Excerpts from atlas of Spencer County, Indiana, D.J. Lake and Co., 1879, Part 2

Author: Phillips, Opal B
Publication date: 19--]
Publisher: [Indiana? : s.n.]
Number of Pages: 156

USA > Indiana > Spencer County > Excerpts from atlas of Spencer County, Indiana, D.J. Lake and Co., 1879 > Part 2

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).

Surveyor - W. W. Wells.

Coroner - Samuel F. Tenant.

County Superintendent of Schools - Prof. J. W. Nourse.

COMISSIONERS.

First District - David J. Axton.

Second District - J. M. Gwaltney.

Third District - Joseph G. Sturm.

CIRCUIT COURT.

Judge - John B. Handy. Prosecuting Attorney - G. L. Reinhard.

TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES.

luce Township - Charles Lawburg. Ohio

- Samuel Laird.

Hammond

- Marvin Jones.

Huff

William Huff.

Harrison Theodore Haller.

Carter 11

- W. S. Thompson.

Clay 11 - John Raven.

Jackson

- Henry Brand.

Grass

- Geo. Fourthman.

₹

RELIGIOUS INTERESTS.

The first church organized in the county was by the Baptists, June 8th, 1816, by John Weldon and Thomas Downs. The organization consisted of thirteen members, six males and seven females. Samuel Bristow was chosen pastor. The members commenced the building of a meeting-house in the year 1819, and occupied it in the summer of 1820. It was a log building, one story and a half in height, twenty-six feet wide, and thirty feet long; the windows twenty by thirty six inches; two chimneys, one at each end. The site of this church is about one mile south of Lincoln City, and has been known since its erection as "Little Pigeon Meeting-house. " Thomas Lincoln did the carpenter work of the building. Among the early preachers of the county were Samuel Bristow, Charles Hasper, Adam Shoe- maker, Stanley B. Walker, Isaac Veatch, Benj. Keith, Jeremiah Cash, William Webb, James Langford, John McCoy and John Walls. The county contains about fifty church organizations, mostly Methodist, Baptist, and Lutheran; the Methodist having the greatest number.

ROCKPORT AND S. W. R. R.

A petition was presented to the commissioners of the county, Sept. 10th, 1869, signed by L. Q. Debruler, D. F. Laird, R. S. Hicks and others, asking the county to take stock in the proposed Rockport R. R. to the amount of two per centum of the taxable property of 1868, to aid in constructing a railroad from Rockport to the northern line of said county. A vote was taken of the several townships on the 19th of October following, which resulted in favor of the appropria- tion.

The building of the road as far as the county line was completed in 1874, and subsequently to Huntingburg, Dubois County, being com- pleted as far as Jasper in Feb., 1879. The road is designed to connect with the Ohio and Mississippi at Mitchell, Ind.

عمر

١٠

HISTORY OF SPENCER COUNTY, INDIANA

ROCKPORT.

the county-seat of Spencer county, is located in the southern part of the county on the Ohio River. The first settlement made in this vicinity was in the year 1708, by James Langford, who landed from his canoe near where the upper wharf now is. For a number of years he lived in a cave or dwelling dug in the side of a hill, which subsequently became known as the "Rockport Coal Knob." Langford, his wife and daughter, were the only inhabitants. The site of the town at that period is described as being "a beautiful, picturesque place, the banks nearly two hundred feet high, of massive stone, curiously carved by the action of the water, and adorned with all manner of Indian pictures." In 1818 the county-seat was located here by commissioners appointed by the governor. The original plan of the town was surveyed June 6th, 1818, by James Johnson, on land donated by W. R. Griffith, Isaac B. Wright, and W. R. Hynes, Daniel Grass act- ing as agent for the latter. Aug. Ist, 1837, Romine's Addition was laid off by Wilson Huff. March 14th, 1853, John Crawford's Addition, by A. J. Wells. May 29th, 1855, Eveline Britton's Addition by A. J. Wells. May 3d, 1858, Allen Gentry's Addition, by John Atkinson. Dec. 19th, 1865, L. G. Smith's Addition, by W. W. Wells. It is supposed that Azel W. Dorsey built the first house (log) in the town, it being located on the "bluff" near the residence of Judge laird. The first merchants of the town were Daniel Grass and S. F. Ogden. John Brown erected the first frame building in the town, in 1819. The building was used by himself as a store and dwelling, and stood on the corner opposite the "Commer- cial House. " where the drug store now is. A. W. Denny and J. B. Great- house were among the early business men of the town, being engaged in the tanning business. Conrad Brown is said to have built the first hotel on the site of the present "Spencer House. " James Wakefield, John Morgan, Thomas Simpkins and M. B. Snyder are identified with the early history of the town. In 1835 the Methodists erected a seminary, which was the first step toward a permanent public school. The building is now used for the high school. The Baptists were the first to erect a church in the town, next the Methodists, and then the Presbyterians. The Catholics and Lutherans also have organizations. The first paper published in Rockport was the ROCKPORT GAZETTE, published by T. J. Langdon. The Gazette is now published by R. S. and C. A. Hicks. There are three papers besides the Gazette now published in the town, viz. : Rockport Democrat, by Calvin Jones, "The Journal", by Dan'1. Hayford, and "The Banner," by J. E. Wolf. The town contains about fifty stores, several mills, three hotels, two banks, nine churches, and as a business place one of the best on the Ohio River.

