USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Directory, for the city of Indianapolis : containing a correct list of citizens names, their residences and places of business, with a historical sketch of Indianapolis, from its earliest history to the present day > Part 2
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On the 8th of January, 1821, the Legislature, then sitting at Corydon, addressed a memorial to Congress, stating the location and position of the new Capital, and praying that the location of the great National road, which at that time was to run fifteen miles south of this point, should be so changed that Indianapolis might be a point on the line. The inhabitants of the new town, separated by forty or fifty miles of trackless wilderness from the nearest set- tlement, were justly anxious to secure this result, and its final achievement produced general rejoicing. Their hopes were ulti- mately disappointed. The enterprize was abandoned in 1839, just before the road was completed to this point, and the town remained entirely isolated and mud-bound until the 1st of October, 1847.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
Prior to 1820, the central and northern portions of the State were comprised in the bounds of Delaware county, which for Judicial purposes was attached to Fayette and Wayne counties respectively. The courts of the latter counties had concurrent jurisdiction over the " new Purchase," and the settlers were often harrassed by suits at Connersville, or other points in the White river country. The costs of suits thus conducted, at a place fifty or sixty miles from the settlement, were often greater than the debt, damages or fines, and the system was found to be so troublesome that the settlers rebelled against it. Some conflicts took place, and much ill-feeling was engendered. To remedy the evil the Legislature, on the 9th of January, 1821, passed an act authorizing the Governor to appoint two Justices of the Peace, for new settlement, who should continue in office till Delaware county was organized, and have jurisdiction co-equal with its limits. All appeals were to be taken to the Bar- tholomew Circuit Court. In pursuance of the act, Gov. Jennings, in April, 1820, appointed John Maxwell a Justice of the Peace for the new settlement. Mr. Maxwell resigned, however, in June or July, and the people met and held an informal election, which resulted in the choice of James McIlvaine, who was consequently appointed by the Governor in October following. We have already spoken of this gentleman and his courts. Calvin Fletcher, Esq., who now lives just north of the city, was then the only attorney at law in the new settlement, and the ultimate Judge in all knotty cases. There was no jail nearer than Connersville, and the culprit sentenced to imprisonment, had to be conveyed by the constable and his posse, on horseback through the woods to that place. This involved much time, trouble and expense, and the shorter plan was afterwards adopted to scare them away. An instance occurred on Christmas day, 1821. Four Kentucky boatmen, who had " whip- ped their weight in wild-cats," came from " the bluffs" to " Naples" (as they called the town), to have a jolly Christmas spree The " spree" began early, and the settlers were aroused before the dawn, by a terrible racket at Daniel Larkens' grocery, A hasty reconnois- sence revealed the four heroes busily engaged in the laudable work of " taking it down." A request to desist provoked strong exple- tives, attended by a display of large knives, which demonstration caused the citizens to "retire" to consult. They were interested in the grocery, and besides that, such lawless proceedings could not be tolerated. they therefore determined to conquer at all hazards. James Blake volunteered to grapple the ring leader, a man of hercu- lean size and strength, if the rest would take the three others. The attack was made at once. The party conquered, and marched under guard through the woods to Justice McIlvaines's cabin. They were tried and heavily fined, and in default of payment ordered to jail. They could not pay, and it was deemed impossible to take them through the woods, to Connersville at that season of the year. A guard was therefore placed over them, with the requisite instructions,
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
and during the night the doughty heroes escaped to more congenial climes.
The Courts of Fayette and Wayne counties, however, still retained jurisdiction over the settlement, and the annoyance still continued. Doubts also existed concerning the constitutionality of Justices Maxwell and McIlvaine's appointments. A meeting of the citizens was held at John Hawkins' large log tavern, built by him in the fall of 1821, on the spot where the Capitol House now stands, to adopt some method to rid the settlers of further trouble. They demanded the organization of a new county, and elected James Blake and Dr. S. G. Mitchell to represeni them as "lobby mem- bers" at the next session of the Legislature.
