USA > Indiana > Henry County > Henry County; past and present: a brief history of the county from 1821 to 1871 > Part 6
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COUNTY BUILDINGS.
that the next generation, at least, will thank the Commissioners who ordered its erection, and give full credit to Mr. M. F. Ed .. wards for having efficiently superintended the construction of the same and completing it in less time than was required for the former botched job which cost but $4,500.
THE PRESENT JAIL. ยท
The present county prison* is a fine well built strue- ture, in shape somewhat like a capital letter "T," with the top of the letter representing the front of the building, which is used as a jailer's residence, and a very comfortable and handy one it is at that.
The building is complete in all its appointments, is two stories in height, with a cellar underneath, containing a fur- nace, &c., for warming the whole. Externally the building has the appearance of being of brick, with stone window frames secured with heavy iron rods, behind which are heavy plate glass of such a peculiar make that they do not obstruct the light while they tell none of the secrets of the interior. Inside the brick wall is a thick stone one, or rather the wall is half stone and half of brick, and just inside the stone is an iron lining of boiler iron. Next comes a corridor about three feet wide, and then an iron grating, made of heavy iron bars through which pass one and one-eighth inch rods of iron. This arrangement extends through both stories. Inside of this formidable grating, is another passage way or corridor, entirely surrounding the cells, or strong boxes, which are made of heavy iron grating and boiler iron.
The first floor is of massive stone slabs, about fifteen inches in thickness, and the second floor is of iron. There are eighteen cells in the building, not likely to be filled at one time soon,
*In a former page, it is stated that the jail of 1836 "stood the racket for about thirty years," which has been discovered to be an error, for the musty records since examined show that the constant bill of expenses for guarding prisoners was such that the Commissioners ordered another one built, February 11, 1851. Elisha Clift seems to have been the archi- tect, and Jacob Elliott was selected to purchase materials and superin- tend it, under the "immediate orders" of the Commissioners. It was two stories in height, and thirty-six by forty feet, was of brick, with a stone floor, the cell wall being hewn timber, and lined with boiler iron, and cost about $3,500.
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HENRY COUNTY; PAST AND PRESENT.
unless the illicit whisky dealers of our county begin to get their just deserts.
The structure was built with an eye to the safety of its in- mates, and, notwithstanding a mishap or two has already oc- curred, it is not easy to see how a safer trap can reasonably be constructed, and it is the opinion of good judges that, with reasonable care on the part of the keeper to ward off outside influences, the most expert jail-bird could be kept till doomsday.
The cost of the building has been nearly $40,000. Robert Cluggish, Esq., most efficiently superintended its erection.
HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES.
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Our county seems to have been well supplied with villages, "Past and Present." The plats of thirty of these can be found on the Recorder's books. A few of these have been paper towns only, while a few others, but little more fortunate, made a start, soon got their growth, in short, were finished. In such cases, it is said, about the only appropriate thing to be done is to put a good fence around them, whitewash it, and then quit.
A majority, however, of the towns have become quite well established commercial, social, and literary centers. In point of senlority, it is impossible to determine which takes prece- dence, New Castle or West Liberty, as plats of each were filed on the same day-April 8, 1823-at which time the Recorder seems to have commenced his official career, although it is quite evident that lots were laid off and cabins and other improve- ments begun in each, the year previous.
WEST LIBERTY.
This early foundation for a city was laid out by Samuel Furgason. It was located near the mouth of Montgomery's Creek, on the old State Road, or about three-fourths of a mile southwest of Knightstown.
The place grew quite favorably for a few years, had at one
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HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES.
time about twenty houses, and two or more groceries and dry goods stores. Dr. Elliott, who subsequently died of cholera, in New Castle, was the first physician. Bicknell Cole was first postmaster, and Aaron Maxwell first merchant. The first mail route established through the county was from Greensburg and Rushville, through West Liberty and New Castle, to Muncie, and for some time there were but two offices in the county.
