USA > Indiana > An illustrated history of the state of Indiana: being a full and authentic civil and political history of the state from its first exploration down to 1879 > Part 43
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Cannelton, the county scat, is located in the southern part of the county, on the Ohio river. It is quite a large and flourishing town, with creditable public improvements.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
PORTER COUNTY.
TinIs county bears the name of Commodore David Porter, of the United States navy. The surface of the county is gently undulating. About one-fourth of the county was originally timbered with oak, walnut, poplar, pine, maple, butternut and becchi; one-third is oak openings, and the rem- nants prairie and bottom land. Except near Lake Michigan and the marshes of Kankakee, the general character of the soil is good, and best adapted to wheat, oats, corn, and grazing.
Valparaiso, the county seat, is located in the centre of the county. It has good railroad facilities, a growing commerce, flourishing educational institutions, and a general prosperity.
POSEY COUNTY.
THIS county was named in honor of General Thomas Posey, who was appointed governor of the Indian territory to suc- ceed General Harrison. The surface of the county on the Ohio and Wabash, with the exception of the bluffs, com- mencing at Mount Vernon and extending four miles below, is flat bottom land, and was formerly subject to yearly overflows, varying from a half to two miles in width. But by the use of dams this land has been improved. The interior of the county is undulating or rolling, and some parts are compara- tively hilly, but, upon the whole, lie remarkably well for agri- cultural purposes. The only prairie in the county is about three miles in length and one in width; and there are, prop- erly speaking, no barrens, though the soil is thin in places; and near the junction of the rivers there are so many ponds and so much low ground that it cannot be improved with much profit. The bottom lands comprise about a sixth, and the forest lands three-fifths of the whole. The soil in the bot- tom is a rich, sandy loam, formed from the deposit of the rivers; that in the interior is mostly a dark, rich loam, resting upon a yellow-clay formation. It is best adapted to corn and grass, though fine crops of whicat and oats are raised annually with very good profit in various portions of the county.
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POSEY COUNTY.
Mount Vernon is the county seat, located on the Ohio river. It is a city of nearly five thousand inhabitants, with excellent public improvements, fine literary and educational institutions and increasing commercial interests. New Harmony is also a flourishing town of Posey county. It is noted for the literary taste of its citizens, and for its education and refinement.
Posey county is the extreme southwestern county of the State. It is bounded on the south by the Ohio river, on the west by the Wabash river, on the east by Vanderburgh county and on the north by Gibson county. The peninsular portion lying directly between the rivers named, is styled "the pocket." Posey county was organized in 1814, out of the territory of Knox county. It was subsequently included in Warrick, when that county was organized. In 1818 a large portion of Vanderburg county was cut off from Posey, reducing it to its present limits. It contains about four hundred and twenty square miles. The first settlers of Posey came from Virginia, Kentucky, Western Pennyslvania and the Carolinas. When first settled it was a dense forest inhabited by Indians. Among the first settlers are mentioned Andrew McFadden, Absolem Duckworth, Thomas R. Marrs, Thomas Robb, William Hutchinson, the Hendricks', Lynns and Wagners. The first courts were held at the houses of William Hutchinson and Absolem Duckworth. Isaac Blackford was the first presiding judge of the district. The Rappites, a sect of religious enthusiasts, emigrated from Pennsylvania and settled in Posey county in the year 1814. They founded a village which they called " Harmonie." This community acquired for their purposes about thirty thousand acres of land, and put under cultivation about three thousand acres. They planted orchards and vineyards, built mills of different kinds, erected churches, workshops, etc. Having become discon- tented from sickness and other causes, the Rappites sold out all their interests in 1814 to Robert Owen, of Scotland, and returned to Pennsylvania. They are said to have received for this property $150,000. It was selected by Owen as a seat for
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
a new experiment in communism, of which he was the acknowledged leader and advocate. He brought with him his sons, Robert Dale, William, and Richard, and subsequently his son, David Dale Owen arrived. The new society com- menced its operations, at the village of " Harmonie," which Owen re-named " New Harmony." A permanent organization of this community was effected on the 26th day of January, 1826, and a constitution adopted. The declaration of funda-
CHANDLER IN
GEN. BEN. HARRISON. See page 21.
mental principles recognized, "equality of rights," without regard to sex or condition, " equality of duties," " co-opera- tive union in business," "community of property," " free- dom of speech and action," besides numerous rules relating to business, conduct, duties, etc.
