Copywright USGenNet Inc., 2004, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER 4 THE COUNTY BEFORE ITS ORGANIZATION - THE ACT OF FORMULATION - THE COUNTY BOARD - ORGANIZATION - CREATION OF TOWNSHIPS - IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS - LATER OCCURRENCES - BONDS AND BRIDGES - THE FINANCES-COURT HOUSES AND JAILS - HIGHWAYS-RAILROADS - THE PAUPERS - POPULATION - THE VARIOUS LIBRARIES - THE SCHOOL FUNDS-THE MEDICAL SOCIETY - AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS - FULL ACCOUNT - THE DEATH OF WILBUR - LIST OF COUNTY OFFICERS- POLITICS-STATISTICS. During the territorial period of Indiana the population was so sparse that the few counties which had been organized comprised large tracts of wild country. Then, as time passed and settlements became denser, new counties were striken off and organized. The present county of Orange originally comprised portions of Knox and Clarke - Knox west of the meridian line and Clarke east. March 9, 1813, all of Orange County west of the meridian line and south of the line dividing Sections 20 and 29, Township 1 north, became part of Gibson County. December 21, 1813, all of Orange County east of the meridian line except the southern half of Township 1 south, and the small tract north of Orleans and north of the junction of the Indian boundary lines of 1803 and 1805 became part of Washington County, and September 1, 1814, the last mentioned small tract was added to the last named county. The southern half of Township 1 south, east of the meridian, remained part of Harrison County. This was the situation of the tract of country now comprising Orange County at the time of its creation by the following enactment: AN ACT FOR THE FORMATION OF A NEW COUNTY OUT OF THE COUNTIES OF WASHINGTON, GIBSON AND KNOX. Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That from and after the first day of February next all that part of the counties of Washington, Gibson and Knox, which is included within the following boundaries, shall form and constitute a new county, which shall be known and designated by the name and style of the county of Orange: that is to say, beginning on the Indian boundary line where the range line dividing Range 2 and 3 west of the second principal meridian intersects said boundary line; thence south with said range line until it intersects the line dividing the counties of Perry and Gibson; thence west with said line until it intersects the western boundary line of Harrison County; thence north with said line to the southwest corner of Washington County and northwest corner of Harrison; thence east with the line dividing Harrison and Washington Counties until it intersects the line dividing Sections 16 and 17, in Range 2 east. Township 1 south; thence north with said line dividing Sections 16 and 17 to the Indian boundary line; thence westwardly with said Indian boundary line to the place of beginning. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the said county hereby formed and established shall enjoy and exercise all the rights, privileges and jurisdictions which to separate counties of this Territory do or may properly appertain or belong; Provided always, That all suits. pleas, plaints, actions and proceedings which may before the 1st day of February next have been commenced, instituted or depending within the present counties of Washington, Gibson and Knox, shall be prosecuted to final judgment and execution in the same manner as if this act had never been passed, and that the territorial and county taxes which are now due within the boundaries of the new county hereby established, shall be collected in the same manner and by the same officers as they would have been if this act had not passed. SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That until a court house shall be erected for the accommodation of the court, the courts for the said county of Orange shall be held at the house of William Lindley, Jr., in said Orange County. SEC. 4. Be it further enacted. That Peter McIntosh, Ignatius Abel, Hiram Boon, Marston G. Clark and Samuel Jack, all of the counties of Washington and Harrison, be and they are hereby appointed Commissioners to fix the seat of justice in said Orange County, who shall meet at the said William Lindley’s Jr., on the second Monday of February next, and proceed to fix the seat of justice for the said Orange County agreeably to the provisions of an act for the fixing the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off. SEC. 5, Be it further enacted, That the said courts authorized to transact county business in the aforesaid new county shall as soon as convenient after the seat of justice is fixed cause the public buildings of said new county to be erected thereon, and shall adjourn the court thereto so soon as the court house is in the estimation of the court sufficiently completed for the accommodation of the court. SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That the said Orange County is hereby declared to be and remain a part of the district for the election of Counsellors composed of the counties of Washington and Knox, and in case of a vacancy for Counsellor, the Associate Judges of said county of Orange shall have power to carry into effect the law regulating elections. Approved December 26, 1815. ACTS OF THE COUNTY BOARD Under the supervision of Zachariah Lindley, the Sheriff appointed by the Governor to organize the new county, an election of two Associate Judges, one Clerk, one Coroner and possibly other officers was held early in 1816, and immediately thereafter the Associate Judges, Thomas Fulton and Samuel Chambers, met at the house of William Lindley, Jr., to transact county business now done by the County Commissioners. This meeting was held in February, 1816. About the first act was to divide the county into townships - Orange Township about Paoli, Lost River Township about Orleans, Greenfield, Northwest, Southwest. and Southeast. W. G. Berry and John Elrod were appointed Clerks in Lost River Township; Roger McKnight, Inspector; Robert Elrod and Robert Field, Judges. Samuel Cobb and Thomas Lynch were appointed Clerks in Orange Township; Ebenezer Doan, Inspector; John Lynch and Abraham Elliott, Judges. The report of the Commissioners appointed by the Legislature to fix the county seat was received and county orders were ordered issued to them for an aggregate amount of $114. The seat of justice was named Paoli, after a town in North Carolina, whence the Lindleys, the owners of most of the land donated to the county, had come. If others than Thomas Lindley and Thomas Hopper donated land to the county in consideration of having the seat of justice located at Paoli, such fact could not be learned. Jonathan Lindley was appointed County Agent and directed to lay out the county seat into lots, which was done in April, 1816, and immediately thereafter a public sale of lots was held. Another sale occurred in the fall, the two sales aggregating cash and book, proceeds of $8,294.40. This large amount placed the county on a firm financial footing. William Lindley, Jr., furnished the house where the County Board and other courts sat, but later they met at James Sutton’s, and elsewhere. Early in 1817, upon the petition of William Lindley, himself, John Sears and William Milliken were appointed Viewers to open the road between Paoli and Orleans. On motion it was ordered that Henry Massey, Henry Speed, Benjamin Blackwell and Ezekiel Blackwell be permitted to establish and keep a ferry on White River near the meridian line (now in Lawrence County). At this time Orange County comprised the present Lawrence County and nearly all of Monroe County. What is now Monroe County was ordered organized as Clear Creek Township, with Solomon Green as Inspector, elections to be held at his house. A township to be called Bono was ordered created with the following boundary: Beginning on White River at the northwest corner of Washington County, thence south to the Cincinnati road, thence west to Fishing Creek, thence north to White River, thence north with the section line which crosses at the mouth of said creek three miles, thence east to Jackson County, thence south to the beginning. Thomas Beasley was appointed Inspector of elections to be held at the town of Bono. Robert Fields, Ebenezer Doan and W. C. Green were appointed Viewers of a road from Paoli to Bono. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS In February, 1817, three Commissioners began doing the county business in place of the Associate Judges. Samuel Cobb, Ezekiel Blackwell, and Jonathan Lindley were the first three Commissioners - Cobb to serve three years, Blackwell two, and Lindley one. Their first act was to redivide the county into townships. All of Orange County west of the meridian line and south of the base line was named Greenfleld Township, elections to be held at the house of John Booth. Southeast Township was bounded as follows: Beginning on the county line between Townships 1 and 2 north, thence south to Harrison County, thence west to the meridian line, thence north seven miles, thence east four miles, thence north four miles, thence east to the beginning; elections to be at the house of Zachariah Lindley. Paoli Township to be bounded as follows: Beginning where the base line crosses the meridian line, thence west four miles, thence north ten miles, thence east eight miles, thence south eight miles, thence west four miles, thence south two miles to the beginning; elections to be held at Paoli. Southwest Township: Beginning on the base line between Sections 32 and 33, Range 1 west, thence west to the county line, thence north to the center of Township 2 north, thence east eight miles, thence south to the beginning; elections to be at the house of Joel Charles. Northwest Township: Beginning at the northwest corner of Section 21, Township 2 north, Range 1 west, thence west to the county line, thence north to White River, thence up said river to the meridian line, thence south to the northwest corner of Section 18. Township 2 north, Range 1 east, thence west four miles. thence south to the beginning; elections at the house of Thomas Evans. Northeast Township: Beginning on White River where the counties of Washington and Jackson cross, thence south on the eastern line of Orange County to the line dividing Townships 1 and 2 north, thence west four miles, thence north four miles, thence west to the meridian line, thence north to White River, thence up the same to the beginning; elections to be held at Jesse Roberts’. Leatherwood Township: All of the present Lawrence County north of White River and south of the line dividing Townships 6 and 7 north; election to be held at Basin Spring, at the house of James Stotts. Clear Creek Township: To be all of Orange County north of the line dividing Townships 6 and 7 north (the greater portion of the present County of Monroe); elections to be held at Basin Spring, on Section 20, Township 8 north. Range 1 west. Isaac Saunders was appointed Lister for Greenfield Township. Michael Beal for Southeast, William Lindley for Paoli, A. Campbell for Southwest, William Bean for Northwest, William G. Berry for Northeast, Robert Stotts for Leatherwood, and Solomon Green for Clear Creek. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS Simon Rubottom, James Wilson and Roger McKnight were appointed Viewers of a road from Paoli to Section 12, Township 4 north, Range 2 west, on White River. The following township officers were appointed for 1817: Paoli Township, William Lindley and Thomas At- kisson. Overseers of the Poor; Adam Miller and Joshua Nichols, same for Southwest Township; John Rooth and Joseph Kinkaid, same for Greenfield; George Henton and Thomas Copeland, same for Southeast; Robert Elrod and Thomas Evans, same for Northwest: James Maxwell and Daniel McKinney, same for Northeast; James Gregory and Jeremiah Rankin, same for Leatherwood; Roderick Rawlins and Lewis Jackson, same for Clear Creek. In February, 1817, Jonathan Lindley, County Agent, was directed to lay out five acres of the county land adjoining Paoli into lots, and offer the same at public auction, in April. All the improved county land within the town limits was ordered leased for one year. Joseph Osborn was appointed Constable for Greenfield Township. Daniel Henley for Southeast, Thomas G. Carr for Northeast, Burton Southern for Northwest, Josiah Hazelwood for Southwest, Jesse Wright for Clear Creek, and Richard L. Kearby for Paoli. In May, 1817, John McVey was appointed County Treasurer; Zachariah Lindley was appointed County Collector, with bonds at $3,000. The tax levied for the year 1817 was as follows: On horses 25 cents; town lots 50 cents on each $100 valuation; stallions the season rate; taverns $10; ferries $5. Silas Dixon and John Towel were permitted to establish a ferry on White River, Section 12, Township 4 north, Range 2 west. In February, 1817, the County Board met at the house of P. N. Allen, but in the following November met at the new court house. Early in 1818 several changes were made in the boundaries of the townships. The following charges were established for taverns: Meals 25 cents, lodging 12 1/2 cents, one-half pint of whiskey 12 1/2 cents. one-half pint of apple or peach brandy 18 3/4 cents, one-half pint of rum, wine or French brandy 37 1/2 cents, cider per quart 12 1/2 cents, cider royal per quart 25 cents, horse feed per gallon 12 1/2 cents. Jonathan Lindley, in February, 1818 was paid $100 for laying out lots to date. The receipts from the sales of town lots in April, 1817, were $1,871.40. Jonathan Lindley’s house was used in which to hold courts. In May, 1818, John G. Clendenin was appointed to procure a set of weights and measures for the county. The County Treasurer, McVey, was directed to bring suit against all persons selling goods without a license. In August, 1818, steps were taken to dig a well on the public square in Paoli. In November, 1818, the County Agent was directed to lay out the balance of the county land into lots, and advertise the sale thereof, in the Tocsin, of Salem. William Hoggatt was and had been, since the organization of the county, Clerk of the Circuit Court. The seal of the county was of brass, with a lamb in the center. Late in 1818 steps to build a bridge over Lick Creek at Paoli were taken. Evan Jones was County Lister in 1819. The following men, conscientiously opposed to bearing arms, were each required to pay into the County Treasury $4: Jonathan Lindley, William Lindley. John Towel, Adam Davis, Henry Holaday, Abraham Holaday, George Maris, Stephen Thomas, Tilden Thomas, Lewis Thomas, Jonathan Newlin, John Cloud, Joshua Hadley, Josiah Trueblood, Samuel Holaday, Robert Holaday, James Jones, Evan Hyatt, Ephraim Doan, John Williams, William Doan, Christopher Kill, John Atkisson, Jonathan Braxtan, Abe Osborn, Enoch Osborn, Thomas Maris, Levi Gifford, John Harnet, William Harnet, John Dougherty and Bailey Hobson. OTHER IMPORTANT ACTS The work on the public well was vigorously pushed by John Patton (but was soon abandoned), to whom the contract had been let. Adam Shirley was given the privilege of constructing a toll bridge over Lost River, on Section 11, Township 2 north, Range 2 west. The new court house was turned, over to the care of William Hoggatt. Ebenezer Doan was County Lister in 1820. In February, 1820, John Brown was employed for $6.75 to make nine chairs for the court house. John Pinnick was the County Census Taker in 1820. In May, 1820, all county land adjoining Paoli on the east was ordered laid out and sold at auction, or otherwise - ten acres in all. Joshua Robbins was permitted to establish a ferry on Lost River, on Section 14, Township 2 north, Range 2 west. Pinnick, the Census Taker, was paid $2 for each 100 persons. Henry A. Cowan was exempted from road work, being an invalid on the navy pension list. Alexander Wallace, County Lister, 1821 and 1822. In February, 1822, Jonathan Lindley, County Agent, resigned, and John G. Clendenin was appointed, but the latter, failing to qualify, was succeeded by Thomas F. Chapman. The public well was completed in 1824. In 1825 Township Listers were appointed to take the place of the County Lister. Zachariah Lindley was County Collector in 1825, and Alfred Athon in 1826. Joseph Potts became County Agent January, 1827, vice Chapman, deceased. John Phillips established a ferry on Lost River, near New Prospect. James Collins, Jr., became County Agent January, 1829. William Stewart, survivor of the Revolutionary war, was released from the payment of poll tax. Michael Mavity was President of the Board of Justices, 1829. Richard Hudelson was County Collector in 1829. Benjamin Johnson became County Agent in September, 1829. William Lindley became School Commissioner in 1829. The bond of the County Treasurer was fixed at $5,000. Patrick Dougherty became County Agent in March, 1831. In 1831 the new law of the State transferred the transaction of county business back to three Commissioners. whereupon the county was divided as follows, into three Commissioners’ districts: Northeast and Northwest Townships to be No. 1; Paoli and Southwest to be No. 2; Southeast and Greenfield to be No. 3. The three new Commissioners, who took their seats in September. 1831, were Joel Cloud, Samuel Dalton and Henry Hollowell. CREATION OF JACKSON TOWNSHIP, ETC. In September, 1831, a new township (Jackson) was created out of Greenfleld, with the following bounds: Beginning at the southwest corner of the county, thence north to the center line of Township 1 north, thence east with said line to the range line dividing Ranges 1 and 2 west, thence south to the county line, thence west to the place of begin. ning. Elections were ordered held at the house of John Overling, with John McDonald, Inspector. Soon after this a tier of sections on the north of Jackson Township was attached to Southwest Township. David Hudelson was County Collector in 1832. Several men throughout the county were licensed to vend wooden clocks. W . G. Berry was appointed to procure from Jefferson and Vincennes, from the land offices, the field notes of the original surveys in Orange County. Jonathan Stout was County Collector in 1833. Alexander Morris was County Collector in 1837—38. LATER NOTEWORTHY PROCEEDINGS March 4, 1839, Stampers Creek Township was formed with the following boundaries: Commencing at the southeast corner of Paoli Township, thence south one mile, to the corner of Sections 26 and 27, 34 and 35, Township 1 north, Range 1 east, thence east to the county line, thence north to the line dividing Sections 20 and 29, Township 2 north, Range 2 east, thence west to Paoli Township, thence south to the beginning; elections to be held at the house of G. K. Miller, who was appointed Inspector. Clement McDonald was County Collector in 1839. In 1842 W. E. Simpson was appointed a student to the Indiana College as, also, was Hiram Moyer. In 1843 a map of the United States was bought for $8, of John Baker, for use in the Auditor’s office. In 1846 J. C. Thornton was appointed a student to the State University. In June, 1847, the township which was before known as Southwest had its name changed to French Lick. Soon after this W. A. Bowles was permitted to build a toll bridge over Lost River at New Prospect In 1856 D. J. Huffstutter and Washington Colciasure were appointed students to the State University; also Felix G. Wellman 1857. In June, 1861, A. M. Black, on behalf of the town of Paoli, donated to the county for use on the court house, the clock that is yet in use. During the late war the County Board ordered paid out of the County Treasury large sums for soldiers’ bounty, and for the relief of soldiers’ families. In 1867 a large cistern was dug in the court house square, and an iron lattice work was put around the court house. In March 1875, the County Board offered $1,000 for the murderer or murderers of Thomas Moody, and this amount was paid when the guilty parties were convicted and sentenced. Sometime before this one of the county officers had proved to be a defaulter to the amount of over $5,000. In 1875 the court house was painted. Iron steps were built to the court house in 1880; cost about $1,800. In June, 1883, the county began paying $1 for old fox scalps, 50 cents for those of young ones; old woodchucks 25 cents, young ones 15 cents; hawks 25 cents; owls 25 cents. BONDS AND BRIDGES At no time has the county been very deep in debt. Bonds were issued when the present court house was built, but were soon paid. In 1868 county bonds to the amount of $10,000 were issued to meet unexpected expenses not provided for in the county levy. In 1873 new bonds to the amount of $5,000 were issued, which, four years later, were ordered refunded, as were all other outstanding county bonds. The bonded debt in June, 1877, was $9,250. In 1884 it was $10,000. In 1869 the bridge over Lick Creek, near Mr. Campbell’s, was built at a cost of $8,898.30. The Paoli and Jasper road bridge over Lick Creek, built in 1879, cost $2,415.80. The Paoli bridge, erected in 1880, cost about $2,000. Various other bridges were built in the county - over Lost River, Patoka River, Lick Creek and other streams - the cost aggregating from $15,000 to $20,000. THE COUNTY FINANCES It seems that no money was paid out by the county until February, 1816. The receipts and expenditures during the calendar years 1816 and 1817 were as follows: RECEIPTS County taxes, fines, store and tavern licenses $1,351.72 Taxes on roads 156.04 Tax on unlisted land 2.10 Total $1,509.86 EXPENSES Paid Prosecuting Attorneys $195.00 Paid County-seat Commissioners 114.00 Repair of public buildings 11.25 Keeping and guarding prisoners 89.87 Clerks and Judges of Elections 48.72 Overseers of Roads 35.00 Constables attending jurors 24.75 Fuel 1.50 Poor 11.50 Books for Clerk’s office 68.50 Clerks extra services 122.00 County Treasurer’s commnission 54.15 Township Treasurer’s commission 2.25 Sheriff’s extra services 101.50 Sheriff Tax Collector 87.88 Delinquent tax 16.25 Taxes improperly assessed 6.00 Listing taxable property 18.00 Paid Rebecca Hopper for signing deed to town land 5.00 House rent 17.00 Associate Judges 160.00 County Commissioners 78.50 Total $1,268.62 Balance on