and thoroughly discussed to the manifest instruction
and benefit of all the membership. Such subjects as the following were brought
before the society: Cholera infantum, typhoid fever, pneumonia, pelvic viscera
of females, secretions of the liver and the use of mercury, erysipelas, cholera,
bilious and intermittent fevers, child-birth, scarlatina. heart disorder, etc.,
etc.

   In May, 1875, the society was re-organized and constituted a branch of the
State Medical Society. The constitution and by-laws was rearranged and
re-adopted. The following physicians became members: J. W. Gray, P. L.
Brouillette, E. W. Hilburn, W. C. Smydth, S. C. Cravens, B. A. Rose, H. R.
Lowder, S. H. McCormick, John M. Harrah, J. P. McIntosh, J. R. Shanklin, E. J.
Jackson, S. V. Mullinnix, W. L. Green, T. Aydelotte, M. Beaty, John W. Hannan,
James E. Talbot. The meetings were held quite regularly with much interest,
until June, 1876, when they seem to have been abandoned until April, 1878, when
the society was again re-organized, with the following membership: P. L.
Brouillette, S. C. Cravens, J. W. Gray, H. Gasteneau, Marshall Beaty, J. Hanna,
H. R. Lowder, G. G. Laughead, H. V. Norvell, J. N. Conley, B. A. Rose, J. Kutch,
J. Mullane, H. C. Littlejohn, W. B. Spencer, N. Williams, H. L. Hartzall, E.
Morgan, W. H. Burk, E. W. Hilburn, J. A. Sims, Willis Cole, N. C. Burge, Sim
Gray. After about a year, meetings were partially abandoned, until April, 1881,
when the following officers were elected: G. G. Laughead, President; Caleb
Lowder, Secretary; P. L. Brouillette, Treasurer; H. R. Lowder, P. L. Brouillette
and S. C. Cravens, Censors. H. R. Louder, P. L. Brouillette, E. W. Hilburn and
H. V. Norvell were elected delegates to the State Medical Association, and J. W.
Gray and W. H. Cole delegates to the National Medical Association. Meetings have
since been held regularly. The present officers (January, 1884) are: J. M.
Harrah, President; Samuel Haywood, Secretary; T. B. Rankin, Treasurer; John
Haig, H. R. Lawler and J. S. Blackburn, Censors. Among other members of the
society have been H. S. Hartzell, W. E. Ground, T. V. Norvell, T. B. Rankin, W.
L. Wilson, E. T. Sherwood, Joseph Mullane, J. E. Talbot, W. F. Sherwood, R. A.
J. Benefiel, E. Dean, W. W. Bridwell, Dr. Kelshaw, Dr. Neeley, O. P. McKissick,
A. Cullison, C. W. Keys, E. A. Stone. The society has seen many ups and downs,
but still lives though enfeebled by the wastings of organic disease and the
consumption of inactivity and unconcern. This is the best record that can be
given of the society.

RAILROADS.

   The first railroad projected across Greene County was the old North & South
road from Evansville northward early in the decade of the fifties. No work was
done on this route in Greene County, except a limited amount of clearing in Cass
and perhaps other townships. The first road built was the Indianapolis &
Vincennes Railway. It was projected before the last war, and the project revived
during the war, but not carried to completion until Gen. Burnside assumed
control, graded the bed, put down the iron and put on the rolling stock,
finishing in 1868-69. It soon passed to other parties and still again to others,
and is at present (1884) operated under a lease of ninety-nine years by the
Pennsylvania Company. So far as can be learned, the county of Greene furnished
no aid in the construction of this road. Private parties along the route,
however, furnished in some instances the right of way, and considerable stock
was taken here and there throughout the county. Depot grounds and freight yards
were usually furnished.

   In 1869-70, Washington Township petitioned to have levied upon the property,
a tax not to exceed two per centum to aid the Evansville & Indianapolis
Railroad, which was to pass through Newberry and thence across the township,
forming a junction with the Indianapolis & Vincennes. An election was ordered
held to decide whether the aid should be granted. The same action was taken in
reference to Cass Township. The townships of Jefferson and Richland, in 1871,
were granted the right to vote on the question of granting aid to the North &
South Railroad. In March, 1872, Smith Township asked for and was granted the
right to vote on the question of raising by taxation the sum of $6,000 to aid
the St. Louis & Cincinnati Straight Line Railroad, and at the same time the same
privilege was granted Wright Township, the amount to be raised being $5,900.
Smith voted 59 for the tax and 33 against it; and Wright voted 98 for and 104
against.

   In 1872, the County Board was petitioned by 143 citizens, to submit the
question to the legal voters of the whole county, of aiding by taxation the
Cincinnati & Terre Haute Railroad to the amount of $100,000. The election was
ordered held April 21, 1872. Wright Township was again permitted to vote whether
to aid the Straight Line road with the following result: 58 for and 155 against.
That settled the question.

   Jefferson and Richland voted aid for the North & South road, and the tax was
actually levied, but the amount collected, about $600, was refunded to the
payers when the road was abandoned. The election in the county on the question
of aiding the Terre Haute road was lost.

   In December, 1874, Stockton Township asked permission to vote a tax of $8,985
in aid of the Bloomfield Railroad; Richland asked the same to the extent of
$7,725; Jackson the same to the extent of $10,000; Grant the same to the extent
of $4,005. The election was ordered held, but with what result cannot be stated.
Center also voted on the question, but as the road was not built there the tax
was not levied.

   In 1875,Clark, Buell, Donahay & Co., projected the Bloomfield Railroad, which
was to extend from Bloomfield westward to the Wabash River, and at the same time
projected a continuation of the road from Bloomfield through to Bedford, the
latter being known as the Bedford, Springville, Owensburg & Bloomfield Railroad.
During the fall or winter of 1875, this company transferred all their contracts
to Conley, Mason & Co., who undertook to complete both branches of the road. The
portion from Bloomfield to Switz was finished by the 1st of October, 1875, and
cost about $29,000; and the portion from Bloomfield to Bedford was completed by
the 4th of July, 1876, and cost about $120,000. About all the means to build the
grade was furnished by donations, subscriptions, taxes, etc. The company which
had undertaken to complete the road was unable to do so, although large amounts
of real estate had been pledged. It was found necessary to enter into debt to
secure the equipment of the road with iron and rolling stock, the rolling mill
company of Indianapolis becoming the creditors. Various bonds, etc., were turned
over to the mill company to secure them, besides mortgages on the property. As
none of this could be satisfied when due, the mill company took full control
when the road was finished; and when Conley, Mason & Co., went into bankruptcy,
the mill company bought the absolute right in the road at bankrupt sale. This
was about the course of events.

   Another project in 1881-82 was the extension of the Greencastle, Eel River &
Vincennes Railroad through the western tier of townships. The townships Wright,
Stafford and Stockton asked leave to vote aid, and were granted the right, but
before the election came off the right to vote was rescinded by the County
Board. It is probable that other railroad projects have been contemplated across
Greene County.

   The Terre Haute & Southeastern Railway was completed to Worthington in 1879,
a considerable amount of local help being furnished. The project included the
extension of the road southward, possibly to Bloomfield, but probably along the
west side of the river, crossing at Newberry. This extension is a probable event
of the near future. The amount of assistance furnished cannot be stated, though
it is well known that Worthington gave a "good round sum," and other portions
along the proposed route have promised ample help. Bloomfield cannot afford to
lose this road.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES,
STATE OF INDIANA,
FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, ETC.

ILLUSTRATED.

CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1884.

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