USA > Indiana > Henry County > Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-1906, Volume II > Part 39
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 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
A postoffice was established March 10, 1851, named "Dan Webster," from the fact that there was already in Indiana a postoffice called Hillsboro. The first postmaster was Samuel S. Canaday, who moved around a good deal in the county and seemed to be the choice of the people wherever he lived for postmaster, for he served as such at Ashland, Hillsboro and New Castle. A list of the postmasters at "Dan Webster" will be found on page 36 of this History. Prairie Township has had four postoffices-Hillsboro "Dan Webster," Luray, Mount Summit and Springport. The two first named have been discontinued.
HONEY CREEK.
The village of Honey Creek, so named for the little stream near whose banks it is situated, is in Fall Creek Township, nine and one half miles north- west from the court house in New Castle and four miles southeast from Mid- dletown, on the Pittsburg. Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis railway. It was founded in 1858 and was called Warnock's Station, after a Henry County pioneer who then owned the land on which Honey Creek is now located, the same being in the N. E. 1/4 of Sec. 10, Tp. 18 N., R. 9 E.
The only addition, known as the Western, and situated immediately west of the original village, on the north side of the railroad, and on the west side of the street run- ning north and south, was platted July 28, 1873, for Joseph M. Brown, Commissioner, in the matter of the real estate of John Myers, deceased, of which decedent, Adam Evans was executor, Brown having been appointed Commissioner by the Court to sell the real estate. This addition to Honey Creek was made hy the Commissioner to facilitate the sale of said real estate. It contains five acres and seven rods and is divided into three blocks, consisting of twelve lots.
A postoffice was established June 18, 1861, with Zadock G. Tomlinson as postmaster. On pages 37 and 38 of this History will be found a list of the postmasters from Tomlinson to Lertin R. Fadely, the present incumbent.
933
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Honey Creek is one of the three postoffices that were established and that still exist in Fall Creek Township, the other two being Mechanicsburg and Middletown.
Honey Creek not being incorporated the population as given by the cen- sus of 1900 is included in that of Fall Creek Township. (See Chapter XXXVIII).
KENNARD.
This town is situated in the northwest part of Greensboro Township, seven and three fourths miles west and two miles south from the court house in New Castle and is on the Peoria and Eastern division of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis railway, commonly called the Big Four rail- way. It is located in the E. 1/2 of the S. E. 1/4 of Sec. 20 and the W. 1/2 of the S. W. 14 of Sec. 21 and the N. E. 1/4 of the N. E. 1/4 of Sec. 29 and the N. W. 1/4 of the N. W. 14 of Sec. 28, Tp. 17 N .. R. 9 E. It was surveyed and platted by Daniel K. Cook, Surveyor, September 6, 1882, and was acknowledged by Cy- rus C. Hinshaw, John W. Payne, Westphalia M. Dixon, Charles Hartley and Martha A. Weasner, proprietors, September 6, 1882, and contained twelve blocks, consisting of fifty six lots and ten out-lots.
The first addition, situated immediately north of the original plat and west of Main Street, was platted February 12, 1885, and was acknowledged hy Cyrus C. Hinshaw and John W. Payne, proprietors, February 19. 1885, and contains four and sixty-nine hundredths acres, divided into two hlocks, consisting of eleven lots.
Then comes Westphalia M. Dixon with an addition which is situated immediately north of the original plat, on the east side of Main Street. It was platted February 8, 1887, and was acknowledged by Dixon March 11, 1887, and contains two blocks, con- sisting of six lots.
Alexander Younts' addition, situated immediately north of Dixon's addition on the east side of Main Street, was platted April 5, 1888, and was acknowledged by Younts December 22, 1888, and contains three and one half acres, divided into one block, consist- ing of eight lots.
Alexander Younts was ambitious to add to Kennard's territory for he filed a second addition, situated immediately east of the original plat, on the north side of Broad Street, which was platted in October, 1890. It was acknowledged by Younts November 11, 1890, and contains two and forty five hundredths acres, divided into three lots and one out-lot, no blocks designated.
Martindale, Madison and Hinshaw's addition, situated immediately south of the original plat and south of the Big Four railway, was platted April 27, 1893, and was ac- knowledged by Frank Martindale, Martha F. Martindale, Cyrus C. Hinshaw, John Madi- son and Alonzo Hinshaw, proprietors, April 28, 1893, and contains nine and forty seven hundredths acres, divided into forty eight lots, no blocks designated.
George I. Jenckes made the last addition. It is situated immediately west of the original plat and Martindale, Madison and Hinshaw's addition and was platted May 10, 1898, and was acknowledged by Jenckes on the same date. It contains ten and one fourth acres. divided into two blocks, consisting of forty nine lots and one out-lot.
Cyrus C. Hinshaw was instrumental in having the town named for Jenkins Kennard, an old and highly respected citizen of Henry County, a farmer who has lived for many years in the northeastern part of Wayne Township, not far from the Stone Quarry Mill.
934
RTAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
A postoffice was established September 12, 1882, with Cyrus C. Hinshaw as postmaster. On page 38 of this History will be found a list of the post- masters from the establishment of the office to the present time. Greensboro Township has had three postoffices, all of which are retained-Greensboro, Kennard and Shirley. However, at the present time the Shirley postoffice is on the west side of Main Street, in Hancock County.
The census of 1900 places the population of the town at 417.
The projected Indianapolis, New Castle and Toledo railway (electric line) passes through Kennard.
KNIGHTSTOWN.
The town of Knightstown is situated in Wayne Township, fourteen miles southwest from the court house in New Castle, on the west bank of Blue River, at the crossing of the Pittsburg. Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis railway and the Louisville and Benton Harbor division of the Big Four rail- way and on the main line of the Indianapolis and Eastern railway, (electric line) and is in the N. E. { and the S. E. } of Sec. 33 and the W. } of the N. WV. Į and the W. } of the S. W. { of Sec. 34, Tp. 16 N., R. 9 E. It was laid out and platted by Mr. Waitsel M. Cary in 1827, and contains twelve blocks consisting of eighty five lots. Main, or Clay Street, running east and west was then known as "The National Road." The records do not show before whom it was acknowledged, or by whom it was surveyed and platted.
Samuel Brown's plat of out-lots, situated south of the original plat, was platted and acknowledged by him February 7, 1831, and contains thirty three and three fourths acres, consisting of twelve out-lots, no blocks designated.
Waitsel M. Cary's additional plat, situated west of the original plat, was platted and acknowledged hy him November 19, 1836, and contains three blocks, consisting of seven- teen lots.
Hart's first Southern addition, situated immediately south of the original plat, be- tween Franklin and Adams streets, was platted and acknowledged by Edward K. Hart, April 27, 1837, and contains thirty nine lots, no blocks designated.
The first Eastern addition, situated immediately east and across Blue River from the original plat, was platted March 1, 1839, and was acknowledged by Edward K. Hart and William M. Tate, proprietors, March 2, 1839, and contains eighteen blocks, consist- ing of one hundred and fifty one lots and one out-lot.
Cary and Church's addition, situated immediately west of Cary's addition, and west of Madison Street, was platted and acknowledged by Waitsel M. Cary and Uzziel Church, March 4, 1839, and contains five blocks consisting of twenty one lots.
The second South addition, situated immediately south of Hart's first Southern addi- tion and east of Jefferson Street, was platted April 11, 1839, and was acknowledged hy John Lowrey and Edward K. Hart, proprietors, on the same date and contains six blocks, consisting of thirty eight lots and two out-lots.
Hiram Gaston's addition, situated immediately south of Cary's addition and south of Jackson Street between Madison and Franklin streets, was platted April 12, 1839, and was acknowledged by Gaston. April 13, 1839, and contains two blocks, consisting of ten lots.
An additional plat, block 13, probably a subdivision, situated immediately west of the original plat, between Franklin and Jefferson streets, north of Brown Street, was platted and acknowledged by Waitsel M. Cary, May 28, 1839, and contains one hlock, consisting of four lots.
935
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
A plat of out-lot number two of the Second Southern addition platted and acknowl- edged by Jesse Charles, proprietor, January 17, 1851, contains four lots, no blocks designated.
The Northern addition, situated immediately north of the original plat, between Franklin and Adams streets, was platted and acknowledged by Robert I. Hudelson, Jo- seph M. Whitesel, Asa Heaton and Morris F. Edwards, September 6, 1853, and contains three blocks, consisting of twenty-three lots.
White's addition, situated immediately south of Gaston's addition, between Madi- son and Franklin streets, was platted and acknowledged by Edmund White, Margaret White, Harriet White, Jesse F. Pusey, Jane W. Pusey, Charles White, Lucy H. White, James White and Jemima White, heirs of Caleb White, April 1, 1861, and contains twen- ty two lots, no blocks designated.
