The act of Congress, passed July 13, 1787, is the chief corner-stone upon which all of the history of the State of Indiana must be founded, and is the first fixed point from which we may start to run a random line, and to which wemust correct back, in order to establish permanence in the way of truth of our statements, and in order to have them consist wth each other.Back of that, are uncertain and incoherent facts of Franch and English occupancy, the tradition of Indian possession, and the relics of prehistoric habitation. All of these are unstable, fragmentary and impersonal, so far as Indiana is concerned.
   As all life is of the egg and comes from the germ which is the hidden, and humanly unknown principle of it, but which exists in however so infintesimal and invisible a degree, so Indiana was hidden in this ordinance of 1787, and in due season and course of time came forth in 1816, and stands before the world to-day, a State of which any man would be proud to call himself her son.
   Article 5, of the ordinance, provides, "That there shall be formed in the said Territory not less than three nor more than five States, and the boundaries of the States *****shall become fixed and established, as follows, to wit: ******The Middle States shall be bounded by the said direct line: the Wabash, from Post Vincents to the Ohio, by the Ohio, by a direct line drawn due north from the mouth of Great Miami to the said Territorial line, and by the said Territorial line; ******and whenever any of the said States shall have 60,000 free inhabitants therein, such State shall be admitted, by its delegates, into the Congress of the United States on an equal footing with the original States in all respects whatever, and shall be at liberty to form a permanent consititution and State government, etc."
   Here we have the first definite line of boundary of the State of Indiana, Subsequently the State of Michigan was taken out of this body of land, and the State of Indiana was left with her present boundary lines.
   Indiana Territory was organized with a specific name, by the act of Congress bearing date May 7, 1800. It provides: "Laws of United States," Vol. 3, Page 367.
   "Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, from and after the fourth day of July next, all that part of the terriroty of the United States northwest of the Ohio rive, which lies to the westward of a line beginning at the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of the Kentucky river, and running thence to Fort Recovery, (2) and thence north, until it shall intersect the territorial line between the Untied States and Canada, shall, for the purposes of temporary government, constitute a separate territory and be called the Indiana Territory." In section 5 of this act it is "Provided, That whenever that part of the territory of the United States which lies to the eastward of a line beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami river, and running thence due north, to the territorial line between the United States and Canads, shall be erected into an independent State, and admitted unto the Union on an equal footing with the original States; thenceforth said line shall become and remain permanently the boundary line between such State and the Indiana Territory; anything in this act contained to the contrary not withstanding."
   We find, further, in an act of Congress, approved March 26th, 1804: "Entitled an act erecting Louisiana into two Territories, and providing for the temporary government thereof. Section 12. Laws of the Untied States, Vol. 3, page 608.
   "That the residue of the Province of Louisiana (i.e., 'All that portion of country ceded by France to the United States, under the name of Louisiana,' which lies north of an east and west line on the Mississippi rive, at the thrity-third degree of north latitude, and to extend west to the western boundary of the said cession,) ceded to the United States shall be called the district of Louisiana, the government whereof shall be organized and administered as follows:
   The executive power now vested in the Governor of Indiana Territory, shall extend to, and be exercised in the said district of Louisiana. The bovernor and judges of the Indiana territory shall have power to establish, in the said district of Louisiana, inferiour courts, and prescribe their jurisdiction and duties, and to make all laws which they may deem conducive to the good government of the inhabitants thereof," etc. By reference to the map you will find what an immense territory was comprised within the jurisdiction of Indiana territory. It took in the whole of the States of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Missesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oregon, Dakota and Washington Territory-in short an expanse of territory larger than any country in Europe at that time.
   Jefferson County was organized by virtue of the following act: "An act for the division of Dearborn and Clark counties, and for the formation of a new county out of the said two counties.
   1. Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, and is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That all that part of the counties of Clark and Dearborn, included within the following bounds, vis; 'Beginning at the mouth of Dog Lick Creek, on the bank of the river Ohio, thence to the corner of sections five and eight, town four, range three, thence north to the Indian boundary line, thence with the same westwardly to a point opposite the northeast corner of Clark's grant, thence on a direct line to the said corner of the said grant, thence in a direct line to the Ohio river at the lower line of town two north, range ten east, thence up the Ohio river with the meanders therof to the beginning, shall compose one new county, called and know by the name of Jefferson.
