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Circa 1890's Photo Enhanced by: Robert Manson |
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HISTORY OF GREENE..., STATE OF INDIANA,CHAPTER V.THE COUNTY DRAINAGE- AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES- EQUESTRIAN AND LIVE STOCK FAIRS- THE VARIOUS HE-ORGANIZATIONS- COUNTY FINANCES- STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES- BONDS AND BRIDGES- THE WABASH AND ERIE CANAL- ORIGIN OF THE SCHOOL FUNDS- SPECIAL SCHOOL REVENUE- STATISTICS- EARLY ACTION ON THE FREE SCHOOL SYSTEM- EARLY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE- CATALOGUE OF COUNTY OFFICERS- POLITICS- THE BALLOT OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. THE citizens of the county, especially those on the west side of the river, have within the last decade or two become aware of the great importance of drainage. Prior to five or six years ago, there were but two or three open or underdrains of any magnitude in the county, but about 1877, under new and urgent State Laws, the matter was brought into greater notice, and petitions were received by the County Board for the establishment of open ditches in various portions of the county. Since that time, ten or twelve open ditches have been projected, and several completed, while others are still in a partially finished state. The following are the ditches by names, with the cost as estimated and reported by the viewing Commissioners, and the general location:
and possibly two or three others that have been overlooked. The total estimated cost is about $40,000. This is an excellent showing, and should be continued. The earliest attempt to organize an agricultural society within the limits of Greene County was in 1835. The County Board "Ordered, That the Clerk of this board shall within ten days hereafter, advertise on the court house door in Bloomfield, that there will be a meeting of the citizens of Greene County in thetown of Bloomfield on the last Saturday in May next, for the purpose of forming an agricultural society in the county of Greene and State of Indiana."If this meeting was held, or if any action whatever was taken, such fact is no longer remembered. In October, 1853, under the new law of the State, granting the right to organize corporate societies for the promotion of agriculture, a meeting of the citizens was held, the attendance being small, and it was then decided to hold a fair that fall, but this plan was abandoned, owing to the lateness of the season. These facts, and a brief description of the county were furnished the State Board of Agriculture, by Mr. I. V. Coddington, Secretery of the society. On the 14th of November, 1853, the society seems to have been re-organized, as at that time a constitution and by-laws was adopted, and the following permanent officers elected: Martin Wines, President; I. V. Coddington, Vice President; P. Schultze, Secretary; J. M. Humphreys, Treasurer. At this time the society numbered twenty-five members, and by the 1st of January, 1854, had increased to 139. At a meeting held at Bloomfield, April 28, 1854, it was decided by the society to hold a fair on the 18th and 19th of October of that year for the first. This fair was held in pursuance of this action a short distance west of Bloomfield. No wheat, corn, or vegetables were on exhibition. Horses, cattle, mules and hogs were quite well represented. Manufactured articles of home origin, fruit, wagons, plows, harrows, butter, cheese, etc., were also exhibited. William Mack, Esq., and others addressed the small crowd on the second day. The officers elected for 1855 were F. B. Cressy, President; John Jones, Vice President; Peter Schultze, Secretary; Joseph Lyons, Treasurer: Henry Vanslyke, Librarian. The second fair was also held at Bloomfield, with a better exhibit of live stock, farm products, etc., than in 1854. A full account of this fair cannot be given. The Third Annual Fair of the Greene County Agricultural Society was held at Bloomfield, just west oŁ town, on the 2d and 3d of October, 1856. The White River Valley Times published at Worthington, said on the 9th of October: "We found the ground selected for it in a miserable place. One half was in the woods and the other half in a potato patch, with no accommodations at all. Every person who brought stock of any kind or any article for exhibition was allowed the privilege of poking them into any corner he could find. Order in the arrangement of articles was but little observed. This was the duty of the society, but owing to the limited amount of funds they were unable to attend to it. We found the exhibition of stock rather creditable." There was on exhibition fine