News Articles

ONE CENT REWARD
        RAN AWAY FROM THE SUBSCRIBER ON THE 22d ultimo, an indented apprentice named Alfred Bates. Said boy is about 14 years of age, small of his age, light colored hair, blue eyes. He had on a linen pair of pantaloons, cotton shirt, and palm leaf hat when he left. I warn all persons from trusting or harboring him on my account, as I will not be held responsible. I will give the above reward for his delivery to me in Harrison Township, Morgan county, Indiana. [signed] WM. TULL--
~Semi-Weekly Journal, Vol. 3. Number 243, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 August 1841 - Aug. 6 1841~

OUTRAGEOUS ATTEMPT AT MURDER.
        We learn by two gentlemen just from the village of Morgantown, Morgan county, Indiana, that on Saturday, evening the 24th inst., James Norman, a citizen in the vicinity of that place, attempted a most inhuman murder upon the person of his wife. The circumstances as related to us, are as follows: For more than a year, Norman has, at various times, threatened to take the life of his wife, and on the morning of the day in which he committed the hellish act, he renewed his threat by saying that he would kill her that day. Late in the evening, whilst she was standing in the meadow, a distance of upwards of one hundred yards from the house, the demon deliberately took his rifle in hand and aimed a death shot. The ground at the house, from where he fired, is said to be much higher than that occupied by the unfortunate victim; in consequence of which, the ball fell far below his calculation. She was standing with her back towards him at the time he fired. The ball entered the upper and back part of the thigh, and ranged to the front, a little above the knee where it remained until Sunday evening, at which time it was extracted. He says he intended to kill her, and that he aimed to shoot her between the shoulders. There is little or no hopes entertained for her life. He made no attempt to escape, but made considerable resistance at the time of his arrest. He assigns no reasons for committing the crime, and still swears that he will yet take her life. She is represented as being an amiable, industrious, affectionate wife, and much esteemed by her neighbors. They have a large family of children to mourn over the fiendish act of a drunken and degraded parent.
        Norman has, for some time, been addicted to drinking, but is said to have been sober at the time of shooting his wife. He is said to be in good circumstances, and with the exception of his intemperate use of ardent spirits, stood fair in society. He was taken to Martinsville, on the Monday following and will be tried before a Justice of the Peace and held to bail in the sum of four thousand dollars,for his appearance at the next term of the Morgan Circuit Court. His father and brothers, we learn, went his bail. We will not attempt to impugn the motives of the officer who permitted him to bail, but we will venture to say that no man (no more properly speaking a demon in human shape) who is guilty of so heinous a crime should ever be permitted to bail, and so long as our peace officers show lenity, our innocent citizens have no protection from the ruthless hand of the assassin. The people should take these things in hand, and see that the law in such aggravated cases, is permitted to take its due course—given them no possible chance to escape—if the peace officers will not do their duty, the people must and will.
                                ~Bloomington Post~

FIRE
        The dwelling of John T. Graham, Collector and Treasurer of Morgan County, Indiana, was totally consumed by fire on Friday evening, the 18th ult. By which his whole household furniture, and between six and seven thousand dollars in money—the State Revenue—was entirely lost. The fire was an accident.
                ~Wabash Express, Volume 1, Number 10, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 2 March 1842~

OFFICIAL LIST OF ESTRAYS.
         Taken up by Henry Felkins, living in Morgan county, Indiana, a bay Mare, fourteen and a half hands high, five years old next spring, two scars on the left shoulder, hind feet white. No other marks or brands perceivable. Appraised at twenty dollars by Samuel Rowland and Riley Brewer, on the twentieth day of January, 1846, before Justice S. W. Toney.
        Taken up by William Landers, in Madison township, a chestnut sorrel Mare, blind in the left eye supposed to be seven years old, blaze in the face, hind legs white half way up to the hock, the right fore foot white; about fifteen and a half hands high. No other marks or brands perceivable. Appraised at twenty-five dollars by Washington Landers and Jacob Rivers, on February eighteenth, 1846, before Justice Philip Clubb.
                Attest, JAMES JACKSON, Clerk

$100 REWARD!---FOUL MURDER!!
        On Thursday morning last, the 27th inst., in the county of Morgan, near the road leading from Greencastle to Martinsville, and about six miles from Cloverdale, in Putnam county, George Cox brutally murdered Asa Gladson, with an axe, and has since fled, or secreted himself so that he has not been found.         Said Cox is about 30 years old, 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, fair complexion, fresh color in the face, a large forehead, two large wrinkles in his forehead, very deep, just above his eye brows, tolerably large gray or cat eyes, light hair, very thick on his head, and stand out like a brush, sandy beard, chews and smokes tobacco, uses a pewter pipe, which he may have with him; heavy set and broad on the shoulders, fat breasted, and weighs about 150 lbs.         He had on when last seen, a black fur hat, narrow rim and some worn, brown cloth frock coat, nearly worn out, or a linsey wamas , made of black sheep’s wool, black janes pants and stoga boots.
        When he commences to speak, his voice is very fine, but soon assumes a coarser tone. He makes pretensions to learning, and is fond of trying to show off. He is very easily alarmed, and when scared, he turns very pale about the mouth.         Cox took away with him a yellow bay mare, slim built, dark mane and tail, and an old saddle, covered with a bark-colored sheep skin; he had an old pair of saddlebags, which may be with him. The above reward will be given for the apprehension and safe-keeping of the aforesaid George Cox, until the friends of the deceased can take him into possession.
                                 JOHN W. GLADSON,
                                 DANIEL C. GLADSO
                                 MITCHELL GLADSON
        Address the first named at Mill-Grove, Owen county, Indiana, or either of the latter at Martinsville, Morgan county, Indiana.
~February 2, 1848 Wabash Express, Volume 7, Number 8, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 9 February 1848~

LARGE LUMP
        Mr. E. L. Porham (formerly of Morgan county, Indiana, just in from the Rogue River Mines, showed a lump of pure gold one day this week, weighing five hundred and twenty-three dollars. It was taken out near Jacksonville, in the southern part of the Territory, and was as fine a specimen as we ever saw. Mr. P. will return to the “diggings” in a day or two, and we hope he will succeed in finding a “pile” of the same sort.
~Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 28, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 December 1852~

STOLEN BAY HORSE STOLEN
        Stolen from the subscriber, in Green township, Morgan County, Indiana on the night of the 26th September, A Bay Hourse, three years old, 16 ½ hands high, the left feet about half white, a white mark on the left hoof, the right eye white and his tail not full length. He was supposed to be taken by a couple of deserters, and has probably been taken to Illinois. A liberal reward will be given for the return of the horse, or for information that will lead to his recovery. Address me at Waverly, Morgan County, Indiana.                 ANDREW J. DAVIS
~Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 23, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 October 1862~

INFORMATION WANTED
        Information wanted of J. C. Haymaker, who left Hood’s army last summer, now supposed to be in Putnam county, Indiana. Any information of him sent to Wm. Haymaker, Waverly, Morgan county, Indiana will be thankfully received.
                WILLIMA HAYMAKER Waverly, Indiana
~Daily State Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 4157, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11, February 1864~

MR. FRANKLIN LANDERS. His War Record – Answer to the Journal’s Charges
        The following testimony of the old friends and neighbors of Mr. Landers is sent to us for publication. It tells its own story: We, the undersigned, being readers of the Indianapolis Journal—Republicans in politics, and citizens of Morgan county, Indiana, are being well acquainted with Franklin Landers before, during and since the war—regret to see so many slanderous charges made against him as to his course during that struggle. Mr. Landers differed with many of us as to the manner of prosecuting the war, but no man did more, or worked more effectively than he did to secure recruits to the army, or paid more liberally for them. He was our agent in Clay township, Morgan county, to put in the recruits necessary to relieve the township of the various drafts. Our money and his was placed in his hands for that purpose. His prompt and efficient work in securing recruits and relieving the township was such as to entitle him to the confidence of all concerned. His advocacy of a county bounty to the soldiers met the approval of all soldiers, and secured them one hundred dollars each from the county.
        His store, during the war, was headquarters for the families of soldiers in the service, and no man did more, or could have done more in the way of supplying them with the articles of necessity than he did. The charges made of sympathy with the rebellion—belonging to the Golden Circle—rejoicing in the defeat of the Union army—the charge that a company of cavalry was fired on near Landers’ residence, which was in Clay township, Morgan county, at that time—are unfounded in fact, and without the least semblance of truth.
        We therefore, feel called on as honorable men, tough differing from him politically, to make these statements, that justice may be done him, and the public may know the truth. His services were too important to us in that struggle for us to forget or refuse to do him justice.

