In 1850 The Indiana Gazetteer listed the population of Randolph County as about 14,000. It gave the area as about 450 square miles, a little over a 1/4 million acres. It says it is mostly level and at times wet and swampy, appearing to be low, but actually it is about the highest in the state. Randolph County is the beginning of several rivers, including the Big Miami, White River, Blue River, White Water, Mississinewa, Salamonie, Wabash and the St. Marys. These rivers run in all directions and take their rise here.The Indiana Gazetteer was a book showing each county with roads, settlements, streams and general information on the land.
November 3, 1933. Approximately 5000 people crowded the streets of Winchester in the first municipal Halloween celebration which the city has enjoyed in many years. Masked individuals marched around the square and on the last lap they passed across a platform before the judges and the first elimination for prizes began. Dancing began on the south and west sides of the square. On the south side there was old fashioned square dancing and on the west, modern dancing went on in full tilt until after 10 o’clock.
May 25, 1921. The formal opening of the Winchester golf links was held at the Miller field adjoining Winchester on the northwest. The ground is the property of the Winchester Golf Club which was formed a few weeks ago. Golf is the great international game and is popular and prevalent in in practically all cities of any pretension, thus locally we were somewhat slow in preparing for and participating in this great game. The club has a limit on its membership to fifty, with the consequence that the waiting list is well filled. The links are required to have the minimum of hazards and if many of the members develop into expert players here they will have excellent chances to enter matches on any other links. The opening was one that promises a successful future as practically all were new to the game but so interested did they become that they are advocates of the daylight saving plan. During the evening the members enjoyed picnic lunches. As a testimonial of their appreciation of the services of John P. Clark for the club he was presented with a box of golf balls. Mr. Clark has been untiring in his efforts to have Winchester have the best golf course in this section.
March, 1921. The first high school basketball tourney ever held in Winchester will occur March 4th and 5th. Prospects for a successful tourney are bright and the 300 season tickets were divided equally among the competing schools and many Winchester fans are disappointed in not being able to see the games. Only a few single admission tickets will be sold. Ridgeville is being picked by the deposters to win the tournament but will be hard pressed by Selma. Ridgeville has not lost a game this season to any of the competing teams, but Selma received a decisive defeat at the hands of Farmland. Winchester has won ten games and lost three to the competing teams and may be the “dark horse” of the tournament.
February 2, 1921. The County of Randolph now has a hospital, known as the Randolph County Hospital and this week it was formally opened and a large crowd of visitors came and went throughout the entire day. At three o’clock a short program was given with David Cox, county commissioner presiding. Thomas Hutchens, county attorney, made a short address and on behalf of the Randolph County Board of Commissioners turned the hospital over to the Board of Control. Philip Kabel, president of the Board made the speech of acceptance. In the year 1914 this building was erected by Mrs. Hettie Voris, to be used as a home for aged ladies, and on account of lack of support, the home was closed and Mrs. Voris donated the grounds and buildings with all of the furnishings to the County provided the building be converted into a county hospital. In the addresses of both Mr. Hutchens and Mr. Kabel they paid a tribute to Mrs. Voris who so generously gave this great gift to the county. The hospital contains reception rooms, large corridors, two suite of rooms, seven private rooms, a woman’s ward, X-Ray rooms, two surgeries, sewing room, nurses’s dining room, kitchen and laundry which is fully equipped with electrical appliances. Miss Nelle Moist, a graduate nurse of much experience, is the superintendent of the hospital and personally directed the furnishing and the placing of all equipment. Miss Zelphia Gilbert, a graduate of Winchester High School and a graduate nurse of the Cincinnati Hospital, is a member of the staff. The members of the Randolph County Medical Association have donated their services to the indigent poor of the county and treatment will be given in the hospital. Dr. J. S. Robison, of Winchester, has charge of the laboratory and R. W. Reid of Union City has charge of the X-Ray department.
June 21, 1916. The child recently born at the Randolph County Poor Farm to Lulu Wood of Winchester and which was made a ward of the county by Judge Shockley has seemingly found a good home, having been legally adopted by Rollie R. And Belle Howell of Muncie. Mrs. Howell read of the baby having been made a ward of the court and being desirous of a child immediately came to Winchester, visited the child who had been taken to the Moorman Orphanage and consulted Judge Shockley. She was pleased with the child and as the Judge gave his consent to the adoption if she would submit to the court evidence of her and her husband’s financial and moral responsibility. She returned to Muncie and secured the necessary proof and an outfit for the baby. These she submitted to Judge Shockley and the adoption will be made legal in the circuit court. The husband earns good wages and it is believed that the child has a promising future. The new mother christened the girl Georgia Lucille Howell
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