Interesting Tidbits and Amusing Anecdotes about Jennings County
Mutton Creek which flows through Geneva Township is said to have gotten it's name
due to the fact that some men were driving a flock of sheep to North Vernon or Seymour
through the creek and most of the herd drowned.
In North Vernon there was a Jewish Community, which included the LYONS, GUMBLE, ADES and BERTMAN
families. Some of these people were early business owners. No mention of a synagogue or any Jewish
holiday observances have been found.(See more information at
the Jewish Community Page.
It is said that the First Methodist Church used the depot in between the 2 tracks that formed
a Y at the intersection on the corner of Main and Madison (in the area where the City Police
Department is now.) Due to the fact that at one time North Vernon had 30 or more trains
passing through it, the Methodists found that their sermons would be interrupted while the building
shook from the vibrations. Needless to say they used many different buildings until they built
the new church at the corner of Jennings and Chestnut, moving later in 1960.
In order to keep one farmer's or breeder's livestock seperate from the others, a
crop or mark would be made in the ear of the animal and that crop or mark would
be made legal at the Clerk's Office in Vernon.
Facts from the Seminary in Vernon:
One term the platform from which one the "Professors" gave his instructions was
cut so that when the master ascended to his accustomed place he would fall through.
different times. Neither the boys or girls agreed with this and during their recess
the girls imitated the prayer of one of the leading citizens. All but two boys were
suspensed for two days.
1813:
Solomon's Temple was a two roomed school house built later on Solomon's fathers
farm. He employed a Mr. Blinn to give his children a High School education. Soon
many of the other residents in the area were sending their children to be
educated at Solomon's Temple.This might possibly have been School number 3 in section 30 of Montgomery Township.
1813
Jennings County was formed out of Jefferson and Jackson Counties on December 17, 1816 and organized on Feb.
1, 1817. Colonel John Vawter, an U. S. Marshal, government land agent and surveyor surveyed what is now Vernon
Township in the year 1813 and decided to move from Madison and start the town of Vernon, named after Mt. Vernon
in honor of George Washington.
Perhaps the first park in Indiana was started in Vernon in1815 and referred to as the commons.
Vawter also was a preacher at the Vernon Baptist Church. He was strict and didn’t allow any dogs or tobacco spit on
the floor of his church or house. The Colonel was opposed to slavery and once bought a black man named Sam Carr
for $600.00 and then turned around and sold Sam back to Sam’s self for $50.00. Seems that Sam had been convicted
of stealing and was ordered to pay back double the price of what the cost was of what he had actually stole, apparently
Col. Vawter must have thought this unfair or knew Sam wasn’t actually guilty. The Vawter homes are still here in
Vernon and the Vawter name is known as a long time family here.
The viaduct in Vernon was built in 1838 when the railroad came north from Madison, and was the first overpass for the
Jefferson, Madison and Indianapolis Railroad. What is now the Historical Society building was once a stagecoach
stop and inn. This building is said to house a few spirits of its own. Passengers would get off the train in
Vernon at the old inn and then from there would take a stagecoach to their next destination.
The first courthouse was a log square structure built around 1817 or 1818. Later a 4 square foot two story brick
building was built. The jail started out as a 16 x 18 oak log structure and later in 1841 a stone and brick jail
was built. The current courthouse was built in 1857 on the same site as the two story brick building.
The stone and brick were purchased from local merchants from local materials and was completed in 1860.
Next the sheriff’s residence was completed. Then a privy or outhouse of brick was built big enough for six
individual occupants. Later the 75-foot tower was added to the courthouse, many of whom thought this folly at the time,
and a bell was placed in the tower instead of a clock, due to the lower cost of the bell. On July 4, 1861 “everyone
in the entire county came to celebrate 'Old Glory' waving from the top of the Courthouse tower.”
Reports of the courthouse burning in 1859 are not true; however a section of Vernon did burn before Nov. 1859.