John McDaniel, Jackson Record, Daniel Greason, T. P. Butterfield, A. W. Breedlove, R. L. Breedlove, William Maxwell, Abraham Griggs, J. B. Maxwell, Charles Record, Benjamin Overton, William Barker, Clark Griggs, James M. Monicel, Mason Worthington, H. C. Maxwell
                 ~Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 August 1874~

THE GAZETTE SAYS:
        A steamboat is being built in Morgan County, Indiana to run as a trading and trapping vessel on the White and Wabash Rivers. It will be thirty-nine feet long, nine feet wide, with a ten-horse power engine, and will draw fifteen inches.R. H. Woolfolk, Esq., of Louisville, was passenger here and back on the R. E. Lee. He occupied the bridal chamber.
        Captain John Brooks has turned the office of the Great Republic over to James Kerr, Jr., well known as a steamboat clerk before the war.
                ~Evansville Journal, Volume 20, Evansville, Vanderburgh County, 7 Apr 1869~

KANSAS VS. INDIANA
        Some one writing us from Coles county, Illinois, signing himself J. M. C., late of Morgan county, Indiana, gives rather a hard report from Kansas, and thinks that parties well to do in Indiana would better remain here and improve their business. J.M.C. must be responsible for the statements he makes, as he says are made for the benefit of others and not for himself.
        He says: “The readers of the Farmer, having been invited to write for it, I will present a few facts that I feel it my duty to write, not for the benefit of myself, but of others. I am now in Coles county, Illinois. On the 23d of last September, I started, in company with my family and two others, as emigrants, for the western country (Kansas) and landed in what my friend, Mr. Apple, calls the ‘garden spot’ of Kansas,” after four weeks hard travel and exposure.
        “I am surprised at him calling it the garden spot. If he will examine the soil as I did, I think he will admit I am right before I get through. I want him to take his spade and examine how deep the soil is—I mean the porous soil—for when he gets eighteen inches down, he will find a very hard, clamy clay, which he will be compelled to raise with a pick, or some other mighty instrument. I would like if some other one that understands it would explain it, for it is very irregular, sometimes it comes to the surface very hard and never gets muddy. It appears that water will not penetrate it; for it rained all day and night, and the wind turned from the southwest, and in sixty-four hours the roads were dusty, and it had rained in torrents before. There is a singular substance rises to the surface in some places, so much so that it gathers on the weeds, low down, and can be crumbled off like soda. I supposed it was alkali. Not being a chemist, I did not take it through any process, unless in my system. This is not only in Allen county, but in most of the State. I was in Lynn, Bourbon, Allen, Franklin, Anderson and Johnson counties—the latter being the best I saw by half.
        “Hoosier, you think if you have to haul your wood one mile its an awful job. Well, when you take the Kansas fever, just think of having to haul it from ten to twenty miles. “Well you say, ‘I can burn coal.” What will you do for a fence? Make of it stone? And so you can for there is more stone in Kansas than ver I saw anywhere for you can find prairies there so big that your eyes cannot see across, with a good proportion covered with limestone, but how will you plow it?
        “I will admit that there is some good land in Kansas, but somebody has good title to it. Timber is very scarce, but coal is abundant, so near the surface that the beating rain has caused it to look you right in the face as you ride along, but it is intermixed considerably with Sulphur.
        “I don’t say this to stop the emigration; but I will say it to every Hoosier that is in good circumstances to stay at home; or, if he is doing a poor business at what he is at, try something else; for if you can’t make money in Indiana, you surely can’t in Kansas. I am confident I can do better there than in Kansas. I think I will try it anyhow; but, if you are bound to go, be sure and take greenbacks enough to build you a house, for houses are very scarce and rent very high.
        “Mr. Apple spoke of Kansas being such a good fruit country. I have no room to dispute with him, but, upon my honor, I never saw an apple that was grown in the State, but saw several trees large enough to bear. I know men that went to Missouri and bought apples at fifty cents a bushel, and sold them in Tola very readily at two dollars and fifty cents a bushel. But I have reason to believe the contrary; for where there is so many insects, they will surely visit our fruit trees. There is almost all kinds of the bug and fly family there. The chinch bug is more numerous than any other I believe, for one man told me that he honestly believed that he had in seven acres of corn a wagon bed full. Of course he had no corn, but so it is.” [North Western Farmer]
                ~Indiana American, Volume 8, Number 15, Brookville, Franklin County, 9 April 1869~

