USA > Indiana > Washington County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Harrison County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Crawford County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Clark County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Scott County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Floyd County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Jennings County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Jefferson County > Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington, Indiana > Part 21
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The city of Madison is situated on the north bank of the Ohio river, on a plateau of ground which is really a peninsular tongue of land, formed by the waters of the Ohio river on the south and the waters of Crooked Creek on the north, and drawing towards and finally uniting with the Ohio to the west. The city extends in length, from east to west, something over two
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
miles, and from north to south about the distance of three-fourths of a mile. The ground is slightly rolling towards either water course, so that the whole city is naturally drained about equally toward each stream, and is conse- quently high, dry and healthy: It is about 1500 feet above the sea level. On the north of the city the hills arise quite abruptly to the height of nearly four hundred feet. At Wal- nut street there is a long hollow run- ning north into the hills for about two miles, down which Crooked Creek comes into the city and skirts along the foot of the bluffs or hills. Madison is situated in latitude 38 degrees and six minutes north, and longitude 8 degrees and 20 minutes west from Washington.
The early history of the town is, like that of the county, hard to get hold of. The absence of the county records, before the year 1812, makes it almost impossible, after the death of the early settlers, to establish any facts in regard to the early doings of the inhabitants. Almost every inquiry meets with different answers, which have been partially learned and largely deduced, and principally guessed at; so that the seeker after facts has a hard time to get them, although meeting constantly with persons desirous and anxious to enlighten and assist him.
It is prima facie fact that the town was built, and it is acknowledged on all hands as to who were the first proprietors, but after that the skein
is so terribly tangled that it cannot be straightened and unravelled.
Stores .- Probably the first store in the town was kept by Col. John Vawter, who came to this county in 1806, with his father, Elder Jesse Vawter. His place of business was on the southeast corner of Main and Jefferson streets, just west of and opposite to the court house. When he established this store cannot be determined, nor how long he con- tinued it. He went to Jennings county in 1815, with David MeClure, and they laid out the present town of Vernon. Afterwards he went to Indianapolis, when that place was determined upon as the seat of gov- ernment for the State. Later he was assisting in laying out and making the town of Morgantown, and again at some two or three points on the old Madison & Indianapolis rail- road. . Another of the early mer- chants here was John Sering who, came in the year 1810, and was made county treasurer in 1812. He was appointed as the first postmaster and held the office for many years. He kept a store on the northeast corner of Main and Jefferson streets, where Gertz' bakery now is. At a later date Mr. Sering established the first cotton mill in Madison. It stood on the ground now occupied by the resi- dence of Mr. James J. Sering, on N. Jefferson street. It had only machin- ery for making cotton yarn. This was made from cotton rolls or bat- ting, and was an industry of very
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
nearly as great importance in that day as the great cotton mills of our day, where the raw cotton is made into cloths of different grades by machinery. At that time the major- ity of all of the cloths that were used were made by the women from the raw material, whether of flax, cot- ton or wool, carding by hand, spin- ning the thread, and then weaving on a hand loom.
Dr. Drake & Co. started the first drug store in 1813. Then followed Moody Park, Stephen C. Stevens - afterwards he studied law and was one of the judges of the State Supreme Court. The two Hunt's, John and Nat, MeCabe & Co., Clarkson, John McIn- tire, A. C. Lanier, David McClure, John Newberry, Wm. Robinson, . John Sheets, B. W. Grover, V. and J. King, Milton Stapp, all kept dry goods and groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, etc. D. Blackmore, John Lee, Robert Trotter, Wm. Brown, C. Basnett, John Kirk, Jacob Luck, Hunter, were early time hatters. C. C. Jeffreys, Jones Simpson, Brant, Mccullough were among the early s Iversmiths.
Taverns. John Booth was the first tavernkeeper, on the east side of Jef- ferson street, below Second. Samuel Burnet built a log tavern on the present site of the Masonic Temple ; David Maxwell followed him. His tavern had a sign of two cross keys. After that it was known as the Bell tavern, because of the big bell which hung on the sign post. This tavern was torn down in 1837. Then
followed Ristine at the corner of Mul- berry and Main, Cross and Stapp ; John Pugh on the site of the present Madison hotel; Ir a Wells on Second street ; R. R. Rea on the south of the court house square.
Physicians .- Dr. Fisk was the first physician. Dr. Hicks, Dr. Cravens, Dr. Good, two Dr. Howes, Dr. Watts, Drs. Norwood, Hodges and Rogers and Dr. MeClure.
The bar is spoken of in another place.