BENEVOLENT ORDERS.

Masonic Lodge, F. and A. M. No. 112 - Wm. H. Thomas, W. M., J. D. Armstrong, Sec.

Spencer Lodge, No 140, I.O.O.F. - W. R. Beeler, N. G., Amos Lem- mon, Sec.

Rockport Encampment No. 72, I.O.O.F. - C. Halbruge, C. P., Chris. Pfeifer, Scribe.

Rockport Lodge, No. 166, D.O.H. - F. Weil, O.B., Phillip Hirsch, Sec.

L0 1 2

-4

€

٠٠

+ .

97 - -

دمة

هـ

اله

€

. د

10.

TOWN OFFICERS.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

First Ward

John Long.

Second Ward

Thomas Jones.

Third Ward

John R. Dougherty.

Fourth Ward Thomas E. Snyder.

Fifth Ward

Charles Lieb.

Sixth Ward

Elwer E. Wesseler.

J. R. Dougherty, Prest. of the Board.

Clerk

J. W. Kincheloe.

Treasurer

John H. Walker.

Marshal

John Feige1.

SCHOOL OFFICERS.

Superintendent A. H. Kennedy.

Trustees W. L. Norse, S. W. Stocking, I. L. Milner.

GRANDVIEW,

the second town in size in the county, is situated on the Ohio River, seven miled above Rockport. The town was laid out by Samuel D. Hammond and Alfred Lamar, Sept. 26th, 1851, the original plat containing 26.56 acres. Several additions have been made to the town since. It contains a population of about one thousand. Its trade is carried on by twelve or fifteen stores, and several tobacco warehouses. Large quantities of hay, tobacco, and corn and produced in this part of the county, the most of which is shipped from this point. The town contains four churches, one graded school, and one newspaper, the "Monitor."

DALE,

situated in Carter Township, was laid out Apri 26th, 1843, by W. K. Jones and James Hammond, contains three churches, three hotels, several stores, and two large tobacco warehouses. It has a population of about five hundred.

LINCOLN CITY,

was laid out April 23d, 1872, by H. Sabin, agent for Henry Lewis and others. The village is located on the farm once owned by Thomas Lincoln. It is a small village of little importance, situated on the Rockport and S. W. R. R.

GENTRYVILLE,

in Jackson Township, was laid out by James Gentry, who owned a large tract of land in this vicinity. Mr. Gentry was the first to engage in business in the village, he being engaged in merchandising and stock dealing. Among those who have been engaged in the mercantile business in the village, are William Jones, Smith and Gentry, W. Thompson, Totten and Griffith, W. B. Campbell, J. M. Grigsby, Jr., R. D. Grigsby & Son, John Chinn & Brothers, Kellams & Egnew, and Henry Shafer.

.....

€

Of the blacksmiths, Uriah Hartley was the first, followed by Blank Weir, S. J. Fhibbard. James P. Debruler of Pike County, was the first physician to locate in the village, followed by John A. Stuart, Fred. Mckasson, Joel Tillman and Dr. Bryant. Allen Kincheloe is among, if not the first teacher. He taught school in a log building on the site of the present school building. The first church was erected by the Methodists about the year 1852. The building was a brick one, and was burned in 1867, being replaced by a frame building in 1872. George W. Walker was the pio- neer minister. The Christian church was erected in 1858. Gentryville is located on the "state road", eighteen miles from Rockport, and 1} miles from the Rockport and S. W. R.R. The village contains two dry-goods stores, one grocery, two blacksmith shops, one cabinet shop, two churches, one school, one tobacco warehouse, three physicians. Population three hundred and fifty.

ST. MEINRAD.

This village is situated in Harrison Township, in the north-eastern part of the county, near the waters of Anderson River. The land on which the first buildings were erected was purchased of Henry Deining, by the Catholics, in April, 1853, who established a school for monks and priests, in April, 1854. In the year 1858, the corner stone of a new building was laid, which is still uncompleted.