The local newspaper of the time the Vernon Banner of Feb. 2, 1860 ran an article about $82 that had been raised
by the good citizens of Tripton (what is now North Vernon) to help the citizens of Vernon rebuild; and reports
in the October 4, 1860 Vernon Banner indicate that the people had built a solid front of brick buildings facing the
public square that far exceeded the looks of the old buildings. Only one lot was left empty at that time.
The Courthouse was not only used for court and legal purposes but for social and community gatherings as well.
Several Vernon and Vernon Township schools held their graduations in the building. At election time the men would
take a drink of whiskey with the ladle from the community barrel inside the courthouse.
On January 25, 1851 Vernon was granted a charter by the state that established standards for the election of town
officials and their duties, Vernon is still under this charter today.
The first tavern in Vernon was started by Achilles Vawter: the prices were set by the county commissioners and were
as follows 25 cents for breakfast and lunch; a nights lodging was 37 ½ cents; a half-pint of whiskey or a gallon
of corn or oats was 12 ½ cents; a half pint of brandy ran you 18 ½ cents, and French brandy was 50 cents.
The row houses that stand on the south side of Highway’s 7 & 3 once had tunnels that lead to the basements where
slave’s running to freedom in the north would pass through. Rumor has it that several of them died before leaving
Vernon and their spirits linger in these row houses.
In the 1800’s Vernon had its own dentist, several dry good stores, a boot, shoes and hat business, a stove and tin shop,
a silversmith, a druggist and a brewery. A livery and sale stable could be found here and a physician who also sold
his own drugs and medicines. There was a stone cutter and two known newspapers the Vernon Banner and later
the Vernon Journal.
Today Vernon is a quaint quiet town, almost a village if you will. It is appropriate that the courthouse
stay there always.
1817:
1815-1819:
1818:
1818, May (Transcribed from the original court document)
Be it remembered that this day personally appeared before me MAURICE BAKER Esq. Sheriff of said County
as a Jury of Inquest, Mercers, WILLIAM T. STOTT, and JAMES HABLER, ACHILLES VAWTER,
ALEXANDER LEWIS, WILLIAM PAGGET, HENRY ST. CLAIR, JOHN STOTE, JOHN B. POTTER
JOHN BRANHAM, JOSEPH FENTON/NEWTON? JASON SNODFILL?,OLMAN RINTTY
who being severely sworn delinquently to inquire whether it be to the damage on prejudice of the United States or this
state or nay of the citizens thereof that LINK JONES of county and state aforesaid have leave to erect a mill and
dam on this land (word not legible) what is commonly called the north fork (to wit) on the north east quarter of section
twenty six of Township seven north or range eight east of the (several words not legible.)
We of the Jury having viewed the lands above and below said mill seat the property of others (word not legible)
of opinion that no damages will advise within to the United States or this State or any of the citizens thereof provided
that said JONES does not raise his said dam higher than nine feet above the water mark, wherefore we as a Jury of said
County beg stating that we cannot after delinquent inquiry on the premises made find any just cause to forbid the said
JONES from erecting this said mill and dam. Provided the said dam does not exceed the height of nine feet as afore said.
To which I as the Sheriff aforesaid together with the Jury aforesaid hereunto affix our hands and seals this 30th day of
May Eighteen Hundred and Eighteen
1818, September (Transcribed from original court document)
Be it remembered that this day personally appeared before me MORISE BAKER Esqr. Sheriff of the County
aforesaid as a Jury of Inquest of JOHN VAWTER, RICHARD LEE, ISIAH BLANKENSHIP,
ZEPHENIAH FRENCH, ALEXANDER LEWIS, MILES C. STRIBLING, WILLIAM T. STOTT,
LEONARD CUTLER, AMOS KNAPP, CHAUNCEY BUTLER, WILLIAM C. BRAMWELL, JONATHAN
BARRETT. Who being severally sworn delinquently to enquire whether it be to the damage or (word gone, page torn)
predict of the United States, or this state or any of the citizens thereof, that JOSEPH PERSONS of the
county & State aforesaid have to continue to build a water grist mill and dam on his lands across what is commonly
called Sandy Creek on fractional section number five, township seven north range eight east in the district of land
offered for sale at Jeffersonville. Wherefore we of the Jury having viewed the land above & below said mill seat believe
that JOHN WIMPLE owner of a track of land, is damaged by the overflowing of land in consequence of this erection
of said mill dam and we assess the damages to the said WIMPLE at fourteen dollars – also we find it to be a small
damage to the land of SAMUEL R. ROBY and assess the damage at one dollar, (done by the erection of said mill and
dam.)
