This Indenture Witnesseth that Thos. S. Cox and M. Scudder Overseers of the Poor of Fairfield Township in the county of Tippecanoe in the State of Indiana, have put and placed and by these presents do put place and bind out as an apprentice John Arnet a poor body aged twelve years old the 11th day of Sept. next (to learn the business and profession of farming) to Robert K. Sheets of said county, to dwell with and serve the said Sheets after the manner of an apprentice, from the date hereof until he shall have arrived at the full age of Twenty one years, during all which time the said apprentice shall well and faithfully serve the said Sheets and _______ and at all times readily obey his lawful commands, he shall do no damage to the said Sheets, nor willfully suffer any to be done by others and if any to his knowledge be intended he shall give the said reasonable notice thereof.  He shall not waste the property of said Sheets, shall not absent himself from the service of said Sheets, but shall in all things, and at all times carry and behave himself as a good and faithful apprentice ought during his whole time of service.  And the said Sheets on his part doth hereby covenant promise and agree to teach and instruct the said apprentice to read and write and cypher as far as the rule of three, if said apprentice be capable to learn; and also to teach and instruct the said apprentice in the art business and occupation of a Farmer in the best way and manner he can, and well and faithfully to find and provide for the said apprentice good and sufficient meat, drink, clothing and lodging and other necessaries fit and convenient for such apprentice during the term aforesaid, and at the expiration thereof shall give to said apprentice on suitable suit for Sunday besides his working apparel And shall also give the said apprentice on good horse saddle and bridle of the value of sixty dollars.

In testimony whereof the said parties hereunto set their hands and seals the 16th day of March in the year 1836.

Signed:
Thomas S. Cox {seal}
Matthias Scudder {seal}
Robt. K. Sheets {seal}

A true record
Recorded March 16th 1836 - S. C. Cox  Recorder

Transcribed from Record of Poor Children's Indentures for Tippecanoe County, Indiana, 1833-1846, pp. 17-18