Newspapers .- The Western Eagle was the first paper published in the town of Madison and the second one published in the State. The Western Sun (published in Vincennes, begin- ning in 1804), being the first one. It was established by Wmn. Hendricks and Wm. Cameron, the first number being issued on May 26th, 1813, at Madison, Indiana territory. In the address to the public the editor says it " will be published weekly, and printed on a royal sheet." It was a four page paper, with four columns to the page. It had news from all over our country of from four to six weeks old. This paper continued in the hands of Hen- dricks and Cameron until the year 1815, when Hendricks sold out to Cameron. After that time there is no reliable history concerning it.
Indiana Republican .- As nearly as can be determined, this paper was estabished by John Lodge. The date of publication was April 8th, 1817. It had as first editor, John Lodge. He edited the paper a little over one year.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
He was one of the early citizens of Madison and was engaged in the print- ing business for a number of years ; afterwards he was engaged in mer- chandise for some years. He was one of the first passenger conductors on the Madison & Indianapolis railroad, and was killed in an accident upon the road Nov. 14th, 1×45.
Col. C. P. J. Arion, a brother-in-law of Mr. Lodge, became the editor and co-proprietor of this paper in 1818 and was editor for fifteen years, withdraw- ing from the paper August 22d, 1833.
Mr. Arion was a Kentuckian by birth, and a brick mason and plas- terer by trade. While he was still quite a young man his mother came to Madison for the purpose of freeing her slaves, and Mr. Arion came here with her. The Carter brothers, Jacob, Peter and Dick and their mother, were of them. Col. Arion made some money and was for years in quite easy circum- stances ; but later in life he lost in business, and went to Chicago many years ago. He died several years since quite poor.
The Weekly Banner .- Early in the summer of 1833, Judge Courtland Cushing and Judge Ebenezer Patrick, of Salem, Ind., formed a co-partnership for the purpose of establishing a paper in Madison, Ind., and got so far as to circulate a prospectus and take sub- scriptions. This was the Banner, a weekly paper. After going thus far, an arrangement was effected between this paper and the Indiana Republican, also a weekly, before men-
tioned. The result of this arrange- ment was that Judge Cushing with- drew his connection with the Weekly Banner and Col. Arion withdrew his connection with the Indiana Republi- can, and the two were combined, with Judge Patrick as the editor, as the
Republican and Banner .- The first number of this paper was issued August 22d, 1833. Lodge still held an interest in the paper.
In the absence of old files of the paper there are lapses of time not accounted for. John W. G. Simrall at one time was an editor.
In the year 1841, Mr. D. D. Jones purchased an interest in this paper and was the editor, the firm name being Jones & Lodge.
In 1847, Mr. W. W. Crail became a partner of Jones in the paper, and the firm was Jones & Crail.
In 1850 The Daily Banner was started by this firm, it being the first daily paper printed in the State. The Republican Banner and the Daily Banner were Whig in politics.
Copy of a letter: "Madison, Ind., Jan. 1, 1889. DEAR FRIEND :
As requested, I furnish you such data as are in my possession, in regard to the subject spoken of :
My father, Daniel D. Jones, was born in the county of Cardigan, in the south of Wales, on Thursday, Oct. 1st, 1801. John D. Jones, his father, emi- grated to America in April, 1817, with his family, landing at New York city, from which place he journeyed to Bal-
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
timore, Md. My father, about this time, I think, entered the Baltimore American newspaper office, where he . learned the trade of a printer. * * When he left Baltimore I have no data. He left Baltimore and came west and located at Bardstown, Ky., where he for some time edited, pub- lished and printed a Presbyterian paper.
Afterwards he was editor and pro- prietor of the Bardstown Herald, until he removed to this place (Madison, Indiana,) where he printed and pub- lished the Republican Banner, associ- ated with others in said paper. He was married January 22d, 1829, to Miss Mary Margaret Simpson, by the Rev. J. T. Hamilton, of Louisville, Ky. His death occurred September 21st, 1851. THos. S. JONES."
The paper passed under the direc- tion of Hon. John R. Cravens, at the death of Mr. Jones. Succeeding him W. W. Woollen and Gen. Milton Stapp. Then W. H. Keys. This paper died shortly after the campaign of 1852.
Madison Daily Tribune was estab- lished in 1851, by John G. Sering and Milton Gregg. It was published but a short time when it was taken to New Albany, Indiana.