hand $241.24 The following are the total receipts and expenses of the county from the organization in 1816 to the first day of January, 1824:* [*From the exhibit of a special Committee (Joseph Potts and J. G. Clendenin) appointed by the County Board to examine and report upon the condition of the county finances during the period above stated. This report was made in detail and is of much value to the county.] RECEIPTS For the calendar years 1816/1817 $1,509.86 For the calendar year 1818 8,868.24 For the calendar year 1819 688.00 For the calendar year 1820 774.48 For the calendar year 1821 2,079.40 For the calendar year 1822 1,085.00 For the calendar year 1823 1,039.86 Total $16,044.84 EXPENSES Prosecuting Attorneys $896.59 Keeping prisoners 650.16 Public buildings 6.120.30 Constables 124.55 Overseers of Roads 143.74 Grand jurors 425.25 County Treasures’ commission 590.98 County Agents commission 662.22 Sheriffs’ extra allowances 484.00 Clerks’ extra allowances 733.75 Sheriff, Tax Collector 385.13 Keeping poor 662.61 Listing taxable property 308.30 Judges’ allowance 580.00 County Commissioners 440.00 Books and stationery 162.18 County-seat Commissioners 114.00 Judges and Clerks of Election 72.09 Fuel 16.13 Township Treasurers 9.85 Delinquent tax list 27.54 Tax improperly assessed 27.97 Rebecca Hopper for signing deed 5.00 House rent 37.00 County Coroner 21.50 Advertising sale of town lots 8.50 Cleaning court house 3.00 Recording deeds, town plat, etc 6.50 Deduction for lot twice charged 18.00 Paid for town land 1300.00 Attorney’s fee 5.00 County seal 49.00 Agent of school section 1.00 Depreciated bank notes 50.00 Lot returned to county 13.62 Damages on State roa(l 110.00 Surveying town lots 18.75 Rent of table and desk 13.00 Money returned to McClain 20.00 Desk for Clerk’s office 17.00 Wolf scalps, chairs, etc., etc 78.75 Returned notes of A. Wilson & Co 454.00 Total $14,861.96 Balance on hand $182.88 From the report made by these Commissioners, many intereating items are gathered. The temporary court house of 1816 cost $25. John Pickard was paid $699 for building the jail. Thomas Hopper was paid $500 for land upon which to locate the county seat, and Thomas Lindley was paid $800 for the same. Mrs. Rebecca Hopper, who probably was opposed to selling the land, submitted gracefully to the signing of the deed of conveyance upon the payment to her of $5. It seems, then, that the Locating Commissioners paid $1,305 for the tract of land where Paoli now is, and that they bought it of Thomas Hopper and Thomas Lindley. The court house of 1819 cost $3,950. In 1821 $810.25 of repairs were put on the jail. The proceeds from the sale of town lots at Paoli in 1816 were $6,423, and in 1817 were $1,871.40. The county revenue in 1820 was $694.98, and in 1821 was $1,107.15. In 1821 the store and tavern licenses amounted to $147.50. The proceeds from the sale of town lots in 1821 were $824.75. The county revenue for 1822 was $985, and for 1823 was $1,016.14. In 1822 the store and tavern license was $100, and in 1823 was $60. In 1830 (calendar year) the total receipts were $852.46, and in 1835 were $1,422.65, and in 1838 were $2,413.32. The county revenue in 1835-36 was $1,314.66, and in 1838 was $1,801.70. For the fiscal year 1841-42 county officers cost $574.64, and jurors $822. Merchants’ licenses brought $83.98, caravans $40. For the fiscal year 1843-44 the total receipts were $2,954.29, the county revenue being $1,691.14, and license receipts $93.33. County officers cost $912.71; jurors. $467.25; total expenditures, $2,325. For the fiscal year 1846-47 the total receipts were $3,527.14, and the total expenses $1,667.85; county revenue was $2,363.40; merchants’, show and clock licenses, $288.08; county officers cost, $513.58; jurors, $291.50. There was in the treasury at this time $1,859.29. For the fiscal year 1851-52 the total receipts were $6,673.54, and the total expenses $7,576.44, leaving a bal. ance against the treasury of $902.90. The county revenue was $5,059.44; store. etc., license, $335.35; county officers cost, $580.91; juries cost, $208. For the fiscal year 1859-60 the total receipts were $8,583.21; total expenses, $7,167.12; county revenue, $6,654.09; county officers Cost, $1,169.50; agricultural society, $50. For the fiscal year 1863-64 the total receipts were $11,188.96, and the total expenses $7,566.59; county revenue was $5,106.85; jury fees, $605.59; prisoners, $334.95; county officers, $1,944.52; soldiers’ families, $207.30. For the fiscal year 1869-70 the total receipts were $22,056.88; total expenses, $21,462.20: county revenue, $18,829.67; county officers, $3,026.63; juries, $972.37; criminals, $585.60; bridges, $6,327.58; interest on county bonds, $996.37; teachers’ institute, $50. The following are the receipts and expenditures for the fiscal year 1883-84: RECEIPTS Balance in treasury at last report $2,978.58 December, 1883, distribution of tax 7,403.45 May, 1884, distribution of tax 8,985.31 May, 1884, bridge tax 1,938.23 Advertising lands for tax 87.65 School interest refunded to county 185.85 County asylum 9.95 Total receipts $21,589.02 EXPERDITURES Jurors $1,182.60 Poor 1,650.23 County Asylum 234.57 Roads and highways 253.70 County officers 3,319.85 Printing and stationery 1,597.32 Specific 936.10 Public buildings 370.10 Bridges 485.78 Assessing revenue 944.00 Insane 832.63 Bailiffs 251.00 Coroner’s inquests 93.25 Elections 50.85 County Superintendent and institutes 355.50 County Attorney 92.50 County Physicians 838.75 Criminals 220.85 Commissioner’s Court 511.00 Fuel and gas 335.45 Circuit Court 197.60 Change of venue 552.60 State benevolent 110.17 Fox bounty 801.40 Interest on county bonds 486.00 Enumeration 176.60 Total disbursements $16,940.20 May 31, 1884, balance in treasury at present date $4,648.82 Respectfully submitted, GEORGE W. CAMPBELL, Treasurer Orange County. Examined and approved June 9, 1884. AARON SPEER, HUGH SHEEKS, JAMES M. SUMMERS. Commissioners. COURT HOUSES AND JAILS The first court house was a small log building erected by John Pickard in 1816 for $25, to be used only until a larger and better one could be built. This house was not used except for a session or two, after which subsequent courts met in private residences or stores until the completion of the court house of 1818. On the 4th of May, 1816, the contract of building a jail was let to John Pickard, who completed the work by August, 1817, at which time the structure was formally accepted. The total cost was $699: The building was of logs, and was used until 1821, when it was either rebuilt or replaced with a new one. In January, 1817, preparations were made to build a court house. The fund from the sale of town lots was ample, and the County Board decided to erect a creditable building. The contract was let to Jonathan Lindley, February 1, 1817, for $4,000, one-half to be paid in nine months and the remainder when the work was finished. Owen Lindley, Thomas Lindley and Robert Hollowell were sureties on Mr. Lindley’s bond. The building was to be of stone; was to be 33x50 feet; two-storied, fourteen feet between floors; upper story eight feet between floors; walls of the first story two feet thick, and of the upper story eighteen inches thick; eight windows with twenty-four panes of glass each in the lower story, and six in the upper story; one chimney and two doors; court-room below and Clerk’s office and jury-rooms above; windows with Venetian blinds. This building was completed in November, 1818, and reported for the acceptance of the County Board. Upon examination the Board refused to accept the building as finished, owing to alleged incompleteness in some parts, but signified their willingness to pay all except $150 of the contract price. Mr. Lindley refused to accept this proposition and asked that a committee of three might be appointed to examine and report what deduction, if any, should be made. He appointed David Floyd, and the County Board appointed Maj. Charles Dewey, and these two appointed the third member of the committee. The examination was made and the building was to be received and paid for with the exception of a deduction of $50. This satisfied all parties. The building, then, cost $3,950. It was a two storied stone structure, compactly rather than ornamentally built, covered about two-thirds of the ground of the present court house, and stood on the square where the other now stands. The entire story below was used for a court room, while above were two small jury rooms and a larger room used for various purposes while the building stood - as a library room, and as a law office by Judge Simpson, and perhaps others. In February, 1821, the County Board let the contract of building a new jail, or perhaps remodeling the old one, to Abraham Bosley, for $800, the work to be completed by November of the same year, and the building to be erected in accordance with specifications, which required the foundation to be of stone. and the structure of oak one foot square. The building was duly erected, and for many years was considered one of the safest jails in Southern Indiana. It was two-storied, and was lined with heavy oak plank placed upright and pinned to the logs with numerous huge spikes. It had two cells, one above and one below, and stood where the present jail stands, and near it was a log house usually occupied by the Jailer, who at that time was appointed and assigned duty now performed by or under the authority of the Sheriff. The actual cost was $810. In the fall of 1828 a small one-storied brick Clerk’s office was built on the square a short distance west of the court house. It was in size about 20x24 feet, and cost only about $300. The other county officers found offices elsewhere than in the court house, usually, it is said, in the earlier days, carrying their offices around with them. THE PRESENT COURT HOUSE AND JAIL In the autumn of 1839 the County Board, after some consideration, prepared specifications for a new court house, and issued an order to that effect, which was recorded on the minutes; but in November the action was annulled and nothing further seems to have been done at that time. In the autumn of 1847 it was fully determined by the County Board to erect a new and larger court house on the public square. Specifications were prepared and a Court House Committee was appointed, as follows: A. J. Simpson, John Baker, John H. Campbell, Thomas V. Thornton and John A. Ritter. Arrangements were soon completed. Andrew L. Burke was given the contract to make the bricks at $7.50 per 1,000, or $10 per 1,000 for those necessary in the columns. Michael Ombaker seems to have had the contract to lay the brick. The stone work of the foundation was laid for $1.25 per perch. The wood work was done by William Harman. The work on this structure continued until 1850, when the building was turned over to the county wholly finished. It cost a total of over $14,000, and at that day was the best county court house in southern Indiana. The order of architecture, especially the four huge columns on the south end, is nearer the Doric than any other. The shaft of the circular columns of