Dearborn County Indiana County Officers through 1915

Dearborn county has been, in general, very fortunate in its choice of offi­cers. Its early officials were men of integrity and rather more than average ability. Many of them had received training in the East before emigrating, and came to the county with experience in governmental affairs that was valu­able to the infant county. There were men who had been trained in military matters in the stern school of the Revolution and likewise had been invested with responsibilities in civic affairs. Others who were among the first settlers had training in woodcraft and knew the habits of the Indians. The work that was done by the pioneers cannot be now estimated. Clearing a place for their cabins and getting sufficient cleared space on which to get a first crop of products to keep a family, involved labor more than we of the present day can imagine. The work of organizing the county with the petty details of law and form was no easy task either. Samuel C. Vance, the founder of Law­renceburg, was a man of ability and foresight. In many ways, perhaps, his vision was too far ahead. He was a surveyor, a military man and experienced in governmental affairs. He had been an officer in the Revolutionary War and took part in Wayne’s campaign against the Indians. He was the founder of the city of Lawrenceburg, and took part for many years in the affairs of both the county and city, dying in 1828, full of honor and with the good will of the community.

Benjamin Chambers, one of the civil engineers employed to make the sur­vey of the territory obtained by Wayne’s treaty, was a native of Chambers­burg, Pennsylvania, and was commissioned by the Continental Congress an ensign in the First Pennsylvania Regiment in 1778. In 1779 he was made a lieutenant and saw active service until the close of the war. He was said to have been a very intelligent man and very courtly in his manners.

Following is a list of the county officers of Dearborn county from the date of the county’s organization to 1915:

TERRITORIAL JUDGES

Benjamin Chambers, from March 7, 1803, to December 14, 1810; Jabez Percival, March 8, 1803, to January 6, 1814; Barnet Hulick, March 7, 1803, to December 14, 1809; John Brownson, March 7, 1803, to January 6, 1814; Jeremiah Hunt, March 7, 1803; Richard Stevens, March 7, 1803; William Majors, March 7, 1803, to January 6, 1814; James McCarty, March 7, 1803; Isaac Dunn, March 17, 1812, to February 14, 1817; Elijah Sparks, January 16, 1814 (died in May, 1815); James Noble was appointed to fill the vacancy and served until 1816. Jesse L. Holman was also a territorial judge when the state was admitted into the Union.

CIRCUIT JUDGES OF DEARBORN COUNTY

John Test, of Franklin county, 1818–19; John Watts, of Dearborn county, 1819–20; Miles C. Eggleston, of Jefferson county, 1820–45; Courtland Cush­ing, of Jefferson county, 1845–47; George H. Dunn, of Dearborn county, 1847–50; William McCarty, of Franklin county, 1850–53; Reuben D. Logan, of Decatur county, 1853–65; Jeremiah M. Wilson, of Fayette county, 1865–69; Robert N. Lamb, of Switzerland county, 1869–71; Henry C. Hanna, of Franklin county, 1871–73; Omar F. Roberts, of Dearborn county, 1873–79; Noah S. Givan, of Dearborn county, 1879–85; William H. Bainbridge, of Dearborn county, 1885–91; Alexander C. Downey, of Ohio county, 1891–97; Noah S. Givan, of Dearborn county, 1897–1903; George E. Downey, of Dear­born county, 1903–09; George E. Downey, of Dearborn county, 1909–13, re­signed to accept position as controller of the United States treasury; Warren N. Hauck, of Dearborn county, 1913–15, appointed by Governor Ralston to fill unexpired time; Warren N. Hauck, of Dearborn county, 1915.

COMMON PLEAS JUDGES

William S. Holman, of Dearborn county, 1853–56; Charles N. Shook, of Ripley county, 1856–61; Francis M. Adkinson, of Switzerland county, 1861–65; Robert N. Lamb, of Switzerland county, 1865–69; Scott Carter, of Switzerland county, 1869–72.

