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 41
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Agriculture .- There were in Lagrange county in 1910 over 2,100 farms, embraced in 230,000 acres. Average acres per farm, 108.8 acres. The value of all farm property was over $18,- 000,000, showing 60.6 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land was $54.91. The total value of domestic animals was $1,900,- 000: Number of cattle 15,000, valued at $415,- 000; horses 8,500, valued at $1,000,000; hogs 39,000, valued at $277,000; sheep 46,000, valued at $197,000. The total value of poultry was $81,000.
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LAKE COUNTY
CROWN POINT, SEAT OF JUSTICE
LAKE COUNTY is located in the northwest corner of the State and borders on Lake Michigan ; on the west it is bounded by the State of Illinois, on the east by Porter and on the
Public Library, Hammond, Lake County.
south by Jasper and Newton counties. It con- tains about 360 acres. Lake county is varied in its industries, the southern part being agricul- tural and the northern part containing the larg- est and most important industrial establish- ments in the State. This county has more miles of railroad than any other county, and every trunk line from east to west passes through Lake county. A great deal of attention has been given to horse raising and breeding, and some of the finest breeding farms in the State are located here ; dairy cattle breeding is an important busi- ness and many hogs are also raised for the market.
Organization .- Lake county began its formal existence February 15, 1837, and it was with con- siderable trouble that it succeeded in locating its
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county seat. Although the locating commission- ers were named in the act of January, 1837, which organized the county, nothing had been done until February, 1838, when the Legislature passed an act establishing a temporary court- house at the residence of Milo Robinson, as nearly all the lands within the limits of Lake county were still the property of the general Government. On February 14, 1839, the Legis- lature passed an act creating a new set of com- missioners with discretionary authority to locate the seat of justice. They selected Liverpool, but the site was not satisfactory to a majority of the citizens, and for a third time the Legislature was
Where Gary Started, April 18, 1906. Thomas E. Knotts (to left), Gary's first mayor, A. F. Knotts, his brother, planting the first stake. This point is now Broadway and Fifth Avenue.
appealed to with the result that the third set of commissioners finally settled on the original court-house of Robinson, called "Lake County Court-house." This name being too cumbersome, it was suggested that the county agent, George Earle, and the two proprietors, Judge Clark and Solon Robinson, select a new name. They agreed on Crown Point, and the county seat has ever since borne that name.
Gary, America's magic city and the cap sheaf that marks Indiana's wonderful industrial de- velopment at the end of the century, is located in the northern part of the county at the head of Lake Michigan. From vast stretches of sand dunes and scrub oaks that marked its site in 1906, it has been developed into a model city, with splendid public buildings, business blocks and homes with every modern convenience. Its school buildings are the largest in the State and its school management has become a model for educators throughout America. As the forma-
tion of the United States Steel Corporation in 1902, with its stupendous capitalization of $1,450,000,000 astounded the financial world, so has the creation and development of the city of Gary amazed the industrial world.
Population of Lake county in 1890 was 23,886; in 1900 was 37,892, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 82,864, of which 30,434 were of white foreign birth. There were 16,176 families in the county and 13,492 dwell- ings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are eleven townships in Lake county: Calumet, Cedar Creek, Center, Eagle Creek, Hanover, Ho-
Same Locality at Night. April 18, 1910.
bart, North, Ross, St. John's, West Creek and Winfield. The incorporated cities and towns are Crown Point, East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Whiting, Aetna, Dyer, East Gary, Griffith, High- land, Hobart, Lowell, Miller, Munster, New Chi- cago, Schererville and St. John, Crown Point 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 Lake county was $23,945,575; value of improvements was $14,- 059,385, and the total net value of taxables was $71,814,480. There were 11,456 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 450 miles of improved roads in Lake county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners Janu- ary 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds out- standing, $2,621,036.81.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 376.87 miles of steam railroad operated in Lake county by the B. & O. & Chicago; B. & O. Chi-
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cago Fermmail: Chesapeake & Ohio: Chicago & brie; Chicago, Indiana & Southern : Kankakee division of the Chicago, Indiana & Southern : Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville: Chicago. Lake Shore & Eastern ; Chicago & Wabash Val- ley : Dinwiddie & Gary; Elgin. Joliet & Eastern : Gary & Western: Grand Trunk Western; Indi- ana Harbor Belt: Joliet & Northern Indiana ; Lake Shore & Michigan Southern ; Michigan Central : Montpelier & Chicago: New York, Chi- Pago & St. Louis ; Pere Marquette ; Logansport division of the P. C., C. & St. L. ; Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago : South Chicago & South- ern, and the Wabash railroads. The Chicago, Lake Shore & South Bend Railway Company : Gary Interurban Railway Company; Gary & Southern Traction Company, and the Hammond, Whiting & East Chicago Railway Company oper- ate 86.75 miles of electric lines in the county.
