50327 1896 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1844, by In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Indiana. Printed on Foster's Improved Adams' Power Press. Checked Ma 1015 AFTER several ineffectual attempts to engage others in the undertaking, the following work was resolved upon by the compiler under the conviction that its manifest utility and convenience would secure the appreciation and patronage of the public. He was not without hope, too, that the information which would be acquired in the prosecution of such a work, would shield him somewhat from the reproach of "living as a stranger in his own country, and uninformed of her affairs and interests." The information herein embodied under the title of "The INDIANA ANNUAL REGISTER AND POCKET MANUAL FOR THE YEAR 1845," has been collected at very considerable expense, and an amount and variety of labor which those only who have been engaged in similar undertakings can justly estimate. The value of the work must mainly depend on its adaptation to the general convenience, its arrangement for easy reference, and the correctness of its compilation. On these several points, the compiler-with the single remark that the enterprise was novel to himself, and the sources of information were numerous and widely scattered -is content to abide the opinions of those whose interests he thought would be subserved by the publication of the work. The utility of the present publication to every one pursuing an active business can hardly fail to be at once obvious; while to the merchants and business men generally of the neighboring states of Ohio and Kentucky-especially those in the rapidly increasing cities of Cincinnati and Louisville, between whom and the citizens of Indiana important commercial relations are constantly forming-it is thought the information now brought together in a convenient form for daily reference will be peculiarly acceptable, and particularly so in regard to the names and residences of our PRINCIPAL MERCHANTS, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, and JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, and the TERMS of CIRCUIT COURTS. The PLAN of the work is to present, in the first instance, a CHRONICLE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS in the history of the State, which exhibits in a striking manner its rapid advance from aboriginal jurisdiction to that of the highest civilization; secondly, a detailed view of the CIVIL GOVERNMENT of the State in its several departments and subdivisions; thirdly, under the heads of the respective counties, the names and residences of COUNTY OFFICERS, NOTARIES PUBLIC, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, PHYSICIANS, and PRINCIPAL MERCHANTS, the names of POST-OFFICES and POST-MASTERS, and other local information; and lastly, lists of the MINISTERS of different religious denominations, so far as practicable in a first attempt to collect and class them; names, locality and officers of LITERARY INSTITUTIONS; notices of PubLIC INSTITUTIONS and WORKS of INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT; and generally, all matters calculated to exhibit a condensed view of the SOCIAL POLICY and CONDITION OF THE STATE. In all cases the compiler has used the most authentic materials, and for these he has personally or by letter applied to gentlemen qualified to furnish them; while his own residence at the Capital for several years, and his ready access to the public offices, have enabled him to give a degree of correctness to the work not otherwise easily attainable. Circulars were addressed to gentlemen in the several organized counties-ninety in number-for special information in regard to their local affairs, and these have been relied upon as correct in all cases where no corroborating evidence was at hand; but where the names of officers and the commencement of their official life could be determined at the office of Secretary of the State, the records there have been thoroughly consulted and followed. If, therefore, gentlemen holding commissions issued through that office shall find erroneous dates or spelling of their names, they will please take some portion of the fault on themselves for allowing them to remain so long uncorrected. Some errors will probably be observed, but these it is believed, excepting merely typographical ones, will be found such as arise from changes daily occurring in official and social life-and hence unavoidable-rather than in mis-statements of matters of fact. In the spelling of names great diversity prevails even in the same locality, so that it has been found one of the most embarrassing things in the compilation of this work—including as it does thousands of names— to determine the nominal orthography. In one instance, the name of a gentleman who has the honor to represent three counties in the General Assembly of 1844-45, was officially certified in three different modes of spelling by the proper officers. Of course, under such circumstances, the compiler will be readily excused if in some instances the names of individuals shall be written differently from their own usage. Keeping in view the object of the work-to furnish a pocket manual or vade mecum for every one engaged in active business-it has been found necessary to compress the matter into a convenient form, and hence—although the work is larger and comprises more information than any similar one published in other States so far as known to the compiler-much has been left out that would have greatly contributed to its value. The compiler has entered into this undertaking at his own risk and expense, confidently relying on remuneration, at least, from the public; and he would fain hope that this confidence may be reciprocated so far as future improvements in the work are designed by him. These, it is almost superfluous to remark, will be rendered necessary by the lapse of time, and those material changes which are constantly occuring in the political, commercial, and social relations of the State. In short, to get up such a work in future years as shall be worthy of the people and the State-embracing details in every department of business—will require much labor and expenditure, which, in the humble opinion of the compiler and in all deference to THE PUBLIC, it is the duty of the latter most puissant body to requite by the bestowment of a prompt and liberal patronage. The compiler cannot forbear to add that the paper used in this work was expressly made for it by Messrs. William Sheets & Co., of Indianapolis, and is deemed a superior article for the purpose. In the execution of the typography, Mr. E. Chamberlain, of this city, has certainly exhibited a handsome specimen of the art, creditable alike to his office and those who have been employed on the work. INDIANAPOLIS, December, 1844. |