Knox County Poor Asylum: Not only is it the First in Indiana, but it is the most endangered.

(Vincennes)- Contributed Story-

Let's go back to 1821. The general assembly authorized Indiana's first poor house in Knox County. "For the purpose of using it to house paupers and the indigent."

The first structure ever built was a log-cabin type structure.

In the 1850s a second structure wad built to replace the first. It was a more modern design. The design was of brick and set on 40 acres.

The second structure had burned to the ground on August 16th of 1881. Considered a total loss at $4000. Perry Smith, a resident, was arrested and charged with arson.

The current structure was designed in 1881 by Joseph Frick of Evansville. The style was of Italianate. The original design was that of a cross shape; due to financial reasons only three sides were built.

Originally, the Directors' area was in the center of the structure and residents were on the outer wings. With a dining hall in the lower level of the building.

Just a side note: To the understanding Joseph Frick was the architect for the County Courthouse.

This structure at one point was taken over by Purdue. In hence, the Poor Farm.

Purdue had an area designated as a "model farm". The area that was designated as a "model farm" was in the current location of Clark Memorial.

Residents were transferred back to the Hart St. location.

Lets Dive into the story of the Poor Farm Cemetery ( Potter's Field).

The location of the cemetery for years has been in speculation. The story states as early as the 1800s' provisions were made for keeping and burying the poor. In wasn't until the 1820's General W. Johnson was appointed to purchase a farm for the asylum. In 1852, a new asylum was erected, and the commissioner's issued an order requiring all paupers be sent to the asylum. There were two cemeteries on the farm property. One spot was farmed over. The other was well kept through 1940 to 1960. Housing units were later built on the remaining cemetery. Along with deceased from the Poor Farm being there at that location was also orphans from the Highlands Orphanage.

There is one grave of an unknown baby girl: presumed to be born Sept 1877 to Nov 1877.

From the Vincennes Times:

" A dead girl baby, aged as supposed , about two months, was found in Dr. Mantle's pasture, near the city, last Sunday afternoon. Its head was crushed, as if beaten against a tree. Every effort has been made to ferret out the more than brutish perpetrator of the damnable deed, or the paternity of the childe, but without success. The verdict of the jury, Coroner Hellert, was that it had been killed by party or parties unknown."

From the Mount Carmel Register, 1877

" On the 11th, the body of an unknown, murdered female child was found in the woods near this city, it's neck having been broken and it's skull crushed by striking it against a tree. The child seemed to have been dressed in a white dress, yellow flannel underskirt, blue and white stripped stockings and a steel colored combined cloak and hood trimmed with blue braid. The clothing, except the cloak which was new, appeared to have been made out of old garments. A small bundle of clothes was found near the body but they seemed to belong to an older child. The clothing has been preserved by authorities in the hope that they may furnish some clue to the mystery."

Here are few others and there causes of death:

Charles Baldwin- Exhaustion

Infant Harvey Baldwin- Still Born

Rosa Borders- Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Viola Brown- Consumption of Bowels

Aaron Cochran- Consumption of Bowels

Of course over the years, the cemeteries became lesser of discussion and all those that are buried have became lost souls to our history.

Having recovered some fifty names to add to those that are lost to history:

Della Ashby 1816-1896

Hester Burns 1884-1898

Dorie Done 1894-1896

Infant Erton 1912-1912

Charles W Feltz 1833-1911

Mary Fields 1857-1911

Patrick Fitzpatrick 1821-1905

Cochran unknown-1893

James Conley 1846-1888

Mary Cooper 1895-1896

Celia Crandell unknown-1900

Thomas Decker 1894-1896

Francis E. "Frank" Dobson 1859-1897

Hester Burns 1884-1898

Marion Follwell 1840-1923

George Gordon 1851-1911

John Frank Grubb 1871-1931

Richard Hughes 1833-1907

O.P Jackson unknown-1895

Richard Jackson 1868-1897

Charley Johnson 1847-1902

Maggie Johnson 1855-1900

Perry Johnson 1853-1911

Henry Jones 1862-1904

John Kamplain 1839-1916

Dora " Pressey" Kennedy 1862-1900

Perry Kuntz 1835-1901

Mary McGregor 1906-1906

Eliza Miller 1832-1913

Mike Morgan 1865-1894

Frank O'Haver unknown-1908

Henry O'Haver 1868-1908

Mrs. Eliza Pierson 1836-1901

John Porter 1860-1915

Infant Purcell 1906-1906

Hans Rahm 1842-1907

George Reck 1866-1906

Antono Reuber unknown-1896

John Sauers unknown-1897

Etta Scruggs 1876-1900

Harvey Smith 1849-1912

Matilda Bundy Smith 1830-1910

William Harrison Soden 1847-1906

William Street 1852-1897

Isaac Talibor 1830-1890

Edward Terry unknown -1911

Kelley Thorps 1845-1905

Artimus Ward 1856-1906

Elizabeth Ward 1816-1900

Susie Weekly 1899-1900

According to one directors' son; last name of Cardinal. " There were two indigent cemeteries on the farm property. One spot was farmed over, however we found human bones in this area. The other cemetery was well kept and the farm owners' respected this site. As kids we could see the sites because the ground had settled over time. The last time I was in Vincennes. I discovered that someone had built housing units over this cemetery and I could not locate the cemetery. I could draw a map showing the approximate site."

Knox County Poor Farm/Asylum/Infirmary in recent years has been put on the National Historic Register. In the last few years. this structure has been reclassified as Indiana's most endangered historical sites. With lack of funding, Knox County has let this structure just die in decay. With several individuals having interest. Knox County in recent months with the push of Trent Hinkle has now pushed forward with the intent of razing this structure for a modern updated government structure. Since the beginning: This building has never really lived up to its intended purpose. Closed down, reopened, and shut down again. KCARC was the last one to occupy this structure. Due to several reasons even including letting its lease expire.

One could imagine the stories and the faces of the people. Left to the pages of history. Cemeteries disappearing due to finances or some other reason. One could only imagine..

Below is the floor plan: