The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-02-21

"Reminiscences or Early Settle
ments Of Dubois County.
Mr.. Editor :--After brief resn;,o
from our labor OF hunting m ra,n;,,;s
cencesof early settlemenfso or orr coun,y
we have again inteIvie wed Col Fdn,on'
ston. and find his fund az iufn.n,a,;,a
not yet exhausted and his patience pnt
wearied in answering ON. enou;,;as
We now leave the immediate vicin;,s' ~
the Mnd-holes,r and move I'm.
nearer the spot where Portersyille now
stands. James Farris. father OF Mrs..
McCrilus. was one OF the pioneers ~
that locality, having settled there ~ the
year 1903. AT that time tho fcrritorv
embracing what il now Knox. PIKE
Gibson and Dubois counties. formed
only one county, called. Knox. yjnecn-
nes being the county seat. But vear
after year tile Territory was divided ~
~ the four counties above named were
organized- Knox in 1909. Gibson h
1913, Pike in 1916. and Dubois 81 1917
Mrs. McCrillns states that her fa,her
lived In -four counties and vet ncvar
moved. Portcrsvile was laid out 81
the lands Of MIR Lennon. ANA ,ba
lois sold in July 1878: il was made tLe
county seat. and a log Court house ana
la'l erected Immediately alter,vard. INA
names OF some Others who settled IN thaf
vlc'niiy about the year 1919. were John
Thompson, Jacob Rceder. Alexander
McDonald. Esquire Thos. Scott and coI.
simon Morgan. Courts were held fwic.
= year, ~ August and February. The
people rom the south part OF the couutv-
VINO mad to attend Court came in wag-
ons, bringing feed for their teams and
provisions for themselves and canned
out There was an old deadening around
.he Ionrl-house and the people utilized
y ny making IT their camping ground.
Duiiding great log-hcaps and firing
them, which furnished the Goals neces-
'ary 70 broil their meat and cook their
! 'Johuny-cakes.' The people had no
money 70 pay hotel bills, aud had they
possessed the stamps" there were no
places 70 stay. barely being accommoda-
ions for the judges and attonevs.
around these camp-fres a great deal or
niiln was jnduleed in. and plenty Of
WHISKY drank. this commodity being
worm only 20 cts. per gallon Men.
women and children cnioyed themselves
oge'her. Many were the regular fist
nd skull fights that tool, place around
ne chmpfires. jonathan Walker and
lp. HARRISON, Of whom we have written
e'orc, generally taking part and usually
oming or vicforious. when engaged
nh Others. but when lhe "sct-tor was
etween themselves sometimes one
~ sometimes The other was victor
lowever Portersvillc was destined
'era shors career Of pioneer prosperity.
lose the Conrt-house and hence tho
imc of county seat. The old. bromi-
enf and far-secing citizens soon saw
e injustice of dragging tire people OF
Y southern part OF the county 10 tho
Strcmc northern boundary ~ attend
'nrts and transact OTHER business. bence
petition was cirsulated for the removal
me county seat N moro central part.
onscgnenilv in 1929 or 1850 the Lcyis-
iurc passed an act aud appointed Com
issioners TO relocate the county seat.
hesc Commissioners met aud selected
sper. or the spot " here IL now sands
the most desirable location Tor Tho
unity seat. Bui they found that ihs
unity was not able a. bny land and put
The public buildings. consequently
Lnlow's- three brothers. JOSEPH.
mes and an other, then owning tho
"a where Jasper now stands. donated
ground for Conrf-honst- anl fail and
following citizens entered into
nd 70 nut np rs COED public build
= - they had IN PoricrSvillc, viz.
:. kltchie. Wm. Hnrs'. Chas Hurst.
.lor u. Powers. Rail B fdnonsinn,
her ~ Col. Edmonston. aud tho Col.
nselt. aud some Others. whose names
have NOT learned. Then in 1880.
spcr was Lard out and of~ sold III iune
that year Those who bound ihen.-
YES 20 put np the pnhlic buildings.
their own expense. mind yonl. camp
or the ground now occupied by tie
bic square. ana cut ana hewcd tbs
r TOR Courthouse and jail, and put
ne buildings. Then Jasper. tho
nrishing and now railroad Town.
made The comfy seat. aud will far
y remain 30. efforts 70 have II changed.
lhe contrary. Notwithstanding.
= 80 slow, wen I" Hold the Fort" III
e OF All powers, except storm. fire or
,d. Ap.r.
lTo he confirned.,