the portico is of the best brick covered with cement of great durability, while the capital is of plain, heavy slabs of hydraulic limestone. On each side and each end of the building are engaged columns of brick work relieved by engaged capitals to correspond with the circular columns on the south portico. These engaged columns are square, and greatly relieve the otherwise broad and bare side and end of the building. Between the capitals and the eave-plate is a considerable space devoted to fancy molding. The under surface of the projecting eaveplate is made conspicuous by a species of crenelated molding. At the center of the ridge is the cupola surmounted with a weather vane, and occupied by a clock (since 1856). The building is 53x74 feet, and the distance to the eave-plate is about forty-five feet. The town clock was a donation from the citizens, and was placed in the cupola in 1856. The hall is ten feet wide. The court room is above and the county offices below. In 1857-58 the present stone jail was built at a total cost of $6,787.58. The building committee were: A. J. Simpson, Dr. C. White, William Johnson, H. C. Wible and John C. Albert. The contractor was Morgan Morris, and the woodwork was done by William Shaw. The building is about 25x60 feet, with jail and jailor’s residence combined, is two-storied and of brick, and has a one-storied addition on the west. The jail is in the southern part, and the cells or rooms are of solid stone three feet thick, except in the upper story, where brick is used. Those confined occasionally escape from this building. THE COUNTY HIGHWAYS The county was hardly organized before the survey of county roads was ordered. One of the first connected Salem and Paoli; another Paoli and Orleans; another Paoli and the Harrison County line; another from Orleans to White River; from Paoli toward the mouth of Little Blue River; from Paoli south through Greenfield Township; from Paoli to Section 12, Township 4 north, Range 2 west, on White River, and others. For the first half dozen years roads were built in all directions, and the want of a road fund was seriously felt. Many worked the roads gratuitously and gladly. The New London and Paoli State Road was projected in 1820, passing through Livonia and Salem. It was in 1820 also that the Commissioners appointed by the General Assembly (Frederick Sholdtz, John G. Clendenin and John Eastburn) laid out the (then) New Albany and Vincennes State Road (now the New Albany Turnpike). Extensive work was begun on this afterward famous road. In 1823 the road was re-surveyed. The distance from New Albany to the court house at Paoli was forty-one miles, and there were twenty-five miles of the road in Orange County. It was soon fully completed. After this the roads became so numerous that it is impossible to follow them. In 1836 the famous 3 per cent fund furnished by the State began to be received. This was to be used on the county roads, under the superintendence of special Commissioners appointed by the County Board. John Hollowell, James Doaner, William Cathcart, Jarvis Smith, Jesse Reed, John Pinnick and many others thus served. William Cathcart was the 3 per cent Commnissioner. The amount received from the State was $1,926.86, all of which was soon expended on the roads. Edward Millis built the first substantial bridge over Lost River on the Orleans and Paoli Road for $428 in 1842. So numerous became the county roads projected and built that no attempt will be made to trace an account of them. THE NEW ALBANY AND PAOLI TURNPIKE The New Albany and Vincennes Road was a State road of the usual kind until the passage of the famous internal improvement bill in about 1835-36, after which the road was re-surveyed, partly re-located, and metaled with good stone, the work being finished to Paoli in 1839. After the completion of the road in this manner toll gates were erected, and have survived until the present. In about 1850 a chartered company of men living all along the line of the road raised sufficient means to pay off the outstanding road script, which had been issued at the time of construction, the amount being, it is said, about $30,000, less about $14,000 that had been redeemed, the real amount paid by the company, it is asserted, being about $16,000. This was extremely cheap, as the road cost the approximate amount of nearly a quarter of a million of dollars. The State had become tired of its internal improvements, and the Legislature rendered this sale possible in a special enactment. This company (the purchasers) have remained the owners of the road until the present. The property is very valuable, the stock paying a high dividend and being far above par. At the time of the purchase it was the intention to put down plank, but this was abandoned after a few miles had been laid-none in Orange County. THE ORLEANS AND PAOLI GRAVELED ROAD In 1869 an effort was made at Paoli and along the route to transform the Orleans and Paoli highway into a graveled or plank road under the existing State law. For a time the effort seemed likely to succeed, but a few men at Orleans and elsewhere with considerable means at their disposal managed to defeat all efforts, upon the ground of the heavy tax that would have to be levied upon the property of all to be benefitted along the road. As a matter of fact, real estate would have been enhanced in value for more than the tax would have amounted to, and the road would have been a permanent value not to be measured by the consideration of a limited tax. In 1830 the Legislature appropriated $300 of the 3 per cent fund to be applied in improving the navigation of Lost River as far up as Shirley’s Mill, and Lick Creek from its mouth to Dougherty’s Mill. Samuel Cobb being the Commissioner to expend the fund. These streams had previously been declared public highways by the following enactment: Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, that Lick Creek from its mouth up to its junction with Lost River,* and Lost River from its mouth to the rise at Shirley’s Mill, be and the same are hereby declared public highways, and shall be entitled to all the benefits contained in the provisions of the act to which this is an amendment. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This act to be in force from and after its passage. Approved January 20, 1826. [*This is undoubtedly a clerical mistake. What was intended is Lick Creek, from its source down to its junction with Lost River.] THE COUNTY PAUPERS From the organization of the county to the present the care of poor persons has been assumed at public expense. In each township Overseers of the Poor were appointed whose duty required them to look after the wants of the helpless and report the outlay to the County Board for settlement. During the years 1816 and 1817 only $11.50 was thus paid out of the County treasury. In 1818 there was expended $79.75; in 1819 the amount was $62; in 1820 was $109.50; in 1821 was $193.12; in 1822 was $144.74. and in 1823 was $62. Total for the first eight years of the county $662.61. After this the expenses gradually increased until in 1835 it was determined to purchase a poor farm. A special committee, May 4, 1835, bought of Aaron Maris for $600, the northeast quarter of Section 5, Township 1 north, Range 1 east, also thirty-two acres on the south half of Section 32, Township 2 north, Range 1 east. Four hundred dollars were paid down and the remainder January, 1, 1836. Upon this farm were the ordinary private dwelling and out-houses of that day. These were improved and enlarged and the permanent paupers taken thereto. Anderson Meacham became the first Poor Superintendent. He leased the farm and was to take care of the poor. In June, 1836, he resigned and Thomas Maris and Thomas Braxtan (?) were appointed. John H. Campbell took their place in 1837. He was to manage and lease the farm to others. At this time there were from none to six inmates. In 1840 a Committee of three - Leonard Green, John Baker and T. V. Thornton - was appointed to superintend the farm, with authority to lease it to some suitable person. At this time the county undertook to furnish everything in the way of supplies. In 1841 it was decided to sell the poor farm and purchase another of better land and location. Accordingly, the old one was offered for sale at public auction on the court house steps, and sold to William A. Bowles, the lowest and best bidder, for $500 in three quarterly installments. The special Committee to sell was Daniel Dayhuff, John Baker and T. V. Thornton. This sale took place November 1, 1841, and in February, 1842, the county purchased a new farm of 120 acres of Aaron Stout, being part of the southwest quarter of Section 20, Township 2 north, Range 1 east, paying for the same $600. The deed was signed February 21, 1842. Upon this farm were substantial buildings, which were further enlarged and improved. The Committee who selected and bought this farm were William Lindley, Daniel Dayhuff, Jonathan Lindley, Clement McDonald and John Baker. A Committee of three Directors was appointed to manage the farm, and to lease it to a husbandman who was to care for the poor, cultivate the farm, etc., and the Directors were to visit the same quarterly to inspect its condition, etc. James Clements was leased the farm by John Hostetler, Jonathan Lindley and Edward McVey, the first Board of Directors. Clements was paid $200 a year. In June, 1842, there were five inmates of the asylum. In 1848 a cow was ordered bought for the farm. In 1844 Clements, who continued in charge of the farm, was paid $158, and he was to pay a rent of two bushels of corn per acre. Clements continued until 1848. and was then succeeded by Jonathan Lee, who was paid $180 per annum. In March, 1849, he was hired for three years for $233.33 per year to take care of the farm, and at the expiration of this period was again hired at a reduction in wages and some other changes. In March, 1854, there were only two paupers in the asylum. In this year Mr. Lee seems to have died, and his time was filled out by his widow, Grace Lee. At this time J. H. Sherrod, Lee Hazlewood and James C. Pearson were Poor Physicians, employed by the county. In 1857 Nathan Allen was appointed Poor Superintendent, but soon resigned, and Mrs. Grace Lee was appointed. The Board of Directors or "visitors", as they were called, and the "Board of County Physicians" were continued. Nearly all the leading physicians were at times employed to doctor the paupers. Mrs. Lee was continued until 1862, when she was succeeded by W. W. Wells, for $395 per annum. Later, as in 1867-68. his wages were increased to $500 per year. The Poor Superintendents in 1871-72 were R. H. Sanderson and McGruder Butler. The next year John Webster was appointed for $400 per year. There were thirteen paupers and five insane in 1873. Webster’s wages in 1873-74 were $475. In March, 1874, there were sixteen inmates, and in March, 1875, eighteen. James A. Hill became Poor Superintendent in 1876-77 for $290 per year. In March, 1877, there were seventeen inmates, and in March, 1879, nineteen. In 1879 William A. Brock was appointed