Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-21
Lawrence County. Indiana. Her
History


LawT snoe County, Indiana. Her
History.
Lawrence County, though organized in
1918, and first settled by the white man a
few years earlier has no recorded history
Tradition alone reveals to the present genera
ton the incidents and privations of our pio-
neer flthers, who first sought home among
the hills of this, then inhospitable. wilderness.
We have thought that detailed history of
the past inhahitancy, and gradual advance
ment to the municipal authority of the White
River country would furnish pleasant sketch
for the contemplation OF our readers. But
who IS competent to give the required infor
nation Ii may he that there are old men
in our midst upon whose memories are craven
the required information, vet few years will
remove them, when our local history will
have been buried with the things that were.
1t is our intention to compile the statistics of
this county from 1916, as matter of local
interest, provided the necessary data can be
obtained. 1t may he useful in view of a
variety of purposes.
The following Judicial items we take from
the first Circuit court record, to be found in
the Clerks Office
The first court was hell on the 4th of June,
1918, 81 years ago, at the house of James
Gregory. Thos. ii. Blake was the President
Judge, and John Milroy and VIM. Erwin,
Associates As some of our readers may
now be living who formed the first Grand
jury, We give list Of their names
jeremiah Ranken, John Heston, Samuel
Haskins, Isaac Anderson, Jas. Mundell, Dan.
Cummings. Dan. Piles, Dixon Brown, John
Ikerd, Jas. Fulkerson, VIM. Lackey, Reuben
Kilgore, Robert Brooks, Thos. Henton, VIM.
Tuly, Isaac Mitchell, Joel Vandever, Bever-
" Gregory
We know of but one gentleman in the
above list now living, though there may be
others. In those days of primeval innocence,
there was but little necessity for criminal
statutes, except that very familiar one which
reads thus, ''who so touches another in a
rude, angry, and insolent manner" &c. AT
this, the first term of the Lawrence Circuit
Court here were four indictments found,
which ere for assaults and batteries. John
F. Ross was prosecuting attorney, and his
compensation was $50, allowed him BY the
court. The attorneys Of that term were Eb-
enezer H. Donald, Geo. Sullivan, and John
Lowe.
The next term of the Court met in the
Court House at Palestine, which was then
first finished. This was more important
term jeremiah Rowland, William Hoggatt
Isaac Naylor and Henry Stephens were adj
Initted to practice as Attorneys. Lawyers it
appears were then as plenty as now, but bust
ness was evidently on the increase, for at this
term we find that eleven indictments were
found, though they did not describe a graver
charge than n simple assault and battery
case.
MARCH TERN, 1S19.-Gen. w. johnson
became presiding Judge; hut one indictment
found-eleven civil cases, though there was
not one Of them that exceeded the present
Jurisdiction of a Justice Of the Peace. At
the following June tenn Jonathan Doty be-
came the presiding Judge, and Robert Holly,
Daniel Bell and James Higgens, were admit
ted to practice as Attorneys.
MARCH TEEM, 1620-At this session there
vas man convicted Of Larceny, and sen
fenced 10 five stripes aud fine of 81.
OCToRFR 1ERN, 1920. - William Fields
was appointed associate Judge in the place
of John Milroy. Winthrop Foote, r. c.
Dewy aud James Brannin, were admitted
Attorneys Of the Court, and subsequently, the
present Dr. Winthrop Foote became Prosecu-
ting Attorney. At the following March term
Wm. ". Wick vas appointed president
Judge, and Cravens p. Hester and Calvin
Fletcher admitted to the bar
At the june term, 1922, Addisons Smith
John kingsburv, Thomas Allen and james
Whitcombe (sz gratia) were admitted to prac
tee.
JULT TRRM, 1s23.-Nothing of importanc,
tanspired c. Wilson, H. p Thornton and
Tbos. Blake wore admitted 10 practice as At
tornsJs.
AFEI- TERM, 1s24--John +. Ross became
president Judge.
During this seven years there were foui
convictions for Larceny, out of twelve indict-
ments; three indictments for cOunterfeitinq
and two convictions which was the sun
total of the criminal docket, with the excep
ton Of few petty misdemeanOrs.
We publish the above collation. of Judi
cial trifies not for any inherent interest they
may possess, but peradventure they may in
terest some veteran of other days, vet linger
ing upon the confines of time. Thirty-fiv,
years ago the present active business men o
our county were infants and stripplings, and
so too was the proud State Of Indiana. II
le1o, Palestine was recorded among the
principal towns Of the State, and attracted
considerable attention, but where is she now
The rude hand Of civilization has demolished
every vestage Of her former existence. and
the anxious enquirer is pointed to a pile Of
broken brick-bats, or elevated mounds. \.
relics of tenements once inhabited dor
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