Unfortunately for the hopes of the West Liberty people, the National Road was located near half a mile north of them, about 1827, when "corner lots" soon became a drug.
NEW CASTLE,
The county seat of Henry county, is pleasantly located within one mile of the geographical center of the county. The Gazet- eers represent Charles Jamison as "proprietor," "first settler," &c., but a reference to the records show that he had much less to do with it than others.
When the Legislative Commission, already spoken of, were in quest of a site, about one hundred acres of land were prof- fered by public spirited and interested parties, for the use of the county, on the sole condition that the present site should be chosen. Of this, Absalom Harvey gave twenty-eight acres; John Brumfield, twenty-eight, less two lots; A. Lewis, four- teen acres; Allan Shepherd, ten acres, and Rue and Holeman, of Wayne county, twenty-four acres, less five lots reserved.
This nice little patch in the wilderness was placed at the disposal of the County Agent, Mr. Leavell, and at once surveyed, and, by direction of the Commissioners, thrown upon the mar- ket, in July, 1822. This first sale could not have been a great success, as all the money handled by the Treasurer for that year amounted to $154 all told. In August, 1823, another sale was ordered, and the Commissioners showed their appre- ciation of printer's ink, by ordering the Agent to advertise in the "Richmond Weekly Intelligencer and the Indiana States- man, a newspaper printed at Connersville." This was followed, in a few months, by another sale, and still much of New Castle remained a wilderness, and, in May, 1824, the clearing off of the public square was "sold to the lowest bidder." William
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HENRY COUNTY; PAST AND PRESENT.
MeKimmy and John Dorrah did the surveying, and received twenty-five dollars each for this service.
Charles Jamison was soon after made the first tavern keep- er, and, of course, "gave bond to the satisfaction of the Board." In 1823, Isaac Bedsaul, being able to satisfy the Board that his capital did not exceed $1,000, was licensed to "keep store." His first store room was a twelve by sixteen cabin, with earthen floor and a clapboard counter, resting on stakes, driven into the earth. In this region, saw mills were yet unknown, and a frame house next to an impossibility. A log cabin was deemed good enough for the proudest.
But the town grew apace, and, by 1833, had about three hundred inhabitants, of whom about one-tenth died of the cholera, in 1832-3.
The first preaching here seems to have been by Father Havens, of the M. E. Church, and was had in a log house, a lit- tle south of the present residence of B. Shirk, Esq.
The completion of the Chicago & Great Eastern Railroad this far, in the winter of 1854, and of a branch of the Cinein- nati & Indianapolis Junction, now called the Fort Wayne, Mun- cie & Cincinnati Railroad, together with some eight or nine turnpikes radiating in all directions, has opened up a real and prospective future of prosperity for the county seat, scarcely second to any in the State. For cleanly and well graded streets, substantial and palatial residences, fine business houses, churches, and elegant public buildings, it is noted far and wide. Among the leading business houses may be mentioned in the way of
Dry Goods-Mowrer, Murphey & Co .; R. B. Smith; Shroyer & Co .; L. L. Burr & Co .; Lee. Harvey, and J. Holland.
Ready-made Clothing and Dry Goods-Kahn & Co., and N. E. Black.
Groceries-Mowrer & Shirk; Mullin & Hernly; B. F. Moore; Samuel Arnold, and Burr & Hoover.
Drugs-J. & R. M. Nixon; Pence & Moore, and Dr. Men- denhall.
Bakers and Restaurants-James Cummins; Chambers &
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HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES.
Denius, and W. W. Moore.
Hardware-S. P. Jennings & Co., and J. C. Livezey & Co.
Stoves, Tin, and Hollow-ware-M. L. Powell.
Cabinet Makers-W. E. Livezey ; Brenneman & Beam, and L. A. Jennings.
Plows, Wagons, &c .- J. M. Gough & Co., and Johnson & Fisher.
Carriage Makers-Burley & Rogers.
Saw and Planing Mills-L. A. Jennings, and Mr. Past.
Jewelry Store-W. G. Hillock.
