USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 1 > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
The Michigan road was in many ways the most important of these state roads. This was constructed from the proceeds of lands relinquished by the Indians-the great Pottawattamie tribe-by the treaty of 1826. The northern terminus of this road was Michigan City, Indiana, and for several years only went as far as Indianap lis, but late in the thirties was extended on to Madi- son, by the way of Shelbyville.
The dirt roads were the only mode of highways employed up to 1850, when, by legislative enactments, some of which had been passed in 1849, in- corporated stock companies were authorized for the construction of plank roads. These roads obtained in almost. if not every county within the state of Indiana, but after a few years trial were found expensive luxuries and always getting out of repair, hence were scon abandoned.
Since 1860 there have been constructed out of Shelbyville, as well as in other sections of the county, excellent gravel roads. The author is in pos- session of a list of such roads, in use as late as 1886-the same here follows :
Shelbyville and Morristown, ten miles : Edinburg. Flat Rock and Norris- town, eleven miles and a half: Mount Auburn and Lewis Creek, nine and a half miles: Jackson Grand road, three miles: Shelbyville. Flat Rock and Norristown, twelve miles: Hope and Norristown, one and a half miles: Flat Rock and Waldron. five and a half miles : County Line and Chapel, five miles ;
79
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
Shelby and Chapel. seven miles, County Line and Chapel five miles, Waldron and Middletown. one mile: Shelbyville and Columbus, four and a half miles : Shelbyville and Rushville, four miles: Shelbyville and Manilla. ten miles : Lewis Creck and Shelbyville, three miles: Shelbyville. Smithland and Marietta. seven and a half miles : Michigan road. six miles : Shelbyville and Brandywine. two and a half miles: Brandywine. Boggstown and Sugar Creek. four miles : Fairland Company, four and a half miles; Shelbyville and Indianapolis, four miles : Fairland and Shelbyville. two miles : Northern County, one mile; Bran- dywine Junction, one mile: Morristown and Hanover, five and three quar- ters miles : Blue River and Chapel. four miles; Marion Township. five and a half miles : Morrison Turnpike Company, four and a half miles.
This made a total of gravel roads within the county in 1886, of one hundred and fifty-three miles, and had been operated by thirty different cor- porations. About 1883-84 a radical change was brought about in Shelby county by changing the old toll road system to a free public highway. Prior to that date the users of this road were compelled to pay a regular toll for passing over it. but by a vote of the people about the date just mentioned, the property of all these various graded roads, surfaced with excellent gravel. held by private corporations, was purchased by the county and thrown open to the public. This was a great step in way of modern-day advancement and has proven a wise plan upon the part of the citizens of the county.
BRIDGES.
The matter of bridging the various large and small streams within Shelby county has ever been a great expense to the tax payers, but not grudg- ingly expended was this money, for generally speaking the value of the sum thus appropriated was wisely expended, with possibly here and there an ex- ception. The early day bridge structures were necessarily of wood material, and of course did not last as long as modern bridges, of the stone and steel type. It was about 1870 that the County Commissioners commenced a prac- tical system of bridge buikling over the principal streams. By 1876 ten sub- stantial and elegant bridges, with stone butments and piers spanned the rivers and from that date on bridges of a better type were added annually until all streams were well provided with safe and easy crossings. At this time nothing but good bridges are contracted for, and when erected will stand. aside from any unforseen accident. for a generation or more, with but the slight expense of supplying the drive ways with new planking.
Some of the old style covered bridges with a wooden arched truss as a support may be seen in the county yet. One of this type is suspended across the Blue river in Shelbyville, the same having been built in 1892.
So
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
PROPERTY VALUATIONS IN SHELBY COUNTY.
The Indiana state statistical reports for the year 1902-seven years ago --- placed the property valuations as indicated here :
Lands and Improvements. $10,800,000
Lots and Improvements thereon 3,000,000
Personal Property. 5,000,000 Railway Property 1.644,222
The above amounted ( together with the property hell by telephone lines, etc.) to a total of $20.356.593.