Provided the said JOSEPH PERSONS does not raise his said dam about ten feet (above low water mark), wherefore
we as a Jury aforesaid by beg leave to make report of this our inquest stating that we cannot after delinquent engaging
on the premises made, find in any further cause to forbid the said JOSEPH PERSONS from erecting and continuing to
build his said mill and dam as aforesaid. Provided the said dam as aforesaid, does not excess the height of ten feet as
aforesaid. Given under our hand and said this twenty fifth day of September in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred
and eighteen.
1821:
1840's and 1850's:
1863:
1871, May 25 Plain Dealer:
1902, July 18
1903 April 4 Banner Plain Dealer – On last Thursday night our community was aroused from their
peaceful slumbers by the firing of guns, beating of drums and blowing of horns. After the smoke of
battle had blown away it was found that BILLY DIXON had captured one of Jennings County’s fair daughters.
Good for you, BILLY.
1903 August 7 Banner Plain Dealer - DOG FIGHT INDIRECT CAUSE OF A SHOOTING SCRAPE AT SAN JACINTO, FIFTY SHOT
PICKED OUT OF THE NECK AND SHOULDER OF FRANK VANCLEAVE - San Jacinto was stirred from center to
circumference Monday night by a shooting scrape and what the results will be no one knows. As near as could
learn the particulars it seems as though bad feelings has existed for some time between the family of FRANK VANCLEAVE
and a family named BURCHFIELD, who moved there from Kentucky about a year ago, and seemed to possess the
spirit that pervades so many Kentucky families, the old lady being especially quarrelsome and of an ugly disposition.
Several little disturbances have occurred between the families, who were neighbors, and it culminated Monday
when the dogs of the two families got in a fight and in which the VANCLEAVE dog seemed to be getting the best of it.
The smaller of the BURCHFIELD boys, not liking this, started to part the dogs and got bitten on one finger while
doing so he started to Dr. WILDMAN’S to have his finger dressed and on his way met two older brothers to whom
he told his story. After stopping and doing some trading as they passed
through town they went on home to find their mother over at VANCLEAVE’S house armed with a club. Mr. VANCLEAVE had been
absent during most of the fracas but had arrived home and had armed himself with a pitchfork in case he needed a
weapon for defense. This maddened Mrs. BURCHFIELD who said to her son, LEW, who had come over to VANCLEAVE’S:
“Run and get the gun and shoot the __________ ___________ ______________ ___________.” He ran home and came back with
the gun and taking aim at VANCLEAVE, who, with his wife, were standing in the doorway, fired. VANCLEAVE dodged
or he would possibly have been killed in his tracks; as it was he received the entire load in his neck and shoulders.
Dr. WILDMAN was called and succeeded in picking fifty shot out of his body. He is seriously although not
necessarily fatally wounded. In the excitement the would-be-murderer got away and when the sheriff arrived
he was not to be found although a posse has been searching for them both.
LEN BURCHFIELD, who did the shooting, was caught at Milton, Ky., Wednesday and is now in jail at Vernon. His wife and two
children and young sister were all arrested but were released Wednesday. The search for the old lady will be continued.
1904 April 22 Plain Dealer – INCENDIARISM – The San jacinto neighborhood seems to be infested with a gang of
persons who adopt drastic measures to prevent new people from moving into the neighborhood and also to get rid
of those whom they do not want, who are already residences. The incendiary fires, if not four, have occurred
in the same neighborhood in a few months, the last one occurring Monday night. The house burned was a good
log house, valued at $200, owned by JAMES CALLICOTT, ex-representative and a man of high standing. He had
rented the house to a man named PATTERSON of Brewersville, He was to move into it Tuesday and Monday night
the house was burned. Nothing detrimental to PATTERSON or his family is known to us.
