Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume I, Part 1

Author: Gary, Abraham Lincoln, 1868-; Thomas, Ernest B., 1867-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Indianapolis, Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 580


USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41



GEN


3


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY


3 1833 00097 8541


Gc 977.201 R89G v. 1 GARY, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 1868- CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY, INDIANA


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center


http://www.archive.org/details/centennialhistor01gary


--


RUSH COUNTY COURT HOUSE


Centennial History of Rush County, Indiana


Edited by A. L. Gary and E. B. Thomas Rushville, Ind.


In Two Volumes Illustrated 1C 9.7.


GI, rae. i


VOLUME I


1921 HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS


"Remember the days of old,


Consider the years of many generations."


DEDICATION This Work is Respectfully Dedicated to THE PIONEERS Long Since Departed


MAY THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO LAID DOWN THEIR BURDENS BY THE WAYSIDE EVER BE FRAGRANT AS THE BREATH OF SUMMER FLOW- ERS, FOR THEIR TOILS AND SACRIFICES HAVE MADE RUSH COUNTY A GARDEN OF SUNSHINE AND DELIGHT


2


1435529


PUBLISHER'S PREFACE


History is a systematic record of past events; especially the record of events in which man has taken part. "The perfect historian," says Macaulay, "is he in whose work the character and spirit of the age is exhib- ited in miniature." A glance at the Table of Contents of this "Centennial History of Rush County" will dis- close a design on the part of the publishers of this work to set out here a systematic record of the events which have led up to the present state of development of this favored region, beginning with the time when white men first set foot on this territory, and in carrying out this design the historians have sincerely sought to preserve something of "the character and spirit of the age." so that there shall here be preserved a faithful chronicle of the aspirations and the achievements of the pioneers, at the same time tracing and recording the social, religious, educational, political and industrial progress of the com- munity from its inception. The context will reveal the sincerity of purpose upon which the motive for the pres- ent publication is based; a purpose to preserve facts and personal memoirs that are deserving of perpetuation for the information of coming generations and which shall serve as links uniting the present to the past. To those who have so faithfully labored to this end, the publishers desire to extend their thanks. An expression of obliga- tion also is due to the people of Rush county for the uni- form kindness with which they have regarded this under- taking, and for their many services rendered in behalf of the historiographers. It is believed that it will be found that this unselfish collaboration has secured to Rush


3


PREFACE


county a history that will stand as a standard in this field for the next generation and as an authentic guide to future generations.


In passing, it is thought that it will not be regarded as out of place for the publishers conscientiously to claim that in placing this work before the people of Rush county they faithfully have carried out the plan as outlined in the prospectus upon which the work is based. Every biographieal sketch in the work has been submitted to the party interested, for correction, and therefore any error of fact, if there be any, is due solely to the person for whom the sketch was prepared. Confident that our ef- fort to please will meet the approbation of the public, we are, Respectfully,


THE PUBLISHERS.


4


CONTENTS


CHAPTER I-GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY 17 In This Opening Chapter There Is Set Out Something Regarding the Location and Boun- daries of Rush County - Geological Ages Through Which This Region Has Passed- Work of Countless Centuries-Economic Im- portance of the Drift Period-Gravel and Lime- stone Deposits-Fertile Surface Soil-Altitude and Types of Soil-Varieties of Clay Loam- Mechanical Analyses of Various Soils-Effect of Cultivation-Garden Spot of Rush County- Value of Fertilization.


CHAPTER II-INDIAN TRIBES AND INDIAN OCCUPANCY


29


Review of the Days When This Region Was Occupied by the Delaware Indians, or Lenni- Lenappes-Village of Chief Mahoning, or "Ben Davis," at Point Now Known as "Arnold's Home"-Treaty of St. Marys in 1819-Rich Lands Made Available to Settlement by Whites Invaluable Glimpse of Indian Life-Description of Aboriginal Village-Crafty and Boastful Indian Warrior-Fitting Death of Old Chief Mahoning-Local Traces of the Mound Builders.


