USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > A history of the formation, settlement and development of Hamilton County, Indiana, from the year 1818 to the close of the Civil War > Part 11
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ence. The officials were John Hall, presiding elder ; L. W. Munson, local preacher. The presiding elders from 1853 to 1862 were John N. Hull, Augustus Eddy and H. A. Barnes.
The church buildings of this church have stood and now stand on the corner of Tenth and Clinton streets in Noblesville.
This church has for many years successfully main- tained a Sunday-school.
Presbyterian Church.
Pursuant to the notice given from the pulpit of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a meeting was held on the 20th day of December, 1848, at which time a number of persons favorable to the organization met after a ser- mon by Rev. W. H. Rogers, who acted as moderator at that time. The following persons formed themselves into a Presbyterian Church at this place: Curtis Mal- lory, Joseph Carlin, John T. Carlin, Robert T. Carlin, Margaret Carlin, J. S. Lower, Sabina Lower, Abner Jones, Nancy Jones, W. F. Wagoman and Mrs. Dun- lap. J. S. Lower was chosen secretary and Curtis Mal- lory and Joseph Carlin ruling elders. Afterwards, on the 14th of February, 1849, Mrs. A. H. Rogers and Rachel Potts were received as members, and later J. R. Gray, Margaret P. Gray and Peter Bare were re- ceived. On the 3rd of March following James G. Lane, Elizabeth Lane and Rhoda A. Cottingham were re
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ceived. Subsequently meetings were held regularly by Rev. Mr. Rogers until October, 1854, when he closed his labors.
On the 18th of July, 1856, Rev. James McCoy con- menced, the church being without a pastor in the inter- val. On March 4th, 1859, the record of the church was examined by Rev. Edward Schofield and approved. March 23rd, 1863, the following persons were elected trustees: J. A. Garver, Peter Bare, Abner Jones, J. T. Carlin and R. T. Carlin. Then on motion it was re- solved that the Rev. L. P. Webber be authorized to sell the bell belonging to the church for not less than $100.00, the money to be appropriated to the painting of the church and fence. Mr. Webber was the minister in charge at the time.
On the 4th of December, 1865. it was further re- solved that if a purchaser could be found the church be sold for $1,250.00. This church building was situate on Ninth street, one square from the court house. At that time services were held regularly each Sabbath. Con- nected with and under the control of the church was and is an excellent Sunday-school.
Christian Church.
In the month of August, 1834, John Jones and Chauncy Butler preached the new doctrine called the reformation in the frame court house in Noblesville. At this meeting Garret Wall, Nancy Wall, his wife; Jona-
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than Colborn and Jane Colburn, his wife; Albert B. Cole, Michael Reveal and Elizabeth Wall made confes- sion and were immersed on the 8th day of November, 1834. Jones and Butler preached again, after which the above named persons, together with Jordan Payton, his wife, Purity Payton ; Stephen Carey and wife and Mar- garet Byron, who had previously been immersed, asso- ciated themselves together and organized the Christian Church. Jordan Payton was selected to act as bishop and Jonathan Colburn was selected to act as deacon. A. B. Cole was chosen church scribe. From this time forward the members met for worship at the court house as often as possible. There was preaching at in- tervals and new members were added to the number above named.
In August. 1835. the Baptist Church was merged into the Christian Church, as recorded in the foregoing pages.
Isaac Hurlock, Ebenezer Hurlock and Robert Col- burn being the acting trustees of the Baptist Church, were now made trustees of the Christian Church. So- cial meetings were kept up and there was preaching at intervals until 1837, when the subject of erecting a new church building was discussed. A committee was ap- pointed to submit a plan and probable cost of a new building. This committee reported favorably in 1838 and the building now standing on the lot first referred to was erected.
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The members met regularly for social worship and to attend to the ordinances of the church. There was preaching occasionally until 1849, when Rev. Hushaw was employed for eight months. The first . regular preaching by the year was done by Rev. Hopkins. He was employed to preach at Noblesville and Cicero for one year, for which he received $300.00 and his house rent paid.
In 1855 the lot on the east side of Ninth street, where the Christian Church building now stands, was purchased and a brick building erected thereon. A Sunday-school under the management of this church has for a number of years been well attended.
African Methodist.
This church was organized about March, 1862, by Mr. Indicutt, a local preacher of Indianapolis. For the purpose of so doing he used the old log school house situate three and a half miles northwest of Noblesville, on the southeast corner of the Pleasant Evans farm. Thirteen members joined this organization. Mr. Indi- citt continued doing pastoral service for this church about three years. He was then in succession followed annually by Elders Langford, Brown and Depugh. During the administration of Elder Henry Brown a very large, interesting and successful camp meeting was held in the woods near the old school house. At the termination of his services the church was in a very prosperous condition.
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.African Baptist Church.
This church was organized in September, 1853, at the public school house in Noblesville by Rev. Jesse Young, of Indianapolis, with a membership of fifteen. Meetings were held every Sabbath. Although preach- ing was held only once a month, Rev. J. Young re- mained as pastor for the congregation up to about the fall of 1859. Regular services were then discontinued until about September, 1865, when Rev. J. Young, at said school house, again succeeded in getting this church to organize. Rev. Zachariah Roberts assisted much in the reorganization.
At the retirement of Rev. Young in 1859 this church was made up of seven communicants, and here it is worthy to record that those faithful seven constituted the membership in 1865 at the reorganization. As for- merly, preaching was held only upon days of the sacra- ment or once a month until a church building was erected.
Masonic Order.
On the 29th day of March, 1828, the Free Masons met for the first time in Noblesville. The record shows that this meeting was at their lodge in the building then occupied and used by George Shirts as a tavern, and was situate on the west side of Eighth street, where Hollenbach's barber shop now stands. The record re- cites that the following named persons were present :
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Jeremiah Leaming, worshipful master; William Con- ner, senior warden ; Nathan D. Shoemaker, junior war- den ; brothers present : Francis B. Cogswell, George Shirts, John D. Stephenson and James Hall. Visiting brothers from Center Lodge, No. 23, Bethel Dunning. an entered apprentice. The lodge was opened in an - cient form in the first degree of Masonry. On motion of Brother William Conner the dispensation from the Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana, empowering them to hold a lodge was accepted, which was ordered recorded. On motion, John D. Stephenson was elected secretary, Francis B. Cogswell treasurer, Daniel Hea- ton senior deacon, George Shirts junior deacon and James B. Hall tyler. At the second meeting those pres- ent were Jeremiah Leaming, W. M .; William Conner, S. W .; Nathan D. Shoemaker, J. W. ; John D. Stephen- son, secretary; Francis B. Cogswell, treasurer; J. B. Hall, S. D., pro tem .; George Shirts, J. D., and tyler pro tem., and Bethel Dunning as a visiting member. The minutes of several subsequent meetings show the
same officers present. The lodge, on November 26th, 1828, was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Indiana, F. and A. M., and Jeremiah Leaming, W. M .; William Conner, S. W., and Nathan D. Shoemaker, J. W., were named in the charter as the principal officers. This is the last entry and so far as appears from the records it was the last meeting until May 28th, 1847, when a re- organization of the lodge was effected, the charter bear-
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ing the last named date, and was called Noblesville Lodge, No. 57. F. and A. M. The records and charts of the first organization were preserved by the last named lodge. An interesting feature of the meetings of this early lodge is that in the winter the lodge met at 5 o'clock P. M. and in the summer at 6 o'clock P. M.
During the year succeeding reorganization under the new charter, the lodge gave promise of more than usual prosperity, the record showing that the number of its members had been increased by twenty-two initia- tions, of whom seventeen had passed and raised, mak- ing an aggregate of thirty-nine. The year following was almost equally satisfactory, showing that eleven had been initiated, thirteen passed and raised, one ad- mitted to membership, one withdrawn, four rejected, two suspended, one died and one reinstated, show- ing an aggregate of forty-five members. Jesse Lutz, W. M., represented Hamilton Lodge in the grand body from May, 1849, to May, 1850. The working activity of the lodge was diminished but little, nine having been initiated and passed and eight raised to the master's degree. During this period, however, some dissatisfaction having arisen, from what cause does not now appear, fourteen of the members withdrew and subsequently asked for a dispensation empowering them to work as a separate body, which was granted under the name of Noblesville Lodge on the 13th of February, 1850, to Jesse Lutz, W.
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M. ; Joseph Lutz, S. W., and James G. Brown, J. W., as the first officers. To them also a charter was given by the Grand Lodge on the 29th of May following with the suggestion that "it may be that the wants of Nobles- ville require two lodges, but, as a general rule, it evi- dences to your committee when a lodge divides in a town of that size that brethren are not dwelling to- gether in unity. We hope, however, better things of Noblesville, though we thus speak." This new lodge took the number 103. On the roll the following are the names of the members of the Hamilton Lodge, who, having withdrawn on the 4th of February, 1850, be- came the original members of Noblesville Lodge, No. 103: Jesse Lutz, Joseph Lutz, James G. Brown, James M. Jamison, Thomas J. Lindsey, John P. Patterson, John T. Cox, H. G. Finch, John Beal, Pleasant Wil- liams, B. W. Royer and Gardner Perry. This new lodge notwithstanding the suggestion made by the Grand Lodge committee before cited, after a career of less than three years, ceased to work and surrendered its charter and the members in part subsequently affiliated with Hamilton Lodge. Aside from this disunity the lodge has enjoyed success. A chapter was organized in 1850.
I. 0. 0. F.
Noblesville Lodge was organized on the 24th of January, 1853. On that night the following named per- sons were present : George F. Wainwright, Peter
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Bare, George Statts, H. W. Clark and E. C. Long. They were found qualified and Noblesville Lodge, No. 125, was declared constituted and the following persons were initiated: W. W. Conner, Levi Farley, W. A. Wainwright, John Pontious, Daniel Kemp, J. Cox, Wes ley Daubinspeck. I. L. and W. S. Davenport were ad- mitted by card. The following named persons were elected as officers : G. F. Wainwright, N. G. ; Levi Far- ley, secretary ; H. W. Clark, treasurer ; Peter Bare, war- den; E. C. Long, conductor ; Henry Garboden, guar- dian; W. A. Wainwright, host. On the second night trustees were elected as follows: G. F. Wainwright, John Pontius and H. W. Clark. On the third night the following persons were initiated: Jesse Auburn and S. R. McCole. The meetings were then held in the Shaw Block. At the end of the first term the lodge numbered thirty-three members. During the second term of the first year there were three initiations, three admissions by card, two expulsions, one for improperly communi- cating the pass word and one for drunkenness.
In January, 1854, the lodge was moved to the north side of the square over the Evans Building, as it is now known. April 19th, 1861, a meeting was held to grant traveling cards to brothers who had enlisted in the service of their country under the first call of President Lincoln for 75,000 men. Cards were granted to John D. Evans, C. J. McCole and \V. A. Wainwright.
On the 29th of April, 1861, the lodge was moved
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into the Masonic Lodge room. This began a career of renewed prosperity.
About the close of the year 1865 the trustees were empowered to purchase the present hall from Dr. Aliesse. In 1866 the hall was formally dedicated.
On the evening of February 17th, 1853, a special meeting of the lodge was called for the purpose of con- ferring the degree of "Rebekah" upon eligible subjects. .A goodly number of members and visitants were pres- ent to receive and to witness the conferring of this degree with its beautiful ceremonial and appropriate lessons. The services were conducted by W. W. Wright, of Capital Lodge, Indianapolis, and many brothers and their wives were conducted into the sol- emn mysteries. At the meeting held on the 16th of March following, the lodge subscribed for $100 worth of Grand Lodge Hall stock, an investment with fair promise.
Gicorge Brown Encampment, No 44.
On the 26th of June, 1855, a number of partriarchs from Metropolitan Encampment No. 5, and Marion Encampment No. 35, met in Noblesville for the pur- pose of instituting George Brown Encampment No. 44. I. O. O. F. D. D. G. P. William Wallace was in the chair and made the following appointments pro tem. : Joseph K. English, P. H. PH. P .; Jonathan W. Har- vey, P. C. P. S. W. ; I. P. Haughey, P. C. P. Scribe ; Ed-
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ward Laurence, P. H. P. J. W .; Ed. S. Tyler, P. C. P. Treasurer ; Benjamin McCord, P S. W. Inside Sentinel. The following persons presented cards : J. W. Harvey, Joseph K. English, E. S. Pope, E. M. Laurence, W. W. Wright, J. G. Waters, E. S. Tyler. The following per- sons were the Past admissions in Golden Rule and Roy- al Purple degrees : E. S. Tyler, E. S. Pope, I. G. Wa- ters, H. W. Clark, W. A. Wainright, John Pontious, Eli Cohn, M. S. Davenport, George F. Wainwright, A. J. Ferguson, S. R. McCole, William Haines, Charles Swain. Of these the following were elected permanent officers: John Pontious, Chief Patriarch ; G. F. Wain- wright, High Priest ; I. S. Davenport, Senior Warden ; W. A. Wainwright, Scribe; S. R. McCole, Treasurer ; M. S. Davenport, Junior Warden; Eli Cohn, Sentinel; W. H. Clark, Guide ; A. G. Ferguson, First Watch ; W. Haines, Second Watch; C. Swain, Third Watch; George Brown, Fourth Watch. The receipts of the evening were $132.
Strawstown.
Woodville and Strawtown are situate on the south bank of White River in White River Township, seven miles northeast of Noblesville. Woodville was laid out by Jesse M. Wood, July 23, 1829. Woodville was sit- uate on the bank of the river south of the bridge now spanning the river at that point. The first taverns were kept by Wood, Carey, Wallace and Cole, all in Woodville. The first merchants, grocers and saloon-
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keepers received their license for Woodville. Bick- nell Cole was the first man who started a general store. This was in Woodville on the 27th day of July, 1836.
Strawtown was laid out by Bicknell Cole and Wil- liam Conner immediately west and adjoining Wood- ville. Gradually the town of Woodville lost its identity and the town thereafter was known as Strawtown. Among the first settlers in Strawtown and vicinity were the following named persons : Zenas Beckwith, Henry Foland, Lambert and Jerry Heath, A. Johnson, Jacob Hver, John Shintaffer and Caleb Harrison. The latter was a soldier in the war of 1812, was in the battle of Tip- pecanoe, assisted in firing the first alarm guns on that occasion and had a bullet shot through the top of his hat. He was a relative of Col. Harrison of the 39th Indiana Regiment in the war of 1861, and also a relative of R. W. Harrison of Lebanon. He died at Straw- town in 1833, leaving three or four sons, all now de- ceased. Some of his grandchildren yet live in Hamil- ton County.
It has been asserted by the reminiscence writers that Jolin Shintaffer's cabin stood within the present limits of Strawtown. This is not truc. The Shintaffer cabin stood on the first hill from the river north of Strawtown near the brick house afterwards erected by Dr. Grubbs.
Dr. Palmer was the first physician in Woodville or Strawtown and was there before Woodville was laid
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out. J. K. Leaming was of the pioneer band of mer- chants. His store was kept at his farm below Straw- town on the river. The merchants who suceeded Bicknell Cole were Conner & Cole, Conner & Stephen- son and Cole & Ross. Strawtown by reason of its lo- cation was at one time a strong rival of Noblesville. It was situated on one of the lines of emigrant travel from the east to the Wild Cat prairie on the Wabash. The farmers on both sides of White River sold the products of their lands to the emigrants and did their trading at Strawtown. When this trade ceased the prominent merchants of the town moved to Noblesville. There was a lack of enterprise among the citizens. The town finally settled down to the position of a country village with its store, post-office, blacksmith and wagon shop, hotel, saloon and district school house. Southeast of Strawtown and near thereto was an addition to the town called the "Neck of the Woods." This addition was never laid out regularly, but was for many years known as an annex. A few cabins were erected at and near the "Neck." The occupants lived by hunting and fishing. Among the attractions at Strawtown in the early days was the race track near the distillery, operat- ed by Jacob Hyer, where whisky could be had at any and all times.
But Strawtown will, at least, be an interesting relic of the past, if the future has in store for it nothing better. Here were enacted some of the early scenes
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in the settlement of Hamilton County and nearly every foot of the area is historic ground. Here, too, an an- cient race of people made their abode and left the traces of their handiwork, with no other traces of their exist- ence, their nationality or their destination. These peo- ple were the builders of the mounds near Strawtown, of which none, not even the Indian tribes who dwelt near by, could give the date by tradition or otherwise. Here, too, in the early days, the establishment of groggeries attracted an unenviable element of society and for years the moral atmosphere was bad. Not a single church building was ever erected in Strawtown until the year 1865 and probably later. Those wishing to attend church were compelled to go elsewhere. Many good men and women were to be found in and near here, but it appears that the bad element was in the majority.
One of the evidences of the state of society as late as 1849, was shown in the murder of a man by the name of Davis by John Murphy. Davis and Murphy had a quarrel which did not at that time result in a fight. Murphy was a clerk in a store in the town. Davis aft- erwards came to the store. A quarrel ensued and Da- vis was stabbed by Murphy with a knife, causing his death. Murphy was indicted by the Grand Jury for murder in the first degree. He was tried upon this charge at the October term of the Hamilton Circuit Court. The jury failed to agree. It was reported that all of the jurors favored conviction. The jury
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was discharged. Murphy asked for a change of venue from the county, which was granted. The case lin- gered for a long time in another county and was either dismissed or tried, resulting in an acquittal. Murphy was prosecuted by G. H. Voss and defended by Stone and Garver at the first trial.
Cicero.
Cicero is situated six miles north of Noblesville, on the line of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, and was laid out by Dennis Pickerill and James B. Freel, Janu- ary 15th, 1835. The first stock of merchandise was exposed for sale at this point in 1835 by Duncan Han- naman. His trade was lucrative and he continued in the business for about three years. At the end of that time he sold his stock to Ira Kingsbury and moved to Illinois. After a short time Mr. Kingsbury sold the stock to Jesse and Ellis Evans. The firm of Baird and Beasley sold their stock to Jesse and Ellis Evans and re- tired from the business. The firm of Ellis & Ellis con- tinued in business until 1843, when they retired with a competency. Ellis remained in Cicero until his death. Jesse removed to Illinois. Wooster & Loehr bought the Evans' stock and continued the trade for about three years. Other merchants of Cicero up to the close of the year 1865, were as follows: Robert Forkner, John Threlkeld, John D. Cottingham, Neal & Thomp- son, Thomas Leonard, Jesse Lutz, W. H. Pickerill,
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Daniel Kemp and Good Brothers. In 1845 a tannery was established by Mr. Buskirk. He subsequently sold it to Henry Martz, who operated it until his death. The yard was then purchased by George Ross.
On December 7th, 1833, the first election in the township was held in Cicero, resulting in the choice of Elijah Redman and Elias Evans for Justices of the Peace.
The first post-office in the township was established at Cicero about the year 1839. Henry Jones was the first postmaster and held the office for several years. His successors for a number of years were as follows: Jesse Evans, John Criswell, William Neal, John D. Cot- tingham, Samuel Bussel and Edward Reeves.
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The early physicians of Cicero were Drs Van Bus-, kirk, A. P. Finch, Clifford, Cook, Newby, Williams, į Collins, Dewey and Warford.
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William Neal and Hildebrand were the first lawyers.
The first train of cars on the old Peru & Indianapo- lis Railroad reached Cicero on the first day of March, 1853. ,
The first warehousemen and grain dealers were Cot -! tingham and Pickerill. William Neal, Hall and Samuel Bussell were the pioneer saw mill men. Dr. Warford was the pioneer drug man.
In 1841 a school house was erected in the western' part of Cicero by the trustees. They received $50 from the public fund which was used for the support of
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schools. In 1852 the first school building under the new school law was erected.
Churches.
Members of the Christian Church met at private houses and at school houses, as early as 1840. They continued to meet in this way until about the year 1851, at which time a church building was erected in Cicero.
The Methodists organized at Cicero in about the year 1843, with forty-three members. The meetings were held in a house that had been erected for a resi- dence, but subsequently fitted up for a church by Dr. Clifford. The class worshiped in this building for four or five years, then at private houses, and later at the school house. In 1854 they erected a house of wor- ship at a cost of about $1,500.
Bethel Church.
The Lutherans organized at Cicero in the year 1857, with about thirteen members. The first meeting was conducted by Rev. A. H. Scherer, of Arcadia, in a school house in Cicero, where meetings were after- wards held until the year 1862. In that year the soci- ety erected its present church at a cost of $1,800. This is a neat brick building, 32x48 feet.
Cicero Lodge, No. 199, A. F. and A. M., was organ- ized in June, 1854, with fifteen members and worked under dispensation until May, 1855, when it received its
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charter signed by Sol D. Bayless, G. M. The first offi- cers of the lodge were: Jesse Lutz, W. M .; G. B. Grubb, S. W .; Thomas Chapel, J. W. The first meet- ing was held in a room in the unoccupied building of C. W. Harrison. This room was fitted up by the order and occupied as a lodge room until 1861. In that year the building, together with the records and regalia of the lodge, was destroyed by fire. Another room was furnished to serve until the lodge should be able to erect a hall of their own, which was done in 1873. This was the only secret order or society organized in Cicero until after the close of the year 1865.
Westfield,
The town of Westfield is situated six miles west of Noblesville on the Noblesville and Lebanon Gravel Road. It was laid out by Ambrose Osborn, Simon Moon and Asa Beales, on the 6th day of May, 1834. The original plat contained 48 lots. But additions to the original plat have from time to time been made to meet the growing demand. Asa Beales opened the first store in Westfield in 1832, before it was laid off into town lots. He conducted a successful business and kept a good stock for that time. Isaac Williams was a clerk in Beales' store for a number of years, after which he opened a store of his own. At one time Wil- liams was engaged in the mercantile business with L. R. Bowman, but Williams purchased the interest of Mr. |
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