In 1908, at the close of the accounting time, the amounts were: Value of lands in Shelby county, $10,059.120; land improvements, $1.543.500; value of lots in county, $1.537.615; improvements on lots, $1.775.730; per- sonal property valuation, $6.134.615. The mortgage indebtedness. $785.365. Total amount of property, less exemptions in the county, ($22,045.976) $22,100,000, in round numbers.
FINANCES OF THE COUNTY.
While the financial history of Shelby county, during its first ten-year period, seems a little obscured by lack of proper records, yet there is a suf- ficient set of records to inform the present day citizen of the general financial condition for the first decade, which is generally the hardest to establish. as well as the most trying years in which a county has to contend financially. It should here be stated that the first few years the only source of revenue to Shelby county was from the sale of town lots in the newly platted seat of justice. Shelbyville. These lots had been donated to the county by citizens who desired the commissioners to locate the county seat at this point, instead of at another point-Marion village being among the lively rivals. The first sale of lots occurred September 23. 1822. Fifteen dollars and seventy- five cents were the total receipts for the first lot sale, in cash, the balance be- ing in notes and accounts. No one will ever know the amount, but it is believed that the approximate sum received from all sales was about three thousand dollars. But unfortunately, the county agent became involved and was a defaulter.
The first tax was levied in 1822. the rates being as follows: Each horse or mule, more than three years old, thirty-seven and a half cents; two-wheeled pleasure carriage, one dollar cach; four wheeled pleasure carriages, one dol- lar and a half : three-year-old yoke of oxen, eighteen and a half cents: brass clock, one dollar; pinchback. or silver watches. twenty-five cents; gold watches, one dollar. The first collection of taxes was in 1823, when there
81
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
were taxes collected amounting to three hundred fourteen dollars and seventy- five cents; merchants' licenses, seven dollars and fifty cents; hotel licenses, twenty dollars. The disbursements for that year were forty-three dollars and eighty-seven cents in excess of this amount, or three hundred eighty-six dol- lars and twelve cents, showing the balance must have been "cash on hand" at the end of the first financial year in the county's history.
It may not be without interest to the present generation to know of the county's expenditures for the first ten years of its history, up to the beginning of 1833.
1823
$ 386.00
1829
$ 725.00
1824
847.00
1830
1,370.00
1825
2.715.00
1831
757.00
1826
392.00
1832
1,198.00
1827
227.00
1828
1,256.00
Total
$9,876.00
Great is the contrast with that of 1908, the last year's statement rendered by the Commissioners of the county, which gives a total expenditure of $957.170 (almost a million dollars) with a balance ou hand December 31. 1908, of $25.469. The County Commissioners that year were George W. Gray, S. F. Montgomery and George W. Snepp, with George B. Huntington as the efficient Auditor.
POPULATION OF SHELBY COUNTY.
Indiana was organized as a territory, July 4. 1800, and admitted as a state in December. 1816. The United States census gives the population of Shelby county for the last eight decades, as follows :
1830
6,295 1870 21.892
1840
12,005
1880
25.257
1850
15.502 1890 25.45+
1860
19.569
1900 26,491
In 1900 the population by townships and wards was as follows:
Brandywine township
1,358 Union township 1.100
Hanover township
1.865
Van Buren township 1.300
Hendricks township 6
1.705
Washington township 1.602
82
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
Jackson township 1.140
Shelbyville. First Ward. 1.244
Shelbyville. Second Ward. .. 1.040
Shelbyville. Third Ward .. 2,511
Shelbyville. Fourth Ward. 2.710
Shelbyville, Fifth Ward 1.664
Addison township ( rural) . 1.502
Noble township 1,576
Liberty township
1,420
Shelby township
1.251
Sugar Creek township. 909
Total in county 26.491
In 1890 the total population of the county was 25.454.