fruit and vegetables, and a large crowd was present to see the sights and listen to the speech of Hon. Joseph A. Wright. Premiums of money, silver goblets, cups, butter knives, thimbles, spoons were then awarded. Pressly Stafford, I. V. Coddington, Henry Vanslyke and G. C. Morgan, took premiums on cattle: Elias Dayhoff, James Jessup, Abraham Dayhoff, C. J. Barrackman, Joseph Shields, J. F. Jamison, W. Y. Dayhoff, H. R. Strong, William Dixson, B. F. Dayhoff, K. B. Osborn, A. J. Newson and Horace Williams took premiums on horses; Aquilla Price, A. Jessup, Peter Vanslyke. W. Y. Dayhoff, Samuel Moore on mules and jacks; Henry and Peter Vanslyke on sheep: George Stille on hogs: Henry and Peter Vanslyke. J. Henderson and I. V. Coddington on farm implements; Henry Vanslyke and David Middleton on leather; Mrs. W. J. McIntosh, Mrs. A. J. Faucett, Mrs. Mary Bryant, Mrs. D. Alkire and Mrs. A. Price on domestic ware; Mrs. Martin Wines, Mrs. C. J. Barrackman, Mrs. E. Palmer, Mrs. E. Mack, and Mrs. M. H. Shryer on needlework; D. Hunter, Henry Vanslyke, Elias Dayhoff, A. Price and John Workman on vegetables; M. L. Deal on fruit; I. V. Coddington, A. J. Faucett, W. N. Alkire and Mrs. M. Bryant on butter and cheese; D. A. Bynum, A. J. Faucett and M. L. Deal on grain. The following officers were elected for 1857: John Jones, President; Henry Vanslyke, Vice President; J. C. Bennett, Secretary; Joseph Eveleigh, Treasurer; William H. Johnson, Librarian; Joseph Lyons, S. Fellows, J. F. Jamison, J. P. East, W. J. McIntosh, John Sanders, John A. Pegg, H. R. Strong, Andrew Humphrey, I. V. Coddington, P. M. O'Haver. S. Walston and C. J. Barrackman, Directors. The former President was John Jones and the former Secretary J. C. Bennett. The next fair, that of 1857, was held at Newberry. Premiums to the amount of $180 were paid. G. C. Morgan received the first premium for the best farm. Hon. John T. Freeland was the orator. In 1858, the county fair was again held at Bloomfield on a tract of five acres leased of John Jones and Henry Vanslyke for ten years, it is said. A tight fence ten feet high was built around this tract of open and timber land, and suitable stalls and sheds were built; 280 entries were made, and all premiums of over $2 were paid in silverware. Excellent stock was exhibited and as a whole the fair was better than on any previous year. The old Junction Woolen Factory of Point Commerce exhibited fine fabrics of manufacture, and A. J. Newson and G. C. Morgan exhibited blooded stock. On the third day, a trotting match was witnessed for the first time in the county. Mrs. Hatfield, Mrs. Parsons, Mrs. Gallagher and Miss McIntosh competed for the premiums offered for the best female equestrianism. The last named took the first prize and Mrs. Gallagher the second. This fair was greatly enjoyed. Premiums worth $261 were paid. Fairs continued to be held thereafter annually at Bloomfield. A very large and profitable one was held in 1861. Premiums worth $600 were paid, and a handsome balance was left in the treasury of the society. Among the premiums were $20 for the best cultivated bottom farm, and $10 for second best. Also $20 for the best cultivated upland farm, and $10 for second best. For the best female rider, $10; for the best band of music, $20; second best, $10. Premiums were paid for horses, trotting, mules and jacks, cattle, hogs, sheep, wagons, carriages, mechanical work. farm products, jellies and preserves, domestic manufactures, needlework, dairy products, floriculture, fruit, female equestrianism, music, best farms, miscellaneous articles. The officers at this time were A. J. Faucett, President; M. J. Lyons, Secretary; William Mason, Treasurer; Horace Norvell, Superintendent; G. W. Osborn, Assistant Superintendent. The fair of 1862, was not as great a success, for the nation was at war, and peaceful pursuits were neglected. Only two-thirds in value of the premiums offered were paid. John Jones was President, and W. W. Gainey, Secretary. After this the fair was abandoned, though efforts were made to keep it alive. In October, 1870, articles of incorporation of the Greene County Agricultural Society were filed in the Recorder's office. The objects, as stated, were "to promote the interests of agriculture, horticulture and mechanical arts," under the act of the Legislature of February 17, 1852. Article IV of the articles of incorporation provided that, to more effectually accomplish its objects, the society should, pursuant to an act of the Legislature of February 20, 1867, issue a capital stock to an amount not exceeding $5,000 in 1,000 shares of $5 each, transferable to bearer, each stockholder to be entitled to an additional vote for each share by him held. It was also determined that "this society shall, during a period of ten years, hold an annual fair at such time and place (not exceeding two miles from the town of Linton") as the society may determine at any regular meeting." It was also decided that "from the proceeds of the sale of the capital stock there shall be leased and inclosed not less than twelve nor more than eighteen acres of ground for the use of the society, and the necessarv sheds and conveniences." The list of original stock-holders, with the number of shares each subscribed, was as follows:
