When Indiana was admitted into the Union, no white settler had pitched his tent upon the land now contained  within the borders of Rush County. Yet within five years there were many prosperous settlements. At the meeting of the Legislature of 1821, a strong demand was made for the organization of a new county. In  response to this demand the following enabling act was ' passed.
    An Act for the formation of a new county west of the counties of Franklin and Fayette.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: That from and after the first day of April next, all that part of the County of Delaware contained within the following bounds, shall form and constitute a new county, viz.: Beginning at the southwest corner of Section 27, in Township 12, north of Range 8 east, of the second principal meridian; thence east eighteen miles to the southeast corner of Section 28, in Township 12, north of Range 11 east; thence north to the line dividing Townships 15 and 16; thence west eighteen miles to the northwest corner of Section 3, in Township 15, north of Range 8; thence south to the place of beginning.
Section 2. The said new county shall be known and designated by the name and style of Rush.            
Section 3. Robert Luce, of Franklin County, James Delancy, of Bartholomew County, Train Coldwell, of Fayette County, Sam­uel Jack, of Washington County, and Moses Hilecock, of Dearborn County, are hereby appointed commissioners agreeably to the act entitled, " an act for fixing of seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off." The said commissioners shall meet at the house of Stephen Sims in the said County of Rush, on the first Monday in June next, and shall immediately proceed to discharge the duties assigned them by law.
Section 4. The Circuit Courts and all other courts of the County of Rush, shall be held at the house of Stephen Sims afore­said, until suitable accommodations can be had at the seat of justice for said county.
This act shall be in force from and after the first day of April, 1822.

Approved December 31, 1821.
Jonathan Jennings,
Governor.

The first act of the Board of Commissioners was the division of the territory of Rush County into six townships designated and described as follows-, to-wit:
    Union.Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 4, Township 15, Range 11; running thence west to the northwest comer of Township 14, Range 10; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 33, Township 14, Range 11; thence north to the place of beginning.
    Ripley. Beginning at the northeast corner of Union Township; running thence west to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 15, Range 10; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 14, Range 8; thence east to the southwest corner of Union Township; thence north to the place of beginning.
    Noble. Beginning at the southeast corner of Union Township; running thence to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 13, Range 10; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 13, Range 10; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 33, Township 13, Range 11, to the place of beginning.
    Washington. Beginning at the northwest corner of Noble Township; running thence west to the southwest corner of Ripley Township; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 13, Range 8; thence east to the southwest corner of Noble Township; thence north to the place of beginning.
    Richland. Beginning at the southeast corner of Noble Township; running thence west to the northwest corner of Section 30, Township 12, Range 10; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 28, Township 12, Range 11; thence north to the place of beginning.
    Orange. Beginning at the northwest corner of Richland Township; running thence west to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 12, Range 8; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 27, Township 12, Range 8; thence east to the southwest corner of Richland Township; thence north to the place of beginning.    '
    Elections were ordered held in each of the foregoing townships on April 27, 1822, for the purpose of electing two justices of the peace for each township. The polling places designated and the names of inspectors appointed are as follows: Noble Township, at the house of Thomas Sailor, Richard Hackleman, inspector; Richland Township, at the house of James Henderson, Jesse Morgan, inspector; Orange Township, at the house of Reuben Farlow, Charles Fullin, inspector; Union Township, at the house of Richard Blacklege, George Hittle, inspector; Washington Township, at the house of Richard Thornbury, John Lower, inspector; Ripley Township, at the house of John Montgomery, Montgomery McCalb, inspector.
    It was further ordered that Samuel Danner be appointed Superintendent of the school section in Township 14, Range 11; Henry Sadoras, Township 14, Range 10; George Taylor, Township 13, Range 11; Christian Clymer, Township 13, Range 10; P. H. Patterson, Township 13, Range 9; John Parker, Township 12, Range 10; Nathan Julian, Township 12, Range 9. '
    James McManis was appointed County Treasurer, Benjamin Sailors, lister of property, and J. D. Conde, Jacob Oldinger, John Cook, road viewers. These constitute the acts of the board at the first meeting held in the county. The second was an adjourned meeting, held at the house of John Lower, on Monday, the 10th day of May, 1822. At this meeting the tavern rates were fixed as follows: Whisky, per half pint, I2 1/2 cents; all foreign spirits, 50 cents per half pint; peach and apple brandy, 25 cents per half pint; gin, 25 cents per half pint; every meal, 25 cents; bed, 6 1/4 cents; corn or oats, 12 1/2 cents per gallon; horse standing at hay over night, 18 3/4 cents. The assessment of property for the year was on each male over twenty one years' of age, 50 cents; for every horse, mare, mule or ass, over three years old, 37 1/2 cents; every yoke of oxen, over three years old, 25 cents per head; every four wheel pleasure carriage, etc., $1.25; every two wheel carriage, $1.00; every gold watch, 50 cents; every silver watch, 20 cents. At the same meeting Benjamin Sailor was allowed $25 for listing the property of the county for the year 1825, which was the first allowance made out of the treasury of Rush County.
    At a special meeting of the board held at the house of William B. Laughlin, June 17,1822, the commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice, filed their report, but having never been recorded, its contents is unknown except as remembered by oldest citizens.
Conrad Sailors was appointed County Agent, with instructions to procure services of a surveyor to lay off the land donated into town lots, and to advertise the sale of said lots in the Indianapolis and Brookville papers for the 29th day of July, 1822. The town was named Rushville, and was ordered laid off after the plan and form of the town of Connersville.
    The legislature of 1824, passed an act which took effect in September of said year, abolishing the office of County Commissioner, and created instead a board of justices composed of one justice of the peace from each township. The first board of justices was composed of the following justices of the peace: William P. Priest, E. Leach, Amos Baldwin, Baton Halloway, Elisha Scoville, William Beade, Reuben Farlow, William Amber, Alex Young, Daniel Cox, Richard Blackledge, Thomas Sailor and Stephen Sims. The duties heretofore performed by the commissioners were for the next four years transacted by the board of justices. This change proved unsatisfactory and the law was repealed in 1828. It is probable that the first license ever issued in the county authorizing the sale of intoxicating liquors by retail was to John Perry, on the first day of November, 1824. The fee for the same was $7.50. The petitioners asked that the license be granted on the grounds that it would be of public convenience. At the same term of court, Samuel Cary was granted a license to sell at his residence in the town of West Liberty, and in the January following, Job Pugh was granted a license authorizing him to sell at his residence in Rush­ville.
    At the May term, 1826, in order to raise sufficient county revenue to meet the public demands, the first assessment was made upon the land of the county. Each 100 acres of the first rate, 5 cents; second rate, 40 cents; third rate, 30 cents; town lots, 50 cents on every $100 valuation. For the first few years the expenses of the county were small, and the principal source of revenue was from the sale of lots donated to the county for the location of the county seat. The tavern, ferry and merchants' license was another source of considerable revenue, and added to these the small assessment on personal and real property, brought into the treasury a sufficient sum to keep the machinery of the county in running order. For the year 1822 the receipts as shown by the treasurer's report, were $289.87. The disbursements were in excess of this amount, and so continued in excess of the receipts for many years, and in order to meet the current expenses, county orders were issued which always sold at a discount.

