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CHAPTER IV. |
EARLY LAND ENTRIES-THE COUNTY LIBRARY-TOWNSHIP LIBRARIES-CATALOGUE OF
BOOKS-THE MCCLURE LIBRARY-THE COUNTY SEMI-' NARY-ITS FIELD OF
USEFULNESS-POPULATION BY DECADES-VARIOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST-THE COUNTY
PAUPERS-THE ASYLUM-TOWNSHIP BOUNDARY ALTERATIONS-THE COUNTY MEDICAL
SOCIETY-ITS REORGANIZATION-RAILROADS-STATISTICS.
IN the year 1816, entries were made by David Lindley, Jonathan 1- Lindley,
John Johnson, John. Hawkins, Ephraim Owen, Samuel Owen, Benjamin Owen,
William Hawkins, Joseph Hollingsworth, Solomon Dixson, Joshua Hadley, Joseph
Richardson, John Neldon, John Storms, Isaac Storms, Scott Riggs, John
Haddon, Peter C. Vanslyke, Thomas Bradford and a few others. In 181'7, the
following entries were made: John Sanders, George Griffith, Jonathan Osborn,
Benjamin Shoemaker, John G. Gray, James Smith, Thomas Plummer, Abel
Burlingame, Joseph Dixson, Charles Scanland, William Carter, Seth Fields,
Samuel Fields, Samuel Perry and Thomas Bradford, Jr. In 1818, entries were
made by Alexander Watson, Joseph Shelton, Eli Dixson, George Shryer, Julius
Dugger, Mark Dugger, Joseph Ingersoll, William Barker, Elijah and George
Chinn, David Richey, Abe Westf all, John Slinkard, Jesse , Stafford,.Mathias
Killian, Mordecai McKinney, John Hinkle, Abraham Gar ret, Isaac Hubbell, E.
W. Welton, John Van Voorst, William Lemon, William Harrell, Edmund. Gillam,
Thomas Buskirk, John Bradford, William Robinson, Rr S. Underwood, James
Warnick, William Scott, Samuel C. Hall, George Lashley, Gordon Phelps, Jacob
Scudder and Williams Adams. In 1819, entries were made by John Arthur,
Thomas Barker, Peter R. Lester, Christian Bruner, John O'Neal', 0. T.
Barker, Benjamin Stafford, Garrison Evans, David Wesner, William Dillinger,
Zachariah Dunn, Simeon Hagamon, Peter Hays, Andrew Vanslyke and Martin
Wines. In 1820, by William Bynum, Robert Anderson, William Haneson, Joseph
Dillinger, Daniel Rawlins and John Gardner. In 1821, by Henry A.rney, John
Craig, Jesse Elgan, John Elgan, Samuel Hughen, Simon Caress, John Breece,
Joseph Kirkpatrick, Oliver Cushman, John McDonald, Zebulon Jenkins, George
Milam and John Mason.
THE COUNTY LIBRARY.
The act creating the county provided that ten per centum of the proceeds of
the sale of town lots at the county seat should be reserved for the purpose
of founding and maintaining a county library. The first Trust. ees who
entered upon the discharge of their duties quite early in the twenties, and
remained in* office until 1830, were Thomas Bradford, James Warnick, Thomas
Plummer, Ruel Laarned, Jonathan Lindley, Norman W. Pierce and William
Freeland, the latter serving as President. In 1830, they were succeeded by
Levi Fellows, Peter Hill, Moses Ritter, Peter C. Vanslyke, John Van Voorst,
John Inman, James Boyd and James Patterson, the latter being Treasurer. Late
in the thirties, Elisha P. Cushman, William M. Norris, John Jones, John C.
Brown and John Townsend also served as Trustees. In November, 1824, the
total proceeds of the sale of town lots, money, notes, etc., were
$1,262.121. After the expenses were deducted, there was left about $1, 200,
of which ten pfa- centum, or $120, belonged to the county library. Only
about ten per cent of this was cash. Two or three sales of lots took place
each year, and the notes that had been given were slowly paid. It is
probable that the first purchase of books for the library was made late in
the twenties. After that, as fast as $50 or $60 was received, it was
invested in books, until, in 1840, as nearly as can be learned, about $250
bad been thus used. Soon after the new court house was finished, the library
was removed from the house of the librarian to what is now the Treasurer's
office, where it remained many years. Rules for the government of the books
were adopted. Any citizen of the county, by complying with the rules, could
take a volume to his home for perusal. The old county library was an
excellent institution in its day. It must be remembered that Indiana was new
then, and the country people were generally too poor to buy other books than
the Bible. But the great difference between then
TOWNSHIP LIBRARIES.
These libraries were furnished by the State, from a fund derived from the
sale of certain school lands. Counties containing a population of over
15,000 were given ten libraries of 325 volumes each. Counties with a
population less than 15,000 and greater than 10,000, were given eight, and
counties with less than 10,000, six. Greene County was to receive eight
libraries, and was divided into the following eight districts: No. 1,
Richland Township; No. 2, Cass and Taylor; No. 3, Jackson and Center; No.4,
Beech Creek and Highland; No. 5, Jefferson and Eel River; No. 6, Smith and
Wright; No.7, Stockton and Fairplay (including Grant); No. 8, Stafford and
Washington. Each district was to
receive one library of 325 volumes. The first books were received in
1854-55, and were distributed to the districts by the County Board. Within
the next year or two, the eight libraries were all received, thus sending to
all parts of the county 2,600 volumes of reading matter similar, to the
following: Spark's American Biography, Prescott's Conquest of Mexico,
Irving's Columbus, Dillon's Historical Notes, Percy's Anecdotes, Howe's
American Mechanics, Life of John Paul Jones, History of the Girondists,
Plutarch's Lives, Ancient Egyptians, Pursuit of Knowledge, History of
Greece, Smith's Holliday Abroad, Book for the Homeside, The Czar and. his
People, Layard's Ninevah, The Parents' Assistant, Physical Sciences, Orators
of the Age, Curran and his Cotemporaries, History of the Swiss, Boyhood of
Great Men, Floral Biography, Farmers' Instructor, Home Pictures, A Love
Token, Live and Let Live, Benjamin Franklin, Christmas Books, etc., etc.
These libraries served a most excellent purpose, mid are still in use in
some portions of the county, though their usefulness is much impaired by the
remarkably cheap books and newspapers of the present.
THE M'CLURE LIBRARY.
This was founded in the counties of Indiana from the liberal beqUest of Mr.
McClure. A large property was left to be invested in useful books for the
sole use and benefit of working men—those who " earned their bread by the
sweat of their brows." A. few hundred volumes were. received in the county,
and an association of the workingmen was formed to receive the benefits of
the bequest. The library was finally merged in with the county library. All
have been supplanted in effect by the cheap printing of to-day. These old
hooks remain as relics of usefulness and progress of former generations,
when universal and liberal education was secured at private expense.
THE COUNTY SEMINARY.
An early law of the State provided that certain fines, penalties,
forfeitures, etc., before Justices of the Peace, the Circuit Court, etc.,
should be used tQ found and maintain a county seminary of learning. The fund
began to accumulate in Greene County immediately, and a Trustee was
appointed to care for it—loan it—the first Trustee, so far as known, being
Eli Dixeon. Otis Hinkley succeeded him in 1825. Peter Hill was appointed in
1826, and continued to serve as such until 183–. In January, 1832, the fund
amounted to $253.641, of which $38 was drawing six per cent interest. By an
act approved January 24, 1832, the Legislature incorporated the following
persons "President and Trustees of the Greene County Seminary:" Levi
Fellows, Willis D. Lester, Elisha P. Cushman, Ruel Learned, Peter R. Lester,
John Inman, James Stalcup, Moses. Ritter, Eli Dixson, Samuel R. Cavins, John
Gardner, John Sanders, Benjamin StaffOrd, Hiram Hayward and Thomas Plummer.
The act fully provided for the management of the fund and the conduct of the
Trustees. For some reason, the next Legislature repealed that porth% of this
act appointing the above fifteen men Trustees, and appointed in their stead
by an amendment to the act the following persons: John Inman, Cornelius
Vanslyke, James Warnick, Samuel Simons and John A. Pegg. Mr. Inman was
almost immediately succeeded by Elias Crance. The term of office was three
years. In November, 1833, the County Board " Ordered, That Lots 31, 32, 33,
34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, in Bloomfield, be given unto James Warnick, P.