The first officers were Thomas Mason, President; Jephtha Moss, Vice President; J. W. Usrey, Secretary; E. J. Jackson, Corresponding Secretary; B. S. Sherwood, Treasurer; and Boon Hinman, General Superintendent. The first fair of this society was held at Linton in 1871, and was highly successful, a large crowd being present, and a large number of articles being exhibited. The details are too extensive for this volume. A good ground was obtained east of town, where the fair has been held. Much credit is due Linton and vicinity for the interest it has taken in the County Agricultural Society, beginning in 1854. Many of the fairs held in the decade of seventies were excellent in all departments, and fully up to the standard of the counties of Indiana. For a number of years during the decade of the sixties, Jack Baber held a stock and agricultural fair at Worthington. The first was held on the town commons in October, 1862, and was well attended. Considerable fruit and vegetables were on exhibition. Among the display were two cuts of cotton, raised and spun in Fairplay Township by Mrs. John A. Pegg. A number of fine horses was shown. The principal value of this fair related to the rearing of horses. A much larger crowd was on hand at the next fair, 2,500, it was said, being present. Premiums were paid on horses, farm products, lady equestrianism, etc. How long Baber's fair continued cannot be stated. The total expense of the county for the year 1821 was $238.75, and for the year 1822 was $970.34. The cash receipts in 1821 were nothing, and in 1822 were $268.12 1/2. The entire receipts from all sources from the organization of the county to November, 1824, were $l,120.93 3/4. Of this amount, $944.99 1/4 was paid out. It is probable that by this time, at least $1,000 had been issued in "county orders." At least, the county was deeply in debt. In 1825, the county receipts were $447.75, and the town receipts $208.72 1/2. During the year the total receipts then were $656.47 1/2. The county expenses (that is, the cash used, not the orders issued) in 1825, were $354.98 1/4, and the town expenses (cash used) were $238.23; total cash expense for the year $593.21 1/4. In 1829-30 (from May to May), the cash receipts were $644.46 1/2, and the cash expenses $591.65. In 1833, the total receipts were $976.47 1/2, and the expenses $1,001.50 1/2. The Circuit Court cost $166; the Probate Court, $9, wolf scalps, $23; and Treasurer's fees, $44.14. >nr? For the fiscal year ending November, 1837, the total expense was $1,226.94 1/2. The county poor cost $158.99; county officers, $370.90 1/2; the courts, $380.75. The total receipts were (including delinquent tax not collected and old county orders canceled), $4,924.03 1/2. In 1837-38 (calendar year), the records of the County Board show that the receipts for the year were $1,627.55. Merchants', ferry, liquor and other licenses brought $259.49 1/4. The county revenue was about $1,000, of which $826.23 had been collected at the end of the fiscal year. The total expenses were $1,444.36. Of this, $503.34 went to county officers, $255.58 to the poor, and $437.50 to the courts. For the fiscal year ending June, 1845, the total receipts were $2,309.58, the county revenue collected during that period being $2,116.56. The total expenses, exclusive of county orders unredeemed, were $1,966.26. The poor cost $257.80, county officers, $381.97, and the courts, $555.65. For the fiscal year 1847-48, the receipts were $3,674.35, merchants' licenses bringing $117.66, and grocers' licenses, $109.82. The total expenses were $3,631.16, of which $933.54 went to the poor, $451.57 to county officers, $508.25 to the courts, and $823.31 to purchase the poor farm. For the fiscal year 1851-52, the receipts were $5,734.31, the county revenue collected, including delinquencies, being $4,985.33. Merchants' licenses brought $144.35, and liquor and grocery licenses $149. The expenses were $4,727.92. The poor cost $531.79; county officers, $495.33; the courts, $899.53. At the end of this year, there were outstanding orders to the amount of about $2,000. For the fiscal year 1855-56, the