ASSOCIATE JUDGES

Solomon Manwarring, 1816–30; John Livingston, Isaac Dunn, 1830–38; John McPike, 1830–35; Samuel H. Dowden, 1835–38; John Livingston, 1838–45; Alfred J. Cotton, 1838–45; David Conger, 1845–51; John A. Emrie.

PROBATE JUDGES

George H. Dunn, 1829–31; John Livingston, 1831–37; John McPike, 1837; John Palmer, 1837–43; Theodore Gazlay, 1843; William S. Holman, 1843–47; Alfred J. Cotton, 1847–52.

THE TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE

The first territorial Legislature met at Vincennes on July 29, 1805, and Benjamin Chambers, of Dearborn county, was the presiding officer. Jesse B. Thomas, of Dearborn county, was speaker of the House of Representatives. The second Legislature met on September 26, 1808. Jesse B. Thomas, repre­senting Dearborn county, was again speaker of the House. The third Legis­lature met on November 10, 1810. The fourth Legislature met on February 1, 1813. James Dill, of Dearborn county, was speaker of the House at the first session, and Isaac Dunn, of Dearborn county, was speaker during the last seven days of the second session. The fifth and last territorial Legislature met at Corydon on August 14, 1814. Jesse L. Holman, of Dearborn county, was elected president of the legislative council.

Dearborn county was represented in the constitutional convention of 1816 by James Dill, Solomon Manwarring and Ezra Ferris. In the con­stitutional convention of 1851 the county was represented by William S. Hol­man, John D. Johnson and Johnson Watts.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE

The senators representing Dearborn county in the state Legislature are as follow:

1816–18, Ezra Ferris; 1821–22, at Corydon, John Gray; 1825–30, at Indi­anapolis, John Watts; 1831–32, James T. Pollock; 1833, D. V. Culley; 1834–35, Daniel Plummer; 1838–43, Johnson Watts; 1844–45, George P. Buell; 1849–51, James H. Lane, president of the Senate; 1846–51, James P. Milliken; 1852–57, Richard D. Slater; 1859–61, Cornelius O’Brien; 1863–65, James W. Gaff; 1867–69, Elijah Huffman; 1871–73, Richard Gregg; 1875–78, Noah S. Givan; 1878–82, A. J. Bowers; 1882–86, Columbus Johnston; 1886–90, Fran­cis M. Griffith; 1890–93, Columbus Johnston; 1898–1902, George H. Keener; 1902–06, William H. O’Brien; 1906–10, Evan L. Patterson; 1910–14, Warren N. Hauck; 1914, Joseph Hemphill.