Educational .- According to the report of Frank F. Heighway, superintendent of Lake county, there were 121 schoolhouses, including eight high schools, in Lake county in 1914, em- ploying 617 teachers. The average daily attend- ance by pupils was 14,398. The aggregate
Gary Y. M. C. A. Building.
The Gary Carnegie Public Library.
amount paid in salaries to superintendents, su- pervisors, principals and teachers was $519,- 342.50. Estimated value of school property in the county was $2,979,185, and the total amount of indebtedness, including bonds, was $796,474.
Agriculture .- There were in Lake county in 1910 over 1,800 farms, embraced in 224,000 acres. Average acres per farm, 123.6 acres. The value of all farm property was over $21,- 000,000, showing 72.7 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre was $72.61. The total value of domestic animals was $1,900,000: Number of cattle, 21,000, valued at $690,000; horses 92,000, valued at $1.000,000; hogs 12,000, valued at $125,000; sheep 6,900, valued at $43,000. The total value of poultry was $76,000.
Industrial .- According to the United States Census of 1910 there were sixteen industries in East Chicago, furnishing employment to 2,568 persons ; total amount of capital employed, $4,614,380; value of products, $5,483,500 ; value added by manufacture, $2,423,585. At Ham- mond there were forty-nine industries, furnish-
Froebel School Building, Gary.
The Hub of Gary, Broadway and Fifth Avenue.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
ing employment to 4,379 persons ; total amount of capital employed, $16,270,855 ; value of prod- ucts, $15,580,250; value added by manufacture, $8,928,895. For Gary statistics were not avail-
able giving details, but according to the report of the State Bureau of Inspection of Indiana for 1912, there were nine industries in Gary, furnish- ing employment to more than 8,500 persons.
LAPORTE COUNTY
LAPORTE, SEAT OF JUSTICE
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TAPORTE COUNTY is located in the north- west part of the State and is bounded on the north by Lake Michigan and the State of Michigan, on the east by St. Joseph and Mar- shall, on the south by Starke and on the west by Porter counties. It contains about 562 square miles. The highest point of surface in the county is about 270 feet above the surface of Lake Michigan and 870 feet above the ocean. Across the county, from east to west, runs an elevated ridge forming a watershed, dividing the sur- face waters of the county into tributaries of the Mississippi and St. Lawrence rivers. The soil of the county is varied, consisting of sandy tim- ber loam, prairie loam and vegetable mold, and is especially adapted to the growth of potatoes, wheat and corn. Aside from Lake Michigan. Laporte county contains a number of beautiful lakes that find their outlet through the Kankakee river.
The Interlaken School (for boys) is located at Rolling Prairie in Laporte county. It is one of the most unique educational institutions in America and was established by Dr. Edward A. Rumely. It is a boys' training or preparatory school, and its certificate is recognized by western State universities, and it gives thorough prepara- tion for eastern colleges, as well as German uni- versities. Special courses in scientific agricul- ture and related subjects are offered with prac- tical experience in the use of all farm tools and the care of cattle. The school has a 500-acre farm, which is equipped with every modern ap- pliance.
Organization .- On the 9th of January, 1832. the Legislature passed an act that gave Laporte county its existence. This was accomplished formally April 1, 1832. The county "Laporte," which in French means "door" or "gate," took its origin from a natural opening through the timber
of a grove leading from one part of the prairie to another. The city of Laporte has been the county seat since the organization of the county, although Michigan City has been an aspirant for this honor.
Population of Laporte county in 1890 was 34,445; in 1900 was 38,386, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 45.797, of which 8,847 were of white foreign birth. There were 10,362 families in the county and 9.866 dwellings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are twenty-one townships in Laporte county: Cass, Center, Clinton, Cool Spring. Dewey, Galena. Hanna, Hudson, Johnson, Kankakee, Linton,
Laporte County Court-House, Laporte.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
First National Bank, Laporte.