Weekly Madison Courier .- This paper was established in 1837, by Mr. Grey, and passed into the hands of Doolittle & O'Grady, O'Grady as editor, after Rolla Doolittle was edi- tor. Then S. F. Covington, later Col. M. C. Garber was the editor-and
continned in charge of it until he went in to the P. O., when M. C. Garber, his son, was made the editor; he still is in charge of the paper. While Col. Garber was at the head of the paper -some time in the '50's-the Daily was commenced. This was started as a Democratic paper, but on account of the difference caused by the fugitive slave law in that party, Col. Garber drew off from that party, and finally became a Republican, and his paper a Republican paper. It is now the lead- ing paper of the county.
The Daily Madisonian was estab- lished at this time (1852), by the Bright wing of the Democratic party, R. S. Sproule, editor. It only lasted through the campaign.
The Progress, edited by N. Man- ville, was established later as a Democratic paper, but lasted but a short time.
The Daily Free Press was estab- lished in the year 1867 by Llewellyn Jones : I. D. Simpson, editor. It was quite successful till January 1st, 1870, when the office burned.
Major Simpson started a daily after the burning of the Free Press. It was also called the " Free Press." It soon broke down.
In 1876, Maj. J. D. Simpson started The Madison Star, an eve- ning daily, which he continued to the time of his death. It was finally bought out by the Courier Co.
The Madison Herald. In 1875, a stock company started this paper as a weekly and semi-weekly paper, Dr.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Llewellyn Jones as editor. It after- wards changed hands and was edited by Mr. Lin Jones. Later, Mr. M. A. Barnett, who established a daily, was editor and proprietor. He sold an interest to Dr. Bartlett. It was then made a stock company again, with Mr. Lin Jones as editor.
There have been some other papers printed in Madison, but the facts as to thei cannot be satisfactorily obtained as they are not mentioned.
Industries of MMadison. - Flouring Mills .- Of all the industries of the city of Madison, perhaps that of mill- ing stands at the head, both as to time of beginning and as to importance.
The earliest inhabitants had their grinding done at the " Old Grey Mill," at Mount Byrd, Kentucky. One of the first boys of the town-who is still living-says he recollects of hearing his father say that Elder Jesse Vawter told him " that he would come out on the point on his farm at Mt. Glad, and hail old man Grey at his mill across the river, asking him whether he could get his grist soon if he came over with it. If the reply was satisfactory, he would cross with it to the mill." This is thrown in to show the importance of the mill in the new community, and necessity for the erection of one at as early a date as possible.
The first mill known in this part of the county was Col. John Paul's, which was built on Crooked Creek, at the head of Mill street, in the present city of Madison. Just when it was built cannot now be positively ascertained,
but there is mention of it as early as 1814, and possibly 1813. It was run by water power. The next mill was built in 1831-32, by Sam. K. Page, Richard Dearborn and Alexander Washer. A large steam mill, on the site now occupied by the stove foundry works. The first building was frame which burned, and the elegant Star Mills, brick was built.
David White fitted up as a mill about 1846, an old stone building at the east end of the city. This was built for a mill by Dr. Israel T. Canby many years before, but had never been fitted for work, no machinery having been put into it.
Then the Magnolia Mills at the foot of Broadway was built in 1850 or 1851. This burned in the fall of 1854. The next was the Palmetto Mills, built by Wm. Griffin, occupying the site of Johnson's starch factory. It was enlarged by Shrewsbury and Price who run them for a few years. They were destroyed by fire October 28th, 1858.
In 1856, M. Isaac Dulton fitted up a mill on the north-east corner of West and Second streets, which he sold to Mr. W. W. Page. M. Page sold to Messrs. Trow & Stapp December 11th, 1858. They continued there till August, 1869, when they fitted up the large building opposite on the south side of Second street, and ran a large mill there till 1881, when it burned. In 1882, Wm. Trow & Son built the present large mill at the foot of Broad- way.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
About 1860 there was a mill fitted up in a large building on the west side of Jefferson, at Ohio street, which was used as a custom mill. It finally was burned in 1878 or 1879. In 1802, Mr. Gordon fitted up a mill on Main street, between Broadway and Poplar Lane. He afterwards built a large brick mill at the same place, which is now the Taylor-Hitz Co. mill. A little later, W. W. Page established a custom mill at the north-east corner of Main and Broadway. T. A. Pague and A. Schiek fitted up a mill on West street, on the south bank of Crooked Creek, but ran it but a short time. Stapp & Trow afterward bought it, and ran it till it was blown up.
Schneider & Wehrle fitted up the old Shuh oil mill for a custom grist mill, and ran it for some time. About 1866, R. J. Hurlbut and Capt. Haynes used this mill, grinding hominy, corn meal and flour. It passed into the hands of Louis Rock.
