Sullivan
Indiana
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Sullivan County Historical Society
History:
The act for the organization of Sullivan County was passed in December 1816, and contained the following essential provisions: The organization was to take place in the following January, and the county seat to be located in the latter part of February. The area of the new county was much more extensive than that of the present Sullivan county, but not so large as has been frequently stated. The county jurisdiction did not extend north as far as the north line of the state, but only to the north line of the New Purchase, a few miles above Terre Haute. The western boundary was the Wabash River and the state line, and the county extended east approximately to the White river. The house of James Sproule in the recently platted town of Carlisle was designated as the first courthouse, to be used until the permanent location of the seat of justice and the erection of county buildings. The detailed provisions of the act:
An act for the formation of a new county out of the county of Knox.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the state of Indiana, that from and after the 15th day of January next, all that part of the county of Knox contained within the following boundaries shall constitute and form a separate county, viz: Beginning on the Wabash river where the line dividing townships 5 and 6 crosses the same, thence running east with said line until it strikes the West fork of the White river, thence up the said fork to the Orange county line, thence with said line to the Indian Boundary line, thence with the said boundary line crossing the Wabash river to the line dividing the state of Indiana and the Territory of Illinois, thence with said line south to the Wabash river, thence down the said river with the meanders thereof to the place of beginning.
On the official acts of the Commissioners and courts during this interesting period only fragmentary records remain. One of these is an advertisement in the Western Sun, dated November 20, 1817, signed by B. Johnson, Sheriff, announcing that he will expose certain lots in Terre Haute for sale for delinquent taxes. “The sale will commerce at 10 o’clock at the court house in the town of Carlisle, Indiana.” At that time Terre Haute was within the jurisdiction of Sullivan County, the organization of Vigo County being effected the following year.
A similar announcement of delinquent tax sale, dated January 17, 1818, refers to the town of Busseron, which, like Monroe with the collapse of its county seat prospects, had failed to grow. There were 47 lots advertised for this sale, the owners names being unknown. This is evidence that these towns, like many other towns laid out in a new country, were founded for speculative purposes, and the lots were largely sold to non-residents.
The first general election held in Sullivan County after its organization occurred in August 1817, at which 155 votes were cast for Posey and 126 for Hendricks, they being the rival candidates for the congressman from this state.
The act for the organization of Sullivan County was passed in December 1816, and contained the following essential provisions: The organization was to take place in the following January, and the county seat to be located in the latter part of February. The area of the new county was much more extensive than that of the present Sullivan county, but not so large as has been frequently stated. The county jurisdiction did not extend north as far as the north line of the state, but only to the north line of the New Purchase, a few miles above Terre Haute. The western boundary was the Wabash River and the state line, and the county extended east approximately to the White river. The house of James Sproule in the recently platted town of Carlisle was designated as the first courthouse, to be used until the permanent location of the seat of justice and the erection of county buildings. The detailed provisions of the act:
An act for the formation of a new county out of the county of Knox.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the state of Indiana, that from and after the 15th day of January next, all that part of the county of Knox contained within the following boundaries shall constitute and form a separate county, viz: Beginning on the Wabash river where the line dividing townships 5 and 6 crosses the same, thence running east with said line until it strikes the West fork of the White river, thence up the said fork to the Orange county line, thence with said line to the Indian Boundary line, thence with the said boundary line crossing the Wabash river to the line dividing the state of Indiana and the Territory of Illinois, thence with said line south to the Wabash river, thence down the said river with the meanders thereof to the place of beginning.
On the official acts of the Commissioners and courts during this interesting period only fragmentary records remain. One of these is an advertisement in the Western Sun, dated November 20, 1817, signed by B. Johnson, Sheriff, announcing that he will expose certain lots in Terre Haute for sale for delinquent taxes. “The sale will commerce at 10 o’clock at the court house in the town of Carlisle, Indiana.” At that time Terre Haute was within the jurisdiction of Sullivan County, the organization of Vigo County being effected the following year.
A similar announcement of delinquent tax sale, dated January 17, 1818, refers to the town of Busseron, which, like Monroe with the collapse of its county seat prospects, had failed to grow. There were 47 lots advertised for this sale, the owners names being unknown. This is evidence that these towns, like many other towns laid out in a new country, were founded for speculative purposes, and the lots were largely sold to non-residents.
The first general election held in Sullivan County after its organization occurred in August 1817, at which 155 votes were cast for Posey and 126 for Hendricks, they being the rival candidates for the congressman from this state.