The 1900 census gave the total number of foreign born population as five hundred seventy-eight, divided among different countries, as follows: Forty- six from England. eleven from France, three hundred sixty-three from Ger- many, five from Holland. eighty-three from Ireland. two from Italy, one from Poland, thirteen from Russia. ten from Scotland, two from Sweden. sixteen from Switzerland, six from Wales, and two who were born at sea.
Of the cities, town and villages within the county in 1900 it may be stated that their population at that date was: Cynthiana, 202: Waldron, 500: Morristown, 565: Mt. Auburn. 163: Shelbyville 7.169. The city last named, according to the city directory, in 1907. had increased to 12,474. Fairland has 407 population.
.
Marion township 868
Moral township 1.636
Morristown ( exclusive of Han-
over township) 565
CHAPTER VILL.
PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN SHIELBY COUNTY.
Owing to the destruction of the records the presidential vote of this county will only be given from 1832.
Year. Vote
1832-Jackson (Dem.) 743
Clay ( Whig) 485
1836-Van Buren ( Dem.) 675
1840-Van Buren (Dem.). 1,070
Harrison ( Whig) 1,016
1844-Polk ( Dem.) 1.340
Clay ( Whig ) 1,107
1848-Cass ( Dem.) 1,1II Taylor ( Whig) 1,122
1852-Pierce Dem.) 1.627 Scott ( Whig) 1,286
1856-Buchanan ( Dem.) 2.075
Fremont (Rep.) 1,286
American ( Know Noth- ing) 142
1860-Douglas ( Ind. Dem.). 2.017
Breckenridge ( Dem.) . 43
Bell ( Union) 25
Lincoln (Rep.) 1.900
1864 -- Lincoln (Rep.) 1.837
McClellan ( Dem.) 2.223
1868-Grant (Rep.) 2.069
Seymour (Dem.) 2.592
Year. Vote
1872-Greeley ( Liberal) 2.584
Grant ( Rep.) 2,151
1876-Tilden ( Dem.) 3.183 Harrison (Whig) 688
Hayes ( Rep.) 2.7.47
18So-Garfield ( Rep.) 2.648
Hancock ( Dem.) 3-555
Weaver ( Ind.)
1884-Blaine ( Rep.) 2.801
Cleveland ( Dem.) 3.366
1888-Harrison ( Rep.) 2.877 Cleveland ( Dem.) 3.409
1892-Harrison ( Rep.) 2.664
Cleveland ( Dem. ) 3.492
1896-Bryan ( Dem.) 3.828
Mckinley ( Rep.) 3.219 Levering ( Pro.) . 54
Palmer ( Gold Dem.) 19
1900 -- Bryan ( Dem.) 3.846
Mckinley ( Rep.) 3.291
1904-Roosevelt (Rep.) 3.669
Parker ( Dem.) 3.550 1908 -- Taft (Rep.) 3.493
Bryan (Dem.) 3.981
NATIONAL, STATE AND COUNTY REPRESENTATION.
The following is a list of the various men who have represented Shelby county in national, state and county affairs from 1822 to 1909:
ยท
81
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
CONGRESSMEN.
Year.
Year.
1821-23 William Hendricks.
1865-67
George W. Julian.
1824-25 John Call.
1867-69
George W. Julian.
1825-27
Jonathan Jennings.
1869-71
William S. Holman.
1827-29
Jonathan Jennings.
1871-73
William S. Holman.
1829-31
Jonathan Jennings.
1873-75
William S. Holman. William S. Hofman.
1831-33
John Carr.
1875-77
Milton S. Robinson. Gilbert Delameter.
1837-39
William Herod.
1883-85
William S. Holman.
1839-41
William W. Wick.
1885-87
William S. Holman.
1841-43
Andrew Kennedy.
1887-89
William S. Holman.
1843-45
William T. Brown.
1889-91
William S. Holman.
1845-47
William W. Wick.
1891-93
William S. Holman.
1847-49
William W. Wick.
1893-95
William S. Holman.
IS49-51
Willis A. Gorman.
1895-97
James E. Watson.
1851-53
Willis A. Gorman.
1897-99
William S. Holman. died.
1853-55
Thomas .A. Hendricks.
Francis M. Griffith (vac.)
1855-57
Lucian Barbour.
1899-CI
James E. Watson.
1857-59
James M. Gregg.
1901-03
James E. Watson.
1859-61
John G. Davis.
1903-05
James E. Watson.
1861-63
Albert G. Porter.
1905-07
James E. Watson.
1863-65
George W. Julian.
1907-09
James E. Watson.
STATE SENATORS.
Year.
Year.
1825-31
James Gregory.
1853-57
George W. Brown.
1831-34
Thomas Hendricks.
1857-61
David S. Gooding.
1834-36
William Fowler.
1861-65
Martin M. Ray.
1836-40
John Walker.
1865-69
James L. Mason.
1840-43 Joseph P. Nick:all.
1869-71
Thomas G. Lee.
1843-46 John Y. Young.
1871-75
Oliver J. Glessner.
1846-49 August C. Handy.
1875-79
C. B. Tarlton.
1849-53
James M. Sleeth.
1879-87
T. M. Howard.
1833-35
George S. Kennard.
1877-79
1835-37
George S. Kennard.
1879-81
William Herod (vacancy)
1881-83
William S. Holman.
Since about 1890 Shelby county has had joint relations with other coun- ties, hence the State Senator is not named in this connection. The county elected Will A. Yarling to this office in 1908.
85
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
Year.
Year.
1823-26 Thomas Hendricks.
1859-61
John 1. Montgomery.
1826-27 Lewis Morgan.
1861-65
Jacob Mutz.
1827-28 John Smiley.
1865-67
James Ilarrison.
1828-29
Sylvan B. Morris.
1867-69
E. C. Thatcher.
1829-3-4 Rezin Davis.
1869-71
Isaac Odell.
1834-35
Jacob Shank.
18;1-73
James.J. Curtis.
1835-36
John Walker.
1873-75
Samuel D. Spellman.
1836-37
F. Powell and Ed. Gird.
1875-77
William Patterson.
1837-38
W. J. Peaslee and J. B. Nickall.
18,9-81
Squire L. Vanpelt.
1838-39 1839-41
Peaslee and Powell.
1881-83
Edmund Cooper.
William W. McCoy and J. B. Lucas.
1885-87
Thomas Hoban.
1841-42
John Hendricks.
1887-89
Charles Major.
1842-43
Fletcher Tevis.
1 889-90
Oliver Glessner.
1843-45
A. C. Handy.
IS90-92
B. S. Sutton.
1845-46
James M. Sleeth.
1892-94
William J. Lowe.
1846-47 1847-48 William Major. 1848-49 Thomas A Hendricks.
1 896-98
B. S. Sutton.
Adam F. May.
1848-51
George W. Brown.
1902-04
David F. Poer.
1851-544
William Major.
1904-06
E. Haymond.
1854-55
Samuel Donaldson.
1906-08
H. S. Downey.
IS55-59
Thomas A. McFarland.
1908
Robert Tomlinson.
James M. Sleeth.
1894-96
Robert W. Harrison.
1898-02
1883-85
Jacob Mutz.
1877-79
Chris Gerton.
*
.
CHAPTER . IX.
HISTORY OF TOWNSHIPS,
When the county was first organized it was divided into four civil town- ships. These were separated by the congressional township lines through the county. Number 14 was called "Union": number 13 "Marion"; number 12 "Hendricks" and mumber HI "Noble" civil township.
It was not until 1840 that a re-organization of the townships within Shelby county was cffected. It should be here stated that at the May board meeting in 1822 the name of "Union" township was changed to Harrison, and that of "Marion" to Shelby. Addison township was organized February 11, 1823 ; Sugar Creek May 13, 1823 ; Liberty March 5, 1827, and Monroe, May, 1831 : Fleming. Hanover and Moral were all among those formed prior to 1840, when the general re-organization took place.
At a meeting of the county board in January. 1840-date of re-organiza- tion-Jackson was formed out of the territory of Township II, Range 6 east, and all of Township 11, Range 5 east. lying in Shelby county. The re-organi- zation of the balance of the county has been described in the chapter on County Organization, which gives the boundaries of each.
Commencing in the northeastern part of the county, it may be stated that Hanover township is found, and its history is here given :
HANOVER TOWNSHIP.
Hanover, bounded by the north line of the county, as well as that of the eastern line, is north of Union and a portion of Marion townships, with Van Buren on the west. It comprises twenty-five full and five half sections of land, the half sections being along its western border. It contains a little over 17,000 acres. Within this sub-division of Shelby county there have been three villages platted-Morristown. May 3, 1828, which in 1876 had a population of 225: is now an incorporated place with a population of about 600. Freeport, platted March 7, 1836, had in 1876 a population of sixty. Gwynneville, plat- ted January 25, 1881. The line of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail- road passes through the northeastern part of this township, which is a fine agri- cultural section. Its first settlement has already been treated in general with others in the "Early Settlement" chapter in this work, hence will not be repeated here.
According to the latest United States census, Hanover township contained a population of 1,865.
1
87
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
In 1909. this township was supplied with seven school buildings; had an enrollment of 233 pupils and had a high standard in educational mat- ters.
The township according to the latest assessment had $733.370 valuation.
Its population is made up, for the most part, of thrifty farmers who have become owners and tillers of the soil and hence are among Shelby county's most independent and intellectual populace. In the matter of religious tenden- cies, let it be stated in this connection that Hanover township has supported ex- cellent churches from the carly days to the present.
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
This is one of the three northern townships within the county, it being the central of the three. It is on the Hancock county line : to its cast is Han- over township: to its south is Marion and a portion of Brandywine township, while it is bounded on the west by Moral township. It is made up of twenty- five full and five half sections, making it five and one-half miles square. equal to 17.597 acres, according to the government survey. The only village plat- ted within Van Buren township is that of Fountaintown on the northern line. This place was platted by Matthew Fountain, December 23. 1854: in 1876 it contained a population of about 260, but has never grown to any extent. Its business interests are treated at another place, under the head of towns and villages. It is situated on the line of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail- road, which road passes through the extreme northeastern portion of the town- ship. (See "Early Settlement" chapter for the pioneers of this township. ) The population of Van Buren township in 1900 was 1.300. At this date it is well supplied with public schools, having eight school buildings, with an en- rollment of 259 pupils, who are taught by none but the best of instructors.
The valuation placed on the property of the township ( half of its true value) in 1908 was $731.540.
From an early date, the citizens of this goodly township have been among the most law-abiding and industrious class of citizens within this county and have been represented in the various county offices and always proven them- selves worthy of such publie trust.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
[ The facts herein narrated are largely the result of research on the part of Bertha Farthing, with such changes and corrections as we deemed proper to make.]
Union township was one of the four original townships within Shelby county, having. together with Marion, Hendricks and Noble constituted the
88
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
original sub-divisions, as ordered by the county commissioners, on April 9. 1822. Then "Union" township embraced all the north quarter of the county's territory. January 8. 1840. the commissioners re-organized the townships and created new sub-divisions. John Sleeth, Joseph Dawson and James Robertson being then County Commissioners. It was at that date that Union took on it present size and boundaries. It is in the eastern tier of civil townships and is bounded on the north by Hanover township; on the east by the Shelby-Rush county line: south by Liberty township and on the west by Marion and Ad- dison townships. In extent, it is four miles from east to west and seven from north to south. It contains twenty-eight sections, or 16.606 acres. The assessed valuation of the property in this township in 1908 was $702.485. It had a population in 1900 of 1, 100 people. Its school enrollment for the year 1908 was 205. while its school-houses numbered eight-all good brick struct- ures.
Ray's Crossing is the only hamlet within the borders of Union township; this is mentioned under another heading-"Towns and Villages". The Cam- bridge City branch of the Jeffersonville. Madison & Indianapolis Railroad which passes diagonally through the territory from southwest to northeast, with its station point at Ray's Crossing. This hamlet has four stores, a blacksmith's shop. saw mill. tile factory, church, school and one of the best grain elevators in Shelby county. Large amounts of grain, poultry and other farm products are shipped from this township every month of the year. The township has the benefits of the rural free delivery of mail. That the religious element predomi- nates, it only need be stated that here and there. throughout the township. therc are five church edifices, including the United Brethren, the Christian, the Christian Union and the German church.
Of the topography of this section of the county, let it be stated that the surface is generally level and covered by heavy timber originally, including species of walnut, oak, ash, beech, sugar maple, etc., but this has nearly all been cut off and the ground thoroughly ditched with tile. This is also within the gas belt of Shelby county and a majority of the population use this for light and heat. Conn's creek runs through the southeastern part of the town- ship: good gravel and sand are found along this and other small streams. From northeast to southwest, the Little Blue river courses its meandering way and this is spanned by four substantial bridges. The Rushville state road passes through Union township and the many gravel roads are kept in excel- lent repair.
Of the population now living, as well as those who formerly settled in this goodly section of the county, it should be said that one of the most thrifty community of Germans found in Indiana is located in the southeastern part of the territory. The Americans had taken up all the available lands, as they saw availability, and this section was low and marshy, but under the Germans' hands it has been reclaimed and made one of the finest sections of the state.
89
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
Five German families came thither in 1832 and entered two and a fourth sec- tions of this land and others soon followed.
The northwestern part was settled by the Quakers from North Carolina. In the southwest, the first comers were largely from Kentucky.
At an early day there were numerous little saw and grist mills along the streams in Union township, but have long since gone to decay.
From 1830 to 1845 the still-house was a great industry and whisky was produced from corn and sold direct to consumers. One gallon was given for a bushel of corn.
Of the former people of this township it should be said that many achieved success, including Alonzo L. Rice, a teacher, who won high reputation as a famous poet ; Mathew B. Phares, James M. Smith. David Houston, John Phares. Joseph .\. Cotton and J. L. Brown are all successful ministers of the Gospel and once lived. in fact were reared. here.
Among the Friends ( "Quakers") were the Barnards, Macys, Pitts and others.
Among the Kentuckians-Thomas and Reason Wheeler. Noah Barnes, James Robertson, Thomas Moberly and William Robertson.
Thomas Wicker, one of the pioneer band, still survives and is now eighty- six years of age.
In other parts of the township the early settlers were: William Cotton. Peter Dewitt, Mathew C. Brown, John Derrickson, Zachens Bennett, W. N. Bennett, James B. Gunning, John Glenn, Isaac Phares, Robert Brown, Moses Linville and Joseph Talbert.
The people of this township are a happy and thoroughly prosperous people. who appreciate what it has cost to subdue early-day Union township. to cause it to bloom as the rose.
MARION TOWNSHIP.
Second from the north, as well as from the east in Shelby county, is Ma- rion township, one of the four original sub-divisions in the county, and at one time embracing one-fourth of all the county. It is south of Van Buren and Hanover townships, west of Union, north of Addison and east of Brandywine townships. It is five miles square, containing twenty-five sections of very excellent farming land. The total acreage of this township is fifteen thou- sand two hundred seventy-eight acres. The total assessed valuation of the township in 1908 was six hundred twenty-two thousand nine hundred fifteen. Its population, mostly American born, in 1900 was eight hundred sixty-eight. In it is found most excellent schools, with an enrollment of one hundred seven- ty-four pupils, who are provided for by six modern school-houses, and an ex- cellent corps of teachers.
Within this township, as now described, was platted the old town of
90
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.