Jennings County Historical Society
Early History

There were people telling of the county history in the newspapers and meetings such as the "Old Settlers Meetings" prior to the organization documented here. One group in Scipio was active as early as 1884 it had some issues, including the charging of their treasurer with neglect of his official duties in February of 1885. It appears to have ceased to exist about then.

North Vernon Plain Dealer - October 13, 1921, Page 4
ORGANIZATION OF JENNINGS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
      All those interested in organizing a Jennings County Historical Society are requested to meet at 1:20 P.M. Saturday, October 22, 1921 at the Court House in Vernon, Ind., when Miss Lucy M. Elliott assistant director of the Indiana Historical Society will be present and help in the organization. If any one in the county or absent therefrom wishes to become a member and cannot attend the meeting write this fact before the date of the meeting to John R. Carney, Vernon, Indiana.
Oct. 13-20

North Vernon Plain Dealer - October 27, 1921, Page 1
HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORGANIZED SATURDAY
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Jennings County History Will Be Compiled and Records Preserved
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      Miss Lucy M. Elliott, secretary of the State Historical Commission, met with a number of Jennings County people, at Vernon, Saturday afternoon, for the purpose of organizing a Jennings County Historical Society.
      Miss Elliott explained to the assembled crowd that Jennings County whose early history is closely interwoven with the important early history of the state and whose area today contains many spots of historical interest, has no historical records for reference, either in the county or at the state capitol. She xplained that as a matter of civic pride and patriotic loyalty, the county should organize for the compiling and preservation of historical records.
      Miss Elliott also reminded those present that but very few of the activities of Jennings County during the World War had been recorded and that unless a record of the many activities of the loyal sons who had a part in military service and the faithful workers at home who gave time and energy to the cause, was compiled and preserved Jennings County will have no part in the honor accorded by future generation. It was pointed out that the only war material that has been collected for records is the gold star list, which was collected by Mrs. A. A. Trip, of the Jennings County War Mothers and forwarded by her to state headquarters.
      Eighteen charter members were enrolled at the meeting and it was decided to hold another meeting on November 19th, when others desiring to enroll can be taken in as charter members. The dues to the organization are fifty cents per year.
      It is likely that the first work that will be undertaken by the new organization will be the collecting of statistics for the-history of war work in the county. Later the work of collecting data for a complete history of the county will be started and it is predicted that this will develop into a most interesting project as the work progresses. After data has been secured it will be arranged in form and either preserved in typewritten manuscript or printed and bound so that it can be kept for reference. In connection with the collecting of data, articles of historical interest will also be collected and preserved for such time as they will find a place in state or county museum.
      Jennings County has ten members at present in the State Historical Society. This society, however, is a separate and distinct organization from the county society, the two organizations having no connections except that the members can work together advantageously in the collecting of historical data for the county and state. The members of the State Historical Society in this county are:- Mrs. A. A. Tripp, Mrs. J. D. Cone, Mrs. H. E. Barth, Mrs. C. S. Crocker, Mrs. Lincoln Dixon, of North Vernon; and Mrs. E. L. Wagner and Judge J. R. Carney, of Vernon. Mrs. Alice Wohrer, of Hayden; and Mrs. Perry Roberts, of Grayford.

