Shelbyville, IN.
Dec. 31, 1898. the taxpayers of Shelby County held a mass meeting at the courthouse in this city for the purpose of protesting against the extravagances of the Board of County Commissioners in letting contract for 6 bridges. Investigation developed that the contract was made without any advertisement, and at figures which would make the 6 cost about $100,000. The courtroom was crowded, and open accusations of jobbery were uttered. Attorneys are to be employed for the purpose of enjoining the construction and fighting the case to the end. A subscription was taken and names representing nearly three quarters of a million dollars are pledged to see the movement through. Both Democrats and Republicans were present. The sentiment against the jobbery in county and township affairs has reach every neighborhood.

Shelbyville, IN.
Dec. 28, 1898. A few weeks ago the county commissioners let a contract for 6 bridges in different parts of the county, the superstructures to cost over $47,000. The contract was let without any competition to one firm, and no mention was made of the foundations, nor are any plans or specifications on file. The estimated cost of the 6 bridges 1s over $100,000. These facts have caused a general remonstrance among the taxpayers of the county against the extravagances of the board. A mass meeting of the Shelby County farmers is called for next Saturday to protest.

Shelbyville, IN.
Sept. 1.,1899. The fight among the Democrats of this county still continues and the Hord-Hackney-Jeffersonian faction appear to have scored a point. Previous to the last Democratic primary Henry Altman, the successful candidate for auditor, made an agreement with the then Auditor E.T. Carson that Carson should be retained as chief deputy at a salary of $100 a month. This morning Altman took his office, but at the request of his bondsmen, cleaned out the entire office force, employed by Hord and Adams as his attorneys announced that the patronage of the office would be given to Jeffersonian. Altman was County Commissioner for several terms and know something about the management of the office. His chief deputy, A.E. Hayworth, assistant, William Porter, both being school teacher.

Shelbyville, IN.
Feb. 24, 1898.  the Democratic county central committee organized today by the election of Thomas H. Campbell chairman and Claude C. Conner secretary. The contest between Judge Hord, ex-state committeeman, and Supreme Judge Hackney, and George M. Ray had been spirited. Notwithstanding the publication of a card by Judge Hord & Senator Ray that no combination existed between county a candidates, it is claimed that the ring will secure a majority of the state delegates from this county for Hackney.

Shelbyville, IN.
Feb. 21, 1896. The Conrey, Waller & Deprez Furniture Company, of this city, last night filed a mortgage on their plant and personal property for $76,000 to protect creditors. It has been impossible for some time for them to make any large collections and business has not recovered as they had expected. Assets are estimated at $186,000. All of the creditors are abundantly protected. The plant will be continued for some time at least. The deed of assignment names Jacob G. DePrez as assignee.

Shelbyville, IN.
Aug. 10,1897 Blue River, where it runs through this county, has been a paradise for the fisherman. A few years ago it was planted with young bass and trout. The fish had begun to propagate freely and the sport was enjoyed by hundreds. A few days ago the strawboard works at Carthage, in Rush county, began to empty its refuse into the river, and today the water is red as blood and filled with the carcasses of dead fish. Animals refuse to drink the water.

Shelbyville, IN.
June 24,1898. While firing the cannon to notify the farmer boys who are members of the Shelbyville company of volunteers, that governor Mount had called them out, Warren Haehl, a member of the strong Battery, had his right arm blown off and Herbert Smith, another member, lost his left thumb, and part of his hand. The battery had been firing rapidly and the cannon had become over heated. In pushing home a charge Smith, who covered the vent, raised his thumb when the explosion took place. Haehl is a son of George Haehl, a prominent business man, while smith’s is a son of Green Smith, a veteran of the war of the rebellion.

Shelbyville, IN.
Oct. 15,1899. Shelbyville is wrought up over a talked of electric railway between this city and Indianapolis. The business men have effected an organization to fight the granting of the franchises by the county commissioners and the City Council, claiming that such a line would ruin the business interests and lessen the value of real property. On the other hand a large number of citizens who are not in business are in favor of the line, claiming that the 100 business men have no right to fence in the town for their own benefit by the line. They also declare that while the business men are seeking to prevent others from trading in Indianapolis, they and their families buy nearly all their supplies outside of Shelbyville. Two men have been here several days looking over the ground preparatory to asking for a franchises and a right of way along the Michigan road.