The village proper was laid out and surveyed February 20th, 1861, by Jacob Marendt, and contains one church and school, aside from the Abbey.

NEW BOSTON,

In Huff Township.

NEWTONVILLE,

In Hammond.

CENTREVILLE AND SPRING STATION,

In Grass.

ENTERPRISE, EUREKA AND RICHLAND CITY, In Luce Township, are small villages in the county.

ST. BERNARD'S CHURCH (ROCKPORT).

About thirty years ago, the old St. Bernard's church was built. It is said there were only four or five Catholic families at the time. During a space of about twenty-five years the Catholic church of Rockport made little or no progress. The Catholics were few in numbers, and their church was humble in appearance; but the worst of all was, they had no perma- nent pastor. It is true they were attended sometimes from St. Meinrad, and sometimes from Troy, but, on account of the great distance, the pas- toral visits were short and few in number. Of course, under these circum- stances, the church could not properly develop herself. On the 15th of January, 1874, however, things took a different aspect. Rev. Father Book made Rockport his home, and took charge of the little and unassuming congregation. In fact, it may be said that the history of the church begins

١٠٠

١٠

٠٠ـ

عاية

פה.

١٠

السى

12.

at this time. In the fall of the same year, twenty-seven Catholic families, with the assistance of their kind and liberal neighbors, made preparation for a new church. The corner-stone was laid on the 18th of May, 1875, and the dedication took place on the 25th of June, 1876. Many difficul- ties presented themselves, but the little congregation, which now numbers fifty-four families, fought nobly and bravely. The old St. Bernard's church has been converted into a school-house, of which the Venerable Benedictine Sisters have taken charge.

ST. MEINRAD ABBEY.

St. Benedict, of Nursia, a city in Italy, founded in the sixth century, on Mt. Casino, near Naples, a society of men whose duty it was to lead a well- ordered life, according to a fixed rule, under a common Superior called Abbot or Father. Their special duty was, daily to solemnly celebrate the Divine service, according to the rite of the Roman Catholic Church; the remainder of their time was to be spent in manual labor, reading, copying books and instructing youth. As the rule of St. Benedict proved salutary for the individual members, and those who followed it rendered great ser- vices to the church and to society, the houses in which the rule of St. Benedict was observed were spread over almost the entire Old World. In the Middle Ages, the Order of St. Benedict attained a high degree of importance, both in regard to its great numbers, as well as by its great work in science, the fine arts, agriculture, and the various branches of industry. St. Meinrad, a descendant of the illustrious house of Hohen- zollern, was a member of the famous monastery of Richenaw, situated on an island of Lake Constance. A holy longing after solitude and a hidden life, induced him to withdraw, with the permission of his Abbot, into a deep forest on Lake Zurich, in Switzerland, where he built himself a hut and a chapel, in which he placed a beautiful picture of the blessed Virgin Mary. Here he dwelt for many years, affording consolation and assistance to the people who came to him from all sides. He was finally murdered by two ruffians who had come to rob the poor hermit.

On the very spot of the murder there arose, in the tenth century, a large monastery, at first called St. Meinrad's Cell, afterward Einsiedeln, which acquired great renown through the pilgrimages that were made to it. The object of these pilgrimages was to venerate that same picture St. Meinrad had honored in his hermitage. The monastery of Einsiedeln, under thedirection of fifty-one Abbots, since the year 934, and especially under the reign of the late Abbot Henry IV, has wrought innumerable blessings for mankind, as a house that had in view not its own self-interests, but the good of the whole country; and, as the monastery had in the past, sent forth its monks to spread abroad the blessings of Christianity, so also did the late Abbot Henry IV, readily and willingly respond to the entreaties of the Bishop Maurice de St. Palais of Vincennes, that he would send the sons of St. Benedict to Indiana to found a monastery of Benedictines. After the necessary permission for the establishment of such an institution according to the laws of the Catholic church, had been obtained from the Apostolic See of Rome, the monks were sent to Indiana in the year 1852. These were the Rev. F. F. Ulrich, Christen and Bede O'Connor, who came to Ferdinand, Dubois County, in April, 1853, and purchased of Mr. Henry Deining one hundred and sixty acres of land as a place of settlement. After the arrivial of two more priests (1853) the monastery of St. Meinrad was solemnly opened on the 21st of March, 1854, the feast of St. Benedict, and on the 17th of April, a school was begun, whose first pupils were Mr. Robert Huntingdon and Mr. Joseph Rey Cannelton.