Superintendent. In March, 1880 there were only live inmates. In 1880-81 Brock was paid $264 per year. In June, 1881, there were five inmates. Late in 1881 James Hill became Superintendent. In the fall of 1882 there were seventeen inmates. Columbus Underwood became Superintendent in 1883-84 for $365 per year, and was succeeded in 1884-85 by Jeremiah Claxton, Jr., for $400 per year. The house upon the poor farm is a frame structure worth about $600. It was built about thirty years ago, and is no longer suitable to the demands of the county, though it is made to answer the purpose. It would be a credit to the county to erect a larger and better building. POPULATION OF ORANGE COUNTY 1820 5,368 1830 7,901 1840 9,602 1850 10,809 1860 12,076 1870 13,497 1880 14,368 1884 (estimated) 15,000 THE COUNTY LIBRARY It was provided by legislative enactment that ten percentum of the proceeds of the sale of town lots should be used in the purchase and maintenance of a county library. This furnished an excellent fund for that purpose, and at an early day a comparatively large library was collected. This was much more valuable then than now. There were then but few newspapers; now the American world needs no other instructor of current or perhaps past events. There was then a great demand for books, and the county library in a measure supplied the demand. By 1829 there had been expended for miscellaneous books the sum of $422.61. During the decade of the thirties about as much more was thus expended. Rules and regulations governing the loaning and perusal of the books were adopted. Trustees, a Treasurer and a Librarian were the officers. The names of the early officers cannot be given. The Trustees in 1842 were J. G. Clendenin, A. J. Simpson, Cornelius White, Josiah Hazlewood. William Craig. Thomas J. Throop and John Baker. As the old books were worn out they were replaced by new ones to the extent of the library fund, which after 1840 was practically nothing. The library began to run down, though in the fifties it was revived somewhat. The absence of a continuous and permanent fund to maintain it, and the growing value and popularity of newspapers soon retired the old library to the dark and musty shelves. THE TOWNSHIP AND McCLURE LIBARIES Another system for the diffusion of general information was that of the township libraries furnished by the State early in the fifties. The number of libraries to each county was determined by the population. Each library comprised about 300 volumes of the best works of that day in all departments of literature. In 1854 - 55 the distribution of these libraries occurred in this county - eight in all, as follows: one to Paoli Township, one to Orleans Township, one to Orangeville and Northwest Townships, one to Greenfield and Jackson Townships, and one to each of the townships, French Lick, Southeast, Northeast and Stampers Creek. The libraries were in charge of the Township Trustees. They supplied an eager want for many years. Quite early in the fifties a benevolent gentleman of southern Indiana named McClure, dying, bequeathed an enormous fortune to the founding of "Workingmen’s Institutes," in sums of $500 each, to be expended in books for the use only of "men Who earned their bread by the sweat of their brows." One of these institutes was founded at Paoli, and it is said two or three others were founded in other parts of the county. The $500 was received at Paoli in November, 1855, and by the following May had all been expended for books. The first officers of the institute were: W. H. Jackson, President; H. C. Wible, Vice-President; Henry Comingore, Treasurer and Librarian; A. M. Black, Secretary. The membership fee was fixed at 50 cents. This library continued popular for a period of years, but is now seldom thought of or used. RAILROADS The first railroad agitation was in the fall of 1848 over the Ohio & Mississippi project. Public meetings were held to get offers of assistance and to petition the authorities for the road. Later it was learned that the road would go to the north. This at the time was felt to be a severe blow to Orleans, though she still had the extreme probability of the newly-talked of New Albany & Salem Railroad. Paoli struggled hard to have the Ohio & Mississippi Road pass, as it was first projected, westward through Salem, Livonia, Paoli, and thence on westward toward St. Louis. John Baker, A. J. Simpson, Dr. W. F. Sherrod and others delivered addresses in the county to thoroughly arouse the people. But all this effort was wasted. The New Albany & Salem Railroad (as it was at first called) became a certainty, however, and great efforts were made by the residents of Paoli and those of the southwestern half of the county to secure the location through the county seat. The prospect was not favorable, though Orleans seemed sure of the prize. At last the route was definitely fixed through Orleans, and a large number of citizens of that town and vicinity assembled and celebrated the occasion. The work was soon completed, and about October 30, 1851, the first locomotive reached the town. As soon as it became certain that Paoli was to lose the road, she endeavored to get a branch road to Orleans, and in a public meeting held in December, 1851, subscribed $15,000 for that purpose and sent a petition to the officers of the road, who seemed favorable to the project. This plan soon failed, and the next was to get a different road built from Cannelton via Paoli to Orleans, but this scheme also proved chimerical. No other railroad enterprises were undertaken in Orange County until 1870, when the Sandusky, Seymour & Evansvil1e Company signified their willingness to reach Paoli if the proper assistance was given. On the 2nd of July, 1870, at a large public meeting at Paoli, it was resolved to assist the enterprise to the utmost, and a sum of money was subscribed to defray the expense. The question of raising a tax for the road was submitted to the county, and resulted as follows: For the tax, 265; against the tax, 1,261. Paoli and French Lick Townships were the only ones favoring the tax. In 1871 the question was submitted again to those townships through which the road would pass. Paoli voted 284 for, and 64 against; Stampers Creek and Northeast also voted "yes." Orleans voted "yes" should the road touch that town. Great efforts were made to get the road, but without avail. Orangeville and French Lick voted a tax for the Rockport & Northern Railroad in 1871-72, but through some irregularity another election was held and both townships voted against the tax. On the question of a tax for the Lake Erie, Evansville & Southwestern Railway, Greenfield voted 74 for and 102 against. Late in 1872 French Lick voted 131 for and 15 against, and Orangeville 58 for and 50 against, a tax for the Cincinnati & Southwestern Railway. Jackson voted 26 for and 82 against a tax for the Lake Erie Road. In 1877 French Lick voted 117 for and 93 against aid for the Indianapolis & Evansville Railroad. In 1879 the following townships voted on the question of aiding the Evansville & Seymour Railway: Paoli 225 for and 147 against; Stampers Creek 31 for and 100 against; French Lick 116 for and 67 against: Jackson 81 for and 85 against. The next year several of the townships on the north voted on the question of aiding the Mitchell, French Lick & Dubois Railway. The county has shown her willingness to assist worthy railway projects, but has so far failed to secure the coveted boon save in one case. The citizens of Paoli went so far in 1871 as to organize the Orange Railroad Society, the object being to construct and operate a railway from Paoli to Orleans. T. N. Braxtan became President; James M. Andrew, Vice-President; John R. Simpson, Secretary: John C. Albert, Corresponding Secretary; Dr. L. S. Bowles, Treasurer. The plan was soon found impracticable and was abandoned. ORIGIN OF THE COMMON SCHOOL FUND Surplus revenue $7,581.31 Bank tax fund 624.55 Saline fund 535.31 Sinking fund 358.50 From the sale of county seminary 750.08 Seminary fund in 1853 647.96 Total fines and forfeitures from 1853 to 1884 5,677.37 Sinking fund of 1871-73 5,128.96 Total $21,304.24 ORIGIN OF THE CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL FUND Section 16, Township 1 north, Range 1 east 2,796.80 Section 16, Township 2 north, Range 1 east 1,375.00 Section 16, Township 1 south, Range 1 east 900.00 Section 16, Township 2 north, Range 1 west 805.00 Section 16, Township 1 south, Range 2 west 800.00 Section 16, Township 2 north, Range 2 west 1,561.25 Section 16. Township 1 north, Range 2 west 804.00 Section 16, Township 1 south. Range 1 west 811.00 Section 16. Township 1 north, Range 1 west 852.50 Total $10,705.55 The above was the condition in 1866 Since then the last named total has been increased to $13,570.60 COUNTY TAX LEVIES For 1853, $7,557; 1855, $6,879.18; 1857, $7,320.80; 1859, $7,213.75; 1861, $7,298.07; 1862, $11,850; 1863, $4,850; 1864, $5,078.44; 1865, $14,024.93; 1866, $16,462.04; 1867, $18,039.25. THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY This organization took strong root in Orange County soil. In 1875-76 the County Council was organized with the following officers: Theodore Stackhouse, President; W. V. Mathers, Vice- President; W. S. Mahan, Secretary; James L. Millis, Treasurer; P. B. Monical, Steward; Aaron Speer, Chaplain; F. C. McIntosh, Doorkeeper; T. G. Fisher, Business Manager; L. B. Cogswell. James M. Baker and J. W. Pearson, Executive Committee. A suitable constitution and by-laws were adopted. After this the following county lodges were established with the given number of members: Lost River Grange, 38 members; Orange Grange, 34 members; Liberty, 32; Paoli, 31; Bruner, 16; Northeast, 30; Chestnut Ridge, 22; Rego, 30; Pleasant Valley, 38; Northwest, 30; Youngs Creek, 16; Cane Creek, 30; Hurricane Branch, 38; Corn, 34; Hughs, 30; Horeb, 22; South Liberty, 30; West Baden, 26; Lick Creek. 27; Walnut. 