Michigan, New Durham, Noble, Pleasant, Prairie, Scipio, Springfield, Union, Washington and Wills. The incorporated cities and towns are Laporte, Michigan City and Westville. La- porte 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 Laporte county was $11.452.370; value of improvements was $7.730,970 and the total net value of taxables
Y. M. C. A. LA PORTE, IND.
Y. M. C. A., Laporte.
was $35,679,465. There were 7,450 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 258 miles of improved roads in Laporte county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstand- ing, $967,290.10.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 250.27 miles of steam railroad operated in La- porte county by the B. & O. & Chicago; Chesa- peake & Ohio; Chicago & Erie; LaCrosse branch of the C. & E. I .; Michigan City division of the C., I. & L .; Chicago & West Michigan ; Grand Trunk Western; Indianapolis & Michigan City division of the L. E. & W .; L. S. & M. S .; Michi- gan Central; Montpelier & Chicago by the Wa- bash; New York, Chicago & St. Louis; Pere Marquette ; Logansport division of the P., C., C. & St. L., and the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chi- cago railroads. The Chicago, Lake Shore & South Bend Railway Company ; Chicago, South Bend & North- ern Indiana Railway Company, and the Gary & Interurban Rail- road Company operate .65.35 miles of electric line in the county.
Educational .- According to the report of Fred R. Farnam, county superintendent of La- porte county, there were 120 schoolhouses, including nine high schools, in the county in 1914, employing 309 teachers. The average daily attendance by pupils was 6,723. The aggre- gate amount paid in salaries to
Postoffice. Laporte.
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CENTENNIAL IHISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
:
Inchana State Prison, Michigan City .- From sketch made by a prisoner.
superintendents, supervisors, principals and teachers was $185,417.26. Estimated value of school property in the county was $902,559, and the total amount of indebtedness, including bonds, was $245,710.
Agriculture .- There were in Laporte county in 1910 over 2,500 farms. embraced in 340,000 acres. Average acres per farm, 134.3 acres. The value of all farm property was over $25.000,000, showing 63.4 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre was $54.48. The total value of domestic animals was $1,900,000 : Number of cattle 21,000, valued at $550,000; horses 10,000, valued at $1,100,000; hogs 25,000, valued at $185.000; sheep 11,000, valued at $57,000. The total value of poultry was $90,000.
Industrial .- According to the United States
Census of 1910 there were forty-one industries in Laporte, furnishing employment to 1,960 per- sons. Total amount of capital employed, $5,871,- 936. Value of products, $3,971,624 ; value added by manufacture, $2,158,139. At Michigan City there were forty-eight industries, furnishing em- ployment to 3,123 persons. Total amount of cap- ital, $8,890,017. Value of products, $8,289,579; value added by manufacture, $2,925,100.
Indiana State Prison .- This institution was established by authority of an act approved March 5, 1859, providing for the erection of a prison in that part of the State north of the Na- tional road. It was first known as the Northern Indiana State Prison. Its site at Michigan City was chosen March 1, 1860, and approved by the Governor the next day. The organic law re- quired that a certain number of convicts should be transferred from the Jeffersonville prison and their labor utilized in the work of construction. The first detachment of these arrived in Michi- gan City April 5, 1860, and was housed in tem- porary quarters. The new institution was made a receiving prison by an act approved June 1, 1861, and from that day until April 1, 1897, was the place of confinement for all persons sentenced to State prison from the counties north of the National road. An act approved February 26, 1897, converted this institution into the Indiana State Prison for the incarceration of men con- victed of treason or murder in the first or second degree and all men thirty years or over convicted of felony in any court in the State.
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Views of Hudson Lake, Laporte County.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
LAWRENCE COUNTY
BEDFORD, SEAT OF JUSTICE
L AWRENCE COUNTY is located near the center of the unglaciated portion of south- ern Indiana. It is bounded on the north by Mon- roe and a part of Jackson, on the east by Jack- son and Washington, on the south by Orange and on the west by Martin and Greene counties. It contains 438 square miles. The surface of the county is hilly, but abounds in natural re- sources. Of the products yielded, oolitic lime- stone is the most valuable, and the stone industry furnishes the principal means of support for the various communities of the county. There are in operation in Bedford and the town of Oolitic. more than twenty-one stone mills for sawing and dressing stone, and nearly as many quarries. The product of these mills is sent to every State in the Union as well as to Canada. Many of America's greatest public buildings have been built of this stone. Lawrence county is also the seat of the famous cement industry. At Will- iams the Southern Indiana Power Company has
built a dam across White river for the purpose of producing electricity for furnishing power at a low rate of cost. In recent years the county has become famous as a fruit region and the dairy business has grown rapidly.