Oil Mills .- V. & J. King had prob- ably the first oil mill, for making lin- seed oil, in the town. Afterwards Jacob Shuh put up a steam mill for making oil, combining a carding machine with it.
About 1845, Whitney & Hendricks built a large mill for making linseed oil and meal, and quite an extensive woolen mill attached to it. This mill was on the east side of West street, and north of the creek. It proved too large a business for the place.
Castor Oil Mill .- In 1849, Milton Gregg and E. Morehouse built a large
mill for making castor oil, just south of the last-mentioned mill. This indus- try was in advance of its day and went under.
Cotton Mills .- The second cotton mill of Madison was built by a man by the name of Ballentine, and became the property of V. & J. King. It was a steam mill, and quite a large thing for the date. The machinery manu- factured the yarn from the raw mater- ial. The King Brothers ran it till the improvement in machinery at other places made this unprofitable, when they closed down.
The old mill stood on the west side of Central avenue below First, below the second bank or rise from the river. It was two stories and an attic in height, the first story being below the street. It was afterwards made into a planing mill by Todd & Kyle. Later it was a paper mill, owned by R. Manville. Finally it burned. At the time it was built, it was as advanced, comparatively, as the present mill on Church street.
For many years the cotton industry was quiet in Madison, but in 1883 it was revived, and the Eagle Cotton Mills were built in 1884.
Woolen Industry .- The first men- tion of this industry is, "that the Rev. Wm. Robinson, the first Presbyterian preacher, erected a 'carding machine' on lot 36, Old Town. After Mr. Robinson was John M. Watson ; then came Braxton Wilson in the house on the south side of Third street, and the .
east side of the first alley west of West street. Old Father James Cot-
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
tom was the foreman and carder. Then came the carding rooms of Mr. Shuh, with Father Cottom as carder, referred to at another place, where the power used was steam. Next was the card- ing rooms, and manufactory of Whitney & Hendricks-before mentioned. Af- ter this, with a long interval, was the Schofield-Hague mills at the foot of Central avenue, where the Globe Tobacco Works now stand. Some time after, the Schofield mills, north- east corner First and Jefferson. Last, the present extensive establishment, the Louisville and Madison Woolen Mills, at the corner of West and Second. This mill is prepared to do any kind of work in their line.
Breweries .- Old man Salmon had a brew-house at the eastern end of Second street, at about the present site of the Madison Brewing Co's build- ing. This was probably the first establishment of the kind in this vicinity.
The next was the Schiek Brewery, which was situated on Jefferson, north of Fourth street. This wasabandoned as a brewery some years since and fitted up as a canning factory.
There was Abple's Brewery, at the head of Fourth street. Mat. Greiner built a large brewery on the ground at the head of Second street which was afterwards enlarged and the Madi- son Brewing Co. was formed. P. Weber built the Union Brewery on Main and Vine streets. Both of last- mentioned are in full operation, and very large concerns.
Madison beer and ale were in long past, famous all over the West for their superior quality. Now they rate with others all over the country. The difference in the purity of the water is the probable cause.
Shipyards .- The first shipyard of the town was operated by Joseph Howard and P. Emmerson, partners. It was established early in the decade of '30, and was situated at the extreme upper river front of the town, just below where the Mammoth Cave Pork House stood. They afterwards went to Jeffersonville and Howard estab- lished a yard there. Barmore, who started a shipyard in Jeffersonville, was a workman in the yard here and went to Jeffersonville with Howard.
The Madison Marine Railway Shipyard was established in 1850 and has been in operation ever since, with fluctuating success and failure. At present it is in good condition and is prospering.
Tlu Madison Dry Dock Co .- A sketch of this is given by Hon. Jos. T. Brashear, Mayor.
Sketch of the Madison Dry Dock. furnished by Hon. J. T. Brashear, Mayer.