The first Board of County Commissioners were Samuel R. Marrs, Thomas Robb and Abram Coates. The population of the county in 1870 was 23,247.
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RANDOLPH COUNTY.
PULASKI COUNTY.
THIS county bears the name of the celebrated Polish soldier, Count Pulaski, who failing to sustain the Independence of his own country, came to this during the revolutionary war, was appointed a brigadier-general, and fell mortally wounded, in the attack on Savannah, in 1779. The surface of the county is mostly level, though in several parts there are ridges of low sandy hills. About one-half of the county is prairie; the other half oak openings, though portions of it have a very heavy growth of the various species of oak timber. A few of the bottoms of the Tippecanoe and other streams have small groves of walnut, sugar tree and white maple, and the soil is well adapted to the growth of fruit trees. An arm of the Grand Prairie extends several miles into the southwest corner of the county. The other principal prairies are Fox- grape, Dry, Northwestern, Oliver's, and Pearson's. The west prairies are favorable for grazing, and, through a process of drainage, they are being rapidly improved, so as to be culti- vated with profit. The dry prairies and openings are mostly a black loam mixed with sand, and occasionally a good deal of mud, and are well adapted to wheat, corn, oats, etc.
Winnemac, the county seat, is located a little to the east of the center of the county. It is a flourishing town, with good railroad facilities, educational advantages, and commercial thrift. The county is well settled and in a very prosperous condition.
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
This county was named, at the request of the early settlers, after the county in North Carolina, from which they emigrated.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
The surface of the county is nearly level, and portions of it are, at times, wet and marshy, so that it would seem to be low, though, in reality, it is about as high as any land in the State, for " in or near Randolph county the head waters of the Big Miami, Whitewater, Blue river, White river, the Mississinewa, the Solamonic, Wabash, and St. Mary's, all running in different directions, take their rise." There are no " barrens," and but few prairies (all of which are wet), in the county. The timber is of an average quality, the soil well adapted to wheat and corn, oats, etc.
Winchester, the county seat, is located in the centre of thic county. It is the largest town, and is quite prosperous, hav- ing fair public improvements, good schools, churches, etc. Union city is located on the extreme western border of the county, and is bisected by the State line dividing Indiana and Ohio. Both of these towns have good railroad facilities, and increasing commercial interests.
RIPLEY COUNTY.
THIS county bears the name of General E. W. Ripley, a dis- tinguislied officer of the war of 1812. The general surface of the county may be called level, except in the vicinity of the water courses, where the hills are abrupt and high. The bot- tom lands along Langhery, and other streams, are rich and fertile, but they are, for the most part, quite small; the up- lands, when dry, usually produce well, and much of them is based on beds of blue limestone; but large tracts incline to be wet, and will be adapted to grass only, until drained.
Versailles is the county seat, and is located nearly in the centre of the county. Ripley county has made very good suc- cess in agriculture and education.
RUSH COUNTY.
THIS county bears the name of Dr. Benjamin Rush. The surface is mostly level, or gently rolling, though there are hills along the principal streams which, in general, are neither high nor abrupt. There are no prairies or barrens, or, in fact,
593
SPENCER COUNTY.
any poor land in the county; about one-twentieth is river and creek bottoms. The soil is principally loam, bedded on clay, with a mixture of sand, and it produces abundantly all the kinds of grain, grass, and vegetables common to the climate.
Rushville is the county seat, and is a growing, prosperous town. It has good railroad facilities, excellent school accom- modations, and good public improvements. The county has made good progress.
SPENCER COUNTY.
THIS connty bears the name of the patriotic Captain Spier Spencer, of Harrison county, who fell in the battle of Tippe- canoe. The south part of the county is level, the middle un- dulating, and the northeast hilly. The soil, for the most part, is a rich, black loam, with an under soil of yellow clay, mixed with sand. Though in places steep hills or extensive flats do not encourage agricultural improvements, the prevailing timber was oak, hickory, ash, poplar, black-gum, walnut, sugar, beech, etc. Large crops of corn are raised on the extensive river bottoms; and, in the interior, corn, wheat, grass, and other grain.