Physicians and Surgeons-Isaac Mendenhall ; John Rea; John Needham ; W. F. Boor; I. N. Dix ; Samuel Ferris, and G. W. Burke.
Of Attorneys there is a host. Among them may be men- tioned Brown & Polk; Chambers & Saint; W. F. Walker; Elliott & Elliott; James B. Martindale ; W. N. Carroll; M. L. Powell; G. W. Woy ; Joseph Worl; J. T. Mellett ; Wm. Grose ; W. M. Watkins, and T. B. Redding.
Hotels-The Junction House, by James Mullin, and Henry House, by O. H. Welborn, have each the reputation of being well kept, while there are quite a number of excellent boarding houses in the place.
Flouring Mill-Strickland & Bush; the most extensive establishment in the county.
Foundry and Machine Shop-George Keiser; just being erected, and to be in operation in a few weeks; will be a most valuable adjunct to the business of the place.
In addition to this partial list of the business establishments and men of the place, there are three newspapers and one job printing office, three flourishing picture galleries, several milli- nery shops, two dental offices, several smith shops, a number of carpenter shops, shoemakers, painters, glaziers, paper hangers, plasterers, brick and stone masons, &e., &c., who always seem to be thronged with work; while the dealers in grain, shingles, lath, lumber, sash, doors, blinds, lime, eoal, &c., seem to be doing a flourishing business, and able to compete in priees with simi- lar dealers anywhere in Eastern Indiana.
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HENRY COUNTY; PAST AND PRESENT.
The Academy building, three stories in height, erected at a rost of about $15,000, furnishes accommodations for about five hundred students. In it were employed seven teachers during 1870, with a total number of pupils admitted of 441, and an average attendance of 268.
The Methodist, Christian, Lutheran, United Brethren, and Presbyterian churches, each have good buildings, those belong- ing to the Methodist Episcopal and Christian denominations costing some $12,000 or $15,000 cach.
The population of New Castle is a little the rise of 1,500, with a steady and healthy growth, while the assessed value of the real and personal property on the duplicate tax list of 1870 was $799,860, a little over $533 to each man, woman, and child.
New Castle has had its stand-still epochs, but they seem happily to be of the past; and, with new elements of growth, and a more thorough appreciation of the necessity of encourag- ing various kinds of manufacture as the only true foundation for prosperity, there are good prospects that it will nearly double its population in the next decade.
UNIONTOWN.
This village, so unknown to fame that scarcely a score of persons now living in the county ever saw it, was located by William Seward, "sole proprietor," on the old State Road, in the south part of Dudley township, in May, 1823. It only reached about the second or third house, before the National Road blighted its prospects.
FAIRFIELD.
The next village of the county was so entirely a paper town that we have failed to see the man who could locate it. The recorded plat gives neither section, township or range. All we know is that the National Road was to be the principal street, and that Lewis Tacket was proprietor.
KNIGHTSTOWN.
The " city " of Knightstown is pleasantly situated on Blue River, or rather between that stream and Montgomery's Creek, and on the Central Railroad and National Road as well. It was platted in 1827, and plat recorded in 1828, Waitsel M. Carey,
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HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES.
proprietor. Mr. Carey kept the only hotel for some years, and built the first frame house in town. The place was named in honor of Mr. Jonathan Knight, a United States Engineer, who located the Cumberland or National Road through the State about this time. At first the town only extended back two or three tiers of lots from the river bluf.
Levi Griffith and Isaac James owned the first dry goods establishment here about the year 1830. There were about half dozen houses here 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 fect. The Methodists erected a small frame building, about the year 1837. A distil- lery was erected just over the river, about 1825, by one John Lewis, and about 1828 a carding machine was built near the depot.
About two years after the inception of Knightstown, Ithamar Stewart's splendid farm of 160 aeres (now worth $125 per aere) could have been bought for $400, and several years later the country was such a " howling wilderness"-with little more than a bridle-path through the woods-that Dr. Whitsel was badly lost in going to see a patient on Six Mile Creek. One of the best. corner lots (Probasco's) sold for $96, which was regarded as a fancy price indeed. Bears came up out of the river bottom, and were chased through the streets more than once after 1830. 1 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 day's thau at present. 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 in forty years.
