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 4
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
The census of the town taken in the first week of April, 1824, by the Sunday School visitors, and published in the Censor, shows that there were then one hundred families on the donation. There were 172 voters, and 45 single ladies over 15 and under 45 years of age. The number of children was not mentioned.
During the month of April and the early part of May, heavy rains prevailed, and White river rose to the greatest height it was
25
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
ever known to attain. The bayous through the town, the creeks and the surrounding country were deluged by water, and the roads were absolutely impassable.
The first quarterly meeting of the Methodist church in this vicin- ity began in the Presbyterian church, which was now nearly finished, on the 15th of May. Rev. James Scott was the first regular preacher of that denomination who located here. He had been sent by the Conference at St. Louis, in the fall of 1822, and arrived in October of that year, after experiencing the greatest difficulty in finding the town.
The papers on the 22d of May announced the arrival of the keel boat Dandy, 28 tons, with a cargo of salt and whiskey-the " sta- ples" ranked among the " necessaries of life" in the new Purchase, and a very large quantity of each was consumed in proportion to the population.
The anniversary of our Independence came this year on Sunday; the celebration, therefore, took place on the 3d, with the customary formality and patriotism. The rifle company paraded, and with the great mass of the population repaired to a grove near Wilkes Reagan's house, where Gabriel J. Johnston and John W. Redding, delivered orations ; the former to the citizens and the latter to the " milishy." Obed Foote then read the Declaration of Independence. Wilkes Reagan prepared a barbacue for the crowd, and the exercises ended.
The annual election took place on the first Monday of August. Four hundred and thirty votes were polled in the county, being an increase of 160 votes over the poll of 1823. The contest was mainly for Sheriff. Alexander W. Russell and Morris Morris were the principal opposing candidates ; the former receiving 265 votes, and the latter 148. At the Presidential election in November, 328 votes were cast. Henry Clay received 213 votes, Gen. Jackson 99, and John Quincy Adams 16. The " Great Commoner" was almost idolized in the new town, and always received a sweeping vote.
The poll was nearly one hundred less than at the August election. It is now difficult to assign the reason for the decrease in the ratio ; but it probably arose from the fact that some of the settlers moved into the country in the intervening time. This was common in the early settlement.
The old settlers assert that the storms which occurred during the early settlement of the country, far exceeded those of the present time, in both fury and frequency, and that the electrical displays at that time equalled, if they did not surpass the wildest storms in the tropics. The country was often flooded by the water, which fell to the earth in the course of a few hours, and every river and creek would rise over its banks, compelling travelers to swim the streams or wait for their subsidence.
There was a slight increase in population of the town in 1824. Many persons came to the settlement, but they soon afterwards
26 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
moved into the country. The improvements, however, were more permanent, and some good brick and frame houses were erected. The Court house, a school house, and a church had been built, and preparations were made for the erection of the buildings for the ac- commodation of the officers of State. The settlement gradually extended on each side of Washington street, and a great part of the town plat was cleared of the timber.
The revenue derived by the State, for the year 1824, from the taxable property of every description in Marion county, amounted to $154 25. The amount now realized is about $25,000, with perhaps $20,000 more for School, Library and Sinking fund purpo- ses.
In 1824-5, the Indianapolis Legislature was formed, and contin- ued its sessions for a number of years. Its Constitutions was in all respects, similar to that of the body it copied, and the subjects of debate and public measures before each body were the same. Many talented men were enrolled as members, and assigned to dif- ferent counties, and it is not saying too much to aver, that in many instances, the mock representative displayed far more ability and represented his county more efficiently than the bona-fide rep- representatives in the Legislature. The messages from the Gover- nor were generally witty, and frequently very able documents. The Governor was elated whenever the members wanted a new inaugu- ral. The messages and proceedings were often published in the pa- papers. The proceedings in the Indianapolis Legislature, often guided and sometimes controlled similar measures in the bona fide Legislature, and exercised no small influence on the politics and public measures of both parties.