Inquiry failed to elicit any information that was damaging to the man’s character, and a cause for the
incendiarism is not known. The house stood on the same farm that the one did that was burned when BIRCHFIELDS
were burned out in the night. A short time ago a man bought the ROSS farm and was going to move to it, but
before he could do so that house was burned by incendiary persons. Whoever the parties doing their evil
deeds under cover of darkness are, they may meet with the fate of the pitcher that went to the well
once too often. A few months in penal servitude might be a good object lesson for them.
1904 June 3 Plain Dealer - Centerville Column – HATTIE WHEELAN has a tea vine which has forced its way
through a small crevice in the floor of her dining room and has trained itself up to the ceiling and across the
window. Quite a curiosity.
1904 September 1 Plain Dealer – A KIDNAPPER – The County Line neighborhood is in the throes of a great
excitement over the fact that an Italian peddler tried to kidnap the infant child of HENRY LEWELLEN and wife
one day recently. The peddler asked for a drink and while the mother went for the water he lifted the child
from the cradle. He asked where her husband was and by his actions aroused her suspicions. She told him he
was digging potatoes behind the barn and he left to see if her story was true, when she saw him returning she
took her baby from where he had laid it and started to run. He chased her for a quarter of a mile when she fell
fainting in a neighbor’s yard. He left but when Mr. LEWELLEN heard of the matter he went gunning for the fellow
whom he filled full of shot. He was taken to Hope where he later escaped from the authorities and
is still at large.
1905 March 5 Sun - The town of Ezra seized to exist, the March 5 Sun carried this notice, Ezra is no more
the government discontinued the post office here last Thursday.
1905 April 7 Sun ran a short article on the new colored K. P. Lodge of Indiana that had opened in North
Vernon. GEORGE P. STEWART was the Grand Chancellor; and D. STANFIELD, of Vernon organized the Lodge with a
charter membership of 25. Regular meetings were held on Thursday evening at the hall at 123 Walnut Street.
Mr. STANFIELD, assisted by Mr. NIDY, also of Vernon, secured the necessary membership and they feel jubilant
over the outlook.
1905 December 14 Plain Dealer Powder Creek Column - While out coon hunting Saturday night ERNEST GREEN killed the wild animal
that has been heard around here for sometime; there has been quite a number to see it but nobody seems to
know what it is.
1906 April 26 Plain Dealer - DEAD BABY FOUND FLOATING IN MUSCATATUCK BELOW DAM SATURDAY AFTERNOON, CORD
AROUND NECK, EVIDENTLY BODY HAD BEEN THROWN INTO CREEK WITH HEAVY WEIGHT AROUND ITS NECK – Last Saturday afternoon
several boys were fishing along the banks of the Muscatatuck just below the dam when they discovered something
floating in the water that they took for a fish, but after getting it ashore found it to be the nude body of a
very young baby. They immediately notified the police. Officer JORDAN of the night force and Coroner DAVENPORT
repaired to the creek bank where the body was, removing it to RAPP’S undertaking establishment. Sunday morning
the body was buried in the City Cemetery. The child evidently was dead when thrown into the water. A heavy cord
was found knotted around its neck, giving evidence that a weight had been attached to prevent it from rising
to the surface. How long the body had been in the water, or where it came from are matter of conjecture
only, as no clew has been unearthed that would lead to the disclosure of the identity of those responsible
for the act. An effort is being made to find the guilty parties, but with evidence at hand, it looks like no
one will ever know.
1907 February 7 Plain Dealer - The law prohibiting minors from purchasing tobacco, should be enforced here,
as our school teachers are complaining of the large amount of tobacco that is brought to school by small boys.
1907 February 28 Plain Dealer - SHERIFF GAUTIER KEPT BUSY – Never in the history of Jennings County has a
sheriff been called on to handle such a noisy bunch of men as he now has. Mr. GAUTIER has in charge three men
who are insane and at times the corridors of the court house ring with hideous yells making one feel that the
Southeastern Hospital had been located at Vernon. The three waiting to be taken to Indianapolis
to the asylum are JOE DUDDENHOFER, of Spencer Township; GEORGE BOWMAN, of Montgomery Township; and ANTHONY SCHNIDER
of Columbia Township.
1907 July 13 (Transcribed from the original court document)
CORONER’S VERDICT
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of my office this 15th day of July, 1907.
The inquest on the body of HENRY SULLIVAN at Hayden supposed to have come to his death by falling under
B. & O. S. W. R. R. Train
Said inquest was begun on 13th day of July, 1907, and concluded on the 15th day of July 1907
THE EXPENSES OF SAID INQUEST ARE:
(From A Glimpse of Pioneer Life in Jennings County)
For an innovation on a beautiful day a group of students declard a holiday to be
observed by killing snakes.
(From A Glimpse of Pioneer Life in Jennings County)
Solomon Deputy returned to Coffee Creek in Montgomery township, where he employed
Rebecca Laird thirty dollars in silver to teach his children for three months;
and allowing her to live in the home with the family.
(From The Land of the Winding Waters)
THE TOWN OF VERNON
By 1861 the citizens of the booming town of North Vernon decided that the courthouse should be moved, but it wasn’t
until 1913 that the uproar began again and then again in 1919.
The second tavern in town was started by William Sanford, who was a slave trader. He would lure the unexpected
slaves into his tavern and if they were worth a lot of reward money get them drunk and take them back to the south
for the money; if they weren’t he would move them on north.
Colonel Hiram Prather was said to have made this remark on the Indians leaving the
area traveling west "In the Spring of 1817 they left thier camp and by hundreds
passed our cabin (in now what is Vernon) going west They used trade with our folks,
selling baskets, dressed skins, bead work, etc.:
(From The Land of the Winding Waters)
When Adam Kellar came to what is now Sand Creek township he settled
on Sand Creek where the creek runs south and then loops north within
a hundred feet of itself. He began to dynamite through the limestone and in the
process pieces of the rock landed on a Shawnee encampment not to far from the blast sight.
The Chief of the tribe accused Kellar of violating the Greenville Treaty, and causing an act of war
shooting rocks at them with his “boom-boom” dust. The Shawnee and Kellar had a pow-wow, Kellar giving
this case as follows, no Indians had been hurt, no rocks had been left in the stream and no
fish had been killed. He chose the strongest braves to help demonstrate how the dynamite worked. After
gifts had been given and a promise to the Shawnee that they could grind the corn
for free if he was a allowed to finish; the first corn was ground in 1819.
(From The Land of the Winding Waters)
Joseph Persons filed the plat of the town of Geneva in what is now Geneva Township
somewhere in section 5. This town was located south of the Indian Boundary Line and
Sand Creek; later the town was abandoned.
(From The Land of the Winding Waters)
STATE OF INDIANA
JENNINGS COUNTY
REPORT OF JURY OF INQUEST FOR JOSEPH PERSONS OR PARSONS
STATE OF INDIANA JENNINGS COUNTY
Zachariah Tannehill used 700 barrels of whiskey to pay for part of his original
tract of land, around 1200 acres in what is now Geneva Township.:
(From The Land of the Winding Waters)
Wammuses (jackets commonly made of red flannel) were worn by the men and boys of
Jennings County.
(From A Glimpse of Pioneer Life in Jennings County)
July: General John H. Morgan (of the confederacy) engages in a shooting battle in a area
west of Tunnel Mill, two confederates were shot and laid to rest east of Vernon.
(From The Land of the Winding Waters)
A jury of twelve men drawn by Sheriff Hinchman, by order of JudgeBerkshire, met at the
M.E. Church on Thursday and Friday of last week to assess the damages done that
building by the Y of the Louisville and North Vernon Railway. After being out twelve hours the jury
was discharged without a verdict, six standing in favor of eighteen hundred and six in favor of two thousand
dollars damages, with some on each side who had conceded all thay they were willing to do.
