At a County Court began and held for the County of Benton at the Courthouse in the Town of Camden on the first Monday in January it being the 6th day of said Month in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred & forty five and 69th year of American Independence, there being present and presiding the worshipfuls, Esqrs. D.P. Hudson, E. Perkins, Elijah Alsop, Nathan Williams, B. Beard, John D. Rushing, Geo. W. Farmer, Thomas L. Floyd, Samuel H. Davidson, John W. Davidson, William Barnes.
Personally appeared in open Court Hearty Hansel Administratrix of the estate of James Hansel deceased and returned a sale bill of the property & oath being Made to the same said estate which is ordered to be recorded.
Personally appeared in open Court R.C. Petty one of the executors of the last will & testament of Thomas Petty deceased and returned a sale bill of the residue of the property of said estate and oath having been Made to the same it is ordered by the Court to be recorded.
Personally appeared in open Court Amos Bruce & Jesse Bruce Administrators of the estate of James Bruce deceased and returned a sale bill of the property of said estate and oath being Made to the same it is ordered to be recorded.
On Motion the Court proceeded to consider of an appropriation to Lewis Brewer one of the former commissioners of the Town of Camden of Nine dollars balance for his services as said commissioner and there being present and presiding on the bench, Esqrs., D.P. Hudson, E. Perkins, Wyatt Arnold, B. Beard, Nathan Williams, S.H. Davidson, J.W. Davidson, J.D. Rushing, G.W. Farmer, Elijah Alsop and Thomas L. Floyd being a Majority of all the Justices in Benton County and all voting in the affirmative. It is therefore ordered by the Court that the said sum of Nine dollars be allowed & paid said Lewis Brewer by the Treasurer for general County purposes Not otherwise appropriated.
The Court then proceeded to elect a Chairman to preside over the deliberations of this Court for the ensuing year and the votes being counted it appears that D.P. Hudson, Esqr. is duly elected Chairman of this Court, for the present year.
On Motion the Court proceeded to elect a quorum to hold the quorum Courts during the present year and the following justices were duly elected to wit; Geo. W. Farmer, Thomas L. Floyd & John W. Davidson.
The Court then proceeded to Make an appropriation to pay for lights to fill the windows in the Courthouse and to pay for putting in the same and there being present and presiding on the bench a majority of all the Justices in Benton County and all voting in the affirmative. It is ordered by the Court that the sum of seven dollars & 75 cents be allowed and paid to Wm. P Morris to pay said expenses by the Trustee of said County immediately without regard to any other claims filed.
Personally appeared in open Court William M. Malin, Admr. of William Malin deceased and Made return of a second account of sale of said estate and oath having been made to the same, it is ordered by the Court to be recorded.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that James Presson be appointed overseer of the stage road to work from the Town of Camden to the ford of the branch near the 2 Mile tree and that the following hands shall work under said Presson on said road (Viz.) H.M. Brown & hands, Joseph Wiseman, John Capps, Noah Strickland, Berry Cowell, Edmund Cowell, Charles Cowell, Thomas Jones & hands, John B. Bridges, Wyly Smith, Thos. A. Presson and James F. Presson, shall work under said Presson on said road which is established in the 1st Class.
The Court then proceeded to Elect Revenue Commissioners to settle with the
Clerk & Trustee of
On Motion of Levin Cottingham it is ordered by the Court a Majority of all the Justices in Benton County being on the bench and all voting in the affirmative that said Cottingham a Commissioner of the Town of Camden be allowed to pay off the old debt owing to Samuel Ingram for building Courthouse with any money he may have in his hands for the purpose of building a jail.
Personally appeared in open Court Lilly Crocker Constable of the 4th Civil District of Benton County and tendered his resignation as such Constable which was received and it is ordered by the Court that the Sheriff proceed forthwith to open and hold an Election to fill said vacancy.
Personally appeared in open Court Jesse Hammonds, Esqr and tendered his resignation as such which was received and it is ordered by the Court that the Sheriff proceed forthwith to open and hold an election to fill said vacancy.