REPRESENTATIVES IN THE LEGISLATURE

1816, Amos Lane and Erasmus Powell; 1817, Amos Lane; 1818, Erasmus Powell and John Watts; 1820, Ezra Ferris and Erasmus Powell; 1822, Pinckney James, Horace Bassett, Ezekiel Jackson; 1823, Samuel Jelley, Benjamin J. Blythe, David Bowers; 1825, Abel C. Pepper, Horace Bassett, Ezekiel Jackson; 1825, Ezekiel Jackson, Abel C. Pepper, Thomas Guien; 1826, Ezra Ferris, Ezekiel Jackson, Horace Bassett; 1827, Horace Bassett, Ezekiel Jackson, Joel DeCoursey, James T. Pollock; 1828, Horace Bassett, James T. Pollock, Arthur St. Clair, George H. Dunn; 1829–30, Horace Bassett, James T. Pollock, Thomas Guien, Walter Armstrong; 1830, James T. Pollock, Walter Armstrong, Ezra Ferris, Samuel H. Dowden; 1831, David V. Culley, William Flake, Warren Tebbs; 1832, George H. Dunn, David V. Culley, Oliver Heustis; 1833, George H. Dunn, Thomas Guien, David Guard; 1834, Nelson H. Horbet, James Walker, Thomas Howard; 1835, Henry Walker, Thomas Howard, Milton Gregg; 1836, David Guard, Pinckney James, John P. Dunn, Abel C. Pepper; 1837, George Arnold, Abram Ferris, Enoch W. Jackson, Alexander E. Glenn; 1838–39, George Arnold, Jacob W. Eggleston, William Conaway, Ebenezer Dumont; 1839–40, Amos Lane, William Lanius, William Conaway, William Penny; 1840–41, Abijah North, John B. Clark, Isaac Dunn, William R. Cole; 1841, Ethan A. Brown, James P. Milliken, James Rand; 1842–43, Ethan A. Brown, John Lewis, James P. Milliken; 1843–44, Pinckney James, David Macy; 1844, Oliver Heustis, John Lewis, William Lanius; 1845–46, George Cornelius, Richard D. Slater; 1846–47, A. G. Tebbs, John D. Johnson; 1847, George W. Lane, Richard D. Slater; 1848, John D. Johnson, Alvin J. Alden, George M. Lozier; 1849–50, Daniel Conaway, Joseph A. Watkins; 1850, Ebenezer Dumont (speaker of the House), John B. Clark; 1850 (special session), Oliver H. Torbett, William S. Holman; 1853, Oliver H. Torbett (speaker of the House), Noah C. Durham; 1855, Alvin J. Alden, John Crozier; 1857, John Lewis, George W. Lane; 1858, Noah C. Durham, Warren Tebbs; 1859, Warren Tebbs, Noah C. Durham; 1861, Omer F. Roberts, Charles Lods; 1863, Omer F. Roberts, Alfred Brogan; 1865, John C. Stenger, Richard Gregg; 1867, Edward H. Green, Warren Tebbs, Jr.; 1869–71, Warren Tebbs; 1872–73 (special), Noah S. Givan; 1875, Columbus Johnston; 1876–78, Columbus Johnston; 1878–80, A. J. Alden; 1880–82, Edward Jackson; 1882–84, Hugh D. McMullen; 1884–86, Hugh D. McMullen; 1886–88, Hugh D. McMullen; 1888–90, Joseph Vandolah; 1890–94, John W. Johnson; 1894–98, John Feist; 1898–1902, Omar F. Roberts; 1900–04, Charles H. Conaway; 1904–08, Victor Oberting; 1909–10, Warren N. Hauck; 1910–12, Cassins W. McMullen; 1912–14, Edgar Sale; 1914–16, Edgar Sale.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

At the time of the burning of the court house on March 5, 1826, the county was governed by a board of supervisors, composed of a justice of the peace from each township. The first meeting of which there is any record was on March 26, 1826, the board then consisting of Mark McCracken, president; John Porter, James Lewis, William Brundage and Laban Bramble. In 1827 Cornelius Falkner and Job A. Beach took the place of two of the board. In 1828 Philip Eastman, James Murray, Dele Elder, Isaac Caldwell, John Godley, James W. Hunter, Martin Stewart and William Flake constituted the board. In 1829 David Bowers, John Glass and Israel W. Bonham took the places of three of those serving the year previous. In 1830 Joseph Wood, Ulysses Cook, John Columbia and John Neal were the new members.

In 1831 the law had changed and the county was divided into three districts, with one man elected from each district, who was called a commissioner. The member from the first district was elected for one year, the member from the second district was elected for two years, and the member from the third district was elected for three years. Afterwards each member was to serve three years. In 1831, under this new law, Joseph Wood was elected from the first district, Mark McCracken from the second, and George Arnold from the third. From that time on the commissioners were elected to serve for three years each, as follow:

1832, William Conaway; 1833, Charles Dashiell; 1834, George Arnold; 1835, John Neal; 1836, Benjamin Sylvester; 1837, David Nevett and William Conaway; 1838, David Walser; 1839, Aaron B. Henry; 1840, William S. Ward; 1841, Charles Dashiell; 1842, John Columbia; 1843, William S. Ward; 1844, David Walser; 1845, James Grubbs; 1846, Daniel Taylor; 1847, Martin Trester; 1848, Jonathan Hollowell; 1849, William S. Ward; 1850, Zerah Winson; 1851, Jonathan Hollowell; 1852, John Heimberger; 1853, Benjamin Burlingame; 1854, Mason J. McCloud; 1855, Asahel Tyrrel; 1856, Benjamin Burlingame; 1857, John Anderegg; 1858, Asahel Tyrrel; 1859, Francis Buffington; 1860, John Anderegg; 1861, Charles Briggs; 1862, Francis Buffington; 1863, Charles Briggs; 1864, John Anderegg; 1865, Francis Buffington; 1866, Frederick Souders; 1867, Smith Piatt; 1868, Asahel Tyrrel; 1869, Frederick Souders; 1870, John C. Stenger; 1871, Asahel Tyrrel; 1872, Frederick Souders; 1873, James Grubbs — Smith Piatt; 1874, Frederick Slater; 1876, Michael Hoff — Abraham Briggs; 1877, Frederick Slater; 1879, Abraham Briggs — Michael Hoff; 1880, Garrett Bosse; 1882, Charles Lods, to fill vacancy caused by death of Michael Hoff; 1882, Henry Bulthaup, to fill vacancy caused by death of Garrett Bosse; T. T. Anms, John Buchert and Henry Bulthaup, elected; 1883, Charles Fisk and John Feist, the latter appointed to fill vacancy caused by death of John Buchert; 1885, Nicholas Vogelgesang; 1885, George A. Swales; 1886, George W. Johnston; 1887, Nicholas Vogelgesang; 1888, George A. Swales; 1889, George W. Johnston; 1890, Joseph Buchert; 1891, John Axby; 1892, Eben T. Heaton; 1895, Benjamin P. Waiser; 1896, Frederick Wolber; 1897, Frederick Albers; 1898, John Renck (three years); Rufus Abbott (two years); 1899, Fred Albers (three years); 1901, John Renck; 1903, John E. Heustis; 1904, George W. Brown; 1905, Henry J. Meyer; 1906, John E. Heustis; 1907, Ralph Conaway; 1908, Henry J. Meyer; 1909, Edward Barker; 1910, Ralph Conaway; 1911, George T. Wolf; 1912, Edward Barker; 1913, John Nolte; 1914, George T. Wolf; 1915, Frank Bittner.

COUNTY TREASURERS

1829, Daniel Hagerman; 1829–31, Thomas Palmer; 1831–36, Walter Armstrong; 1836–38, Robert Moore; 1838–40, William G. Monroe; 1840–45, Ebenezer Dumont; 1845–47, Nelson S. Torbet; 1847–50, Cornelius O’Brien; 1850–53, Noble Hamilton; 1853–55, Strange S. Dunn; 1855–57, Thomas Johnson; 1857–61, Francis M. Jackson; 1861–63, Marcus Levy; 1863–65, William F. Crocker; 1865–70, Thomas Kilner; 1870–74, Francis Lang; 1874–78, Charles Lods; 1878–82, William H. Kyle; 1882–86, James D. Gatch; 1886–90, John Probst; 1890–94, Michael Maloney; 1894–98, William Wulber; 1898–

1902, Henry Fangman; 1902, William Fangman, unexpired term of Henry Fangman; 1903–06, Enoch McHlfresh; 1906–10, C. William Fangman; 1910–14, Andrew Burk; 1914, John A. Bobrink.

COUNTY AUDITORS

1841–46, George W. Lane; 1846–55, Reuben Rodgers; 1855–64, Elias T. Crosby; 1864–68, Richard D. Slater, Sr.; 1868–75, Richard D. Slater, Jr.; 1875–79, Myron Haynes; 1879–83, Alexander Pattison; 1883–87, Julius Severin; 1887–91, Edward D. Moore; 1891–95, Frank R. Dorman; 1895–97, Ambrose E. Nowlin; 1897–98, Charles L. Walser; 1898–1906, Charles M. Beinkamp; 1906–14, William S. Fagaly; 1914, Harry Lutherbeck.

COUNTY CLERKS

Samuel C. Vance, March 7, 1803, to September 6, 1813; James Dill, September 6, 1813, until death in 1838; son, James Dill, appointed pro tem; William V. Cheek, 1839–51; Cornelius O’Brien, 1851–56; Samuel L. Jones, 1856–61; John F. Cheek, 1861–68; John A. Cornwell, 1868–78; Warren Tebbs, 1878–86; John H. Russe, 1886–94; David Lestutter, 1894–98; John Uhlrich, 1898–1906; George Fahlbush, 1906–14; James G. McKinney, 1914.