Rockport is the county scat-a lively town on the Ohio river. The county has made general improvements.
STEUBEN COUNTY.
THIS county was named in honor of Baron Steuben, a Prus- sian officer of distinction, who joined the American army during the revolutionary war, and rendered the cause of in- dependence valuable aid. About one-half of the county was originally timbered land, one-third oak openings, and one- sixth prairie. The timbered and prairie land is very good, having a productive soil. The openings have a poor soil. Steuben county was first settled in 1833, by emigrants from Ohio, who located on Jackson prairie. The population has steadily increased since that time. The natural scenery in the county is very beautiful.
Angola is the county scat, is located in the centre of the
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
county, has good educational advantages, railroad facilities, and is rapidly increasing.
TIPTON COUNTY.
TIIs county was named in honor of General John Tipton, a distinguished citizen of the State. The surface of the county is level, the soil excellent, and the timber of a superior quality. Tipton is the county scat. It has good railroad advantages, and its public improvements are in a good state of progress. The county is in a good condition.
UNION COUNTY.
THE castern part of the county is level, the west undulating or hilly. About one-eighth is bottom land, the other seven- eiglits is timbered upland, originally covered with valuable timber. The soil is uniformly good, and well adapted to corn, wheat, oats, grass, etc. Hogs, sheep, and cattle are raised with profit. Liberty is the county seat, and is in a flourishing condition. The county is increasing rapidly in wealth and population.
VERMILLION COUNTY.
TITE surface of the county is high and generally level, except near the streams. The soil is generally excellent; some of the best farms in the State are to be found here. The " block coal " of Vermillion county is among its most substantial resources. The county has made wonderful progress in agriculture, min- ing, and commerce. Newport is the county scat, and is a thriving town.
WARREN COUNTY.
THIS county bears the name of General Joseph Warren, of revolutionary fame, who fell in the battle of Bunker Hill. On the river there is an average width of bottom for half a mile; then come the bluffs, from sixty to two hundred feet in height,. broken and precipitious; then follows a gently ascending, un-
595
WASHINGTON COUNTY
dulating surface to the Illinois State line. At least half the county is prairie, consisting of arms of the Grand prairie, which have uniformly a rich, loamy soil. About half the timbered land is either so hilly or so poor as not to be profitable for farming; the balance of the timbered land has a good soil. Williamsport is the county scat, is located on the Toledo, Wabash, and Western railroad, and has already built up a profitable trade. The county is making good progress in agri- culture and education.
WARRICK COUNTY.
THIS county bears the name of Captain Jacob Warrick, a brave soldier and much esteemed citizen, who fell at the head of his company, in the battle of Tippecanoe. The surface of the county is mostly rolling or undulating, though there is a range of hills back of the river bottoms, and there are large tracts of flat, wet land at the heads of Pigcon and other ereeks, with which the county is watcred. The soil of the bottoms, many of which are large, is very rich, and immense crops of corn are produced there. Much of the upland is of a good quality, and the soil of the county, generally speaking, is pro- ductive. Booneville is the county scat, and is a thrifty place, having attained a growth cqual to the development of the sec- tion of country around it.
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
THE soil is fully diversified. The range of hills called the " knobs," described in the sketch of the adjoining counties, passes along the east line of Washington, separating it from Clark and Scott counties. In the south are extensive barrens, parts of which are thickly matted almost with brush and grubs; other parts have wild grass only, and other parts are curiously diversified with sink-holes, varying in shape and size, but all showing the cavernons nature of the earth under- neath. In other parts of the county are swelling ridges, ever changing their features as you advance along them, presenting beautiful groves of walnut, sugar tree, or chestnut. Salem is
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
the county seat, located near the centre of the county. It is a small but flourishing town.
WHITE COUNTY.
