USA > Indiana > Centennial history and handbook of Indiana : the story of the state from its beginning to the close of the civil war, and a general survey of progress to the present time > Part 36
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Military and Naval Officers .- Gen. Lew Wal- lace, Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, Gen. Francis A. Shoup, Gen. Joseph E. Johnson, Gen. P. A. Hackleman, Oliver H. Glisson, rear admiral, and William L. Herndon, commander U. S. N.
A few of the above, perhaps, had but slight re- lations with this region, but allowing for this the output of able men is still remarkably large. If, from Franklin county we look northward to Con- nersville, Centerville and Richmond, we find other men whose services and fame are well known within the State, and in not a few in- stances far beyond its borders. In this galaxy are Oliver P. Morton, George W. Julian, Oliver H. Smith, Caleb B. Smith, Charles H. Test. James Rariden, Samuel W. Parker, Samuel K. Hoshour, and other men notable for caliber. Many of these were gathered at Centerville dur- ing the time it was the seat of justice of Wayne county, but with the removal of the courts to Richmond they dispersed, a good proportion of these finding their way to Indianapolis, beckoned
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HUNDESERAI HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
lip thomas of a larger
The comment nien to and than the Whitey ster of majeed, something of Thu- many di. wir po kk mon- w Be ad ville were
Dae mons 1 6. codico- causes, and when theo Tuvo si tros Why avere on the track of op- monice -onehit po-tures new. For example, are of the fleet flourishing periods in the history no the toys began in 1820, when the lands of the detection of the State as far north as the Wabash, wife thrown open and the land office established It Brookville. As all purchasers of lands in this last new tract visited the land office, not only
Old State Bank Building, Brookville. One of the first banks in the State.
with their purchase money but with the pre- sumable surplus of travelers, the great impetus to the town's prosperity and growth may easily be conceived. For five years, fed by the visiting thousands, the place throve, and the men who were drawn thither made it a political and intel- lectual center. Then the question of removing the office to Indianapolis, as a more central loca- tion, was agitated. It was bitterly opposed by Brookville citizens, who had an unconcealed con- tempt for the little insignificant "capital in the woods, buried in miasmatic solitude and sur- rounded," as James Brown Ray said in one of his pompous speeches, "by a boundless contiguity of Shade" Nevertheless, the despised and agne- tidden capital got the land office: the fortune seekers of Brookville betook themselves else- where like migrating birds, and then followed a period of sorry decadence, during which houses
over town stood vacant and dilapidated ; all busi ness languished ; money became all but extinct and there was a reversion to the communisti method of exchanging goods for goods, or good for labor.
This paralysis lay on Brookville and the sur rounding county until the schemes for the inter nal improvement, agitated throughout the twen. ties and for one-half of the third decade, began to take definite and practical shape. About 1833 according to Mr. T. A. Goodwin, there was ? revival of life in the Whitewater ; people begai to paint their houses and mend their fences, and deserted houses began to fill up. The interna improvement act of 1836 provided for the con struction of "the Whitewater canal, commenc ing on the west branch of the Whitewater river at the crossing of the National road, thence pass ing down the valley of the same to the Ohio river, at Lawrenceburg, and extending up the said west branch of the Whitewater above the National road as may be practicable." This wa a promise of commercial prosperity and a nev lease of life to the Whitewater region. The day that the contracts were let at Brookville fo: building the various sections of the canal there was a grand jollification-speech-making, dinner toasts and all the rest ; and a like enthusiasm pre vailed in all the valley. Towns sprang up along the proposed route and lay in wait, and as the canal, crawling northward, reached them, suc cessively, making one and then another the head of navigation, each flourished and had its day drawing to itself the wheat and hogs and other agricultural exports from the inlying country for many miles east, north and west. This grea trade, of course, always sought the nearest poin of shipment, and so Brookville, Metamora, Lau rel, Connersville and Cambridge City were, in turn, receiving ports and reaped the benefits of traffic. The people on the east branch, not to be outdone by their neighbors on the west, also strove energetically for a canal between Brook- ville and Richmond that should promote the de. velopment of this valley, and, though the work was never completed, much labor and money was expended upon it.
The old canal days are a distinct era in the history of our State. The younger generation knows little about them, but many a reminis- cence might be picked up of the merchant fleets
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
of the Whitewater and the idyllic journeyings up nd down the beautiful valley by packet. This order of things, which continued about thirty ears, was maintained in the face of serious dis- ouragements, for the Whitewater river, one of he swiftest streams in the State, is subject to violent freshets, and these have repeatedly dam- ged the canal, effectually stopping traffic and ntailing heavy expenses in repairs. The great lood of 1847 all but ruined the ditch, and carcely was this recovered from when another roved almost as disastrous. Besides these hecks on traffic, untold thousands of dollars ave been lost by the sweeping away of mills nd other property, and in the opinion of many ld citizens, these disheartening losses have aused much of the exodus from the valley.
The lower part of the Whitewater valley, with Brookville as its center, lies to-day aloof from he trunk railway lines that have been the great etermining factor in the development of the ountry. But if it lacks the bustle and growth f some other newer sections of the State, it has nother and different attraction-the attraction f great natural beauty of landscape combined rith quiet idyllic charm and pleasing reminders f the past. The disused bed of the old White- rater Canal and its crumbling stone locks are rown with grass. Grass grows in the peaceful ioroughfares in and about the villages of Laurel nd Metamora, and in these villages and in rookville quaint and weatherworn houses speak f a past generation of builders. Our artists ave already discovered the picturesqueness of le region, and some of Indiana's abundant lit- rary talent might well find inspiration here be- ore it is too late .- Geo. S. Cottman.
Organization. - Franklin county was the xth county organized in Indiana. It was named honor of Benjamin Franklin and its organiza- on became effective February 1, 1811. It was ormed from Dearborn and Clark counties in onformity with the legislative act of November 7, 1810. Brookville, which had previously been rganized, was made the county seat. The or- anization of Fayette and Union counties in 1819 id 1821 greatly reduced the area of Franklin ounty.
Population of Franklin county in 1890 was 3,366; in 1900 was 16,388, and according to nited States Census of 1910 was 15,335, of
which 681 were of white foreign birth. There were 3,684 families in the county and 3,622 dwellings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are thirteen townships in Franklin county: Bath, Bloomington Grove, Brookville, Butler, Fairfield. Highland, Laurel, Metamora, Posey, Ray, Salt Creek, Springfield and White Water. The in- corporated cities and towns are Brookville, Cedar Grove, Laurel, Mt. Carmel, and Oldenburg. Brookville is the county seat.
Taxable Property and Polls .- According to the annual report of the Auditor of State from the abstract of the tax duplicate for 1913, the total value of lands and lots in Franklin county was $4,349,965 ; value of improvements was
Little Cedar Baptist Church, near Brookville, Building Completed in 1812.
$1,954,370, and the total net value of taxables was $9,441,250. There were 2,389 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 178 miles of improved roads in Franklin county built and un- der jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1, 1914. Amount of gravel road bonds outstanding, $129,796.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 37.93 miles of steam railroad operated in Frank- lin county by the C. & O .; Chicago division of the Big Four, and the White Water railroads.
Educational .- According to the biennial re- port of T. J. McCarty, county superintendent, there were eighty-four schoolhouses, inchiding eight high schools, in Franklin county in 1913- 1914, employing 101 teachers. The average daily attendance by pupils was 2,265. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to superintendents, su-
TEXTING HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
Convent and Academy of the Immaculate Conception, Oldenburg, Franklin County.
pervisors, principals and teachers was $48,017.15; estimated value of school property in the county was $124,685, and the total amount of indebted- ness, including bonds, was $31,190. There is one parochial school, enrolling 183 pupils and em- ploying four teachers. This school is conducted in a new modern brick building containing class rooms, basement with gymnasium, reading rooms and the largest hall in the city of Brookville.
Agriculture .- There were in Franklin county in 1910 over 2,100 farms embraced in 240,000 acres. Average acres per farm, 113.9 acres. The value of all farm property was over $12,000,000, showing 69.2 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre, $32.65. The total value of domestic animals was over $1,400,000: Number of cattle 14,000, valued at $357.000; horses 6,700, valued at $650,000; hogs 42,000, valued at $272,000 ; sheep 15,000. valued at $65,- 000. The total value of poultry was $73,000.
Convent of the Immaculate Conception, con- ducted by Sisters of St. Francis of the Third Order Regular, Oldenburg. Ind.
The founder of the Oldenburg convent and academy was the sainted Rev. Francis Joseph Rudolf. He was ordained priest August 10, 1839, at Strasburg, Alsace, and in 1842 came to the United States as missionary. On January 6, 1851, the first steps were taken toward the foundation of a teaching community, with the auspicious aid of Sister M. Theresa, who volunteered to bid farewell to her convent in Vienna, Austria. to erve bod in the wild West. She landed in New York in January, 1851. This saintly maiden formed the corner stone of the Oldenburg con- vent, and became its first superior general, under
the title of "Mother." The old convent was re- constructed in 1899-1901.
The community advanced steadily, though often under great difficulties, opening new schools from year to year, until now it numbers seventy-three mission schools, in which 13,500 children are educated. These schools are located mainly in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Kansas. These great achievements are due to the sainted founders and their worthy successors who continued the good work. Among the latter ranks the present Mother General Olivia, sec- onded by her energetic counsel and devoted sub- - jects.
The Academy of the Immaculate Concep. tion, Oldenburg, Ind .- The foundation of the academy is so closely connected with the conven that its history is virtually contained in that of the convent or Mother house. The Mother Genera always has been, and still is its president, with the directress as vice-president.
The academy's beginning was lowly as that of the convent. The first boarders, attending a fal and winter session, had their first quarters ir the convent, and only in 1859 was a special two story brick building erected for the academy stu- dents. This was replaced by a handsome, exten sive three-story structure in 1863. Later, in 1876 the conservatory of music was added to the academy building. This building, with occasiona later improvements, still continues its efficien service, as does the north addition of the convent the only buildings not contained in the great re construction of 1899-1901. The new conven church, a veritable gem of architectural beauty had been built in 1890.
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The newly erected edifices rank among the best n the State. The efficiency of this school has been recognized by the Indiana State Board of Education, and its Normal department has been
accredited by the State Teachers' Training Board, and it is affiliated with the Catholic Uni- versity of America, Washington, D. C., and the University of Cincinnati.
FULTON COUNTY
ROCHESTER, SEAT OF JUSTICE
F ULTON COUNTY is located in the north- ern part of the State and is bounded on the horth by Marshall, on the east by Kosciusko. Wabash and Miami, on the south by Cass and Miami, and on the west by Pulaski counties. It contains 350 square miles. A ridge of small, rugged hills, from one to two miles in width, ex- end along the north bank of the Tippecanoe through the county. With this exception, the face of the county is level or undulating. There are numerous lakes in the county, which abound with game fish of almost every variety. The most mportant lake in the county is Manitou, which ies one mile southeast of Rochester, the county seat. According to a late survey by H. B. Hol- nan, the area of the lake is 886.75 acres, making t the eighth in size of Indiana lakes. When and how the lake was given its name is a matter of conjecture, for it was called "Manitou" by the Indians before the white settlers came. Jacob P. Dunn, in his book, entitled "True Indian Stories," says: "Manitou Lake in Fulton county. This is the Potawatomi mah-nee-to-the Miami form be- ng mah-nat-o-wah-and refers to a supernatural monster said to inhabit the lake. Mah-nee-to signifies merely a spirit, and good or bad quali- ties are indicated by adjectives." Some writers
state that probably the lake received its name through the fact that unusually large spoon-bill catfish were in early days caught in the lake and that these were the monsters thought by the In- dians to be the spirits.
The first white men to enter this vicinity found five small basins of water, separated by low marshes, in most places, while at some the ground was high enough to permit farming, which was being done by some of the Pottawatomie In- dians, then residing here. The first dam, at the outlet into the Tippecanoe river was built by the United States government in 1830. Between 1836 and 1840 the Indians were removed from this vi- cinity to a place reserved for them west of the Mississippi river and the dam was discontinued. A little later, however, another dam was built farther down the stream at the town site of Rochester, then just laid out and plotted. Later, about 1850, the dam was rebuilt at the lake and the water raised as a reservoir, the water being taken from the lake by an artificial race to the mill at Rochester. No use is made at the present time of the water power at the lake, but through the old mill race or canal, leading to Rochester. is drawn the supply for the city water works.
Organization .- Fulton county was organ-
Colonial Park.
Lake Manitou.
Wolf Point.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
Pobest fiton, the inventor of the steamboat. Rochester was selected by the locating commis- Stoters the second Monday of Jule, 1836 as the county se ty after examining several places.
Population of Fuhon came in 1800 was Voitof States Census of 1910 was 16.879, of at 1 251 were of foreign white birth. There we 1.347 tumlies in the county and 4,258
Townships. Cities and Towns .- There are cut townships in Fulton county : Aubbeenaub- To Henry, Liberty, Newcastle, Richland, Rochester, Union and Wayne. The incorporated cities and towns are Rochester, Fulton, Akron. und Kewanna. Rochester is the county seat.
Taxable Property and Polls .- According to the annual report of the Auditor of State from the abstract of the tax duplicate for 1913, the total value of lands and lots in Fulton county was $7.787,195; value of improvements was $2,081,965, and the total net value of taxables was $13,612,700. There were 2,722 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were eighty-seven iniles of improved roads in Fulton county built and under jurisdiction of the county commission- ers January 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstanding. $86.739.20.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 77.52 miles of steam railroad operated in Fulton county by the C. & O .; C. & E .; Indianapolis, Michigan City division of L. E. & W., and the Michigan division of the Vandalia railroads. The Winona Interurban Railway Company operates 6.49 miles of electric line in the county.
Educational .- According to the report of Henry L. Becker, county superintendent of Ful- ton county, there were 73 schoolhouses, including eight high schools, in the county in 1914, employ- ing 155 teachers. The average daily attendance by pupils was 37,925. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to superintendents, supervisors, prin- cipals and teachers was $71,128.26. Estimated value of school property in the county was $366,050, and the total amount of indebtedness, including bonds, was $140,190.
Agriculture .- There were in Fulton county in 1910 over 2,300 farms embraced in 221,000 acres. Average acres per farm, 94.5 acres. The value of all farm property was over $18,000,000, showing 80.1 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre, $59.96. The total value of domestic animals was over $1,800,000: Number of cattle 18,000, valued at $500,000; horses 8,800, valued at $1,000,000; hogs 32,000, valued at $208,000 ; sheep 24,000, valued at $100,- 000. The total value of poultry in Fulton county was $100,000.
GIBSON COUNTY
PRINCETON, SEAT OF JUSTICE
G IBSON COUNTY is located in the south- Western part of the State and is bounded on the north by Knox, on the cast by Pike and Warrick, on the south by Warrick, Vanderburg und Posey and on the west by the Wabash river, eparating it from the State of Illinois. It con- tams 150 square miles of the richest land in the State. In parts of the county, the soil is a sandy loam which produces the finest melons and can- k lope -. All of the surface land is comparatively Isol ated all being suitable for agriculture and orchard . A part of the county has three veins of good coal, and oil and gas have been found in pone quantities. According to the report of the
State mine inspector for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1914, there were four mines in operation under his jurisdiction that produced 251,379 tons of coal.
Organization .- Gibson county was organ- ized April 1, 1813, the same year that the capital of the territory was moved to Corydon. The county was named in honor of General John Gib- son, secretary of the territory from 1801-16, and repeatedly acting governor of the territory in the absence of General Harrison. He had been taken prisoner in carly life by the Indians, and con- tinued among them for many years and was fa- miliar with their language and usages. It was to
CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
257
him that the celebrated speech of the Indiana chief Logan was made. Princeton has always been the county seat of Gibson and was named in honor of Judge William Prince, who represented the first congressional district in Congress in 1823-25.
Population of Gibson county in 1890 was 24,920; in 1900 was 30,099, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 30,137, of which 518 were of white foreign birth. There
$3,686,615, and the total net value of taxables was $18,814,375. There were 4,938 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 241 miles of improved roads in Gibson county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstand- ing, $557,358.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 89.77 miles of steam railroad operated in Gibson
-
Hazelton Ferry on White River between Gibson and Knox Counties.
were 7,119 families in the county and 6,977 dwellings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are en townships in Gibson county : Barton, Center, Columbia, Johnson, Montgomery, Patoka, Union, Wabash, Washington and White River. The in- corporated cities and towns are Princeton, Fort Branch, Francisco, Hazelton, Oakland City, Owensville and Patoka. Princeton is the county seat.
