HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 6
THE FIRST INCORPORATION OF PAOLI
In May, 1840, in accordance with the provisions of the act of February 17. 1838. relating to the incorporation of towns, Leonard Green, A. J. Simpson and others petitioned the County Board to order an election to decide the question of whether Paoli should be incorporated. This was done and the election which occurred May 30, 1840, was in favor of investing the town with municipal powers. The first Trustees were Zachariah Moorman, Arthur J. Simpson, Hiram Braxtan, Abraham Wolfington and Thomas J. Throop. Hiram Braxtan was elected President of the Board, and T. J. Throop, Clerk. In subsequent meetings a full series of town ordinances was adopted. One imposed a tax upon dogs, and another prohibited the sale of playing cards. After about a year the municipal government was abandoned by mutual consent. W. H. Hudelson says a tall wagon-maker of the town, now a resident of Indiananapolis, attacked Braxtan, the President of the Board, for some fine imposed, and gave him a severe beating, which act caused the total relinquishment of the town government.
THE SECOND INCORPORATION OF PAOLI
On the 20th of July, 1869, a meeting of the citizens of Paoli was held at the court house to take steps to incorporate the town. A. J. Simpson was called to the chair and H. H. Polson and A. J. Rhodes appointed Secretaries. Several speeches were made all favoring the project. W. J.Hollingsworth, J. M. Andrew and J. W. Payne were appointed a Committee to survey the town, ascertain its population and otherwise comply with the necessary legal requirements. The Committee reported the following for incorporation: "Beginning on the meridian line at the northeast of Section 1, Township 1 north, Range 1 west, thence north 60 rods, thence west through Section 30, Township 2 north, Range 1 west, 320 rods to the line dividing Sections 35 and 36, thence south 60 rods to the line dividing Sections 36, Township 2 north, Range 1 west, thence south on said line to Lick Creek, thence up the same to the southwest corner of Lot 226, thence east to the Meridian line, thence north to the place of beginning." This was the third official survey of the town, the first having been made by the County Agent in 1816, and the second by John Frazer in 1861-62. It was found at this time, 1869, that Paoli had a population of 584. An election to determine the question of incorporation was ordered held on the 25th of September, 1809, and although there was considerable opposition, the result was favorable by a fair majority, and in December the town was duly declared incorporated by the County Board. The following were the first officers elected: Luke B. Cogswell, Thomas Ireland and Robert King, Trustees; T. B. Buskirk, Clerk; B. D. Riley, Treasurer; Jeremiah Hobson, Marshal; Hiram Lindley, Assessor. The first meeting of the Town Board was held at the office of T. B. Buskirk. January 22, 1870 and Robert King was elected President of the Board. The first act was the adoption of a long series of town ordinances, similar to those of other towns. These ordinances were reported January 29, 1870 at which time they were discussed and adopted. After this, from time to time, other and sundry rules and regulations were also adopted.
ADDITIONAL ACTS OF THE TOWN BOARD
On the 7th of April, 1870, A. J. Rhodes, H. H. Polson and A. Noblitt were elected School Trustees. By April 30 nine arrests had been made by the Marshal, and the Treasurer reported the receipt of $43.80 for licenses, of which $4.50 had been expended. The officers elected in May, 1870, were: Thomas Ireland, W. K. Andrew and Hiram Lindley, Trustees; Joseph Cox, Clerk; Jeremiah Hobson, Assessor; John Jones, Marshal; B. D. Riley, Treasurer. Joseph Cox was appointed Town Attorney, and John C. Albert, Street Commissioner. The School Trustees appointed as above stated, not having qualified, A. J. Rhodes, L. B. Cogswell and Lewis S. Bowles were appointed. The attorney was directed to procure a corporate seal with the words, "Paoli Corporation Seal, Indiana." A tax of 20 cents on each $100 valuation, and 50 cents on each poll was ordered ]evied for 1870, but this was soon repealed, 20 cents on each $100 valuation, and 25 cents on each poll being substituted. At this time the meetings of the Town Board were held at the office of Joseph Cox. In April, 1871, J. C . Albert, Street Commissioner, reported receipts $186.90, and expenses $196.56. In May John Jones, Marshal, reported fifty-two arrests for the year. The Assessor's report showed a levy of $138.824 on personal property: there were seventy-seven polls; $42 on male dogs; $2 on female dogs. The School Trustees reported on hand about $1,100. besides $1,000 from the sale of the seminary.
SCHOOL BONDS, OTHER OFFICERS, ETC.