C..Vanslyke, Samuel Simons, John A. Pegg and Elias Crance, the Board of
Trustees of the County Seminary, and their successors in office, for the use
of a seminary of learning for the said county of Greene; and it is further
ordered that Willis D. Lester, agent for the said town of Bloomfield, shall
make unto said Board of Trustees and their successors in office a good and
sufficient deed for the above named lots." In the winter of 1837-38, there
was on hand of the fund $879.26 'The law provided that when the fund reached
$400 the Trustees, at their option, Might erect a seminary building, but no
attempt of this kind was made until October, 1837, when Ruel Learned
contracted to erect on the seminary lots a two-storied brick building, 25x50
feet, and 23 feet high to the plates, for which he was to receive $1,100.
The contract required the completion of the building within one year, but
this was not done. The exact date cannot be given, though the house was
ready for occupancy in 1844. After the house was finished, though it had
cost more than was expected, the accumulation of the fund was so rapid that
$317.04 was in the hands of T. H. Carson, Secretary of the Trustee's. As
late as 1852, the fact that no deed of the seminary lots had been made to
the Trustees by the Town Agent, as was ordered nineteen years before, was
brought to the attention of the County Board, whereupon the order was
revived and re-issued. In 1852, Chapter 97 of the Revised Statutes provided
for the sale of the seminary property and the transfer of the proceeds .into
the common school fund. The property was accordingly advertised and sold in
July, 1853, as follows: Lots 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35, and the building to
William Mason for $673; Lots 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 to Joseph Lyons for $113;
total proceeds of sale, $786. The transfer of the property to these men
seems not to have been made, as in July, 1863, ten years later, the whole
property was sold for $780 to William D.
Ritter, Trustee of Richland Township. An account of the schools in this
building will he found in the chapter on Bloomfield.
POPULATION OF THE COUNTY.
In 1820 (estimated) 400
In 1830 4,242
In 1840 8,321
In 1850 12,313
Tn 1860 16,041
In 1870.
19,514
In 1880 22,996
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST.
During and since the war, large amounts of money were and have been paid as
relief and bounty. In September, 1862, the following was spread upon the
records of the County Board: "Ordered, that the board is hereby adjourned as
it appears impossible to transact business owing to the crowd of persons
thronging the court house for the purpose of applying for exemption from
military duty by the Board of Examiners now in session." The county jail of
1859-60 had forced the County Board to issue several thousand dollars' worth
of bonds, which were slowly redeemed during the years of the war. In the
autumn of 1864, the County Board, upon being petitioned to that effect,
refused to make. an appropriation from the county funds to aid drafted men.
Within two or three years after the war, when the county began to recover
its formqr equanimity, the construction of costly ditches to drain the wet
lands of the county, and costly bridges across the rivers and larger creeks
to afford easier and quicker inter-communication, was commenced and has
continued until the present. One of the first ditches (under the law of
March 11, 1867) was built in the southern part of Jefferson Township. In
September, 1867, a safe for the Treasurer's office was purchased at a cost
of $1,000. The Timmons Ditching Company filed articles of incorporation in
October, 1873, some of the leading members being W. H. Timmons, James Bull,
W. D. Myers, James Hicks. Certain lands in Washington Township were to be
ditched. The White River bridge northwest of Bloomfield was built in 1873-74
by Miller, Jamison & Co., for $27.80 per foot, there being 580 feet—$16,124.
Late in the sixties, and in the seventies prior to August, 1875, there had
been issued in county bonds, Nos. 1 to 48, each for $500, making a total
sale of bonds of $24,000, for the purpose.of building certain bridges,
ditches, etc. In August, 1875, Nos. 49 to 60 inclusive were sold for $6,000,
to raise funds to repair the damages of the famous flood of August of that
year, on which occasion the water rose higher than ever known before,
destroying almost totally the crops of all descriptions on the bottom lands.
In 1876, the McKissick- Ditching Company was organized and incorporated
THE COUNTY PAUPERS.
The first order which appears upon the Commissioners' record for the support
of the county poor was issued to Catharine Slinkard in January, 1829, for
caring for Fanny Law. So far as known, all such help prior to this had been
furnished in the townships under the direction of Overseers of the Poor, two
or three of whom were constantly in office from the earliest organization.
It is possible the above order was not the first made by the County Board.