Personally appeared in open Court William J. Greer and produced a
certificate of his election to the office of Constable in the 9th
Civil District of Benton County together with him, John D. Rushing, E. Perkins
and John W, Utley his securities who appeared in open Court and acknowledged
the due execution of their bond in the penal sum of Four thousand dollars
conditioned as the law directs.
Whereupon the said William J. Greer appeared in open Court and took an
oath to support the Constitution of the
Personally appeared in open Court Jesse Hammonds, executor of the last Will and Testament of Nancy Harrison deceased and together with him Amos Bruce and H.C. Camp his securities who appeared in Court and acknowledged their bond in the penal sun of One thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs.
The Court then proceed to Make an appropriation to George W. Farmer and Thomas L. Floyd Revenue Commissioners for the past year for Making settlement with the Trustee of Benton County for the year 1844 and there being present and presiding on the bench a majority of all the Justices in Benton County and all voting in the affirmative, it is ordered by the Court that George W. Farmer be allowed & paid the sun of two dollars it being all he charges and that Thomas L. Floyd be allowed & paid the sum of Two dollars & fifty cents for his securities and that the Trustee pay the same out of any money in the Treasury for general County purposes not otherwise appropriated.
The Court then proceeded to elect a Ranger for Benton County and there being present and presiding on the bench a Majority of all the Justices of said County and all voting the votes being counted it appears that E.T. Carroll is duly and constitutionally elected ranger for Benton County for the next ensuing two years.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that James Melton be appointed overseer of the road to work from the widow Sarret’s place to the on the top of the Ridge Near Cooper Melton’s in room of Pridgen Melton and that the following hands shall work under said Melton on said road (viz.) Ephraim Arnold, B. Farrow, Fernandas Arnold and John J. Arnold on said road which is established in the 2nd Class.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that Mathew Presson be appointed overseer of the stage road to work from the two Mile tree to the old 13 Mile tree, hands as follows, Lewis Boswell, Henry Boswell, John Davenport, William Presson, William Wiseman, Oliver Armor, Robert Armor, Joseph Cowell, Jr., James Cowell, John Presson, Harvy Presson and Marcellus Cain shall work under said Presson on said road which is established in the 1st Class.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court of this County presented thirteen several
bills of cost accruing in the Circuit Court of this County. The first, the State of
And there being present and presiding on the bench Esqrs. E. Perkins, Nathan Williams, William Barnes, S. H. Davidson, J.W. Davidson, Elijah Alsop, Thomas L. Floyd, George W. Farmer, Wyatt Arnold, Burrel Beard, John D. Rushing being a Majority of all Justices in Benton County and all voting in the affirmative. It is therefore ordered by the Court that the said sum of $143.12½ Cents be allowed & paid by the Trustee of Benton County out of any money in the Treasury for general County purposes Not otherwise appropriated.
The Court then proceeded to levy a tax on all taxable property &
polls in Benton County liable to Taxation for the year 1845 and there being
present & presiding on the bench D.P. Hudson, E. Perkins, John D. Rushing,
Wyatt Arnold, Thos L. Floyd, Elijah Alsop, John W.
Davidson, S.H. Davidson, B. Beard, Nathan Williams and George W, Farmer being a
Majority of all the Justices in Benton County and all voting in the
affirmative. It is therefore ordered by
the Court that the following tax be levied (viz.) for the payment of County
Contingencies on each $1.00 worth of property 7½ Cents on each white poll,
12½ Cents on each Merchant or Pedlers' license, $5.00 on each Stalion
or Jack the seasons' price of one Mare for payment of Jurors on each $1.00
worth of property, 7½ Cents on each white poll 12½ Cents, for the payment of
paupers. On each .$1.00 worth for property 5 cents on each white poll 6¼ cents.
