"The Swiss Settlement of Switzerland County," by Perret Dufour
p. 50
"Sometime in 1814 Bazilla Clark came to Vevay and established a nail
factory on the lot at the west Corner of Main and Walnut Streets --the
nails were cut by horse power* --the nails sold for 25 cents per pound.
The first Brick building put up in Vevay was the Courthouse. The
walls were put up in the summer of 1815, and completed so that the
October term 1816 of the Circuit Court was held in it. In the fall of
1815 Lucien Gex built a small brick house one story high on Main Street
opposite Mrs. Ormsbys, which is still to be seen.
Richard Dumont the father of John J. Dumont of Indianapolis and C.T.
Dumont of Cincinnati Ohio was to be married to Matilda Philips and was
speaking about going to Madison for his license. John Francis Dufour
told him if he would wait a week or ten days he could get [a] License at
Vevay as he expected his commission as clerk within that time. Mr.
Dumont told him he would be very glad to do so. Their marriage was
postponed, and on the 6th day of October 1814 the License was granted,
being the first marriage license granted after the organization of the
County --and they were married on the same day by William Cotton
associate Judge.
There appears on the Marriage Record of that early day the following
certificate of a marriage
'This is to cerifty that the marriage of Hugh McCreary and Rebecca
White being advertised according to law, was solemnized by me one of the
Justices of the peace of Switzerland County on teh 3rd November 1814,
Witness my hand and seal the 8th Novr 1814
Robt. m. Trotter J.P. (Seal)'
The first deed recorded in the Recorders office of the County was
dated 16th January 1815 executed by Isaac Bledsoe and Elizabeth Bledsoe
his wife of Gallatin County Kentucky to Robert McKay for 155 acres of
land being part of Frac sec. No. 5, Town 1, Range 3: the consideration
being $612.00.
*"The heads were made by placing one nail at a time in a vice and with
a hammer, was f[l]attened out to make the head."
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p. 51
Among the early traders down the river were George Turner who lived on
the opposite side of the river, the father of Robert and John Turner,
who made yearly trips down the river*. One fall Mr. Turner bought many
wild turkeys --cut the breast out put them in Barrells and made a brine
to keep them
The officers of the county first commissoned by the Governor whose
names have been heretofore given continued in office untill the
admission of the State into the Union."
*"Among the early traders to New Orleans or the 'Mississippi country'
... may be named Charles F. Krutz."
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