In 1833 many located in the county—so many, in fact, that the representatives in the Legislature were asked to have a new county created and organized. Accordingly, during the session of 1834, the following enactment was passed and approved:

"Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, that from and after the first of April next, all that tract of country, included in the following boundary lines shall form and constitute a new county to be known and designated by the name of the county of White (in honor of Major Isaac White, who fell at the battle of Tippecanoe) to-wit, beginning at the northwest corner of Tippecanoe County, thence running east with the north line of Tippecanoe County to the southwest corner of Carroll County, thence north with the west line of Carroll County to the northwest corner of the same, thence east with the north line of Carroll County to the west line of Cass County, thence north with the west line of Cass County to the northwest corner of the same, thence west to the center section line of range six west, thence south to the northwest corner of Tippecanoe County to the place of beginning.

"Sec. 2. That the new county of White shall, from and after the first day of April next, enjoy and possess all the rights, privileges, benefits and jurisdictions which to separate and independent counties do or may properly belong or appertain.

"Sec. 3. That James H. Stewart, of Carroll County, Benedict Morris, of Fountain County, John Killgore, of Tippecanoe County, Enos Lowe, of Parke County, and John B. King, be, and they are hereby appointed Commissioners, agreeable to an act entitled 'An act fixing the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off.' The Commissioners aforesaid shall meet on the first Monday in September next at the house of George A. Spencer, in the said county of White, and shall proceed immediately to perform the duties required of them by law; and it shall be the duty of the sheriff of Tippecanoe County to notify said commissioners, either in person or by writing, of their appointment, on or before the first day of August next, and for such service he shall receive such compensation as the Board doing county business in said county of White may, when organized, deem just and reasonable, to he allowed and paid as other county claims.

"Sec. 4. The Circuit Court and the Board of County Commissioners, when elected under the writ of election from the executive department shall hold their sessions as near the center of the county as a convenient place can be had, until the public buildings shall be erected.

"Sec. 5. The agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots of the county seat of said county of White shall reserve ten per cent out of the proceeds thereof, and pay the same over to such person or persons as may be appointed by law to receive the same for the use of a county library.

"Sec. 6. The County of White shall be attached to the first judicial circuit of this State for judicial, and to the county of Carroll for representative purposes.

"See. 7. That all the territory lying west of the county of White to the State Line, be and the same is, hereby attached to the county of White for civil and judicial purposes.

"See. 8. That the Circuit Courts shall be held in the county of White on the Tuesdays succeeding the week of the Tippecanoe Circuit Court, and sit three days each term, should the business require it.

"Sec. 9. The board doing county business may, as soon as elected and qualified, hold special sessions not exceeding three, during the first year after the organization of said county, and shall make all necessary appointments, and do or perform all other business which may or might have been necessary to be performed at any other regular session and take all necessary steps to collect the State and County revenue, any law or usage to the contrary notwithstanding. This act to be in force from and after its passage.

"Approved February 1, 1834."

"Approved December 24, 1834."

So far as can be learned no changes were made in the boundaries of White County until the following law was passed" "That the following described territory be, and the same is hereby, taken from the county of Carroll and incorporated and made a part of White: all north of Section 33 and west of the Tippecanoe River in Township 26 north, Range 3 west. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

"Approved February 4, 1837."

Again a little later the following became law: "That hereafter the Tippecanoe river shall be the western boundary of Carroll County, whence the north line of said county strikes the river, until said river strikes the section line dividing 33 and 28, in Township 26, and all the territory west of said river and north of said line in Township 26, and Range 3 west, is hereby attached to the county of White, as intended by the act, entitled 'An act to alter the boundary line between Carroll and White,' approved February 4, 1837. This act to be in force from and after its passage.

"Approved February 14, 1839."

The large section of country north and west now constituting the counties of Jasper, Newton and portions of Benton and Pulaski, which was attached to White County for political and judicial purposes, remained as portions of its civil body until its was organized into separate counties—Jasper in 1837, Pulaski and Newton in 1839, and Benton in 1840. These acts completed the paring down of White County to its present body, the area of which (504 square miles) makes it the fifth in size of the ninety-two counties in the state.