"In the year 1859, Jos. T. Brashear, Louis II. Vance, Henry Thompson, William McCleland and Samuel Beaty organized the Madison Dry Dock Com- pany, for the purpose of building and repairing steam boats and water crafts. The first boat the company built was the ferry boat Union, for Capt. John Abbott, to run as a ferry between
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Madison and Milton, Ky. They then built their dry dock, the dimensions of the dock as follows: 192 feet in length, 52 feet in width and 11 feet in depth; was finished and launched in the summer of 1860. The first boat that was placed on the dock for repair was the Ida May, in the fall of 1860. The company built the fol- lowing boats : Leslie Combs, for Capt. Stivers, for Kentucky river; ferry boat O'Conner for New Albany, Ind .; Fannie Brandies for Capt. Thomas Boles, of Evansville, Ind ; Mattie Cook for Capt. Adam Liter for Green river ; two middle barges for Memphis Packet Co .; Carolina for Capt. Isaac Tallay of Madison ; Fantom for Capt. Charles Irwin of Madison ; ferry boat Lucy Taylor for Capt. Taylor of Hamilton, Mo .; Indiana for Capt. J. S. Neal, of Madison, for the Cincinnati and New Orleans trade ; Calumet for Read river trade; Mollie Gratz for Madison and Louisville trade; Rob Roy and Andrew Johnson for the St. Louis and Keokuk Packet Co.
The company did a large amount of repairing of old boats. In the spring of 1865 the dock was sold to Capt. Henry C. Watts and others. They erected a roof over the entire dock and loaded the dock with hay. They put 1,650 tons on her. She was taken in tow by the steamer Hazell Dell and taken to New Orleans. After disposing of the hay, Watts & Co. sold her to some New Orleans parties who used her for docking small crafts.
Foundries .- The first foundry was
carried on by Edward Shields & Bro. It was located on the northwest corner of Vine and High streets. The motive power was one blind horse. They did no work outside of a few plain castings and mouldboards for plows.
Lewis & Crawford came next on the other side of Vine street ; from a small start they finally had a very large foundry and machine shop, turning out all kinds of work in their line of busi. ness. They accumulated quite a for- tune but finally by reverses died poor.
They sold out their shops, business and good will to the Neals,-J. S. and R. E.,-and Wm. Johnson, under the firm name of J. S. & R. E. Neal. This firm enlarged the premises till they finally had one of the largest foundries in the whole West. They finally broke up in this business, and started a large Agricultural Imple- ment Manufactory, which collapsed during the first years of the war.
Lodge & Sackets started a small foundry on Mulberry street, near Fifth, on the east side of Mulberry. Sackets became intemperate and the thing went to pieces.
Crawford & Davidson, in the decade of 1850. First called "Indi- ana Foundry," now "Madison Machine Works Co."
Joseph R. Farnsworth built a foundry in 1848, on the river front between West street and Central ave- nue. This was burned down in '50, and he built on the corner of Elm and Ohio. This was burned three times, when he abandoned the business.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Cobb & Stribling afterwards refitted this place, and they were burned out.
The Novelty Works was estab- lished by I. N. Todd, on Second, near Elm. After, Walker's foundry was removed to West street, where Charles Johnson now runs it.
Starch Factories .- The first starch factory of any size established in the West was at Madison, by O'Neal Bailey, an Irishman. This was a fail- ure in his hands, but after passing one or two other owners it was a suc- cess under the management of John- son & Clements. Finally they sepa- rated their interests and each built works at the west end of the city, and are now operating two of the largest starch works in the whole country. They use daily about eighteen hun- dred bushels of corn in the manufac- ture of starch.
They employ about one hundred hands each.
Store Foundries .- Along in the fifties there was a stove foundry estab- lished on Mulberry, below First. It did not continue long.
The Madison Stove Foundry was established about 1883, and is doing a large and increasing business.
Saw Mills .- Dow & Brown have a large saw mill and planing mill on the railroad, west side of Plum street.
D. C. Robinson & Co. have a saw mill on the river at the foot of Vernon street.
H. Clay Jones & Co. have a fine mill on the site of the old Mammoth Cave pork house.
Pork Packing .-- Madison was the natural outlet of the county north of here for all of the products, and in the early days was sought as such. The Michigan road reaching to the lake gave a fine route for the farmers to haul their grain and to drive their hogs over. The State road was another artery reaching as far as Indi- anapolis. Along these the trade was established, running through the whole State. All routes centered at Indian- apolis, and as it was cheaper to drive than to hanl, and as there were at that time no arrangements for any extensive business there, it all headed to Madi- son. The early establishments at this place gave to the packers these great advantages, and Madison, upon the opening of the Madison & Indianapo- lis railroad, was a point surpassed by none as a pork mart. Among the large dealers were Dearborn Godman ; Godman & Sons; Sering & God- man ; Sering & Penniston ; D. White; N. Powell ; Jas. Cunningham ; J. Fitch & Son, and many others. After the railroad outlet to Cincinnati was made, this trade was much lessened, but for many years, in fact to the time of the breaking out of the late war, Madison was in the front in this trade.
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