Knightstown is in the midst of splendid farming lands, the productions of which find here a ready market.
In 1852 the Knightstown and Shelbyville Railroad, the first which reached our county, was completed to Knightstown, and
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HENRY COUNTY; PAST AND PRESENT.
business received a new impetus, and " corner lots " rapidly ap- preciated in value.
The following are among the wide-awake business houses of the place :
Dry Goods-Williams & Hatfield ; J. T. & O. Charles; Rea- gan & Risk ; Reeves & Son ; Tinney & Ramsey, and N. Weil & Brother.
Clothing Store-Moses Heller.
Groceries-Win. B. Gray; Joseph Woods; R. Probasco; John Morris & Son; Sol. Byrkett.
Stoves and Tin Ware-Breckenridge & Barrett; Muzzy & Co .; John Crider.
Hardware-Harvey, Bell & Co., and II. Ball.
Drugs and Medicines-J. B. Edwards & Co .; U. D. Picker- ing & Bro., and John Weaver.
Books and Stationery-E. B. Niles.
Dentists-Jay & Wagoner and M. II. Chappell.
Physicians-J. W. Whitesell ; N. H. Canaday ; W. B. Me- Gavran; G. W. Riddell; - Sparks; L. V. Winston; T. J. Bowls.
Attorneys-C. D. Morgan ; J. Lee Furgason ; S. C. Cooper ; C. M. Butler, and Joseph M. Brown.
Furniture Dealers-Confare & Simmons, and Thomas Estell.
Millinery Establishments-A. B. Fithian & Co .; Sophie Shoemaker; Mrs. Barrett; Mrs. Green, and Mrs. Grubbs.
Coal, Lime, Salt, Queensware, &c .- Joseph Woods.
Planing Mills, Sash, Doors, &c .- Coffen, Deem & Edwards, and Fort & Brothers,
Livery Stables-George B. Ramsay ; George Davy; Scott & Thayer.
Hotels-Shipman House; Rockwell House, and several boarding houses.
Churches-The Presbyterian, Methodist, and Christian de- nominations have each good commodious brick buildings, and the Baptists a comfortable frame house.
In addition to the above-mentioned firms there are three flourishing grist mills, a machine shop, three or four smith shops,
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HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES.
several carpenter shops, three excellent carriage factories, two boot and shoe stores, two butcher shops, one tannery, one bakery, two saw mills, two jewelry stores, masons, plasterers, restaur- ants, a nursery, kept by W. F. Ballard, commission merchants, and grain dealers; a marble shop; two printing offices; a na- tional bank, &c.
The Knightstown Academy building is a commodious structure, capable of accommodating near four hundred pupils, and the graded school at that point has for years ranked high. The building, though imposing in size, was built a num- ber of years ago, and some of the citizens are agitating the erec- tion of one with all the modern improvements. There are 537 children of an age to go to school attached to Knightstown for school purposes, of which 442 attended the school year of 1870, and the average attendance was 261.
The population of Knightstown, by the late census, was 1,543, and its wealth, real and personal, according to the tax duplicate of 1870 is $818,390.
RAYSVILLE.
Raysville is situated on the east side of Blue River, which separates it from Knightstown. It was laid out as a village by John Anderson, about the time of the location of the National Road, and named in honor of Governor Ray. Although having an even start as a place of business, it has had to yield the palm to Knightstown, where quite a number of the citizens of Rays- ville are engaged in business.
The " heights " around Raysville furnish quite commanding and picturesque building sites, with advantageous views of the Blue River Valley, two great thoroughfares, and of the two towns. For a commanding "out-look," we know of nothing more desirable in the county than the view from the former residence of John C. Teas, now the property of John T. White. Charles White and C. D. Morgan, Esq., have also fine suburban residences, erected regardless of expense, which add much to the importance of the place.