Taxable Property and Polls .- According to the annual report of the Auditor of State from the abstract of the tax duplicate for 1913, the total value of lands and lots in Gibson county was $10,166,355 ; value of improvements was
county by the Evansville & Indianapolis ; Evans- ville division of the C. & E. I. ; Mount Vernon branch of the C. & E. I. ; Evansville, Mount Car- mel & Northern division of the Big Four ; Peorit division of the Illinois Central, and the Southern Railway Company of Indiana. The Public Utili- ties Company operate 17.79 miles of electric line in the county.
Educational .- According to the report of Wilbur F. Fisher, county superintendent of Gib- son county, there were 120 schoolhouses, includ- ing ten high schools, in Gibson county in 1914. employing 239 teachers. The average daily at- tendance by pupils was 5,636. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to superintendents, su-
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COTTO MAL TUSTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
tellier 3.15 $126 .- 185 =+ The estimated value of school property of the county was $455,000, and the total amount vi indebtedicss, including bonds, was $102,200 for school purposes.
Agriculture .- There were in Gibson county 1 1910 over 2.800 farm- embraced in 270,000 fre- Average acres per farm, 94.8 acres. The godine of all farm property was over $21,000,000, Showing 75.8 per cent. increase over 1900. The Werdge v. lue of land per acre, $59.59. The total vue of domestic animals was over $2,000,000 : Number of cattle 14,000, valued at $350,000; horses 10,000, valued at $980,000 ; hogs 45,000, valued at $250,000 ; sheep 13,000, valued at $58,- 000. The total value of poultry was $87,000.
Oakland City College is the final outgrowth of an effort on the part of the General Baptist denomination, a body of Liberal Baptists, to found an institution of learning in the Mississippi valley. After several previous efforts the pres- ent organization was incorporated in 1885. A beautiful campus of native oaks in the west edge of the town of Oakland City was donated by Colonel W. M. Cockrum, and the building was begun. After a long period of hard struggle, owing to the lack of financial strength, the build-
ing was completed, and schools opened in 1891. Since its beginning the college has enjoyed a growth, not rapid but constant, and has been gradually enlarging its equipment and scope of work. It now has the following departments : Preparatory, Collegiate, Normal, Theological, Vocational, Music and Art. It is partially en- dowed, having been the recipient of several gifts, including some 400 acres of land. The plans are practically completed by which it is to receive during the present year, through the generosity of a friend, a special building, 40 by 300 feet and two stories high, which is to be the future home of the entire vocational department. This will make possible the realization of a dream to give to this immediate territory a needed service in practical education along the lines of agriculture, orcharding, dairying, poultry, domestic science, and such other things as will meet the commu- nity's needs.
W. P. Dearing, just then graduating from the college at the age of twenty, and being the first graduate of the institution, was in 1895 chosen dean of the college and placed in actual charge of the institution. Eight years later he was pro- moted to the presidency, which position he is still holding.
GRANT COUNTY
MARION, SEAT OF JUSTICE
G RANT COUNTY is located in the third tier of counties northeast of Indianapolis and is bounded on the north by Wabash and Huntington, on the east by Wells and Blackford, on the south by Delaware and Madison and on the west by Miami, Howard and Tipton coun- ties. It contains 418 square miles and a consid- cable part of Grant county lies in the bounds of the Miam Reserve. Here, on the banks of the Mississinewa river, formerly lived Menshinge- west and his ancestors, and the battle of Mis- sissinewa between the reds and whites was ought here in primitive days. On the west bank ot the river i located the Marion branch of the National Soldiers' Home, just beyond the south- un limit of the city of Marion. Several notable educational in solutions are located in the county.
notably Marion Normal College, Taylor Univer- sity at Upland and the Wesleyan Theological Seminary and the Fairmount Academy at Fair- mount.
Organization .- Grant county was formally organized April 1, 1831, and was named in honor of Captain Samuel Grant and Moses Grant, who were killed in 1789 in a battle with the Indians near the creek, since called by their name in the northeast part of Switzerland county. Marion was selected as the county seat during the sum- mer of 1831, and the first lots were sold on the first Monday in November. The first court-house was not erected until three years later.
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