USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 19
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But during the carly nineties Albany began to grow apace. In June, 1893, the editor of the Muncie News speaks of the rapid increase of the town in population and wealth. He observes improvements in every di- rection, "150 dwellings in process of construction." In October, 1892, the Albany Land Co. was organized by citizens and farmers, with capital stock of $250,000; D. J. Manor, president ; Robert Maxwell, vice president ; L.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
R. St. John, treasurer ; Col. J. H. Grover, secretary .; J. R. Stafford, Joseph LeFavour. Ed Hannan, Willis Richey, David Black, directors. The growth of the town was anticipated by the platting of a large area east of the railroad, whereas the old village all lay west of the tracks.
One of the earliest manufactories was the Albany Paper Co., which began making strawboard in February, 1893. About the same time the foundations were being laid or other preparations made for the establish- ment of the Buckeye Window Glass Co., the Adams and Becknell furniture factory, the Industrial China Co., the Indiana Lounge Co., the Model Flint Glass Co., etc. In consequence of this industrial boom and the activity of the Improvement Company in the booming of the site east of the original town, the Lake Erie and Western, in 1894, moved its depot, freight office and telegraph office to the new suburb half a mile east of town. The towns- people protested vehemently against this and used every means in their avail to persuade the railroad people of their mistaken policy. They even tried a boycott against the railroad by hauling their goods overland from Muncie and also tried to get a new railroad line. However, it was not until 1903 that the station was returned to its old location within the town.
Up to nearly the close of the century Albany showed a steady increase in property valuation, but during the past six or seven years has gone back, according to the records of the assessors. In 1896 the total valuation, in round numbers, was $360,000. By the following year it had risen to $511,- 000, and in 1899 was about $550,000. In 1906 the figures for total taxables are given as about $422,000, and in 1907 there was a decline to a little less than $400,000.
Albany has many civic improvements that have gradually been added during the past fifteen years. The Albany Water and Light Co. furnishes electric lighting and water. About ten years ago fire destroyed the Speicher block and threatened the entire business section. There was no fire protec- tion, and the loss was nearly fifty thousand dollars. Since that time fire . apparatus has been procured and an efficient organization perfected to pro- tect the town from fire. Among the principal business enterprises at the present time may be mentioned the Albany Paper Co., the Albany State Bank, of which Isaiah Dudleston is president, the Delaware Mills, the Albany Auto- mobile Co., the Stoner Cement Post works, etc.
WEST MUNCIE.
Of all the enterprises produced during the early nineties by enthusiastic promoters, whose designs seemed to embrace the entire county, which they would cover with populous cities and immense industries, West Muncie was started with the brightest promises and had perhaps the briefest career of substantial distinction. Probably not more than half the citizens have any
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remembrance of West Muncie, and what little remains of that interesting town is now considered part of Yorktown rather than of Muncie. In 1892, however, the Western Improvement Co. kept West Muncie constantly be- fore the public, and hardly for a day did there fail some notice of that boom- ing city. The Novelty and Brass works were located there, flour mill and many factories were to be built, New York avenue was to be graded, a lake was to be made by damming Buck creek, and twenty-five acres converted into a beautiful resort and park. A postoffice was established there in Feb- ruary, 1893, with Charles Perry as postmaster, and when the Yorktown depot was burned in the winter of 1892-93 it was decided to locate the new one on the east side of the river in West Muncie. In February, 1893, the West Muncie Strawboard Co. was incorporated, and this company cstab- lished the only permanent industry in the town.
Without tracing the detailed progress and decline of this town further, the "fate of West Muncie," which was "designed as a rival of the city of Muncie," may be told by a writer for the Morning News, March 24, 1898, who told the story in this way:
West Muncie, which is on the Big Four railway, five miles west of the city of Muncie, started several years ago as a rival of this city, is now a sad monument of a boom town, with empty houses crumbling into ruins. Oi- ficials of the Big Four railway were the chief promoters, assisted by Muncie capitalists. In addition to being designed as a manufacturing center, West Muncie was also intended for a summer resort. A dam was constructed and quite a lake was formed in the stream known as Buck creek. A steam launch was purchased as a pleasure craft, with a number of smaller boats and canoes. This body of water was picturesque, and a grove nearby was inviting. A fine hotel, modern in every respect, containing seventy rooms, was built near the edge of the beautiful grove and the railway company expended $3,000 in a depot. This depot is standing idle, never having been used for the purposes contemplated. The hotel also stands as a monument of a boom which "died a-bornin'." A family resides therein, and it is also used for postoffice purposes, although very few letters or papers come that way. A large two-story brick block with plate glass windows has stood empty all these years. Other business houses are ragged and tottering, with broken doors and shattered window panes. A few of the dwellings are occu- pied, but others are falling into decay. The large dam has broken away. and the lake has long since disappeared. The big dancing pavilion and boat houses are almost ready to fall down. The town once had a newspaper, but it long since passed to the newspaper cemetery, while its editor and pub- lisher is now in a printing office at Peru.
DE SOTO.
In December, 1892, DeSoto entered the circle of booming towns. A land company was organized, controlling four thousand acres in that vicin- ity, and it was intended here. as in other places, to locate some big manufac-
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turing plants. The title of the promoting company was the East Muncie Land Co., and in January, 1803, it claimed to have secured a paper box fac- tory and to have several other plants in prospect. Of course a gas well was sunk to provide fuel for manufacturing. The company within a year or so passed into the hands of a receiver, and in the spring of 1806 the property was sold to Adam Madill for $1,350, about the amount expended in sinking the gas well. Several Delaware county citizens lost money that they had invested in the enterprise. At the present time a large part of the active citizens of DeSoto are employed in the Kitselman wire works in East Muncie, and the substantial town interests are hardly more than they were in March, 1883, when it was reported that the village had three stores, depot, warehouse, a blacksmith shop, shoe shop, two sawmills, two carpenters, a doctor, the population consisting of thirteen families.
GASTON.
The thriving village of Gaston, known in earlier history as New Corner, was a country village, remote from railroad connections, until a few years ago. As a trading center for a very rich agricultural district, and under the leadership of some very enterprising men, it has, nevertheless, been a center of importance for many years. Its early history has been given else- where. Fifty years ago, according to an old directory, its population was 35. One physician, one sawmill, two churches, one school, one store (Jesse Miers, proprietor), several mechanics, comprised the leading interests. David L. Jones was owner of the sawmill and W. F. McInturf was postmas- ter. In 1885 New Corner was still a trading center, with the principal ac- tivities in the hands of the following : W. R. Bryan and Frank Woodring, general stores; Frank Miller & Co., store; D. E. Boulette, shoe store ; J. W. HIammen, postmaster ; Reason and Knight, drugs; Case & Co., tile factory ; Drs. Clemens and Munsey, physicians. By this time the manufacturing had increased to two sawmills and a gristmill.
In the chronological records found elsewhere in this work will be found notices of several interesting events that have occurred in Gaston during the last ten or fifteen years.' The citizens have long agitated the railroad ques- tion, and Washington township was usually found ready to vote subsidies for the companies that proposed building. As long ago as 182 it was dicemed almost a certainty that a division of the Panhandle would be built through this vicinity, and in the fall of that year the citizens of "The metrop- olis of Washington township," as it was called, forwarded a petition to Wash- ington asking that the name of their town and postoffice be changed to "Gas Center." The change was not made for some time, however, when the name Gaston was selected. In the summer of 1901 the Cincinnati, Rich- mond and Muncie (now the C., C. & L. R. R.) was completed through the
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county, and Gaston was finally given railroad connection. However, the C., I. & E. R. R. was the first to put a regular train schedule into effect, and for a time the station at Stockport, two miles east of Gaston, received much of the traffic that later returned to Gaston. With the establishment of rail- road connection, new life was given the town. In May, 1902, the Gaston Banking Co. was organized, with Mark Powers as president. Mr. Powers is also president of the Gaston Canning Co., which is one of the most valu- able manufacturing concerns in northwest Delaware county, especially to the fruit and truck interests of that rich agricultural region. Several of the business concerns of Gaston have had a continuous existence for many years. The Huber Bros. flour and sawmill was established about thirty years ago, and W. R. Bryan & Bro.'s general store dates to 1883. The Gaston Tile fac- tory is another important industry.
SELMA.
Selma was also affected by the gas boom. Here the Selma Citizens' Co. organized in the spring of 1892 to further the interests of the town. This company was probably similar in aims and methods to the Enterprise Com- pany of Muncie. But in June, 1893, the Eureka Land Co. was organized, controlling a thousand acres around the town, its intentions being mainly to boom the town for speculative purposes. For the past twenty years Selma has been one of the centers of the gas and oil industries. Some of the lead- ing events of its recent history have been described in the record by years on cther pages. The town is still the principal oil town of the county, and a large part of the inhabitants are connected in some capacity with the pro- duction of oil either independently or as employes of the Indiana Pipe Line.
Within the present year Selma has obtained town incorporation. May 21, 1907, by a vote of 75 to 10, the inhabitants voted in favor of incorpora- tion. The commissioners considered the report of the election on May 25, and an election of village officers was ordered for June 8. The first set of officials chosen at that time to direct the affairs of the corporation were : L. S. Clark, clerk; Eldon Cannaday, treasurer ; Dr. Charles Jump, trustee of first district; A. J. Bailey, trustee of second district; Allen Howell, trustee of third district; George Ross, trustee of fourth district; and James Greene- walt, trustee of fifth district.
GILMAN.
The maps of Delaware county show a platted district on the west line of the county, under the name of Gilman. So much of this town as lies in Delaware county is purely a product of the boom during the nineties, and aside from the platting of the land nothing was done to making a town on this side of the county line. The Gas Center Land Co., a corporation in Marion county, laid this plat of 1, 129 lots in June, 1893.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE LAST QUARTER CENTURY.
It is said that Lincoln had in his law office a large cabinet provided with numerous drawers and pigeonholes, with a label over each to designate the particular subject or class of the contents. But over the largest of these receptacles, and the one containing the largest number of papers, was the following inscription : "If you can't find it elsewhere, look here."
Perhaps the chief design of the following chapter was to provide some such "omnium gatherum" of the numerous details that could not well be given space elsewhere in this history. It is evident that many events, he- cause they are detached from the main course of affairs, must be recorded in the form of annals rather than be narrated. Such a chronology as fol- lows also has the advantage of ready reference. The principal events in the history of the county during the last twenty-five years are recorded in this way, though many of them receive more ample consideration on other pages. Had it been possible, the record would have been extended back fifty or even seventy-five years, but years of research would not produce as complete a record of those earlier periods as is given for the last quarter of a century, simply because no materials are in existence for such a compila- tion. Provided the value of this chronology is realized, it is hoped that local historians might continue the record thus begun, thus preserving a daily epitome of the changes and occurrences in the life and affairs of Dela- ware county. Incidentally this record serves as an index to the most im- portant facts during the past quarter century, and indicates the date when a full description of the topic will be found in the files of the newspapers preserved in the public library.
1882.
July-Weller's sawmill burned.
July 23-Cornerstone of Baptist church laid, on E. Adams street.
Sept. 4-Boyce's flax mill suffers $15,000 loss by fire.
Sept .- Council street opened and graveled from Charles to Middletown pike. Oct. 4-Wysor's opera house (on Main and Walnut streets), remodeled and opened with Denier's Humpty Dumpty Company.
Oct. 21-Death of T. S. Walterhouse, well known lawyo
Oct .- Smallpox ravages in Granville.
Nov. 8-Williamson's flour mill at Yorktown burned.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
1883.
March 1-Muncie Telephone Co. sells to Central Telephone Co. of Chicago.
March 6 -- Cammack's sawmill, at Cammack, burned.
March 31-Death of Judge Walter March, a profound lawyer and jurist.
Oct. 1-Order reducing postage from three cents to two takes effect. Oct. 20-County votes to have free gravel pikes.
Nov. 18-Standard time adopted by the railroads.
Dec. 3-Failure of B. Smith and Son.
1884.
Jan. 14-Death of John Brady, pioncer; business houses of Muncie close for funeral.
Feb. 6-Citizens' National Bank moves from Main street to corner of Jack- son and Walnut, into former quarters of Claypool's bank.
March 1-Delaware County Tile and Brick Makers' Assn. organized ; E. H. Case, president.
March 17-Death of Henry Hamilton, who came to the county in 1834.
April 1-Oakville swept by cyclone; four killed and many injured ; only four houses left standing.
April 18-Death of Price Thomas, aged 75; came to county in 1832, lived near Granville over 50 years.
May 10-Frances E. Willard lectures at opera house in Muncie.
June 7-Death of E. C. Anthony.
July 11-New steam fire engine arrives in Muncie and is tested.
Aug. 30-Death of Mrs. John Brady.
Sept. 19-Earthquake shock disturbs Muncie people.
Oct. 17-Death of Dr. Henry C. Winans, prominent physician; an ener- getic member of Board of Health of Muncie.
Nov. 28-Minnie Maddern (now Mrs. Fiske) plays "Caprice" at Wysor's to a small audience.
Nov. 6-Minus and Fanny Marshall Turner celebrate golden wedding.
Dec. 8-Death of Peter Dragoo, aged 91, who came to Delaware county in 1832.
During 1884-85 Muncie was a center of the roller skating craze which then prevailed all over the country, and which during the last few years has been revived, though not to such an extent as twenty years ago. Patter- son's hall was a popular rink. The Royal Rink, at Jackson and Elm streets, was opened for the "skatorial art" in April, 1885. Traveling shows intro- duced fancy roller skating as a drawing card. Muncie claimed to stand sec- ond in the manufacture of the roller skate. C. J. Becktel, J. F. Shafer and others in the city were inventors of skates of improved devices.
1885.
Feb. 12-Death of Mrs. Jane ( McClellan) Van Arsdol, aged 96, a member of the first group of settlers who located on White river five miles cast of Muncie in 1820.
July 23-Cornerstone of present courthouse laid; during celebration come tidings of Gen. Grant's death.
April 21-Death of William Felton, aged 84, who came to Perry township in 1838.
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May 22 -- Muncie Business & Manufacturing Assn. formed by committee, its object being the erection of buildings for purpose of manufac- turing and promotion of manufacturing in Muncie and vicinity. Formal organization took place June 3, first board of directors be- ing J. H. Smith, James Boyce, A. F. Patterson, T. A. Neely, J. M. Kirby.
July 30-Death of Dr. Robert Winton.
Aug. 13-Golden wedding anniversary of William J. and Sarah ( Wilcox- on) Moore; former lived in county since 1830 and latter since 1832.
Oct. 24-Performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Mikado" at Wysor's. Nov .- Polo becomes a favorite sport in Muncie.
1886.
[The items for 1886 are taken from the Putnam Diary, since newspaper files for the year are missing.]
Jan. 12-Fire destroyed the old frame dwelling put up by James Lease about 1839, on Main street, between the property of Meeks & Co. and J. A. Wachtel. The first trial of our water works.
Jan. 31-Samuel D. Chipman, an old citizen of this place, died this after -. noon.
Feb. 5-Episcopal church occupied for the first time since completion.
March 11-Minus Turner, one of the earliest settlers of Muncie, died this morning.
March 23-Daniel Pitenger, an old citizen of Delaware township, died to- day.
May 12-Quite a number of our citizens went up to Portland to-day to see the oil well just bored out ; come back somewhat excited.
June 4-The old C. F. Willard corner on the northeast corner of Main and Walnut torn down to-day for the purpose of rebuilding. It was one of the oldest brick buildings in Muncie, and the first building I entered when I came to Muncie, October 19, 1838.
Oct. 3-An excursion train to Eaton again this evening to see the natural gas burn.
Oct. 11-Preparing to bore for gas or oil or both.
Nov. 11-The persons employed to bore for oil have this morning "struck" gas, and everybody is on the way to see for themselves-and it is true, after boring over 800 feet ; and it is this evening "lit up" and speaks for itself.
Nov. 20-An organization of a company with $100,000 capital for the pur- pose of furnishing gas to the city for lighting and manufacturing purposes last night and much confidence expressed in final success of enterprise.
Dec. 29-Laying pipe for the natural gas-completed to Weller's Mill.
1887.
Jan. 14-Death of John Marsh, aged 76, at Las Vegas, N. M .; cashier of Citizens' National Bank.
Feb. 11-Blind Tom performs at Wysor's Grand.
Feb. 23-Citizens' Well No. 3 at Muncie strikes gas at 885 feet.
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April 9-Muncie Well No. 7 "shot," and becomes biggest well of all ; 5,000,- 000 feet daily.
April-Ohmer avenne surveyed. Galliher farm reported sold for over $100,- 000, and Boyce buys Volney Willson place cast of town for $27,- 000.
April-Muncie postoffice shows receipts of $8,200 for four previous quar- ters ; promising second class office and free delivery.
May-National Hotel, after a fire, being rebuilt; Winans building, Jackson and Walnut, in course of construction; J. A. Goddard removing old buildings at Walnut and Adams.
May-Belt Line railway surveyed; and street railway is discussed.
May 11-Excursion from Cincinnati and intermediate points brings 1,200 visitors to Muncie and its gas fields; many other excursions about this time.
June 29-Death of Martin Galliher, aged 88, an early merchant of Muncie. July 1-C. U. Telephone Co. inaugurate "five cents a talk" service.
July 12-Death of Terrell Summers in Salem township, aged 69, who came to Richwood's settlement in 1832.
Oct .-- M. E. church of Muncie buys corner on Adams and High streets.
Oct. 5-Courthouse opened for official business.
Oct .- Standard Oil Co. establishes supply station in Muncie.
Nov. 17-Co-operative Fuel and Gas Light Co. of Muncie, capital stock $25,000, organized, first set of directors being: T. A. Neely, W. F. Watson, W. L. Richey, A. L. Kerwood, J. W. Ryan, Samuel Mar- tin, W. H. Wood.
Nov. 17-Muncie complains of dark streets, despite abundance of natural gas.
1888.
Jan. 31-Anthony block completed.
Feb. 6-Muncie, Heat, Light and Power Co. organized. Stockholders: James Boyce, Samuel Martin, W. F. Watson, T. H. Kirby, G. W. H. Kemper, Arthur Meeks, W. H. Wood, J. R. McMahan, W. S. Richey, Charles Boyce, A. L. Kerwood. James Boyce elected president, the company absorbing his electric light plant.
Feb. 7-David Swing lectures in Muncie.
Feb. 13-Co-operative Gas Co. strike big gusher on west side of Muncie.
March 3-S. C. Cowan & Co.'s Boston store and Bliss and Keller's cloth- ing store opened in new Anthony block.
March-Streets in wretched condition because of trenching and pipe lay- ing.
May 10-Contract let for building of High Street Methodist church.
May 26-An incandescent gas lamp is exhibited in Muncie ; first local use of present day "mantle."
May-Southeast corner of Jackson and High streets to be occupied by "Larph" block: name composed of initial letters of Lenon, An- thony, Rice, Perkins, Heath, the builders.
May-Delaware County Building and Loan Association, capital $900.000, organized. Officers : J. M. Kirby, president ; D. H. H. Shewmaker, vice president ; C. A. Spilker, treasurer ; J. W. Ryan, attorney; W.
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R. Moore, secretary. Other directors were J. L. Streeter, Ezra Searls, W. H. Long, J. W. Perkins.
May-Muncie House Building Association organized; Joseph Hummel, president ; A. W. Chapman, vice president; C. H. Church, treas- urer, and J. N. Templer, attorney.
July 4-Cornerstone of M. E. church at Muncie laid.
july 14-Agitation for public park in Muncie begun.
July 14-Presbyterian church of Muncie celebrates semi-centennial of founding.
July 16-Society for prevention of cruelty to animals organized in Muncie ; J. A. Goddard, president.
Aug. 14-First roll of pulp comes from Muncie Pulp Works.
Aug. 28-Muncie Free Kindergarten Association arrange to open free kin- dergarten in South Muncie.
Sept. 21-Numbering of Muncie houses according to ordinance completed. Sept. 21-Fred Douglass, colored statesman, speaks at Royal Rink.
Oct. 2-Death of A. M. Klein, pioncer Muncie jeweler.
Jan .-- Kinnear Manufacturing plant sold at receiver's sale to George Kirby. Vov. 6-Delaware county gives big majority for Harrison and Morton.
Dec. 16-Floral and horticultural halls at fair grounds burned.
1889.
Jan .- Murphy temperance meetings in Muncie at Royal Rink. Hundreds sign pledge.
Feb. 12-Revival of the boom by presence of eastern capitalists to form Muncie Natural Gas and Land Improvement Co. Successive arti- cles in New York World extol Muncie as "natural gas center of Indiana," spoke of boundless supply of fuel, the city's improve- ments and advantages, and the presence of three railroads and a belt line and 18 factories. The articles were inspired by and served as advertisement for the above named company, with its reputed two million dollars' capital, of which ex-Gov. Leon Abbett, of New Jersey, was president ; E. G. Rideout, of New York, vice president and manager ; J. M. Woods, assistant general manager; William Harris, of Union City, treasurer, and S. C. Goshorn, of Muncie, secretary. Excursions were run from New York to the "new Eldorado," where the company had about two thousand acres of land.
Feb. 17-Dedication of Church of God, Third and Chestnut streets, Muncie. May 28-Recital in new M. E. church on first pipe organ in county.
July 25-J. H. Smith & Co.'s bent wood works destroyed by fire.
Aug. 2-John R. McMahan, lawyer and well known citizen, dies.
Aug. 4-Salvation Army opens first campaign in Muncie.
Aug. 5-Construction work on street railroad begins on Main street in Muncie.
Aug. 9-Ground broken for shoe factory.
Aug .- Adams Chilled Plow Co. and Chamberlain Mfg. Co. constructing plants on the west side.
Nov. 13-Dickens' "Bleak House" presented at Wysor's Grand.
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ISro.
Jan. 11-Boyce block ruined by fire, nearly twenty firms being burned out; total loss. $100.000.
Jan .- Muncie Architectural Iron works secured for Muncie; Muncie Brass and Novelty Co. buy Chamberlain Mig. Co.'s pump works.
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