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Jasper County, Indiana
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==History== The lands of present NW Indiana were explored by French explorer [[RenΓ©-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle|Robert de LaSalle]]. At that time, the area was inhabited by the [[Western Confederacy|Miami Confederation of Indians]]. Through White settlement, encroachment, and confrontation, the various indigenous groups were forced to cede their claim to the area. In October 1818, the Pottawattamies, Weas, and Delawares ceded their lands west of the [[Tippecanoe River]] to the government. In a treaty dated October 23, 1826, the Pottawattamies and Miamis ceded all their lands east of the Tippecanoe. A treaty dated October 26, 1832, with the Pottawattamies ceded control of the northwestern part of Indiana; on October 27 the Pottawattamies of Indiana and Michigan also relinquished all claim to any remaining land in those states. Until the 1832 treaty of 1832, the future Jasper County area was not open to settlement; those who did come to Indiana before that time had flooded the southern parts of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois through the [[Ohio Valley]]. Northwestern Indiana was also less desirable for initial settlement, the land being described as alternate swamps, sterile sand ridges and flat, wet prairies. It did proliferate in game, however, and eventually settlers found it. The first recorded settler was William Donahue, who located in present-day [[Gillam Township, Jasper County, Indiana|Gillam Township]]. He was a justice of the peace during the period prior to the county's establishment. Although the settlers were sparse, the state legislature provided for two counties to be established in the area. The state legislature passed an omnibus bill{{sfn|Tyndall|Lesh|1918}}{{page needed|date=February 2025}} that authorized thirteen counties<ref>The counties are Dekalb, Fulton, Jasper, Jay, Kosciusko, Marshall, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, Stark, Steuben, Wells, and Whitley. Newton was dissolved in 1839 and re-authorized in 1859.</ref> and described their boundaries, although their governing structures were not established at that time. The new counties of Jasper and Newton were attached to [[White County, Indiana|White County]] for political and civil purposes. In 1836 all the area north of the [[Kankakee River]] was partitioned from Jasper as [[Porter County, Indiana|Porter County]]. By 1837 preparations were made to create the Jasper County governing structure, with a county commission elected that year. They first met in January 1838 at the house of Robert Alexander in [[Parish Grove Township, Benton County, Indiana|present-day Benton County]]. After that, the pro tem county seat was designated as the residence of George W. Spitler, in [[Iroquois Township, Newton County, Indiana|present-day Iroquois Township, Newton County]] and the first meeting was held in March 1839.{{sfn|Hamilton|Darroch|1916a}}{{page needed|date=February 2025}} The official date of formation of the Jasper County government is given as March 15, 1838.<ref name=OICN/> Jasper County was named for Sgt. [[William Jasper]], a famous scout for the [[Continental Army]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]].{{sfn|Gannett|1905|p=168}} Jasper became famous in 1776, during the bombardment of [[Fort Moultrie]], for erecting a new flagstaff under fire after the American flag had been shot down. Jasper was killed during the [[Siege of Savannah]] in 1779.{{sfn|De Witt|Tuttle|1875|p=562}} Jasper County's twin county, [[Newton County, Indiana|Newton County]], was named after Jasper's friend and comrade, [[John Newton (soldier)|John Newton]].{{sfn|Hamilton|Darroch|1916a}}{{page needed|date=February 2025}} A state legislature act dated January 29, 1839, caused the consolidation of Jasper and Newton, with Jasper retaining the name, and Newton being removed, and the consolidated area being seated at the Falls of the Iroquois River, with the name of Newton (the community's name was changed to [[Rensselaer, Indiana|Rensselaer]] in 1844). In 1840 the [[Benton County, Indiana|county of Benton]] was formed from Jasper's area. In 1859 the county of Newton was revived but with smaller area than before, leaving Jasper in its present form. ===The Civil War=== As early as 1825, the majority of the population were against slavery.{{sfn|Scudder|1888|pp=235, 237, 438–400}} By the time of the [[American Civil War|War]], Jasper County was one of the few counties of Indiana that had a military organization under the law of 1855.{{sfn|Hamilton|Darroch|1916a|p=159}} The war greatly affected Jasper County when 935 soldiers were enlisted on behalf of the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]]. This was considered an impressive amount at the time, with the average population around 5,000. Although there were several companies from Indiana, the [[9th Indiana Infantry Regiment]] produced [[Robert H. Milroy]], the "Gray Eagle of the Army". Milroy became famous for suppressing Confederate mountain rangers, which caused the [[Confederate Congress]] to declare a $100,000 bounty on his head. The 9th Indiana Infantry Regiment became known for its involvement in the [[Battle of Philippi (West Virginia)|Battle of Philippi]], one of the earliest battles of the Civil War at [[Laurel Mountain (West Virginia)|Laurel Hill]] (now known as Laurel Mountain).{{sfn|Hamilton|Darroch|1916a|pp=115,118}} In comparing the proportions of men able to fight, Indiana contributed more soldiers than any other state to the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]].{{sfn|Hoover|1980|p=93}}
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