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Switzerland County Courthouse
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Switzerland County was organized formally October 1, 1814. Vevay is
the County Seat.
Switzerland County Historical and Descriptive
The first settlement within the limits of Switzerland, of which any
definite account can be obtained, was made by Heathcoat Picket, who
settle above Plum Creek, about three miles above Vevay, in 1795,
where he built a cabin and remained for several years. There being
an abundance of game, his family were always supplied with meat. The
bread was made from corn ground in a hand mill. The family consisted
of the father, mother, two sons and one daughter. They all endured
severe privations, and often narrowly escaped the dreaded tomahawk
of the treacherous savages. In 1798 the Cotton and Deckason families
settled on Indian Creek, about three miles from the Ohio River, some
distance from Vevay. In 1799 Robert Gullion settled in the Ohio
River bottom above the mouth of Loglick Creek.
In 1796 John James Dufour, a native of Switzerland, Eroupe, explored
the country along the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Louisville,
seeking a suitable location for the future homes of himself, his
son, four brothers, three sisters, and a few of their associates who
were desirous of coming to America to introduce the cultivation of
the vine. He finally located between Indiana and Plum Creeks, and
entered, under a special act of congress, about three thousand acres
of land, at two dollars per acre, with interest, on a credit of
twelve years - the extended credit being given for the purpose of
encouraging the cultivation of the vine and making domestic wine.
The colonists, numbering seventeen souls, embarked for the United
Sates in January 1801, and land at Norfolk, Virginia, in May of the
same year. They began arriving at their destination, New Switzerland
- the name give to their new settlement - in 1803, and by 1809 they
had built comfortable log houses, cleared considerable land, planted
orchards and vineyards, and commenced making considerable quantities
of wine, which in the market was always known as "Vevay Wine."
In November 1813, John Francis Dufour and Daniel Dufour laid out the
town of Vevay - the lots being sold at public sale. This sale was
quite successful, many persons from neighboring settlements being
present and purchasing liberally. In the spring of 1814 persons from
Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York commenced settling in the new town.
The site of the town, for the most part, was lying in a very heavy
timbered tract of land, and it required much hard work to clear off
the timber and build houses. The county was organized in 1814, and
the county seat was located at Vevay.
The hardships of the early settlers of Switzerland County may be
imagined, from the fact that from 1803 to 1813 the settlers within
the limits of the county were in continual dread of being attacked
and massacred by bands of hostile Indians. As a means for better
protection against surprise by the Indians, several families would
meet at night at the house of one of the number, and while the women
and children and part of the men retired to rest, part of the men
kept watch with loaded guns. Through these precautions, but few, if
any, persons ever met their death at the hands of hostile Indians in
that county.
Immediately after the organization of the county it began to
increase in population, and from 1816 to 1822 towns were laid out in
different parts of the county, and the general scene was that of
activity, industry and thrift. In 1815 James McIntire laid out the
town of Erin, opposite Carrrollton, Ky., but was unsuccessful in his
attempts to attract population at that point. In 1816 Peter Demaree
laid out the town of Allensville, which for some time promised to
become an important point. It is now a pleasant village. Thus we
might name several towns that were laid out in the county in
1816-1817-1818, etc. In short, its progress was fully up to the best
counties in the State. The farmers of the county are a very
industrious, moral, hard-working people; most of them have gained an
independence, and are now enjoying the fruits of their labors,
having excellent residences, while their children enjoy the best of
schools. Hay is the great staple of the county, and has been
exported with great profit. The county is well timbered with the
very best quality of wood,and the farmer has all the opportunities
and advantages for success. Switzerland County has not increased in
population as rapidly as in wealth. Its villages are all established
on a firm footing, and its commerce and agriculture are exceedingly
prosperous.
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Website
Updates: 31Jan2020
Land: Owners of Land in Switzerland County,
Ind 1820
Notices: Marriage: Shaw-Smith; MALIN-SEYMOUR; MYERS-GARY; WHITE-MULL Obit: Julia Elizabeth Gilbert, Enis T Littlefield, William Fancula Tax Lists 1858
5Nov2019
Marriage Notices: Ledgerwood-Keefer;
Cravens-Marshall; Humphrey, Keeney; Humphrey, Harris -
Submitted by Teresa Haines Rigney
Obits: Abby Wells; Foster; Mary Randolph - Submitted by Teresa Haines Rigney 10Jul2019
Directory: Indiana Manufacturers and Buyers'
Guide, 1889
10Apr2019
Obit - NELSON
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