Organization .- Lawrence county, named in honor of Captain James Lawrence, of the Frigate Chesapeake, who was killed in the battle with the Frigate Shannon, began its formal existence March 1, 1818. Its first county seat was named Palestine and was chosen May 21, 1818, on land donated by Benjamin and Ezekial Blackwell and Henry H. Massie. The commissioners named in the legislative act of February 9, 1825, moved the county seat to Bedford, where it has since re- mained.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are nine townships in Lawrence county: Bono, Guthrie, Indian Creek, Marion, Marshall, Perry, Pleasant Run, Shawswick and Spice Valley. The incorporated cities and towns are Bedford,
Red Cross Tavern, near Bedford, Lawrence County.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
Mitchell, Huron and Oolitic. Bedford is the county seat.
Population of Lawrence county in 1890 was 19,792: in 1900 was 25,729, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 30,625, of which 813 were of white foreign birth. There were 7.050 families in the county and 6,916 dwellings.
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 Lawrence county was $4.674,570, value of improvements was $3,473,385 and the total net value of taxables was $14,309.090. There were 5,004 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 454 miles of improved roads in Lawrence county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstanding. $419,549.64.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 113.98 miles of steam railroad operated in Law- rence county by the B. & O. Southwestern ; Bed- ford Stone: Bedford & Wallner; Bedford & Bloomfield branch of the C., I. & L .; Chicago, In- dianapolis & Louisville, and the Chicago, Terre Haute & Southeastern railroads.
Educational .- According to the report of
Laurence P. Sanders, county superintendent of Lawrence county, there were 111 schoolhouses, including eleven high schools, in Lawrence county in 1914, employing 238 teachers. The average daily attendance by pupils was 6,189. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to super- intendents, supervisors, principals and teachers was $120,547. Estimated value of school prop- erty in the county was $418,470, and the total amount of indebtedness, including bonds, was $93,046.81.
Agriculture .- There were in Lawrence county in 1910 over 2,300 farms, embraced in 259,000 aeres. Average acres per farm, 110.9 acres. The value of all farm property was over $8,400,000, showing 66.9 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre was $21.56. The total value of domestic animals was $1,100,000: Number of cattle 12,000, valued at $315,000; horses 5,400, valued at $470,000; hogs 18,000, valued at $131,000; sheep 9,900, valued at $40,000. The total value of poultry was about $56,000.
Industrial .- According to the report of the State Bureau of Inspection for 1912 there were twenty-four industrial establishments in Bedford, employing nearly 2,500 persons, the most of whom are engaged in the production of stone in its various forms.
MADISON COUNTY
ANDERSON, SEAT OF JUSTICE
M ADISON COUNTY lies in the central part of the State and is bounded on the north by Grant, on the east by Delaware and Henry, on the south by Hancock and on the west by Hamilton and Tipton counties. It contains 465 square miles and its surface is level or gently rolling, and the soil is very fertile. White river and five creeks with many brooks cross it, af- fording excellent drainage and water supply. Oil is found in the northern part as well as nat- ural gas. Nearly the whole county is underlaid with deep beds of sand and gravel. It has a few good limestone quarries and many extensive de- posits of clay suitable for making brick and drain tile.
Organization .- Madison county, which was named in honor of the fourth president of the United States, James Madison, was formally or- ganized July 1, 1823. Madison county had some difficulty in getting its county seat located perma- nently. Pendleton, the first county seat, was selected in 1823, but it was too far from the center of the county to be satisfactory. Accord- ing to the act of January 13, 1826, it was located at a town called Bedford. The rapid growth of Andersontown, a town much nearer the center of the county, caused the citizens of the county to apply to the Legislature for an act to relocate the county seat. The change was made as the result of the act of January 4, 1827, and the new
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
site appears to have been chosen in 1828. A court-house was not built at Andersontown until the latter part of 1831, and the name of the county seat was changed from Andersontown to Anderson by the legislative act of December 6, 1848. The court-house, with most of the records, was destroyed by fire on December 10, 1880, and the present court-house was ready for occupancy February 21, 1885.
