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 37
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National Soldiers' Home .- In 1890 Congress passed an act establishing a branch of the Na- tional Soldiers' Home at Marion, which was se-
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cured mainly through the efforts of George W. Steele, member of Congress from the Marion district, who served as superintendent of the home until the spring of 1915. The home is ocated on a beautiful rolling tract of land cover- ng about 250 acres, about two and a half miles southeast of the city of Marion. It is bordered on the east and south by the Mississinewa river. About 1,500 veterans are cared for here.
Population of Grant county in 1890 was 31,493; in 1900 was 54,693, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 51,426, of which 1,722 were of white foreign birth. There were 12,676 families in the county and 12,332 dwellings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are thirteen townships in Grant county: Center, Fairmount, Franklin, Green, Jefferson, Liberty, Mill, Monroe, Pleasant, Richland, Sims, Van Buren and Washington. The incorporated cities and towns are Gas City, Marion, Fairmount, Fowlerton, Jonesboro, Matthews, Swayzee, Up- and and Van Buren. Marion 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 Grant county was $12,175,800, value of improvements was $6,544,- 725 and the total net value of taxables was $30,- 235,865. There were 8,075 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 900 miles of improved roads in Grant county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners Janu- ary 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds out- standing, $857,583.06.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are
122.42 miles of steam railroad operated in Grant county by the C. & O .; C., W. & M. ; C., I. & E. ; Logansport division of the P., C., C. & St. L .. and the Toledo, St. Louis & Western railroads. The Indiana Railway & Light Company, Marion. Bluffton & Eastern Traction Company, and the Union Traction Company of Indiana operate 58.60 miles of electric line in the county.
Educational .- According to the report of Charles H. Terrell, county superintendent of Grant county, there were 138 schoolhouses. in- cluding nine high schools, in Grant county in 1914, employing 327 teachers. The average daily attendance by pupils was 8,416. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to superintendents, su- pervisors, principals and teachers was $193,658. Estimated value of school property in the county was $946,500, and the total amount of indebted- ness, including bonds, was $132,825.
Agriculture .- There were in Grant county in 1910 over 2,800 farms, embraced in 240.000 acres. Average acres per farm, 85.5 acres. The value of all farm property was over $30,000,000, showing 106.2 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre was $92.32. The total value of domestic animals was over $2,800,- 000: Number of cattle 20,000, valued at $630,- 000; horses 12,000, valued at $1.300,000; hogs 95,000, valued at $570,000 ; sheep 27,000, valued at $119,000. The value of poultry was $111.000.
Industrial .- According to the United States Census of 1910 there were eighty-nine industries in Marion, furnishing employment to 2,610 per- sons. Total amount of capital employed. $3.933,- 723 : value of products, $4,442,116; value added by manufacture, $2.118,513.
National Soldiers' Home, Marion.
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CENTENNIAL MISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
GREENE COUNTY
BLOOMFIELD, SEAT OF JUSTICE
G Y REENE COUNTY is located in the south- Western part of the State and is bounded on the north by Clay and Owen, on the east by Monroe and Lawrence, on the south by Martin, Davies, and Knox and on the west by Sullivan counties, It has an area of 535 square miles. The eastern part of the county is rough and broken, extending into the limestone region. In- dian, Doans. Plummer, Richland and Beech creeks drain this section. White river drains the central part and the west fork of White river flows entirely across the county. The coal fields are located in the western section. According to the report of the State Mine Inspector for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1914, there were nineteen mines in operation in the county under his jurisdiction, which produced 2,388,182 tons of coal. Agriculture and fruit raising is carried on extensively in the central part of the county.
Organization .- The organization of Greene
county was made effective February 5, 1821. The county was named in honor of General Nathaniel Greene, one of the heroes of the revo- lution. The first county seat was located at Burlington. The site had been selected by the locating commissioners March 10, 1821, and the land had been donated by Thomas Bradford, Frederick Shepherd and Zebulon Hague. The county seat remained here until 1824, when it ; became necessary to find a new location, for the reason that an adequate supply of water was not obtainable at this point. Peter C. Van Slyke, a wealthy landowner, offered to donate the land for the location of the new county seat, which the commissioners accepted, and Bloomfield came ! into being. The first sale of lots was set for April 22, 1824, and a log court-house built that summer of "hewed logs, 26 by 20 feet, one story and a half high, with one door and one window, with twelve lights in it (8 by 16) in the lower
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Bandoc Over Richland Creek Year Bloomfield, Greene County, on the Illinois Central Railroad. Third highest bridge in United States. Height, 158 feet.
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story, with a good poplar plank floor. House to be covered with shingles." The board of justices met for the last time in Burlington in September, 1824, and adjourned to meet in the new court- house in Bloomfield. At the present time not a vestige remains of the former county .seat.
Population of Greene county in 1890 was 24,379; in 1900 was 28,530, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 36,873, of which 1,647 were of white foreign birth. There were 8,466 families in the county and 8,344 dwellings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are fifteen townships in Greene county: Beech Creek, Cass, Center, Fairplay, Grant, Highland, Jackson, Jefferson, Richland, Smith, Stafford, Stockton, Taylor, Washington and Wright. The incorporated cities and towns are Jasonville, Linton, Bloomfield, Lyons, Newberry and Worth- ington. Bloomfield is the county seat of Greene county.
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 Greene county was $6,906,380, value of improvements was $3,678,915 and the total net value of taxables was $16,217,505. There were 6,587 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 453 miles of improved roads in Greene county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners Janu- ary 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds out- standing, $408,450.50.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 150.52 miles of steam railroad operated in Greene county by the C. I. & L .; Chicago, Terre Haute & Southeastern ; Evansville & Indianapolis; In- dianapolis & Louisville ; Indianapolis branch of the Illinois Central, and the Vincennes branch and the Greene county coal branch of the Van- dalia railroads.
Educational .- According to the report of Daniel C. McIntosh, county superintendent of Greene county, there were 154 schoolhouses, in- cluding nine high schools, in Greene county in 1914, employing 279 teachers. The average daily
This sycamore is the largest non-nutbearing tree in the United States of which there is any record. It is 150 feet high, 45 feet in circumference. Its spread is 100 feet. The tree is located near Worthington, Greene County.
attendance by pupils was 7,601. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to superintendents, su- pervisors, principals and teachers was $130,- 051.79. Estimated value of school property in the county was $431,675, and the total amount of indebtedness, including bonds, was $136,- 254.08.
Agriculture .- There were in Greene county in 1910 over 3,500 farms, embraced in 315,000 acres. Average acres per farm, 89.6 acres. The value of all farm property was over $16,000,000, showing 69 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre was $38. The total value of domestic animals was over $1.800,- 000: Number of cattle 17,000, valued at $440,- 000; horses 9,400, valued at $904,000; hogs 25,000, valued at $160,000; sheep 16,000, valued at $66,000. The total value of poultry was $115,000.
HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
HAMILTON COUNTY
NOBLESVILLE, SEAT OF JUSTICE
H AMILTON COUNTY is located inmedi- ately north of Indianapolis in the first tier of counties. It is bounded on the north by Tip- ton, on the east by Madison and Hancock, south by Marion and on the west by Boone and Clinton counties It contains 400 square miles and the urnice is of such nature that practically every acre is available for agricultural purposes.
Organization. - Hamilton county was for- mally organized April 7, 1823. Noblesville has been the seat of justice since the organization of the county. The county was named in honor of Alexander Hamilton, the patriot and statesman.
Population of Hamilton county in 1890 was 26,123; in 1900 was 29,914, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 27,026, of which 235 were of white foreign birth. There were 6.941 families in the county and 6,783 dwellings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are nine townships in Hamilton county: Adams, Clay, Delaware, Fall Creek, Jackson, Nobles- ville, Washington, Wayne and White River. The incorporated cities and towns are Noblesville, Arcadia, Atlanta, Carmel, Cicero, Fishers, Sheri- dan and Westfield. Noblesville 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 Hamilton county was $10,977,265, value of improvements was $3,909,615 and the total net value of taxables was $20,121,120. There were 4,191 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 650 miles of improved roads in Hamilton county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstanding, $410,776.31.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 58.67 miles of steam railroad operated in Ham- ilton county by the Central Indiana ; Chicago, In- dianapolis & Louisville; Lake Erie & Western, and the P., C., C. & St. L. railroads. The T. H., I. & E. Traction Company and the Union Trac- tion Company of Indiana operate 25.39 miles of electric line in the county.
Educational .- According to the report of John F. Haines, county superintendent of Hamilton county, there were seventy-seven schoolhouses, including ten high schools, in Hamilton county in 1914, employing 204 teachers. The average daily attendance by pupils was 4,847. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to super- intendents, supervisors, princi- pals and teachers was $108,684. The estimated value of school property in the county was $443,- 600, and the total amount of in- debtedness, including bonds, was $107,500. Hamilton county or- ganized the first Boys' Corn Club in the world and has been a leader in vocational work. The county also has excellent rural schools.
Agriculture .- There were in Hamilton county in 1910 over 3,000 farms embraced in 243,000 acres. Average acres per farm, 81 acres. The value of all farm property was over $31,000,000,
Scene of White River near Noblesville.
CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
263
showing 105.1 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre was $95.06. The total value of domestic animals was over $3,- 300,000: Number of cattle 22,000, valued at
$690,000; horses 13,000, valued at $1,900,000 ; hogs 87,000, valued at $500,000; sheep 13,000, valued at $66,000. The total value of poultry was $122,000.
HANCOCK COUNTY
GREENFIELD, SEAT OF JUSTICE
H ANCOCK COUNTY is located due east of Indianapolis in the first tier of coun- ties. It is bounded on the north by Hamilton and Madison, on the east by Henry and Rush, on the south by Shelby and on the west by Ma- rion counties. It contains 307 square miles, its surface is level and the soil fertile. Natural gas was once found here in what was supposed to be limitless quantities.
Organization .- The organization of Hancock county became effective March 1, 1828, and Greenfield has been the county seat since its organization. The county was named in honor of John Hancock, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Greenfield, the
county seat, has become famous as the birth- place of James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier poet, and the fountain from which he drew in- spiration for his poems, "The Brandywine," "The Old Swimmin' Hole," and other poems.
Population of Hancock county in 1890 was 17,829; in 1900 was 19,189, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 19,030, of which 402 were of white foreign birth. There were 4,935 families in the county and 4,817 dwellings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are nine townships in Hancock county : Blue River, Brandywine, Brown, Buck Creek, Center, Greene, Jackson, Sugar Creek and Vernon. The incor-
The Brandywine, in Hancock County, Made Famous by James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier Poet.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
Hun at Lones Whitcomb Riley, Greenfield.
pored cities and towns are Greenfield, Fortville, Yes Palestine and Shirley. Greenfield 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 Hancock county was $9,011,000, value of improvements was $3.176,310 and the total net value of taxables was $19,043,510. There were 3,340 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 281 miles of improved roads in Hancock county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1. 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstanding, $196,378.30.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 59.19 miles of steam railroad operated in Han-
cock county by the Cincinnati division of the C .. I. & W .; C., W. & M. ; Big Four, and the P., C., C. & St. L. railroads. The Indianapolis & Cin- cinnati Traction Company, Indianapolis, New- castle & Eastern Traction Company, Terre llante, Indianapolis & Eastern Traction Com- pany, and the Union Traction Company of Indi- ana operate 55.39 miles of electric line in the county.
Educational .- According to the report of George J. Richman, county superintendent of Hancock county, there were seventy-five school- houses, including ten high schools, in Hancock county in 1914, employing 140 teachers. The average daily attendance by pupils was: High school, 469 ; grade school, 2,633. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to superintendents, su- pervisors, principals and teachers was $78,257.79. The estimated value of school property in the county was $312,900, and the total amount of in- debtedness, including bonds, was $59,032.50.
Agriculture .- There were in Hancock county in 1910 over 2,100 farms, embraced in 186,000 acres. Average acres per farm, 86.4 acres. The valtie of all farm property was over $21,000,000, showing 87.5 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre was $89.15. The total value of domestic animals was $1,800,000: Number of cattle 13,000, valued at $404,000; horses 9,400, valued at $990,000; hogs 43,000, valued at $280,000; sheep 10,000, valued at $46,000. The total value of poultry was $87,000.
HARRISON COUNTY
CORYDON, SEAT OF JUSTICE
H ARRISON COUNTY is located in the southern part of the State and borders on the thin river. It is bounded on the north by Washington, on the east by Floyd and its entire -offtheastern, southern and southwestern section is on the Ohio river and is bounded on the west Is Crawford county. It contains 478 square miles. The face of the country as well as the character of the Fund is much diversified. The greater part of the county is broken, and the chain of Knobs on the cast, the river, hills and many places along Indian creek and Blue river present as fine seen-
ery as can be found in any part of the State. The sloping hillsides, which are fast being cleared of their valuable forests of poplar and oak, are producing great orchards of the finest flavored apples and peaches in the world. Tobacco of an excellent quality is being raised in large quanti- ties, and two of the largest distilleries in the United States are located here. The county also has excellent quarries of limestone. For some years, wells of natural gas have been flowing in the county. Several large caves and a system of subterranean rivers, brooks and creeks are to be
CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
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found in the county. In one of the large caverns Squire Boone lived, died and was buried, and is marked by his inscriptions, Bible texts and draw- ings of animals and birds.
Organization .- Harrison county is one of the oldest and most historic counties in the State. It was the fourth one to be organized, and De- cember 1, 1808, witnessed its official beginning, when the Territorial Legislature carved it out of Knox and Clark counties. It was named in honor of General William Henry Harrison, ter- ritorial Governor of Indiana. On May 1, 1813, the capital of the territory was removed from Vincennes to Corydon. Corydon has been the county seat since the organization of the county, and here still stands the old stone building that was the first State capitol, and near which stands the grand old elm, now fast decaying, under whose spreading branches was written the first constitution of the State of Indiana.
In 1807 William Henry Harrison entered a tract of land on Blue river at Wilson Springs in Harrison county, and when he was Governor of the territory he traveled to and from Vincennes on horseback to visit this location. On these
trips he often visited the home of Edward Smith, who is said to have left the British army during the revolutionary war and made his way to Indi- ana and married and lived with his family in a log cabin in Harrison county. On the occasion of General Harrison's visits after the evening meal was finished, the members of the family and their guest would gather around the open cabin door and sing the general's favorite songs. On one of these visits, as General Harrison was making his departure, tradition says he re- marked: "In a few days I expect to lay out a town here and would like to have you suggest a suitable name for it." Whereupon Miss Jennie Smith asked : "Why not name it 'Corydon.' from the piece you like so much?" Her suggestion pleased the Governor, and thus the town is said to have derived its name. The words and music of this traditional song appeared in the "Mis- souri Harmony," a copy of which is preserved in our State library.
Population of Harrison county in 1890 was 20,786; in 1900 was 21,702, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 20,232, of which 312 were of white foreign birth. There
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Pillar of Constitution, Wyandotte Cave, Crawford County. Largest stalagmite in the world, 24 feet in diameter and 35 feet high.
CINTIAMAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
were +,379 formles in the county and 4,515 wellings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are thirteen townships in Ilarrison county : Blue River, Boone, Franklin, Harrison, Heth, Jackson, Morgan, Posey, Scott, Spencer, Taylor, Wash- ington and Webster. The incorporated cities und towns are Corydon, Elizabeth, Laconia, Lanesville, Mauckport, New Amsterdam, New Middletown and Palmyra. Corydon is the county -cat.