The population of the town had increased very rapidly since its first settlement, and especially in the summer and fall of 1821. In May, 1820, there were perhaps fifteen families on and near the donation. This number had increased to thirty or forty by the month of July 1821, at which time the sale of lands in this and the neighboring counties took place at Brookville. These lands had been surveyed late in 1820 and in 1821. From this time to the close of the year the population increased with extreme rapidity and there were probably 500 inhabitants on the donation at the close of the year. Obed Foote, Calvin Fletcher, Caleb Scudder, George Smith, Nat'l Ralston, and other well known citizens, arrived during the fall of 1821. In 1820, the inhabitants enclosed a " caterpillar deadening," perhaps one hundred and fifty acres in extent, situated in the north-west part of the donation near the site of our new city Hospital. With but little labor, a large field was cleared there, and cultivated in corn and garden vegetables, for several years, in com- mon, by the people. An ample supply of the finest fish and largest game was easily procured. The common field yielded corn and vegetables abundantly, and in 1820, the settlers lived happily, not- withstanding the sickness which prevailed. Affairs became very gloomy, however, in 1821. Toward the end of summer, and during the fall, epidemic, remittant and intermittant fevers and agues assailed the people, and scarcely a person was left untouched. The few healthy ones were employed day and night in ministering to the wants of the sufferers, and many instances of generous and devoted friendship occurred at this time. The recollection of their bitter sufferings bound the early settlers together in after life. No one can recur to that period without singular emotions. The new comers might well be appalled at the prospect before them ; and it is no wonder that, extravagant stories circulated concerning the sickness at Indianapolis. Although nearly every person in the settlement was more or less assailed, and several hundred cases occurred during the prevalence of the epidemic, not more than twenty-five terminated fatally. As winter approached, the health of the community improved, and by the end of the year it was entirely restored. No cause was discovered for the unparalleled
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visitation, which the old settlers hold to this day in vivid remem- brance ; nor was it possible to stay its ravages.
After escaping death by disease, the people were threatened with starvation. In consequence of sickness, the influx of people and the small amount of grain raised, the supply of provisions in the settlement became very meagre in the fall and winter of 1821. No roads had been opened to the town, and all goods and provisions had to be packed on horseback, fifty or sixty miles through the woods, or brought up the river in keel boats. The latter method was adopted in 1822, and the arrival of each boat was greeted by a concourse of " the whole people," and duly announced in the " In- dianapolis Gazette." Coffee was worth 50 cents a pound ; tea $2,00 ; corn, $1,00 per bushel ; flour, $4,00 to $5,00 per hundred ; coarse muslin, 45 cents per yard, and other goods in proportion. To relieve the people and prevent starvation, flour and other articles were brought from the White Water Valley, and corn was pur- chased at the Indian villages up the river and boated down to the town. The nearest mill was Goodlandin or Whitewater River, and the arrival of a cargo of meal and flour, or of other articles from that quarter,, produced general joy in the settlement. The settlers generously relieved each other's distress in this case, as in the pre- ceding sickness, and many pecks of meal, sacks of flour, parcels of fish, meat, and other articles of food, were distributed to some more destitute neighbor.
After the October sale of lots, the weather, which during the sum- mer had been very wet and changeable, and in the fall cold and gloomy changed, and a long and beautiful Indian summer began. The sick quickly recovered their health, strength and spirits. The settlement rapidly tended to the East, for the sickness had been worse near the river, and the new comers and older settlers built their cabins along Washington street much farther from it than before. The dreary appearance of the settlement during the fall, no longer clung to it, and notwithstanding the threatened famine, the hopes of the settlers rose higher than ever. Washington street was the first street cleared, and during the fall of 1821, was com- pletely blocked up by felled trees and prickly ash bushes. John Hawkins built a large log tavern where the Capitol House now stands, using logs cut from the site and adjoining street in its erec- tion. The main settlement was still. west of the Canal, near the spot now occupied by the Carlisle House. A group of cabins in this vicinity, was dignified by " Wilmot's Row," from a man of that name who kept a store in the vicinity, and who was one of the first merchants of the place. The first merchant was a man named Nicholas Shaffer. He had a little store on the high ground, South of Pogue's Run, commencing in the Spring of 1821. He was the first person who died on the donation. He died in May or June, 1821, and was buried in Pogue's Run Valley, near the present site of the sixth ward school house. Later in the summer, J. & J.
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Given, and I. T. Osborne, kept stores on the river bank, and Wil- mot in " Wilmot's Row. Still later in the fall, and during the winter of 1821-22, after the sickness had driven the population eastward, several stores were established along Washington street. Luke Walpole, kept one on the south-west corner of the State House Square. Jacob Landis, then a young man, kept one on the South East corner of the same square. Jeremiah Johnson, kept one on the lot where A. F. Morrison now lives, opposite Robert's Chapel. The first marriage, the first birth, and the first death in the settle- ment occurred in 1821.
The first marriage took place in the summer, between Miss Rea- gan and Jeremeah, or as he was usually called, " Jerry Johnson." He walked to Connersville and back, 120 miles, for his marriage license, and others did the same till the county was organized. He died very suddenly on the 5th day of April, 1857. Noah Harding was the first person born on the donation, and James Morrow, was the first born in the limits of the then town. The first death was was that of Mr. Shaffer, before spoken of. Mrs. Maxwell, the wife of John Maxwell, was the first woman who died here; she died on the third of July, 1821, and was buried on the fourth.
The names of the pioneers in the different trades and professions, and the periods at which they arrived in the settlement are here given.
John McClung, a Christian new-light minister, who came in the spring of 1821, and preached to the citizens in a maple grove, on the site of the Governor's Circle, was the first preacher. The first Methodist Minister was James Scott, who came in October, 1822. The first Presbyterian minister was O. P. Gaines, who came in August, 1821. The first Baptist minister was John Water, who came in the fall of1821. The first Physician was Isaac Coe, who came in May 1821. The first Attorney and legal counsellor was Calvin Fletcher, who came in September, 1821. The first Mer- chant was Daniel Shaffer, who came in January, 1821, and kept store on the high ground east of the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad Depot. The first carpenter was James B. Hall, who came in the winter of 1820. The first brick-maker and mason was Matthias Nowland, who came in November, 1820. The first tailor was Andrew Byrne, who came in November, 1820. The first shoe- maker was Isaac Lynch, who came in the fall of 1821. Wm. Holmes, who came in the spring of 1822, was the first tinner ; Michael Ingals, who came in the fall of 1820; Wikes Reagan, who came in the spring of 1821, was the first butcher and auctioneer ; John Shunk, who came in October, 1821, was the first hatter ; Amos Hanway, who came in June, 1821, was the first cooper ; Conrad Brussel, who came in the fall of 1820, was the first baker ; Milo R. Davis, who came in the winter of 1820-1, was the first plasterer ; George Norwood, who came in the spring of 1821, was the first wagon maker ; John McCormack, who came in Feb-
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
ruary, 1820, was the first tavern keeper; George Myers, who came in the fall of 1821, was the first potter ; Caleb Scudder, who came in October, 1821, was the first cabinet-maker ; Henry and Samuel Davis, who came in the fall of 1821, were the first chair-makers ; Isaac Wilson, who came in March, 1820, was the first miller, and built the first grist-mill, on Fall creek, north-west of Blackford's addition, in the summer of 1821 : George Pogue, who came in March, 1819, and who was killed by the Indians, as before related, was the first blacksmith ; James Linton, who came in the summer of 1821, was the first sawyer, and built the first saw-mill on Fall creek, at the crossing of the Crawfordsville road, in September or October, 1821 ; Nathaniel Bolton and George Smith, who came in the summer of 1821, were the first Printers, and the latter was also the first Bookbinder ; Joseph C. Reed, who came in the spring of 1821, was the first school teacher ; the first school-house in the town stood just north of the State Bank, and west of the Palmer House, near a large pond ; The first foundry man was Mr. Grover ; the first painter was Samuel Rooker, who came in the fall of 1821 ; the first militia colonel was James Paxton, who came in 1822 ; the first lieutenant colonel was Samuel Morrow, who came in 1820 ; the first major was Alexander W. Russell, who came in the spring of 1821 ; Henry and Samuel Davis, were the first chair makers in the town. John Pogue, was the first blacksmith. Isaac Coe, the first physician. Calvin Fletcher, the first lawyer. John McClung, the first resident minister. - Lawrence, the first teacher. Amos Hanway, the first cooper. The first carpenter, James Linton. The first miller, Isaac Lynch. D. Yandes, the first tanner. Miles Rea- gan, the first butcher ; the first barber was David Mallory, an old mulatto, formerly well known among thecitizens.
The first Market House was built in May or June, 1822, in the maple grove, on the Governor's circle, and the first market was held there in the early part of June. Wilkes Reagan sold meat at these markets to the citizens.
The first brick house was built in the summer of 1822, by John Johnson, on the lot east of Roberts' Chapel. It is still standing in comparatively good repair.
The first frame house was built by James Blake, in the fall of 1821, and winter of 1821-2, on the lot east of Masonic Hall ; it was also the first plastered house. The timber had been cut on the donation in the summer, by James Paxton, and sold by him to Mr. Blake. During the same winter, Thomas Carter, erected a " very commodious " (for so he advertises it), ceiled frame tavern, eighteen by twenty feet, and two stories high. This house stood on the site of the store, at 40 west Washinton street, and was long known as the "Rosebush Tavern," from the rude picture on its sign. It was removed to the vicinity of the canal, on Washington street, and is yet standing, and occupied by negroes. The first saw
-
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
mill was built in this year, on Fall Creek, at the crossing of the Crawfordsville road, by James Sinton. He also built the first large frame dwelling house, two stories high, in the spring of 1822. The house stood on the ground now occupied by the wholesale grocery, at 76 west Washington street. It was burnt a number of years ago, and the present house was erected in its room. The first grist mill was built on the bayou, near Fall Creek in the fall of 1821, by James Sinton,. Before its erection, the nearest mill was Goodlanders, on Whitewater River, and regular expeditions were organized to con- vey flour and meal to the settlements.
Until March, 1822, there was no Post-Office in the town, nor post-routes leading to it. The nearest Post-Office was at Conners- ville, and the mails came over at long intervals. The people were seriously incommoded on account of it, and determined to hold a meeting. This was their favorite method of redressing grievances. It was steadily resorted to, until within a few years, and even yet has not lost its power. On Wednesday, the 30th of January, 1822, they assembled at Hawkins tavern, and resolved to have a private mail, Aaron Drake was selected as Postmaster. He immediately issued a circular to the Postmasters of the Union, stating his ap- pointment, and directing them to send letters for Indianapolis to Connersville. He returned from the first trip shortly after night- fall, the lowd blasts from his horn were heard far through the woods, and the whole people turned out in the bright moonlight, to greet him and hear the news. His efforts aroused the govern- ment, and in February or March, Samuel Henderson was appointed the first Postmaster by President Monroe. He entered on the duties of the office on the 7th day of March, and on the 3d day of April, the first list of letters was published. The list contained five letters, one being directed to David Mallory, the old negro barber, so well known among the old residents.
As the winter of 1821-2 rolled on, and the settlers became better acquainted and better fixed, they grew more merry and convivial. A regular round of dances, quiltings, parties, frolics, and sprees, continued through the season. A mania for marrying, took pos- session of the young people, and scarcely a bachelor was left in the settlement. Great good humor prevailed, for it was known that the county would soon be organized, and candidates were very numerous. An old lady declared that there were no voters left in the country, for all the men had become candidates. The general desire to do the best they could under the circumstances lightened the burthen for all, and the winter passed pleasantly, notwithstand- ing the sickness, the famine, and the cold. The latter was extremely severe and protracted. The snow was deep, and large logs were hauled by oxen over the ice bridge on White River. The dense forest around them supplied plenty of fuel, and with large fire-pla- ces, great " back-logs," roaring fires, and warm hearts, the in- mates of the rude cabins, bid defiance to the weather.
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14 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
The question having been raised, whether the survey and allow- ances made the surveyors and commissioners were valid, because Harrison was the only one engaged in it, the Legislature on the 28th of November, 1821, legalized his acts, and the subsequent sales. On the 31st of December, an act was passed authorizing Gen. Carr to lease to McDonald & McCartney, a mill-seat and forty acres of land, rent free for ten years.
On the same day an act was passed, organizing Marion County ; the organization to be complete on the first of April, 1822. The act made square 58 (our present county square), the seat of justice for the County. It provided for the erection of a brick Court House thereon, fifty feet square, and two stories high, and appropri- ated $8000 from the lot fund to build it. It was to be commenced in one and completed in three years, from the passage of the act. It was to be used by the Federal, State and County Courts forever, and by the Legislature for fifty years, or until a State House was built. Two per cent of the lot fund was devoted to the purchase of a County Library, after deducting the expense attending the erec- tion of a State Prison at Jeffersonville. The voters of the County were to meet at Indianapolis within one year, to choose a President and Trustees of the Library. A large tract of country to the north of the County, was attached to it for judicial purposes, until the Court House was completed, the sessions of the Courts and the elections were to be held at Gen. Carr's house. A large territory, comprising Johnson and Hamilton, and a large part of Boone, Mad- ison and Hancock Counties, was atttached to Marion County for election and judicial purposes.
On the same day, an act was passed, organizing the 5th Judicial Circuit, comprising Lawrence, Monroe, Morgan, Green, Owen, Marion, Hendricks, Rush, Decatur, Bartholomew, Shelby, and Jen- nings Counties. The Legislature elected Wm. W. Wick, Presi- dent Judge of the Circuit, and Gov. Jennings, appointed Harvey Bates, the first Sheriff of Marion County. These gentlemen were from Whitewater, and their arrival in the spring of 1822, was duly announced in the columns of the Gazette.
On the 3d of January, 1822, the Legislature directed the agent to lease the unsold squares in the town ; requiring the lessee to clear them in four months. He was also directed to sell two acres in any part of the donation for a brickyard, and to lease the ferry for three years. The donation land west of the river, was to be leased in lots of from five to twenty acres. Many roads were or- dered to be opened, and nearly $100,000 were appropriated to affect it. This action greatly encouraged the settlers, who were still shut out from the world by intervening wilderness. On the 10th of January, an act was passed, allowing persons who made improve- ments on the unsold blocks, forty days time to remove their im- provements after the sale of the blocks. On the 8th of January, an act passed, organizing Hamilton county from Marion, and di-
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
recting Commissioners to meet at Conner's Station, to select and lay off a county seat.
On the 28th of January, the first number of the Indianapolis Gazette was published at a cabin, south-east of the Carlisle House, and west of the canal. This paper, the first in the town or in the new purchase, was edited and printed by George Smith and Na- thaniel Bolton. The first number were printed with a composition of tar ink. The paper appeared at irregular intervals. The second number was published on the 11th of February, the third on the 25th, the fourth on the 6th of March, the fifth on the 18th, the sixth on the 3d of April, the seventh on the 4th of May, after which period it was issued weekly. The editors apologized for the irregularity, by saying that the mails were infrequent, they could not get matter to fill their columns. Several post routes were opened, however, in April and May, and this difficulty was measu- rably obviated. The paper was published weekly, until 1822, when it was discontinued. On the 3d of May, 1823, B. F. Morris be- came its editor. On the 27th of April, 1844, Smith and Bolton dissolved partnership.
In February, the Gazette says, much improvements had taken place in the town. Forty dwellings had been built. Several work- shops had been erected, and one grist and two saw mills were in operation. Several additional mills were nearly ready to commence operations. There were thirteen carpenters and joiners, four cabi- net makers, eight blacksmiths, four boot and shoe makers, two tai- lors, one hatter, two tanners, one saddler, one cooper, four brick- layers, two merchants, three grocery keepers, four physicians, one teacher, one preacher, three lawyers, and seven taverns and tavern keepers. This enumeration will give us nearly the whole adult male population, which probably did not exceed eighty or ninety, many of these were unmarried men.
On the 25th of February, Harvey Bates issued his proclamation, directing an election for two Associate Judges, a Clerk, a Recorder, and three Commissioners for the new county. The following pre- cincts were fixed at Gen. Carr's house in Indianapolis ; John Finch's, near Conner's Station ; James Page's, at Strawtown ; John Berry's, at Anderson's town, and Wm. McCartney's, on Fall Creek. The election took place on Monday, the first day of April, and the returns were forwarded to the Sheriff by the following Wednesday.
Party excitement grew very strong as the day of election ap- proached. Many candidates were placed in nomination, and the friends of each were very active in their support. For Associate Judges, James McIlvaine, Robert Patterson, James Page, John Smock, and Rev. John McClung, were nominated. For Clerk, James M. Ray, Milo R. Davis, Morris Morris, Thos. Anderson, and John W. Redding. For Recorder, Alex. Ralston, James Linton, Joseph C. Reed, Aaron Drake, John Livens, John Hawkins, Wm.
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