25; Panther Creek, 30. Total, 21 lodges with 609 members. The lodges flourished for several years. ORANGE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY The first organization of this kind was in the autumn of 1852, the meeting being held at the office of Dr. Pearson, in Paoli. The officers elected were: Dr. Pearson, President; Dr. Hazlewood. Vice-President; Dr. Hoover, Secretary; Drs. Reily, Botsall and W. F. Sherrod, Censors. The physicians present were: Lee, Hazlewood. Botsell, W. F. Sherrod, J. H. Sherrod, C. D. Pearson, C. L. Hoover and Dr. McCann. Dr. W. F. Sherrod was appointed to deliver an address on some medical subject at the next meeting. A constitution and by-laws were adopted; also a code of ethics and a bill of charges. The proceedings of the meeting were ordered published in the American Eagle and the Orleans Review. This society soon died. If any other meeting was held no trace of it could be found by the writer. In October, 1875, another society, a branch of the State Society, was organized, the first members being John A. Ritter, U. H. Hon, Benton J. Hon, T. P. Carter, Laban Lindley, E. D. Laughlin, John A. Cole and James Dillard, and later R. W. Lingle, Henry Lingle, R. D. Walters, G. W. Burton and C. E. Laughlin. The first officers were: John A. Bitter, President; E. D. Laughlin, Vice-Presi. dent: John A. Cole, Secretary; B. J. Hon, Treasurer; T. P. Carter, B. J. Hon and E. D. Laughlin, Censors. Regular meetings were held with much profit until October, 1879, when they were abandoned. COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES The first attempt to organize an agricultural society in Orange County was in February, 1841, when a meeting, held pursuant to notice, to organize an agricultural society at Paoli for Paoli Township, was adjourned without definite action until the 14th of August, 1841, at which time it was decided to organize a county society. At that date an organization of about forty members was duly formed, and the following officers elected: David Hudelson. President; R. Beeson, Vice-President; H. Comingore. Recording Secretary: T. V. Thornton, Corresponding Secretary: C. White. Treasurer. The Treasurer was required to give bond in the sum of $200. The Curators were J. G. Clendenin, A. Morris, D. S. Huffstutter, John Holmes, John Moore, Lorenzo McMickle, William McDonald, William Reed. S. A. Cornwell, Samuel Stalcup. The meeting adjourned to meet again in September to prepare for a fair, but so far as can be learned nothing further was done. Late in the autumn of 1852 a meeting was held at Livonia, Washington County, by citizens of that and Orange County, for the purpose of organizing a district society. Gov. Wright was present and addressed a large crowd on the subject, as did also Hon. N. McCarty. On the 10th of January, 1853. a large crowd assembled at Livonia to effect an organization. Hon. J. A. Cravens was made President and Dr. Nat. Kimball, Secretary. Forty men, leading farmers and stock-raisers of the two counties, became members, paying each $1 to defray expenses. Samuel Wible, A. McPheeters and Nathan Kimball prepared a constitution and by-laws, which after being read were adopted. The name adopted was: "The Washington and Orange District Agricultural Society." The following permanent officers were elected: Samuel Wible, of Orange County, President; George W. True, of Orange County, Vice-President; Dr. Alexander McPheeters, of Washington County, Treasurer; Nathan Kimball, of Washington, County. Secretary, Directors of Orange County-John Tegarden, S. W. Rigney, W. R. Wible, William Holaday, Dr. James Dillard, Azor Charles, Henry Holmes, Joseph Wilson and John Baker: Directors of Washington County-Robert Alexander, George May, Jr.. James A. Cravens, Richard Newland, George Still, G. W. Logan, Christian Pro, Jr., and James Trueblood. Among the members at this time and socn afterward from Washington County were: James Wilson, J. H. Bowman, Alfred Farabee, Joseph Scifers, J. C. Thompson, Andrew Thomas, John Chambers, Spencer Pugh, E. D. Logan, William Robertson, R. H. Campbell. W. Collier, Jehu Hungate, W. M. Vance, W. M. Wible, David Patton, T. W. Green, G. McKinney, Aaron Hardin. Jr., Joseph Lochmiller, Valentine Baker, Jehu Brewer, J. L. Menaugh, D. C. Shanks, John Raymon, Thomas Brittain and D. Albertson. Among the Orange County members were: A. J. Simpson, W. R. Johnson, Maj. Wilson, William Hudelson. Henry Hobbs, Esquire Moore, Moses Riggs, William Holmes, Jo. Wilson, Moses Matthew, N. B. Wilson, D. S. Huffstutter, H. R. Williamson, Wash. Wright, G. C. McCoy, Jesse Hampton, Thomas Riley, Edward Cornwell, Alexander McPheeters, Jere Vandeveer, Samuel Stalcup, Dr. John Batsell, Thomas Hunt, Dr. W. A. Bowles, J. A. Wininger, N. Pinnick, William McDonald, James McDonald and Frank Dillard. The following officers were elected in March, 1834: R. Schoonover, President: John Baker, Vice-President; Alexander McPheeters, Treasurer; Nathan Kimball, Secretary; Dr. A. W. Gray. W. M. Vance and S. W. Rigney, Marshals. Notwithstanding the first election of officers, D. S. Huffstutter seems to have served as President at the first fair, in October, 1833, and for several subsequent years. Rodolphus Schoonover was elected President in 1854. THE FIRST FAIR This was held at Livonia, October 5, 6 and 7, 1853, and over 4,000 persons were present on the best day at one time. An excellent exhibit of all kinds was made. The Rattler stock took the premiums on horses. A sucking mule colt fifteen hands high was sold for $103. Mr. Porter, of Orange County, exhibited a calf nineteen months old which weighed 1,460 pounds. William McPheeters exhibited a mammoth ox, weighing nearly 4,000 pounds. Judge Wible, of Orange County, had formerly owned a heavier one - a brother - which was sold for a high price to Eastern showmen. The following persons among others took premiums on domestic manufactures: Mrs. E. McPheeters, Mrs. Priscilla Benton, Miss M. S. Sales, Miss H. H. Brown, Miss Lizzie Vancleave, Miss Ann McCoy, Mrs. Matilda Martin, Mrs. Eliza E. Lynd, Mrs. H. W. Hobbs, Mrs. Matilda Tegarden, Mrs. Rebecca McPheeters, Mrs. J. C. Wible, Mrs. Martha Johnson, Mrs. Jane Hungate, Mrs. Wash. Wright, Mrs. James Craig, Miss L. J. M. Holmes, Mrs. Martha Lucas, Mrs. William Glover. H. W. S. Kearby took premium on fruit; John M. McPheeters on potatoes; Smith & Knight, best flour; John Baker, Mrs. Silas Moore, Mrs. M. S. Lucas on fowls; Thomas W. Knocks, James Darnell, Jonathan Braxtan, David Jones, Cornelius Mitchell, Mason Martin, Robert Strain, Findley Hollowell, J. F. Rodman, David S. Huffstutter, John A. Wible and others, on horses; Leonard Wyman, McCoy & Wolf, H. Brown, J. P. Campbell, John Bates, John McMahan, Fleming Perigo, John Hungate, James C. Kelso, Hiram Speer, Robert Strain, Evan Deweeseon mules and jacks; Wash. Wright, W. L. Galloway, Thomas G. Denny, C. D. Green, Griffin McKinney, W. B. Hancock, Allen Perkhiser. Alexander McPheeters, John Barker, D. S. Huffstutter, Samuel Wible, Daniel Murphy and others on cattle; T. W. Knocks, J. A. Cravens, W. L. Galloway, C. Tegarden, D. S. Huffstutter on sheep; S. G. Lynd, J. B. Hewett, Robert Doak, Nathan Kimball, Griffin McKinny, G. W. True on swine; Jesse Hampton, W. M. Vance, A. W. Lynd on grain; W. C. Lucas, Robert Alexander, Robert Cornwell, I. H. McClure, J. C. Kearby, G. P. Lynd, A. S. Wiggins, Daniel Knight on farm implements; John M. Wible, best cultivated farm; John M. McPheeters, second best; Joseph McCrary, best plowing; John McPheeters, second best; S. E. Barr, of Livonia, best essay on farming. Gov. Wright was the orator. The following were the receipts and expenditures of this first fair: Received from Washington County, $85; from Orange County, $20; from members’ fees, $194; from premiums donated, $5.50; proceeds of fair and sale of property, $402.95; total receipts, $707.45. Expenses - premiums awarded, $217.15; printing, $54; Sundry expenses, $6.65; contingent expenses, $191.47; total expenses, $469.27. This was a flattering showing. The fair was held on the grounds of Alexander McPheeters, adjoining Livonia. THE SECOND FAIR This was held on the lands of D. S. Huffstutter, at Orleans, Orange County. September 19, 20 and 21, 1854, the grounds being enclosed with canvass. Hon. C. L. Dunham was the orator. Premiums were mainly paid in silverware. The second fair was fully up to the standard of the first. The total receipts were $1,178.24, and the total expenses $1,177.35. Silverware worth $271 was paid out. The gate receipts were $510.65, and the membership fees at $1 each amounted to $318. The third and subsequent fairs of the district society were held at Livonia. D. S. Huffstutter was President in 1855, and Samuel Huston in 1856. The admittance fee was usually 20 cents. All these fairs were highly successful. As a matter of fact, Hon. D. S. Huffstutter was de facto President of the agricultural society from 1853 to 1857, at which last date he resigned, and was succeeded by James A. Cravens. The total receipts in 1857 were $1,794.70, and the expenses $789.91. The fair of 1858 was five days in length. THE SECOND SOCIETY In November, 1858, a successful attempt was made to organize an Orange County Agricultural Society at Paoli. A large crowd assembled and the following permanent officers were elected: Asa M. Black, President; D. S. Huffstutter, Vice President; J. R. Simpson, Secretary; Hiram Lindley, Treasurer; T. N. Braxtan, Superintendent; William Charles, John Buskirk, Stephen Foster, William Gilliatt, William Stalcup, W. H. Cornwell, John Tegarden. H. Glover, H. Braxtan and L. H. Faucett, Directors. Stock to the amount of $3,000 was taken at the start. No fair was held in 1858. The first was on the 20th, 21st, 22d, and 23d of September, 1859, on the grounds at Paoli, upon which good buildings had been erected, and a half-mile race-track built. There was a large attendance. the weather being fine. The displays were exceptionally excellent, especially that at the floral hall. There were 949 entries, 502 of stock and the balance of manufactured and agricultural products. There were 283 premiums awarded, 158 on stock. The district fair at Livonia in 1859 was unusually successful, the entries amounting to 1,511, 475 being dairy products, and 125 farm products. Total receipts, $1,604; total expenses. $1,465.14; members, fees, $654; gate receipts, $420.60. Silverware worth $906.35 was bought, and largely awarded in premiums. The grounds were greatly improved. It was conceded that the floral hall was the most beautiful in southern Indiana. At this time, also, a district fair in which Orange County participated was held at Bedford, Mitchell and other places. A mania for agricultural fairs raged. OTHER FAIRS AT PAOLI The second was highly successful. A. M. Black was re-elected President. In 1861 J. G. Huff presided. Fairs continued to be held at Livonia. Two years during the war no fair was held at Paoli. The fifth was held in 1865, A. Brunner being President. Others continued to be held annually. In 1869 the receipts were $1,329.67, and the expenses $1,155.96. Great interest was manifested in the county at this time, especially in the vicinity of Orleans, in the improvement of the breeds of swine, cattle and horses. Since then, with the exception of one or two years, animal fairs have been held at Paoli. Several reorganizations of the society have occurred, the last about a year ago. The usual attractions have been present. J. M. Hobson was President in 1871. The present organization was effected in 1883, and is called the Orange County Fair Association. Its first and present officers are: A. M. Andrew, President; John A. Hudelson, Vice-President; Amos Stout, Treasurer; George A. Buskirk, Secretary; L. S. Bowles, Superintendent. Orleans and vicinity has for years been one of the most active agricultural districts in the southern end of the State. With a fine soil and an enterprising people, it has been found to the public advantage to pay serious attention to scientific farming and stock-raising. Orleans has been at the lead in forming organizations for the promotion of these results. In 1880 the Orleans Agricultural Association was organized, and a fair was held the same year, with flattering success. At each succeeding year until the present (1884), fairs have been held with increasing