THIS county bears the name of Colonel Isaac White, who fell by the side of Colonel Daviess, in the battle of Tippecanoe. About two-thirds of the county is prairie, mostly arms of the Grand prairie. All of it has a rich soil, and at least one- half is dry and gently undulating, casily farmed, and not in- ferior to any land in the same latitude for producing good crops of wheat, corn, rye, oats, roots, and fruit; and grass grows well in the flat prairies, where there is less sand mixed with the soil. Nearly one-half of them are of this character, and no part of the State is better adapted to raising stock than this kind of prairie. Taking it as a whole, this is a good agricul- tural county, and the farms have already been wonderfully improved. The Tippecanoe river enters the county six miles west of the north-east corner of the county, and flows in a southerly course, forming the east boundary of the county for a distance of about six miles, in the southeastern portion. This stream affords several very fine water powers, two of which, at Monticello, are considered very superior. Numer- ous streams flowing into the Tippecanoe, from the east and west, render the county a well watered district. Monticello, the county seat, is situated near the center of the county, on the Tippecanoe river, and the Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw rail -. road. It has a population of about eighteen hundred, and contains good public improvements. There is located here one of the handsomest graded school buildings to be found in" the State. Numerous church edifices attest the religious status of the place. The county possesses fair railroad facili- ties; the Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw and the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago passing through and crossing near the center of the county, at Reynolds. Among the towns of the county not already named, may be mentioned Bradford, Brookston, Chalmers, Norway, Walcott, Idaville, and Bur- netts. Much of the lands of this county are held by specu-
597
WHITLEY COUNTY.
lators, which, to a certain degree, has hindered a rapid settle- ment; this, however, is being changed very fast, and we may soon witness White county among the foremost of the State, on the road to prominence and success.
WHITLEY COUNTY
THIS county was named in honor of Colonel William Whit- ley, of Lincoln county, Kentucky, one of the bravest and most hospitable pioncers of that State, who fell at the battle of the Thames. The south part of the county is level, the middle and north undulating. One-ninth of the county is bottom land, one-seventh openings; the remainder was originally timbered, interspersed with small, wet prairies. The soil of the county is generally a sandy loam, well adapted to agricul- ture. Columbia City, the county seat, is a flourishing town, with good schools. Its commercial interests are enhanced by good railroad facilities.
HOWARD COUNTY.
THIS county was first named Richardsville, after the cele- brated Miami chief, but, on the death of General T. A. How- ard, a distinguished citizen of Indiana, the name was changed. The surface of the county is cither nearly level or slightly undulating; the soil is uniformly rich, though in places it had to be drained to render its cultivation profitable. There are a few prairies, slightly inclined to be wet. The soil was mostly covered with valuable timber, and is well adapted to corn, wheat, grass, etc. The county lies entirely within the Miami reserve.
Kokomo, a city of over four thousand inhabitants, is the county scat. It has excellent railroad facilities, good public improvements, unsurpassed school accommodations, and flour- ishing commercial interests.
STARK COUNTY.
TEIs county is bounded on the northwest by the Kankakce
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
river, and partakes largely of the character of the lands lying along that river. There are numerous swamps in the county hardly susceptible of cultivation, and there are some low lands that are suitable only for grazing. Other portions of the sur- face are well adapted to agriculture, the soil being suited to the production of corn and wheat. The county is young, but thriving in its industries. Knox is the county seat, and, al- though a small town, is growing rapidly. The northern and southern portions of the county have good railroad facilities.
MIAMI COUNTY.
THIS county is situated in the center of the northern half of the State. About one-fourth of the county is bottom lands, one-sixth "openings " and prairie, and the balance was origi- nally very heavily timbered uplands. The timber is of the very best varieties and quality, consisting principally of walnut, poplar, white and burr oak, beech, sugar, hickory and cherry. The soil throughout the whole county, is of the very best quality, and well adapted to the production of all the articles common to the climate. The rich bottom lands on the Wabash, Mississinewa and Eel rivers, are not surpassed by any other locality in the State. The fine and wonderfully productive farms in these bottoms are known and sought after far and near. In the vicinity of the above named streams there is some hilly country, but not so broken as to preclude cultivation; the balance of the county may be called level.
The county contains 384 square miles, or 245,760 acres. The Wabash, Mississinewa, and Eel rivers, with their tribu- taries, namely, Big and Little Pipe creeks, Deer creek, Wesau, and Paw Paw, render this county a well watered district.