    The receipts as above given show the amount actually collected from the people each year. It is found by deducting the balance in the treasury at the beginning of each year from the total receipts and balance. It shows an aggregate expense of running the county for the twenty-seven years ending June, 1887, of a little less than $3,000,000.

    The place designated by the Legislature for the holding of the various courts until a court house should be completed, was the residence of Stephen Sims; later, courts were held at the residence of Robert Thompson and others until September, 1826, when the court for the first time met at the court house, which was not completed, and received by the board of commissioners, however, until November of said year. The house which stood in the centre of the west block of the public square was a two story brick 40x40 feet. The architecture was of that plain style common to the public buildings of that day. The walls were of hard burnt brick, twenty two inches thick. The first story was eighteen, and the second fourteen, feet in height. The lower room was divided into a court room and jury rooms; the upper room was divided into three apartments which were used for county offices. This house cost about $2,500, as nearly as can be ascertained, and answered the purposes of the county for more than twenty years, when on account of its size it became inadequate and was replaced by the present structure. The contractor was Reynold Cory, by whom the work was commenced in the fall of 1823.
    At a special meeting of the board held January 15, 1846, the necessity of building a new court house was urged by the various county officials and many of the representative citizens. In compliance with these demands, the board authorized John L. Robin­son, County Clerk, to procure the services of John Elder, an architect residing in Indianapolis, to draw plans and specifications for a brick court house 50x80 feet and two stories high. The plan was submitted at the March term, 1846, and the contract awarded said John Elder for the sum of $12,000, with the provision that the building should be completed and ready for occupancy on or before the first day of March, 1848. The building, which still answers the purposes of the county, is plain and simple in its architecture, but very substantial and commodious. As originally designed, the lower floor is occupied by the clerk, auditor, recorder, and treasurer's offices, while the upper room is divided into a court room, jury rooms and sheriff's office. Each office was provided with what was intended to be a fire-proof vault for the safe keeping of the records. These in some instances have been torn away to give more office room, and now the records would be exposed to the ravages of the flames should fire occur.
    The building, which has stood for almost a half century, is still in fair condition and would answer the purpose for which it was designed for many years to come. Yet a more modern structure would add much to the appearance of the city and be more in keeping with the spirit and progress manifested by the citizens of the town and county, besides furnishing the necessary protection for the large accumulation of valuable public records.

    In the settlement of every new country the vicious as well as the good were found; and in order to protect society, against those who sought frontier life for unworthy purposes and punish lawlessness, the pioneer prison was deemed necessary, and the plans and specifications for a jail were accordingly adopted. These plans provided for a two story building 14x18 feet, eight feet between floors; the whole to be raised and constructed of substantial timbers, hewed one foot square. The floors to be laid of two layers square timbers, the upper at right angles with the lower. The lower room to be lined with two inch plank; the entrance to said room to be a door in one end, to be closed with iron shutters made of bars one half an inch thick. The upper room to be divided by a partition, into two departments, one for females and the other for debtors. It must be remembered that at the time of the organization of the county and for many years thereafter, a debtor might at the direction of the creditor, be imprisoned for debt. The county agent was ordered to contract for the building of the jail, on or near the centre of the east block of the public square. The contract was awarded to Richard Hackleman, and the building completed and received by the board at its November meeting, 1823. The jail which was similar in construction, and material to the prisons in all new counties, was most substantial, and but few, if any, prisoners ever escaped. The first jailer was John Hays, who, after the expiration of his term of office, moved to Hancock County, where he became insane and while trying to escape from jail, where he was confined, by burning out he was himself consumed by the flames.
    The old jail was condemned as unsafe at the June term of court, 1844, and a contract for the building of a new one was awarded to Royal P. Cobb, at said term for the sum of $3,250.
    The building which stood on the public square, directly east of the court house was a stone structure, 20x20 feet and two stories high. The foundation wall was built of stone 2 feet thick, 3 feet long and 2 feet wide. The floors were laid of cut stone ten inches thick, the surface of the lower room was covered with sheet iron, and the three windows secured by heavy iron grates. Built in connection with said jail, of the same material, but of a less substantial character, was a jailer's residence, 20x23 feet in dimensions and two stories in height. The entire building was surrounded by a fence six feet high. The building was completed and received by the board January 6, 1845.    .
    The third jail built by the county is still standing. The contract for its erection was awarded to Conover & Murphy with the provision that it should be completed and ready for use by July, 1862. The estimated cost of building was $10,800, but before its completion, that amount was increased by several thousand dollars. The building, which includes a sheriff's residence, is built of brick, and is two stories high. It is well provided with iron cells and is convenient in all its appointments. It is located on the southeast corner of the public square.

Beginning at the southwest corner of Section 19, Range 10, Township 14; thence east to the half mile stake on the line dividing Sections 22 and 27; thence south to the ,half mile stake on the line dividing Sections 10 and 15 in Range 10, Township 13; thence west to the county line, thence north on county line to the northwest corner of Section 15, Range 8, Township 14; thence east to the southwest corner of Section J, Township 14 and Range 10; thence south to the place of beginning.    Organized February 12, 1823.

