USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 22
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
GAIN GROWS OUT OF LOSS
The most destructive fire in the history of Rushville occurred on May 4, 1892, when a big furniture factory, a planing mill and several dwellings were destroyed, en- tailing a loss which at first was regarded as "an irretriev- able disaster." But, as in many such instances, the loss in the end proved a gain. The fire was of such magnitude that Indianapolis was appealed to for help and responded with a fire engine and crew, which were of great aid in checking the alarming progress of the flames. Threat- ened with the loss of these two industries-the Innis- Pearce furniture factory and the Mock & Walker planing mill-one of them the most important industry in the town, citizens co-operated in a movement to raise $50,000 to be devoted to the work of securing factories. At a cost of $23,000 a tract of 106 acres in the west side of town was bought and laid off into lots, with the city park, for which latter feature the city council appropriated the sum of $6,000. The plant was filed on July 5, 1892, and Edwin Payne, John B. Reeve and William A. Allen were made trustees for the disposal of the same. Lots were sold at $150 each, and were taken by all classes of citizens, some- times, it is said, at considerable sacrifice, and were allot- ted to the purchasers by a public "drawing" held at Melodeon hall on August 1 following. Besides meeting the urgent need of the time and increasing the number of factories the movement developed a degree of public spirit that is reflected to this day, the co-operative feeling then aroused still existing in a large measure, a local asset of great value. However, even from the days of the be- ginning, Rushville has been noted for the public spirit of its citizens and for the large measure of "community of interest" here displayed. This was recognized and com- mented upon by the venerable Dr. John A. Arnold, who in his day knew the town and county perhaps better than any other, and who in a historical sketch printed in 1879, noted that "Rushville has at this time about 2,500 inhab-
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itants and does more business than any town of the state the same size. Its business men are energetic and at the same time prudent men. Rush county is not excelled in the intelligence, skill and consequent success and wealth of its farming community. This constitutes an important factor in the prosperity of the town. It is growing rap- idly. Last year there were some twenty-five houses built. This year the number will reach thirty, among these, three fine brick business houses and a number of hand- some residences. Its graded school is a first-class one- as good as can be had under the present school laws. Rushville has nine physicians and seventeen attorneys. It has six dry goods stores, seven grocery and provision stores, three boot and shoe stores, three butcher shops. two jewelry stores, two furniture stores, four drug stores, six saloons, three restaurants. five millinery establishments, two humber merchants. one book store. two hardware and agricultural implement stores, four livery stables, two hotels. three planing mills, two gristmills, two newspa- pers, one furniture factory, four saddlery and harness makers, one sawmill. three stove and tin shops, one paint shop, two carriage shops, three blacksmith shops and a large number of mechanics of all kinds. It has eight turn- pikes leading to it and two railroads passing through it, so that it has every facility for trade."
TRIBUTE TO DR. JOHN ARNOLD
In these pages repeated reference has been made to the writer of the above description of Rushville in 1879, and it would seem fitting here to say something in detail regarding this man who in his generation exerted so wide and so wholesome an influence hereabout. Doctor Arnold was the eldest child and only son of John and Mary Ann (Cole) Arnold and was born on Wroxall farm, Isle of Wight, England, January 14, 1815. His father and his father's brothers. Isaac and Richard, having determined to immigrate to America. it was arranged that John and
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his brother, Richard, who was a bachelor, should go first, select a home, and, after making all the necessary prep- arations, notify Isaac Arnold, who was to come with his own and his brother John's family. This arrangement was carried out. John Arnold, Sr., embarked for Amer- ica on May 20, 1820, landed in New York, and then trav- eled by wagon to Pittsburgh, thence by boat to Cincin- nati, and then by wagon to Connersville. The New Pur- chase, as it was termed, was surveyed but not yet brought into market. The Arnold party explored the most desir- able parts and selected land on Ben Davis creek. This was the latter part of August, and the land office did not open until the first Monday in October, 1820, when he bought 160 acres of land, thereafter known as "Ar- nold's Home." Having built a house, cleared some land, and made other necessary preparations, the next year he sent for his family, met them at Philadelphia and con- ducted them to their new home, where they arrived Octo- ber 21, 1821. During the next three years John Arnold, Jr., enjoyed the novel and exciting scene of a new coun- try, and when his father, having decided to leave the farm for a time, removed to Cincinnati, he had an opportunity of attending school a part of the two years and also dur- ing the year following, when his father moved to Aurora, Dearborn county, Indiana. His mother having died in 1826, his father returned to his farm in 1827, and in the latter part of 1828, John was sent to Judge Laughlin's academy in Rushville, where he remained one year pre- paring himself to enter college. Judge Laughlin was a ripe scholar and an efficient teacher, and took great in- terest in his pupil, who boarded in his family. In May, 1830, he went to Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, where he remained for four years, and then, on account of fail- ing health, returned home. His health being restored, he determined to devote himself to the medical profession, and entered the office of Dr. Jefferson Helm, then living in Vienna (now Glenwood), and in 1836 he received a
18
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license to practice. Doctor Arnold was at once taken into partnership with his preceptor, Doctor Helm, thus being initiated into the practice under most favorable auspices. On Christmas day, 1838. he was united in marriage to Sarah Ann Ball, the fifth daughter of Abner and Rhoda P. Ball, of Fayette county. After about four years of practice, his health again broke down, and he decided to revisit his native land. He remained in England one vear, and in the spring of 1843 located in Connersville. In 1852 he bought his father's farm and moved there in the autumn of 1853. Here he continued the practice of his profession, at the same time carrying on extensive farming operations. In 1877. on account of his wife's delicate health he moved to Rushville, where he prac- ticed his profession and spent the rest of his life. As a writer Doctor Arnold had more than ordinary talent, and took a deep interest in local history. It is said that in his generation no man in Rush county held a firmer place in the hearts of the people than Dr. John Arnold, his kind- ness and courteous, gentlemanly bearing winning him the respect and unshaken confidence of every good citizen.
THE CITY GOVERNMENT
The way the story goes, it was on the night of Sep- tember 11, 1875, that burglars broke into the office of Robert Hinchman, justice of the peace at Rushville, the office in which the board of trustees of the town corpo- ration of Rushville held its meetings and kept its records, and stole the corporation records, two ordinance books and certain other books and carried them away. it being later discovered that the books had been destroyed by fire on a vacant lot in the outskirts of the town, the object of this insensate piece of vandalism being thought to be the destruction of records implicating certain persons at that time under judgment of Squire Hinchman's court, for violations of the local liquor laws. It is supposed that the vandals believed they were getting the records of
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the justice's court when they took the town records, and in ignorance of the character of the books they took away with them destroyed the only records of the early pro- ceedings of the town board, under the belief that they were destroying the court's judgments against them. The records of the county commissioners' court, however, re- veal that on September 4, 1838, Jeptha Woods, John Lewis, John Kelso, John Dixon, Samuel Davis and forty- seven others had petitioned the court to grant an order of incorporation for the town of Rushville, and that an elec- tion was ordered for September 17 following, for the pur- pose of electing a board of five trustees for the town corporation. The record of this election, however, seems to be missing and in the absence of the corporation's early records and minutes the personnel of the original town board is now unknown.
The minute book of the town corporation opened fol- lowing the act of vandalism above noted is introduced with the following notation, signed by W. S. Conde, clerk : "Up to the time of the destruction of the corporation rec- ords, the board of trustees had held eleven meetings and all the members of the board with the exception of Mr. Rounds had missed being present at one. The above statement I know to be correct." The opening minute of the proceedings of the board at the meeting following, which was held in the office of the Rushville Republican, September 20, 1875, shows that the clerk was ordered to buy a new set of record books for the corporation. The minute was signed by Dr. John Moffett, president of the board, and attested by W. S. Conde, clerk; present W. C. Mauzy, Oliver Posey and W. A. Pugh, other members of the board. From that time on until the adoption of the city charter in 1883, succeeding Doctor Moffett as presi- dent of the board, were John B. Schrichte, John P. Guf- fin, Edward D. Beher, James D. Glore and John H. Be- bout; clerks, following W. S. Conde, Edwin Farrer, Thomas O. Havens, Robert L. Allen and H. P. McGuire.
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At the special election held on September 4. 1883. for the purpose of electing a city council and officers under the city charter granted in that year, George H. Puntenny was elected mayor : Joseph A. Armstrong, clerk : Samuel G. Vance, marshal: William E. Havens, treasurer: Allen Hinchman. assessor. City councilmen-Leonidas Link. Absalom Pavey, John J. Fouts, John Readle, Martin Bo- hannon, John B. Reeve. Since then the following have served as mayor of the city: Wilson T. Jackson, H. G. L. S. Hilligoss, Wilson T. Jackson, Joseph A. Armstrong, John M. Fraze, John M. Stevens, Frank J. Hall, Harvey M. Cowing. B. A. Black. Clata L. Bebout and A. B. Irvin, the latter of whom died in office in 1920. and was suc- ceeded by Rudolph F. Scudder, the present (1921) in- cumbent. During this same period the following have served as city clerk : H. P. McGuire, John Kelley, Will G. McVay, John Rutlidge, Harry Lakin, Samuel G. Gregg. Thomas S. Cauley, Carl L. Gunning and Earl E. Osborne (incumbent). The other officials of the city are as follows: Treasurer, George Helm; street commis- sioner, Will E. Havens; chief of fire department, Joseph A. Williamson; assistant, William H. Moffett; chief of police, Harvey Wilfong: assistant, Samuel Brown; councilmen, Frank Abercrombie, Edward Lee, Albert P. Waggoner, Walter Marion Pearce and Chase P. Mauzy.
