Parke County was organized in 1821, named in honor of Benjamin Parke, the first member of Congress for the territory.
Image: Illustrated Historical Atlas of Indiana (Baskin, Forster and Company, 1876; Reprinted, Indiana Historical Society, 1968)
Coloma, Indiana
The State of Indiana indicted Albert Coffin, William Morris, James Steel, James Siler and Horace Cannon on the charge of harboring a Negro in April of 1847. The State later dropped the charges against Coffin, Morris, and Steele. Siler was tried, but found not guilty. Cannon was found guilty and assessed a fine of ten dollars. Although free of charges, Steel was fined $25 for failure to appear to answer the indictment.