Afterward, the expense of paupers was an annual recurrence to be provided
for as any other county outlay. Catharine Slinkard continued to care for
Fanny Law for some time, and was paid at the rate of about $1 per week. This
was in. Plummer Township. Peter and Jane Graves were two poor persons of
Highland Township. John Hower, Overseer of the Poor, was paid $1.50 for "
farming them out " to Christopher Nation at $1.50 per week. The method of
"farming out" the poor was to sell at auction or otherwise their care to the
lowest responsible bidder. Sometimes the indigent fell into cruel hands and
were half starved and otherwise misused. In the years 1836-37, the County
Board paid $158.99 for the care of the poor. In 1843, contract was entered
into between the County Board and Obadiah T. Barker, whereby the latter
agreed to take all the permanent paupers of the county to his home at
Scotland and care for them, the county bearing all necessary expense and
paying him for his trouble. The first three paupers under his care were
Abner Hunter, Thomas Roach and Martha Roach.
go took them in March and May, 1843. He presented a bill of $72.54 in
December, 1843, which was duly honored. Mr. Darker was an excellent man for
the place. He was intelligent, kind, firm and rigidly just. In March, 1846,
a different contract was made with Mr. Barker. He agreed to provide all
necessaries for the county paupers, old and young, and keep them at his
"Asylum" at Scotland, for $1 each per week. He gave bond of $500 for the
faithful performance of the trust. For the fiscal year ending June, 1845,
the poor cost $257.80, and for the year ending June, 1848, poor and poor
farm $933.54. In December, 1848, Mr. Barker reported five inmates of the
"Asylum," and presented a claim of $98.61, which was promptly paid. In
March, 1847, Nancy Hatfield seems to have succeeded Mr. Barker as
Superintendent of the Poor. She contracted to care for the paupers for $1
each per week, and entered into bonds for $500. In September, 1847, the
County Board gave notice that they would receive proposals in October, of
land for a poor farm. At that time several tracts were considered. At last
seventy-eight acres of the west half of the south half of the west
fractional Section 34, Township 7 north, Range 5 west, were bought of Edwin
Simpson for *10 an acre, the county to pay mortgages of $270.73, and the
remainder, $509.27, in cash. Immediate arrangements were made to build a log
poor house, and Mr. Simpson took the contract of putting up a hewed-log
house, 18x26 feet, as high as the roof or plates, for $35, the work to be
completed December 1, 1847. This house was duly erected according to
contract, and cost $33 instead of $35. The house was completed during the
winter. In March, 1848, Peter Wright was given charge of the poor and the
poor farm for two years for $199, and was to receive certain extras and
allowances. There were eleven paupers at this time. In March, 1850, the
board bought twenty-five acres of John Bradford for $250, to be used as an
addition to the poor farm. At this time, Nancy Hatfield became
Superintendent of the Poor, and continued as such for several years, or
until 1857, when she was succeeded by Samuel Williams. Mrs. Hatfield was
paid $1.25 per week for each pauper. Mr. Williams agreed to provide
necessaries for all for one year for $799, he to have certain receipts from
the farm. Just before this change of Superintendents, the poor farm was sold
to Joseph Lyons for nearly $3,000; and ninety-four acres of part of the
southeast quarter of Section 23, Township 7 north, Range 5 west, were
purchased of him for about the same amount, the notes he had given for the
old farm being returned to him for the new—exact figures and dates cannot be
given. In 1858, G. W. Osborn contracted to build on the new farm a frame
poor house, 18x40 feet, ten feet high, to be finished by December, 1858, for
$900 in county orders. This contract was faithfully executed. In March,
1859, George Steele became Superintendent, for $575 per year. There were
nine inmates of the asylum at this time. The poor cost the county $913.08 in
1857-58. Thomas Flinn succeeded Steele in March, 1860, for $949 for two
years. There were ten inmates at this period, and twelve in September. Nancy
Hatfield again took charge in March, 1862, for two years, at $1 per week for
each pauper and the use of the farm. Harry Parsons succeeded her in 1864,
for two years, all supplies to be furnished by the county, and Mr. Parsons
to be paid $30 per month. Since that time, among the Superintendents have
been Thomas S. Martindale, 1872; Thomas Cravens, 1876; J. G. Warnick, 18'77;
James Warren, 1879; James G. Warnick, 1880; James Inman, 1881; James
Stewart, 1882; Clifton E. Dixson, 1883: There are at the present writing
(December, 1883) thirty inmates. The cost has steadily increased until now
the permanent paupers require an outlay of between $5,000 and $6,000
annually. The temporary pauper help would more than double this amount. The
new brick poor house was erected by M. K. Tatout, in 1877-78, for $5,840,
contract price, and a few hundred dollars extras. The total cost was about
$6,500. The building is a credit to Greene County.