receipts were $8,200.99, and the expenses $7,017.44. Outstanding orders to the amount of $1,183.55 were redeemed. The poor cost $1,052.57; county officers, $936.96; the courts, $2,342.20. In 1857-58, the receipts were $10,268.38, and the expenses $7,923.67. The county revenue collected during the year, including delinquencies, was $9,939.73. The poor cost $913.08; county officers, $1,594.79; the courts, $1,981.40; and agriculture, $170. In 1858-59, the receipts were $16,812.79; and the expenses, $10,503.94. For the year 1859-60, there was on hand at the beginning, $5,069.51. The receipts from the sale of county bonds were $6,500; from delinquent tax, $1,503.23; total receipts, $28,511.75. Outstanding county orders at the end of the year, $2,452.73. County officers cost $1,689.66; poor, $976.43: agricultural society, $60; new jail, $7,809.65; courts, $2,221.75. For the fiscal year 1862-63, there was on hand at the beginning $6,404.96. The county revenue reported was $12,209.06, and the total actual receipts $12,364.81, which, added to what was on hand, gave $18,769.77. The county expenses amounted to $7,115.98. County orders to the amount of $6,246.12 were redeemed, leaving in the treasury $5,407.70. County orders still outstanding. $5,790, leaving the county actually in debt $382.30. The poor cost $1,368.14; the courts cost 8869.14; and county officers, $2,160.63. For the year 1865-66, there was on hand to begin $6,049.32. The county revenue receipts were $29,879.06, and the total receipts, including what was on hand to begin with, were $48,113.65. The total actual expenses were $16,242.07. The poor cost $4,748.50; county officers, $1,983.45; and the courts, $2,667.66. County orders to the amount of $19,099.40 were paid during the year, and there was left, in the treasury a balance of $12,772.18. There were yet outstanding orders worth $600, which should have been paid while the county was engaged in the good work. This amount, taken from what remained in the treasury, left $12,172.18, what the county was ahead of all its liabilities, and all this, too, just at the close of the war. For the fiscal year 1869-70, there was on hand at the beginning $6,483. The county revenue receipts were $18,282.96, and the total receipts $25,130.01. The poor cost $5,737.47; county officers, $2,040.88; and the courts, $3,401.21. The total county expense was $18,824.59, but only $13,945.45 in county orders was redeemed. There was left on hand $10,484.56. For the fiscal year 1875-76, there was on hand at the beginning $22,566.06. The revenue receipts were $20,128.52, and the total receipts were $36,365.46, making, with what was on hand, $58,936.52. The receipts from the sale of bonds were $6,000. The poor cost $3,639.71; county officers, $8,186.87; the agricultural society, $110; and the courts, $3,226.62. The total expenses were $31,783.52, and orders additional to the amount of $6,759.05 were redeemed, making the total outlay $38,542.57. For the fiscal year 1879-80, there was on hand at the beginning $2,727.74. The county revenue collected amounted to $23,593.85, and the receipts from the sale of county bonds was $30,075. The total amount to meet the expenses of the year was then $58,747.75. The poor cost $3,510.16; the courts, $3,361.72; county officers, $4,782.11; and the bridges built cost $21,755.34. The total outlay was $42,562.29, leaving on hand $16,185.46. The total receipts and expenditures in full from June 1, 1882, to May 31, 1883, inclusive, were as follows:
Respectfully submitted. Approved June 16, 1883. JOHN L. HARREL, Auditor. MOSES CROCKETT, ) JOHN MILLER, JR., ) Commissioners- ROBERT T. McKEE, ) The present (1883-84) bonded debt of Greene County is about $30,000. This was incurred, principally, in the construction of three bridges across White River- one at Newberry, one at Worthington, and one northwest of Bloomfield. In round numbers:
The iron bridge was built in 1875, and the other two in 1878. By 1876, sixty bonds, each calling for $500, had been issued. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these bonds was used for other purposes, and the deficiency was supplied from the county collections. No more bonds have been sold. At present a new bridge is being built across the river about two miles below Bloomfield, the estimated cost of which is $15,000. An issue of about $10,000 of bonds will have to be made to meet the expense, the remainder being used from the county funds. The State Internal Improvement Bill, enacted late in the thirties, provided for, among other stupendous projects, a system of canals to meet the growing demands of the State. Accordingly the above-named canal was projected and built During the forties, to complete the work, land grants were made, State bonds were issued and bought in England, and at last, early in the fifties, the channel was open from Toledo, Ohio, to Evansville, Ind. During the years 1849 and 1850, the work was done through Greene County, the route lying as follows: Entering the county at Johnstown, thence down to Worthington; thence along the west side of the river to Newberry, where a dam was built and the river crossed: thence southwestwardly into Daviess County. Contracts were taken by moneyed men to excavate certain limits of the canal, and then hundreds of Irishmen and others were employed to do the earth work. The means at hand then were not what they are now. The work was done almost wholly with the spade, shovel, pick, wheelbarrow and one-horse cart, with an occasional scraper. Regular traffic north by boat began at Worthington in 1850, at which time the occasion was celebrated by a grand excursion up the canal to Terre Haute. In 1851, regular boats were running across Greene County. Andrew Downing, who was then conducting the iron furnace, owned two boats on which he shipped the products of his furnace. Alexander Thompson was one of his Captains for a time. Large quantities of iron were sent to Evansville. One of his boats was finally wrecked at the Richland cut-off, where the half rotten remains may be seen imbedded to this day. His brother Paul was also one of his Captains. Start & Co., flour merchants of Worthington, also owned several boats and shipped large quantities of milling products off on the canal. P. C. Vanslyke, of Bloomfield, owned two boats called respectively the John H. Eller and the H. T. Ford, the latter being a very rapid sailer. He made a business for several years of shipping grain and other products. The canal through this part of its course was never finished and therefore never furnished the proper depth of water for large loads. There were six locks in the county. A fair business was done until about 1859, when the canal was mainly abandoned. It was revived from time to time until about 1863, though it could not be depended on and was regarded as an eyesore and a nuisance.
This fund has been obtained wholly from the sale of school lands in the county. These lands were the various sixteenth sections in the Congressional townships comprised within the county limits- in all fifteen in number. Sales began to be made in some of them immediately after the organization of the county, and continued until comparatively recent years. There has been no increase of the fund since about the years 1866-67, when the last school land was sold. The origin of the fund was as follows:
The only other revenue than from the interest on the common and Congressional funds is derived from direct levies upon the polls and the taxable property of the county. The alterations in the mode of levying have been numerous and will not be traced. The following table shows the entire school revenue of the county in April, 1S83:
In 1882, there were nine brick schoolhouses, 134 frame and no log. Value of schoolhouses and grounds, $70,700; value of apparatus, $5,840; volumes in township libraries, 2,378; number of private schools during the year, 23; number of teachers, 25; the decrease in school children from 1881 to 1882 was 158. Late in the decade of forties and early in the decade of fifties, Greene, with all other counties of the State, was called upon to vote on the question of having free schools. The following statement shows the result of these elections:
* In 1848, Plummer Township comprised Taylor and Cass, and Jefferson was a part of Smith. This table shows the change in sentiment in the county on the question of free schools from 1848 to 1851. The result in 1849 cannot be given. In 1883, the number of acres in the county was 347,097.61; the value of land was $2,913,692; the value of improvements, $767,490; value of lots $87,135; value of improvements, $252,830; value of personal property, $1,900,076; total value of taxables, $5,921,223; total tax, $108,287*99; number of polls, 3,683.
(at the September term, 1824, the County Justices began doing county business, continuing until 1827);
(in September, 1834, the County Justices again took control and continued until 1837)
(end of Commissioners).
(under the new law approved March 11, 1861);
R. C. Hilburn, first County Superintendent, June 1873; S. W. Axtell, autumn of 1876-84.
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Home | Contact~about Us~Volunteer | INGenWeb | USGenWeb | WorldGenWeb | Site Map | What's New? | Search Engines | Submit Data | Updates or News | | All Rights Reserved Last updated 28.10.2009  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