The only discovered records bearing on the matter noted an allowance of $6.00 made by the board of commissioners to Mr. Hicks, "in full for services as sheriff for the year 1834;" this item was a part of the proceedings of that body at the May term of 1835. At the same term John Wilson was allowed $7.50 "in full for his services as sheriff up to date." These allowances were probably made for extra services, such as notifying road viewers of their appointment, summoning jurors, etc.

District No. 2—All county territory north of such line and west of Tippecanoe River.

District No. 3—All county territory east of Tippecanoe River.

At the same time the county and all territory attached thereto were divided into the following townships: Township 25 north, in White County, and all the territory attached thereto to be Prairie Township. Township 26 north, in White County, and all the territory attached thereto to be Big Creek Township. Township 27 north, and all of township 28 west to Tippecanoe River, the same being in White County, and all the territory attached thereto, to be Union Township. Elections for Prairie Township ordered held at the house of William Wood, with Solomon McCulloch, inspector. Those of Big Creek at the house of George A. Spencer, with James Kerr, inspector. Those of Union Township at the house of Melchi Gray, with James Spencer, inspector. Those of Jackson Township at the house of Daniel Dale, with John Scott, inspector.

Cornelius Clark was appointed county assessor, and George A. Spencer, county treasurer. Clark was also appointed collector of state and county revenue. At this time William Sill served as county clerk and John Wilson as sheriff.

"To the Honorable the Commissioners of the County of White: The undersigned, commissioners appointed by the Legislature of the State of Indiana to locate the county seat of said county beg leave to report that they, agreeable to the provisions of the act for the formation of said county, met on the first Monday of September, 1834, and after being qualified according to law, they proceeded immediately to the performance of the duties assigned them. They took considerable pains to become acquainted with the situation of your county, and with that view made a personal examination of the greater portion of said county. The commissioners have had considerable difficulty in making up their minds as to the best location to fix the seat of justice, and at last came to the conclusion to locate the seat of justice on the center line dividing the following described fractions, viz.: The southwest fraction of the northeast quarter and the northwest fraction of the southeast quarter of Section 33, Townships 27 north, Range 3 west, on a bluff of Tippecanoe River. Eighty acres of the above described fractions have been donated for the use of the county of White by Messrs. John Barr, Sr., H. E. Hiorth and John Rothrock, to be taken off the east side of said fraction by north and south line. A bond for the conveyance of the same is herewith submitted. The name we have selected for the said county seat is Monticello, after the home of the great disciple of human liberty, Thomas Jefferson.

"In conclusion, gentlemen, permit us to indulge the hope that all local dissensions will vanish amongst you, and that the citizens of White will go together as one man for the improvement of your county and county seat. We are gentlemen, very respectfully, your obedient servants,

"JOHN KILGORE,

"JOHN B. KING,

"JAMES H. STEWART,

"Locating Commissioners.

The locating commissioners had first met on Monday, September 1st, and, after viewing several ambitious locations, one of which was in Big Creek Township, completed their labors on Friday, the 5th of September, the day of the report. At that time the land upon which the county seat was located had not yet been entered, or in other words was yet the property of the United States. The land was selected because it seemed the most eligible site near the center of the county, and for the further reason that whereas other points wishing the location were somewhat exacting regarding the donations to be made, it became clear to the locating commissioners, from an offer they received from John Barr, Sr., Hans E. Hiorth and John Rothrock, that the new county would be far better off financially, if the county seat was fixed at Monticello; of course there was not a house then standing on the present site of the town. The offer made by Barr, Hiorth and John Rothrock to the locating commissioners was that if the latter would agree to locate the county seat at Monticello, on land which yet belonged to the Government, the former would proceed to Laporte and enter the land and donate the entire eighty acres, upon which the town was located, with reservation, to the county. This offer was accepted by the commissioners. But the land instead of being entered by these three men was really entered by Robert Rothrock. The following bond explains the situation:

"Know all men by these presents, that I, Robert Rothrock, acknowledge myself to owe and to be indebted to John Barr, H. E. Hiorth and John Rothrock in the sum of $1,000 gold and lawful money of the United States, to the payment of which I bind myself, my heirs, administrators and executors firmly by these presents, signed and sealed this 10th day of September, A. D. 1834.