Population of Madison county in 1890 was 36,487 ; in 1900 was 70,470, and according to
the abstract of the tax duplicate for 1913, the total value of lands and lots in Madison county was $15,323,175, value of improvements was $8,799,445 and the total net value of taxables was $36,815,400. There were 10,918 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There are 836 miles of im- proved roads in Madison county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstand- ing, $850,549.89.
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Views in Anderson, Madison County. 1. Court-House. 2. High School. 3. Library. 4. Postoffice.
United States Census of 1910 was 65,224, of which 2,704 were of white foreign birth. There vere 16,136 families in the county and 15,579 Iwellings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are ourteen townships in Madison county : Adams, Anderson, Boone, Duck Creek, Fall Creek, Greene, Jackson, Lafayette, Monroe, Pipe Creek, Richland, Stony Creek, Union and Van Buren. Che incorporated cities and towns are Alexandria, Anderson, Elwood, Chesterfield, Frankton, In- alls, Lapel, Orestes, Pendleton and Summitville. Anderson is the county seat.
Taxable Property and Polls .- According to he annual report of the Auditor of State from
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 109.89 miles of steam railroad operated in Madi- son county on the Anderson belt by the P., C., C. & St. L. ; Central Indiana ; C., W. & M. ; Indian- apolis division of the Big Four : Elwood. Ander- son & Lapel ; L. E. & W .. and the Richmond di- vision of the P., C., C. & St. L. railroads. The Union Traction Company of Indiana operates 66.88 miles of electric line in the county.
Educational .- According to the report of James W. Frazier, county superintendent of Madison county, there were 153 schoolhouses, including seven high schools. in Madison county in 1914, employing 388 teachers. The average daily attendance by pupils was 11.400. The ag-
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
gregate amount paid in salaries to superintend- ents, supervisors, principals and teachers was $245,799.59. The estimated value of school property was 81,252,000, and the total amount of indebtedness, inclu ling bonds, was $213,000.
Agriculture .- There were in Madison county nº 1910 over 3,200 farms, embraced in 269,000 teres. Average acres per farm, 82.8 acres. The calne of all farm property was over $30,000,000. -hokkig 76,8 per cent. increase over 1900. The Average value of land per acre was $87.08. The total value of domestic animals was $2,600,000: Number of cattle 22,000, valued at $660,000 ; horses 14.000, valued at $1,400,000; hogs 85,000,
valued at $495,000; sheep 13,000, valued at $60,000. The total value of poultry was $131.000.
Industrial .- According to the U. S. Census of 1910, there were 116 industries in Anderson, furnishing employment to 5,109 persons. Total amount of capital employed $10,727,952. Value of products $13,764,933 ; value added by manu- facture $5,637.669.
There were thirty-seven industries in Elwood. furnishing employment to 2,301 persons. Total, amount of capital employed $4,572,330. Value of products $8,407,550; value added by manu- facture $2,158,343.
MARION COUNTY
INDIANAPOLIS, SEAT OF JUSTICE
M ARION COUNTY is located in the cen- ter of the State, almost midway between its east and west and north and south boundaries. It is bounded on the north by Boone and Ham- ilton, on the east by Hancock and Shelby, on the south by Johnson and Morgan and on the west by Hendricks counties. It contains 400 square miles. In the north part of the county, near White river, Fall creek and Eagle creek, is a rolling country beautifully diversified with hills, and a small portion of the southwest of the county is of similar description ; the rest of the county, with few exceptions, is almost level.
Organization .- Marion county was created by an act of the Legislature December 31, 1821, and began its formal existence April 1, 1822. It was named in honor of General Francis Marion. In- dianapolis was selected as the seat of justice and the first court-house in Marion county was built on the present site, with a view of utilizing it as a state house until a suitable capital building could be created. It continued to serve the double purpose of court-house and state-house 111111 1835, when the capitol was completed. It was often used as a public hall, and for many wears it was frequently used as a house of wor- bip. The first court house, built in 1824, was used until 1870, when it was torn down to make w. for the present building.
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