The first Northwestern addition, situated immediately north of Cary and Church's addition, and Cary's additions, between McCullum and Franklin streets, was platted and acknowledged by Mary M. Heaton, Phebe S. Hudelson, Joseph M. Whitesel, Morris F. Ed- wards, Jesse B. Hinshaw, James T. Hudelson and Ann Maria Hinshaw, proprietors, Sep- tember 3, 1863, and contains eight blocks, consisting of forty two lots.
Edwards' addition, situated immediately north of the first Northern addition, on the west side of Washington Street, was platted and acknowledged by Morris F. Ed- wards June 3. 1868, and contains three and one-half acres, divided into two blocks, con- sisting of twelve lots.
Hudelson's addition, situated north of the First Northwestern addition on the west side of Franklin Street and on the south side of Lincoln Street, was platted and ac- knowledged by Phebe Hudelson, July 13, 1868, and contains twelve lots, no blocks desig- nated.
Charles' Block, by which name this addition is known, situated immediately east of the first Southern addition and east of Adams Street, was platted August 3, 1868, and was acknowledged by John T. Charles. Oliver Charles and Eunice S. Charles, propri- etors, on the same date, and contains two blocks, consisting of twelve lots.
Heaton, Peden and Scovell's addition, situated immediately south of the Panhandle railway, between Madison and Jefferson streets, was platted in October, 1868, and was acknowledged by John W. Heaton, Reuben Peden and Ezra Scovell, proprietors, Novem- ber 19, 1868, and contains eight blocks, consisting of thirty two lots.
Stuart's addition, situated in the extreme north end of town and east of Franklin Street, was platted and acknowledged by Ithamer W. Stuart, January 14, 1870, and con- tains ten lots, no blocks designated.
Watts' addition, situated immediately west of White's addition, on the west side of Madison Street and on the south side of Pine Street, was platted and acknowledged by Peter and Harry Watts, June 11, 1870, and contains two blocks, consisting of eight lots.
Lowrey's addition, situated immediately south and west of White's addition, on the east side of Madison Street, was platted in March, 1886, and was acknowledged by John W. Lowrey, July 30, 1886, and contains four lots, no blocks designated.
Harry Watts' North addition, situated immediately north of the Northwestern ad- dition, on the west side of Franklin Street, was platted January 12, 1887, and was acknowledged by Watts, on the same date and contains seventeen lots, no blocks desig- nated.
Green, Allison and Wagoner's addition is a subdivision of lot seven in Stuart's ad- dition and was platted November 4, 1887, and was acknowledged by Alpheus W. Green. Morton Allison and Peter Wagoner, proprietors, November 7, 1887, and contains six lots, no blocks designated.
Barrett's addition, situated immediately north of the Northern addition, between Franklin and Adams streets, was platted May 27, 1889, and was acknowledged by the heirs of Charles A. Barrett, deceased, June 17, 1889, and contains seven and seventy four hundredths acres, divided into four blocks, consisting of twenty four lots.
936
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Noah W. Wagoner's addition, situated immediately north of Harry Watts' addition, between Madison and Franklin streets, was platted January 3, 1890, and was acknowl- edged by Wagoner on the same day and contains twenty lots, no blocks designated.
James M. Woods' subdivision of a part of out-lot thirty five, situated immediately southwest of Lowrey's addition, on the west side of Madison Street, was platted April 8, 1891, and was acknowledged by Woods, May 8, 1891, and contains ten lots, no blocks des- ignated.
The Knightstown Improvement Company's addition, situated west of the corporate limits of said town, and west of Montgomery Creek, on the south side of Clay or Main Street, was platted March 28, 1892, and was acknowledged by Leonidas P. Newby, Thomas B. Deem, Frank J. Vestal, James Hall, Edward G. Mostler, George W. Williams, William Call, Harry Watts, Shepperd Bowman and Aaron E. Carroll, directors of the Knights- town Land and Improvement Company, April 23, 1892, and contains seventeen and thirty eight hundredths acres, divided into seventy two lots, no blocks designated.
Sadie V. Roberts' addition, situated immediately south of Cary and Church's addi- tion, south of Main Street, between Hill Avenue and Madison Street, was platted Septem- ber 8, 1892, and was acknowledged by Sadie V. Roberts and Joseph H. Roberts, Novem- ber 14, 1892, and contains twenty four lots, no blocks designated.