NOTICE of SALE
Commissioner’s Sale of Real Estate
        Notice is hereby given that pursuant to an order of the Common Pleas Court of Morgan County, Indiana at its January term—1871 the undersigned Commissioner appointed by said Court to sell the Real Estate of William H. Stout of Morgan Co. deceased, will on the 14th day of March 1871 on the premises in Montgomery County, proceed to sell at public sale to the highest bidder the following described tract of land situated in Montgomery County Indiana to wit;
        The east half of the northwest quarter and the west half of the welt half of the northeast quarter, section 34, township, 20, north range 6 west.
        Also, part of the west half of the northwest quarter of the above named section, beginning at a point 52 rods north of the southwest corner of the east half of the northwest quarter of the above described section, running thence west 37 rods, thence north 27 rods, thence east 37 rods, thence south 27 rods to the place of beginning being 126 ¼ acres more or less.
        TERMS OF SALE--- One third of the purchase money, cash in hand; one third in nine months; and the balance in eighteen months from day of sale. Purchasers to give notes for deferred payments with approved freehold security, and bearing interest at six percent, from date. Sale to commence at 10 o’clock A.M. JOHN KIRBY Commissioner
        ~Crawfordsville Review, Crawfordsville, 18 Feb 1871~

$75 REWARD!
        Stolen from W. G. Bain, two miles west of Martinsville, Morgan county, Indiana, one bright bay horse about 7 years old, star in forehead, one white hind foot, plain scar on left side of neck at throat latch. He is about 15 ½ hands high, good style, paces, racks and trots; shod all round. There was taken with him an old smooth bit bridle, a leather halter with knotted strap, strap fastened to halter with snap; fair leather saddle, Davis’s Patent Spring Seat, “H. Davis, Bedford, Ind., branded on skirt under the knee. A reward of $25 will be paid for the horse, or $75 for horse and thief. A liberal reward for any information that may lead to recovery of either. Address JOHN C. COMER, Sheriff, or W. G. BAIN, Auditor Morgan county.
        ~Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 Jun 1881~

SUPREME COURT.
        The following cases were decided Tuesday, January 29.

RAILROADS—KLILLING STOCK—PLEADING.
        10773 Pennsylvania Co. vs. Jacob H. Rusle. Morgan C. C. Affirmed. Zollars, J.
        The complaint charged that on the twelfth day of September 1881, the defendants servants, willfully and negligently and without any fault of the plaintiff ran the defendant’s train of cars against and upon plaintiff’s mare in Morgan county, Indiana, whereby she received injuries from the effects of which she died, to the damage of the plaintiff, etc. It is objected to the complaint that it does not charge a wrong on the railroad company, but on its servants without any averment that they were in the line of their employment in the operating of the train. The case was commenced before a justice and appealed to the circuit court and no demurrer was filed in either court. As against a motion in arrest of judgement this complaint was sufficient. (11 Ind 203; 62 Ind. 892; 10 Ind. 68;30 Ind.261; 53 Ind. 279.)
        ~Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 January 1884~

A VERDICT FOR PLAINTIFF.
        Several months ago, John N. Schooley was arrested, at the instance of Lewis Walters & Son., for failing to account for money advanced to him to buy oil barrel staves. He was examined before Justice Pease and a compromise was effected, whereby he gave his note with surety, agreeing to pay it by shipping to the firma a certain number of car loads of staves. He failed to do so, however, and suit began on the contract. The trial has just been concluded in Judge Howe’s court, and resulted in the jury returning a verdict for Walters & Son for $150. Schooley’s security was released from his obligation, on the ground that the plaintiffs did not fulfill their part of the contract by dismissing the criminal proceedings against Schooley. The latter lives in Morgan county.
        ~Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 April 1884~

Offered $5,000 for a Wife. [Special to the Indianapolis Journal]
        MARTINSVILLE, Sept. 11—Twenty-five letters lie in the post office uncalled for by James Morgan, the man who is reported to have advertised for a wife, saying he would pay $5,000 for a bride. The man’s correct name, however, is Morgan Johnson, and he lives at Lake Valley, Morgan county, Indiana. He is eighty years old and very wealthy.
        ~Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 September 1889~

Children Elope to Illinois. [Special to the Indianapolis Journal]
        Marshall, Ill., March 5.—A young couple got off the 11 o’clock train from the east to-day and hurried at once to the county clerk’s office and procured a marriage license, both swearing they were of age. They were married in the clerk’s office. They gave their names as Bennie Bryant and Lillian Minton, and their residence as Gregg township, Morgan county, Indiana. A telephone message was received this evening from Martinsville, Ind., from the girl’s two brothers, inquiring if the couple had been married here. They said the boy was but nineteen and the girl sixteen. Her family were all bitterly opposed to the marriage. The two brothers who telephoned threatened to give young Bryant a warm reception when he comes home.