prosperity and interest. DEATH OF PROFESSOR WILBUR At the fair of 1871 an aeronaut named Wilbur made daily ascensions in a large balloon charged with hot air, the balloon being held captive by ropes. The large crowds present became dissatisfied, as, from the advertisements, they had expected an uncontrolled ascension. On the last day of the fair, therefore, Prof. Wilbur announced that he would "go high enough to cool off," and G. H. Knapp, editor of the Paoli Union, resolved to accompany him on his aerial Voyage. About 4 o’clock P. M., all was ready, and Mr. Knapp took his place in the basket, Prof. Wilbur, standing on the ground, although it was understood that he was to ascend with Mr. Knapp, called to the attendants to cut the stay ropes, which was done, and the balloon bounded aloft, lurching so from the bungling manner of severing the ropes, that Mr. Knapp. when a few feet from the ground, was thrown from the basket, catching, as he fell, in the ropes, and being carried about twenty feet high, dropped to the ground, receiving severe bruises, but otherwise suffering no injury. As the balloon lurched and Mr. Knapp was thrown out, Prof. Wilbur caught a dangling rope and was carried aloft. He drew himself up and made repeated efforts to swing himself into the basket, and when about 400 feet high succeeded in getting one knee over the edge; but failing again he seemed to lose heart, as his efforts ceased, and he was carried rapidly farther and farther into the dizzy depths of the air. The situation was thrilling to the thousands of persons below. Every eye was turned in despair upon the doomed man. Stout men became white as death; women screamed and fainted; a sickening fear seized every heart. The Professor’s wife and child were agonized witnesses of the awful scene. The balloon mounted almost perpendicularly to the height of over a mile, when suddenly the hat of the unfortunate man was seen to fall, and a moment later the wearer’s grasp relaxed, and his body shot downward with frightful velocity. After falling a considerable distance, the resistance of the air caused the body to whirl rapidly around horizontally like a descending maple seed, and in this position, after the descent of over a mile, struck the earth within half a mile of where the balloon ascended. Death was instantaneous. That frightful death will long be remembered by the eye-witnesses. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE Edward Millis, Samuel Chambers, Jesse Hollowell, Moses Lee, John Pinnick, James Rawlins, James Cobb, Thomas Lynch, Joseph Glover, Hugh Holmes, Henry Hollowell, Jacob Moulder, William Carr, James Maxwell, Jesse Roberts, Thomas Evans, James Gregory, John Glenn, John G. Clendenin, Abraham Bosley, 1816 (a dedimus was issued to Zachariah Lindley, and, later in the year, to William Hoggatt, to swear into office all civil and military officers); Moses Smith, Michael Beal, David Brown, P. B. Allen, John Scott, Joel Charles, Adam Shirley. John Maxwell, W. M. Reynolds, William Jackson, E. P. Riley, Joseph Berry, Michael Buskirk, 1817; John Smith, Ephraim Doan, John B. Moyer, Reuben Rainey, 1818; John Underwood, Alexander Morris. Cloud Bethel, J. R. Manley, John H. Bray, John Scandlar, 1819; Henry Hollowell, Jacob Mason, William Copeland, 1820; Josiah Hazlewood, John Breeze, Spencer Lee, Alexander McDonald, 1821; John Cook, Joel Charles, John Moore, Joseph Potts, John Elrod, Jonathan Lomax, William Case, Joseph Maxwell, 1822; John B. Moyer, 1823; Joel Vandeveer, Adlai Campbell, Lewis Pittman, Burton Southern, Henry Hollowell, 1824; Henry M. Canada, 1825; Charles Sage, Terry Critchfield, 1826; Samuel Cobb, Joseph Potts, James Wilson, William Case, John Elrod, S. B. A. Carter, 1827; Benjamin Cravens, Michael Mavity, Samuel Wible, 1828; John Field, Reuben Whitten, Burton Southern, Thomas Maxedon, John Moore, Henry Lingle, 1829; Eli McDonald, E. S. Riley, 1830; William Trueblood, Benjamin Johnson, Enoch Edmundson, 1831; Anderson Meacham, William Harris, William Case, 1832; Jacob Cook, Chris. Flick, W. C. Walls, Richard Beason, 1833; Reuben Whitten, Willjam Cathcart, David Riley, Samuel Dolton, Lorenzo Chapine, M. Sullivan, 1834; Henry Lingle, Leonard Green, John Parks, Thomas Harrod, Ephraim Doan, E. S. Riley, 1835; John Fields, William Trueblood, Jarvis Smith, 1836; John Baker, John Moore, James McDonald, 1837; Isaac H. Webb, Essex Lomax, D. M. Smith, Jonathan Palmer, Thomas Edwards, James Southern, 1838; Henry Holmes, Joseph Seybold, John H. Shores, F. H. Duncan, W. C. Wall, Samuel Dolton, 1839; Leonard Green, Henry Lingle, J. W. Webb, William Holaday, David Hudelson, 1840; Benjamin Johnson, Barzilla Payne, Daniel Dwyer, James Farrell, Jonathan Prosser, 1841; W. G. Taylor, David Riley, Bailey Leonard, J. F. Kimbley, 1842; Harrison Pittman, Aaron Andrew, S. R. Snyder, Thomas Edwards, John A. Wininger, 1843; James Southern, J. B. Glover, Jesse Barnett, Joseph Seybold, F. H. Duncan, Samuel Holaday, Levi Gifford, W. C. Walls, 1844; Isaac J. Faucett, G. A. Thornton, Hiram McDonald 1845. CIRCUIT JUDGES David Raymond, 1816; Davis Floyd, 1818; Jonathan Doty, 1821; Jacob Call, 1822; John R. Porter, 1824; John F. Ross, 1830; John H. Thompson, 1834; William Otto, 1845; George A. Bicknell, 1853; A. B. Carlton and Francis Wilson, for short periods, 1872-73; Eliphalet D. Pearson, 1873; Francis Wilson, 1879 to the present. ASSOCIATE CIRCUIT JUDGES Joel Halbert, 1816; Thomas Fulton, 1816; Samuel Chambers, 1817; Thomas Vandeveer, 1818; John Pinnick, 1818; Samuel Cobb, 1818; John H. Campbell, 1824; Joseph Hostettler, 1830; Jacob Moulder, 1831; James Clark, 1833; William Case, 1836; Michael Mavity. 1838; Henry Hollowell, 1846; John Hungate, 1847. COMMON PLEAS JUDGES William Morrow, 1853; Frederick W. Matthis, 1857; John J. Key, 1861; Charles H. Mason, 1802; David T. Laird, 1863; Milton S. Mavity, 1870. PROBATE JUDGES Thomas Vandeveer, 1829; Burton Southern, 1833; Samuel Wible, 1840: William Catheart, 1847. THE COUNTY BOARD The county business from February, 1816, to January, 1817, was done by the Associate Justices - Thomas Fulton and Samuel Chambers. The first County Commissioners (January, 1817), were Samuel Cobb, Ezekiel Blackwell and Jonathan Lindley; James Maxwell, May, 1817, vice Blackwell, resigned; Jesse Hollowell, September, 1817, vice Maxwell; James Depew and Abraham Bosley, September, 1818; Jonathan Lomax, January, 1819; Edward Millis, September, 1819; Evan Jones, 1820; John Smith, November, 1820, vice Depew, resigned; Thomas Lynch, 1821; Adlai Campbell, 1821; Edward Millis, 1822; Joel Kearby, 1823; Joseph Athon, 1823. In September, 1824, under the new law, the Justices of the Peace throughout the county took the place of the County Commissioners, Continuing to serve thus until September, 1831, when three Commissioners took their place, as follows: Joel Cloud, Samuel Dalton and Henry Hollowell. In 1834 the Justices again took the place of the Commissioners, and continued to serve until 1849. Quinton Lomax, 1849; Pryor Coates, 1849; John G. Riley, 1849; Peter B. Monical. 1850, vice Riley; John S. Springer, 1851, vice Coates; William Holaday, 1852, vice Lomax; John C. Busick, 1853; John S. Springer, 1854; William Holaday, 1855; A. F. Allen, 1856; J. S. Springer, 1857; Lemuel Pickens, 1858; Stephen Foster, 1858; A. F. Allen, 1859; Lemuel Pickens, 1861; Stephen Foster, 1861; James Dillard, 1862; Christian Cox, 1862; A. F. Allen. 1862; George Robbins, 1864; George Trimble, 1865; Christian Cox, 1865; George Robbins, 1867; Henry Reed, 1868; Henry H. Teaford, 1868; Allen Wolf, 1870; William W. Chisham, 1871; Joel C. Dillard, 1871; Allen Wolf, 1873; W. W. Chisham, 1874; Joel C. Dillard, 1874; Aaron Speer, 1876; W. W. Chisham, 1877; J. C. Dillard, 1877; Moses F. Ham, 1879; John G. Reed, 1880; Christian Cox, 1880; Aaron Speer, 1882; Hugh Sheeks, 1883; James M. Summers, 1883. REPRESENTATIVES Samuel Chambers, 1817; John G. Clendenin, 1822-27; Jacob Moulder, 1822; E. S. Riley, 1823; Alexander Wallace, 1824; E. S. Riley, 1825; Alexander Wallace, 1826-27; James Lynd, 1828; John B. Moyer, 1828-29; Thomas Coffin, 1829-30; James Lynd, 1830-32; John B. Moyer. 1831; 5. B. A. Carter, 1832-34; Joel Vandeveer, 1833-37; John Murray, 1835; William A. Bowles, 1838-40; Henry Lingle, 1841-42; W. A. Bowles, 1843; Joel Vandeveer, 1844-45; David F. Huffstutter, 1846; James Danner, 1847; John W. Gillam and John W. Rice (for Crawford and Orange Counties), William F. Sherrod, 1849; John W. Rice, 1850: David S. Huffstutter, 1851; Theodore Stackhouse, 1852; * * D. S. Huffstutter, 1854; W. F. Sherrod, 1856: David S. Lewis, 1858; Asa M. Black, 1860; George H. Hon, 1862; Thomas Hunt, 1864; Theodore Stackhouse, 1866; John L. Bates (Orange and Crawford Counties), 1868; Luke B. Cogswell (Orange and Crawford Counties), 1870; William M. Elsworth (Orange and Crawford Counties), 1872; J. L. Megenity (Orange and Crawford Counties), 1874; John Benz (Orange and Crawford Counties), 1876; James F. Stucker (Orange and Crawford Counties), 1878, same 1880, same 1882. SENATORS John DePauw (Washington. Jackson, Orange, Lawrence and Monroe Counties). 1818; James Gregory (Orange, Lawrence and Monroe Counties), 1821; Samuel Chambers (Orange, Lawrence and Monroe Counties), 1822; John Milroy (Orange and Lawrence Counties), 1826; John G. Clendenin (Orange and Lawrence), 1829; Samuel Chambers (Orange and Lawrence). 1832; Ezekiel Riley (Orange County alone), 1838; Isaac Sands (Orange and Crawford), 1811; Huston Miller (Orange and Crawford), 1844; D. S. Huffstutter (Orange and Crawford), 1848; Huston Miller (Orange and Crawford), 1850; * * William Mansfield (Orange and Crawford), 1855; Quinton Lomax (Orange and Crawford), 1858; Henry Jenkins (Orange and Crawford), 1862; William F. Sherrod (Orange and Crawford), 1866; W. F. Sherrod (Perry, Orange and Crawford), 1868; John Stroud (Perry, Orange and Crawford), 1870; H. A. Peed (Martin, Orange and Dubois), 1874; William A. Taylor (Martin, Orange and Dubois). 1878; John Benz (Crawford, Harrison and Orange), 1880. COUNTY TREASURERS Zachariah Lindley, 1810; John McVey, 1817; Ephraim Doan, November, 1819, bond $3,000: Enoch Blanchard, February, 1821; Josiah Hazlewood, 1822; Ephraim Doan, May, 1828; A. J. Simpson, 1838, bond $10,000; Joseph Johnson, 1840; Alexander Morris, 1841; Benjamin Polson, 1847; W. H. Rigney, 1850; D. F. Porter, 1852: John C. Albert, 1854; Thomas Hunt, 1858; James Worrell, 1863; A. J. Rhodes, 1865; H. H. Polson, 1867; John Maxedon, 1872; Henry Reed, 1874; H. E. Wells, 1876; G. W. Thomas, 1880; G. W. Campbell, 1882. CLERKS William Hoggatt, February 1, 1816; John McVey, 1831; Thomas V. Thornton, 1836; Jeremiah Wilson, 1844: A. M. Black, 1851; Hugh C. Wible, 1858; J. L. Megenity, 1864; J. C. Lingle, 1872; J. L. Megenity, 1873; J. R. Simpson, 1874; W. T. Hicks, 1882. RECORDERS William Hoggatt, February 1,1816; James G. Clendenin, 1817; John McVey, 1819; Josiah Hazlewood, 1836; Green Hazlewood, 1860; M. S. Mavity, 1863; T. B. Buskirk, 1865; J. S. Pittman, 1865; E. M. Gibener, 1869: J. F. Purkhiser, 1874; Edward Cornwell, 1876; William Worrell, 1884. SURVEYORS William Lindley, February 1, 1816; William G. Berry, 1823; George Windsor, 1852; John Frazer, 1856; J. L. Megenity, 1863; J.H. Lindley, 1865: John Frazer, 1867; J. F. Downer, 1870: D. J. Mavity, 1872; J. F. Danner. 