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 Harrison county was $2,709,610, value of improvements was $1.272,770 and the total net value of taxables was $0.422,975. There were 3,028 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 145 miles of improved roads in Harrison county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstanding. $232,252.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 24.80 miles of steam railroad operated in Harri- son county by the Louisville. New Albany & Corydon and the Southern Railway Company of Indiana.
Educational .- According to the report of Arville O. Deweese, county superintendent of Harrison county, there were 148 schoolhouses, including eleven high schools, in Harrison county in 1914, employing 184 teachers. The average daily attendance by pupils was 4,642. There are three parochial schools in the county with an en- rolment of one hundred pupils. The county has an excellent school spirit, but because of the rough and broken country school consolidation is coming very slowly. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to superintendents, supervisors, principals and teachers in 1914 was $79,870.93. The estimated value of school property in Har- rison county was $122,400, and the total amount of indebtedness, including bonds, was approxi- mately $30,596.
Agriculture .- There were in Harrison county in 1910 over 3,100 farms, embraced in 288,000 acres. Average acres per farm, 93 acres. The value of all the farm property was over $9,300,- 000, showing 55.7 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre was $19.41. The total value of domestic animals was over $1,100,000: Number of cattle 11,000, valued at $240,000 ; horses 7,600, valued at $660,000; hogs 18,000, valued at $110,000; sheep 6,700, valued at $27,000. The total value of poultry was $78,000.
HENDRICKS COUNTY
DANVILLE, SEAT OF JUSTICE
H ENDRICKS COUNTY is located in the central part of the State and in the first tier of counties west of Indianapolis, and is bounded on the north by Boone, on the cast by Marion, on the south by Morgan and a very small section of Putnam and on the west by Montgomery and Putnam counties. The county has 480 square miles, the surface of which is rolling, and with one or two exceptions some of the greatest elevations in the State are found here. The natural drainage is afforded by com- paratively small streams. The wonderfully fertile goit is especially adapted to agriculture and stock raising, its two greatest industries. This county
is the home of the Central Normal College at Danville and the Friends Academy at Plainfield.
Organization .- Hendricks county was organ- ized by legislative act December 28, 1823, which was made effective by formal organization April 21, 1824. The county was named for William Hendricks, who at that time was Governor of the State of Indiana. Danville was selected as the seat of justice, where it has remained ever since.
Population of Hendricks county in 1890 was 21,498; in 1900 was 21,292, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 20,840, of which 172 were of white foreign birth. There
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
were 5,262 families in the county and 5,204 dwellings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are twelve townships in Hendricks county: Brown, Center, Clay, Eel River, Franklin, Guilford, Lib- erty, Lincoln, Marion, Middle, Union and Wash- ington. The incorporated cities and towns are Brownsburg, Coatesville, Clayton, Danville, Liz- ton, North Salem, Pittsboro and Plainfield. Dan- ville 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 Hendricks county was $11,655,606, value of improvements was $2,785,065 and the total net value of taxables was $19,583,852. There were 3,581 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 330 miles of improved roads in Hendricks county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstanding, $390,863.91.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 78.19 miles of steam railroad operated in Hen- dricks county by the Springfield division of the C., I. & W .; St. Louis division and the P. & E. division of the Big Four ; the St. Louis division and the Vincennes division of the Vandalia rail-
Public Library, Danville.
Central Normal College, Danville.
roads. The Terre Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern Traction Company operates 49.62 miles of elec- tric lines in the county.
Educational .- According to the report of Theodore B. Martin, county superintendent of Hendricks county, there were seventy-two school- houses, including ten high schools, in Hendricks County in 1914, employing 173 teachers. The average daily attendance by pupils was 4,269. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to super- intendents, supervisors, principals and teachers was $89,213.90. Estimated value of school prop- erty in the county was $501,700, and the total amount of indebtedness, including bonds, was $148,605.
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