USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Centennial history of Indianapolis : an outline history > Part 5
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The lands selected included 2,357.93 acres east of the river, bounded on the north by Tenth street, on the south by Morris street, and on the east Also, west of the river, 202.07 acres, bounded
by the line of Shelby street.
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on the north by Vermont street, on the south by Maryland street, and on the west by Lynn street. The final selection was made on June 7, 1820, at the cabin of John McCormick, which stood in the triangle now made by Washington street, Washington avenue and White River, fronting the river. The First Settlers. In addition to the families of John McCormick and his brother James, there were a dozen other families living in the imme- diate vicinity at the time when the commissioners located the donation. Among these were those of George Pogue; of John Maxwell, and John Cowan, who came early in March, 1820, and located near the present City Hospital; of Robert Barnhill and his son-in-law, Jeremiah Corbaley, who arrived on March 6 and located on Fall Creek, above Indiana avenue; of Isaac Wilson, who came on April 6 and located on what is now the State House square, building the first house on the original town plat; Henry and Samuel Davis, chair-makers, who located in the Fall Creek bottoms, near Walnut street; the widow Harding and her married son, Robert Harding, who located near John McCormick's, and probably two or three others, whose names are not preserved.
Richard Corbaley, son of Jeremiah, born August 7, 1820, was the first white child born in Marion County. Mordecai Harding, second son of Robert, was the first child born on the donation tract, and James Morrow, son of Samuel Morrow, was the first child born on the original town plat.
The most notable historical dispute in connection with the settlement is whether the Pogues or the McCormicks were the first arrivals. The Pogues claim that George Pogue, with his wife and five children, left Connersville in February, 1819, and arrived here on March 2 of that year. The McCormicks claim that John McCormick and family, accompanied by his two brothers, James and Samuel, and nine employees who served as axmen and teamsters, left Connersville in February, 1820, following Whetzell's trace to a point near Rushville, from which they cut a road to the mouth of Fall Creek, arriving there on February 26; and that the Pogues arrived on March 2, 1820. The McCormicks say that the Pogue cabin, which stood on the premises now known as 420 Highland avenue, was built in 1819, but that it was built by Ute Perkins, of Rush County, who abandoned it; and that the Pogues moved into it., This story is also held by the Perkins family.
Indianapolis historians are divided as to these claims. The Pogue claim has been adopted by Ignatius Brown, W. H. Holloway, Berry Sulgrove and Judge D. W. Howe; while the McCormick claim has been championed by J. H. B. Nowland and J. P. Dunn. Mr. Dunn's discussion is the latest and fullest formal discussion of the subject. Since its publication, the files of the first newspaper published in Indianapolis-The Indianapolis Gazette- which had been lost, have been resurrected, and in the spring of 1822 this paper published a series of articles by Dr. S. G. Mitchell, of Indianapolis, entitled "Manuscript Historical Notes on Indiana," in which, on March 6, the following statement is made:
"The County of Marion, at this time, is supposed to contain upwards of two thousand souls. Indianapolis, including the donation, is supposed to furnish half of that number. A rapid population when we take into con- sideration that the first settlements commenced on this part of the river in February, 1820. Samuel and James McCormick put up a cabin immediately below the mouth of Fall Creek, on the river bank. In March Messrs. Harden, Wilson, Maxwell, Cowin and Pogue made improvements in and near this place, which settlement was about this time followed by a number of other enterprising citizens." No denial of this statement was made at the time.
The New Capital. The action of the commissioners was reported to the Legislature, which, on January 6, 1821, ratified the selection and provided
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Emrichsville Bridge over White River.
The Country Club. This club, organized in 1891, has a large and well- appointed establishment on the Crawfordsville road. 8 miles west of the city. It removed to this location in 1914.
Woodstock. This name is given to the former establishment of the Country Club at Northwestern avenue and Thirty-eighth street, which is now occupied by another and similar club.
Other Clubs. There are a number of other buildings occupied by fraternal organizations in various parts of the city. The Elks are engaged in a cam- paign for a new building on their present grounds opposite University Park.
PARKS AND BOULEVARD SYSTEM
State Parks. Indianapolis lias always had three parks which are State property, though they were not always used as parks. Of these the largest is Military Park, originally called "the Military Reservation," lying west of West street, and north of the Canal, and including 14 acres. The other two are University Square (or Park), and St. Clair Park. The city began its park system in 1895, under Mayor Thomas Taggart, when it made its first large park purchases. It now has 25 parks, with a combined area of 1,901 acres. These are, to a large extent, connected by a boulevard system of about 25 miles. The park property is valued at $5,000,000. Playgrounds for children are features of the parks where practicable, and the larger ones are furnished with shelter houses, golf links and athletic fields.
Riverside Park. This is the largest of the parks, containing 950 acres. It is located on White river, in the northwestern part of the city, and is the only park that has boating facilities. The zoological gardens and fish hatch- ery are special attractions.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS
Race Track at Fair Grounds.
Brookside Park. This beautiful tract of 82 acres lies in the northeastern part of the city. It was purchased at the same time as Riverside, the total then paid for Riverside, Brookside, Highland Square and Indianola Square, being $386,500.
Garfield Park. The greater part of this has belonged to the city since 1874, but was little used until enlarged and improved after 1895. It now embraces about 108 acres, One of its attractions is its "sunken gardens." It is located in the southeastern part of the city.
Ellenberger Park. This is the last purchased of the larger parks. It lies north of Irvington, and has 41 acres, a fine tract of native woodland, formerly known as "the Ellenberger woods."
Other City Parks. The remaining parks are .comparatively small. They are scattered in various parts of the city, and are designed for "breathing spaces' for the public.
Fairview Park. This popular outing place does not belong to the city, but to the Street Railway Company. It is on the canal, some seven miles north of the city, and is a beautiful tract of about 200 acres. The Summer Mission for Sick Children is located here.
The Indiana State Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument. Indianapolis has the proud distinction of containing the first monument ever erected directly in honor of the private soldier. It is also one of the few real works of art. in this line to be found in America. It is not a plain and unsightly shaft like that on Bunker Hill or in Washington City, but is a beautiful obelisk of artistic design. It was designed in competition, by Bruno Schmitz, the Prussian Royal Architect. It was built by the State pursuant to a law of 1887. The cost was in excess of $500,000, including a small fund collected
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS
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The Aqueduct over Fall Creek.
by the G. A. R., which inaugurated the enterprise, and induced the State to finish it. It was dedicated with fitting ceremonies, attended by thousands of citizens from all parts of the State, May 15, 1902. It is constructed of Indiana oolitic limestone. The park in which it stands has an area of 3.12 acres, and lies at the intersection of Meridian and Market streets. The monu- ment, including the crowning figure, is 284} feet in height. The top of the monument is reached by an elevator and stairway from the base of the in- terior of the shaft. A magnificent view of the city of Indianapolis and the surrounding country is obtained from the top of the monument. In the basement of the monument is a valuable museum of war relics and pictures, collected by Col. Oran Perry, the custodian of the monument. Around the monument are four statues commemorating the four wars originally represented by the monument.
George Rogers Clark Statue, to the northwest of the monument, is for the Revolutionary war. It represents Clark emerging from the last stretch of water through which his little army marched to capture Vincennes from the British. It was designed by John H. Mahoney, native sculptor of Indiana.
William Henry Harrison Statue, to the northeast, represents the War of 1812, and the Battle of Tippecanoe, in which Harrison, Governor of Indiana Territory and later President of the United States, was commander. This statue was designed by John H. Mahoney.
James Whitcomb Statue. This stands to the southwest, and commemorates the Mexican War, Whitcomb having been Governor of Indiana during that war. This also was designed by John H. Mahoney. It is interesting that just east of Monument Place, on the front of the Franklin Life Insurance building, is a marble statue of Benjamin Franklin, executed by Mahoney when he was only a marble cutter. and which was his first step in art work.
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Oliver P. Morton Statue. This represents the Civil War, and is older the the monument. It was made by Franklin Simmons, of Rome, Italy, for tri Morton Memorial Association, and stood in the center of the Circle unt removed to make place for the monument.
Thomas A. Hendricks Monument. On the State House grounds are tw monuments, the one at the southeast corner being to Thomas A. Hendrick; Governor and Senator, and Vice-President of the United States. It was erecte by popular subscription, and unveiled in 1890. The height of the entif monument is 384 feet, the heroic statue of Hendricks being 14} feet. The pedestal is of Bavano granite from the quarries at Lake Maggiore, Italy. At the base are allegorical figures of "History" and "Peace." The monument was designed by R. H. Parks, of Florence, Italy.
Monument to Governor Morton, at the east entrance to the State House was unveiled July 23, 1907. By the efforts of the G. A. R. the Legislature of 1905 was induced to appropriate $35,000 for this tribute to the memory of Indiana's "War Governor." The monument was designed by Rudolph Schwartz, a German sculptor sent here by Bruno Schmitz to execute the "War" and "Peace" groups on the Soldiers' and Sailors' monument.
Schuyler Colfax Statue. At the north side of University Park stands this statue of the first citizen of Indiana who served as Vice-President of the United States, and who had served three terms as speaker of the nationa House of Representatives. He was a prominent Odd Fellow, and was the author of the Rebekah degree for women, adopted in 1851-2. This statue w.Is erected by the Daughters of Rebekah in 1887. It was designed by Lorado Taft, of Chicago.
Gen. Lawton Statue. This tribute to Gen. Henry W. Lawton, of the regula army, who fell in battle in the Philippines in 1899, originally stood on the Court House square, but was removed to Garfield Park in 1915. It was un- veiled May 30, 1907, President Roosevelt attending the ceremonies. It was designed by Daniel French, of New York, and modeled by Andrew O'Conner, but was cast at Paris, France, and exhibited there before it was erected in Indianapolis.
Benjamin Harrison Monument. This work, erected by the Benjamin Harris Monument Association, and unveiled in October, 190S, is a tribute to an honor resident of Indianapolis, and the only President of the United States elect from Indiana. It was designed by Chas. H. Niehaus, of New York. It stand on the south side of University Park, fronting the Federal building.
Depew Memorial Fountain. This fountain, at the corner of University Park is the result of a bequest to the city of $50,000, by Dr. Richard Depew. It was decided to erect a memorial fountain, and the design was awarded t Karl Bitter, of New York, on competition. Bitter died soon afterwards, ar his design was executed by J. Stirling Calder, of New York. The fount. was dedicated Sept. 13, 1919.
HOTELS, THEATERS AND AMUSEMENTS
Hotels. The first modern hotel in Indianapolis was the Bates House, bu in 1852, though there were numerous inns, taverns, and even hotels of ve good repute before it. It was torn down in 1901 to make place for the Cla pool. There are more than seventy hotels in the city, among the larger bein' the Severin, the Claypool, the Washington, the English, the Denison the Lin coln, the Linden and the Majestic. Eating houses, tea rooms and cafeterias are plentiful and widely distributed.
The Speedway. The Motor Speedway has given much advertisement to Indianapolis as an automobile racing center. It has 328 acres of land, and a track 2} miles long, paved with vitrified brick, and banked up 16 feet on the turns. Here the first 500-mile automobile race in the world was staged in 1911, and similar races have followed each year.
The State Fair. The Indiana State Fair is held annually at Indianapolis, on a tract of 214 acres northeast of the city., The grounds are supplied w: commodious buildings, including a fine coliseum which was erected in 190' .. One of the special attractions is a race track for horses that is considered "fast."
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS
ters. Indianapolis is well supplied with theaters, the larger ones being irat, English's, the Circle, Keith's (formerly the Grand), the Colonial, jestic the Park. Motion pictures houses are numerous, and to be found rly all parts of the city. The first distinctive theater buliding in the as the Metropolitan, opened in 1858. Its place is now occupied by rk
ary Landmarks. The home of James Whitcomb Riley has been pur- with a view of making it a memorial of him in Lockerbie street, which d so well. The old Vandegrift block-the childhood home of Mrs. Rob- jis Stevenson (Fanny Vandegrift)-still stands at the southwest corner igan and Illinois streets, but in a rather forlorn condition. The child- aunts of Gen. Lew Wallace have disappeared, but he left a monument own in the Blacherne, which was the first large apartment building city.
teries. The, principal cemetery of the city is Crown Hill, which was ed in 1864. It is in the northwestern part of the city, and covers more 0 acres. There are half-a-dozen special cemeteries of various religious uations.
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Old State Capitol, 1854.
The Capital-"Indianapolis"
"Adorned with cultivation's countless charms ; Orchards and gardens perfume every gale; The sounds of busy, merry life prevail; Afar, around, on every lovely height, The quiet homestead rises on the sight; And towers the dome, each honest Hoosier's pride, Upon its own romantic river's side, Where 'legislation's sovereign powers' abide,
Shrined in our famous capital, whose name Reflects that of the State and crowns her fame."
-From the Poem "Indiana," by Isaac H. Julian.
L.Vý
They pushed the mailed wood aside, They toss'd the forest like a toy, That grand forgotten race of men. The boldest band that yet has been Together since the siege of Troy."
Joaquin Miller
CKM 317 BOUND TO DEC 2 3 19395 H
", EASE D.
ILHESTER
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