USA > Indiana > Henry County > Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-1906, Volume II > Part 40
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Prairie Township had four postoffices-Hillsboro (Dan Webster), Luray, Mount Summit and Springport. The two first named have been dis- continued. The postoffice at Luray was established May 15, 1838, and was discontinued June 15, 1901. On page 39 of this History will be found a com- plete list of the postmasters of this place.
MECHANICSBURG.
This village is situated in Fall Creek Township, nine and three fourths miles west and five miles north of west from the court house in New Castle. and three and one half miles south and one mile west of south from Middle- town, and is in the S. E. { of Sec. 13 and the N. E. { of Sec. 24. Tp. 18 N., R. 8 E. and the S. W. } of Sec. 18 and the N. W. } of Sec. 19, Tp. 18 N .. R. 9 E., and was laid out and platted by Peter Keesling. Margaret Keesling. William Alexander, Frances Alexander, George Keesling and Elizabeth Keesling, proprietors, and was acknowledged by them September 22, 1858, and contains four blocks, consisting of thirty four lots. No addition to the town has ever been filed.
The place is so named from the fact that when the settlement was started there were so many mechanics, representing the different trades, living there that it was determined to recognize them by calling the place Mechanicsburg.
This is the only village or town in the county that was laid off and platted since the advent of railroads that is not located on a railway line. Des- pite the fact that it has no railroad and that railroads have been built all around it, it has not only maintained but it has also increased its importance as a
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
trading center. Its nearest railroad point and shipping place is Middletown, but the railroad stations of Honey Creek, Sulphur Springs, Kennard and Shirley, in Henry County, and Markleville and Emporia, in Madison County, are easily reached from the 'burg.
Before the days of railroads and steam mills, and before the streams were all reduced to their present diminutive size by ditching and drainage, there were a woolen factory, a grist mill and a saw mill, all adjacent to Mechanicsburg, on Deer Creek; all these have disappeared.
Mechanicsburg is noted for the many exterprising and progressive young men that have gone out in the world from that village. The leading citizen for many years was the late Nimrod R. Elliott, a full biographical sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this History.
The author of this History in gathering the facts has found that no place in Henry County, according to its population, sent more soldiers to the Civil War than Mechanicsburg and vicinity; in fact its record in this respect is far ahead of many other localities having a much greater population.
Mechanicsburg had an existence as a trading point more than a score of years before it was laid off and platted as a village. The first merchant to establish a store in that neighborhood was Thomas Dunning, who began business about the year 18.45, the exact date is disputed. The year named is from the best information obtainable, furnished by William H. Keesling.
A postoffice was established July 14, 1849, and its first postmaster, Thomas B. Keesling, who was born in Preble County, Ohio, May 15, 1824, is still living in San Jose, California. A list of the postmasters will be found on page 40 of this His- tory. Mechanicsburg is one of the three postoffices that have existed and that still exist in Fall Creek Township, the other two being Honey Creek and Middletown. It shares with Cadiz and Greensboro the honor of being the only postoffices in the county not on the line of a railroad.
Notwithstanding its importance, this village has never been incorporated; therefore its population is included only in that of Fall Creek Township. (See Chapter XXXVIII).
MESSICK.
The village of Messick is situated in Blue River Township, four and three- quarter miles northeast from the court house in New Castle, on the Big Four rail- way. This village was never laid off or platted into town lots by anyone and was founded in the year 1882. The real estate there is described by metes and bounds. Said village is in the S. W. } of Sec. 29 and the N. W. } of Sec. 32, Tp. 18 N., R. II E.
It is so named after a well-known family that has for so many years lived there. The place has an existence antedating many years the building of the Big Four railway. Before the building of the Panhandle railway through the county and the establishment of Ashland, there was a postoffice at Messick known by that name which dates back to February 26, 1847. It was a country affair, kept for some time in the respective homes of the successive postmasters and afterward in a country store owned by Millikan and Messick, and perhaps by others. Later, Messick postoffice was discontinued and moved to Ashland, as is recorded in the short description of the last named place found at the beginning of this chapter.
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
When in 1882 the Big Four railway was completed through the county, east from New Castle, Messick was again given official existence and a postoffice was established, dating from April 7, 1884, and on page 40 of this History will be found a list of the postmasters. However, the postmasters as set out under the head of Ashland in Chapter I of this History from James M. Conner to William Millikan, senior, inclusive, should be considered as at the old country office of Messick. Messick, Mooreland and Rockland are Blue River Township's three postoffices, the last named, however, having been discontinued.
All the population of the village is included in that of Blue River Township, ( See Chapter XXXVIII.)
Messick is on the projected line of the Indianapolis, New Castle and Toledo railway (electric line).
MIDDLETOWN.
This town, so named for the reason that it was considered the half way point between New Castle and Anderson, is situated in Fall Creek Township, twelve miles northwest from the court house in New Castle, on the banks of Fall Creek, on the Panhandle railway, on the line of the Union Traction Company from An- derson to New Castle, and is in the S. E. { and the N. E. } of Sec. 31 and the N. W. } of Sec. 32. Tp. 19 N., R. 9 E., and was laid out, platted and acknowledged by Jacob Koontz, October 9, 1829. The main street running north and south was designated as "The New Castle and La Fayette Road," and the original plat contains four blocks consisting of forty lots.
Chauncey H. Burr's addition, situated immediately east of the original plat, was platted August 12, 1839, and was acknowledged by Burr, August 20, 1839, and contains two blocks, consisting of twenty two lots.
Lewis Summers' first and second additions, situated immediately north of the orig- inal plat, between Main and Mill streets, were platted the first, March 13, 1834, and the second, March 12, 1840. Both plats were acknowledged by Summers, February 24, 1842. They contain twenty six lots, no blocks designated.
Joseph Yount's addition, situated immediately west of the original plat, on the west side of Church Street, was platted and acknowledged by Joseph Yount, August 23, 1849, and contains five lots, no blocks designated.
Joseph Yount's second addition, situated immediately south and west of Summers' first addition and west of the original plat, and extending west across the Panhandle railway, was platted and acknowledged by Joseph Yount, September 25, 1854, and con- tains three blocks, consisting of twenty one lots.
Frederick Tykle's addition, situated about twenty four rods east of Summers' first addition, was platted and acknowledged by Frederick Tykle August 22, 1865, and con- tains thirteen lots, no blocks designated.
Joseph Yount's third addition, situated immediately north of the west part of Yount's second addition and south of the Panhandle railway, was platted March 12, 1866, and was acknowledged by Yount on the same date, and contains three blocks, con- sisting of twenty one lots.
Willis Wisehart's first addition, situated about two hundred and eighty two feet north of Summers' second addition, on the west side of Main Street and south of Pine Street, was platted April 30, 1881, and was acknowledged by Wisehart on the same date, and contains three hlocks, consisting of twenty one lots.
Elizabeth Van Matre's addition, situated immediately north of Summers' second addition, on the west side of Church Street, was platted May 8, 1882, and was acknowl- edged by Elizabeth Van Matre, May 25, 1882, and contains four lots, no blocks desig- nated.
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
William M. Moore's addition, situated immediately west of Van Matre's addition, om the east side of Mill Street, was platted June 20, 1883, and was acknowledged by Moore, May 10, 1884, and contains one block, consisting of four lots.
Elizabeth Van Matre's second addition, situated immediately east of Van Matre's first addition, on the east side of Church Street, was platted June 19, 1883, and was ac- knowledged by Elizabeth Van Matre and Henry Van Matre, July 14, 1883, and contains one block, consisting of four lots.
Willis Wisehart's second addition, situated immediately north of Wisehart's first addition, on the west side of Main Street, and on the north side of Pine Street, was platted June 3, 1885, and was acknowledged by Wisehart on the same date, and contains three blocks, consisting of twenty four lots.
Painter and Watkins' first addition, situated immediately west of Yount's third addition and south of the railroad, was platted July 15, 1890, and was acknowledged by George Davis and Elizabeth Davis, proprietors, on the same date, and contains fifty eight lots, no blocks designated.
Jackson's first addition, situated immediately west of Painter and Watkins' addi- tion and extending north across the Panhandle railway, and lying between Twelfth and Sixteenth streets, was platted February 19, 1894, and was acknowledged by Llewellyn B. Jackson, Nellie J. Jackson, Erastus L. Elliott, Trustee, Andrew S. Miller, President. and George L. Swain, Secretary, of the Indiana Glass Company, on the same date, and contains ninety and twenty three hundredths acres, divided into four hundred and forty one lots, no blocks designated.
The Indiana Glass Company's addition, situated immediately east and north of Jackson's first addition, on the south side of the Panhandle railway, was platted March 26, 1894, and was acknowledged by Andrew S. Miller and George L. Swain, President and Secretary, respectively, of the Indiana Glass Company, on the same date, and con- tains ten and seventy three hundredths acres, divided into forty seven lots, no blocks designated.
