A Brief History of Monroe County
A Brief History of the Formation and First Year of Existence of Monroe County Indiana
by Allison Lendman
as read for the 184th Birthday Celebration of the County
Monroe County Historical Society
April 6, 2002
On this coming Wednesday, April 10, 2002, our county will officially be 184 years old. Today we are gathered to celebrate that birthday and to honor those early settlers who brought their hopes and dreams into this then-wilderness area and carved it into our proud county of Monroe.
This territory was once a part of the huge domain and hunting grounds of the Miami Indians. As the American frontier pushed westward from the Atlantic coast after the Revolutionary War, other tribes were forced into the area as well. The territory now comprising our county was not obtained from the Indians all at one time. Land below (or south of) the 10 o'clock line was a part of Harrison's Purchase in September of 1809, and the land above that line was a part of the New Purchase in October of 1818.
Although Indiana would not be formally admitted to the Union until December of 1816, the land below the Indian boundary was surveyed in 1812. After the surveys, a few "squatters" moved into the area. Most came up from the southern counties of Clark and Washington in Indiana and hailed from North Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky. They walked, rode horses, and cut paths for ox teams pulling wagons. They contended with weather, mud, thick forests, and wolves. Once here, they cleared patches of the forested land, erected crude cabins, and planted crops in the expectation of being able to purchase that land as soon as it came up for sale.
This area's land was finally put on the market at the Vincennes land office in September of 1816. Sales in our area during the first few days were brisk, probably especially since President James Madison had designated that one township of the new state-in-the-making be reserved for a "Seminary of Learning." That designation was assigned to Township 8 North, Range 1 West - now known as our Perry Township - and that Seminary of Learning has grown to become Indiana University.
In January of 1818, this land that had once been a part of Indian Territory, then of Knox County, then of Orange County was designated to become Monroe County - named after the then current U.S. President James Monroe.
The Act for the Formation of Monroe County, dated January 14, 1818, and drafted in Corydon (which was then the state capitol) reads in part: (and I quote) "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, that from and after the 10th day of April next, all that part of the county of Orange enclosed in the following bounds (I will not read the bounds) shall form and constitute a new county to be known and designated by the name and style of the county of Monroe."
The General Assembly named 5 men from the surrounding counties of Orange, Daviess, Washington and Jackson to act as Commissioners for the purpose of "fixing the seat of justice" that is, locating the county seat. These commissioners were ordered to "convene at the house of Abner Blair, of said new county, on the first Monday of April next, and then proceed to discharge the duties assigned them by law."
It was also ordered that "the Board of Commissioners (to be elected) for new said county shall, within 12 months after the permanent seat of justice shall have been established, proceed to erect the necessary public buildings thereon." The last stipulation made by the General Assembly was that "ten per centum out of the net proceeds of the sale of lots be reserved for the use of a county library."
A Sheriff for the new county, John W. Lee was appointed by the Governor and under his supervision an election was held early in 1818 so that the necessary county officers would be in place by April 10.
On April 6, as directed by the General Assembly, four of the five appointed commissioners for naming the county seat, met at the cabin of Abner Blair and began to examine available lands. By April 11th they had made their decision and had purchased 160 acres from David Rogers for $1200. They also purchased the adjoining 150 acres to the east from Robertson Graham for $900. This land today is bounded approximately by Tenth Street on the North, Monroe Street on the West, Third Street on the South, and Dunn Street on the East. These commissioners completed their duties on April the 11th and signed a statement designating this land as the county seat.
The first meeting of the newly elected Commissioners of Monroe County was held as directed on Friday, April 10, 1818 also at the house of Abner Blair. These first Commissioners were Bartlett Woodward, Michael Buskirk, and James Parks. Their first official act was to appoint William Lowe as County Clerk, then Captain James Bigger as Lister or Assessor, and Roderick Rawlings as County Treasurer.
On the second day of the county, Saturday, April 11, superintendents were named for each township, a temporary county seal was designed, Benjamin Parks was appointed agent for the sale of lots, and (I quote) "On motion the court ordered that the Seat of Justice for Monroe County be known and distinguished by the name of Bloomington."
On Monday, April 13 (the county's fourth day), the townships of Bloomington, Beanblossom, Indian Creek and Clear Creek were given names, elections were set for Justices of the Peace, the first road petition was received and ordered laid out - this from Bloomington to Scott's Ferry on Salt Creek and thence to Lawrence County. The town of Bloomington was also ordered to be laid out - including the square and the lots - by surveyor Jonathon Nichols. The dates of June 22 and 23 were set for the first sale of lots in Bloomington.
On Tuesday, April 14 (the fifth day), very specific directions were written for the construction of a temporary log courthouse - a double cabin to be completed by the first of August. This log courthouse was probably located somewhere in the immediate area of where the Waldron Arts building is today. On the motion of the agent, the commissioners ordered a barrel of whiskey (at a cost of $33.50) to be available at the upcoming sale of the town lots. Jurors were also named for duty in June.
The commissioners continued to meet monthly. Roads were laid out and taxes were levied. Fence Viewers and Overseers of the Poor were appointed. The list of the purchasers of the town lots was recorded. Prices varied greatly - from $10.50 to $459. Total sales were $14,326.85.
In August it was passed that the temporary log courthouse be "received as completed" from the builder, Samuel Elliott. The town lot surveyor, Jonathon Nichols, was paid $62 for laying off the square and the first 208 lots in the city of Bloomington. A stray pen was ordered built on the south corner of the square (this location was later changed to lot 174) and a public well was also ordered to be dug on the square by Joel Woodward and John Mercer.
Town streets were designated as follows: N-S streets beginning on the west were named Poplar, Cherry, Spring, West, East, Walnut, Blue, and Back. E-W streets beginning on the south were named Water, South, North, and Washington.
A school was held in the log courthouse when the commissioners were not in session and so a chimney was ordered added to the building. Plans for a county jail to be built north of the log courthouse were accepted and Roderick Rawlins was ordered to complete the jail by December of 1819.
Additional town lots were laid off and the November sale's prices ranged from $10 to $610 per lot and totaled $12,274.75.
In February of 1919, fees were set for tavern licenses: $7.50 for in-town and $5 for outside of town. The price of accommodations in the taverns was also stipulated: breakfast or dinner - 25 cents; supper - 18 ¾ cents; lodging 6 ½ cents; corn or oats for horses - 12 ½ cents per gallon; or 25 cents "to stand at fodder or hay." Liquor per half-pint was: whiskey 12 1/2 cents; brandy 18 ¾ cents; and rum, French brandy, or wine 37 ½ cents. A set of official weights and measures were purchased for county use.
Also in February, the lot where the log courthouse stood was ordered cleaned up and a fence was erected to keep stray hogs or any other animals from entering. The designated square was also ordered to be cleared and its timber cut and burned. A new two-story brick courthouse was ordered to be erected there. Its specifications were very precise - even to the paint colors of the inside items. Of special interest is the following part of the builder's instructions:
". . . a "cupillo" (cupola) to be erected in the center of the roof, 10 feet in diameter and to be raised 12 feet high above the roof. a steeple is to extend out of said cupillo and 12 feet above it .said steeple to pass through a ball of wood at the distance of 8 feet above the top of said cupillo .said ball to be 6 inches in diameter and painted white at 6 inches above the ball, said steeple is to be tapered to a point and so constructed that a fish of polished brass can be placed on the point.said fish is to be 12 inches in length and of the make of a perch and to be so placed on said steeple as to turn with the wind."
So ends the important business of Monroe County's first year - and so begins our fascination with our courthouse fish!