North Vernon Plain Dealer & Republican - November 24, 1921, Page 1
      To Whomsoever is interested in the Gathering, Recording and Preservation of the History of Jennings County, Indiana, Greetings:
      This letter is being mailed to those only, whom we feel are actively interested in Gathering, Recording and Preserving the History of Jennings County, which is so rich in glorious patriotism and picturesque episodes, but unfortunately which up-to-date has been largely traditional since no organized effort up to this time has been set afoot to collect the historical material of Jennings County nor to preserve it.
      The accomplishment of this work for Jennings County and to foster in its citizens a patriotic pride, is the object of the Jennings County Historical Society which had its incipiency in the court room of the County Seat Court House, at Vernon, Indiana on Saturday afternoon, October 22, 1921 when twenty-one citizens of the County responded to an invitation issued by Judge Carney through the County Press to organize such a society.
      The above officers were elected temporarily and plans were made for further publicity and for a meeting to be held Saturday November 26th at 2:30 P.M. at the Jennings County Public Library at which meeting the Constitution and By-Laws will be submitted for adoption and a Membership Drive featured, offering Charter Membership to all who join the Jennings County Historical Society during this meeting or before the third meeting to be held Saturday, January 7th, 1922.
      You are cordially invited to be present at the meeting Saturday, November 26th at 2:30 P.M. at the Jennings County Public Library and to bring as guests any friends who would like to join in furthering the interests of the cause. It will be an historical even with which you will be proud to be associated.
      The Chairman John Ralph Carney will open the meeting and preside. There will be an address by Dr. John W. Oliver of the Indiana Historical Commission, Indianapolis.
      We feel that we may count upon your enthusiastic cooperation and hope to welcome you to the meeting on Saturday, November 25th, 1921.
      With earnest wishes that Jennings County may adequately arrange for the proper recognition and worthy setting of her noble historical heritage, we beg to remain.
                     Sincerely yours.
      Jennings County Historical Society John Ralph Carney, Chairman.
Mrs. Isaac Palmer Caldwell Secretary

North Vernon Plain Dealer and Republican, January 12, 1922, Page 1
JENNINGS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ELECTS OFFICERS
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      A meeting of the recently organized Jennings County Historical Society was held at the Jennings County Public Library, Saturday afternoon, for the purpose of electing permanent officers. Judge J. R. Carney temporary chairman, called the meeting to order and the business of nominating candidates for the various offices was taken up.
      Lincoln Dixon was unanimously elected president Judge Carney was elected vice president, and as Mr. Dixon was not present, Mr. Carney presided throughout the meeting. Mrs. Zelpha Weber was elected secretary and Patrick Wickens, treasurer. Seven candidates were were voted upon for the board of directors, resulting in the following election: Charles Hole, Mrs. John Amick and Mrs. Alice L. Ashton.
      There are seventy-three charter members in the organization and several new name were entered at this meeting. The constitution and by laws submitted by the committee previously appointed, were accepted.
      After the election of officers a half hour was devoted to the discussion of plans for collecting data for compiling a complete history of the activities in every department, of war work in the county during the World War. This record will be the first work undertaken by the society and committees will work throughout the county to secure all possible information on military service records. Red Cross work, liberty bond sales, food conservation, fuel conservation, agricultural war work, patriotic drives of every kind, flag raisings and every other activity in which citizens of Jennings County gave their service or demonstrated their patriotism during the World War.
      Jennings County citizens have been sadly negligent in the matter of preserving county historical records. No history of Civil War work in the county is available, although the county was the scene of some activities that have become a part of the history of the nation.
      Other matters of history, civil, political and romantic are known only as narrated by the older people of the county, who have heard the stories from their ancestors, there being no public record to make them valuable as real history. The Historical Society hopes in time to collect data for a complete history of the county from the time of its organization.

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North Vernon Plain Dealer - Feb 9, 1922
HISTORICAL SOCIETY HEARS INTERESTING TALKS
      The members of the Jennings County Historical Society heard interesting addresses given by Hon. Lincoln Dixon and Frank E. Little. Mr. Dixon is president of the organization and in his address he emphasized the necessity and urgency of collecting and preserving a record of Jennings County history, especially the history of war activities. He also gave a short sketch of the early history of Jennings County which was very interesting.
      Mr. Little's address was made especially interesting by the recitation of two original poems illustrating the value of historical record to future generations. His first poem was a little story of childhood life on the farm and his second a short history of the early days of North Vernon. The poems will be published in next week's issue.
      Vocal selections by the male quartette: L. A. Jackson, Fred Fetter, Shepherd Whitcomb and Harry Whitcomb were much enjoyed. The attendance was only fairly good there being but about thirty of the seventy-five members present.
      The committee on compiling the war work record reported that work had been done. Questionnaires have been sent to all exservice men requesting them to answer the questions and return the questionnaire to the committee. These records must be compiled soon and the exservice men who delay filling out their blanks must remember that after the records are closed their names cannot go in as a part of Jennings County's record. The co- operation of all the people of the county is requested in making the work as complete as possible.