1874; John McDonald, 1876; C. H. Pinnick, 1880. CORONERS Ebenezer Doan, 1816; John Bruner, 1818; Josiah Hazlewood, 1820; Joseph Athon, 1821; W. D. Lynch, 1822; N. B. Wilson, 1823; John Gill. 1825; Zachariab Tate, 1828; Joshua Freeman, 1830; Eleazer Pearce, 1832; Abraham Noblitt, 1836-48; Robert True, 1848; G. P. Busick, 1850; Z. W. Tate, 1851; Abraham Noblitt, 1852; Z. W. Tate, 1854; Thomas C. Doan, 1858; W. R. Evans, 1860; William Gilliatt, 1862; William A. Tate, 1863; Jackson Keenan, 1865; G. R. Ranney, 1867; B. P. Chatham, 1872; James W. Pro, 1874; R. B. Beswick, 1870; G. W. Beswick, 1877; G. W. Brown, 1877; Alexander McCracken, 1878; William Carter, 1880; Pearson Maxedon, 1882. AUDITORS John Baker. 1841. (This office was created in 1841, but abolished in 1845, and revived under the law of 1852.) Henry Comingore, 1852; L. D. Cogswell, 1860; Abraham Noblitt, 1868; D. F. Stucker, 1876; John D. Carter, 1879; G. A. Buskirk, 1880; John F. Stout, 1834. SCHOOL EXAMINERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS Arthur J. Simpson, 1836; Samuel Reed, 1836; T. V. Thornton, 1836; A. J. Simpson, 1839; John Baker, 1839; T. V. Thornton, 1839; * * * A. J. Simpson, 1846; Josephus Gifford, 1846; Levi Woody, 1846; A. F. Allen, 1846; J.W. Webb, 1846; V. Noblitt, 1846; John Millon, 1846; James Dillard, 1846; Thomas Hunt, 1846; Daniel Dwyer, 1846; Samuel McIntosh, 1846; G. W. Vandeveer, 1846; J. W. Gillam, 1846; W. B. Wamsley, 1846; A. 3. Simpson, 1848; Thomas Hunt, 1848; John Baker, 1848; A. F. Allen, 1850; A. M. Black, 1850; A. J. Simpson, 1854; Thomas Hunt, 1854; John Baker, 1854; A. M. Black, 1856; A. J. Simpson, 1856; A. F. Allen, 1856; H. C. Wible, 1856; Elias Albertson, 1857; H. C. Wible, 1857; A. J. Simpson, 1858-60; H. C. Wible, 1858-60; C. H. McCarty, 1860; W. L. Edington, 1860; Theodore Stackhouse, 1861 (under a new law); Aaron Speer, 1864; Theodore Stackhouse, 1864; J. C. Stanley, 1866; John M. Bloss, 1868; Theodore Stackhouse, 1870; Joseph P. Throop, 1873 (first County Superintendent); James L. Noblitt, 1875; George W. Faucett, 1881. SHERIFFS Zachariah Lindley, February 1, 1816; Abraham Bosley, 1820; Zachariah Lindley, 1822; Abraham Bosley, 1826; Josiah Hazlewood, 1828; Daniel Dayhuff, 1832; Abraham MorriS, 1834; Jeremiah Wilson, 1838; Jonathan Lindley, 1842; John Hollowell, 1844; W. H. Rigney, 1846; David F. Porter, 1850; S. W. Rigney, 1852; Alexander Morris. 1856; James Worrell, 1858; William Holaday, 1862; David Jones, 1863; W. V. Withers, 1865; J. P. McCart, 1867; T. L. Brown, 1869; W. P. Shively, 1874; Samuel A. Davis, 1877; E. C. Braxtan, 1878; Shadrach B. A. Conder, 1882. POLITICS OF ORANGE COUNTY In August, 1816, the county gave Thomas Posey, Governor, 419 votes, and Jonathan Jennings, his opponent, 64. Many of the subsequent results at Gubernatorial elections cannot be given, but below will be found the result at Presidential elections: The campaign of 1840 was the first of note in the county. In May of that year, at the Democratic County Convention, Joel Vandeveer presided, and the following representative Democrats were present: Henry Hollowell, Michael Mavity, Andrew Pruett, Samuel Wible, Eli McDonald, Henry Comingore, John Frazer, J. Hollowell, A. Maris, S. Cox, A. Wilson, W. Craig, T. Copeland, James Danner, W. Guthrie, S. Cornwell, J. H. Shore, Henry Crittenden, I. M. Ellis, P. Cartright, C. McDonald, J. McDonald, J. Lomox, J. H. Lomox, Q. Lomox, Edward Moore, William Wolfington, John Moore, Thomas Nichols, A. Charles, John Brown, John McCally, Isaac Bridgewater, James McCally, William Smith, Jeremiah Jenkins, J. C. Busick, William Busick, Perry Elrod, William Walls, Dr. J. Dillard and T. Bledsoe, Dr. W. A. Bowles, then the leading Democrat of the county, and a man of unusual talent, magnetism and personality, and the Representative of the county, delivered a long address to the convention on the issues of the day, which was published in full in the True American. In August Mr. Bowles was re-elected Representative. The county cast 947 votes for T. A. Howard, for Governor, and 678 for Samuel Bigger. Among the leading Whigs at this time, were: Col. Z. Lindley, Dr. C. White, Giles C. Smith, Thomas V. Thornton, Thomas J. Throop, Thomas Coffin, Samuel Chambers, Ezekiel S. Riley, Ezekiel Blackwell, John T. Throop, John G. Clendenin, John H. Campbell. In 1844 the Democrats held an enormous barbecue at Orleans, about 5,000 people being present. A large hickory pole was raised. The orators were Down, Smith, Sherritt and Albertson. The Whigs had a large barbecue at Paoli, a week later. They had not fully recovered from the campaign of 1840, when barbecues were held over the county, and hard cider, log-cabins, and "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," were the battle-cries. The old song was yet running in their heads: "Cold water will do for the Locos, And a little vinegar stew; But we’ll drink hard cider and whisky, And vote for old Tippecanoe." Late in the forties Dr. W. F. Sherrod, Democrat, became prominent in politics. He was one of the State electors in 1848, and was selected by them to take the returns of Indiana to Washington city. In 1849 he was sent to the Legislature. In 1848 Joseph A. Wright received 1,053 votes, and John A. Matson 758, for Governor. About this time there arose a frail Abolition movement, which, however, continued to grow in strength. In August, 1851, the question of the exclusion or colonization of negroes or mulattoes, was submitted to the county with the following result: For Exclusion Against Exclusion Paoli 214 19 Northeast 132 4 Orleans 212 0 Orangeville 118 0 Northwest 86 0 French Lick 147 1 Jackson 56 0 Greenfield 113 0 Southeast 143 0 Stampers Creek 126 0 Totals 1347 24 In 1856 politics in the county was in such a chaotic condition that almost the entire Whig vote went to Fillmore and Donelson, only forty-nine votes being polled for Fremont and Dayton. In 1860 the county was even yet more distracted, all the four national tickets receiving respectable support. The Republican vote was especially heavy, being 848, forty-four more than in 1864. In 1865, for the first time in tbe history of the county, almost the entire Republican ticket was elected. In 1868 the Democratic majority was 109, but in 1872 was only 76. The Greenback movement in 1876, and later, has had considerable of a following in the county, the leader, perhaps, being John C. Albert, who, later, was the candidate of that party for Congress. The present Democratic majority is about 150. THE RESULT AT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS On the 9th of November, 1824, Paoli Township voted as follows for Presidential electors: Jackson and Calhoun, 132; Adams and Sanford, 85; Clay and Jackson, 59. In November, 1828, three of the townships voted as follows for Presidential electors: Paoli-Jackson and Calhoun, 376, Adams and Rush 197; Orleans-Jackson and Calhoun 235, Clay and Rush 88; Greenfield-Jackson and Calhoun 20, Clay and Rush 0. In November, 1832, four townships voted as follows: For Jackson and Van Buren-Paoli 323, Northeast 206, Southeast 71, Greenfield 15. For Clay and Sargeant-Paoli 235, Northeast 119, S·utheast 11, Greenfield 0; total for Jackson and Van Buren 615, for Clay and Sargeant 365; Democratic majority 250. NOVEMBER, 1836 TOWNSHIPS DEMOCRATIC WHIG Van Buren and Johnson Harrison and Granger Paoli 305 305 Northeast 169 174 Southeast 43 4 Southwest 17 Greenfield 30 Totals 564 483 NOVEMBER, 1840 TOWNSHIPS DEMOCRATIC WHIG Van Buren and Johnson Harrison and Tyler Paoli 270 313 Orleans 214 257 Stampers Creek 56 22 Northwest 35 33 Southwest 64 4 Greenfield 52 0 Southeast 125 68 Jackson 63 10 Totals 879 707 NOVEMBER, 1844 TOWNSHIPS DEMOCRATIC WHIG LIBERTY Polk and Dallas Clay and Frelinghuysen Birney and Morris Paoli 289 352 1 Orleans 222 166 0 Northeast 8 42 1 Northwest 52 40 0 Southwest 68 5 0 Southeast 162 67 0 Stampers Creek 88 25 1 Greenfield 65 8 0 Jackson 82 7 1 Totals 1036 707 4 NOVEMBER, 1848 TOWNSHIPS DEMOCRATIC WHIG FREE SOIL Cass and Butler Taylor and Filimore Van Buren and Adams Paoli 134 240 3 Northeast 93 108 3 Orleans 119 158 0 Northwest 68 68 0 French Lick 160 44 0 Jackson 55 13 0 Greenfield 84 20 0 Southeast 137 67 0 Stampers Creek 111 42 0 Totals 961 760 6 NOVEMBER, 1852 TOWNSHIPS DEMOCRATIC WHIG Pierce and King Scott and Graham Paoli 130 217 Orleans 105 181 Northeast 75 93 Stampers Creek 115 33 Southeast 133 77 Greenfield 98 25 Jackson 79 14 FrenCh Lick 145 23 Northwest 64 38 Orangeville 78 46 Totals 1022 747 NOVEMBER, 1856 TOWNSHIPS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN AMERICAN Buchanan and Breckinridge Fremont and Dayton Fillmore and Donelson Paoli 135 5 200 Northeast 92 6 79 Orleans 163 26 101 Orangeville 73 0 43 Northwest 78 3 38 French Lick 155 6 20 Jackson 112 0 12 Greenfield 131 0 7 Southeast 160 3 63 Stampers Creek 108 0 32 Totals 1207 49 595 NOVEMBER, 1860 TOWNSHIPS DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN INDEPENDENT DEMOCRAT UNION Breckinridge and Lane Lincoln and Hamlin Douglas and Johnson Bell and Everett Paoli 32 242 141 25 Northeast 11 89 78 9 Orleans 56 181 94 32 Orangeville 0 86 71 1 Northwest 15 45 73 3 French Lick 32 49 121 2 Jackson 0 21 122 1 Greenfield 9 20 157 2 Southeast 3 89 146 4 Stampers Creek 28 26 111 6 Totals 186 848 1114 83 NOVEMBER, 1864 TOWNSHIPS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN McClellan and Pendleton Lincoln and Johnson Paoli 137 232 Northeast 74 78 Orleans 101 194 Orangeville 71 55 Northwest 81 31 French Lick 121 67 Jackson 87 22 Greenfield 154 11 Southeast 110 88 Stampers Creek 84 26 Totals 1020 804 NOVEMBER, 1868 TOWNSHIPS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN Seymour and Blair Grant and Colfax Paoli 196 295 Northeast 69 126 Orleans 131 262 Orangeville 71 112 Northwest 102 62 French Lick 179 112 Jackson 113 83 Greenfield 218 27 Southeast 179 133 Stampers Creek 112 47 Totals 1370 1261 NOVEMBER, 1872 TOWNSHIPS LIBERAL REPUBLICAN REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC Greeley and Brown Grant and Wilson O’Conor and Julian Paoli 153 284 7 Northeast 71 110 0 Orleans 128 230 6 Orangeville 60 123 0 Northwest 111 69 0 French Lick 169 97 2 Jackson 112 93 0 Greenfield 165 21 0 Southeast 153 109 1 Stampers Creek 129 39 0 Totals 1251 1175 16 NOVEMBER 1876 TOWNSHIPS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN INDEPENDENT Tilden and Hendricks Hayes and Wheeler Cooper and Cary Paoli 231 296 7 Northeast 78 122 0 Orleans 149 285 1 Orangeville 93 98 1 Northwest 136 72 0 French Lick 204 113 3 Jackson 137 103 2 Greenfield 237 20 0 Southeast 187 118 0 Stampers Creek 151 42 1 Totals 1603 1269 15 NOVEMBER, 1880 TOWNSHIPS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN INDEPENDENT Hancock and English Garfield and Arthur Weaver and Chambers Paoli 189 337 23 Northeast 78 117 5 Orleans 151 245 16 Orangeville 81 108 2 Northwest 132 74 4 French Lick 196 130 7 Jackson 116 150 8 Greenfield 233 50 20 Southeast 190 140 10 Stampers Creek 155 50 2 Totals 1521 1421 97