BOOM THE CLIMATE. ***** Three Hoosier Centenarians Discovered— Two in Morgan County. *****
        Indiana will probably henceforth have a boom as possessing a climate peculiarly conducive to longevity. The correspondent of The Indianapolis News, at Martinsville, has discovered three centenarians.
        James H. Culver was born in Wythe county, Virginia, March 4, 1789, and should he live until March 4, 1891, will celebrate his one-hundred-and-second anniversary. In 1840 he moved to Indiana and for over a half century has resided in Owen and Morgan counties. He is at present making his home with a stepson, three miles east of this city, and often makes the journey to town afoot. He has been married four times and is the father of thirteen children, the youngest being but twenty years of age. Disputes have often arisen as to his exact age, but the family record, which was brought here from Virginia one year ago, states that “James H. Culver was born March 4, 1789,” which verifies his own statement. Every faculty is well preserved, and each year he tends a small garden just for exercise. During his long residence in Virginia he had occasion to see Washington, Lafayette and many other prominent men of the revolutionary period. For eighty-one years Mr. Culver has been a voter, and with but one exception, has remained true to the Democratic party. He voted for Ben Harrison for President, the only Republican for whom he ever cast his ballot. The changes of a hundred years, he says, have been wonderful, but thinks we will see more wonderful changes in the next hundred years than he has in the past. He is a pleasant talker, a typical Virginian, hale and hearty, and bids fair to live several years. He often quotes the scripture: “Love the Lord, thy God, that thy days may be long in the land which thy God giveth thee.”
        Nancy Marvin, of Brown township, Morgan County, has just passed her one-hundred-and-first birthday anniversary. She is yet quite spry, and corded the wood neighbors hauled up for her use this winter. She can see well without the aid of glasses, and sits for hours at a time knitting. She is quite well preserved, and bids fair to live for some time yet.
        Zilpha Boone, of Spencer, Ind., (colored) is 100 years old. She was the slave of John Boone, of Kentucky, a relative of the famous hunter, Daniel Boone. This old lady has, by strict economy gathered sufficient means to keep her from being a burden to any one the remainder of life.
        ~Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 January 1891~

Widow Howe’s Sweet Voice Reminded Isaac
Freeman of His Deceased Wife.
        **********************
That was Six Years Ago and After a Correspondence
Up to Date They were Wedded Yesterday at
Trafalgar, Morgan County, Indiana
        ***********************
Postmaster Van Cleave Is Best Man at a Happy
Event at High Noon.
[Special to the Indianapolis Journal]
        Martinsville, Jan. 28—Mrs. Esther M. Howe, a prepossessing widow, aged forty-five, who was the daughter of Jacob Bromwell, one of the first Methodist preachers in this State, and is regarded as the finest vocalist in the county, was married today. Her husband, Gabriel Howe, died fifteen years ago. The fortunate man who has won her hand is Isaac Freeman, a well-to-do nurseryman of Ohio, who lost his wife twenty-five years ago. About six years ago he had occasion to visit Waverly, this county, the home of Mrs. Howe. While there he attended church where Mrs. Howe sang in the choir, and her voice so resembled that of his former wife as to greatly affect him. After the service he secured an introduction to the sweet singer, and on returning home to Ohio, immediately wrote to the woman whose voice had so infatuated him. The correspondence finally led to a proposal of marriage, which was accepted. Today Mr. Freeman and Mrs. Howe were wedded at high noon, at the residence of Postmaster Van Cleave, of Trafalgar.
        ~Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 January 1892~

MAKING SLOW PROGRESS
        **********************
Court of Inquiry Not Moving With Commendable Alacrity.
        **********************
[Special to The Indianapolis News]
        Martinsville, December 3.—There is a general feeling of restlessness among the people of this city on account of the inactivity of that court of inquiry, and censure comes thick and fast. The Democratic County Central Committee of this city has issued the following: Resolved, That the Democratic party of Morgan county, Indiana, condemns the action of the vandals who recently desecrated the graves and tombstones of the Union soldiers in said county, and for the purpose of securing the arrest and conviction of the guilty parties the Democratic party of Morgan county, Indiana, by its said central committee, hereby earnestly petitions the board of commissioners of said county to offer a liberal reward, to be paid from the county treasury, for the detection, arrest and conviction of the vandals who perpetrated said crime.
        The Martinsville Gazette further adds that there has not as yet been any court of inquiry, while the investigators admit to the contrary. “Every effort,” it continues, “is being made to ferret out the guilty parties,” while the deputy prosecutor admits that nothing has been done. It is believed that no convictions, or even arrests, will follow in the track of the court of inquiry. A few men from the neighborhood where the crimes were committed have been questioned, but not under oath, during the past day or two.
        ~Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 December 1892~