North Vernon Plain Dealer - February 16, 1922, Page 8
ORIGINAL POEMS BY FRANK E, LITTLE
      The following poems written by Frank E. Little, were read by him, at the meeting of the Jennings County Historical Society February 4th.
      The first poem, "Down on the Old Home Farm" is beautiful in sentiment and it played on the heart strings of the older people of the Historical Society, whose early life in the county is so vividly portrayed.

Down On The Old Home Farm
When passing years have left their mark
On cheeks that once were fair
And we approach life's twilight zone
With its reflections rare.
Our thoughts go back to days of yore
Days of delight and charm
When life was filled with hope and joy.
Out on the old home farm
The barn in which we hunted eggs,
And tumbled in the hay;
The spring that bubbled from the rocks,
And gaily danced away,The pigeons perched along the roof,
Out of the reach of harm
Were incidents in rural life
Out on the old home farm
The big bay team that pulled the plow,
The cow that furnished milk
The sheep that browsed around the fields
With wool as soft as silk
The old farm dog that chased the cat
That fled in wild alarm
Gave spice to life in days of yore,
Out on the old home farm.
The orchard with its wealth of fruit
In russet, gold and red;
The vineyard and potato patch
And the green lettuce bed;
The chicken coop where laying hens
Were gathered safe and warm,
Helped fill the cup of childhood's joy
Out on the old home farm
The pig that fattened in the pen
The ducks that sailed the pond,
The geese that nibbled at the grass
Out in the lane beyond:
The man that cut the big back logs
With mightymuscled arm,
Made glad the hearts of girls and boys
Out on the old home farm
The dinner bell up on the pole,
That called the workers in,
The great big ears of yellow corn
Filed up inside the bin;
The melons and the pumpkins and
The bees that used to swarm,
Made life delightful every way,
Out on the old home farm
The turkey gobbler with its strut,
And wattles fiery red
The peacock with its gorgeous tail,
And top knot on its head:
The colts that kicked the harness off
And scared the new school marm
Made life worth living every day,
Out on the old home farm
The daisy bordered pasture filed,
The ripe wheat in the shock'
The stable with its row of stalls
In which to house the stock;
The straw stack with its sloping sides
That kept the cattle warm.
Are things we still remember yet,
Out on the old home farm
And now that we are growing old,
Reject it though we may
With faces traced with lines of care,
And hair fast turning gray
Our thoughts go back to days of yore
Days of delight and charm,
When you and I were girls and boys
Out on the old home farm
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The second poem is a sketch of the growth of the City of North Vernon told in rhyme.

On the O. and M. Road many long years ago.
Stood a crude little town just beginning to grow;
Its resources were small its inhabitants few,
And its prospects so dim that its people felt blue.
But as years rolled along it continued to grow,
Fighting hard all the way, though its progress was slow;
It refused to give up on account of its pride
For its people were game and would not be denied.
And at length came a day when a striking event
Brought cheer to the town like a gift heaven sent;
When it put on the robe of a city at last,
And its people all felt that the crisis was past.
In the year seventy-six it elected a Mayor,
Donned a new suit of clothes and trimmed up its long hair;
And a Marshall appeared with a mace in his hand,
To enforce its decrees as the law of the land.
And in due course of time night policeman strolled by,
In new uniforms dressed bright and blue like the sky
With brass buttons in front of the color of gold
As they walked up the street they looked fearless and bold.
Then the waterworks came and the sewers were laid,
And the streets were reduced to a uniform grade;
And the gasoline lamps were annexed to take flight,
And give place to the glow of the electric light.
So the town found a place on the map of the state,
And began to spruce up as a town up-to-date;
And with wisdom employed in its business affairs.
It bid fair to ascend to the top of the stairs.
With a council containing the right kind of men.
Who have convered success and can do it again;
With good order maintained and with evil suppressed,
The good people themselves can take care of the rest.
But there's one useful lesson we all ought to know
It's keep out of debt we must pay as we go,
And while holding our own with the cities near by.
We must not let our taxes go soaring too high.

