Tipton County IN Archives History - Books .....County Paupers 1883
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 14, 2006, 2:23 am

Book Title: Counties Of Howard And Tipton, Indiana

THE COUNTY PAUPERS.

   As near as can be learned, the first poor person was "farmed out" in
September, 1846, to Josiah Gilliland, of Madison Township, for $40 per year.
About the same time, Rachel Cummings, a helpless old woman, was removed at
county expense to the poor-house of Hamilton County. The poor expense for the
fiscal year ending June, 1847, was $18.93; for the following year, $126.63; for
the year ending June, 1849, it amounted to $131.28; for the year ending June,
1850, to $97; for 1851, to $107.62; for 1852, to $332.19; for 1853, to $238.99;
for 1855, to $236.59; for 1858, to $1,320.24: for 1860, to $1,086.08; for 1864,
to $3,067.52; for 1867, to $4,812.98; for 1870, to $2,059.06; for 1875, to
$3,937.42; for 1876, to $10,599.11; for 1880, to $7,730.77. It now amounts to
about $12,000 per annum. The plan continued to be followed of farming the
paupers out to the lowest bidders. Considerable township aid was furnished
independent of county help. Physicians were employed by the year to doctor the
county poor. Drs. R. R. Douglas and H. M Vickrey were employed in 1853; J. M.
Groves served as such in 1857 and J. M. Sanders, Abraham Reeves and Isaac Parker
in 1858. In December, 1863, an agent was appointed to view several locations and
to purchase the most favorable for a poor farm. This action was followed by the
purchase of 78.72 acres on Sections 14 and 15, Township 21 north, Range 4 east,
of James Recobs for $1,000 cash and $1,490 on the first Monday in March, 1865.
Upon this farm was a small frame dwelling, insufficient in size and comfort to
accommodate the poor, and bids were called for to repair the old house and erect
a new one of modest size and pretensions. As many poor persons as could be
accommodated were ordered removed from private families to this house and the
new one as soon as the work was finished. John H. McConnell contracted to repair
the old house and build a new one, 16x30 feet, frame, for $580. This was in the
spring of 1864 William Morris became the first Poor Superintendent, taking the
farm for all he could make with it and boarding the poor for so much per week.
He was succeeded by D. J. Caldwell, in 3 868, and he in turn by R. W. Mullis in
1869. The latter continued for several years, first boarding the poor for $2.50
per week and later reducing that figure to $2.40 and then to $2.20, and in 1872,
raising to $2.25. In 1872, the contract of building a new poor-house was let to
William Rubosh and J. H. McConnell, but for some reason the work was abandoned
until 1876, when the contract was given to William Young for $7,000. The
building, a fine, commodious, two-storied brick structure, was erected
immediately, and the poor were soon in better quarters. In 1873, John Emehiser
became Superintendent. He agreed to board the poor for $1.75 per week and the
use of the farm. In 1875, Thomas B. Bates succeeded him, bidding in the care of
the poor for $1.65 per week and the use of the farm. Mr. Bates continued
Superintendent until 1883, reducing the costs of the weekly care of the paupers
somewhat as time advanced. In 1883, John Q. Shaw succeeded Mr. Bates, bidding in
the care of the poor at $1.50 per week and the use of the farm. There are at
present about forty inmates of the poor-house. There have been as high as
sixty-one and as low as fourteen. Fifty-five acres of the poor farm are under
cultivation. The county, though severe, takes good care of its indigent and
helpless.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

COUNTIES OF HOWARD AND TIPTON, INDIANA.

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
ILLUSTRATED.

CHARLES BLANCHARD. EDITOR.
CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO.
1883.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/tipton/history/1883/counties/countypa397gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/

File size: 4.2 Kb