٠٤

ـبه

ל׳

வாத்

イ

€

1.1.7

مجـ

€

---

٠٠

ـايد

In the year 1858, the Rev. F. Chrysostom Foffa, at that time Prior of the monastery, laid the corner-stone of a church, which still stands near the old monastery buildings, and serves as a church for the Catholic community of St. Meinrad.

It was completed on the 3d of June, 1858. Several of the priests who had labored at St. Meinrad, were obliged, on account of ill-health, to return to their mother-country; but new laborers were sent out from Ein- siedeln to carry out the work which had been undertaken.

The Rev. Martin Marty was appointed, in 1865, Prior or Superior of the monastery of St. Meinrad. Under his management, the temporal affairs of the monastery were brought into a good condition, and the necessary steps taken to insure permanency to the institution. This, according to the principles of the Benedictine Order, is accomplished by the elevation of the monastery to the rank of an abbey, i.e., by being empowered with self-government, with its own Superiors, who are independent of the mother-house. For this purpose, the Very Rev. Prior Martin visited Rome and Einsiedeln, and on September 30th, 1870, St. Meinrad was erected into an independent monastery by Pope Pius IX, and the then Prior chosen Abbot. He received on the 22d of March, 1871, at the hands of the Right Rev. Bishop of Vincennes, the solem abbatial benediction, and since that time has presided over the monastery, which now numbers among its mem- bers twenty-four priests, nine clerics, twenty-seven lay brothers, and six novices. The priests are engaged some in the affairs of the house, some in teaching in St. Meinrad's College and Theological Seminary; some act as pastors of the various Catholic congregations of Spencer, Dubois and Perry Counties; some as missionary priests in Logan County, Arkansas, and at Standing Rock and Devil's lake Agency, Dakota. The clerics are those preparing for the priesthood. The lay-brothers, on the other hand, are employed both here and in Arkansas and Dakota, in agricultural pursuits and the various trades. The first substantial building of sandstone was erected on a hill north of the present site of the abbey. It is a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, similar to the sanctuaries of the 01d World known to and visited by many people, under the name of Monte- Cassino. Below it is the quarry from which the sandstone for the abbey is being taken. The building of the new monastery was begun on the 2d of May, 1872, and on the 8th of September, 1874, Divine service was held for the first time in the new edifice. The building, as far as completed, consists of an east wing 222 feet in length, 40 feet in breadth, and 54 feet in height. The middle division is 70 feet high, and contains in the base- ment under a beautiful stone the entrance to the cellar apartments; in the first story, a spacious reception room; a flight of stairs leading to the third story; and in the fourth and uppermost story, a chapel, in which the members of the monastery hold Divine service. In each story (on either of the central divisions) are to be found the cells for the priests or monks, rooms for the students of the Theological Seminary, and for guests. The south corner wing contains, in the first story, the kitchen, above which is a study-hall; and in the third story, a recreation-room, and the residence of the Rt. Rev. Abbott Immediately adjoining this wing is another, 119 feet long, running east and west, which was erected in 1875, and which con- tains in the basement a large refectory or dining-room; in the first story, a spacious music-hall; and in the second, a large dormitory. Adjoining this wink on the south is the two-story brick library building, 98 feet long, built in 1874. The library consists at the present of about seven thousand volumes, chiefly, theological works. South of the library, and parallel with

له

€

1 . 1

1 e

ـسمة

€

ـيـ

. )

ـة السداد

. 1

€

٢٠٠

جما

٠٦

...

14.

the south wing of the monastery, was erected in 1876, a two-story stone building, which is used as a carpenter shop and a book-bindery. In this building is a steam-engine, the entire monastery being heated by steam. The heating apparatus was put in by the firm Heilman, of Evansville, in 1876. The monastery is situated on an eminence south of the town of St. Meinrad. In the year 1880, a new wing from north to south will be erected, which is intended for the use of the college. An imposing church also will be erected as soon as the necessary means are at hand.

In the year 1861, the tenth centenary of the death of St. Meinrad, the town of St. Meinrad was founded.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN H. HUFFMAN.