   2. And it be further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the coroners, sheriffs, constables, and collectors of the said counties of Clark and Dearborn, to make distress for all dues and officers' fees unpaid by the said inhabitants within the bounds of the said new county at the time such division shall take place, and they shall be accountable in like manner as if this act had not been passed; the courts of Clark and Dearborn counties shall have jurisdiction in all actions and suits pending therein at the time of said division, and they shall try and determine the same, issue process, and award execution thereon.
   3. And be it further enacted, That the seat of justice in and for said county shall be, and the same is hereby established in the town of Madison, in town two north range ten east.
   4. And be it further enacted, That this act shall commence and be in force from and after the first day of February, one thousand eight hundred and eleven.
                                                            Dennis Pennington
                                                                    Speaker of the House of Rep.
                                                            Jas. Beggs,
                                                            Pres. of the Legislative Council
          Approved November 23rd, 1810
               William Henry Harrison
            At the Borough of Vincennes, Indiana Territory
   
   The boundaries of Jefferson county have been modified and changed since then, by the formation of the counties of Switzerland, Ripley, Jennings and Scott. The present boundaries are as follows, and contain about three hundred and eighty square miles:
   Beginning on the Ohio river at a point where an east and west line dividing fractional section number twenty-nine, thownship two south, range ten east, strikes the same; thence west through the center of said fractional section twenty-nine and sections thirty and twenty-five, to the east line of section twenty-six, township two, range nine; thence north to the southeast corner of section twenty-three; thence west to the southeast corner of section twenty-two; thence north to the northeast corner of section twenty-two; thence west to the southeast corner of section thirteen, township two north, of range eight east; thence north to the southeast corner of township three, range eight; thence north to the line dividing sections twenty-four and twenty-five; thence west to the northeast corner of section twenty-seven; thence north to the northeast corner of section fifteen; thence west to the northeast corner of section seventeen; thence north to the northeast corner of section eight; thence west to the northeast corner of section seven; thence north to the township line; thence west to the northwest corner of said township; thence north with the line, dividing ranges seven and eight, to the line dividing townships four and five; thence east to the northeast corner of section three, township four, range eight east; reserving, however, all that part of the town of Paris, being the northeast quarter of section four, in township four north, range eight east, which is attached to the county of Jennings; thence north to the nowth west corner of section twenty-six, in township five, range eight; thence east to the range line dividing ranges eight and nine; thence north to the northeast corner of section thirteen, township five north, range eight east; thence east to the southeast corner of section eight, township five, range nine; thence north to the line dividing; townships five and six; thence east to the northeast corner of section five, township five north, range twelve east; thence south to the Ohio river; thence with said river to the place of beginning.

                                                                              Townships
   The county is divided into ten civil townships,  viz: Madison, Graham, Lancaster, Monroe, Milton, Saluda, Shelby, Smyrna, Republican and Hanover.
   MILTON township is bounded on the north by Shelby township, on the east by Switzerland county, on the south by the Ohio River and on the west by Madison Township.
   SHELBY township is bounded on the north by Ripley county, on the east by Switzerlandd county, on the south by Milton and Madison townships, and on the west by Monroe township
   MONROE township is bounded on the north by Ripley county, on the east by Shelby township, on the south by Madison township, on the south by Madison township and on the west by Lancaster Township.
   LANCASTER township is bounded on the north by Jennings county, on the east by Monroe township, on the south by Smyrna township, and on the west by Graham township and Jennings County.
   MADISON township is bounded on the north by Shelby, Monroe and Smyrna townships, on the east by Milton township, on the south by the Ohio river and Hanover township, and on the west by Hanover, Republican and Smyrna townships.
   SMYRNA township is bounded on the north by Lancaster township, on the east by Madison township, on the south by Madison and Republican townships, and on the west by Graham township.