On the 2d Monday of January, 1825, the seat of government was permanently located, and the officers established at Indianapo- lis. The removal of the latter through the wilderness from Cory- don, had taken place a few days previously, under the supervision of Samuel Merrill, then Treasurer of State, and the agent appoin- ted by the Legislature for that purpose. The session of the Legis- lature began on the 11th of January, in the new Court House, which was still unfinished in some respects. The Senate met in the upper story, and the House in the lower, or Court room. The sessions of the Legislature were held in the Court room, until the winter of 1834-5. The State House was then completed, and the Legislature met there for the first time.
The members of the earlier Legislatures, fully earned the mileage which they obtained. The roads were almost impassable, and travellers ran some risk in attempting to follow them, For several days prior to the commencement of the session, the members ar- rived on horseback, singly, or in small companies, and stopped at the taverns. The crowd of strangers, the arrival of the members, and the opening of the session, created much excitement, and for several days a large concourse of the natives witnessed the Legisla-
27
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
tive proceedings with great interest. The hardships and reverses experienced in 1821-2, had materially diminished the hopes hopes of the settlers, but they became more confident after the remo- val of the Capitol. The influx of strangers gave a new impetus to business. The value of town property became steadier, and the de- cline formerly noticed in it was checked. No actual advance, how- ever, took place in real estate, until the speculation era of 1834-5-6. From this time, until 1846 or '47, the annual sessions of the Legis- lature were regarded with great interest- The expenditure of twenty or thirty thousand dollars in the town during the winter, by mem- bers and strangers, gave new life to trade, and excited the envy and jealousy of other villages in the State. As the time for the session approached, the citizens would anxiously await the arrival of the members. For many years the members reached the Capitol by mud wagons, or on horseback. Saddle bags were then as indis- pensable to the legislator, as boxes now are to hold his stolen books.
On the 12th of February, 1825, the Legislature by law, directed the agent to sell the reserved lots on Washington street, as well as a few others in different quarters of the town. He was also directed to lease the ferry for a term of five years. The valley of Pogue's run was also to be cleared, if the expense attending it did not ex- ceed fifty dollars. Twenty additional out lots were also to be laid off and sold. These directions were complied with by Mr. Blythe, the agent, with the exception of clearing of Pogue's run valley. A part of which was still covered by forest, as late as the year 1843, and a few of the old forest trees are yet standing.
The Methodists, in the summer of 1825, purchased a lot, and a hewed log house on the south-side of Maryland street, near the intersection with Meridian. The house stood near the present Bap- tist church, and services were continued there until 1829, when the congregation increased beyond the capacity of the church, and a large brick edifice was then built on the corner of Circle and Merid- ian streets. This church was used as a place of worship until 1846, when it became unsafe, and Wesley Chapel was erected on its site. In 1842, a division of the charge was made, and Roberts Chapel was erected in 1844, at the corner of Market and Pennsylvania streets, in " the eastern charge." Since that time, Asbury, Strange, North street, and several other church edifices have been erected. The German Methodists have several churches, and the African Methodists have a church. The first Methodist church together with the lot, cost only about $300. The first brick church cost about $3,000. Wesley and Roberts Chapel, cost probably about $10,000 a piece. No very expensive church edifices have been erected in Indianapolis.
The winter of 1825-6, was at times quite severe, but they were milder than they have been of late years. There was more rain, and the country often became one vast sea of mud, through which
28
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
unhappy travellers on horseback or in mud wagons floundered, in despair of reaching their destination.
On the 13th of January, 1826, the Legislature ordered the erec- tion of a ferry house on the river bank. The house to be built of brick, eighteen by thirty feet, and two stories high. This house was built by Asabel Dunning, during the summer of 1825, and is yet standing near the mill race, on the south side of Washington street.