"The condition of the above obligation is such, that, the aforesaid John Barr, H. E. Hiorth and John Rothrock having placed in the hands of the said Robert Rothrock the sum of $137.77 1/2 for the purpose of entering at the Laporte Land Office the following fractional lots, to-wit: the south half of the northeast quarter and the north half of the southeast quarter of Section 33, Township 27 north, Range 3 west, containing in all 110 22-100 acres, which lots were purchased for the purpose of a county seat in White County. Now, if the said Robert Rothrock shall make to the said John Barr, H. E. Hiorth and John Rothrock good and sufficient title in fee simple, then the above obligation to be null and void; otherwise to remain in full force and virtue; the above deeds or titles to be made as soon as the patent can be obtained from the Government.                                      ROBERT ROTHROCK [SEAL].

     "Attest:

         "JOSHUA LINDSEY,

         "PETER B. SMITH."

Tradition says that Robert Rothrock coveted the distinction of having entered the land where the county seat was located, and to humor this ambition the three men furnished him the money, taking his bond as above. The county seat was located, then, by the 5th of September, and on the 6th, as shown by the tract book, Robert Rothrock entered the land at Laporte; but the above bond was signed and sealed on the 10th of September, four days after the land had been entered. In other words, Robert Rothrock entered the land four days before his bond was signed, the said town is [sic] laid out would intersect the north line of the southwest fraction of the northeast quarter of section 33, township 27 north, range 3 west, thence east with the north line of said fraction of the Tippecanoe River, thence with the meanderings of the said river to the south line of the northwest fraction of the southeast quarter of section 33, township 27 north, range 3 west, thence with the south line of said last mentioned fraction west to a point where the west line of said Illinois Street aforesaid extended south would intersect said last mentioned line, thence north with the west line of said Illinois Street, extended as aforesaid to the place of beginning. The conveyance was made upon the express condition that the county seat should forever remain located upon the land. Appended to this document was a quit claim of all the rights, titles and interests of Barr, Hiorth and John Rothrock in the land, conditioned that the land should forever remain the site of the county seat. In view of these conditional transfers, and the lapse of time and the growth of public institutions and interests, the difficulty of removing the county seat to some other point in White County becomes at once apparent.

A case of "malicious mischief" was the only matter brought to the attention of the court. It seems that Jere Bisher had tied something to the tail of one of his neighbor's fractious horses, and the court bound the offender over to the next term with security of $50 for his appearance. Then William P. Bryant, Andrew Ingraham, Aaron Fitch and William M. Jenners were sworn in as attorneys qualified to practice in the county, and the session was adjourned.

The grand jury returned the following indictments: Against Jacob Gates for retailing liquor without a license; against Joseph Gates for firing the prairie; against Royal Hazelton for marking hogs; against Jeremiah Bisher for trespass to land (Bisher instead of Gates seems to have been the real firebrand of the county); against William Keen for selling liquor to the Indians; against John Beaver and Luke Beaver for fighting and against William Farmer, D. Runion and S. Pharris for selling clocks without a license. The indictment against Mr. Gates was quashed; the jury found Mr. Hazelton and the Beavers not guilty; Mr. Bisher was fined $1.12 1/2 cents; and Messrs. Keen and Farmer pleaded guilty, the former being fined $5 and costs and the latter, $2 and costs.

Such court matters are adduced as much to throw rays of light upon the affairs of the young county and its people, as because they represent the legal business transacted at the first "full court" held within its borders.

The house of Mr. Spencer, where the sittings were held, was in Big Creek Township, and the Circuit Court continued its sessions there until the autumn of 1836, when it adjourned permanently to the county seat, a courthouse then being in process of erection at Monticello.