   REPUBLICAN township is bounded on the north by Graham and Smyrna townships, on the easy by Smyrna, Madison and Hanover townships, on the south by Hanover and Saluda townships and Scott county, and on the west by Graham township and Scott county.
   HANOVER township is bounded on the north by Madison and Smyrna townships, on the east by Madison township, the Ohio river and Saluda township, on the south by Saluda township, and on the west by Republican and Saluda townships.
   SALUDA township is bounded on the north by Hanover and Republican townships, on the east by the Ohio river and Hanover township, on the south by Clark county, and on the west by Clark and Scott counties.

                                                                         History of Townships
   In the beginning there seems to have been only three townships in this county, as is found by an entry on the records of the Common Pleas Court, to wit:
   "Ordered (July 19, 1812), that Elisha Golay be appointed as Inspector of Jefferson Township at the next general election."
   By a second order on the same, and for the same purpose, Jesse Gray was appointed as Inspector for Madison township; and a third order on the same page appoints Thomas Taylor as Inspector of Washington township. There is nothing on record to show the bounds of these, and there is no other mention of the last two. The next mention of townships is after Indiana had become a State, county business is under the jurisdiction of a Board of County Commissioners. The first Board of Commissioners for Jefferson county was composed of
                                                                                                            James Stolt,
                                                                                                            Nathaniel Hunt,
                                                                                                            Ekillis Wilhite
   This board met at the court house in Madison on Monday, Feb. 10, 1817, and was organized according to the law. The first business item on the records is:  "Thomas Stribbling, Sheriff of the county aforesaid, filed his protest against the jail of this county, which was ordered to be filed.
   The court then adjourned till the day in course."
   On the 11th day of February, 1817, the court passed an order forming and bounding Graham township, and appointing an election for justice of the peace.
   "An order forming and bounding Pittsburg township and appointing time and place of election therein, and appointing Inspector of election, was passed the same day." Pittsburg township commenced "Two miles east of the south-east corner of Section 13, Township 4 north, Range 11 East, (at Switzerland county line); thence west with the section line until you strike the creek; thence west with the creek and meanders thereof, so as to include John Griffith; thence with the section line west one mile to the range line; thence north with the range line to the county line."
   This is all of the discription on record, but the intention, evidently, is to follow the county line east to the corner of the county, and thence south along the county line to the place of beginning.
   This was before the organization of Ripley county, and the north line of Jefferson county was along the Indian boundary (see act organizing Jefferson in this volume). This line commenced at a point in what would be the north-west quarter of section 24, range XIII, east town XI north, runs thence southwestwardly to the range line dividing ranges Vi and VII east, cutting off a part of the north west quarter of section 31, township VII, range VII. This line crossed just about the point of junction of the counties of Ripley, Decatur and Franklin.
   On the 13th day of February, 1817, an order was passed forming and bounding Madison and Saluda townships.
   Previous to this time, Madison township had contained all of what is now Saluda, Republican, Hanover and Smyrna, and a part of Milton townships.
   On the 5th of March, 1817, Lancaster township was formed, bounded, and an Inspector of election appointed by order of the court.
   May 12, 1817, Republican and Milton townships were formed. Milton, from Madison and Pittsburg townships.
   Shelby township was formed by an order of the Board of County Commissioners, dated February 12, 1823.
                                                              Jesse Gray,
                                                              R.B. Mitchell,
                                                              Jacob Rhoads,
were County Commissioners at this time. Shelby township wiped out the portion of Pittsburg township, which was left.
   Hanover township was made by an order of the Board, dated Tuesday, September 1, 1836.
                                                              Thomas Wise,
                                                              Joseph Wiley,
                                                              John Bowen,
comprising the Board at this time.
   Monroe township was ordered to be formed from parts of Lancaster and Shelby townships on March 11, 1842.
                                                              Nathan Robinson
                                                              Wm. Smith
                                                              John Jewell
constituting the Board at this time.
   Shelby township was formed by order of Commissioners' Court, June 16, 1847.         
                                                              Campbell Kinnear,
                                                              John E. Gale,
                                                              Nathan Robinson
as the Board at this time.     

Transcribed by Sheila Kell