The subject of this sketch was born in Hancock County, Kentucky, in the year 1812. His father, Geo. Huffman, was a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, from whence he came to Knox County, Indiana, about the year 1804, where he remained about four years, removing to Kentucky; afterward returning to Indiana in 1812, and locating the property now owned by his son, John H. Huffman, where he in addition to farming engaged in milling in 1816. The first year after his return his corn crop failed and he was obliged to go to Harrison County for supply, carrying it on horseback by his own place to Crooked Creek in Kentucky to get it ground, that being the only place to have griding done for a distance of sixty miles around. What is now known as the village of Troy was not at this time laid out. There was not a single settlement from that point to his home, which was distant ten miles. Geo. Huffman was married to Mrs. Lamar, formerly Nancy McDaniel. There being no blacksmiths in his vicinity, Mr. Huffman was obliged to go to Rockport, distant 25 miles, to have his mill-picks sharpened. At the raising of his mill his neighbors came for a distance of 20 miles around. Mr. Huffman was a soldier of 1812. Died December, 1854.

J. Harrison Huffman succeeded to the estate of his father, the old home-stead containing 1100 acres of land. Educational advantages in the earlier days of the Huffman family were very meagre, the nearest school being distant three miles. The pursuits of Mr. Huffman are those of his father who preceded him; farming, lumbering, and stock-rating, which he continued until he accumulated a competency second to none in the county. He was married in the year 1840 to Delilah I. Stapleton, a native of Kentucky, and who died in 1857. Mr. Huffman is the father of nine children by this marriage, five of whom are now living. Geo. W., the eldest, was killed at the siege of Vicksburg, he being a member of the 49th Indiana Volunteers. John R. was a member of the 13th Indiana Catwiry, accompanying them in all their memorable campaigns. Those living are all located about or near the old homestead, honored in lives of usefulness. His second marriage was in the year 1862 to Mrs. Elizabeth J. Harris; her maiden name Cravens. Mr. Huffman is a liberal and energetic worker in the Christian Church, of which he and his family are all members. In the earlier days of his life, he was identified with the Whig party, but now with his sons firm supporters of the Republican party. Energetic and liberal in all public enterprises. In 1878 he was elected county commissioner of Spencer County.

4 .

1 ٢

جد

-1

€

5.1

10 .....

٠٠٠

* ***

15.

JAMES HAMMOND.

James G. Hammond, father of the gentleman whose name appears above, was a native of Frederick County, Maryland, from whence he emigrated to Indiana Territory, and located near the present town of Grandview, Spencer County, in 1809, He had a family of five children, four of whom lived to the age of maturity, viz., William, Washington, Joseph and James.

In 1811 Samuel D. Ilammond arrived from Maryland, when he and James G. Hammond engaged as partners in the tanning business. James G. Hammond died in this neighborhood in 1819. James Hammond, the youngest of the sons, was born in 1816. His boyhood days were spent on the farm.

November 1st, 1837, he was married to Margaret Wood, by whom he had a family of seven children, three of whom are now living. Mr. Hammond remained on a farm in the neighborhood of Grandview until 1839, when he removed to Carter Township, near the town of Dale, where he has since made his home, having been engaged in the mean- time in the pursuits of the farm, together with those of merchant and tobacco dealer. His wife died during the year 1876, and on the 22d of May, 1879, he was again married to a Mrs. Lightfoot of Kentucky.

Mr. Hammond was for many years identified with the Whig party, but upon the organization of the Republican party, he embraced the princi- ples advocated by it, and is still a cordial supporter of the party; he has always been strongly opposed to slavery. In 1856 he was one of a small number (86) in his county who supported John C. Fremont. He has been a member of the U. B. Church for forty years, and as such has led a consistent Christian life. In 1875 he assisted in organizing the Citizens' Bank in Rockport, of which he is president and one of the principal stockholders. By industry and prudent management Mr. Hammond has acquired a fortune second to none in Spencer County, and the integ- rity of his character, which has been manifested throughout a long and useful life, has drawn around him many friends, and none stand higher in the estimation of his fellow-citizens.

JAMES GENTRY.

The earliest definite trace we have of the Gentry family is in North Carolina. James Gentry, Sr., father of the subject of this sketch, was born on the Yadkin river, in North Carolina, during the year 1779. Of his ancestors nothing definite is known.

At the age of 17 he left his home in North Carolina and went to Monroe, in Barren County, Kentucky, traveling the distance on foot. While in Barren County he was engaged in farming and hunting, making the latter quite profitable; sometimes realizing as much as $200 per year from it. After remaining in that part of the state for some time, he proceeded to Chio County, near the town of Hartford. Here he was married to Elizabeth Hornback; the date of his marriage as also the length of time he remained is unknown.

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.

Excerpts from atlas of Spencer County, Indiana, D.J. Lake and Co., 1879, Part 2

Author: Phillips, Opal B Publication date: 19--] Publisher: [Indiana? : s.n.] Number of Pages: 156

Author: Phillips, Opal B
Publication date: 19--]
Publisher: [Indiana? : s.n.]
Number of Pages: 156