CHAPTER III-EARLY SETTLEMENT


36


A Chapter Designed "to Make the Past Intelli- gible to the Present, for the Guidance of the Future"-Beauty In Cold Facts-Narrative of the Doings of Those Courageous Men and Women Who Wrought Here That Wonder of Human Progress Which We Call Civilization- Reclamation of Primeval Forest to the Uses of Man-Lure of the Farther Horizon-Erection


5


CONTENTS


of Rush County-Communal Debt to Doctor Arnold-Concise View of Early Days-Creation of a New Home-Noble Memorial to Doctor Rush-Native Denizens of the Wild-Days of the Wild Turkey-Colorful Snake Story-First Sale of Public Land-Roster of the "Fathers" of Rush County.


CHAPTER IV-AGRICULTURE


66


Herein Is Set Out a Review of the Development of the Basic Source of Rush County's Great Prosperity-Far Cry from the First Settler's Clearing to the Modern Farm-First County Agricultural Society-Something About the Old County Fair Days -Story of That Equine Phenomenon, "Blue Bull"-Deleterious Effect on County Fair-Patrons of Husbandry, or Grangers-Market Prices of Another Day- Increase In Land Values-In the Days of "Marks and Brands"-Milroy Farmers' Festi- val - Rush County Farmers' Association- Farmers' Clubs and Institutes - Work of County Agricultural Agent-Record of Farm Production-Register of Farm Names.


CHAPTER V-TRANSPORTATION


92


Development of Transportation Facilities from the Days of the "Blazed Trail" to the Present- Difficulties Attending the Marketing of the Early Crops-Growing Demand for Better Roads-Beginning of Hack Lines-Extension of Good Roads-The Whitewater Canal-Coming of the Railroads-Compliments to "Smooth- Tongued Scoundrels"-Coming of the Traction Lines - Automobiles and Airplanes - Good Word for Rush County's Fine System of High- ways.


CHAPTER VI-BENCH AND BAR OF RUSH COUNTY 110


First Court in Rush County Held at Cabin Home of Stephen Sims Across River from Present Site


6


CONTENTS


of Rushville-Review of Personnel of This Pioneer Court-First Cause a Divorce Case- Expenses of Court - First Naturalization Papers-County's First Murder Case-Court Document of Other Days-Composition of the Court-Life of the Traveling Attorney-Rem- iniscences of Oliver H. Smith-Some Cases in Point-The Megee Will Case-Officers of the Court Since the Beginning-Notable Figures at the Bar-Roster of Rush Circuit Bar.


CHAPTER VII-MILITARY ANNALS


141


Pen Picture of Pioneer Militia Company- Local Participation in Mexican War-Soldiers of the Revolution and of 1812-The Civil War -Description of Scene Following the Firing on Ft. Sumter-Record of Rush County in Civil War on Soldiers' Monument in East Hill Ceme- tery-Foul Hand of Treason Disclosed During War-Roster of Rush County Men Who Served in Union Army-Spanish American War- World War and a Review of Rush County's Activities During the Period of America's Par- ticipation Therein, Together With a Roster of Service Men From This County.


CHAPTER VIII - COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 198


Enabling Act of 1821 Providing for the Erection of Rush County Named Commissioners to Make the Act Effective and Provided for the First Meeting of These Commissioners in the House of Stephen Sims-Bounds of County As Specified in Act Surveyed and Laid Out by William B. Laughlin, at Whose Suggestion the County Was Given Its Name-Six Original Townships and Later Steps for Creation of Additional Town- ships-County's First Election-History of the Court House and a Roster of County Officers.


7


CONTENTS


CHAPTER IX-TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 219 In Alphabetical Order Herein Is Set Out a Brief History of the Several Townships of the County and of the Villages Situated Therein, Beginning With Anderson Township and Then Continuing With Like Reference to Center, Jackson, Noble, Orange, Posey, Richland, Ripley, Rushville, Union, Walker and Washington Townships and the Towns of Carthage, Milroy, Manilla, Arling- ton, Glenwood, New Salem, Richland, Homer, Moscow, Raleigh, Falmouth and Other Trade Centers in the County.


CHAPTER X-RUSHVILLE; THE COUNTY SEAT


257


Herein Is Presented a Review of the Steps Which Have Led Up From the Days of the Clearing in the Woods at the Site of Laughlin's Mill to the Present Fair City, Capital of Rush County, Now Entering Upon the Second Cen- tury of Its Existence-Miscellaneous Informa- tion Regarding City-In the Days of the Begin- ning-Nucleus of the Town in the Woods- Gradual Development - City Government - Postoffice - East Hill Cemetery - Business Directory for 1921.


CHAPTER XI-BANKS AND BANKING. 291


Review of Conditions Which Faced the Pioneers With Respect to a Current Medium of Exchange -Hopeless Confusion of the Monetary System -Coonskins and Beeswax Preferable to "Wild- cat" Money as a Medium of Exchange-Organ- ization of the Bank of the State of Indiana and of the Rushville Branch of the Same in 1857, Predecessor of the Present Rushville National Bank-Other Banks in the County and Some Interesting Notes on Banking Conditions in Other Days.


8


CONTENTS


CHAPTER XII- THE PRESS OF RUSH 313


COUNTY


No More Interesting Phase of the Development of a Community Than That Relating to the Development and Progress of Its Newspapers- Quaint Story of the Beginnings of The Dog Fennel Gazette, First Paper Started in Rush County-Brief Resume of the Newspaper His- tory of the County, With Interesting References to Conditions Which Faced the Editors of an Earlier Day-Valuable Relic of Pioneer Days- Preservation of Newspaper Files-Newspapers of Rush County Today.


CHAPTER XIII-THE MEDICAL PROFES- SION


337


Herein Is Set Out Something Concerning the High Character and Lofty Standards of the Leaders of the Medical Profession Hereabout in Pioneer Days and of How That Character and Those Standards Have Been Maintained From the Very Beginning-Rush County Medical Society-A Review of the Days Gone By-Dr. William A. Pugh's Informative Reminiscences Relating to the Pioneer Physicians of the County -Some Sidelights on the Practice of Medicine.


:


CHAPTER XIV-THE SCHOOLS OF RUSH COUNTY 351


Though the First Formal School in the County Seems to Have Been That Opened by Doctor Laughlin in the Fall Following the Establish- ment of the County Seat, Evidence Points to the Fact of a Pioneer School Having Been Opened for the Children of the Squatters in What Is Now Noble Township Even Before Rush County Was Organized-Building of the Pioneer School House-Review of Conditions in Pioneer Days and the Gradual Evolution of the Modern School System-In the Days of the Academies-Will-


9


CONTENTS


iam S. Hall and the Centralized School-County Superintendents and Roster of Teachers of Rush County.


CHAPTER XV-THE CHURCHES OF RUSH COUNTY


396


Even Before the Formal Erection of Rush County as a Separate Civic Unit the Itinerant Preacher Was on the Ground and Churches Had Been Organized by the Pioneers Before They Set in Motion the Machinery of Their Local Gov- ernment-First of These Organizations Grew Out of a Meeting Held in the Trading Post of Conrad Sailor in the Spring of 1821, Though Other Evidence Points to Meetings for Worship a Year Earlier-Minute Book of First Church Organization Reviewed-Informative Remi- niscences of Other Days and a Review of Condi- tions Today.


CHAPTER XVI-LODGES AND CLUBS OF RUSH COUNTY 456


As Generally Has Been Found to Be the Case, the Freemasons Were the Pioneers in the Lodge Movement in Rush County, a Lodge of This Order Having Been Founded in Rushville Less Than Sixteen Years After the Founding of the Town-Comprehensive History of Local Free- masonry Compiled by Robert S. Cox Years Ago a Basis for Present History-Other Orders and Lodges in County, and an Interesting Review of Social Clubs and Societies That Have Con- tributed to the Cultural Advancement of the County.