COUNTY RECORDERS

James Dill, March 7, 1803, to August 30, 1803; James Hamilton, August 30, 1803, to February 14, 1817; James Dill, 1817–31; Thomas Porter, 1831–34; Asa Smith, 1834; Thomas Palmer, 1835–55; Tobias Finkbine, 1855; John Heimberger, 1855–63; Alvin J. Alden, 1863–67; Alfred Brogan, 1867–71; Francis M. Johnson, 1871–79; George C. Columbia, 1879–85; John S. Prichard, 1887–95; George W. Turner, 1895–1903; Edward C. Fox, 1903–11; Clifford Haynes, 1911.

COUNTY SHERIFFS

David Lamphere, 1803–04; James Hamilton, 1804–16; John Hamilton, 1816–18; William Hamilton, 1818; Thomas Longley, 1818–22; John Spencer, 1822–26; Thomas Longley, 1826–28; John Spencer, 1828–32; Milton Gregg, 1832; William Dils, 1832–37; John Weaver, 1837–41; Samuel Osgood, 1841–45; Thomas Roberts, 1845–49; Frank M. Riddle, 1849–53; John Brumblay, 1853–58; John Boyd, 1858–60; Edward A. Conger, 1860–64; Richard C. Arnold, 1864–68; Frank R. Dorman, 1868–72; Lewis Weitzel, 1872–76; Elijah Christopher, 1876–80; John C. Sims, 1880–84; Daniel M. Guard, 1884–88; Hezron Haynes, 1888–92; Henry Bulthaup, 1892–96; William E. Teke, 1896–98; Ira Miller, 1898; Marion Laws, 1898–1902; John Axby, 1902–06; Richard White, 1906–10; Ora N. Slater, 1910–14; Daniel McKinzie, 1914.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS

George C. Columbia, 1873–75; Harvey B. Hill, 1875–87; Samuel J. Houston, 1887–93; Sol K. Gold, 1893–1908; George C. Cole, 1908–14.

COUNTY ASSESSORS

Francis M. Johnson, 1891–1900; William H. Nead, 1900–14; William Wescott, 1914.

PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS

Strange S. Dunn, 1850–54; William Patterson, 1854–58; [name missing], 1858–64; Hugh D. McMullen, 1864–68; George R. Brumblay, 1868–78; Addison Williams, 1878–80; Robert E. Slater, 1880–86; Edward H. Green, 1886–88; Redman L. Davis, 1888–96; Harry R. McMullen, 1896–1902; Theodore Wulber, 1902–04; Frank D. Johnston, 1904–06; John H. Russe, 1906–14; Willard Dean, 1914.

COUNTY CORONERS

Daniel Edwards, 1846–48; James D. English, 1848–52; William R. Green, 1852–56; Major R. Slater, 1856–60; William Green, 1860–66; Frederick Rectanus, 1866–68; Daniel M. Skinner, 1868–76; Robert H. Davis, 1876–80; C. J. B. Ratjen, 1880–84; Albert D. Jackson, 1884–95; Hanson G. Freeman, 1895–96; Frederick Mauntel, 1896–98; F. H. Sale, Jr., 1898–1900; F. H. Sale, 1900–02; F. H. Sale, 1902–04; George F. Smith, 1904–06; Wilson H. Swales, 1908–10; G. Johnston, 1910–15.

COUNTY SURVEYORS

George Moore, 1846–52; Samuel M. Kennedy, 1852–56; Jesse L. Holman, 1856–57; Samuel M. Kennedy, 1857–62; Hugh D. McMullen, 1862–64; Samuel Allen, 1864–66; Samuel M. Kennedy, 1866–74; Samuel Allen, 1874–78; Samuel M. Kennedy, 1878–80; Samuel Allen, 1880–82; Albert T. Gridley, 1882–1902; Charles H. Gore, 1902–12; Albert Karstetter, 1912–15.