THE RUSHVILLE POSTOFFICE
Unfortunately the fire which destroyed the Masonic Temple at Rushville in 1913, not only destroyed the rec- ords of Phoenix Lodge. Free and Accepted Masons, but destroyed the records of the postoffice, the postoffice then being in the Masonic Temple even as it is now in the restored temple. That was just about two weeks after the present postmaster, Geston P. Hunt, had entered upon his duties as postmaster and he had not sufficiently famil- iarized himself with the records of the office to have any very distinct recollection of their contents, his knowledge
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of the history of the postoffice thus being no more com- plete than that of the average citizen of Rushville of his age. The recollections of old residents carrying back to Civil war days can supply the names of those who served as postmasters since that period, but the names of the earlier postmasters are perhaps lost, as the older chron- icles seem to be silent on this subject. The present post- office is conveniently located in the Masonic Temple on Main street, where it has commodious quarters. The postmaster, as noted above, is Geston P. Hunt; assistant postmaster, Charles H. Brown; clerks, Harvey D. Allen, Clarence W. Cross, Thomas Geraghty and John Worth- ington ; city mail carriers, Howard B. Carmichael, Bert Conde, Ben Sparks, Herman E. Jones and Griffin R. Treadway; rural mail route carriers-Route 1, John Mills ; 2, Faud Carr ; 3, J. W. Moore; 4, Joel M. Harrold ; 5, Chester Dearinger; 6, Russell Dearinger; 7, Wilbur Mahin: 8, Leonidas Kennedy ; 9, John J. Finley; 10, W. L. Barlow. Newspaper files supply information regard- ing the establishment of the rural free delivery and the city free delivery in the Rushville postoffice, it thus being determined that rural free delivery was established here on July 5, 1890, under the administration of Postmaster A. V. Spivey, and city free delivery on October 1, 1900, the service starting out with three carriers and one sub- stitute. A newspaper item, printed early in 1903, says that "it is definitely decided that by next spring the rural mail facilities in Rush county will be greatly extended. At present there are seventeen routes established and in operation in Rush county-six from Rushville: two from Milroy ; two from Manilla ; two from Arlington : two from Carthage; one from Knightstown; one from Dunreith, and one from Lewisville. With additional new routes there will be a total of thirty-one or thirty-two." Old residents of the city cherish pleasant recollections of the time when Rushville was served by a postmistress and a little sidelight on that time is reflected by a newspaper
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item of January 1, 1868, which says that "Mrs. P. A. Hackleman has been appointed postmistress and intends moving the office into the new building on the north- west corner of her lot." It has been noted at an earlier point in this chapter that Charles Veeder was the first man to serve Rushville as postmaster, he having been appointed to distribute such mail as came to the pioneers hereabout by stage from Connersville, but from that time on to the period of recollection of the elders of the present generation the list appears to be lost, inquiry revealing the names of those who have served as postmasters within the recollection of "oldest inhabitants" as follows : Marinus Willett, T. A. Knox, J. S. Campbell, E. H. Wolfe, John R. Carmichael, Henry Dixon, Mrs. P. A. Hackleman (widow of Gen. Pleasant A. Hackleman, the only Indiana general killed in the field during the Civil war), J. M. Ochiltree, Robert Bebout, William Meredith, Adam V. Spivey, Homer Havens, Benjamin McFarlan, Charles A. Frazee and Geston P. Hunt (incumbent).
EAST HILL CEMETERY
Rushville's beautiful burial ground is situated on the south side of the Rushville and Glenwood highway just beyond the bridge. It contains something over nineteen acres, and was naturally a beautiful piece of ground, well adapted to the uses to which it is now consecrated. The trustees wisely employed a skillful landscape gardener to lay out the grounds and superintend the work, and the result is that the city has a cemetery beautiful as a whole and tasteful in all its details. It is divided into six sec- tions of unequal size and form by graceful curving ave- mies. The citizens of Rushville and of the county gen- erally had long recognized the necessity of securing some suitable and sufficient tract of land to make a permanent burial ground, where their loved and lost ones might be laid to rest amid such surroundings as would testify to the tender love and fond remembrances of those left be-
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hind. This feeling culminated in the call for the public meeting, which was held in the court house on June 18, 1859. At this meeting, a committee of five was appointed to select a suitable location for the cemetery, and to report at the next meeting. This committee consisted of Jeffer- son Helm, Sr., Daniel Wilson, George Hibben, C. S. Don- aldson, and Joseph Winship, who added to their number the name of Joel Wolf. P. A. Hackleman, Leonidas Sex- ton, and John Carmichael were appointed a committee on organization to report at the next meeting. Pursuant to the adjournment the friends of the cemetery associa- tion met at the court house on June 29, Joel Wolf presid- ing, and John S. Campbell acting as secretary. Leonidas Sexton, from the committee appointed, submitted articles of association which were adopted.
The name of this association is the East Hill Ceme- tery Company of Rushville. The articles of association provide that the business shall be conducted and con- trolled by five trustees, who shall be elected annually. These articles were signed by forty-nine men, and on July 12, 1859, the election resulted in the choice of the follow- ing trustees: George Hibben, Jefferson Helm, Sr., Joel Wolf, C. S. Donaldson and Daniel Wilson, who proceeded to carry out the intentions and purposes of the organiza- tion. There is a section containing about thirty-five lots that was sold to the Catholics, who used it for burial pur- poses for several years, but, having purchased land on the Smelser Mill road, just north of town, they have a cemetery exclusively their own, and to it removed their dead from their former resting place. A portion in the northeast corner of the cemetery, where paupers are buried, belongs to the county ; another portion adjoining this on the west is the "potter's field," where strangers are interred. An unusual number of fine and tasteful monuments are seen, testifying to the pious reverence of the people for their unforgotten and beloved dead. The records of the cemetery association show that from the
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beginning, more than half a century ago, the various offi- cers, boards of trustees and executive committees have had a deep and active interest in the development of the cemetery on right lines. As a result, East Hill ranks as one of Indiana's most beautiful burial places. The offi- vers of the company, as shown by the records, have been as follows: President-Jefferson Helm, 1859-61; David M. Stewart, 1861-68; John Moffett, 1868-73; Eli Buell, 1873-77: David M. Stewart, 1877-84; John B. Reeve, 1884-1911 ; Albert B. Dunning, 1911 to date. Treasurer- Daniel Wilson, 1859-65; James S. Hibben, 1865-68; Will- iam Lannum, 1868-71: Elisha King, 1871-77; A. G. Mauzy, 1877-82; Virgil B. Bodine, 1882-86; B. W. Riley, 1886-1906; Henry P. McGuire, 1906 to date. Secretary- William C. MeReynolds, 1859-61; Benjamin F. Tingley, Sr., 1861-73: Joseph H. Oglesby, 1873-76; Benjamin F. Tingley, Sr., 1876-82: James S. Lakin, 1882-86; Zarah E. Mauzy, 1886-1906; Robert W. Cox, 1906-07; Wilbur Stiers, 1907 to date.
RECALLING MEMORIES OF OTHER DAYS
Happily there is a fine collection of newspaper files in the office of the county recorder. Some years ago the newspapers of Rushville turned over to the county such broken files as were still preserved in the respective offi- ces and the commissioners ordered that bound files of the papers thereafter should be preserved, the collection now making one of great historical value, some of those old papers dating back into the '50s. Even then, perhaps more than now, there was some growling at the condition of the sidewalks in the town. for a newspaper item of May 13, 1857. noted the re-election of "our old and well- tried marshal. Daniel Wilson, re-elected by a handsome majority. We hope Mr. Wilson will go to work with his usual industry and have the streets and sidewalks re- paired. They have been sadly neglected of late. We also hope he will stir up the old officials and prevail on them to give an exhibit of their last year's doings."
Lf Sexton
PHOTOGRAPHS
R.D. MAUZY
J CARMICHAF.L HESCCON
HIMAA
B.F. TINGLEY
D.ABERCROMA
CASH for GRAIN
NORTHI SIDE OF PUBLIC SQUARE IN AN EARLY DAY
TIONA
BANK
RUSHVILLE MITK
SAME SIDE OF SQUARE IN 1921
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
In July, 1860, publication of statistics relating to the value of real and personal property within the corporate limits of the town of Rushville returned by the assessor showed the value of lots. $61,105; improvements, $102,- 950; personal, $161,541. Total, $325,596. Total tax for 1860, including poll, $838.49. On that same date it was noted that "our brass band availed itself of an invitation from the railroad company and also from Captain David, of the steamer, 'Pioneer', to take an excursion trip to Cincinnati by way of Madison, and a pleasant trip was reported." In September, 1869, a vehement protest was published against the presence of geese, chickens and hogs in the streets; also against muddy roads and poor street crossings. An item a few months later noted that there were eight saloons in Rushville. In October, 1870, it was noted that street crossings had been repaired and graveled and new pavements put in along many of the sidewalks. An item in January, 1871, noted the presence on the streets of the first milk wagon started in the town, driven by William M. Martin. In the summer of 1871, complaint was made that Rushville was acquiring an un- desirable reputation as an unhealthful place of residence on account of ague induced by the millrace, and that farmers were objecting to moving to town on this account. In October, 1872, the newspapers pointed with pride to the erection of a new hall in Rushville, the same having a seating capacity of 1,000 and "a credit to the city." In March, 1876, prideful reference was made to the fact that "more hothouse plants are sold in Rushville every year than in any other town of its size in the state." On March 30, 1876, it was noted that the Rushville corpora- tion tax was $1 on the $100, while the combined county and state tax was $1.19. An item on the city's finances in the next year showed total receipts of $9,355.10 and ex- penses of $6,729.54. In May of this latter year (1877) it was noted that Dr. John Moffett had been president of the town board for ten years, "and a good one," and nothing
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with regret that he had declined to serve further. In the same month the paper called attention to the fact that telephone service from St. Louis Crossing to Flat Rock had proved a success and urged that Rushville should have a telephone exchange.
A leader published in the summer of 1877 set out that "this is not in any sense a manufacturing town. Lying in the midst of a superb agricultural region, Rushville thrives upon its large trade and is enjoying a steady and healthy growth. Few places in this part of the Union offer so many or such strong inducements as Rushville to persons who are seeking homes among a refined and cul- tured people. It is distant but a few hours' ride from Cincinnati and Indianapolis. Its church privileges and educational advantages are good. It is a well-improved, orderly town, with a friendly and intelligent population ; taxes are not oppressive and the surrounding country is beautiful, fertile and rich." And so on and on through the years, the newspaper reviews of the doings of the com- munity, a chronicle of those days even more interesting now through the perspective of the years than then, if possible. It is notable that the paper on which the news- papers of the '50s were printed is of a finer and much more enduring texture than that of the present day news- paper, and suggests the thought that the rag fiber .of which those sheets are composed will be good for another seventy years, while the wood fiber of which the modern paper is composed, will have crumbled into dust, render- ing valueless the files that now are being preserved.
A COMMERCIAL CLUB OF OTHER DAYS
In many quarters regret is expressed that Rushville has no active commercial club or other such organization designed to take a leading part in the promotion of com- mercial and industrial activities. In the absence of such an organization the Rotary Club and the Kiwannis Club are doing their part to "boost" the general commercial
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interest of the city and these two comparatively new or- ganizations give promise of great usefulness, probably more than the Commercial Club of other days, for of the latter there now only is a memory while for the former there seems to be a definite promise of permanency. It was back in 1899 that Rushville had a Commercial Club. It started out with an excellent program and for a while did good work, but apparently apathy struck in before it had gone far and it long since became wholly inactive as a formal organization. Of this old commercial club a con- temporary print said : "The Club proposes to brush the cobwebs from the Rushville of yesterday, take an active interest in the Rushville of today and build up the Rush- ville of tomorrow. That they will succeed is a foregone conclusion. They have started right. They have chosen as their officers men who are hustling, wide-awake and progressive, and a spirit of unity and harmony prevails which is bound to be conducive of much good. This Com- mercial Club does not propose nor expect to accomplish their work in a day nor a week, but they have made a start in the right direction and they extend a most cordial invitation to every factory and every proposed enterprise in the country to communicate with them, no matter how small or how large this industry may be. Let your wants be known to them and they will endeavor to assist you. They also invite correspondence from farmers, stock breeders and home-seekers, and those of the latter class are assured of the same degree of consideration that will be extended to the largest manufacturer. Letters ad- dressed to J. L. Stone, president, or R. F. Scudder, sec- retary, will be answered promptly and information rela- tive to Rushville or Rush county will be cheerfully fur- nished." The various committees of this Commercial Club of more than twenty years ago were as follows: Rules and City Affairs-C. S. Spritz, George Aultman, W. A. Caldwell, Ed Crosby and F. G. Hackleman. Mem- bership and Public Policy-John P. Huffman, Frank
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