Indiana's Counties
Dearborn County
County Facts
County Seat - Dearborn County
Area - 307.42 square miles
Population - 49,331 (2016 estimate)
Founded - March 7, 1803
Named for- Dr. Henry Dearborn
County Government
Administration Offices
165 Mary St
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
(812) 537-1040
Tourism Information
Dearborn County Visitor Center
320 Walnut Street
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
812-537-0814
800-322-8198
Thumbnail History
Settlers began filtering into the region that would become Dearborn County in the 1790's, mostly clinging to lands along the Ohio River. When the Federal Land Office opened in Cincinatti on April 6, 1801 there were numerous purchases of land along the Ohio River and in several of the creek valleys leading up to the river.
Indiana Territorial Governor created Dearborn County by decree on March 7, 1803, naming it in honor of Dr. Henry Dearborn. The original Dearborn County boundary lines included an area defined by the Ohio/Indiana Territory border on the east, up to the point where the Greenville Treaty line intersected the Indiana/Ohio border. The county line followed the Greenville Treaty line southwest to the bounds of Clark County on the southwest. The county included all of current Ohio County, most of Switzerland county. Portions of several other Southeastern Indiana Counties were later carved from parts of Dearborn county. Lawrenceburg was chosen as the county seat. Because of a political struggle with nearby Rising Sun, the county seat moved on September 26, 1836 to Wilmington where it remained until April 1, 1844, when Lawrenceburg again became the County Seat through an act of the Legislature on January 3, 1844. The Court House currently in use was built during the years of 1870 and 1871.
First Court September 1803
One fo the first offenders was found guilty of striking a judge with a clap board. Punished by confinement in a pen of logs and rails with head placed between two rails.
First Dearborn County jail was constructed in 1804.
Court House History
Still unfinished
Henry Dearborn (Feb. 23, 1751-June 6, 1829)
The son of Simon Dearborn and his wife Sarah Marston, Henry was a native of Hampton, Massachusetts. After attending local schools, Dearborn studied medicine under Dr. Hall Jackson of Portsmouth. After his apprenticeship to Dr. Hall completed he opened a medical practice in 1772.
Revolutionary War
After hostilities broke out in 1776, he recruited a company of militia and served as its captain. He and his company traveled to Bunker Hill and took part in the fight there. His company next participated in the 1775 Quebec campaign with Benedict Arnold, during which the British captured him. They exchanged him in March 1777. Later that year he fought at the Battle of Freeman Farm, the Battle of Saratoga and the Battle of Saratoga. He gained promotion to lieutenant colonel and endured the winter of 177 - 1778 at Valley Forge. Other actions included the 1778 Battle of Monmouth 1779 Sullivan Expedition that fought against the Iroquois in northern New York. In 1781 General George Washington appointed him as deputy quartermaster general on his staff with the rank of colonel. In June 1783 he received his discharge and migrated to Gardiner, Maine to serve as U. S. Marshal for the District of Maine, which was still part of Massachusetts.
Secretary of War
President Thomas Jefferson appointed him Secretary of War at the beginning of his term in 1801. He served the entirety of Jefferson's term in that capacity. During his term he planned the Amerindian removal from the east to areas beyond the Mississippi River.
War of 1812
During the War of 1812 he recieved appointment as a major general in the United States Army in charge of planning the American assault on Montreal, Kingston, Fort Niagara, and Detroit. His tenure proved ineffective leading to his recall from the frontier and reassignment to an administrative post. He received an honorable discharge from the army on June 15, 1815. President James Madison later submitted Dearborn as a candidate for the Secretary of War position, however the Senate did not confirm the nomination.
Later Life
President James Monroe appointed him as Minister to Portugal, a post he held until 1824, when he requested recall. He died five years later and is interred in Forest Hills Cemetery, which is near Boston.
