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 51
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PULASKI COUNTY
WINAMAC, SEAT OF JUSTICE
P ULASKI COUNTY is located in the north central part of Indiana. It is bounded on the north by Starke, on the east by Fulton, on the south by Cass and White and on the west by Jasper counties. It contains 432 square miles and is now considered among the best farming counties in the State. The soil is clay, sand, muck or loam, and corn is the principal product. Through it flows the Tippecanoe, one of the most beautiful rivers in Indiana.
Organization .- Pulaski county began its of- ficial existence May 6, 1840, and was named after the celebrated Polish soldier, Count Pulaski, who, failing to sustain the independence of his own country, came to America during the Revolu- tionary war, was appointed a brigadier-general, and fell mortally wounded in the attack on Sa- vannah in 1779. Winamac was selected as the county seat May 6, 1839. The town was named in honor of Winamac of the Pottawatomies, who lived at this place.
Population of Pulaski county in 1890 was 11,233; in 1900 was 14,033, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 13,312, of which 825 were of white foreign birth. There were 3,036 families in the county and 3,006 dwellings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are twelve townships in Pulaski county: Beaver, Cass, Franklin, Harrison, Indian Creek, Jeffer- son, Monroe, Rich Grove, Salem, Tippecanoe, Van Buren and White Post. The incorporated cities and towns are Francesville, Medaryville.
Monterey and Winamac. The county seat is Winamac.
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 Pulaski county was $4,314,610; value of improvements was $1,289,235, and the total net value of taxables was $9,601,490. There were 2,111 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 302 miles of improved roads in Pulaski county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstanding, $332,823.85.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 56.27 miles of steam railroad operated in Pu- laski county by the Chesapeake & Ohio : Chicago & Erie ; Michigan City branch of the C., I. & L .. and the Logansport division of the P., C., C. & St. L. railroads.
Educational .- According to the report of Homer L. Rogers, county superintendent of Pulaski county, there were seventy-five school- houses, including seven high schools, in Pulaski county in 1914. employing 123 teachers. The average daily attendance by pupils was 2.839. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to super- intendents, supervisors, principals and teachers was $53,657.14. The estimated value of school property in the county was $362,000, and the to- tal amount of indebtedness, including bonds, was $93,100.
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Agriculture .- There were in Pulaski county m 1910 over 1.800 farms embraced in 258,000 fores. Average acres per farm, 136 acres. The value of all farm property was over $16,000,000, showing 105.2 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre was $47.97. The
total value of domestic animals was over $1,500,- 000: Number of cattle 16,000, valued at $424,- 000 ; horses 8,000, valued at $856,000; hogs 18,- 000, valued at $143,000; sheep 12,000, valued at $53,000. The total value of poultry was $90,000.
PUTNAM COUNTY
GREENCASTLE, SEAT OF JUSTICE
P UTNAM COUNTY, popularly known as the Blue Grass county of Indiana, comprises 480 square miles. It is bounded on the north by Montgomery, on the east by Hendricks and Mor- gan, on the south by Owen and Clay, and on the west by Parke counties. Its principal stream, Walnut creek, traverses the county in a south- westerly direction, and just before passing into Clay county is joined by Deer and Mill creeks and thus forms Eel river. The surface of the land in the northern half of the county is gen- erally level, but south of Greencastle it becomes undulating and, in some cases, hilly and precipi- tant. The soil is known as rich calcareous loam or clay, especially adapted to grain or grass, and to the profitable cultivation of fruits. In two other items, however, Putnam county is greatly in the lead of other counties-live stock and lime- stone rock. Its pre-eminence in the development of live stock dates from 1853, when the late Dr. Alexander C. Stevenson visited England and succeeded in bringing across the Atlantic from that country several head of pedigreed short- horn or Durham cattle, the first of the kind to reach this part of the country. From this modest beginning has sprung the many valuable strains of cattle for which the county has long been noted.
The State Farm for Misdemeanants is lo- cated in Putnam county. It contains 1,600 acres.
De Pauw University .- With the breaking of the ground in 1915 for the new $100,000 gym- nasium, "The Thomas Bowman Memorial," which followed a campaign placing the active endowment beyond $1,000,000, De Pauw Univer- sity, at fireencastle, has become one of the best equipped institutions in the Middle West. Ac- cording to an early record, the college was first
conceived and advocated as early as 1832, but it was not until 1836, at the session of the Indiana Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, that it was finally determined upon. As the largest subscriptions were procured at Green- castle, this location was selected as the site for the college.
The name of the university at the time of its founding was "Indiana Asbury University," which name it was given in honor of Francis As- bury, the great pioneer bishop. This name was changed to De Pauw University in 1884, in rec- ognition of liberal gifts from Washington T. De Pauw, of New Albany, Ind.
Ten buildings scattered over a campus of twenty-five acres, in the heart of Greencastle, are given over to the work of De Pauw Univer- sity. The college library contains over 41,000 bound volumes and several thousand pamphlets. It numbers among its alumni Daniel W. Voor- hees, Albert G. Porter, John Clark Ridpath, Al- bert J. Beveridge and other distinguished men. Dr. George R. Grose is the president of the uni- versity.
Organization .- Putnam county was organ- ized April 1, 1822, and was named in honor of General Israel Putnam of the war of the Revo- lution. Greencastle, the county seat of Putnam county, was so named at the suggestion of Ephraim Dukes, one of the donors of the land on which the county seat was established, after Greencastle, Pa., his native town.
Population of Putnam county in 1890 was 22,335; in 1900 was 21,478, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 20,520, of which 201 were of white foreign birth. There were 5,317 families in the county and 5,199 dwellings.
BOWMAN MEMORIAL BOILDING
MINSHALL LABORATORY
DEPAUW UNIVERSITY GREENCASTLE, IND
WEST COLLEGE
LIBRARY
IST CAMPUS
EAST COLLEGE
DePauw University (Formerly Asbury), Greencastle.
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Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are fourteen townships in Putnam county : Clinton, Cloverdale, Floyd, Franklin, Greencastle, Jack- son, Jefferson, Madison, Marion, Mill Creek, Monroe, Russell, Warren and Washington. The incorporated cities and towns are Greencastle, Bainbridge, Cloverdale, Roachdale and Russell- ville. Greencastle 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 Putnam county was $7,660,835 ; value of improvements was $2,757.325, and the total net value of taxables was $17.283,771. There were 3,368 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 800 miles of improved roads in Putnam county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstanding. $646,126.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 89.42 miles of steam railroad operated in Putnam county by the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louis- ville ; Cincinnati, Indianapolis & Western; St. Louis division of the Big Four, and the St. Louis division of the Vandalia railroads. The Terre Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern Traction Com- pany operates 20.33 miles of electric lines in the county.
Educational .- According to the report of L. G. Wright, county superintendent of Putnam county, there were 104 schoolhouses, including eighteen high schools, in Putnam county in 1914, employing 183 teachers. The average daily at- tendance by pupils was 3,506. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to superintendents, super- visors, principals and teachers was $73,144.02. The estimated value of school property in the county was $255,219, and the total amount of in- debtedness, including bonds, was $50,299.
Agriculture .- There were in Putnam county in 1910 over 2,900 farms embraced in 292,000 acres. Average acres per farm, 98.7 acres. The value of all farm property was over $20,000,000, showing 71.6 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre was $49.41. The; total value of domestic animals was over $2,300,- 000: Number of cattle 16,000, valued at $581,- 000; horses 11,000, valued at $1,000,000; hogs 58,000, valued at $393,000; sheep 25,000, valued at $116,000. The total value of poultry was $114,000.
Industrial .- According to the report of the State Bureau of Inspection for 1915, there were eleven industrial establishments in Greencastle which employ nearly 200 persons. The leading industries are engaged in the production of lum- ber and veneer, kitchen cabinets and lightning rods.
RANDOLPH COUNTY
WINCHESTER, SEAT OF JUSTICE
R ANDOLPII COUNTY is situated in the cast central part of the State and is marked by the highest altitude in Indiana. The highest of surveyed points is on the Springfield division of the Big Four, about four miles west of Lynn and is 1,285 feet above sea level. It is quite probable that the highest point in the State is north and east of this point about three miles at the head of the west fork of White river. The entire county is a level plateau, there being no hills of any consequence whatever. The natural resources of Randolph county consist of gas, oil and stone. The gas and oil are about ex- hausted, but the limestone is being used more
than ever. The quarry and crusher are at Bridge- ville and are among the largest in the State. Ran- dolph county contains 450 square miles and is bounded on the north by Jay, on the east by the State of Ohio, on the south by Union and Fay- ette, and on the west by Henry and a small sec- tion of Fayette county. In or near this county are the head waters of the Big Miami, White Water, Blue river, White river, the Mississin- ewa, the Salamonie, Wabash and St. Marys, all of which run in different directions.
Organization .- Randolph county is said to have been named at the request of the settlers after the county in North Carolina from which
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they emigrated, though it is said also that the name was given in honor of Thomas Randolph, attorney-general of the territory, who was killed in the battle of Tippecanoe. It was organized August 10, 1818, and Winchester has been the county seat since its organization.
Population of Randolph county in 1890 was 28.085; in 1900 was 28,653, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 29,013, of which 555 were of white foreign birth. There were 7,354 families in the county and 7,260 dwellings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are twelve townships in Randolph county : Frank- lin, Green, Greens Fork, Jackson, Monroe, Nettle Creek, Stony Creek, Ward, Washington, Wayne, West River and White River. The incorporated cities and towns are Union City, Winchester, East Modoc, West Modoc. Farmland, Losant- ville, Lynn, Parker City, Ridgeville and Sara- toga. Winchester 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 Randolph county was $10,442,230; value of improvements was $4,101,820, and the total net value of taxables was $23,267,290. There were 4,718 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 515 miles of improved roads in Randolph county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstanding, $621,221.16.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .-. There are 87.33 miles of steam railroad operated in Ran- dolph county by the Chesapeake & Ohio ; Cincin- nati, Richmond & Fort Wayne; Indianapolis di- vision of the Big Four; Eastern division of the Peoria & Eastern; Grand Rapids & Indiana, and the Logansport division of the P., C., C. & St. L. railroads. The Union Traction Company of Indiana operates 23.49 miles of electric line in the county.
Educational .- According to the report of
Lee L. Driver, county superintendent of Ran- dolph county, there were eighty-seven school- houses (twenty-four of which were not in use), including eighteen high schools, in Randolph county in 1914, employing 239 teachers. The average daily attendance by pupils was 5,441. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to super- intendents, supervisors, principals and teachers was $120.462.61. The estimated value of school property in the county was $598,600, and the total amount of indebtedness, including bonds, was $229,077.
Randolph county has twenty consolidated schools, fifteen of which are consolidated high schools, to which last year 2.144 pupils were transported, by ninety-one school wagons and interurban. Of the ninety-seven abandoned dis- trict schools of this county, twenty-one have been abandoned because of lack of attendance. the re- maining seventy-six were abandoned upon peti- tion of the patrons. The high school attendance in township schools has increased in eight years from sixty-one to 601. The per cent. of eighth- year graduates to enter high school has increased in the same length of time from 21 per cent. to 50 per cent. before consolidation to 93 per cent. to 100 per cent. since consolidation. varying in the different corporations.
Agriculture .- There were in Randolph county in 1910 over 3,200 farms embraced in 280,000 acres. Average acres per farm. 85.1 acres. The value of all farm property was over $29.000,000. showing 106.7 per cent. increase over 1,900. The average value of land per acre was $78.03. The total value of domestic animals was over $2,750 .- 000: Number of cattle 21,000, valued at $636,- 000; horses 13,000, valued at $1,500.000: hogs 81,000, valued at $472.000: sheep 18,000, valued at $84,000. Total value of poultry $131,000.
Industrial .- According to the report of the State Bureau of Inspection for 1912, there were seventeen industrial establishments in Winches- ter, which furnish employment to over 600 per- sons. The largest industry is engaged in the manufacture of glass bottles and bottle packages.
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RIPLEY COUNTY
VERSAILLES, SEAT OF JUSTICE
R IPLEY COUNTY is in the southeastern part of Indiana, and contains 440 square miles. It is bounded on the north by Decatur and Franklin, on the east by Dearborn and Ohio, on the south by Switzerland and Jefferson and on the west by Jennings counties. It is situated in the Ohio valley approximately fifteen miles from the Ohio river. A small tributary of the Ohio, the Laughrey, drains the greater part of the county. Its source is in the north central part and flows directly south of southeast, cutting a picturesque channel through a bed of limestone. Although, as one approaches the Ohio river, the surface is undulating, the contour in general is level. The top soil is of three types, that formed by glaciation, that formed by decaying limestone, and that formed by overflow of the streams. This, together with the temperate climate, is fa- vorable for the production of grains, grasses, fruits and vegetables. Many valuable and dense
forests are still found in this section and poultry and dairy products are extensive. While farming is the leading industry, quarrying is a profitable one on account of the abundance of limestone.
Organization .- Ripley county, which was named in honor of General E. W. Ripley, a dis- tinguished officer of the war of 1812, was organ- ized April 10, 1818. The first courts in Ripley county were held at Marion, as a county seat was not selected until April 27, 1818. The place se- lected was the present site of Versailles, now the county seat, on land donated by John Paul, of Jefferson county. The first lots were sold on September 21, 1818, and temporary provisions were made for holding the courts in the spring of 1819. A court-house was not built until 1821.
Population of Ripley county in 1890 was 19,350; in 1900 was 19,881, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 19,452, of which 1,019 were of white foreign birth. There
The Muscatatuck River. Rises in Ripley county and flows into White River near west lines of Washington and Jackson counties : one of its branches rises within two miles of the Ohio River, near Hanover .- Photograph by 11 m. M. Herschell.
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were 4,796 families in the county and 4,701 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 Ripley county was $3,569,965; value of improvements was $1,902,175, and the total net value of taxables was $8,680,560. The county had 3,126 polls.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are eleven townships in Ripley county : Adams, Brown, Center, Delaware, Franklin, Jackson, Johnson, Laughrey, Otter Creek, Shelby and Washington. The incorporated cities and towns are Batesville, Milan, Osgood, Sunman, Ver- sailles. The county seat is Versailles.
Improved Roads .- There were 283 miles of improved roads in Ripley county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1, 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstanding, $266,639.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are 30.29 miles of steam railroad operated in Ripley county by the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern
and the Chicago division of the Big Four rail- roads.
Educational .- According to the report of Charles R. Hertenstein, county superintendent of Ripley county, there were 100 schoolhouses, including eight high schools, in Ripley county in 1914, employing 137 teachers. The average (laily attendance by pupils was 3,500. The aggre- gate amount paid in salaries to superintendents, supervisors, principals and teachers was $57,- 470.51. The estimated value of school property in the county was $187,660, and the total amount of indebtedness, including bonds, was $33,744.
Agriculture .- There were in Ripley county in 1910 over 3,000 farms embraced in 273,000 acres. Average acres per farm, ninety-one acres. The value of all farm property was over $12,- 000,000, showing 74.5 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre was $27.11. The total value of domestic animals was over $1,500,000 : Number of cattle 18,000, valued at $455,000; horses 8,300, valued at $825,000; hogs 19,000, valued at $134.000; sheep 6,200, valued at $24,000. The value of poultry. $118,000.
RUSH COUNTY
RUSHVILLE, SEAT OF JUSTICE
R USH COUNTY is situated in the second tier of counties east of Indianapolis and is bounded on the north by Hancock and Henry, on the east by Fayette and Franklin, on the south by Decatur and on the west by Shelby and Hancock counties. It contains 414 square miles of the most fertile land in the State. The county is given particularly to the most advanced type of farming and stock raising. A special feature for which the county is noted is the importing and breeding of Jersey cattle. Several large stock farms of national reputation are conducted here that are devoted to this particular industry. Many fine orchards are in the county that have won prizes for their apples in America and Eu- rope. Hundreds of farmers are doing excellent work, adding to the fame of Rush county in the raising of all classes of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs.
Organization .- Rush county was organized by an act of the Legislature December 31, 1821,
which became effective AApril 1, 1822. At the suggestion of Dr. Laughlin it was named in honor of Dr. Rush, as well as the town of Rush- ville, which has been the county seat since the organization.
Population of Rush county in 1800 was 19,034; in 1900 was 20.148, and according to United States Census of 1910 was 19,349, of which 214 were of white foreign birth. There were 4.994 families in the county and 4.895 dwellings.
Townships, Cities and Towns .- There are twelve townships in Rush county: AAnderson. Center, Jackson, Noble, Orange, Posey, Richland, Ripley, Rushville, Union, Walker and Washing- ton. The incorporated cities and towns are Rush- ville, Carthage and Glenwood. Rushville 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
LENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
Ford on Flat Rock. Rises in northeast corner of Henry County, flows through Rush, Decatur, Shelby and Bartholomew counties, and empties into east fork of White River. The Indian name is Puck-op-ka. -Photograph by Wm. M. Herschell.
total value of lands and lots in Rush county was $10,775,375 : value of improvements was $3,346,- 285, and the total net value of taxables was $20,- 957,525. There were 3,377 polls in the county.
Improved Roads .- There were 280 miles of improved roads in Rush county built and under jurisdiction of the county commissioners January 1. 1915. Amount of gravel road bonds outstand- ing, $579,937.90.
Railroads-Steam and Electric .- There are
77.10 miles of steam railroad operated in Rush county by the Cincinnati, Indianapolis & West- ern; Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan; Big Four over Lake Erie & Western; Fort Wayne, Cin- cinnati & Louisville; Indianapolis division and Cambridge City branch of the P., C., C. & St. L., and the Vernon, Greensburg & Rushville rail- roads. The Indianapolis & Cincinnati Traction Company operates 18.73 miles of electric line in the county.
Educational .- According to the report of Chester M. George, the county superintendent, there were fifty-seven schoolhouses, including nine high schools, in the county in 1914, employ- ing 146 teachers. The average daily attendance by pupils was 3,059. The aggregate amount paid in salaries to superintendents, supervisors, prin- cipals and teachers was $88,231.12. Estimated value of school property in the county was $561,- 500, and the total amount of indebtedness, includ- ing bonds, was $187,960.
Agriculture .- There were in Rush county in 1910 over 2,100 farms embraced in 253,000 acres. Average acres per farm, 118.5 acres. The value of all farm property was over $31,000,000, showing 92.4 per cent. increase over 1900. The average value of land per acre was $95.45. The! total value of domestic animals was over $2,700,-1 000: Number of cattle 14,000, valued at $505,- 000; horses 11,000, valued at $1,300,000; hogs 122,000, valued at $782,000 ; sheep 15,000, valued at $65,000. The total value of poultry, $96,000.
Industrial .- According to the report of the State Bureau of Inspection for 1912, there were, twenty-three industrial establishments in Rush- ville, furnishing employment to over 500 per- sons. The principal articles manufactured are! furniture and lumber.
SCOTT COUNTY
SCOTTSBURG, SEAT OF JUSTICE
SCOTT COUNTY, the fourth smallest county in the State, is located a little to the cast of the central part of the southern section of Indiana. It contains about 200 square miles and is bounded on the north by Jackson and Jen- nings, on the cast by Jefferson, on the south by Clark and on the west by Washington, Jackson
and a small section of Clark counties. There are three distinct kinds of land in the county : hill table and bottom land. Few counties contair, more real good bottom land compared with its areas. Straightening, shortening and cleaning the streams have been resorted to in relieving the low lands of surplus rainfall, one of the most
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY AND HANDBOOK OF INDIANA
notable improvements being the shortening of Stucker creek from fourteen to seven miles in length. Numerous good-sized streams afford ex- cellent drainage facilities, and the soil is admira- bly adapted to the cultivation of farm and garden products. The breeding and raising of horses and mules is carried on extensively.
Organization .- Scott county, which was named in honor of General Charles Scott, a dis- tinguished officer of the army of the Revolution, then in the Indian wars and afterward Governor of Kentucky, was organized January 12, 1820. For more than fifty years the county seat was located at the town of Lexington. Several ap- peals were made to the Legislature to relocate the county seat and this was not done until the building of a railroad through the county in 1871 was accomplished. A new town was laid out on the railroad March 27, 1871, named Scottsburg, in honor of Thomas Scott, president of the Jef- fersonville, Madison & Indianapolis railroad, to which the seat of justice was removed after com- pletion of the new court-house. A statue of the late William H. English, who was born in Scott county, has been erected in the court-house yard.
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