CHAPTER XVII-SIDELIGHTS ON RUSH COUNTY HISTORY 494


One of the Most Engaging "Sidelights" on the Early Days in This County Is That Reflected from the Record of the Rush County Library Association, Organized in 1823, Not Long After


10


CONTENTS


the Formal Organization of the County-Devel- opment of the Rushville Public Library-Rush County Chautauqua-First Marriage License Issued in the County and Some Other Interest- ing "Firsts," Together With Comments on Va- rious Phases of Earlier Activities, Closing With a Word on the Subject of Biography.


.


11


HISTORICAL INDEX


-A-


Abandoned Churches


453


Academies of Rush County.


363-378


Additions to Rushville. 261


Agriculture


66-91


Agricultural Agent.


84


Agricultural Society


67


Airplane Express


505


Altitudes


21


American, The.


316, 329


American Legion, The


177, 223, 242


American Red Cross,


The


178


Analysis of Soils


23, 25, 27, 28


Anderson Township .... 203, 205, 220, 386


Animals of the Wild.


47


Area of Different Soils


21


Arlington Bank, The.


305


Arlington, Town of


235


Arnold, Dr. John.


29, 31, 38, 80, 118, 219, 231, 245, 247,


265, 272, 313, 337, 341, 345, 351, 408


"Arnold's Home"


29, 245


Ashland


255


Assassination of Patriot


146


-B-


"Banner" Hog County


.90, 527


Baptist Churches


451


Bank Note Safeguard.


297


Coroners of County


217


Banks and Banking


291-312


Bank of Carthage, The


303


Bench and Bar


110-140


"Ben Davis"


31, 33, 42, 245


Benson, Luther


493, 520


Bigger, Samuel.


134, 139, 266, 443


Biography, the Study of.


528


Birds of the Wild


49


Black Hawk War


142


Blades, John


229, 401, 502


Blount, Rev. J. B.


382, 395, 397, 403, 417, 418, 424, 425


"Blue Bull"


71


Boundaries of Rush County


17, 200


"Bound" Boys and Girls.


515


Bounties for War Service.


150


Boy Scouts


189


B. P. O. Elks


470


Bridges


99


Brookville Land Office


37, 42, 60, 62, 292


Brown, William J.


266, 317, 319


Building and Loan Associations


...... 311


Building Stone


18


Business Interests of Rushville


287


Butler College


367


-C-


Cabin of the Pioneers


43


Campbell, Alexander


404


Carmel


256


Carthage Citizen, The


330


Carthage, Town of


240


Cassady, Weir.


42, 64, 245


Catholic Church


452


Census Statistics


254, 270


Center Township.


202, 205, 224, 386


Centralized School, The First.


376


Chautauqua Society


500


Christian Churches of County


412


Churches' Aid in War.


185


Churches of Rush County


396-455


Church Feuds.


517, 519


Church of God


453


Circuit Riding Lawyers


122


City Government (Rushville)


274


Civil War, The.


142, 323


Clark, George C.


139, 266, 296, 298, 316, 320, 520


Clerks of Court ..


133


Commercial Club.


282


Corn Growing Contests


87


County Agricultural Agent


84


County Assessors


217


County Auditors


216


County Commissioners,


198, 210, 215


County Council of Defense


194


County Fair, The.


67-74


County Government


198-218


County


County Recorders


216


County Seat, The.


110, 257-290


County Superintendents


380


County Surveyors


216


County Treasurers


216


Court House History


210, 463


Courts of County


110, 131


Crop Statistics.


77


-D-


"Dark Corner of Rush County"


232


Daughters of the American Revolu-


tion


141, 190, 473, 499


Debating


Societies


379


12


Officers


132, 215


INDEX


Delaware Indians 29


Dentists of Rush County. 340


Dewey, Jacob.


44


District School, The Old.


378


Dog Fennel Gazette, The 313


Dow, Lorenzo


237


Drainage


24


-E-


Early Markets


61, 75


Early Settlement of County.


36


East Hill Cemetery


144, 278


Education


351-395


Election, The First


207


Electric Light Plant


269,


284


Equine Phenomenon.


71


Erection of Rush County .... 37, 198, 260


-F-


Fairview Academy.


368


Falmouth Bank, The


308


Falmouth, Village of


247


Farmers' Association


81


Farmers' Clubs


83


Farmers' Festival at Milroy 80


Farmers' Insurance Association 311


Farmers' Station


239


Farming


66-91


Farmington Academy


367


Farm Names, Register of


91


Farm Production, Record of. 87


Fertilizer, Value of


26, 86


Fire Loss at Rushville


274, 276


First County Election


First Court


First Court House


115


First Gristmills


60


First Marriage License


502


First Murder Case


115


First National Bank of Mays.


307


First National Bank of Milroy


306


First Naturalization


113


First Road Survey


94, 503


First Settlers


37, 39, 60, 62


First Tax Assessment


208


Flood of 1913.


511


Flora of the Wild


58


Forest Primeval, The


58


Fowls of the Wild.


49


Frame, Dr. William.


266, 269, 317, 319, 337, 341, 346, 514


Fraternal Organizations


190


Freemasonry


456-465


Friends Academy


363


Friends, Society of


239, 426, 508


-G-


Genealogical Research


529


Geology of Rush County.


17


Gings Station


247


Glenwood State Bank, The.


308


Glenwood, Village of


247


"Deserted Villages"


255


"Gold Star" Roster.


169


Good Roads Movement.


94, 98


Gowdy, John K


133, 163, 216


Graham, David


316, 374, 382, 389, 395, 444, 446


Grain Production 77 Grand Army of the Republic.


144, 162, 223, 242


Grand Jury, First


110


"Grangers"


74


Graphic, The.


315


Gravel Deposits


19


Green, Rans Byrd


42, 64,


245


Green Township


201


Gristmills, The First 60


-H-


Hackleman, Abram


63, 229,401


Hackleman, Elijah


.141, 219, 228, 362, 377, 400


Hackleman, Pleasant A.


132, 133, 135, 139,


143, 147, 150, 152, 176, 266, 268, 278,


279, 315, 366, 390, 466, 497, 514, 520


Hack Lines.


.96


Hall, Frank J.


136, 139, 252, 266


Hall, William S


.136, 252, 376


Hanging of Swanson


118, 142


Havens, Rev. James


143, 235, 321, 405, 408, 433 Helm, Dr. Jefferson.


247, 266, 273, 279, 337, 341, 346, 367


Henderson, Village of


227


207


Henley, Joseph


65, 239,


427


110


Henley Memorial Library


242


Highway Statistics


99


Hill, Robert.


65, 239, 241, 427


History of Churches


.396-455


Hog Raising


78, 88, 527


Holt, Drury


235, 334, 383, 414, 418, 422, 484


Homecoming


Festival.


506


Homer, Town of.


.251


Horsethieves in Old Days


232, 510


-1-


Improved Order of Red Men ..


.469


Indentures


515


Indiana State Centennial.


487, 506


Indian Mounds


34


Indian Occupancy


29, 31, 245


Insurance Association, Local


523


-J-


Jacksonian, The


.315, 321


Jackson Township .... 202, 205, 226, 386


Jail, The County


209


Jennings, Jonathan .... 30, 110, 199, 261


Judges of Rush County


132


13


INDEX


Judicial Circuit (Third) 121 Julian, John 62, 215, 222, 260


Junior Red Cross 185


-K-


Kiwanis Club


282, 285, 476


Knights of Pythias


468


-L-


Land Office Sales 37, 42, 60, 62 Land Values 77


Laughlin, William B


44, 60, 63, 199, 208, 216, 231, 244, 260, 263, 318, 337, 345, 351, 363, 444, 494 Lawyers of County 139


Lenni-Lenappe Indians


29


Liberty Bond Sales


196


Library, Public


494


Limestone


19


Little Flack Rock Seminary


365


Lodges and Clubs.


456-493


-M-


Mahoning, Chief


31, 33, 245


Making of a Town


262, 284


Manilla Bank, The


304


Manilla, Town of.


249


Marcellus


256


Markets of Early Days


61, 75, 93


"Marks and Brands"


79


Masonic Order


456


Mauzy (Griffin) Station


246


Mayors of Rushville


276


Mays, Village of ..


226


McKee, Capt. John


147, 154, 371, 381, 392, 449


"Means vs. Anti-Means"


519


Pioneer Schools


354


Medical Profession, The.


337-350


Memorial Tribute


258


Methodist Episcopal Churches.


433


Mexican War.


141


Military Annals


141-197


Militia Drill Days


141


Milroy Bank, The.


306


Milroy Farmers' Festival.


80


Milroy Press, The.


332


Milroy, Town of


222


Monarch of the Forest


59


Morgan, Amaziah


64, 215, 245, 260, 264


Morton, Oliver Perry


132, 137, 145, 160


Moscow, Village of.


234


Moses, John F


211, 213, 217,


219, 314, 316, 324, 362, 370, 397, 400


Mound Builders, The.


34


Mt. Etna


256


Murder Case, First


115


-N ---


Native Animals


47


Natural Gas


.269, 284


Neighborliness, Spirit of ..


.. 90, 257, 506


News, The.


316, 328


New Salem State Bank, The. 309


New Salem, Village of.


230


Newspaper Files


280, 320


Newspapers of County


313-336


Nicknames of Schools


.522


Noble Township.


200, 204, 228, 386


-0-


Odd Fellowship


466


Officers of County


132, 215


Orange Township ...... 201, 206, 231, 387


Order of Eastern Star


462


-P-


Patriot Assassinated


146


Patrons of Husbandry


74


Pedigree, Value of.


530


Peoples National Bank, The


301


Peoples Loan & Trust Co.


302


Perkins, Jehu.


.61, 110, 112, 142, 200, 215, 229, 260


Physicians of County


337-350


Pioneer Banking


291, 309


Pioneer Cabin


43


Pioneer Court Document.


119


Pioneer Justice.


33


Pioneer Militia Company


141


Pioneer Reminiscences ..


38, 44, 116, 118, 124, 281, 313, 324, 333, 340, 354, 362, 391, 396, 428, 508


Pioneer Roads.


92


Politics, a Review of.


213


Population, Basic Elements of ..


.. 36


Population, Statistics on


254, 270


Posey Township ..


203, 206, 234, 387


Postoffice at Rushville.


276


Poultry Culling.


88


Presbyterian Churches


442


Press of Rush County, The ...... 313-336


Prison Limits


115


Prosecuting Attorneys.


132


Public Library


494


Public Square, The


260


Pugh, Dr. William A.


340


Puntenney, George H


80, 135, 139, 154, 276, 315, 446


-Q-


Quaker Settlement.


239, 427


Quarries in County


18


14


INDEX


-R-


Railroads, Coming of.


102


Raleigh, Town of. 253


"Rebel House," The


524


Records (City) Destroyed


274


Reeve, Benjamin F.


228, 266, 364, 377, 414, 417, 418, 423 Register of Farm Names 91


Reminiscences


38, 44, 116, 118, 124, 281,


313, 316, 355, 362, 397, 428, 483, 508


Republican, The


316, 326


Retributive Justice.


33


Revolutionary War


141, 474


Richland Academy


238, 370


Richland Township .... 201, 205, 236, 387


Richland, Village of


238


Ripley Rangers, The


510


Ripley Township.


.200, 204, 239, 387


Roads in Early Days


92


Roster of Bar


139


Roster of Physicians


339


Roster of Soldiers.


152, 166-175


Roster of Teachers


386


Rotary Club.


282, 285, 474


Rural Mail Delivery


277


Rush Circuit Court.


110


Rush County Chautauqua


500


Rush County Historical Society.


321


Rush County in War


141-197


Rush County Medical Society


337


Rush County National Bank


299


Rush County Seminary


366


Rush, Dr. Benjamin


44, 199, 208, 264, 345


Rushville Business Directory


285


Rushville City Schools.


388


Rushville Female Institute.


369


Rushville National Bank, The


298


Rushville Social Club.


479


Rushville, The County Seat.


208, 257-290


Rushville Township .... 202, 203, 243, 387


Russell, Enoch


37, 228


-S-


Sailor, Conrad.


.64, 208, 217, 228, 260, 263, 400, 401


Sanitary Commission, The


158


Sanitation, Regulation of


350


Savannah


255


Scalp Tree, The


32


School Bonds.


391


School Nicknames


522


Schools Aid in War


191


Schools of Rush County, The .... 351-395


Schools Twenty Years Ago


384


Seat of Justice, The.


208, 261


Seed Testing Plant.


86


Service Men in World War.


169


Settlement of County


36, 199


Sexton, Dr. Horatio G ..


127, 244, 267, 268,


337, 341, 345, 369, 442, 461, 491, 495


Sexton, Leonidas


135, 139, 300, 369, 460, 464


Sexton, Village of.


.227


Shakespeare Club


480


Shauck, John L ....


351, 376, 382


Sheriffs of Rush County


133


"Sidelights" on County History. 494 Sims, Stephen ...... 60, 110, 199, 266, 381 Slaves Enter Land. 525


Sleeth, George B ....... 135, 139, 156, 485 Smith, Oliver H ... 113, 115, 124, 318, 410 Snakes of the Old Days 53


Social Clubs


477


Soil Analysis


23, 25, 27, 28


Soil Fertility.


20


Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home .. 135, 159, 225


Soldiers' Monument


144


Soldiers' Roster


152


Spanish-American War


164


Spelling Matches.


378


Stage Lines


93


Statistics, Miscellaneous


526


Statistics on Crops


77


Statistics on Population.


254, 270


State Highway Commission


100


State Representatives.


218


Street Fairs


488


State Senators


218


"Sultana" Disaster, The.


157


Superintendents of Schools.


380


Swanson, Edward I.


111, 118, 142, 246, 522


Swine Breeding


78, 88, 527


-T-


Taxes in Pioneer Days


.208


Teachers of Rush County


386


Telephone


270


Thompson,


John P.


229, 402, 403, 406, 412, 425


Toll Roads.


95


Topography of Rush County.


... 17, 21


Townships


200, 219, 386


Townships and Villages


219-256


Township Trustees


255, 386


Traction Lines.


107


Tragedy in Orange


521


Transportation


...


92-109


Treason in the '60's


145


Treaty of St. Marys


29, 30,37


Trustees, Township


255, 386


Turkeys, Wild.


49


Types of Soil.


21


-U-


Underdrainage


24


Underground Railroad


509


15


INDEX


Union Township ........ 200, 206, 245, 387 United Presbyterian Churches ...... 445


-V-


Value of Farm Lands .77


Vandals Destroy Records 274


Veeder, Charles H.


111, 139, 216, 267, 278, 495


Villages, "Deserted"


255


-W-


Walker Township .... 202, 204, 248, 387 War Fund Campaigns. 181


War Record of County


141-197


Washington Township 200, 204, 251, 387


Waterworks at Rushville 269, 284 Watson, James E. 136 Wheat, Cost 89


Whetzell's Trace 504


Whitewater Canal 100. 319


Wick, William W. 110, 115, 132


Wild Animals


47


Williams, Isaac. 38, 228


Wolfe, Joel


143, 147, 150, 152,


163, 176, 279, 321, 369, 412, 466, 514 Woman's Council, The 471


Woman's Relief Corps


163


Women in War Work 180


World War, The


166-197


Wreck of the "Sultana" 157


HISTORICAL


CHAPTER I


GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY


Rush county (Indiana) lies west of Fayette and Franklin, north of Decatur, east of Shelby and Hancock, and south of Henry and Hancock counties. A study of the outcropping rocks of the county shows that this re- gion has passed through three geological ages, the Upper Silurian, the Devonian, and the Quarternary or Drift period. To the first of these groups belong the Laurel limestone and the Waldron clay which outcrop in the Big Flatrock creek near Moscow and in the Little Flatrock creek near Milroy. Going upstream from Moscow, the Laurel limestone passes below drainage and the Devonian limestone appears in the bed of the creek. The drift, which belongs to the third and last age, covers the entire county to an average depth of 100 feet, and belongs to the earlier and later invasions of the Wisconsin ice sheet. The drift is so deep in Rush county that only in a few cases is it noted that the streams have cut their way down into the rock of the first two ages.




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