The hard times, and the prevailing sickness in the settlement, and the whole country during the years 1821-2-3 and 4, had prevented the holders of property in the new town, from complying with their engagements, On many lots but one payment had been made, while on others, but a very small portion of the stipulated price had been paid. To give relief to those who were thus situated, the Legislature on the 20th of January, passed an act, extending the time for payment, and allowing those purchasers of several lots to surrender a part, and apply the down payments on the surrendered lots to the liquidation of their indebtedness on those they retained.
This measure greatly relieved the lot buyers, and they soon sur- rendered lots and transferred the payments to others. Land in the western part of the town, rapidly declined, and the settlement came eastward. From this time, until after the completion of the State House, and the inauguration of the internal improvement scheme, the main part of the town existed along Washington and Market streets, between the State House Square and the Court House. It is curious to note the changes in the general tendency of the settle- ment, since it first began. The first and oldest part of town is situated on the bank of the river. In 1822-3, the population moved eastward, and until 1834-5, this tendency was not checked. In that year, however, and until 1840, the contrary direction was observed, and business and population tended westward. From 1840 till 1847-8, the center of trade and population remained near- ly stationary. It then tended rapidly southward, then to the east, and now to the north-east. The present indications are, that this will continue to be the tendency hereafter, but the experience of the past does not confirm it.
During the month of June, the citizens had been notified that Lo- renzo Dow, the wandering preacher, noted for his oddity in dress, and manner, and his blunt eccentricity of speech, would preach to them, and they repaired to a grove near the present site of the M. & I. R. R. Depot, for that purpose. Mr. Dow preached a second time in the Court House, and attracted the attention of the citizens more by his peculiarittes, than by eloquence.
On the 25th of January, 1827, the Legislature directed the agent to convey to a company, for a nominal price, seven acres of the donation lands, near the present river bridge, as a site for a steam mill. On the 17th of January, 1828, N. McCarty, James M. Ray, Wm. Sanders, N. Noble, Daniel Yandes, and others, were in- corporated as the " Indianapolis Steam Mill Company," with a
29
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
a capital of $20,000, in $50 shares. Subscription books were to be opened, directors elected, buildings erected, &c., The mill was built in 1830, by the company, and for a number of years was re- garded with great pride by the citizens. It was afterwards aban- doned, but was repaired and used as a woolen factory, till 1856, when it was fired by an incendiary and utterly destroyed. The flames greatly endangered the neighboring bridge, which was saved by strenous exertions on the part of the firemen.
On the 26th of January, the Legislature appropriated $500 to build on Court House Square, a one story brick house of two rooms, for the clerks office of the Supreme Court. This building was erected during the following summer. It stood just west of the present county clerks office, and was torn down in 1855. The same act appropriated $4,000, to build a residence for the Governor on the Circle. It was to be of brick and two stories high. It was erected during the summer, at a cost of about $6,500. The con- tract was signed on the 17th of March, by B. J. Blythe, and Sam- uel Merrill, on the part of the State, and Austen Bishop, Robert Culbertson, Wm. Smith, and Wm. Speaks, as contractors. It was solidly built of brick, two stories high, and had four large halls in each story. The agent was required to enclose the Circle with a rail fence, by the first day of May. At the session of 1829, it was proposed to build wings on the east and west ends, and use it as a State House, but the project was killed and never revived. It was never used as a residence by the Governor. The Judges of the Su- preme Court, the State Engineers, several old bachelors, and latterly the clerk of the Supreme Court have occupied its rooms until a re- cent date. At the last session of the Legislature, it was ordered to be sold. This was done on the 16th of April, 1857, for $665, and at present the old building is being rapidly demolished. Many of the old settlers attended the sale of this old mark of the early settle- ment of the town.
On the 26th of January, 1827, the Legislature directed the agent to offer for sale, all unsold and reserved lots. Certain alleys were vacated. Square 22, was set apart for a State Hospital, and Lu- natic Asylum, and Square 25, was designated as the site for a State University. The intention at that time was to erect large buildings on the Square at a future day, and found a University on the English plan. The Square, however, is now claimed by the University at Bloomington, which at that time was a mere State College, never designed as a substitute for the Central University to which the ground was given.
But few events of importance, occurred during the winter of 1827-8, or during the following year. The town continued very slowly to improve. The morals of the people were gradually growing more settled. The Washingtonian reform was spreading and attracting the attention of the western people. The necessity for the existence of such a society at this place was at once recog-
30
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
nized, and in the fall of 1828, one was organized. The leading men in this pioneer temperance society, were the same who led in the organization of the Sabbath Schools, and their efforts were successful in this, as in that instance. Several of the leading mem- bers of the Society were members of the steam mill company, and when the building was raised several years afterwards, no liquor was used. The circumstance excited some remark at the time, and the question arose, whether so large a building could be raised, unless by the aid of whiskey.
On the 22d of January, 1829, the Legislature allowed the pur- chasers of out-lots further time to make the deferred payments up- on them, and declared that no forfeitures under the former law should be operative or accrue for past delinquencies.
The first Sabbath School celebration of the National Anniver- sary, took place on the 4th of July, 1829. There were but two town schools, the Presbyterian and the Methodist, but five schools from the surrounding country, also joined in the exercises. The proces- sion formed on the circle, attended by many persons from the town, and surrounding country, and marched to a grove just east of the town, where the children were seated, and a hymn was sung by the Assembly. Judge James Morrison delivered the address, and Ebenezar Sharpe read the declaration ; bread and water were then given to the children, and the procession returned to the town. James Blake, Marshall, led the procession, which contained five hundred Sabbath Sahool teachers and children, and eight hun- dred adults, and so satisfactory was his management, that with only one or two exceptions, he has, " by general consent," been selected ever since for that post, and now holds it proscriptively for life. Thus terminated the first Sabbath School celebration of the Fourth of July. It was a union of all denominations and all schools, and the custom has been continued until the present time. Of late years, however, all the schools have not participated, the number of chil- dren being so great that it is difficult to manage them. It would be well however to get them all together once more.
The first celebration by the Sabbath School was so successful, that for two or three years afterwards no other was attempted, and com- plaints were sometimes made that it should be so. Other celebra- tions were then attempted, but the Sabbath School celebration is even yet the great event in this city on the Fourth of July. The processions now contain several thousand teachers and children, and stretch through many of the streets in marching to their desti- nation. The exercises at these celebrations have always been of the same general character, and are now what they were in 1829.
A statement was published in the paper some time in the fall of this year, 1829, giving the receipts and expenditures of the county up to that date. By this statement it appears that in 1822 the receipts were $855,00; in 1823 $730,29; in 1824 $689,60 ; in 1825 $845,93 ; in 1826 $915,91; in 1827 $1,157,87 ; in 1828
31
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
$1,918,69. The receipts for the present year will probably reach seventy or eighty thousand dollars.
In the month of March, Indianapolis lost one of the greatest men she possessed, in the person of Rev. George Bush, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, who left for the East on the 9th of the month. Some differences existed between him and his Congregation for some time prior to his departure. He was accompanied on his way for several miles by a number of friends.
By a report made by the officers of the Sabbath School Union, and published in the papers in April or May, 1829, it appears that there were then two Sabbath Schools, a Presbyterian and a Metho- dist, in the town, and that during the past year, 313 children had been enrolled in the Sabbath Schools. The Presbyterian School contained 157 scholars, with 87 in regular attendance. The Metho- dist School contained 11 teachers and forty-six scholars. In April, 1830, the Methodist school contained 27 teachers and 167 scholars.
At the general election on the 4th of August, 923 votes had been polled in centre township, and early in the fall, a Sunday School visiting committee, while canvassing the town for scholars, took a census of the inhabitants, which showed that 200 families, compri- sing 1085 persons, were then residing on the donation.
The lettings of contracts for building the National Road took place at Indianopolis in September and October of this year. The people were much pleased at the prospect of a short and well improved route to the east, and the papers of the time talked confidently of the rapid completion of the road.
During the years intervening between 1829 and 1835, but little change took place in the town, either in its extent, its population or the character of its improvements. Nearly all the houses at that time were of wood, and even yet a large majority are of that material. A death-like calm pervaded the place, only broken for a short time during the winter by the arrival of the Legislators, and the tem- porary activity given to trade by the presence of a number of strangers. The roads leading from the place were at times almost impassible. A number of buildings were erected, and the population slowly increased, but the rapid advance of 1822-3 was now unknown. The town seemed finished ; no clearing was done, other than to pro- cure fire wood, or to make occasionally a new field ; the settled por- tion of the town was mainly on Washington Street, between New Jersey and Illinois, and on Market, South Meridian and North Pennsylvania streets. Extensive clearings had been made out side of these limits, but the settlers' houses were few and far between ; large forest trees were standing in many places within two squares of Washington street, and in a great part of the First Ward, now the most populous in the city, they continued standing until 1846. During muddy weather, the streets of the town became semi-fluid to unknown depths, but in places they were better than at present, because the natural drainage of the ground was often better than that
32
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
now adopted by our city Engineers. Large ponds then stood in many places ; these were covered in the summer by a thick coating of green scum, and tenanted by countless frogs, whose music in the summer evenings often soothed the senses of the tired inhabitants ; small game was still plentiful in the neighborhood ; partridges, rab- bits, squirrels and wild turkeys were killed in localities now thickly populated. There was but little probability at that time that this state of affairs would be changed. It only changed when the fever- ish excitement of 1836 induced men to make efforts and improve- ments beyond their means. After the subsidence, the town, although larger, was still more dull than before, and thus it remained until 1847.
A brief summary, only of the principal local events occurring in the period above spoken of, will be given.
During the spring of 1830, a new paper, called the Indiana Demo- crat, devoted to the interests of the administration, was issued by A. F. Morrison. In the fall the Gazette was discontinued, and the Indiana Democrat was published in its stead ; the Democrat was published until 1841, from an office in a little one story brick house, where "Temperance Hall now stands. In that year the establish- ment was purchased by G. A. and J. P. Chapman, who opened an office in a one story frame house, where Blake's Commercial row now stands, and commenced the publication of the Indiana State Sentinel. It has ever since borne that name, and has been regular- ly issued, until the recent ruin of the office by the explosion of the boiler. The first daily published in the town was issued from the Sentinel office, by the Messrs. Chapman, in 1842. It was an ex- periment merely, and was soon discontinued. In 1844, Messrs. Chapman removed the Sentinel establishment to a new brick build- ing on Illinois St., where it was published for several years. In 1849 or 1850 the paper was sold to Wm. J. Brown, who edited and pub- blished it from an office at No. 8 W. Wash. St., until 1853, when the office was moved to 32, E. Washington. The establishment was sold in 1854 to Walker & Cottam. The establishment has since been owned by Larrabee and Cottam, by Larrabee, Bingham & Co., and by Bingham and Doughty ,its present owners and publishers. The present daily edition was first issued in 1843-4, and has been issued regularly until April 9, 1857. The office had just been removed to the old Capitol House building. and the engine putin mo- tion for the first time, when at 15 minutes after 10 p. m., the boiler exploded, utterly demolishing the east wall of the building, ruining the job office, killing a boy, and wounding several persons in different parts of the house. The paper was discontinued in consequence of this disaster until the 23d of April, when it again made its appear- ance before the public.
At the August election in 1830, Center township polled 1,068 votes, and in October following, the population of the town, as shown by the census, amounted to 1094. The voters constituted a
33
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
relatively large proportion, however, of this number. The settled portion of the town was still mainly along Washington, Market, and South Meridian streets. The place had improved but little, and few additional houses had been erected. The trees had been cleared off the donation as far north as New York street, and south to the valley of Pogue's Run. A beautiful walnut grove covered many acres in the north part of the 1st and 2d wards until 1836-7, and in places it remained until 1845.
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.