"The Swiss Settlement..."
p. 38
"In the fall of 1813 Robert Bakes established a carding machine on the
lot Corner of Main and Vineyard Streets now owned by George W. Hathorn
(1). In the Spring of 1814 from representations made to him by Robert
Bakes, James Rous the father of Zadig and Percy Rous came to Vevay and
settled on a lot on the western side of Vineyard Street and there Lucian
Rous a son of James Rous was born he being the first male child born in
Vevay.
In 1814 John Francis Dufour built a two story hewed log house on the
Corner of Market and Main Cross streets on the lot now owned by William
Archer. In that House courts were held for some time, and for many
years the Post office and office of the Clerk of the county were kept
in that house (2)."
(1) "Bakes run his carding machine in Vevay for some years, when he
built a mill on Long Run, where Siebenthals mill now stands, and Mr Rous
remained in Vevay for some time, when he removed to the Country and
located on the farm, which is now the pauper farm. Mr Bakes had his mill
so arranged that he carded wool and ground grain; and Mr Rous built a
horse mill, on the top of the Hill near to Mr Bakes'. Often in the
summer and fall months, when there was not sufficient water to run
Bakes' mill, Mr Rous' horse mill was running, and did all the
neighborhood grinding. Often when clouds would arise with the
appearance of rain, they would seem to part to the west of the Mill, and
no rain falling, gave the opportunity to Bakes or some other person who
wished to carry on a joke, for saying that Mr Rouse, by some
necroman[c]y and raising a long pole, would part the clouds and prevent
the rain from falling to raise the run, and therby Bakes could not run
his mill, so that Mr Rous could have all the grinding to do on his horse
mill."
(2) The courts were also held for a while at the house of Robert M.
Trotter, who was a relative of Gabriel Johnson, whose house was situated
on Main Street, and occasionaly at the house of Thomas Armstrong."
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p. 38
"The Territorial Legislature having organized a county, they gave to
John Francis Dufour the privilege of giving the name to the county, when
he signified his preference for its being named "Switzerland" which name
was inserted in the act organinizing the county. The Governor of the
Territory having the power to appoint all the necessary officers, in the
excercise of that power appointed the following persons For associate
Judges of the circuit Court William Cotton and James McClure --Sheriff
John Francis Siebenthal Coroner Ralph Cotton --Clerk John Francis
Dufour Recorder John Francis Dufour --County Surveyor Elisha Golay.
The Commissions were all dated the 15th of September 1814 except that of
Recorder which was dated 11 October 1814 signed by Thomas Posey Governor
and John Gibson Secretary...."
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p. 41
"...In the act organizing the County of Switzerland Jesse L. Holman,
the father of Hon. Wm. S. Holman representative in Congress --Joseph
Short and Alexander A. Meek a lawyer residing in Madison were appointed
commissioners to locate the seat of Justice of Switzerland County.(2)
The Commissioners above named met in Vevay on the 17th day of October
1814 for the purpose of selecting the most eligible place for the seat
of Justice of the county and to receive any proposals and donations
which might be made by the citizens of different localities, for the
benefit of the County."
"The propositions of the proprietors of the town of Vevay were the
following
'The subscriber proposed to the commissioners, appointed for the
fixing of the Seat of Justice of Switzerland County to give to said
County, the square in the town of Vevay known in the Original plat of
said town by the name of public Square, containing two acres of land for
the purpose of erecting the public buildings, thereon provided the seat
of Justice of said County be fixed on said Square. He also offers a
Subscription in the name of the subscribers thereto to the amount of
upwards of Two thousand four hundred dollars, and lot No. 92 in said
town, which he respectfully submits to their consideration.' 'John
Francis Dufour.'"
(2) "The commissioners appointed were James Dill, Alexander A. Meek,
Jesse L. Holman, Jacob Short and Isaac Dunn."
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p. 42
"Benjamin Drake who owned the land where the town of Florence now
stands, made a proposition to the Commissioners to have the seat of
Justice fixed on Fractional Section 6 T 2 R 1. west.
Propositions were also made by parties living in what is now known as
'Egypt Bottom' for the location of the seat of Justice on Frac. Sec 35.
T 2 R 1 which is about Two miles above the mouth of Bryants Creek
A proposition was also made, and submitted to the commissioners to
locate the seat of Justice on Frac Sec No. 3 T. 2 R. 2 west.
The first meeting of the County court was held on the 28th October
1814, and the first record Book in which the proceedings of that court
were recorded consists of about half a quire of common fools cap paper
sti[t]ched together and unruled at that. The first entry is as
follows--
'At a Special County Court, began and held at the house of Robert M.
Trotter in the town of Vevay in and for Switzerland County on Friday the
28th day of October 1814 Present the Honorables William Cotton and
James McClure associate Judges of the Circuit Court for said county and
authorized to transact county business.
Jesse L. Holman presented to the court the following report to
wit:...'
p. 43
part of Jesse L. Holman's presentation:
"..., when the proposed donation marked A, Aa and Aaa were made by the
Citizens of Vevay provided the seat of Justice should be established in
said town - and the proposed donation marked B. was made by Benjamin
Drake provided the seat of Justice was established on fraction 6 Town 2
Range 1 west; and it being inconvenient to pursue the object of our
meeting further at present we postponed a further, examination, until
Wednesday the 26th instant and appointed the house of Benjamin Drake, as
the place of our meeting on the last named day."
(They did meet on the 26th and decided on the public Square in Vevay).
("George G. Knox , who had purchased a lot in Vevay, but who was still
residing at Frankfort, Ky., proposed to give fifty dollars in carpenters
work, or ten dollars in cash.")
(Present at the first term (10/28/1814) was Hon. Elijah Sparks circuit &
presiding Judge in the third Circuit and the Hon. Wm. Cotton and James
McClure assoc. judges of the Circuit Court for Switzerland County.
Present was also John Francis Dufour & John Francis Siebenthal. "The
following named persons having been summoned as Grand Jurors came into
court: James Rous foreman, Stilwell Heady, Philo Averil, George
Coggshell, Peter Harris Louis Gex Oboussier, John McClure, Amos Brown,
Joseph McFall, Robert Gullion, Thomas Mounts, John Nelson, Philip
Bettens, Nathaniel Cotton, Abisha McKay, Henry Hannas, Joshua Kains, and
Peter Demaree, who after being duly, sworn and charged, retired to
consult of the business before them.
The following named persons were admitted to practice in this Court as
attornies and counsellors at law: Amos Lane William Hendricks, John
Test, and James Noble.
The Court appointed James Noble Esqr. attorney at law, Prosecuting
attorney for Switzerland County for and during good behavior....."
"This completed the first days proceedings of this first court held
for Switzerland County.
On Saturday the 29th of October 1814 the court met.
The Grand Jury empannelled on the previous day returned into court
with an Indictment against David Beebee for selling unwholesome
provisions, and having no further businesss were discharged.
The prosecuting attorney moved the court that a venire facias issue
against David Beebee returnable on the first day of the next march Term
of the court to answer to the Indictment.
James Noble was allowd Sixteen Dollars for his services as prosecuting
attorney during the term which was ordered to be certified to the
sheriff for payment.
The court then adjourned to meet on the 27th day of March 1815.
At the March Term of the Court on the first day Honorable Elijah
Sparks circuit Judge and William Cotton associate Judge were in
attendance.
On the first day of the term, the following named persons were sworn
as Grand Jurors, John Gilliland foreman James Stewart James McKay,
Adoat [?] Sample, William Harcoat, Norman B. McGruder, William Smith,
Peter Lock, Nicholas Lentz, John Campbell, Zela Moss, Solomon
Nighswonger Griffith Dickerson, [Dickason] William T. Huff, John Mills,
John Rayl Thomas Gilliland, John Fenton and Philip Fry.
John Lawrence and Pinkney James, were admitted to practice in this
court.
In the case of the United States against David Bebee indicted at the
Octr term of the court, was tried by a Jury which returned a verdict of
not guilty.
The grand Jury found and returned into court Eight indictments for
Assault and Battery and affrays two for Larceny and one for retailing
spirituous liquors without license.
James McKay one of the grand Jurors, was arraigned for contempt of the
court by being intoxicated, and the court being informed by him that he
did not intend offering a contempt to the court, by getting and
remaining intoxicated, the Court discharged him.
Philip Fry also a grand Juror was arraigned for a contempt of court by
absenting himself from the grand Jury without permission of offering a
contempt to the court upon which he was discharged.
James Noble was allowed Twenty dollars for his services during the
term as prosecuting attorney, and the Court adjouned until the next
term.
The next term of the court commenced on the 26th day of June 1815,
with the Honorable James noble as Circuit Judge and the same associates
as at the other Terms.
William Hendricks was appointed Prosecuting attorney.
Stephen C. Stevens was on motion of Alexander A. Meek, allowed to
practice as an attorney and counsellor at law at this court ex gratia.
At the October term 1815 of the Court, the same Judges were on the
bench as at the June term.
At his term of the court Alexander Holton, Joseph F. Farley and Reuben
Kidder were admitted to practice as attornies and counselors at law in
this court.
At the March term 1816 the Honorable Jessee L. Holman having been
appointed Circuit Judge, was present and presided, the associate Judges
also being on the bench.
William Hendricks was still prosecuting attorney.
At this term of the court Stephen C. Stevens, was admitted to practice
as an attorney and counselor at law in this Court.
Two cases for divorce were commenced at the March term 1816. George
Millen against Eliza Millen, and Maria Wilson against William Wilson, in
both cases it appeared that the defendants were not residents of the
Territory, the court therefore ordered that a copy of the order should
be inserted in the 'Western Sun' Eight weeks successively; the 'Western
Sun' was published at Vincennes-at the June term of the Court these two
divorce cases appear on the docket, and it was made appear to the
Satisfaction of the Court that the defendants were not inhabitants of
the Territory, the court ordered that notice of their pendency be
inserted in the 'Indiana Register' for Eight weeks successively. The
'Indiana Register' ws published in Vevay by William C. Keen, so it may
be well to recollect this fact, for this is the best evidence that can
now be had of the date of the commencement of a newspaper in Switzerland
County namely between the first of April and middle of June 1816, for it
is intended to give a history of the newspaper enterprise in this county
in some future number."