And for the building of public jail on each $1.00 worth of property 10 cents on each white poll, 31¼ cents on each Merchants or peddlers' license, $5.00, each stalion or Jack half the season price of one Mare and that the same be collected and accounted for as the law directs.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court the half acre of ground be inclosed on the public square including courthouse in the center with post and rails of the following dimensions to wit; - The posts to be of good sound post oak timber seven feet Iong, five feet of which is to be hewn 8 inches square; which is to appear above ground, the other two feet to be sunk and well secured in the ground at nine feet distance with the exception of two posts one fronting the North and the other the South door of the Courthouse which are to be four feet apart in the clear, the posts to be mortised to receive six rails on each. The rails to be of good sound white oak timber clear of sap, 6 inches wide, the first four so close as to prevent any kind of stock from popping through the panels fronting each door is to have posts of sufficient length & have a gate fixed substantially between them, hung with substantial hinges on them, and one half feet above the ground underneath of which is to be railed as the other panel and good and substantial blocks placed on each side of each said gates so as to give any easy passage, said inclosure to be in a square form & to be upon the length of two panels at each corner & that the sheriff advertise the same forthwith and let out the same to the lowest bidder at the Next County Court and Make report of the same to elect a ranger for Benton.
Court then adjourned until tomorrow morning
D. P. Hudson J.P. E. Perkins J.P. John W. Davidson J.P.
Court Met according to adjournment, present and presiding on the bench, Esqrs. D.P. Hudson, E. Perkins, J.W. Davidson and Hezekiah Greer.
E. T. Carroll who was on yesterday, eleven o’clock elected Ranger of Benton County together 7ri-th Daniel F. McElyea and David Brewer his security this day appeared in open Court and entered into and acknowledged their bond in the sum of Two hundred dollars conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of said office.
The Clerk of this Court produced to the Court a settlement Made with James K. Nowell, Guardian of certain Minors therein Named which examined and concured in by the Court and ordered to be recorded.
The Clerk of this Court produced to the Court a settlement Made with Burwell Beard Executor of Joshua Curtis deceased which was examined and concurred in by the Court and ordered to be recorded.
The Clerk of this Court produced to the Court a settlement Made with Leonard H. Pope admr. of Simon Pope deceased which was examined & concurred in by the Court & ordered to be recorded.
The Clerk of this Court produced to the Court a settlement Made with Samuel B. Pearce admr. of the estate of John Morris deceased which was examined & concured in by the Court & ordered to be recorded
The Clerk of this Court produced to the Court a settlement Made with Michael Fry Admr. of Joseph Fry deceased which was examined and concurred in by the Court & ordered to be recorded.
The Clerk of this Court presented to the Court a settlement Made with Jno. F. Johnson guardian of certain Minors therein named which were Examined & ordered by the Court to be recorded.
The Clerk of this Court presented to the Court a settlement Made with William Smith Executor of Jeremiah Smith deceased which was examined & concurred by the Court & ordered to be recorded.
The Clerk of this Court presented to the Court a settlement Made with Charles H. Thompson, Admr. of the estate of Will Thompson deceased which was examined & concured in by the Court & ordered to be recorded.
R.S. Ward & others who were appointed at a former term of this Court a jury of review to view & mark an alteration of the road leading from Camden to Pearce’s Bridge commencing at the corner of H. Green's fence and intersect the old road near the top of the ridge toward Will Watson’s Made report that they had viewed the same and recommended to the Court said alteration. It is therefore ordered by the Court that the said alteration as marked out by said jurors be considered a public highway of this county.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that John T. Presson Jr. be appointed overseer of the Pearce’s bridge road from Oliver Amons to Hezekiah Greer and that A.C. Presson, Robert Ward, William McGill, James A. Greer, Jonathan Helms, Geo. W. Rushing, Willie B. Eddington, David N. Nesler and Robt. L. Ward work under him on said road which is Established in the 2nd Class.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that the Sheriff be required to take charge of the courthouse so far as concerns the window lights especially and he is hereby required to make any persons whatever who shall break a light or lights or do any other injury to the courthouse pay him 25 cents for each light so broken, and it shall be his duty to Make inquiry and ascertain the Names of any persons who May break a light or lights unbeknown to him and Make them pay said sum of 25 cents for each light broken & should any person refuse to pay, said Sheriff is required to collect the same by work on action of debt in favour of the County Court & that he apply any Money so collected by him to the line date of the courthouse.
Court then adjourned until Court in Course.
D.P. Hudson J.P. E. Perkins J.P. John W. Davidson J.P.