August 11, 1823.  Beginning at the northwest corner of Section 15, Township 14, Range 8; thence to the half mile stake on the line dividing Sections 10 and 15, Township 14, Range 10; thence south to the half mile stake on the line dividing Sections 10 and 15 in Township 13, Range 10; thence west one half mile; 'thence south to the southeast corner of Section 33, Township 13, Range 10; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 31, in said town and range; thence north one mile and a half; thence west to the county line, thence north to the place of beginning.

Organized March 6, 1826. Commencing at the northwest corner of Section 15, Township 14, Range 8; thence south to the half mile stake on the west side of Section 27 in said range and township; thence east through the centre of section to half miles stake on the east side of Section 28, Township 13, Range 9; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 16, Range 9, Township 14; thence west to the place of beginning.

Organized Jan 4, 1830.  Beginning at the south line of Rush County, at the northeast corner of Section 4, Township 15, Range 10; thence south by said section line to the southeast corner of Section 33; thence west on said township line between 14 and 15 to the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 15, Range 9; thence north on said line to the northwest corner of Section 3; thence on said count}- line to the place of beginning.

Organized August 18, 1830. Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 6, Township 14, Range 10: thence west to the northwest corner of Section 5, Township 14, Range 9; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 20, Township 14, Range 9; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 19, Township 14, Range 10; thence north to the place of beginning.

November 9, 1830. Commencing at the corner of Sections 27 and 28, Town 12, Range 9, on the line of Decatur County; thence north to the line dividing Rushville and Orange Township; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 32^ Town 13, Range 10; thence south to the county line; thence west to the place of beginning.

Beginning on the west line1 of Rush County at the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 14, Range 8; thence north along the county line to where said line intersects the Congressional Township line dividing Congressional Townships 14 and 15; thence east along said Congressional Township line to the northeast corner of Section 4, Town 14, Range 9; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 33, same township and range; thence west to where the line intersects the boundary line of said county at the place of beginning.
At the March term of Commissioner's Court, 1859, there was a general reorganization into the twelve townships with boundaries as at present.

    An essential element in the practical economy of every community, and one of the distinctive features of our civili­zation, is manifest in the measure of charity extended in providing for and maintaining the poor and indigent. A generous public pol­icy demands of those who are selected to make the laws that ample means be provided to secure this branch of society against destitution. Various laws have been- enacted by the State for the exercise of a spirit of benevolence toward all who are entitled to be recipients of public benefactions. Among the first provisions made by the law for alleviating the wants of the poor was the appointment of Over­seers for each civil township, whose duty it was to hear and exam­ine into all complaints in behalf of the poor and see that their wants were sufficiently provided for. A further provision made it neces­sary to put as apprentices all poor children whose parents were dead, or found unable to maintain them, males until the age of twenty-one, and females until the age of eighteen years. Indigent men and women were farmed out on contract by the Overseers on the first Monday in May, annually. In May, 1822, the following Overseers were appointed: Joseph Smith and Andrew Gilson, Union Township; Jonathan Potts and Andrew Thorp, Ripley Township; Thomas P. Lewis and Abraham Hackleman, Noble Township; Jesse Winship and John Hale, Washington Township; Henry Misner and Joseph Lee, Richland Township; Adam Conde and William Nelson, Orange Township. This method of caring for the poor was continued until 1840, when, as a better means of pro­viding for the -wants of this class, a farm had been purchased and made ready for their use. In June, 1839, the Board of Commissioners appointed Alfred Posey as their agent, and instructed him to pur­chase for the use of said county a farm conveniently located and suf­ficiently large for the above named purpose. In accordance with said instructions the agent purchased of John Hale 176 acres of land, paying for the same $3,520. No new buildings were erected until March, 1855, when, at the instance of the Board of Commis­sioners, plans and specifications for the erection of a new building were submitted by J. C. Dill, architect. The contract was let to Charles Sheaf for $7,543, and a large two story brick building 50x20 feet; east wing, 48x18 feet, and west wing, 48x32 feet, was completed March 1st, 1856. Since that time many improvements and additions have been made to meet the all increasing wants. For the first decade but little can be learned as to cost of caring for the poor. It may be safely stated, however, that those depend­ing upon the charity of the people for support were few, and the amount paid did not become burdensome. Indeed, the system of "farming out" and " apprenticing" was almost self-sustaining.
For the decade of the forties the cost to the county, as nearly as could be ascertained, was $6,690; for the fifties, $10,291; for the sixties, $41,923, and for the seventies, $89,793. For the last seven years the annual expenditure is as follows: For 1880, $8,872; 1881, $9,097; 1882, "$8,990;" 1883, $8,053; 1884, $8,560; 1885, $8,263; 1886, ^59,508; 1S87, $9,818. These figures show an alarm­ing increase in the number of dependents and may well attract the attention of the most thoughtful citizens.

    Rush County and Rushville were both named in honor of the renowned physician and philosopher, of Philadelphia, Dr. Benjamin Rush, at the suggestion and through the influence of his admiring pupil and devoted friend, Dr. William B. Laugh-lin. Dr. Laughlin played an important part in the early settlement of the county. He surveyed the land, laid out the county seat, practiced medicine and exerted a great influence for good in the community. He was a man of fine classical education, of firm religious principles and of delicate and refined moral perceptions. These qualities marked him out as a leader in all good works, and gave to the society he assisted in organizing a high and pure tone of morality. He was devoted to the cause of education, and in 1828, opened a  classical  academy for instruction in  the higher branches of education. He erected at his own expense on his own ground, a two story frame building for this purpose. This still stands, and, with some additions and changes, is now the dwelling of Samuel Poundstone.
    There were also other physicians whose lives and labors were consecrated to the benefit of this county, and whose names must ever be intimately associated with its development and progress. Dr. H. G. Sexton was the next physician to settle in Rushville; he came in the year 1823. He was young, energetic and ambitious, profoundly devoted to his profession, and ever striving to elevate the standard of its attainments. He was fully aware of the benefits of medical organizations, and would ride through the wilderness on horse-back, to attend a medical meeting at Indianapolis, Lawrenceburg, Brookville, and other equally distant points. When the Legislature divided the State into medical districts, he was one of the first to come forward to organize the society of the Fifth Medical District of Indiana. This, for many years, did a good work in the profession. It was succeeded by a union organization, and this, again, was superseded in our county by the Rush Medical Society, which still flourishes in all its pristine vigor.
    Thus, our county has maintained for the last forty five years a medical society whose object has been to increase medical knowledge and maintain the dignity and honor of the profession. This devotion to medical science, as manifested by the keeping up of these organizations, has received its reward in the high position the physicians of Rush County occupy in district, state and national medical bodies, and the almost entire absence of quackery in our county.
    Dr. William Frame was the third physician to settle in our town. He was a cautious, prudent, skillful practitioner, and largely enjoyed the confidence of the community. He helped, by precept and example, to impart a high tone to society. Dr. W. H. Martin, though coming somewhat later, is justly entitled to rank as one of the pioneer physicians and public spirited men who contributed largely to the development of our country. Dr. Jefferson Helm, deceased, was skillful, talented, untiring, of pleasing address and suave- manners, and exerted a wide influence in the community. . He bore his part in all private and public enterprises for the development of the resources of our county. These men were all calculated to mold and impress the society in which they lived.

    History furnishes no certain data as to the first medical organization in Rush County. Whilst her first medical men were zealous supporters of such institutions, and for many years belonged to district and other societies, no organization confined exclusively to Rush County existed until about the year 1846.
    Prior to this date, Rush County was connected with Wayne, Union, Fayette, Franklin and Dearborn counties, forming what was called the Fifth Medical District of Indiana, taking its organization about 1828 and lasting about ten years. The meetings were held twice a year alternately at Richmond, Indiana, Connersville, Liberty, Brookville, Lawrenceburg and Rushville, the members making the trip on horseback from the various points to the place of meeting.
    The prominent members of this society were men of merit and high professional standing. In Fayette County they were Drs. Riland T. Brown now of Indianapolis; Philip Mason, G. R. Chitwood, Miller, Moffett, John Arnold. In Union County, Drs. Z. Custerline, Rose, Orpheus Everts, Sr. In Dearborn County, Dr. Browser. In Franklin, Drs. Heymond and Berry. In Rush County, Drs. W. B. Laughlin, Horatio G. Sexton, William Frame, Matthew Smith, Jefferson Helm, Ben Duncan and William Bracken. After the demise of this society, an organization was effected under a special charter from the Legislature of the State, possessing powers to examine and license candidates for the practice of medicine within the limits of the organization. This was called the "Indiana Medical Institute," and embraced the counties mentioned above as constituting the Fifth District Medical Society.' The Institute was short lived and inefficient, only maintaining a very feeble existence, terminating its career about the year 1844 or 1845.
    In 1846, the first Medical Society confining its jurisdiction to county lines, was formed, and was called "Rush County Medical Society." Among the leading and working members of this society, we find the names of Drs. H. G. Sexton, William H. Martin, William Frame, William Bracken, John Howland, Jefferson Helm. Its juvenile members were Drs. James W. Green, Marshall Sexton, Erastus T. Bussell and Nathan Tompkins, all young men just entering upon professional life. Dr. John Howland was elected President at the organization, and Dr. Marshall Sexton, Secretary.
    This was the first to adopt and accept the "Code of Ethics," as published by the American Medical Association, which had just been organized. The first county society published this code of ethics in pamphlet form, and distributed liberally amongst the physicians and people of the county.
    The first Board of Censors were very liberal in their notions of professional qualifications, and consequently were rather lax in their examinations for membership, admitting almost every one applying. Many illiterate, inefficient, unskillful and unprofessional men were taken into its fold. It died of its own liberality, it fell of its own weight and ceased to have an existence shortly after 1850; and though its lease of life was short, there can be no doubt that it effected much good. It was the first to formulate regular medicine and sow the seeds of good principles of high professional attainments and of an honorable code amongst the medical men of the country. It had also the good effect of disseminating among the people the same principles of justice between physician and patient and between the public and the medical profession.
    In the year 1857, the following physicians of Rush County met in the court house, in the month of May, and organized the present society, calling the compact "The Rush County Medical Society": H. G. Sexton, William Bracken, John Moffett, A. C. Dillon, James W. Green, John Arnold, John J. Mlon, Alvin Curley, I. H. Spur­rier, R. D. Mauzy, James Thompson and William A. Pugh. Dr. H. G. Sexton was chosen the first President and was annually elected to the same position until his death in 1865, a period of about eight years. Dr. John Moffet was at the same meeting chosen the Recording Secretary and was retained in the place until the year 1874, a Period of seventeen years. For a period of three years and a half after its organization, the career of the Rush Medical Society was in the highest degree satisfactory. Many scientific papers were read and discussed, an increasing taste for literary and professional work was generated, free discussions upon medical topics and careful preparation for society work incited the members. In addition to all, the Secretary gave a very careful and close synopsis of the proceedings, papers and debates, filling quite a large volume.
    In the midst of this prosperity, the fire fiend visited the town and included in its ravages the office of Dr. John Moffet, with his whole library, the society records and everything belonging to it. . At the December meeting in 1861, the Secretary, Dr. Moffet, arose and made the following statement:

     I have the unpleasant message to deliver to you this morning, that the entire records of this Society were consumed in the late fire which occurred in Rushville. We think we can truthfully say, none can more than I regret the loss which has come upon us. Many scientific organizations before this one have met with similar disasters.
    This Association has done much to promote the interests of the medical profession of Rush County and the community in which it exists. For three years and a half it has held regular meetings, always having a sufficient attendance to constitute a quorum for business.   Important medical subjects have been closely examined,
and extended records of its proceedings were kept. This is all lost, so far as the letter is concerned, but I trust that most of us have treasured up in the storehouse of the memory the substantial doctrines which have been passed in review during the existence of our little band of medical brethren."
    A rapid review of the work which had been accomplished was then given, from memory, by the Secretary; his remarks having been carefully written out for the purpose of reading to the Society. The paper was ordered to be spread upon the minutes, so that it should form an introduction to the new volume of transactions. After hearing the remarks, the society adjourned for one hour. At the afternoon session, Dr. W. A. Pugh offered the following preamble and resolution, viz.:
" Whereas, The records, papers, books and documents of the Rush County Medical Society were destroyed by fire in the late disaster; and, whereas, a radical change in the organic laws has been contemplated, therefore,
    Resolved, That we now go into an entirely new organization; and that no members of the old society shall be considered as members of the new one now to be organized, who do not enter it in the regular constitutional way.
    " And be it further resolved, That no article of the old constitution or by-laws shall be binding upon this, the debts of the old society being the only exception."
The preamble and resolutions were at once unanimously adopted, without discussion or debate. Dr. H. G. Sexton, the President of the society now offered a skeleton constitution and bylaws, which, he remarked, were in conformity to the meaning and intent of the resolutions just passed. This constitution was taken up and adopted by articles, with such amendments as the society, in the committee of the whole, suggested.
    At this meeting, the name of the "Rush Medical Society" was adopted, and has been retained until the present time. From 1861 until 1876, the same organization continued with uninterrupted prosperity. In that year, the State Medical Society made a very radical change in its organic union; and was organized upon a basis of representation, the members to consist of delegates sent by auxiliary county societies. After much hesitation and with much reluctance to again change, the Rush Medical Society unanimously agreed to become auxiliary to the State Medical Society, and at once changed its Constitution and By-Laws so as to accord with the State organization. The name, however, was retained. These constitute the only changes in the organic laws of the Society.
    The scientific and literary work has been progressive, improving and of the highest order of merit. Two large volumes of transactions have been filled since the destruction by. fire of the first one. The officers are elected annually on the first Monday in May of each year, and consist of a President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Board of Censors and Librarian. At the annual election, Chairmen of the following sections are chosen, viz.: Surgery, Theory and Practice, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Therapeutics and New Remedies, On Diseases of Children, On Epidemics. The Chairman of each of these sections is required to make an annual report on the different subjects assigned them, collecting such materials from the members as may be possible during the year. The Society carries on its literary and scientific work by an Executive Committee, also chosen at the annual meeting. It is the duty of this committee to carefully prepare a program for each and every monthly meeting in the year, and to see that members come up to the work assigned them. The Constitution provides that every member shall do some literary work in the course of the year, either verbal or written. The Society holds monthly meetings upon the first Monday of each month, all the year round, and has missed but very few meetings in the twenty two years of its existence. The amount of medical literature in the possession of the members, and the very full reports made by the different Secretaries, will give the future historian an ample storehouse from which to draw in writing the history of medicine for coming generations.
    The Society embraces in its membership almost every reputable practitioner of medicine in the County of Rush, and its influence for good is felt alike by the citizens and the profession. There, is perhaps, no county in the State as free of irregular practitioners as Rush County; and the reason thereof is largely due to the influence of Rush Medical Society. In the twenty odd years of its organization, there has been not a single professional quarrel; and as the result of the influence of this Society, the community of Rushville and the different neighborhoods of the county have been remarkably free from the professional bickering and jealousies so common to the profession of medicine. The unanimity and kindly feeling of Rush County physicians toward one another are admired by every one cognizant of the fact, and it is in a large measure attributable to the influence of the Society upon its members
.

    The great advantage an agricultural society would be to the farmer, the mechanic, and, indeed, to the whole community, had long been felt, and an attempt to supply this want had been made by the organization of a Rush County Agricultural Society; but it was soon seen that there were radical defects in the plan on which it was gotten up that would insure its early dissolution. The thinking men of the county feeling the necessity of such a society counseled together, and decided on the joint stock system as most likely to be a permanent institution, and to give satisfaction to. the country by developing its resources and increasing its material prosperity and wealth. These earnest advocates of progress and improvement met on the 23d of May, 1857, and passed the following preamble and resolutions, and adopted the constitution, which I give, as it plainly declares the objects and plan of the new organization, viz.:
    " Whereas, We, the undersigned citizens of Rush County and State of Indiana, are desirous of promoting the prosperity and encouragement of agricultural and mechanical pursuits, including the cultivation of fruits, vegetables and ornamental gardening, improvements in all branches of mechanism and arts, the improvement of the races of all useful and domestic animals, and the general advancement of rural and household economy, and domestic manufactures, and the dissemination of useful information upon all the above named subjects; and believing that the present agricultural society of Rush County, as at present organized, is not adequate to carry out the above objects so fully as desired, therefore,
    " Be it Known, That we, whose names are hereunto subscribed, propose and agree to form a joint stock company, under the name . and style of the ' Rush County Agricultural Society,' the capital stock of said company not to be less than $1,200, and to be divided into shares of $10 each, and to be divided as nearly equally as practicable among the several townships of said county, in a ratio to the population of the said several townships respectively. And said company propose to organize in all respects, in strict conformity with all laws of the State of Indiana in force, for the encouragement of Agriculture, and in entire subordination to all rules and regulations of the ' Indiana State Board of Agriculture;' and that said stock shall be used by said company in aid of all purposes properly connected with the State and County Agricultural Societies, and the objects above specified. It is not intended to conflict with the present Rush County Agricultural Society, but to aid the same, and become instituted therefor. And to attain the above named objects, we adopt the following constitution.
" Article 1. Said company shall be governed by the same number and kind of officers as required for the Rush County Agricultural Society," and the present board of officers elected for the ensuing year, of said Society, shall be and are hereby adopted as the officers of the new Society for the ensuing year, provided that said  officers now elected consent to serve as such, and become stockholders of said company.
"Article 2. Said new Society agrees to take the grounds and all the appurtenances to the same belonging, now owned by the former Rush County Agricultural Society, and assume and pay all liabilities and debts of said old Society of every nature. But said new Society will require a good and sufficient deed for said ground when all said liabilities shall have been paid off.
"Article 3. Said new Society shall hold an annual fair upon said grounds, and offer premiums for the various products and articles exhibited for each year not less than $600 for each fair.
"Article 4. The stockholders and their families shall enter the gates free of charge; and a stockholder's family shall consist of all who reside with him under twenty one years of age, and all females who reside with him of any age whatever.
" Article 5. All tolls, rents and profits that may arise from said fairs and grounds, and property owned by said company, shall be owned by and under the control of the stockholders; but they shall not divert the said grounds from the purposes above specified, except upon full payment therefor to those who have contributed or may contribute for the payment of the purchase money therefor.
"Article 6. That Isaac B. Loder, Hugh B. Cowan and Stephen Donaldson are hereby selected as a committee to draft By-Laws for the government of said Society, and report the same at the next meeting of the Board.
" Article 7. The annual members shall have a right to one vote each in the election of officers, provided they become members of ,the Society prior to said election, and one stockholder shall have ten votes.
" Article 8. The stock of said Society shall be transferable, but no person shall hold more than one share, except by consent of two thirds of the Board of Directors."
Article No. 7 has been since changed so that the annual member has no vote, and the stockholder only one. This is much better, as under the old rule, there was a useless encumbrance of a multitude of votes. John Megee, in accordance with the above arrangement, was the first President; Stephen Donaldson, Secretary. Daniel Wilson was elected General Superintendent, for which he was most admirably qualified, and Thomas V. Mitchell, Marshal of the Stock ring; this was also the right man in the right place. The time for the fair was fixed for the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th days of September. The Board held many meetings this year, for there was a great deal to be attended to to make the enterprise a success; but the Board were earnest workers in the good cause, and never desisted until they had laid the strong and broad foundation on which our present proud and successful system of fairs rests. At a meeting of the Board, on December 26, 1867, the Treasurer made the following report
:

    This is a good showing for the first fair under the new system. They then proceeded to the election of officers for the next year, which resulted as follows: Abner Conde, President; W. S. Hall, Vice President; Ben Pugh, Secretary, and J. S. Campbell, Treasurer. The twelve Directors were the following: W. Rice, Sr., for Anderson Township; J. W. Shawhan, for Washington; W. C. Stewart, for Richland; John T. Gregg, for Noble; O. V. Meredith, for Posey; James Downey, for Jackson; Bluford Riley, for Walker; J. T. Hinchman, for Union; Amon Bosly, for Orange; D. S. Hollowly, for Ripley; S. S. McBride, for Center; E. C. Buel, for Rushville.
    The record as made by Ben Pugh, is admirable, the manuscript is splendid and the account of the proceedings clear and businesslike. At this time, the Society only had eleven and one fourth acres of land, bought of Joseph H. Lakin, May 12, 1856, for $950, but the Society bought more from time to time from various parties, until they now, in 1879, have twenty six acres and 133 rods, which is sufficient for Fair purposes. The Fair has been a success in every respect, not only in promoting and developing the various interests for which it was instituted, but financially. It has been managed prudently, made emphatically a Fair for the people; no particular class have been allowed to run it in their interest. It is a general purpose Fair, where there is something to interest and amuse everybody. This result has been secured by electing as Directors men of sound judgment. Though comparisons are said to be odious, I cannot refrain from contrasting the management of it with that of Fayette County. The fast horsemen and sportsmen got the control of things there, and it soon degenerated into mere races, when gambling, drunkenness and all kindred vices became so rampart that the farmers ceased to attend or allow their families to be exposed to its contaminating influence. The result was that the Fair ceased to be attended and, consequently, failed to pay expenses; the  company became bankrupt, and the Fair grounds were, sold to pay the debts. Since then, a new company has bought the Fair grounds and has held two Fairs under more favorable auspices.
    The five purchases amounted to near twenty seven acres and cost $4,520.87. The usual amount of halls for various purposes, stables, sheds, and all necessary buildings have been erected and paid for out of the earnings of the Society. The grounds are naturally beautiful and admirably adapted for fair purposes. The south side of the grounds are high, with the exception of a valley on either side of a small stream entering on the south; this valley forms the stock ring. On the east and on the west the banks gradually rise, forming a natural amphitheater, where the spectators can sit and view the stock brought into the ring. These beautiful slopes are shaded by trees. The north three fifths of the grounds are level bottom lands, in which is seen a fine half mile track. This is overlooked by the higher grounds on the south, affording an opportunity for the thousands of spectators to see the "trials of speed. The south-east quarter, south of the time ring, and east of the stock ring is shaded by a fine sugar maple grove, thickened by a plantation of locust and soft maple. It is in this part of the grounds that all the exhibition halls and offices are found.

    A history of Rush County would not be complete without a chapter on her career as a stock producer.    With her natural advantages as an agricultural region unsurpassed, she stands pre-eminently first among her sisters as the home of some of the finest animals ever brought before the public.    Breeders, whose reputation, fairly merited, and not bounded by State lines, have given to Rush County a name, the luster of which shall not pale as the years go by.     Among the earliest breeders of horses we mention John Gray, grandfather of John T. Gray, the well known horse man of Union Township.  He had "Old Alec" in 1835, a Kentucky horse, from whom descended some very valuable strains; this was one of the first in the county.  He was the sire of young Alec and the noted  Tuckahoe horse; the dam, a Kentucky mare, hence the name " Tuckahoe." At the death of John Gray the son, William, bought these horses. Tuckahoe lived to be twenty four years old and died on the Gray farm.    The next horses in this stable were: Jerry, by Archie Lightfoot, a pacer of great speed; Bedford, a heavy draft, and Gray Eagle; these horses were kept here about 1850. The next year Mr. Gray paid $950 for a Proud American horse; this was an enormous price in those days. He was the sire of Caldwell's " Proud American " of Fayette County, Indiana: this horse was sold by Mr. Gray to a Mr. Haldeman, of Orange Township, and subsequently sold at Sheriff's sale in Rushville, for $1,000, and was taken to Illinois. In i860, "William Gray bought of John Shawhan a three year old colt, by a horse known as Shawhan's Tom Hal, he by Bald Stocking, of Kentucky, and he by imported Tom Hal, of Canada. This famous horse, known among horsemen everywhere as Gray's Tom Hal was kept here in the Gray family for twenty four years and was cared for during all these years by John T. Gray, who was his owner at the time of his death. This horse is the sire of Little Gypsie, 2:22; Limber Jack, 2:18^; Bay Billie, 2:13^; Mattie Bond, 2:27%; Sy Alger, 2:31%; sire of the dam of Buffalo Girl, 2:12^; also sire of the dam of St. Dennis, 2.23. Mr. Gray also owned Henry, by Old Stockbridge, of Cincinnati. At the death of William Gray the stables came into possession, of the son, John T. Here are found a rare lot of well bred stallions. Among these are Medoc Hambletonian and his son Dock, Jr., splendid specimens and always premium winners in their class. A son of Tom Hal, a worthy scion of his illustrious sire. At this stable are kept the horses belonging to the Shawnee Stock Association, viz.: Favory, by French Mon­arch, a son of the great Ilderim. This horse (Favory) took first prize at the World's Exposition, at Paris in 1878, and first premium at St. Louis, in 1880. Was a government approved stallion in France, and weighs 2280 pounds. Another imported Draft horse, Coco is also kept here; this horse was imported by Bridgeland & Barry, of Indianapolis. He is a well bred horse and weighs 1800 pounds. Frank Hale, an inbred Morgan horse belongs to the Shawnee Breeding Association, and is found at the Gray stables. " Within the last few years thoughtful breeders like General Withers, have been investigating the source of 'trotting instinct,' analyzing the blood that flows in the veins of the fastest and most enduring race and road horse and have made the discovery that the Vermont Morgan has contributed a greater share of it than any other branch of the trotting family. As a result of this discovery there is a revival of admiration for this truly great class." "Frank H:" is a magnificent looking animal, in color a dapple brown with black points and a star in forehead and snip. He is the best son of Ben Franklin and has shown himself at the Rutland County Fair, Vermont, before 5,000 people to be eleven seconds faster than the Rut­land track was ever trotted before by a three-year-old colt, and this track has been in use thirty years. Dam of "Frank H." was by the Lapham horse, and he by Hill's Black Hawk. The sire of " Frank H.", Ben Franklin, was by Daniel Lambert, and he by Ethan Allen (record with running mate, 2 :i2), and he by Vermont Black Hawk.

     If there is anything Rush County ever made a national reputation on, it is her Blue Bull trotting stock. Until a few years ago the name of James Wilson was known on every turf in the United States as the owner of a sire of more trotting horses than any six stallions in the country, with probably the exception of Rysdyk's Hambletonian. But during the last two years the performances of the progeny of this famous horse has placed him indisputably at the head of all sires of trotting horses.
    The money that has been left in Rush County from the sales of Blue Bull colts can be computed by thousands. The history of this famous horse has been published as follows: " He is the Abraham of pacing sires, the greatest exponent, living or dead, of the power that pacing blood exerts in producing trotters. Reared in the wilds of Indiana, his early life passed in forced seclusion, gifted with marvelous speed at a pacing gait, but overtaken by the misfortune of a broken knee, which prevented him placing a sensational mark on the blackboard, and, greatest of all  without birthright of a long descent from some of the great trotting families, to commend him to breeders, yet, by his own intrinsic worth, he -emerged from obscurity, overcame all these obstacles and placed his name first among the list of winning sires. His pedigree does not fulfill the requirements of any school of breeding  no royal blood lines to Messenger, Bashaw or Morgan are found in his veins  no mares of accepted pedigree or merit graced his harem, except the dam of Elsie Good, until towards the close of his life when winner after winner from common mares hailed him as sire and then the excitement ran high. Approved brood mares were sent by the car load to his home in Rush County, Ind.; and scores of buyers in quest of young Blue Bulls, were attracted to that neighborhood.
    " But Blue Bull's career is a special study.. He is not a pensioner on birth-place, breeding, opportunities or circumstances, for his fame, present, and to co-nothing seems to check the speed producing elements of his nature, which descended in a remarkable degree through all kinds of dams. Wilson's Blue Bull was foaled in 1858, and is described by one who knew him well as a dark chestnut horse 15 !/2 hands high, star in forehead and one white hind foot, sloping, heavy muscled shoulders, extraordinary strong loin, powerful quarters, the very best of legs except a broken knee, high headed and stylish, a silken coat and in general appearance and conformation, as fine as a thoroughbred. He was bred by Elijah Stone, of Wheatland, Ind., and got by Pruden's Blue Bull, son of Merring's Blue Bull, commonly known as Ohio Farmer. It has been well said of the great and good in the human family that
they had generally good mothers. As the stock of Blue Bulls progenitors was of decidedly common stamp, attention should be turned to his dam in summing up his superior merits.
Mr. Wallace says she was by a horse called Truxton; but those who were intimately acquainted with the history of this horse, George and Louis Loder, Daniel Dorrell and the Wilsons, stoutly maintain that she was by Blacknose, the thoroughbred" son of Medoc. Passing on to a consideration of what Blue Bull has accomplished we find that Purity was the first to attract attention. She was sold for $3,000, and bid fair to trot in 2:20. Ella Wilson, $7,000; Mila C., record 2:26 1/4, then sold for $10,000; St. Dennis, $5,500; Silverton, $6,000; Mamie, $5,000; Richard, "$7,500; Bertie, $7,500; Ethel, $9,000; Elsie Good, $5,000. Five of his colts have trotting records under 2:2O."
    Samp Wilson, a son of the well known James Wilson, of Blue Bull fame, one of the greatest .drivers of horses in the country, has a stable of fine blooded animals at the old Wilson farm in this county. Among these we mention Lord Harold, by Harold, sire of Maud S. and Beaumont.
R. J. Wilson, son of the late James Wilson, and one of the most successful and prudent horsemen in this county, has on his farm the following well bred stallions: Wallkill Prince, Kindergarten and Athlone.
    Mr. R. J. Wilson, in the fall of 1886, purchased a rich blooded colt at Glenview Stock sales in Kentucky, viz.: Cherrywood. For this colt Mr. Wilson paid $3,025, the highest price ever paid for a weanling.    Cherrywood is by the famous horse Nutwood.
    Prominent among the owners of standard animals we mention Oliver Posey & Son, owners of Pau and Russia, crossed closely with the best trotting strains in the country. These colts must be speed producers or horsemen must lose confidence in pedigrees.
    Mr. W. A. Jones, the well known trainer and breeder, of Rushville, the owner of Elgin Boy and Raven Boy, has purchased the fashionably bred horse Chesterwood, for $5,280. He is a splendid representative of the great Nutwood, and a trotter himself.
    Legal Tender, Jr., owned by J. M. Amos in Rush County, is one of the finest horses in this section of Indiana, and has endowed his progeny with wondrous speed. He is the sire of such well known trotters as Lowland Girl, 2 '.19 1/2 ; Wonderful (a pacer, 2124), Lady Elgin, trotter, 2:25 1/4; Davy Crockett, pacer, 2:26; Legal R., trotter, 2:30; Bob Ingersoll, 2:30; "Laura J., 2:27; Legal Star, pacer, 2:26; Mattie H., Trotter, 2:27 1/4. Legal Tender, Jr., is a standard horse, and has a record to his credit of 2127. He is by Legal Tender (1784), sire of Red Cloud.
    Henry Fry, of Union Township, a well known breeder of trotting horses, is the owner of Wilson, a son of old Blue Bull, dam Queen, by Gray's Tom Hal, and Falmouth, by Ajax.
J. M. Gwin, the well known horse man of Rushville, has done much to advance the interests of our people in this particular line. He is now the owner of Alwood, a young horse of most excellent form, carriage and color, a beautiful chestnut sorrel, foaled July 3, 1883.    He is by the great sire, Almont 33.
    Mr. Gwin's first stallion was John Dillard, an excellent young horse, afterwards Tom Brown, Jr., by Tom Brown, he by Crazy Nick. Subsequently, Mr. Gwin kept Morris' Almont, a famous horse, that has left some good blood lines in our county.
    Flying Dutchman, by Flying Dutchman, brought from Ohio by G. T. Aultman in 1874. He was a fine Pacer? and left valuable blood in the county.
Joe T. Johnson owns the following popularly bred horses: Nutgold, by Nutwood; Brussels, by Blue Bull; Vulcan, a heavy draft Percheron, and one of the best horses ever brought to America, is closely related to the finest animals which are the recognized heads of popular Percheron families.
    J. F. Gosnell, owner of Commander, by Blue Bull. Mr. Gosnell has several fillies and young horses, the get of this stallion, , which are recognized as very promising.
Gus Glidden, of Raleigh, one of the great drivers and trainers of the country, now has several, among which we mention: Almont Brunswick, by Almont Chief; Samuel L, by Grand Sentinel. He was the owner of Forest, for which he received $16,000; sold Grafton for $15,000.
    Cloud Mambrino, owned by Alfred Loder, of Raleigh, a valuable horse of Rush County, died eight or ten years ago. Sire of Little Alfred, record 2:20; Billy Lambertson 2.28 1/4,. Mr. Loder is now the owner of Gold Edge, a Hambletonian of fine promise and standard. He also owned Sam Patch, a son of old Blue Bull by an Archie mare. He was the owner cf Lowland Girl, 2:19 !/2, and developed this wonderful mare.
    R. W. Rich, of Falmouth, Indiana, and Charles E. Rich, of Raleigh are the owners of Swisher, a splendid specimen of the horse family, by the great Hambletonian Tranby. These gentlemen are also owners of several excellent youngsters which promise well for the future.
    W. M. Cook, of Glenwood, is the proprietor of Glenwood stock farm. He owns Gloster, the best son of Blue Bull. The dam of Gloster is by old Jerry, dam, a messenger mare brought from Kentucky. There seems to be no reason to doubt that this horse will sire race horses. Mr. Cook has a six-year-old gelding by Gloster, who paced a mile in 2:24%, with a few days' handling. He also has colts by Wallkill Prince and Blue Vein.
A horse known as Archie Lightfoot, about 1858-59, was kept at John L. Legg's (Raleigh); this horse was the sire of the first native Rush County horses ever trained for speed in the county. Among these we name: Topsey, Belle Loder, Brown Dick and Bob Lindsey. He was subsequently the property of William S. Hall and Thomas Legg. At this same place Mr. Brook Legg keeps the well known standard bred horses Ajax and Artemus. Mr. Legg is a horseman of large experience and is regarded as a first class horseman.
There are many other breeders of more or less importance within the county. Indeed, there are but few of the most progressive farmers that do not give much attention to the breeding of the best class of all kinds of stock.

    The roads traversed by the pioneer settlers of Rush County were first the Indian trails, which were the only avenues of travel established by the Delaware tribe, which inhabited this county at the time of the coming of the first settler. These were succeeded by neighborhood roads until the organization of the county, when county roads were established according to the demands of public convenience. The primitive roads were little more than a path " blazed out," by which travelers might with some degree of confidence, go from one settlement to another without fear of losing their course. These roads often traversed low, wet land and marshy districts, and in order to make them passable were cross laid with logs and rails, and were generally known as " corduroys," which, according to an eminent American humorist, "has decreased the length of many a spinal column." When the necessities of enlarged travel became apparent, the demand for better constructed roads became quite universal, and in response to this demand state roads were surveyed and located at the expense of the state.
    The first county road ordered to be viewed was described as beginning at the east line of Rush County, at the corners of Sections 21 and 28, Town 12, Range 11; thence on a due west line to the western boundary of said township. The second one viewed commenced where Whetzel's Trace crossed the west line of Fayette, running thence west, the nearest and best route to the house of Richard Thornbury; thence in the same direction to the east line of Shelby County. These routes were, in the opinion of the viewers, practicable, and would be of great public utility and convenience, and were accordingly laid out.
    After many years of experience with dirt roads, which until 1850, were the only public thoroughfares in the state, it was thought proper to authorize by legislative enactment, as many older states had done, the construction of roads whereby the products of the farm might be transported to meet the demands of trade. In response to this demand the general assembly of 1849, authorized the incorporation of stock companies for the construction of plank roads. In all but few of the counties of the state such roads were built and operated, but after a few years were abandoned as impracticable.
    Since i860, there have been constructed on all the principal thoroughfares leading out of Rushville, as well as on many of the cross roads in various parts of the county, gravel roads, of which the following is a list of the most important: Rushville and Vienna, Rushville, Raysville and Knightstown, Rushville and Milroy, Falmouth and Lewisville, Fayetteville and Andersonville, Fairview and Fayetteville, Fayetteville and Rushville, Hamilton Station, Rush­ville and Smeltzer's Mill, Rushville and Arlington, Lewisville and Raleigh, Charlotteville, Rushville and Shelbyville, Rush and Henry, Moscow and Rushville, McDaniel and McBride, Carthage and Northwestern, Oldham and Sharon, Rushville and Mull, Shelby­ville and Mull, Arlington, Carthage and Knightstown, Hilligass, Miller, Rushville and Moscow, New Demreith, Simon Martin, Big Blue River, Carthage and Walnut Ridge, Ogdon, McMillin.
With but a few exceptions these are toll roads, and were built long before the enactment of the law authorizing the construction of free gravel roads. In the last few years a number of free roads have been built and now the total miles of the toll and free roads is equal to the best counties in the state.