USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Richmond > Directory to the city of Richmond, containing names, business and residence of the inhabitants 1857 > Part 3
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
ance," says the editor, "has roused the spirits of some of our sportsmen, who seem disposed to pay them all appropriate respect."
THE FIRST POST OFFICE
was established in 1818, and Robert Morrisson received the first commission as Postmaster. He opened the office in a frame building, at the southwest corner of Main and Front streets, where he also kept a store. The office and store were afterward removed to the northwest corner of Main and Pearl streets, also in a frame building, which was recent- ly moved along Pearl-street, and now stands opposite to the Warner Building. Robert Morrisson held the office till 1829, when he resigned, and the appointment passed into the hands of Daniel Reid, who for a while taught school in the neighborhood. These individuals are still living.
Robert Morrisson informs me that the mail at that early period was brought here on horseback, once in two weeks, according to stipulation; but that, in consequence of high water (and the streams were not then bridged), and impass- ably muddy roads, the post-boy sometimes did not arrive for four or five weeks. The returns, made quarterly, amounted to two or three dollars, contrasting strangely with the pre- sent net proceeds of the office, these being, in the year 1856, $1,407 13.
THE FIRST TAVERN,
which the writer remembers, stood at the northeast corner of Main and Pearl streets, with the sign of a " Green Tree," and was kept by Jonathan Bayles. (From a memoradum in possession of the writer, it appears that there was an
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
earlier inn, kept by Philip Harter, in a log building, in 1816, on lot No. 6, south Pearl-street, and already alluded to.) Another, of later date, was on Front-street, near the south- west corner of Main, and was kept by Ephraim Lacey. The first was a two-story red brick building; the last a two-story white frame .* Both these inn-keepers are deceased.
THE FIRST LAWYERS
were one - Hardy, who boarded at Ephraim Lacey's tavern, and walked the pavement (such as it was), with his thumbs stuck in the arm-holes of his vest, and his head pompously thrown back, spouting the phrase, "Qui facit per alium, facit per se;" but still no business came, and he con- cluded "to go further south, where merit was better re- warded."
John D. Vaughan was here before the year 1828, and died of cholera in 1833. He was from Wilmington, Dela- ware. In 1826, John B. Chapman advertises himself in the Public Leger, as ("late of Virginia,") "Attorney and Coun- sellor at Law," &c.t
The late Charles W. Starr signifying to one of our law- yers that he thought, as a class, they were of little service to a community, the lawyer sharply replied: "Why, then, do
* This hotel was discontinued about the year 1828; for, in that year, I find the following advertisement in the " Public Leger :"
FOR SALE.
THAT well-known
TAVERN STAND,
In the Town of Richmond, lately in the occupation of Wm. H. Vaughan. EPHRAIM LACEY. A bargain will be given, and possession at any time that will suit the pur- chaser.
+ Foster P. Wright was here in 1829. He was a young lawyer, unmar- ried, and sometimes wrote poetry.
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
you employ us ?" " For the same reason," said Charles, " that I would use a dung-fork-to pitch a nuisance out of the way, which I would not handle with my own fingers!"
THE FIRST DOCTORS.
One " Dr. Cushman" is said to have come to Richmond in 1820, and to have lived here a few years. He was a lame man, says an informant, and he opened a distillery at the south part of town, on the side of the hill on Front- street, near a spring. A large portion of the inhabitants at that time being Friends (commonly called Quakers), this enterprise did not succeed, and the establishment passed into the hands of Dr. Warner, who also soon abandoned it, and it went down to rise no more. Dr. Cushman returned to Fort Wayne, whence he came, and where he was an asso- ciate judge.
Dr. Warner was the principal physician in this place for many years. It is by his liberality the city is now in pos- session of what has been called, and is still familiarly known as, the "Warner Building." The following obituary notice of this physician will not only mark the date of his death, but throw a little light (perhaps enough,) upon the charac- ter of the man, as he lived among us, to satisfy the reader. The Palladium, in which the notice appeared, is dated "March 14th, 1835:"
" We would gladly have been spared the painful occasion requiring the announcement of the death of one of our oldest and most useful citizens. On Tuesday last, Dr. ITHAMER WARNER departed this life, after an illness of a few days, aged about fifty-two years. Having resided in this county since 1815, where he has had an immense practice in his profession, and by industry and economy accumulated a
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
handsome fortune, he of course became generally known, and with the exception of some peculiarities in his disposi- tion, which occasionally gave offence, he was highly esteemed. Imperfection is stamped on humanity-none can claim ex- emption from it, but it is not derogatory to our remaining citizens to say, that very few if any of them would be more missed if taken from this community, than he who has gone down to the grave, without child to mourn a father's exit, or bosom companion to wail a widow's bereavement."
Though not an alumnus of any college, Dr. Warner was a man of strong natural abilities, physically and mentally. His place of nativity was New England. He never married.
Dr. William Pugh was a small man, in feeble health. He removed to Centerville about the year 1824, where he soon after died.
Dr. James R. Mendenhall, who is yet living, commenced practice in this place in the year 1822, and retired from the profession in 1830. He was the first graduate of medicine who settled here.
According to written information furnished to the pre- sent writer, at his request some years since, and now before him, Dr. Thomas Carroll, who is now practicing in Cincin- nati, settled in Richmond in the year 1819, and left early in 1823. Dr. Carroll was probably the first physician in Rich- mond.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper published in Richmond, was called the Richmond Weekly Intelligencer. It was a small sheet, issued every Seventh day. At what time this paper was be- gun, I have now no means of ascertaining; but a number was certainly published so early as 12th mo. 29th, 1821 .*-
*A printing office was established here about 3d mo. 20th, 1821, from which a respectable paper, called the "Richmond Weekly Intelligencer," was issued, on a royal sheet. It was discontinued 3d mo., 1824, and the "Public Leger" established.
39
HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
The printing office was on Front street in one of the upper rooms of the frame building on lot No. 8, next the alley .- The editor was Elijah Lacy; who had associated with him as publisher John Scott, afterward Judge, and editor of the Western Emporium, published at Centreville, the county seat.
The second periodical was the Public Leger, the first number of which is dated "Saturday, March 6, 1824." It was edited and published by Edmund S. Buxton, until 11th mo. 19th, 1825, when it was brought under the firm of Bux- ton & Walling, and by them continued about a year. It then, without intermitting its issues, passed into the hands of Samuel B. Walling, the latter named partner, 11th mo. 11th 1826. At the latter part of the year, the editor states that his subscription list is "now meagre indeed," but acknowl- edges the punctuality of most of his subscribers. And un- der date of 6th mo. 18th, 1828 he says: "This number closes the fourth volume of the Public Leger; and terminates its existence." This paper was printed in a small, one story frame house on lot No. 2,-Smith's addition. Nelson Boon commenced a third paper Ist mo. 1st, 1831, under the title of Richmond Palladium, and conducted it for six months; then passing into the hands of Thomas J. Larsh, it was con- tinued by him for 18 months; afterward by D. P. Holloway for one year; by Finley & Holloway two years; by John Finley one year, and without intermission from its establish- ment, it has been continued to the present time, by Holloway and Davis, after Finley abandoned it in Ist mo. Ist, 1837.
The Jeffersonian was established in 1836 by an associa- tion of Democrats, under the title of "Hickory Club." It was principally edited by S. E. Perkins, (now one of the
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
Judges of the Supreme Court,) and one Talcott, a young lawyer. In the fall of 1837 Lynde Elliott purchased the office, and published and edited the paper till 1839, when its publication was suspendid and the printing materials became the property of Daniel Reed. In 1839, S. E. Perkins, Esq. purchased the office of Reed and revived the Jeffersonian, which he edited and published till 1840, when James Elder, the present proprietor, purchased the office. Since that time J. E. has published the paper, with the exception of about six months, from the middle of 1846 to the beginning of 1847, during which time E. A. Elder was the proprietor and publisher.
At the office of the Leger was published the "Friends' Almanac," for 1826-7. And at the office of the Palladium was issued the "Western Almanac" for 1841, by Wm. Cox. The first literary paper printed in Richmond, was called the Family Schoolmaster. The first No. is dated "March 15th, 1839." This little quarto was published by Holloway & Davis, and was designed principally to amuse and interest the young. It was abruptly discontinued, after it had reached its 34th number.
The Indiana Farmer was commenced in 1851, by Hol- loway & Dennis, and is continued. The Broad Axe of Freedom, was first issued by Jamison & Johnson in 1855, and published by them at the present time. The Lily, pre- viously published in New York, by Amelia Bloomer, was re. moved to this city in 1854 and continued by Mary B. Bird- sall. It is now published by Mary F. Thomas.
I am informed that specimens of the Weekly Intelligencer are yet in existence; and the writer has in his possession sev- eral incomplete volumes of the Public Leger. But we
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
have as yet no Archives for the preservation of such relics of former days.
EDITORS.
Elijah Lacy of the Richmond Weekly Intelligencer, re- sided in this place so late as 1828. He afterward removed to the State of Michigan, with his family, his aged father accompaning him. Elijah was a man of small and slender frame, and of a clear, sharp voice; his intelligence and integ- rity procured him the magistracy of the young village.
John Scott, who, I believe, for a time edited the Intelli- gencer, was Lacy's assistant printer; occasionally preached or exhorted among the Methodists; and held the office of Judge. When Buxton established the Leger here, Scott removed to Centreville and began the Western Emporium; and in 1826 he "prepared and published a Map of Indiana," on a sheet nineteen by fourteen inches. It was engraved by William Woodruff, of Cincinnati.
Edmund S. Buxton came from the Gazette Office, at Cincinnati. He was young, unmarried and poor; and was largely assisted in the establishment of his press, by some of the citizens. Many are the agreeable associations with the Public Leger: the more agreeable, perhaps, because in it were printed my first juvenile essays, "prose and poetical;" and the essays of my older associates. Buxton was of mod- erate stature; an agreeable man; but occasionally irascible. He returned to Cincinnati and finally went to Natchez, Mis- sissippi, where he was engaged in the office of the Galaxy, a newspaper of that city.
Samuel B. Walling, an amiable young man, of ingenious mind, and a thoughtful reader, came, I believe, from Union
6
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
county, Ia. He afterward married a daughter of Elijah La- cy, and removed with him to Michigan, where he died of a long afflicting dyspepsia.
In estimating the early population of Richmond on page 22, I was at a loss for data to determine what number of persons should be allowed to a family; but by the kindness of my friend Charles F. Coffin, I am now enabled to copy from a manuscript the following interesting items, which I shall designate as
EARLY RESIDENTS & THEIR FAMILIES.
NAME.
NO. IN FAMILY.
NAME.
NO. IN FAMILY.
Jeremiah Cox, 10
Robert Smith,. 4
Elijah Wright,. 2
Rachael Pike, 1
Frederick Hoover, 2
Joshua Pickett, 6
Jacob Foutz, 4
Isaac Barker,
7
John Smith,. 9
John Clark,
6
Benjamin Hill, 6
Robert Hill, 4
Nathan Peirson, 5
Ephraim Overman, 9
David Baily, Mother & Sister, 3
Benjamin Small, 9
Beale Butler,.
5
John Addington,
2
Isaac Commons, 1
Benjamin Cox, 1
Andrew Hoover, 7
William Bond, 9
James Morrison, 1
John Hawkins, jr. 4
Israel Elliott, 3
David Bowles, ..
4
Benjamin Morgan, 5
John Townsend, 11
Benjamin Maudlin,. 6
William Harvey, 2
Lewis Hosier,.
1
William Hosier, 1
William Hastings 4
David Baily, sr., 7
Sarah Burgess, 1
Jasper Koons,, 7
Nathan Overman,
1
Christopher Hill, 1
Joseph Comer and Mother, .. 2
Thomas Hill,
6
All of these were members of the society of Friends, and
Robert Andrew, 7 Benjamin Harris, 10
Jane Massey,. 1
Rebecca Cox,.
1
Joseph Thornberry, 5 John Charles, 3
James Townsend,
2
Jesse Bond,
6
John Morrow, 7
Ralph Wright, 6
Jacob Jessup,
7
John Hawkins, sr.,. 6
Amos Hawkins, 6
Rice Price, .. 10
Robert Comer, 5
Stephen Comer, 4
-
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
were living here in 1807-8. By the foregoing table, we are enabled to revive the names of many of the pioneers of this country, besides those already given on other pages; and to form a definite idea of the size of the families of these parties. The whole number of names given above is fifty-six, and the number of persons two hundred and ninety-seven; giving an average of more than five to each family. To these, I add, from another source, Cornelius Ratliff, sr., eight in family; Samuel Charles, -- in family, and John Pool (came in 1810) six in family. With this addition, the average number to each household, would exceed six in family .
FIRST SCHOOLMASTERS.
Educational facilities are never great in a newly settled country. Children are not numerous, and when of servicea- ble age, are needed at home; and thus school-teachers find little inducement to locate in such a situation. The writer is, however, informed of one, who opened school in a house at the south part of town for the purpose of teaching read- ing and writing; and these arts are said to have been rather beyond the measure of his ability. He was a young man, and did not continue his school long. His name the narra- tor does not recollect, and it is probably forever lost to pos- terity. It would be a matter of curiosity at this day to find a specimen of his penmanship. Such a relic may possibly be in the hands of some of our older citizens. If found, it would deserve a place in the Archives of Richmond. Of later date a school was taught by Atticus Siddall, and in 1822-3, the writer remembers Nathan Smith, a New Eng- lander, and a man of spare frame, who was considered an ac- complished teacher; and had a full school. The house in
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
which he taught was a one-story frame, which stood on Wal- nut st. in what was then an open lot or commons .¿ It was in this school house, that the first Debating Society was held. In that day, this kind of association was very popular. The writer remembers our present Mayor, as one of its members. He was considered the village poet; and exercising his privi- lege, he wrote a satirical poem on the characters of the members of the infant society, of which the following are specimens :
*"D. S. A., D. S. A., Though you've little to say, It is always a pleasure to hear it; When you shoot in the dark, Tho' you don't hit the mark, You're apt to approach very near it.
*"James L ***** n, James L ***** n, No wonder you're hiss'd on Your scull is as thick as sole leather; Your logical talents, Are weighed in the balance, And found to be light as a feather.
"Dr. Pugh, Dr. Pugh, Pray what business have you, To harangue from polemical rostrums? For in truth I declare, You had better prepare, Your physics, your drugs and your nostrums.
"Nathan Smith, Nathan Smith, Your rhetorical pith, I neither shall blame nor applaud; For in truth I must own, That I let you alone, For fear of your ferule and rod.
"(In conclusion I must give the writer a rub.) Rhymer Jack, Rhymer Jack, You had better retract, Or deny at least half you have said; Ten chances to one, But you'll pay for your fun, And 'tis well if they don't break your head."
įThis house still exists. It has undergone many repairs and now stands as a dwelling house, at the south-west corner of Pearl and Walnut streets.
*Daniel S. Anthony, a worthy bachelor.
¡James Liston, since a Physician on the Wabash.
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
Next to Nathan Smith, there occurs to the recollection of the writer, the name of his successor, Jeremiah Smith, who had the reputation of being a ready mathematician. He was afterward Circuit Judge of this district.
HOME MANUFACTURES.
The editor of the Leger in 1827, urged the importance of home manufactures. "The opinion," says he, "seems general- ly to prevail, that the establishment of manufactures among us, is the only means by which our situation can be rendered really prosperous. Our luxurious farms," he adds, "would yield a surplus produce. But no one will deny that if there were a good home market, the progress of improvement would be much more rapid." His opinion was, that "not one-third of the land was cultivated that might be, or that would be were there a lively and good market for their pro- duce. "Since then," he continues, "manufactures promise so much, it becomes us to foster the infant establishments al- ready among us, and induce more." These infant establish- ments are thus exhibited:
"The Messrs. King, adjoining this place, are extending their woolen factory with laudable enterprise, which ought not to go unrewarded. They have recently commenced the manufacture of broad-cloth, and in a manner which it is said does credit to them.
"They have also commenced the manufacture of blankets which, from our own view, we would pronounce superior to those brought here by the merchants. Why not purchase those articles of them?
"Two gentlemen, immediately from London, have recently commenced the establishment of a Brewery at this place; which we cannot doubt will prove eminently useful to the country and profitable to the proprietors. We cannot but add a wish that their wholesome beverage may be used in
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
the place of the burning whisky which is now so common and which does so much mischief in society. [Mutatis mu- tandis.]
"Mr. Smith is progressing finely with his Paper Mill; and we hope, in the fall, to issue the Leger on a sheet manufac- tured at Richmond.
"Besides these establishments, we cannot entertain a single doubt that others would flourish here; particularly a good Sattinet Factory and a Cotton Factory. There is an im- mense quantity of both of these articles used in this country ; and we know not why they should not be manufactured here as cheap as in New England."
The Brewery alluded to, was conducted in the same place in which "old Dr. Cushman" & Co. opened their distillery. It was scarcely more successful than the distillery; and was soon discontinued. The "hope" of the editor was disappoint- ed by the sickness and death of the proprietor of the paper- mill; his demise took place in the spring of 1828. He was a Baltimorean; and resided here but a few few years previ- ous to his death. The project of establishing a Paper-mill, however, was not abandoned; and was finally put in opera- tion by Leeds & Jones, under the superintendence of John Easton, in the year 1830.
DIVISION OF BUSINESS.
As usual in new countries, our commercial men performed the part of dealers in silks and mackerel, gauze and tar, feath- ers and iron, flour and arsenic, potatoes and medicine; every- thing indeed, that was in demand, and would yield a profit. They competed with the tanner in the purchase of hides, and sale of "eastern tanned leather;" with the butcher in pay- ing "cash for fat cattle;" and with the jeweler in the sale of spectacles. They were the only grocers, the only booksellers and stationers, the only iron-mongers and the only druggists.
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
It was considered quite an adventure when Haines & Far- quhar commenced an independent Grocery in 1838; and Benton & Fletcher a Hardware Store in 1846. The first Drugstore is definitely announced in the annexed advertise- ment, taken from the "Public Leger," of the date named. The parties were Dr. Warner & Robert Morrisson:
WARNER & MORRISSON
TTAVE just opened, and intend keeping on hand, a large and general as- sortment of Drugs, Medicines, Oils, Paints, Dye-Stuffs, Patent Medi- cines, &c., &c. All of which they will dispose of by Wholesale or Retail, at the lowest prices.
Richmond, Sept. 5th, 1825.
But those times have gone by; and labor and business are divided into almost as many branches as are to be found in the larger cities; and the wants of the citizen can now be very generally supplied at home, as will be evinced by the accompaning Directory.
The curious reader may be entertained by comparing the subjoined enumeration of the business part of Richmond in 1824, with the present mechanical, mercantile and profes- sional division of our population. "Several gentlemen," says the Public Leger of the foregoing date, "having taken the census of this place, have handed it to us for publication," viz:
"8 Dry Goods Stores, 3 large and respectable Taverns, a Post Office and a Printing Office. There are also, 7 black- smiths, 4 hatters, 4 cabinet-makers, 6 shoe-makers, 3 tailors, 3 coopers, 3 potters, 1 gunsmith, 1 saddler, 1 pump maker, 1 bake shop, and steam distillery, besides a large number of carpenters, brick and stone masons, plasterers, &c .- of pro- fessional men there are but two-physicians; of lawyers we have NOT ONE, although every other town in the State abounds with them."
From the typography at the close of the quotation, we imagine the editor fairly chuckled at the meagre number of some professional characters, and the total absence of others.
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
Potters have long since disappeared from our city: on en- quiry into the cause, some years since, I learned that this was owing to the difficulty of procuring suitable clay, at re- munerative prices. Our taverns have diminished in number, in consequence of the late changes in the mode of traveling. In the following year, the Leger might have added another calling to this catalogue, as boldly announced in this adver- tisement:
"LIQUOR STORE.
"The subscriber has just received, and has for sale, a quanti- ty of foreign and domestic liquors,-consisting of French Brandy, Peach Brandy, Rum, Wine, Gin, Cordial, Cherry Bounce, Monongahela Whisky, Cincinnati Rectified Whisky, Country Whisky, and Oysters, Butter-Buiscuit, &c.
"Richmond, January, 7, 1825. JOHN SMITH."
Our literary antiquarians may be interested in knowing that a
"RICHMOND LIBRARY"
was incorporated and established in the year 1826. An or- dinary family book-case held the collection; and it was moved from place to place as the trustees could find a librarian to keep it.
Our medical friends may relish the following singular his- torical items of their profession. It is the earliest notice of a
DISTRICT MEDICAL SOCIETY
In this county, that I have met with. Its limits however, appear to have been very extensive; embracing no less than five counties:
" MEDICAL NOTICE .- Agreeably to a Resolution of the State Medical Society of Indiana, authorizing the Physicians to form themselves into District Societies,-This therefore is
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
to inform the Physicians in the 11th District, composed of the counties of Wayne, Randolph, Allen, Henry and Adams, to meet at Centreville, on the 1st Monday in May next, for the purpose of transacting business for the Society. "ITHAMAR WARNER, "L. A. WALDO, Censors. "March 3, 1827."
GARDEN SEEDS,
' Neatly put up in papers," were furnished to our merchants, by the "Shakers of Union Village, Ohio," as early as the year 1824.
HEALTH.
Richmond has always had the reputation of being a heal- thy situation. The site which it occupies has never been subject to the diseases so often incident to newly settled dis- tricts. The first inhabitants attained a good old age, as is elsewhere particularly shown, (see First Settlers,) and their descendants and successors have greatly multiplied under the salubrious sky. In 1821, the "Weekly Intelligencer' mentions the situation of the town as "remarkably healthy." And under date of 7th mo. 24th, 1824, a death is announced in the "Public Leger:"
"DIED-On Sunday night last, of inflammation of the lungs, BENJAMIN ALBERTSON, a member of the Society of Friends. This is the first death in this town since the first of November."
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