North Vernon Plain Dealer & The Republican - March 9, 1922, Page 4
INTERESTING PROGRAM AT HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING
      An interesting paper giving a history of the building and development of the highways of Jennings County.was given by John Clerkin, at the meeting of the Jennings County Historical Society, held at the Library auditorium Saturday. Mr. Clerkin also presented a map illustrating the improvements and developments of the roads. This map will be of value to the records of the Historical Society.
      A very interesting paper on the history of the county was read by Miss Cora Carney, of Vernon. A very complete history of the county was read by Mrs. Kathryn Wilkerson and the paper was especially interesting from the fact that it was written by her grandson, Herbert Barth, and was full of interesting facts of history.
      An sppeal was made to the members of the society to urge more speed in returning the questionnaires for war service records, which have been sent to ex-service men and war workers of the county. The work of compiling the countys war history is progressing very slowly and Lincoln Dixon, president of the society announced that adjoining counties had succeeded in compiling histories and that Jennings County must not lag behind in this work.
      An animated discussion relative to the name of the new state park took place, some of the members wishing the society to go on record as favoring a change from the name of Vinegar Mills Park to Muscatatuck Park.

North Vernon Plain Dealer & The Republican - March 16, 1922, Page 4
Editorial
      At the meeting of the Jennings County Historical held at the library, Saturday, the matter of changing the name of the new state park was discussed and we are told a number, if not a majority expressed a desire to have the name changed from Vinegar Mills to Muscatatuck Park. In this matter we must take issue with the people of the society. How can we change the name of anything that has borne a name for fifty years? The young woman who was christened Mary Ann might, whe she entered society wish that she had been christened Gwendolyn Alicia or some other equally beautiful name but what can she do about it when her name is Mary Ann, on the birth records and the baptismal records and in the family Bible and every place else she has ever received mention. So it is with Vinegar
.       The oldest resident of the county especially if he were reared in or around Vernon will remember when he walked with his lady love, on Sunday afternoon along the paths of what is now the new park site. If you asked where he strolled on Sunday afternoon in bygone days he would undoubtedly say "At Vinegar Mills" If you would see the very small boy who took his fishing trip or first swimming lesson last summer and ask him where he went fishing or swimming with the boys, he would undoubtedly say, Vinegar Mills. Many former citizens who are now scatterd all over the United States, enjoyed school picnics, Sunday School picnics, hunting trips, trapping expeditions and many other forms of recreation at Vinegar Mills. They would not know to what place you referred if you spoke of it by any other name.
      It is surprising that the members of the historical society whose object is the collection and preservation of the history of the county, should desire to change the name of the park. Those in favor of changing it say the name has no historical connection. Why the very name is history. Any person or object that is known by one name for fifty years has a right to that name on historical record. The historical society would not want to change the name of any other object, or institution, or building or tract of land in the county. If it did it would not be preserving history but changing it.
      Aside from any sentiment that may be connected with the name Vinegar Mills, there is, as we see it, another very good reason why the name should not be changed. Much publicity has been given the new park site in the newspapers and magazines of the state. In every case it has been called "Vinegar Mills Park." Any change would now be confusing. The name is as appropriate as "Turkey Run" or "McCormick's Canyon", or "Clifty Falls" which are name of other state parks recently acquired by the state and which bear the same names by which they were known before becoming state parks. Muscatatuck Creek is a winding stream and is bordered by much acerage in Jennings County. Muscatatuck Park would have no significance-it might be anywhere on the banks of the Muscatatuck.
      Vinegar Mills Park is an original name. The little story of its name, which has often been printed is sufficiently interesting to give color to the name. The originality of the name causes people to wonder and inquire as to its meaning-thus increasing interest in the park site. Vinegar Mills it should remain.

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