Shelbyville, Ind. March 12 - The Prohibitionists of Shelby County held their convention this afternoon in the opera house and selected for Representative, Jesse M. Tindall; treasurer, H.C. Pitts; sheriff; Elijah Jackson; surveyor, William Nugent; coroner, T.M. Jeffries; commissioners, John Davis and Samuel Hawkins.
March 18 1896

Morristown, Ind. June 13.—What has been advertised for some time as a great free-silver gathering took place here tonight in Wrenlck's Hall. Dr. C. A. Robinson, Populist candidate for Congress, was the speaker. The meeting was got up at the Instigation of the free-silver Democrats of this part of Shelby county. Persons who are now known to have been Democrats posted bills all over Morristown and the surrounding country advertising the speaking, going about at night in order that they might not be known, that Republicans might not be deceived by thinking this was to be a nonpartisan meeting. None was deceived, however, and when tho hour of the meeting came eighteen voters came out to hear Dr. Robinson. Free silver is not popular here and is not believed in by any Republicans. They are solid for honest money. Many Democrats have also declared against free silver.
Source: Indiana State Journal June 17 1898

Shelbyville, Ind., Jan. 27,  -  Shelbyville is undergoing a religious revival, the like of which has not been seen here for years. With the first of the year the First M. E. Church began protracted services. Rev. C. Femnick Reed, of Terre Haute, has been conducting the mattings, and more than a hundred have accepted the teaching of the church. At the West-street M. E. Church Rev. G. W.  Hagans is preaching to crowded houses this week.
Indiana Journal February 3, 1897

Sheriff Burke's Defense.
Shelbyville, ind. Jan. 27.—A special from Rushville, dated Jan. 23. concerning Sheriff John Burk and the Shelby county prize-fighter does Sheriff Burk an injustice. The special accues him of accepting ""strawball" for a number of persons indicted for prize-fighting. The men gave bond in the aggregate of $40,000. and If defaulted any of them could be collected by law.
Weekly Indiana State Journal January 29, 1896

Charles Hurste, the teacher arrested at Shelbyville for selling examination questions, has been fined $25. Other cases were dismissed
The Warren Republican February 28 1895

Shelby County

Administrator's Notice
The undersigned have been appointed administrators on the estate of Charles Rector, deceased, late of Shelby County. William rector and William Williams, Adm'rs   Nov. 30, 1830
Indiana Journal, (Indianapolis, IN) Wednesday, December 29, 1830 [Candi]

Administrator's Notice
Letters of administration taken out on the Estate of Henry Gatewood, deceased, late of Shelby County, Indiana.... Estate is supposed to be insolvent  Samuel A. Gwinn, admr   Sarah Gatewood, adm'x   Nov. 12, 1830
Indiana Journal, (Indianapolis, IN) Wednesday, December 29, 1830 [Candi]

Assaulted her Her Crazy Son
Shelbyville  Ind., March 30 - Hayden Armstrong, a young man living with his mother near London, was adjudged insane some months ago, but for some reason was not admitted into any of the State asylums. This morning he attempted to kill his mother with an ax and but for the timely appearance of a neighbor would have cut her to pieces. She is seriously injured.   The Indiana State Journal, (Indianapolis, IN) Wednesday, April 1, 1896; pg. 5 [Candi]

Shelbyville, Ind., Jan. 25. -The County Commissioners last Saturday met and by agreement with the New Castle Eridge Company, A. E. Smiley and Price Brothers, canceled the contracts recently made for six new bridges. Since the tiling of the injunction suit last week a surveyor has made estimates of cost and Monday the commissioners opened bids and let contracts for the same bridges, to the same contractors at the same prices. The matter was made public Tuesday for the first time, and it is impossible to find out whether any other bids were considered or offered, as no one outside of the defendants in the injunction suits and their attorneys are allowed to see anything in connection with the case. What the next move will be is not known.  The Indiana State Journal, (Indianapolis, IN) Wed., Feb. 1, 1899 - Submitted by Candi Horton

WILLIAM NICHOLAS GARRETT
Mr. William Nicholas Garretl, who lives two miles and a half northeast of St. Omer, voted for General Hancock on the Id of this month, that being the 21st time he has cast a vote for President. His first vote was cast for Jefferson in 1801 and he has steadily voted for every Democratic candidate who has run since that time. Mr. Garrett will be 102 year old next March, having been born during the Revolutionary war. He was born in Culpepper county, Virginia, removed to Kentucky in 1813, and came to the edge of Rush county, near the Decatur line, this State, in 1829. We are sorry to say Mr. Garrett's sturdy and unflinching Democracy has not been followed by some of his descendants. His son Simon, and his grandson. Oscar M. Garrett, of St. Omer, have departed from the good old faith, and have long been rabid Republicans.
Shelby Democrat, 18 November 1880.

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. Jan. 14. 1896 – Mr. E. B. Wingate, of this city, has at his home a real curiosity, which will attract the attention of men raising fruit from all over the world. Last fall he clipped a small branch from a cherry tree and stuck it into a flower pot to support a growing plant. A few weeks afterward it was noticed that the stick seemed as bright and lively as when on the tree and that the buds were swelling. Strange as it may seem, this limb now has one bloom on it, with other buds ready to open. No ripe cherries are yet visible.
Contributed by Laudi (Albers) Culbertson

“A Distressing Accident”
Shelbyville, August 15—A distressing accident occured late last evening a short distance northwest of here. Joseph A. German, a respectable farmer, was engaged throwing straw with a fork. While in the act of casting off a bunch his little son Joe jumped toward him from a fence near by and was literally impaled upon the fork. One time penetrated three inches into the skull just above the ear and was extracted with difficulty. Medical aid was procured as soon as possible, but the boy’s life is despaired of.
New Albany Ledger-Standard. August 15, 1878. P 1 c 2.

Bellamy Sutton Defeated
SHELBYVILLE, Ind., March 21.—The official returns in the Democratic county primary gives Frank Glessner the nomination over Armine T. Chueden by a plurality of nine, and shows the defeat of B. S. Sutton for representative by Adam May by dose to six hundred. It is charged that in one precinct twenty-seven men are willing to make oath that they voted for Sutton and yet ho was only counted ten in that precinct. In this township the open charge is made that several Republicans were allowed to vote and one man voted in three different precincts. It is possible that several of the nominations will be contested.
Date: 1898-03-23;  Paper: Indiana State Journal

A letter from Shelbyville states that a serious accident occurred on the Shelbyville and Knightstown railroad on Wednesday, near Morristown, 12 miles from Shelbyville. it was caused by a small bridge giving way. Herman Hollingsworth, superintendent of repairs, a man much respected, was killed, and several others wounded, one or tow severely.
Date: 1853-06-21; Paper: Philadelphia Inquirer

A company is being formed in Shelbyville, Ind., for the construction of hydraulic works, it is designed to take the water from Blue River at Freeport or Morris town, and run it through the city, emptying into the river just below the rail-road bridge. A preliminary survey of the ground shows that a fall of 45 feet may be obtained, which will give abundant power to a large number of establishments.
Date: 1867-05-23; Paper: Cincinnati Daily Gazette

Richard Jackson and Oscar Mason enjoyed their trip last Sunday, not-withstanding the heavy rains. They rode to Shelbyville, Morristown Green field and Rushville, a distance of 116 miles.
Notes of the Wheelmen (News Article) Date: 1900-07-28; Paper: Recorder

Swamp in a Dense Indiana Grove the Lair of the Animals and They Object to Intruders.
A large drove of wild dogs, even more ferocious than hungry timber wolves, has been discovered near the little town of  Morristown  Ind., a few miles from Shelbyville and the people, in that vicinity are greatly frightened as a result, runs a telegram in the Chicago Chronicle. It is probable that a grand hunt will soon be organized, in the hope of ridding the country of the dogs, which occupied a big cave, or den, in the Hamilton woods, a gloomy forest which has been avoided by human beings for many years past, on account of the belief that it Is haunted.
The discovery that the woods shelter a drove of wild dogs was made by John W. Sullivan and his son Charles, Andrew Lamar and Matt Sullivan of Shelbyville, while on a hunting trip. They tell a thrilling story of their encounter with the beasts, and Charles Sullivan is under the care of a surgeon, having been badly mangled by one of the animals.
EVIDENCES OF ANIMALS.
The hunting party left in the morning, and about noon arrived at the Hamilton woods, with which they wore unacquainted. They had heard that the forest sheltered wild animals, which made a practice of carrying off sheep from farms in the city, so when Matt Sullivan saw a gray animal dash into the woods the trail was immediately taken up, for it was then believed that tho animal was a wolf.
Hamilton woods is dark and forbidding, so thickly grow the trees there and the heavy underbrush covering the ground made the traveling anything but easy. Evidences that animals of some sort frequented the place were soon found and now and then the hunters came upon the bleaching bones of various sorts of domestic animals. When the party almost stumbled over the body of a freshly killed calf, with its throat mangled In a shocking manner, a hasty consultation was held, and cartridges loaded with buckshot were substituted for those containing small bird shot.
WILD DOG APPEARS.
An hour's traveling brought the hunters to almost the center of the woods, where was a swampy place, fringed with stunted tamaracks, so thick that nothing could be seen a rod ahead. Suddenly, with a snarl of rage, a huge, gray dog, heavier and more vicious looking than the common canine seen on the streets of cities and towns, sprang from tho carcass of a sheep, almost under the feet of the party. The animal was growling with anger, and Its long white fangs, from which the blood was dripping, protruded from Its mouth in a terrifying manner.
Just as the brute was about to spring upon the men Matt Sullivan raised his gun and fired, the charge striking the dog in one of Its hind legs, breaking that member. With a howl of pain, the animal fled into the woods, and the hunters followed, keeping the trail easily by the blood from the animal. Probably half a mile had been covered, when a noise fell upon the ears of the men, which brought them to a halt with their guns all ready for instant action.
CAVE OF ANIMALS.
The noise was a medley of barks, growls, howls and snapping, and for an instant the little party felt like beating a retreat. But the noise suddenly ceased and, somewhat braver, the party pushed on.   A few steps brought them to a large rock-covered mound, In front of which was an overturned tree, and at the roots was a hole, apparently lending directly Into the mound, Near this entrance lay the wounded animal, uttering his expiring howl. His flesh had been torn into shreds, and the ground around was covered with blood and hair, white the soft earth showed the imprints of many canine feet.
From the cave came a sound of growling and snapping, and by getting close to the entrance the hunters could see glistening eyes shining in the darkness. While the party was debating the matter and laying plans to capture the animals there came a rush from the den and a dog, greatly resembling a rat terrier, only larger and with a bushy tall and a head something like that of a bulldog, darted past them with a snarl and darted In the tangled underbrush.
HUNTERS ARE ATTACKED.
Lamar and Charles J. Sullivan Immediately gave chase, while the rest of the party remained to guard the den and close the opening with brush and stones, so the animals Inside could not escape. In a few minutes the report of a gun, some little distance away, was heard by those who remained in the den, followed by the howling of a dog and tho screaming of Lamar and young Sullivan. It was found that the two had gotten quite close to the dog, when It had turned and attacked them.
Then Lamar fired, severely wounding the beast. Just as the shot was fired another dog, fully as large as an English pointer, dashed Into sight and made an attack upon young Sullivan, who had no time to shoot, he rapid were the movements of the animal. The boy was being badly bitten and scratched by the infuriated animal, but Lamar was afraid to shoot for fear of hitting Sullivan instead of the dog. Finally he saw a chance and fired, wounding the animal and driving It away. He was binding up Sullivan's wounds when half a dozen other dogs sprang from the brush and attacked them.
SAFETY IN A TREE.
Lamar, taking the now fainting boy on his back, speedily climbed into a small tree whose branches came near the ground. He was none too soon, for just as he reached tho branches one of the dogs made a jump and caught Lamar's boot, the tooth sinking deep into the heel and almost tearing It from the boot. The dogs took up a position under the tree, their red tongues hanging out and their small eyes glistening with rage as they tried in vain to get at the two hunters.
When the rest of the party appeared upon the scene and fired a volley at the dogs the animals disappeared, after making a faint pretense of attacking the rescuing party. Young Sullivan was at once cared for, and then, after carefully marking the location of the den, the party started for home. When the story was told it created a vast amount of excitement, and the work of organizing a big hunting party was immediately begun.
Where the dogs came from and whether or not they are common house dogs no one knows. All the members of the party which discovered them agree that they resemble In many respects ordinary dogs, but are vastly more savage, larger and more solidly built. It Is probable the cave in which the den is located will be blown open with dynamite.
Date: 1896-11-27; Paper: Omaha World Herald