We are informed that at the beginning the opinions of jurors ranged from one hundred and fifty to
five thousand dollars damages to the church. The jurors were Dr. MORTON S. NEILL, SAMUEL
CRIST, SAMUEL BURDG, IRA ALE, THOS. OWEN, ANDREW PATRICK, THOS. ENNIS,
JOHN W. MORRIS, L. D. BENNETT, WM. WALKER, WM. D. MORRIS, AND OSMER PALMER.
The attorney's were T. C. BATCHELOR for the prosecution and JAMES L. YATER for the defense.
Jessamyn West was born in Jennings County and at the age of six moved with her family to
California. When she came to North Vernon to write the book The Witch Diggers, some of the employees
of the Jennings County Public Library alleged that she took information out from the
historical collection and never returned it.
STATE OF INDIANA JENNINGS COUNTY, SS:
VERDICT
7-15-07
13 day of July, 1907. The dead body of HENRY SULLIVAN, supposed to have come to his death by violence,
had been there lately found at Hayden, in said County, where upon I proceeded to inquire, upon view of the body,
how and in what manner he came to his death. The witnesses were sworn and their testimony reduced to writing by me,
and signed by them respectively. And after having viewed the body, heard the evidence, and made all inquiry deemed
necessary, I rendered the following Verdict, to-wit:
Death from Falling under B. & O. S. W. R. R. train (illegible part here) between the hours of 9:20 P. M. July 12 and
7:00 A. M. July 13. And that all the papers pertaining to said inquest, that came into my hands as Coroner, are herewith
transmitted to the Circuit Court of said County.
H. F. DAVENPORT [Seal] Coroner of Jennings County
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WITNESS FEES
| BERNHART, JOSEPH (for 1 day) AMOUNT OF FEES (.75) |
| (7.50) for Inquest of Coroner’s Fee |
| ROE, EDWARD (for 1 day) AMOUNT OF FEES (.75) |
| (2.00) for mileage of Coroner’s Fee |
| ST. JOHN, JOSEPH (for 1 day) AMOUNT OF FEES (.75) | | |
| TOTAL COSTS $11.75) | |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of July 1907. H. F. Davenport, Coroner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 day of July 1907. True name of person HENRY SULLIVAN at the time of his death was 31 years old, brown eyes,
black hair, height 6 feet 0 inches, weight 160. Found on and about his body the following named articles, to-wit:
Nothing of value.
Given under my hand this 15th day of July 1907 H. F. DAVENPORT Coroner
1907 October 31 Plain Dealer - Not long since CHARLEY GONG, Chinese laundryman of this city shut up shop and
lit out for the South, leaving his wife and children here. It was current rumor that he had gone for good, and
that the cause of his going was domestic difficulties. He returned last week and will resume business at the old
stand.
1909 August 19 Plain Dealer – Last Saturday night the saloon owned by FRANK LOSCENT closed its doors.
There is but one saloon in this city which will close on September 16th. It is said several blind tigers are in
operation in this city now while we still have a saloon. If such is the case how many will there be after next month.
(A Blind Tiger was an illegal bar or saloon where people could drink or gamble illegally in a back room during
prohibition. Small stuffed toy animals, usually tigers were placed on tables in restaurants so that customers
would know that such a back room existed, these stuffed toys were turning a blind eye on the demoralizing behavior
in the back rooms. These were similar to speak easies; a password was spoken for members to get in.)
1910 January 13 Plain Dealer – LUNCH ROOM SEARCHED LAST THURSDAY NIGHT, CONDUCTED BY JOS. RECH – For some
time past a number of persons who seemed to be underthe influence of liquor have been seen coming out of a
lunch room on Fifth Street. Many believed the local option law was disregarded and on a warrant sworn out by
Marshal SMITH, the night force and Chief of Police walked into RECH’S place of business Thursday night, ordered all
who were in the room out and made a complete search of the premises from cellar to roof, but found nothing but a jug
of vinegar which was passed around. Evidently whiskey is being sold in North Vernon, and the police are to
make an effort to locate the sellers.
Page created by Ilah Allsop
Page updated 7/11/07