When the hard times approached in 1837, money had become very scarce and for some time canal script was almost the sole circulating medium of exchange, with even more crude substitutes, such as furs, pelts and hides. From 1837 to 1842 the general and local distress continued and emigration to White County was slow; yet, by 1840, its population had increased to 1,832, and after 1842 the increase and all-around improvement were very marked. By 1850, the population had reached 4,761.

It was during the later portion of the prosperous decade, 1840-50, that the public enterprises of the county took an upward turn, although they did not materialize into any definite improvements until a little later.

The board of commissioners commenced to agitate the necessity of improved public buildings in the early part of 1845, but it was not until June, 1846, that any decisive step was taken. At that time the county agent was ordered to arrange for the erection of a frame building, 16 by 20 feet, on lot 29. It was also ordered that the agent collect a sufficient amount of the outstanding donation fund to cover the expenses of construction. Zachariah Van Buskirk was given the contract, and the structure, known as the clerk's office, was completed in September, 1846, at a cost of $500.

Regardless of this discouraging condition of affairs the commissioners borrowed $2,000, and ordered the work to commence. But the progress of construction hung fire, and the building was not ready for occupancy until 1851. The total cost, including the furnishings, was nearly $8,000.

In September, 1850, the "Clerk's Office" was ordered sold, the proceeds to be applied on the new courthouse. On the 4th of December, 1851, more than three years after the house had been commenced, the board ordered the offices of clerk, auditor, recorder and treasurer removed to the new house.

The writer turns again to Sill's unpublished history for a detailed description of the old brick courthouse, which, for forty-four years, was the center of the official, judicial and legal activities of White County and the scene of many occasions connected with patriotic meetings and public celebrations. "A description from memory," says the author, "while not infallible will be better than none. Beginning at the foundation, a trench three feet in depth, and similar trenches made at the sides of about eighty-five feet in length, were filled with stone of the genus known as 'nigger heads,' with which the county is amply supplied. On the top of these, blocks of cut stone were placed, projecting about three feet and presenting a level surface on which to lay the brick. The building was two stories in height and divided into four rooms below, providing offices for the auditor, treasurer, clerk and recorder. A hall eight feet wide passed through the length of the building between the offices with doors at each end. Each of the offices was provided with a brick vault with an iron dour, and supposed by some to be fire proof, for the preservation of the records. There was a recess in front, twenty-five or thirty feet north and south by ten feet in width. On the southeastern corner of the building was another room ten feet square, which was occupied by the sheriff and presumably intended for him. If that was the case, a good joke on that official was perpetrated, as the room was scarcely large enough for a respectable chicken-coop.

"In the recess two fluted columns were built of the Tuscan order of architecture to a height of fifty feet, on the top of which rested a wooden dome or belfry, and high above all a huge wooden arrow for nearly fifty years faithfully indicated the course of summer breeze and winter blast.

"The second story, with the exception of a small jury room in the southeastern corner, was the court room. It was furnished with wooden benches with high backs, placed in two rows across the room, with an aisle between of sufficient width for two persons to walk abreast. The judge's seat was in the west end of the room on a high wooden platform with three steps at each end to enable him to ascend to his place with due judicial dignity and decorum. There was room on the platform for ten or twelve persons and in time of political excitement, when a public speaker of some notoriety was announced, it was always occupied. The seats were gradually elevated from front to rear to enable those behind to see over the heads of those in the front, and about five hundred people could be comfortably seated on the benches and inside the bar, which had a wooden railing extending across the same about fifteen feet in front of the judge's seat.

"Access to the court room was gained by a broad staircase in front on the north side of the recess. The late Hon. Horace P. Riddle, of Logansport, was the first judge to open and hold court in the new Court House at the March term, 1852. The court officers were Ransom McConahay, clerk, and Michael A. Berkey, sheriff. The members constituting the Board of Commissioners who made the order for the building and received it when completed, were James K. Wilson, of Monon township, Solomon McCully, of Jackson, and Samuel Smelcer, of Prairie."

George S. Kendall, now living in Irvington, Indiana, relates a peculiar circumstance which occurred when the second courthouse was being built. This story was told by his grandparents and stated that in the springtime of a certain year a small body of Indians passing through the town stopped for a brief rest in the courthouse yard and while there a squaw gave birth to a papoose, which she carefully wrapped in a blanket, mounted her horse and pursued her journey.

Acts of the Legislature of subsequent date to the new state constitution made frequent changes in the election days of various county and township offices, as well as created numerous new positions. One of the most important of the new offices was that of county assessor, which came into being by legislative act of March 6, 1891. The original term was four years and the first county assessor was chosen at the general election in 1892.

Many changes were made in the judicial systems which had jurisdiction in the county. The Circuit Court, with its presiding judge and two local associates, was the legislative product of the period when Indiana was passing from a territorial to a state form of government, but was incorporated in the body politic of the commonwealth by the constitution of 1816. The Probate Court came in with the county, in 1834, and in 1853 its functions were transferred to the new Court of Common Pleas, which, in turn, was merged into the Circuit Court in 1873. Consequently the Circuit Court, of all the institutions identified with the administration of county affairs, is the oldest.

It was reserved for the Legislature of a comparatively late period to set the record in the creation of new offices, in the distribution of which generosity White County received its full quota. By the act approved March 4, 1899, a county council was created to consist of three (at large) members elected by all the voters of a county, and four members chosen by the commissioners' districts into which each county was to be divided preceding the election of 1900. Six hundred and forty-four new county offices were thereby created throughout the state. By an act approved during the previous month an advisory board of the county council was also authorized, comprising three members elected from each township; as White County had eleven townships, that act added thirty-three new offices to the seven created by the measure of March, 1899. Although the advisory board was created a few days before the main body came into existence, it was simply a little accident in the orderly and perhaps legal progress of constructive legislation which created no comment.

But, despite all changes and complications, the county continued to push its campaign for better public buildings.

In June, 1854, the board gave the contract for a new jail to Michael A. Berkey and J. C. Reynolds, the work to be begun immediately, and the building to be finished by the 1st of June, 1855. The site of the structure was fixed on the west end of the Courthouse Square. The contractors faithfully performed their part of the agreement, though the building was not formally accepted by the board until September, 1855. The cost was $1,640.

The new jail was not built on the original Courthouse Square, but on the tract purchased by the commissioners about 1865. The old brick courthouse was built in the center of the public square dedicated for that purpose when the town was platted by Mr. Barr, the county agent. Its dimensions were 180 feet north and south on the west side of Main Street, and 165 feet east and west on the north side of Main-Cross Street. The alley running north and south between Main and Illinois was widened to twenty-five feet, but although the western boundary of the old Courthouse Square, remained an unnamed street. A short thoroughfare on the north, now called Court Street, completed its boundaries.

But in 1875 it was decided to build another and even a better jail and plans presented by Randall and Millard, of Chicago, were accepted. The contract was let to Ralph Dixon, of Logansport, Indiana, at $7,700. John Saunders was appointed to superintend the construction. The building was immediately commenced, and was carried to rapid completion, and in December the finished jail was turned over to the county board, and formally accepted by them. This building is yet in use, although the second courthouse was replaced with the handsome structure now occupied, in the fall of 1895.

After several years of preliminaries, movements both on the part of the board of commissioners and enterprising citizens, the cornerstone of the new courthouse was finally laid, amid impressive ceremonies, on the 16th of August, 1894. Special trains unloaded visitors from Logansport, Monon, Brookston, Rensselaer, Idaville and other towns which had for years been on terms of special intimacy with Monticello, and various organizations from these places participated in the celebration.

The music for the procession and the crowd was furnished by the Logansport band and two local bands. The ceremonies were in official charge of Libanus Lodge No. 154, F. & A. M., of Monticello, which had the post of honor in the rear. Then came the members of the other masonic lodges—Orient, of Logausport; Goodland, Buck Creek, Monon, Brookston and Francesville (Indiana) lodges; St. John Commandery, No. 24, K. T., Logansport. The Masons were escorted by I. O. O. F. lodges from Monticello, Brookston, Rensselaer, Idaville and Logansport; Daughter of Rebekah, of Monticello; O. E. S., of Rensselaer; Uniformed Ranks Knights of Pythias, of Monticello, Monon and Rensselaer; Tippecanoe Post, No. 51, G. A. H., of Monticello, and the members of the Monticello schools.