The Merchants' and Manufacturers' Association's addition, situated immediately north of Stuart's addition, in the extreme north end of town, and extending from the Greensboro pike on the east to McCullum Street on the west, was platted October 16, 1902, and was on the same date acknowledged by Robert Silver, President, and John A. Sample, Secretary, of the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Association, and contains one hundred and fifty lots and two out-lots, no blocks designated.
The town of Knightstown is pleasantly situated on Blue River, or rather between that stream and Montgomery Creek. Waitsel M. Cary, the original proprietor, kept the only hotel for some years and built the first frame house in town. The place was named in honor of Jonathan Knight, a United States Engineer, who located the Cumberland, or National Road, through the State. At first the town only extended back two or three tiers of lots from the river bluff.
Levi Griffith and Isaac James owned the first dry goods establishment here about the year 1830. There were about a half dozen houses in the place at that time, and the population was less than three hundred in 1833.
The first church built here was by the Presbyterians, in 1834-a frame, about thirty by forty feet. The Methodists erected a small frame building, about the year 1837. A distillery was erected just over the river, about 1825, by one John Lewis, and about 1828 a carding machine was built near the present Panhandle depot.
About two years after the inception of Knightstown, the Ithamer W. Stuart farm of 160 acres could have been bought for $400. One of the best corner lots sold for $96, which was regarded as a fancy price indeed. Part of this Stuart farm has long since been platted as additions to Knightstown. and one acre of the balance of the unplatted land is now worth what the whole could have been bought for as above stated.
As late as 1830 the country was such a "howling wilderness"-with little more than a bridle-path through the woods-that Dr. Whitesel was badly lost in going to see a patient on Six-Mile Creek, and bears came out of the river bottom and were chased through the streets more than once after that period. A young physician named Hiatt was the first to locate in town; his stay was short. James Wilson was Knightstown's first attorney.
Whisky was in much more general use in early days than at present.
MARTIN L
Y
BUN
JOHN R.1
ARD.
0
OV
JOSHUA H
ETT.
MEL
JEHU
ELLIOTT ..
JAMES
BROW
EDMUND
JOHNSON.
LEON
BY
+
N
1
HENRY COUNTY LAWYERS.
937
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
A judge, the '"squire" and all the constables were seen drunk on one or more occasions in early days, and pugilistic encounters were among the cherished amusements. But great changes have been wrought.
Knightstown is in the midst of splendid farming lands, the productions of which find here a ready market.
About 1850 the Knightstown and Shelbyville railroad, the first which reached our county, was completed to Knightstown, and business received a new impetus, and "corner lots" rapidly appreciated in value. This was a primitive railroad, the rails of which were of wood, stripped with flat har iron. It was abandoned in 1853 but when the present Louisville and Benton Harbor division of the Big Four railway was completed in the summer of 1891, run- ning south through the western part of the county, it followed this old aban- doned right of way for a short distance in Rush County.
The Knightstown Academy building is a commodious structure and the graded school has for years ranked high.
The town has two banking institutions, but these are treated of in another part of this History in the chapter entitled, "Banks and Banking." Knightstown is one of the best towns on the line of the old Indiana Central railroad between Richmond and Indianapolis. In the chapter of this History entitled "News- papers, Past and Present" will be found a full account of the newspapers that have been published and of those now in existence at Knightstown. Knights- town is one of the four postoffices that have existed in Wayne Township, the other three being Elizabeth City (Maple Valley, discontinued), Grant City (Snyder, discontinued) and Raysville. The postoffice at Knightstown was es- tablished January 30, 1833. with Joseph McCalley, as postmaster. On page 38 of this history will be found a list of the postmasters to date, with the time served by each. Also the names of the four rural route carriers with the num- bers of their respective routes.
The census of 1900 places the population of the town at 1,942.
LEWISVILLE.
Lewisville is situated in Franklin Township, eight and three fourths miles south and one mile east from the court house in New Castle, and nine miles east from Knightstown, on the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis railway, and the Indianapolis and Eastern railway (electric line), and on the west side of Flatrock. It is in the E. 1/2 of the S. E. 1/4 of Sec. 25, Tp. 16 N., R. 10 E., and the W. 1/2 of the S. W. 1/4 of Sec. 30, Tp. 16 N., R. II E. The original plat was laid out and platted by Thomas Brown, Surveyor, and was acknowledged by Lewis C. Freeman and James B. Harris, proprietors, December 25, 1829. The main street running east and west is designated as "The Great National Road." The original plat contains eight blocks, consisting of sixty four lots.