Jackson Wisehart's addition, situated north of Yount's third addition on the north side of High Street and on the east side of Ninth Street, was platted February 27, 1894, and was acknowledged by Willis Wisehart and Elmira Wisehart, proprietors, on the same date, and contains four and forty eight hundredths acres, divided into twenty three lots, no blocks designated.
Willis Wisehart's third addition, situated immediately north of Wisehart's second addition, between Sixth and Eighth streets, was platted April 1, 1894, and was acknowl- edged by Willis Wisehart, Elmira Wisehart and Overton Cummins, President of the Middletown Butter and Cheese Company, on the same date, and contains six and sixty seven hundredths acres, divided into twenty two lots, no blocks designated.
Tykle's second addition, situated immediately east of Jackson's first addition, and north of the Indiana Glass Company's addition, on the north side of the Panhandle rail- way, was platted May 11, 1898, and was acknowledged by George E. Tykle and John H. Terhune, Trustees of the estate of Frederick Tykle, deceased, on the same date, and contains fourteen acres, divided into fifty two lots, no blocks designated.
Hedrick's first addition, situated immediately east of Wisehart's first addition, on the north side of Columbia Street, and extending east to Third Street, was platted May 2, 1898, and was acknowledged by John Baker, Jane Baker, J. O. Lambert, Emma Lam- bert, Berry H. Painter, Jane Sanders, Elizabeth McWilliams, Charles C. Shedron, Mary Shedron, Willis Wisehart, Elmira Wisehart, Lillie Hedrick, John W. Hedrick, John W. Hedrick, guardian of James C. Hedrick, Frank A. Wisehart, Jessie M. Wisehart, Gil- hert Watkins and Josie Watkins, heirs of John Hedrick, deceased, on the same date, ' and contains twenty and ninety eight hundredths acres, divided into seventy five lots and twelve out-lots, no blocks designated.
Jacob Koontz, the original proprietor, had a public sale of lots on December 25, 1829, and it is chronicled that the best prices obtained were very discouraging. At this time there was not a frame house in Fall Creek Township.
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
In point of population and wealth and as a business point, Middletown has al- ways been considered the third town in the county, ranked only by New Castle and Knightstown. It is surrounded by a fine body of fertile land, all of which has been converted into highly improved farms. The town has always enjoyed a good trade from the southern part of Delaware County, particularly from the "Rich- woods" neighborhood, as the county line is only two miles north from the Welsh hotel.
Middletown is noted for its fine private residences, its elegant churches and schools and the high character of its business blocks, particularly the Welsh hotel. It has one bank, known as the Farmers' State Bank of Middletown, with a capital of $30,000, and the thrift and prosperity of its people may be measured from the fact that this bank with so small a capital has carried a deposit account of $200,000. This bank is treated of elsewhere in this History in the chapter entitled "Banks and Banking."
A postoffice was established September 10, 1830, with Jacob Koontz, as post- master, and on pages 40 and 41 of this History will be found a list of the post- masters together with the names of the four rural route carriers connected with that office. Middletown is one of the three postoffices that have existed and that still exist in Fall Creek Township, the other two being Honey Creek and Mechan- icsburg. Its population according to the census of 1900 is given as 1801.
Middletown was incorporated in 1840 by Chauncey H. Burr and fourteen others.
MILLVILLE.
The most eastern village in Henry County on the line of the Panhandle rail- road is situated in Liberty Township, six and one fourth miles east and one half mile south of east from the court house in New Castle, and is in the N. E. } of Sec. 15 and the N. W. { of Sec. 14, Tp. 17 N., R. II E., and was laid out and plat- ted by John Minesinger, Deputy Surveyor, December 4, 1854, by order of the Court of Common Pleas of Henry County, in January, 1854, from the lands be- longing to the estate of John Hershberger, deceased, and contains eight lots, no blocks designated.
Abbott's addition, situated immediately west of the original plat, was platted and acknowledged by Abraham Abbott, August 28, 1856, and contains five blocks, consisting of twenty lots.
Forkner's addition, situated immediately north of the original plat, was platted and acknowledged by Micajah C. Forkner June 20, 1870, and contains five blocks, consisting of twenty one lots.
A plat of Millville, surveyed and platted by William R. Harrold, Surveyor, the same being a re-survey and plat of the original plat and all additions thereto was made and filed in the Recorder's office, August 7, 1873.
The village takes its name from a mill which stood nearby, when the Pan- handle railroad was completed to that place, owned by John Hershberger. The railroad established a station there and called it Millville. About this time Hershberger was accidentally killed in the mill, and it being determined to survey and plat the lands into lots, an order of court was obtained therefor as above stated.
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
The first store room in the town was built by Micajah C. Forkner, father of Judge Mark E. Forkner, of New Castle, who, if he did not start the first store himself, only rented the room for a short time to other parties, and then oc- cupied the store room himself with a stock of general merchandise.
Millville has always been considered a half way point between New Castle and Hagerstown. For many years, as a shipping point, it had the trade of Blue River and Stony Creek townships on the north and of the northern part of Dud- ley Township on the south, now lost to Millville by the construction of railroads through New Lisbon, Mooreland and Blountsville. It now, as a point for the purchase and shipment of grain and live stock, ranks high from the fact that Samuel D. Wiseheart and Sons, most enterprising merchants in this line, have made it their headquarters for many years.
A postoffice was established June 7, 1855, with Andrew J. Cromer, as post- master. On page 41 of this history will be found a list of the postmasters. Mill- ville is one of the four postoffices that have existed in Liberty Township, the other three being Chicago (discontinued). Devon (discontinued) and Ashland.
Millville has never been incorporated, and for that reason its population is included in that of Liberty Township. (See Chapter XXXVIII).
CHAPTER XLII.
HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES AND TOWNS, CONTINUED.
FOUNDERS AND EARLY MERCHANTS-ORIGINAL PLATS AND ADDITIONS-BANKS AND NEWSPAPERS-POSTAL AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES-POPULATION -MOORELAND-MOUNT SUMMIT-NEEDMORE-NEW CASTLE-NEW LISBON - OGDEN - PETERSBURG - PUMPKINTOWN - RAYSVILLE-ROGERSVILLE- SHARINGTON - SHIRLEY - SPICELAND - SPRINGPORT - STRAUGHN - SULPHUR SPRINGS-UNIONTOWN-WEST LIBERTY - WHEELAND - WHITE RAVEN-WOODVILLE-MILES MARSHALL MOORE AND FAMILY.
MOORELAND.
The incorporated town of Mooreland is situated in Blue River Township, eight miles northeast from the court house in New Castle, on the Big Four rail- way, and is in the E. } of the N. E. { of Sec. 22 and the W. } of the N. W. } and the W. { of the S. W. { of Sec. 23, Tp. 18 N., R. II E., and was laid out and plat- ted by Daniel K. Cook, Surveyor, and was acknowledged by Miles M. Moore, proprietor, August 9, 1882, and contains four and eighty seven hundredths acres, divided into two blocks consisting of sixteen lots and one out-lot.
Mathew Cory's first addition, situated immediately east of the original plat, on the east side of Broad Street and extending south across the railroad, was platted August 26, 1882, and was acknowledged by Cory on the same date, and contains four blocks, con- sisting of twenty two lots.
Mathew Cory's second addition, situated immediately east of Cory's first addition, was platted August 8, 1885, and contains four blocks, consisting of twenty three lots and one out-lot.
Mathew Cory's third addition, situated immediately north of Cory's first addition, on the east side of Broad Street, was platted December 28, 1886, and was acknowledged by Cory on the same date, and contains two blocks, consisting of twelve lots and the schoolhouse lot.
Mathew Cory's fourtb addition, situated north and east of Cory's second addition, was platted March 13, 1888, and was acknowledged by Cory on the same date, and con- tains three blocks, consisting of sixteen lots and one out-lot.
Moore's first addition, situated immediately west of the original plat and on the north side of the Big Four railway, was platted March 28, 1888, and was acknowledged by Newton B. Davis, administrator of the estate of Miles M. Moore, deceased, on the same date, and contains three blocks, consisting of twenty six lots.
Mathew Cory's fifth addition, situated immediately south of Cory's second addi- tion, was platted January 22, 1889, and was acknowledged by Cory on the same date, and contains two blocks, consisting of sixteen lots.
Eli Hardman's first addition, situated immediately north of the original plat and west of Cory's third addition and north of Charles Street and west of Broad Street, was platted April 18, 1889, and was acknowledged by Eli Hardman and Mary Jane Hard- man, proprietors, on the same date, and contains twelve acres, divided into five blocks, consisting of forty four lots and one out-lot.
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Holliday and Koons' addition, situated immediately east of Cory's third addition and north of Block One of Cory's fourth addition, was platted June 12, 1901, and was ac- knowledged by Eli Holliday, George R. Koons and Benjamin F. Koons, proprietors, on the same date, and contains twenty four lots, no hlocks designated.
Mark Huffman's first addition, situated immediately north of Hardman's addition, on the west side of Broad Street, was platted April 25, 1904, and was acknowledged by Mark Huffman and Mary Huffman, proprietors, on the same date, and contains four and thirty one hundredths acres, divided into sixteen lots, no blocks designated.
One of the early settlers of Blue River Township and one of the most success- ful farmers was Philip Moore, who, dying November 27, 1873, left a valuable estate and a fine farm immediately adjoining the present town of Mooreland. One of his sons, Miles M., by purchase and inheritance, came into possession of that part of the land from which the original plat of Mooreland was surveyed, and it is from these facts that the town is named Mooreland.
A postoffice was established August 21, 1882. On page 41 of this History will be found a list of the postmasters and the names of the two rural route carriers connected with that office, one of whom, Henry H. Moore, is a brother of Miles M., who laid off the town.
Mooreland is surrounded by as fine farming land as there is in Henry County and everything in the town and surrounding country denotes thrift and prosperity. The town has a bank, the history of which will be found in the chapter in this History devoted to "Banks and Banking." The first store was started by Marcus Holliday, son of Oliver Holliday, an early settler, in 1882. The popula- tion is given in the census of 1900 at 300. Mooreland is on the projected line of the Indianapolis, New Castle and Toledo electric railway. Mooreland, Messick and Rockland are Blue River Township's three postoffices, the last named having been discontinued.
MILES MARSHALL MOORE.
IN WHOSE HONOR THE TOWN OF MOORELAND WAS NAMED.
Miles Marshall Moore, the third son of Philip and Julia Ann ( Wilson) Moore, was born November 18, 1836, on his father's farm in Blue River Township, Henry County, Indiana. He died April 14, 1886, and is huried in Nettle Creek Cemetery, near the old town of Franklin, five miles north of Hagerstown, Wayne County. His father, Philip Moore, was the son of one of the first pioneer settlers of Henry County, William Moore, a native of Tennessee, and his wife, Catharine (Cotener) Moore, who first settled in Preble County, Ohio, where Philip Moore was born April 24, 1812, and who afterwards, when Philip was hut fourteen years of age, came to Henry County with his family and settled in Blue River Township. William Moore was a soldier of the War of 1812-15, a record of which fact will be found in another place in this History.
The boyhood days of Miles Marshall Moore were spent in the service of his father and he was a potent helper in clearing the land and cultivating the soil of his father's tarm. His education was such as could be secured at the common or district schools of the period. In 1860, with a view to going to some new country, if the outlook proved promising, he took a trip to the Great West from which he soon afterward returned home where he remained with his father until August 27, 1861. The Civil War was then in progress and he enlisted as a private in Company C, 36th Indiana Infantry, and partici- pated in all the engagements of that famous regiment, serving a full enlistment of three years. He was a brave and gallant soldier and the record of his military service will be tound in connection with that of his company and regiment in Chapter XVI of this History.
Miles & More
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
After his honorable discharge from the army at Atlanta, Georgia, September 15, 1864, he returned to his home in. Blue River Township, and in the following year, March 26, 1865, was united in marriage with Nancy, daughter of Thomas and Elvira Lamb, of Dalton, Wayne County, Indiana. She was born November 17, 1845.
Immediately after their marriage, Miles M. Moore and his wife went to White County, in the western part of the State of Indiana, where he and his brother, James H. Moore, had purchased for seven thousand five hundred dollars, two hundred and fifty acres of land. After making the first payment on the land, he had thirty dollars left with which he and his wife hegan housekeeping. She was a very economical woman and a valued helpmeet, using as little as possible of their small store of money for the house- hold but spending the greater part of it for corn, hay and feed for the stock. Mrs. Moore not only performed her duties as the housekeeper but often went into the field and as- sisted her husband iu tilling and cultivating the soil. This double labor, willingly per- formed, was continued until the birth of their first child, Philip Edgar, born May 12, 1867. He was a very bright and interesting child and was the pride of the household. On January 15, 1869, Thomas Eugene, their second child, was born. From this time the health of Mrs. Moore declined and her husband became correspondingly depressed and discouraged. On May 18. 1872, the eldest son, Philip Edgar, or Eddie as he was famil- iarly called, was taken down with brain fever from which, after severe pain and suffer- ing, death came to his relief. At the earnest desire of the wife and mother, the remains of the child were taken to Wayne County, Indiana, and were there interred in Nettle Creek Cemetery. He died May 28, 1872.
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