TOWNSHIP BOUNDARY ALTERATIONS..
When the county was first organized and divided into townships, in 1821, the
present Beech Creek, Center and Jackson Townships were Burlingame Township;
Highland, Jefferson, Smith and Wright were Highland; Richland, Fairplay,
Grant and Stockton were Richland; Cass and Taylor were Plummer; Stafford and
Washington were Stafford. In May, 1828, all of the above Richland Township
west of White River was constituted Dixsou Township. It included the present
Stockton, Grant and Fairplay. At the same time, all of the above Highland
Township west of White River (the present Jefferson, Smith and Wright) was
constituted Smith Township. A week or two later, all of Greene County in the
forks of White and Eel Rivers was organized as Eel River Township. In May,
1829, Beech Creek was created as it now is except the two western tiers of
sections, and extended south to the center of the present Center Township.
Jackson Township was created at the same time, six miles east and west, and
nine miles north and south. In August, 1829, Fairplay Township was created
out of Dixson, with the present limits. At the same time, the remainder of
Dixson was created Black Creek Township, thus doing away entirely with
Dixson Township. In January, 1830, the name Black Creek Township was changed
to Stockton Township. In November, 1830, Washington Township, with its
present boundaries, was organized out of Stafford Township. The boundary of
Beech Creek was changed in May, 1835; In January, 1838, Wright Township was
created out of Smith, and extended two miles farther east than at present.
In November, 1841, Center Township was created with its present boundaries.
In June, 1849, Plummer Township disappeared and Cass and Taylor were created
out of it as they are at present. In March, 1869, Grant Township was created
out of Stockton, about as it is at present. These are the leading township
alterations, except that a few years ago Eel River Township was attached to
Jefferson. The creation of the last-named township was about the year 1830,
the exact date not being obtainable.
THE GREENE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
On the 27th of February, 1858, the following resident physicians of the
county met at Bloomfield and organized the Greene County Medical Society: W.
C. Smydth; S. M. Wright, J. A. Minich, J. N. Conley, David Detor, F. F.
Blaser, J. S. Mayfield, S. C. Owen, J. W, Harvey and E. B. Maxwell. The
meeting was called to order, and on motion W. C. Smydth was made Chairman
and E. B. Maxwell Secretary. The following doctors were then appointed a
committee to draft a constitution and by-laws, which they did and reported
for adoption, and which, with some modification and improvements, was
formally received as the law of the society. The constitution provided for
the necessary officers and committees, prescribed their respective duties,
specified and regulated the proceedings of the society at the regular
monthly meetings, and made the necessary arrangement for special lectures
and discussions on all questions of interest to the local medical
profession. The following office rs for the first year were then elected:
William C. Smydth, President; David Detor, Vice President; E. B. Maxwell,
Secretary; J. A. Minich, Corresponding Secretary; F. F. Blaser, Treasurer;
J. N. Conley, S. M. Wright and J. S. Mayfield, Censors. At the next meeting
of the society, an important raper was read on " The Benefits of a County
Medical Society. " After this, meetings were held monthly. In October, 1858,
Dr. Detor read an essay on the subject of " Typhoid Fever," which attracted
much attention from the county physicians, owing to its depth and to the
originality of many of the views. About this time, also, Dr. W. D. Armstrong
delivered before the society an address of unusual power. In a year or two,
the society seems to have become defunct, from what cause cannot be
positively stated. In May, 1864, the society was re-organized by the
following physicians: W. C. Smydth, J. N. Conley, W. S. Green, C. A.
Meacham, S. C. Cravens, S. A. Connell, W. A. O'Neal, J. A. Minich, C. P.
Gerstinger, John Halstead, W. B. Squire, W. F. Sherwood, Evan J. Jackson, N.
P. Merret, E. Morgan, M. L. Holt, A. J. Axtell, S. L. Stoddard and C. W.
McDaniel. Later than this, a fee bill was adopted, but what further was done
cannot be stated, as the records seem not to have been preserved. In May,
1867, the society was again re-organized, with the following membership: M.
G. Mullinnix, A. H. Secrest, W. F. Sherwood, J. N. Conley, W. C. Smydth, J.
A. Minich, S. C. Cravens, J. W. Gray, H. V. Norvoll, M. L. Holt, W. S.
Green, Jacob McIntosh, W. B. Squires, Dowden, W. C. Hilburn, S. L. Stoddard,
C. W. McDaniel and A.J. Axtell. The following permanent officers retired:
Jason N. Conley, President; C. A. Meacham, Vice President; John W. Gray,
Secretary; Samuel C. Cravens, Corresponding Secretary; Horace V.
Norvell,Treasurer. Another ''fee bill" was adopted at this time. The
following
permanent officers were elected for the ensuing year (1867): W. C. Smydth,
President; W. F. Sherwood,Vice President; S. C. Cravens, Secretary; J. A.
Minich, Treasurer; J. N. Conley, M. G. Mullinnix and J. W. Gray, Committee
on Ethics. The old constitution and by-laws was revised and ddopted. The
next meeting was held in Angust, 1867, at Worthington, and the next at
Linton. After this the minutes of the meetings were misplaced uiitil May,
1869, when the society convened in the old seminary building at the county
seat. At this meeting, one of the members was expelled for “conduct
unbecoming an honorable member of the medical profession." At this meeting,
S. C. Cravens was elected President; J. N. Conley, Vice President; J. N.
Jones, Secretary; J. W. Gray, Treasurer; W. C. Smydth, A. H. Secrest and A.
J. Axtell, Committee on Ethics. The next recorded meeting was hold at
Bloomfield in 1871. 'After this the meetings became more interesting and
were held quarterly quite regularly. Essays on all conceivable medical
subjects of local interest were read and thoroughly discussed to the
manifest instruction and benefit of all the membership. Such subjects as the
following were brought before the society: Cholera infautura, typhoid fever,
pneumonia, pelvic viscera of females, secretions of the liver and the use of
mercury, erysipelas, _cholera, bilious and intermittent fivers, child-birth,
scarlatina, heart disorder,etc., etc.
In. May, 1875, the society was re-organized and constituted a branch of the
State Medical Society. The constitution and by-laws was rearranged and
re-adopted. The following physicians became members: J. W. Gray, P. L.
Brouillette, E. IV. Hilburn, W. C. Smydth, S. C. Cravens, B. A. Rose, H. R.
Lowder, S. H. McCormick, John M. Harrah, 3. P. McIntosh, J. R. Shanklin, E.
J. Jackson, S. V. Mullinnix, W. L. Green, T. Aydelotte, M. Beaty, John W.
Hannan, James E. Talbot. The meetings were held quite regularly with much
interest, until June, 1876, when they seem to have been abandoned until
April, 1878, when the society was again re-organized, with the following
membership: P. L. Brouillette, S. C. Cravens, J. W. Gray, H. Gasteneau,
Marshall Beaty, J. Hanna, H. R. Lowder, G. G. Laughead, H. V. Norvoll, J. N.
Conley, B. A. Rose, J. Kutch, J. Mullane, H. C. Littlejohn, W. B. Spencer,
N. Williams, IL L. Hartzall, E. Morgan, W. H. Burk, E. W. Hilburn, J. A.
Sims, Willis Cole, N. C. Burge, Sim Gray. After about a year, meetings were
partially abandoned, until April, 1881, when the following officers were
elected: G. G. Laughead, President; Caleb Lowder, Secretary
RAILROADS.
The first railroad projected across Greene County was the old North & South
road from Evansville northward early in the decade of the fifties. No work
was done on this route in Greene County, except a limited amount of clearing
in Cass and perhaps other townships. The first road built was the
Indianapolis & Vincennes Railway. It was projected before the last war, and
the project revived during the war, but not carried to completion until Gen.
Burnside assumed control, graded the bed, put down the iron and put on the
rolling stock, finishing in 1868-69. It soon passed to other parties and
still again to others, and is at present (1884) operated under a lease of
ninety-nifie years by the Pennsylvania Company. So far as can be learned,
the county of Greene furnished no aid in the construction of this road.
Private parties along the route, however, furnished in some instances the
right of way, and considerable stock was taken here and there throughout the
county. Depot grounds and freight yards were usually furnished. In 1869-70,
Washington Township petitioned to have levied upon the property, a tax not
to exceed two per centum to aid the Evansville & Indianapolis Railroad,
which was to pass through Newberry and thence across the township, forming a
junction with the Indianapolis & Vincennes. An election was ordered held to
decide whether the aid should be granted. The same action was taken in
reference to Cass Township. The townships of Jefferson and Richland, in
1871, were granted the right to vote on the question of granting aid to the
North & South Kailroad. In March, 1872, Smith Township asked for and was
granted the right to vote on the question of raising by taxation the sum of
$6,000 to aid the St. Louis & Cincinnati Straight Line Railroad, and at the
same time the same privilege was granted Wright Township, the amount to be
raised being $5,900. Smith voted 59 for the tax and 33 against it; and
Wright voted 98 for and 104 against.
In 1872, the County Board was petitioned by 143 citizens, to submit the
question to the legal voters of the whole county, of aiding by taxation the
Cincinnati & Terre Haute Railroad to the amount of $100,000. The election
was ordered held April 21, 1872. Wright Township was again permitted to vote
whether to aid the Straight Line road with the following result: 58 for and
155 against. That settled the question. Jefferson and Richland voted aid for
the North & South road, and the tax was actually levied, but the amount
collected, about $600, was refunded to the payers when the road was
abandoned. The election in the county on the question of aiding the Terre
Haute road was lost. In December, 1874, Stockton Township asked permission
to vote a tax of $8,985 in aid of the Bloomfield Railroad; Richland asked
the same to the extent of $7,725; Jackson the same to the extent of $10,000;
Grant the same to the extent of $4,005. The election was ordered held, but
with what result cannot be stated. Center also voted on the question, but as
the road was not built there the tax was not levied. In 1875,Clark, Buell,
Donahay & Co., projected the Bloomfield Railroad, which was to extend from
Bloomfield westward to the Wabash River, and at the same time projected a
continuation of the road from Bloomfield through to Bedford, the latter
being known as the Bedford, Springville, Owensburg & Bloomfield Railroad.
During the fall or winter of 18'75, this company transferred all their
contracts to Conley, Mason & Co., who undertook to complete both branches of
the road. The portion from Bloomfield to Switz was finished by the 1st of
October, 1875, and cost about $29,000; and the portion from Bloomfield to
Bedford was completed by the 4th of July, 1876, and cost about $120,000.
About all the means to build the grade was furnished by donations,
subscriptions, taxes, etc. The company which had undertaken to complete the
road was unable to do so, although large amounts of real estate had been
pledge.d. It was found necessary to enter into debt to secure the equipment
of the road with iron and rolling stock, the rolling mill company of
Indianapolis becoming the creditors. Various bonds, etc., were turned over
to the mill company to secure them, besides mortgages on the property. As
none of this could be satisfied when due, the mill company took full control
when the road was finished; and when Conley, Mason & Co., went into
bankruptcy, the mill company bought the absolute right in the road at
bankrupt sale. This was about the course of events. Another project in
1881-82 was the extension of the Greencastle, Eel River & Vincennes Railroad
through the western tier of townships. The townships Wright, Stafford and
Stockton asked leave to vote aid, and were granted the right, but before the
election came off the right to vote was rescinded by the County Board. It is
probable that other railroad projects have been contemplated across Greene
County. The Terre Haute & Southeastern Railway was completed to Worthington
in 1879, a considerable amount of local help being furnished. The project
included the extension of the road southward, possibly to Bloomfield, but
probably along the west side of the river, crossing at Newberry. This
extension is a probable event of the near future. The amount of assistance
furnished cannot be stated, though it is well known tlIat Worthington gave a
"good round sum," and other portions along the proposed route have promised
ample help. Bloomfield cannot afford to lose this road.
This information is the research of many people across the United States and may contain errors. It is presented as the best information to date. Like all of those whose work I have incorporated herein, my research is a work in progress and subject to change without notice. A special thanks to Marlene Ricci of CA, Dwayne Meyer of CA, Jacqueline Bean of TX, Debbie Dick of IN, Milus Miller of IL, Carol Hendricks Miller of IN, Clarence Miller of IN, and Harold Glen Miller of IN. There are numerous others too; many of which are unknown, but their findings and stories are still much appreciated. Much of this would not have been possible with out their information. Also this website includes historical facts gathered from Washington County History, Indiana History, Rowan County and Salisbury North Carolina Historical sources and other US Historical sources.
James A. Miller- Great -Great -Great -Great Grandson of Adam Miller and Hannah Sheets.
©2007 The Millers of Washington County
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Last Updated 07/04/07 08:23:20 AM -0700