Fine springs in the neighboring hills have been tapped and the water conveyed by an " aqueduct" along Main street, l'or
HENRY COUNTY: PAST AND PRESENT.
the use of the inhabitants, and the water-tank on the Central Rallroad is always fully supplied from a similar source with pure water.
Raysville had a population of 465 in July last. A dry goods and general store is kept by M. Thompson, and a grocery by Charles Barnaby. There is one wagon-maker's shop, one harness maker, one shoe shop, one plasterer, one smith shop, &c. There is also a grain elevator adjoining the depot (where the potent effects of steam are invoked), owned by Charles White, an extensive grain and stock-dealer. John Bird's nursery is quite an adjunct to the business interests of the place. The Methodists and Friends have each a church in the place, with flourishing congregations.
MIDDLETOWN,
Situated on Fall Creek, in the northern part of Fall Creek township, was laid out by Jacob Koons, and plat recorded Oct. 9, 1829. There was a public sale of lots on the 25th day of December, 1829, when the best lots did not sell so well as they do latterly. There was not a frame house in the township at that time.
It is now the third village in the county in point of wealth and population. It contains one hundred and forty-five resi- dences, and a population of seven hundred and ten. The real estate is valued at $104,880, and the personal at $115,400. The town was incorporated, in 1840, by C. H. Burr and fourteen others. There are several fine buildings in the place.
A large body of rich farming lands is tributary to Middle- town, and, as a consequence, large amounts of produce ard handled there, and the sales of dry goods, groceries, &c., &c. are correspondingly large. Among the leading business men o the place, we may mention :
Dry Goods -- Yount, Murphey & Co .; Terhune & Painter Summers & Shedron.
Drugs -- Burr & Terhune, and Wiseheart & Davis.
Groceries -- Mr. Winings; J. T. Windsor ; James D. Farrell who Is also present postmaster.
Stoves and Tinware -- J. A. Scott.
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HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES.
Furniture-Fred. Tykle.
Physicians -- R. B. Griflis; R. T. Summers, and Drs. Cly- mer & Welch.
Hotels-Jesse West and JJoseph Mowrer.
There is also one of the best grist mills in the county, two saw mills, one harness maker, two boot and shoe houses, a tan- nery, which has been carried on by C. H. Burr about forty years.
The course of Middletown has been onward, since the com- pletion of the Chicago & Great Eastern Road, which passes through the town. Its proximity to the Bellefontaine line has also been of considerable advantage to it, as it enabled its produce dealers to command facilities for shipping denied to other places on the road, as the dealers could, in many in- stances wagon their produce to the "Bee Line," if desired facili- ties were denied them.
Middletown is not disposed to neglect the subject of educa- tion. It has a good two-story frame school house valued at about $1,500, and has been sustaining a graded school for sever- al years. There are 263 children of a suitable age attached to the district, of whom 200 attended school, during 1870, while the average attendance is reported at 175.
OGDEN.
The town of Ogden, situated on the Central Railroad and National Road, in the southwestern portion of Spiceland town- ship, was laid out by Hiram Crum, in December, 1829. It was originally called Middletown, from its being the half way point between Richmond and Indianapolis, but when application was made for a post office, a "new name" was given it, as a rule of the Post Office Department would not admit of two offices of the same name in one county. Latterly, the custom is to grant but one of the same name in a State.
Ogden was named in honor of a U. S. Engineer, en- gaged in the construction of the National Road, and is the oldest town and first voting precinct in Spiceland township. We mention the following among the principal business men and firms of the place :
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HENRY COUNTY; PAST AND PRESENT.
Dry Goods and Groceries-Murphey & Son; Mr. Wright, and O. B. Byrket.
Drugs-Eli T. Hodson.
Furulture-Gillespie & Goble.
Carriage and Wagon Maker-Moses Linderwood.
Boots and Shoes-R. A. Broadbent.
Blacksmithing-James Steel.
Physicians-E. N. