INDIANA TRAILS
HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
 |
The rise and decline of Warrick county follow in quick succession. Scarcely had it risen as the pioneer county of Indiana Territory ere the decline of its dominions was marked by the organization of a county on the east, one on the west, and so on, reducing its territory on all sides, until Warrick, with its present limits, only remained.
At the session of the Territorial Legislature of Indiana in 1813 a law was enacted "organizing the county Warrick." The limits of this county, as described in the bill, were, "All that territory which lies south of a line commencing at a point on the Wa-bash river at the southwest corner of Gibson county, and running east to the western line of Harrison county, thence south to the Ohio river." This included all the territory which now comprises the counties of Posey, Vanderburgh. Warrick, Spencer, Perry, and a portion of Crawford. Evansville, which was then a mere village, was made the county seat.
The county was named in honor of Captain Jacob Warrick, who was killed in the memorable battle at Tippecanoe. Little is known regarding the life of Warrick, except that he was one of the heroes at Tippecanoe, where he distinguished himself by his bravery, as an illustration of which we quote from an account of the battle, in Dillon's History of Indiana, the following: "War-rick was shot immediately through the body. Being taken to the surgery to be dressed, as soon as it was over (being a man of great bodily vigor and able to walk) he insisted on going back to head his company, although it was evident he had but a few hours to live."
The county, as organized under the act of 1813 embraced too much territory, and as the population increased the geographical greatness of Warrick was reduced. In 1814 the Legislature passed an act creating out of its territory the county of Posey on the west, and Perry on the east. This limited Warrick to what are now Vanderburgh, Warrick and Spencer counties.
The capitol was located at Darlington, then a promising settlement near the Ohio river, four miles above Newburgh.
On December 4, 1815, the first census of Warrick county was forwarded to the House of Representatives of the Territory of Indiana. The population was enumerated: "White males over 21 years of age, 285; total, 1,415."
As the population was large enough the citizens of Indiana Territory were now clamoring for its admission to the Union as a State, and a memorial was prepared and forwarded to Jonathan Jennings, who was Indiana's delegate in Congress, praying that the boundaries might be fixed and the Territory admit-ed to the Union as a State. Mr. Jennings presented the memorial and had no difficulty in getting a bill passed in conformity with its requests. In compliance with this law an election was held on the 13th day of May, 1816, and the people of Warrick county chose Daniel Grass to represent them in the constitutional convention which convened at Corydon on the l0th of June following, for the purpose of framing a constitution for the new State. The residence of Mr. Grass was in what is now Grass township (named in honor of him), Spencer county. He was distinguished in the convention as an active and valuable member, and was on three of the most important committees.
On the first Monday in August, 1816, occurred the first county and State election under the new form of government. This election resulted in Daniel Grass being elected State Senator from the counties of Posey, Perry and Warrick. Ratlin" Boon was elected Representative from Warrick in the State Legislature. This was the debut of Ratliff Boon in public life. It was marked by no gushes of oratory, but by sound judgment and honest policy. He was afterwards elected to various offices of honor, among them that of Representative in Congress for several terms and Lieutenant-Governor of the State.
In 1818 the Legislature of Indiana passed a bill organizing the counties of Vanderburgh on the west, and Spencer on the east, of Warrick, thus reducing the latter to its present limits. However, Warrick still remains one of the largest counties in the State. FIRST
SETTLEMENTS
The first white man said to have settled in Warrick county was John Sprinkle, a native of Pennsylvania, who founded the town of Sprinklesfeurg, which was superseded by Newburgh. Mr. Sprinkle removed from his native State to Henderson county, Kentucky, in the year 1772, where he lived until 1803, when he removed to where Newburgh now stands, and settled with a large family of children. During his residence in Kentucky he had received the title of Major of the State Militia, and was a man of honor and high social standing in his community. He died in 1821. Felty Hay and James Lynn also settled in this vicinity shortly after Mr. Sprinkle.
Early in the year 1805 a man with the homely appearance of the pioneer arrived at the mouth of Cypress creek on the Ohio river. His entire baggage consisted of an axe, gun, and supply of ammunition: limited, though useful. This man was Bailey Anderson, the first among prominent settlers of what now comprises Warrick county. The surroundings pleased him and here he determined to make his home. He selected a place near the mouth of Cypress creek as a suitable site, and commenced the erection of a log cabin. At this time the country was very sparcely settled. There were intervals of miles between the little homes of the pioneers, and Bailey Anderson's cabin was far from those of his neighbors. The hardships of pioneer life were many and to the rising generation appear incredible. It is told of Bailey Anderson that while building his cabin, he lodged at night in a tree, which long afterwards was known as "Bailey's Roost." This novel couch was made by fastening pieces of timber across two substantial branches of the tr.ee, and over it were spread the skins of wild animals to make it comfortable, and it was thus that Bailey Anderson is said to have first sought repose in his pioneer home.
Following Anderson four other families arrived in a few months and settled not far from him. These were the Briscoes, Sheltons, Vannadas and Arnolds. They, too, were soon followed by others, whose names are more or less familiar to the people of the county, and since that time immigration has not ceased. The resources of the county have rapidly developed, the population gradually increased, and its progress in all matters relative to the welfare of its citizens has been steadily onward. All this stands as a memorial to the brave, industrious and sturdy men who first cut roads through the almost impenetrable forests, cleared the land, tilled the soil, and gave to our county its first aspects of civilization.
Page Updated 29 November 2008