The first Eastern addition, situated immediately east of the original plat, was platted March 2, 1836, and on the same date was acknowledged hy Rozel Spencer and William D. Westerfield, proprietors, and contains ten blocks, consisting of eighty four lots.
The first Southern addition, situated immediately south of the original plat, was platted April 28. 1836, and was acknowledged by Dr. M. Strong, proprietor. May 2, 1836, and contains fourteen lots, no blocks designated.
938
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
The George B. Morris' addition, situated immediately east of the school lot, on the south side of the National Road, was platted November 26, 1902, and was acknowledged by Morris on the same date and contains four and ninety four hundredths acres, divided into thirty lots, no blocks designated.
It was first proposed to name this town Freemanville, after Lewis C. Freeman, one of the original proprietors, but as it was discovered that there was another town of that name in this State it was finally determined to call it Lewisville, incorporating the first or given name of Mr. Freeman.
Lewisville is today a better town than ever before. No saloon is per- mitted there, while there are two, perhaps three, fine churches, and many handsome residences. These taken in connection with the excellent business blocks all denote a prosperous and happy community of people.
That the country around Lewisville is in a high state of cultivation is evi- denced by the fact that the First National Bank of that town, with a capital of only $25,000, has deposits of about five times that amount. The town only has the one banking institution which is treated of elsewhere in this History in the chapter entitled "Banks and Banking." In the chapter in this history entitled "Newspapers, Past and Present", will be found a full account of the newspapers that have been published and of the one now in existence in Lewis- ville.
Lewisville is the only town in Franklin Township and is also the only postoffice that was ever established in that township. There is a tradition in South Franklin Township that before the postoffice was established in Lewis- ville there was a postoffice on the county line a mile and a quarter south of the town kept by Garnette Hayden. However, there is no official record in Washington City of such an office. It is probable that mail was carried from established offices to Hayden's house, which was on the main line of stage travel, for distribution in that neighborhood. Lewis C. Freeman was the first post- master at Lewisville and opened the office for business, May 27, 1831. On pages 38 and 39 of this history will be found a list of the postmasters, together with the names of the two rural route carriers connected with the office.
The census of 1900 places the population of the town at 404.
LURAY.
This place with only a remnant of its former greatness remaining is sit- uated in Prairie Township, nine and three fourths miles north and one fourth mile east from the court house in New Castle, and is in the N. E. { of Sec. 27, Tp. 19 N., R. IO E., and was laid out and platted by Lot Hazelton, pro- prietor, and acknowledged by him, January 19, 1836, and contains six blocks, consisting of eighteen lots. No addition appears to have been filed to the original plat.
The early settlers of Prairie Township came principally from Virginia and named this town Luray, after the county seat of Page County, in the "Old Dominion."
The author of this History well remembers when Luray was the most important point between New Castle and Muncie. At an early day, before the advent of railroads, aside from the fact that New Castle and Muncie were
939
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
each county seats, Luray was as good a trading point as either and probably did as much business. Some of the most enterprising and prosperous mer- chants of the county obtained their start in Luray, notably the late Isaac R. Howard, for many years the leading wholesale merchant of Richmond, Indi- ana, and in whose name the business is yet carried on by his son John ; Jere- miah Page, who built the first brick hotel in New Castle, where the Bundy House now stands, was for many years an enterprising citizen of this place. One of the finest flouring mills in the county stood a half mile east of Luray. The building, an imposing structure, still stands and is used as a barn and for other farming purposes.
The decay of Luray began when the Bellefontaine railroad, now a part of the Big Four railway, was built north of it through Delaware County, and when the present Panhandle railroad was built south of it through New Cas- tle ; thus the trade was drawn away from it to New Castle and Muncie. Later, when the road was built north from New Castle to Muncie it left Luray one and one half miles to the east, and the establishment of the village of Spring- port in Henry County and of Oakville in Delaware County, both of which are but two miles distant, was the death knell of the place for business .. The establishment of the rural routes caused the abandonment of the postoffice Now there are less than a dozen houses in the place and one small store oper- ated by a man named Mckinley. Thus do the ravages of time tell on towns as well as on individuals.
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.