The county was organized in 1832, and bears the name of the well-known confederacy of Indians which inhabited this portion of the State in an early day. In 1860 it possessed a population of 16,851; in 1870, 21,052, and in 1875 it contains not far from 25,000.
Peru, the county seat, with a population of 7,500, situated on the right bank of the Wabash river, near the center of the
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
county, is one of the handsomest, most thriving, and wide-a- wake towns in the State. Its location is superior, being on a strip of land about three-quarters of a mile in width, lying parallel with the river, with a gently and very uniform slope to its bank, thus giving the whole town a magnificent drain- age. The town is handsomely laid out, the streets being wide, and lots large and roomy. Broadway, the principal business street, is 100 feet wide, and is probably one of the best graded streets in the country. Nearly all of the streets are bordered with large full-grown locusts, elms, and maples, adding much beauty and comfort, and enhancing values of property. The county possesses a commodious and handsome court house, surrounded by a beautifully shaded court square. There are two large and improved graded schools, under efficient man- agement, and which afford to the youth of the town and vicinity most excellent educational facilities. The balance of the county is well supplied with excellent schools. Six large church edifices adorn the city, and show to the stranger that the citizens have not forgotten their religious duties. There is a steam fire engine here, and the streets are lighted by gas.
Peru stands eminent as a manufacturing town. Among the establishments located here may be mentioned the "Peru Woolen Mills," H. E. & C. F. Sterne, proprietors. This mill manufactures the highest and best grades of woolen goods, which have justly earned an enviable name throughout the whole country. About 150 people are employed at this mill. This is considered to be the finest woolen mill west of the
Alleghanies. The western manufactory of the Howe sewing machine is located here; the works cover an area of 15 acres, and give employment to about 300 skilled mechanics. A spoke factory, doing an extensive business, has been in opera- tion here for some years. Also a large basket factory, with facilities for turning out 3,000 baskets weekly. The shops of the I. P. and C. railroad are located here, which furnish employment to a large force.
The county is not wanting in transportation facilities; five railroads pass through it, viz .: The Toledo, Wabash and West- ern; Indianapolis, Peru and Chicago; Columbus, Chicago and
601
NEWTON COUNTY.
Indiana Central; Logansport, Eel River and Detroit; and the Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville railroads; also the Wabash and Erie canal. These roads furnish communication with twelve out of the thirteen townships of the county.
Mexico, five miles north of Peru, on Eel river, and the L. E-R. and D. road, and in the midst of the finest farming lands in the State, is a thriving and go-ahead town. Chili, five miles east of Mexico, on the same river, is another place of importance. Bunkerhill, seven miles south of Pern, and at the junction of. the I. P. and C. and C. C. and I. C. roads, is a proud little city of metropolitan pretentions. Xenia, situated in the extreme southeastern corner of the county, on the C. C. and I. C. railroad, is a smart, wide-a-wake town, which bids fair to assume some proportions in the near future. It has already aspired to the forming of another county out of Miami, Howard, Grant and Wabash counties, with itself as the seat of government. Peoria, located on the Mississinewa river, seven miles southeast of Peru, is a pleasant little town, surrounded by the most picturesque scenery to be found in the county.
NEWTON COUNTY.
NEWTON county is situated on the west boundary of the State, its northern line being only thirty miles south of Lake Michigan. It comprehends an area of 390 square miles, or 249,600 acres. It is principally prairie land, although there is some good timber in the central portion. The northern third of the county is very wet and swampy. Beaver lake, covering an area of about 13,000 acres, and the Kankakee river, forming the northern boundary, renders this at present a very undesirable tract of country. However it only remains for the people of this section to inaugurate a grand scheme of drainage to render this one of the most fertile spots in the State. The southern half, or two-thirds of the county consists of dry and rolling prairie land, susceptible of the highest cultivation.
Kentland, the county seat, a town of about 1,500 inhabit- ants, is situated near the south line, and on the Toledo,
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Peoria and Warsaw railroad. This is a new but very fast growing town, full of wide-a-wake business men, and will very soon become a place of considerable importance. The county was organized in 1859.
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