At the meeting of May 6, 1871,the School Trustees recommended the building of a schoolhouse which should cost about $10,000. They had on hand about $2,100, and advised the sale of $8,000 worth of corporate bonds to cover the cost. The Town Board carefully considered the matter, and finally made the following order: "Be it ordered by the Board of Trustees of the Town of Paoli that there be issued bonds with proper coupons thereto attached to the amount of $8,000, $4,000 of said bonds to be issued as soon as can be done conveniently, bearing ten per cent interest per annum from the date of sale of said bonds until paid, said interest to be paid annually, for the purpose of building a schoolhouse for the use of the tizens of said town; the said bonds to be issued in bills of $100 each, to run for five years, but redeemable sooner at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees; the other $4,000 of bonds to be issued at such time or times as the Board of Trustees may deem proper on the above terms, but to run eight years, and be redeemable sooner at the pleasure of said Trustees." In accordance with this order work on the project was begun. The town officers elected May, 1871, were: Thomas Ireland, W. R. Andrew and Hiram Lindley, Trustees; J. Hobson, Marshal and Assessor; John W. Payne, Clerk; B. D. Riley, Treasurer. The Assessor exhibited the following assessment: Value of total personal property, $138,884.77; value of total real property. $166,532. In addition to the usual tax 20 cents on each $100 valuation and 25 cents on each poll were ordered levied for school purposes. J. Hobson became Street Commissioner in 1871. The Treasurer reported for the fiscal year 1870-71: receipts, $329.45; expenses, $284.91. The order for a seal was revoked, and a new one issued in June, 1871. In August the School Trustees reported that they had advertised for bids for the construction of a schoolhouse, and in response had received three, which were opened and examined July 15, and the contract was awarded to John A. Mickey, the lowest responsible bidder, for $13,900, or $3,900 more than was expected. The School Trustees, therefore, asked the approval of the Town Trustees, and that an additional $4,000 of bonds might be issued, which requests were complied with. The officers for 1872-73 were: W.K. Andrews, Thomas Ireland and Hiram Lindley, Trustees; B. D. Riley, Treasurer; Jeremiah Hobson, Marshal; J. W. Payne, Clerk. The receipts for 1871-72 were $810.09, and the expenditures $586.67; receipts from the sale of $4,000 worth of school bonds, $3,814. The tax for schoolhouse purposes was raised to 50 cents on each $100 valuation, and $1 on each poll. On the 2d of August, 1871, an additional $4,000 worth of bonds were ordered sold. In June, 1872, it was found that of the $12,000 of town bonds issued $7,500 remained on hand unsold. These were destroyed by order of the Board, and $7,500 bonds of the denomination of $500 each, bearing ten per cent interest, payable semi-annually, $1,500 payable in seven years, $3,000 payable in ten years, and $3,000 payable in twelve years, were ordered issued and sold to defray the expense of building the schoolhouse. Benjamin Stinson had negotiated the sale of the former bonds. Cogswell, Bowles and Rhodes were re-elected School Trustees for two years.
MORE OF THE BONDS, THE STREETS, ETC.
The first street opened was along the south side of Lot 241. In August, 1872, the School Trustees asked for the issue and sale of $4,000 additional of town bonds, which was done by the Town Trustees in denomination of $500 each with 10 per cent interest, payable semi-annually, the bonds to run twelve years. In April, 1873, Bowles, Rhodes and Cogswell were re-elected School Trustees. The receipts for 1872-73 were $1,156.23, and the expenses $1,038.21. Andrews, Ireland and Lindley were re-elected Trustees for 1873-74. Thomas Stalcup, Marshal and Street Commissioner; John W. Payne, Town Attorney; J. Hobson, Assessor; J. W. Payne, Clerk; B. D. Riley, Treasurer. In July, 1873, the town ordinances were revised, many important changes being made. In April, 1874, L. B. Cogswell was elected his own successor as School Trustee for three years. In 1874-75 Thomas Hunt, W. K. Andrew and James H. Sherrod became Town Trustees; B. D. Riley, Treasurer; J. W. Payne. Clerk and Attorney; Thomas Stalcup. Marshal, Assessor and Street Commissioner; T. B. Buskirk, School Trustee. The receipts for 1873-74 were $476.55, and the expenses $280.60. School fund receipts $1,398.38; expenses, $1,561.55. Joseph W. Comingore became Marshal, Assessor and Street Commissioner in June, 1874. In 1875-76 the Trustees were Thomas Hunt, J. F. Stucker and W. K. Andrew; Clerk and Attorney, J. W. Payne; School Trustee, L. S. Bowles; Treasurer, J. C. Albert; Assessor, etc. J. W. Comigore. The number of polls in May, 1875, was ninety-nine. The receipts for 1874-75 were $2,053.84, and the expenses $2,114.87. The officers of 1876-77 were Hunt, Stucker and Andrew, Trustees; John L. Megenity, Treasurer; J. W. Payne, Clerk; W. J. Hackett, Assessor, Marshal and Street Commissioner. Thomas L. Brown was elected School Trustee, in June, 1876, for three years. The receipts for 1875-76 were $2,558.98; expenses $2,439.71. In September, 1876, the Town Board ordered the issue of $4,000 of bonds to take the place of those then falling due which had been issued in 1871 to be used in building the schoolhouse. The new bonds were to be of the denomination of $100 each payable in five years with 10 per cent interest. These bonds were issued and sold, and the first $4,000 issued of the old ones were taken up. In April, 1877, the office of Assessor was abolished. In 1877-78 the officers were Thomas Hunt, Christian Pro and Abraham Noblitt, Trustees; J. L. Megenity, Treasurer; J. W. Payne, Clerk and Attorney; W. J. Hackett, Marshal and Street Commissioner; W. F. Osborn, School Trustee for three years. The receipts for 1876-7 were $1,855.78 and the expenses $1,801.73. In January, 1878, B. E. Bushaw succeeded Hackett as Marshal and Street Commissioner, and William H. Martin succeeded J. W. Payne as Clerk and Attorney.