After the crowd had assembled at the Courthouse Square to witness the ceremonies in connection with the placing of the cornerstone, Emery B. Sellers read a brief history of the county, including the effort to secure a new courthouse, and named the list of articles in the box to be placed in the stone. They were as follows: The Monticello Herald of August 16, 1894; the White County Democrat of August 10, 1894; the Monticello Press, August 11, 1894; the Wolcott Enterprise, August 10, 1894; the Chalmers Ledger, August 11, 1894; the Idaville Observer, August 15, 1894; manual of Monticello Public Schools; roster of Libanus Lodge, No. 154, F. & A. M.; roster of Tippecanoe Post, No. 151, G. A. R.; copy of the charter of said post; roster of Monticello Lodge, No. 73, K. of P.; a knight's jewel; rosters of Monticello Independent Battery, Stewart Encampment, No. 159, I. O. O. F., Monticello Lodge, No. 107, I. O. O. F., Eudora Lodge, No. 201, Daughters of Rebecca, and by-laws of Monticello Chapter, No. 103, R. A. M.; constitution and by-laws of Journeymen Stone Cutters Association of North America; a history of stone cutters' strike; roster of Monticello Fire Company; photos of old courthouse while in process of demolition; zinc etchings of the first courthouse, of the second and of the new one; a Grand Army badge and boutonnier; the invitations issued by the board of commissioners, by Libanus Lodge and Tippecanoe Post; "White County in the War of the Rebellion," written by James M. McBeth; a ticket to the Columbian exposition; one cent—a day's wages; one horseshoe, made by John H. Day; one silver three-cent coin; copy of charter Stanley Camp Sons of Veterans; copy of Order of Exercises of these ceremonies; the fourth part of a dollar; a twenty-five cent "shinplaster"; a picture of John Rothrock, born 1779, first settler of the land on which this courthouse stands; a record of the organization of White County and of the location of the county seat; a certified copy of the deed from Robert Rothrock to John Barr, Sr., agent of White County for the land on which the original plat of Monticello is located; a copy of the first order of the board of commissioners for the erection of this building; one cannery check issued to William Harbolt; the Chicago Herald of this date; the Chicago Inter-Ocean of this date; the Holy Bible; roster and by-laws of Brookston Lodge, No. 66, F. & A. M.; history of the Forty-sixth Regiment Indiana Volunteers; this record of these ceremonies prepared by order of Libanus Lodge, No. 154, Free and Accepted Masons.

Charles Gardner then sealed the box and the ceremony of placing it in position was performed by Frank E. Gaven, the Grand Master of Masons of the State of Indiana, and a judge of the State Appellate Court. After the laying of the cornerstone, the crowd dispersed until 2 o'clock P. M., when Lieutenant-Governor Nye delivered the address of the day.

Within a year from the date of this enthusiastic and appropriate celebration, the courthouse, virtually as it stands today, was ready for occupancy. The architects were LaBelle and French, of Marion, Indiana, and over $70,000 was put into the building, exclusive of furnishings, the entire cost being nearly $100,000. It could not be constructed for considerably more than that sum at the present time, as it is a massive, beautiful building of Bedford stone, two stories and a lofty basement in height, with a handsome tower in its southeast corner and ornate projections on all sides. The present courthouse stands 88 by 108 feet on the ground, nearer the center of the square than any of its predecessors, and its court and office conveniences, as well as heating, lighting and sanitary arrangements, are up-to-date. Among the other accommodations of the times, which has become a matter of course, is its provision for a comfortable rest-room for women, girls and children; this has come to be considered in the light of consideration for the sex and as justice to the taxpayers and their families who are obliged to come from a distance, often in their own vehicles, to transact business at the county seat.

The following table shows the valuation of real and personal property (including that of corporations), with mortgage exemptions deducted, and the net value of all properties in the county subject to taxation in 1914: