USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Richmond > Directory to the city of Richmond, containing names, business and residence of the inhabitants 1857 > Part 4
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And I well remember that this death, the only one during nearly nine months, in a population of almost half a thou- sand, created such a sensation, throughout the village, that an enquiry was set on foot to ascertain the cause of the sick- 7
50
REMINISCENCES OF THE
ress, and if possible, to remove it, that others might not fall victims to it. No other ostensible cause appearing, the citizens, duly armed with scythes and rakes, met upon the commons, mowed the abundant dog-fennel, (Maruta cotula,) raked into heaps and burned it.
In the days of the "Public Leger" at Richmond, and the "Western Emporium" at Centreville, there was a good deal of sparring between the editors on behalf of their respective villages. Among the subjects commented upon was the comparative healthiness of the two places. This contest furnishes us with an item concerning the health of Richmond up to the year 1825; as well as the conjectural population at that time within a certain area. We copy all that con- cerns our present purpose in the following language: "For these reasons we notice a report circulated by Judge SCOTT, that SEVEN persons have been buried in the grave-yard at this place in ONE DAY. When it is known that the farmers within a square of five miles, besides the citizens of the town, making in the whole between 2,500 and 3000 in- dividuals, bury their dead at the same place, the number will not appear great. But persons who have resided in the town ever since it was first laid off, declare, that there never were seven persons buried in ONE WEEK, in this place."
According to the statements of Dr. Carrol furnished to the present writer, the diseases of Wayne county from 1819 to 1823 were principally intermittent and remittent fever, sometimes passing into a congestive form. A manuscript written in 1844 states, that intermittent fever "has never been prevalent." And an early inhabitant informed the writer that "no intermittent fever was known for six to ten years after the first emigration to this country." And now a
51
HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
word for later periods. I find the following in the "Rich- mond Palladium:"
"The number of deaths in the city of Richmond during the month of August, 1857, were-
Under one year,
5
Between three and four years,
1
- "Total, 6"
This is generally the most fatal month for children in this latitude, and yet in a population of 6000, there appears to have been but six deaths during this month, and all of these children under four years of age.
The reader may conclude that this has been an extraor- dinary season of heathfulness. The writer haskept a record of deaths furnished him by the sexton and undertaker for the last ten years, and the result is that the number of deaths monthly for that period, does not exceed five! In the years 1850-1, they scarcely exceeded tero per month. In 1853, the deaths were between three and four monthly. These numbers include accidental deaths, as well as deaths from all other causes; and a few not citizens. During the violence of cholera in the year 1849, there were two months in which the deaths from that cause perhaps somewhat exceeded twenty.
TURNPIKES.
The establishment of the national road through Rich- mond, very naturally inspired our citizens with a zest for ad- ditional improvement; an outlet was opened for us by the nation: it was left to us to empty the produce of the coun- ty into it, by running turnpikes in all feasible directions through the county. Previous to this, however, the nation- al road became itself a corporated turnpike. The General
52
REMINISCENCES OF THE
Government having relinquished the road to the States through which it passed, after opening, grading and bridg- ing it, application was made to the State legislature for the incorporation of Wayne County Turnpike Company; and a charter was granted for that purpose in the winter of 1849-50, and the road was completed in 1850,-since which it has greatly facilitated western emigration; 700 wagons of movers sometimes passing through Richmond, in the course of six days. The Williamsburgh turnpike was completed in 1850. The Newport turnpike and the Boston turnpike some- what earlier; the Liberty turnpike and the Middleboro turnpike a few years later. Thus we have well paved roads running from Richmond into the country in an east and west, north and south, north-east, south-west and north-west direc- tions; giving ready access to a large scope of country, and facilitating the ingress of a large population to our city.
CANAL.
During a system of internal improvement commenced by the State government in 1836, the " Whitewater Canal Company" obtained a charter to construct a canal from Cambridge, at the western side of this county, to Lawrence- burg, on the Ohio river, by way of Brookville. Authority was likewise granted, in 1838, to the " Richmond and Brook- ville Canal Company," to open a like communication be- tween these two points. The former canal was completed by the pecuniary assistance of the State; the latter was undertaken without such aid. According to the engineer's measurement, the distance to Brookville, in the route of the proposed canal, was nearly 34 miles; the estimated cost about $508,000; whole lockage, 273 feet; Richmond alone
53
HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
taking $50,000. The work was let to the amount of $80,000, and about $45,000 expended. The enterprise was then abandoned; but patches of ditches and embankments yet remain to testify to our inefficient willingness to accom- plish a great work. The anticipated value of such a water connection with Cincinnati is thus portrayed in the report of Simpson Torbert, the engineer ;- it was supposed the work could be completed in three or four years, and would " open with a trade equal to 50,000 tons annually," yielding a rev- enue of $32,250 per annum:
" There would be many advantages growing out of its construction, the benefits of which can scarcely be antici- pated. It would be the channel through which all the trade of one of the most populous, fertile and wealthy regions of the western country would pass. Richmond, situated at the head of navigation, with its vast water-power, extensive cap- ital, and enterprising inhabitants, might become the PITTS- BURG OF INDIANA. In short, the whole country within its reach would by invigorated-new sources of trade, which are now unknown, or lying dormant for the want of an out- let, would be developed; among which may be enumerated pine, and mineral coal, from the Ohio river-the former for building, and the latter for fuel. As a natural consequence, large tracts of fertile lands, now an unproductive forest, would soon be brought into profitable cultivation, and thereby contribute towards the general wealth and pros- perity."
Although Richmond missed this opportunity of becoming the Pittsburg of Indiana, it was well for her citizens that the great undertaking was arrested as soon as it was. Un- foreseen floods, with a fall of 273 feet in 34 miles would have washed it to ruins, at a total loss to the stockholders of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The very first day of the year 1847 "will be remembered as a day of almost
54
REMINISCENCES OF THE
utter destruction." On the Whitewater Canal, " aqueducts, bridges, locks and embankments, from Cambridge to Laurel, are either swept away or greatly damaged," says a reporter. This destruction our canal escaped by not being completed.
Failing in this enterprise, our citizens next turned their attention to
RAILROADS;
and it was a great day for Richmond when, in the projection of these, our city was made a point. In the year 1853, a communication of this kind was effected between this city and Cincinnati, by way of Dayton. In the same year a sim- ilar road was completed from Richmond to Cincinnati, by way of Eaton, and another to Indianapolis. The Cincinnati and Chicago road was completed from Richmond to Logans- port during the present year; and the Richmond and Fort Wayne road is in the course of construction. In a word, Richmond was soon interwoven into the great network of railroads spread over the country.
From this period we may date the third and most pros- perous era of our city. All that was anticipated from such an outlet to a market, and more, has been realized. An ex- pansion of the town immediately commenced, and has stead- ily continued to the present time. Richmond has received an impulse heretofore unknown to her history. Prices have been greatly enhanced; manufacturing establishments of various kinds have been multiplied; and business generally increased. We may yet become the " Pittsburg of Indiana," without the aid of a canal. The following
COMPARISON OF PRICES,
before and after the completion of railroads, may gratify the curiosity of the reader, and serve to show the influence of
55
HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
railroads upon the prices of produce. The prices of a few articles would be governed by other causes; fruit is often higher in a new country, in consequence of the scarcity of orchards, than in long-settled districts.
RICHMOND PRICES CURRENT.
I824.
1857.
Apples, dried, per bush
$1 25 @ $1 50
$3 00
Butter, per 1b
4 @
5. 22
Bacon,
2 @
3
15
Beans, per bush
- @
25 2 75
Beef, per 1b
13@
2 10
Corn, per bush.
10 @
15
50
Chickens, per doz
- @
50
2 40
Eggs, "
2 @
3 08
Flax, per Ib
8 @
10
Flour, per cwt.
1 25 @
1 50
2 50
Peaches, dried, per bush
1 25 @ 1 50
2 75
Potatoes,
-@
25
25
Sugar, per 1b
4@
6
14
Tallow, "
- @
5
9
Turnips, per bush
-@
12
25
Veal, per lb
11@
2 10
Wood, per cord
- @
37} .. 2 75 @3 00
As late as 1829, according to a Price Current in the writer's possession, fire-wood sold at 40 to 50 cents per cord; and when, at last,. the price was raised to 75 cents per cord, much complaint was made at the extravagant charge.
Richmond having become the master-city of Wayne Co., we have, on several occasions, referred to the latter in the same spirit in which the Frenchman says " Paris is France!" With the same latitude of feeling, we have at times written as if Richmond was Wayne Co .; their interests, indeed, are intimately interwoven; the prosperity of one is the prosper-
56
REMINISCENCES OF THE
ity of the other. We feel no hesitancy, therefore, in showing our progress in another point of view, by quoting the sub- joined list of
COUNTY TAXES, & C.,
For the year 1811 .$468 40
¥
1827 .$1,501 26
1856 . $88,149 38
Land assessed in 1827 198,921 acres.
¥ 1857 .253,483 "
Population in 1850. .26,000 to 30,000.
Capital invested in Manufactures $416,000.
Employing .... 668 hands.
THE REPLETENESS OF OUR POPULATION indicated by the paragraph below, cut from the Palladium of 1835, is equally true of all subsequent years to the present time. It has always, within the recollection of the writer, been a rare thing to find upon a house in Richmond the notice, " To Let." A house will scarcely be vacated before there will be, in the same day, perchance, half a dozen appli- cants for it. Whatever may be the future destiny of our city, this has been the current reality for years past; and the tendency of this state of things is to induce those who are able to do so to purchase and build for themselves, if they desire a habitation among us. "Our town," says the Palla- dium, " has been, for a few weeks, crowded with strangers. Many have been compelled to leave for the want of suitable tenements to accommodate their families, and even boarding is difficult to be had among private families. We hope it will not long be thus. We think our capitalists might make a profitable investment of their funds, by erecting houses to rent, so great is the influx of emigrants."
57
HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
PROGRESS OF OUR POPULATION.
We have seen that the conjectural number of inhabitants in Richmond,
In 1818, was within 200
In 1819, about.
350
A census of 1824 gives
453
648
" 1827
716
" 1828
824
In 1830 there were, in Wayne Township 4,895
In 1843 the city population was estimated at .. 2,500
In 1848 a census of the city by Sam'l Pierce gave 2,531 In 1850 the United States Census Tables give ... 3,800
For want of statistics, which may yet come to light, for a future edition of this work, we are compelled to leave blanks for many subsequent years. And, in later years, we are under the necessity of indicating the population by the ratio of increase of the polls; thus,
In 1842 the number of polls was. 879
In 1849
417
In 1857 «
919
In the year 1848 the polls were 392, and the population, as carefully taken by Samucl Pierce, 2,531-making the polls about 15 per cent. of the population; and, if this should prove to be a correct measure for other years, the year
1842 would give a population of 2,526
1849
2,780
1857
6,126
" 1826
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
which, it is presumed, is not very far from the truth. But it must be borne in mind that, in these estimates, the thick population of the immediate vicinity is not included; the calculations being made for the rigid limits of the Corpora- tion proper.
The poll-tax for the county, in 1826, was 2,291; which, according to the same mode of calculation, would give a county population of 15,273; the poll-tax for the present year being 4,021, and the estimated total population, at the same time, 28,500.
The total number of polls in Wayne county at last Presi- dential election, 1856, was 5,756; Wayne Township, 1,681.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
Most of the earliest residents of Wayne county were mem- bers of the Society of Friends. The attentive reader will have noticed a specimen of their scriptural way of dating in the proceedings of the first town meeting, given on page twenty- one. A meeting of this society was established here as early as 1807, and was first held in a log building vacated by Jere- miah Cox, and by him furnished with seats; soon afterward in the log building, referred to and characterized on page thirty-three. Jesse Bond, John Morrow and William Wil- liams were among their earliest ministers.
Whatever the religious educational predilections of others may have been at that time, they either attended the meet- ings of Friends, or staid at home. The chief religious divis- ion in the community, was into Friends and Nothingarians; the lives of the former giving quite a tone to the principles and practices of the latter, even in many instances inducing
59
HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
them almost imperceptibly to adopt the use of the plain language by habitual contact.
The next religious denomination that established a society here was the Methodist Episcopal. The first meeting was held in 1819 in a small log house on Front street. Daniel Fraley was perhaps the first Methodist preacher in this section of country. He officiated as chaplain in 1814 to Chryst, the first legally convicted murderer in Wayne county. John W. Sul- livan was the first stationed Methodist minister in Rich- mond.
In this connexion, it may be proper to mention that in the year 1826 that eccentric preacher, Lorenzo Dow, visited Richmond, and delivered one or two sermons in the large brick meeting house of the Friends. Part of his discours was on the reconciliblity of Justice with Mercy, in the Di- vine Character. He put up at the house of our now aged friend, John Barnes, on Front street; this was a frame build- ing on lot No. 15, and is now no more. Lorenzo's traveling expenses were paid in part, by the sale of a "Family Medi- cine," as he termed it. This consisted, as he told the writer, of Epsom salts dissolved in water, with the addition of nitric acid. It was recommended as valuable in bilious derange- ments. The medicine was patented; the patent having ex- pired, he applied for an extension of the time; "for" said he, "the sale of the medicine thus far, has not enabled one hand to wash the other."
The first Presbyterian church (old school) was establish- ed in Richmond in 1837, by T. E. Hughes and P. H. Golli- day, with twenty-eight members. The first minister in regu- lar charge was Charles Sturdevant. "The congregation," says the report of one of its members, "have erected a beau-
60
REMINISCENCES OF THE
tiful church edifice 45 by 65 feet, which, when entirely finish- ed, will cost about $10,000."
The "English Evangelical Lutheran congregation" was organized in Richmond in 1853. In the course of the suc- ceeding summer "a chaste and convenient church edifice," says D. S. Altman, the minister of this congregation, "was erect- ed at an expense of $7000, principally by the generosity of Lewis Burk," one of our citizens. The present number of communicants reported by the same authority, is twenty-five.
In the year 1828, a division took place in the Society of Friends in this place. One part claiming the ancient name of Friends; the other, assuming the title of "Orthodox Friends." The large brick meeting house, just north of town, was retained by the latter; the former erected two frame buildings each 60 by 40 feet on a lot at the junction of Ft. Wayne Avenue and Franklin street, and marked B in Dewy's Plot of the city of Richmond. The "Orthodox Friends'" meeting house was erected in 1823, is 100 feet long by 60 feet wide and 30 feet high. The walls are 22 inches thick in the first story, 18 in the second; and they consumed 266,000 bricks.
1
The "Catholic Church" was organized here in 1846; and a meeting house erected in 1847 on south Pearl street. The dimensions of the building have not been furnished. It is a neat, but comparatively small and plain brick house, of one high story .- "Membership," says the reporter, "700."
"St. Paul's (Episcopal) Church, in Richmond, was organ- ized in 1838." George Fiske, was the first missionary of this denomination in Richmond, and officiated as early as 1837. He was elected Rector of the church in 1838, and contin- ued in that capacity till 1855, when he resigned on account
!
61
HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
of ill health. The present Rector is John B. Wakefield .- At the time of this organization there were twelve commu- nicants; the present number is fifty-one. "The church edifice and parsonage house, belonging to the Parish, including the ground, have cost about $13,000. The church is clear of debt." The size of the building has not been obtained. It is probably the largest house for worship in the city.
The German Evangelical Lutheran church in Richmond, was organized in the 1845. A brick house for worship was erected in 1846, on south Front street, and enlarged in 1855, costing about $6,000.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, situated on south Marion street, was organized in 1836, and number fifty- four members. They meet in a two-story frame building.
OUR PRESENT CONDITION.
For the number of our day-laborers and lawyers," the number and variety of our artisans, merchants, ministers, doctors, &c., the reader is referred to the "DIRECTORY."
A little upwards of fifty years ago, where nettles and grass, arising from a mellow vegetable mold, grew to a height suf- ficient to hide a horse, there now treals a busy and thriving population of more than six thousand inhabitants, dwelling in substantial brick buildings, two, three and four stories high. And, instead of the yell of the Indian in the solitude of a forest, is heard the hum of a city in an open plain.
The extent of the Corporation limits north and south is about a mile and a half, and east and west about three-
# I hope I shall not be censured for designedly associating day-laborers and lawyers together ; for, as they are the only callings which admit of no variety, the association was unavoidable.
62
REMINISCENCES OF THE
quarters of a mile, with abundant room without, for further expansion.
Among the Public Buildings, there is erected on north Fifth-street a DISTRICT SCHOOL HOUSE, 71 feet long, by 61 feet in width, and 40 feet in height. It is a staunch brick building, costing about $14,000, paid by a tax upon the citizens. It was erected in 1854.
The STARR HALL, owned by James M. Starr, is 95 feet long, by 46 feet wide, and three stories high, and was com- pleted in the present year, at an expense of about $10,000. It stands on the north side of Main street, near Marion. The Hall is devoted to public meetings and entertainments of various kinds.
The HOUSES FOR WORSHIP have already been noticed.
The WARNER BUILDING has also been named. It stands on north Pearl-street, east side, near Main, and is used for public meetings, lectures, &c.
The PUBLIC SQUARE, the gift of John Smith, the early proprietor of South Richmond, consists of one acre of ground, well laid in grass and partially shaded with trees, and enclosed in a substantial and neat board fence. A small brick building stands upon the north side, and is used prin- cipally for a school-house.
The city is furnished with three FIRE ENGINES, with their accompanying hooks, ladders, hose, &c.
An extensive system of GRADING, DRAINAGE and PAVING was commenced in 1848, on Front-street, and has been pros- ecuted annually to the present time, giving to our town a more city-like appearance, and conducing to the healthful- ness of the place.
GAS WORKS were built in 1855, and gas supplied to the
63
HISTORY OF RICHMOND.
city, on Main and Fifth streets, in the same year. Pipes are now laid on Main, Franklin, Fifth, Pearl, Sixth, Seventh and Spring streets.
Our BANKS are : a Branch of the State Bank, begun in 1834; the Citizens' Bank, in 1852; the Wayne County Bank (afterward People's Bank), in 1853; and Branch of the Bank of the State of Indiana, in 1857-all on the north side of Main-street. The Citizens' Banking-house is among the most splendid buildings in the city.
In the vicinity of Richmond we have : "22 Flouring Mills, 24 Saw Mills, 1 Oil Mill, 2 Paper Mills, and a large number of Woolen Factories." We add : 2 very large brick houses, several stories high, devoted to Boarding Schools. The larger one is owned by the " Orthodox Friends;" the other is private property. Both are witbin a mile or two of Richmond, the one west, the other south of the city. Also, several extensive Nurseries; a Floricultural establishment; 2 Sash, Blind, Door and Flooring Mills; a Cutlery Manufactory; a Shoe Peg Manufactory; a Soap and Candle Factory, beside two in town, in the limits of which we find two or three Coal-yards, Machine-shops, Man- ufactories of Agricultural Implements, 6 Carriage Manufac- tories, &c., &c., as per " DIRECTORY."
Amount of Personal Property in the City of Richmond, in the year 1857 $1,152,234
Amount of Real Estate 1,528,820
Value of Additional Improvements. 253,440
Amount of Manufactured Articles 906,531
Total,
$3,841,025
1
We are now prepared to execute all orders for
Pasteis. a Gards, Blanks, Bill Fleads, 1
CRYSTAL
Bronze and Flock
RAIL-ROAD, -AND -
Mercantile Printing
WORK,
ON OUR
Colored Velorki,
ADAMS, CARD AND
In all its varieties.
Hand Presses.
Richmond, 1857.
HOLLOWAY & DAVIS.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
Mayor-John Finley, Clerk-Benjamin W. Davis, Treasurer-John Suffrins,
Marshal-William Zimmerman, Assessor-Wm. S. Addleman, Collector-Samuel Edmonson.
COUNCILMEN.
First Ward-James M. Poe,
do do S. R. Wiggins.
Second do C. B. IJuff,
do do Abrahamı Gaar.
Third Ward-John H. Thomas,
đọ
do
John Wiggins.
Fourth do
John J. Conley,
do do James M. King.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Com. Pleas Judge-W. P. Benton,
Clerk-Andrew F. Scott,
Auditor-Benjamin L. Martin,
Treasurer-William W. Lynde,
Recorder-Henry W. Beitzell, Sheriff-Jesse T. Williams, Coroner-Jeremiah Swafford, Surveyor-Robert C. Shute.
Prosecuting Attorney for Common Pleas Court-Jehiel Railsback.
STATE OFFICERS.
Governor, A. P. WILLARD, White county.
Lieut. Governor A. A. Hammond, . Vigo county
Secretary of State Daniel M'Clure, Morgan county,
Auditor of State John W. Dodd . Grant county,
Treasurer of State Aquilla Jones, Bartholomew county,
Attorney General .J. E. M'Donald Montgomery county.
Sup. Pub. Instruction .. W. C. Larabee, Putnam county,
Cl'k Supreme Court ... W. B. Beach, Boone county,. Rep. Dec.Sup. Court ... Gordon Tanner, Jackson county.
JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT.
SAMUEL E. PERKINS, Marion county, ANDREW DAVIDSON, Decatur county, *SAMUEL B. GOOKINS, Vigo county, *WILLIAM Z. STEWART, Cass county. CIRCUIT JUDGE.
JEHU T. ELLIOTT, Henry county. | Pros. Att'y-T. M. Browne, Ran. co.
*Resigned, to take effect when successors are elected.
9
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
PRESIDENT.
JAMES BUCHANAN, of Pennsylvania, $25,000
VICE - PRESIDENT.
JOHN C. BRECKENRIDGE, of Kentucky, 8,000
The following are the principal officers of the Executive Departments, who form the Cabinet, and hold their appointment at the will of the Presi- dent:
CABINET.
Secretary of State-Lewis Cass, of Michigan,. $8,000 Secretary of Treasury-Howell Cobb, of Georgia, 8,000 Secretary of War-John B. Floyd, of Virginia, 8,000 Secretary of the Navy-Isaac Toucey, of Connecticut, 8,000 Secretary of the Interior-Jacob Thompson, of Mississippi, .. 8,000 Postmaster General-Aaron V. Brown, of Tennessee,. 8,000 Attorney General-Jeremiah S. Black, of Pennsylvania, ..... 8,000
COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS.
Joseph Holt, Washington City, $3,000
JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT.
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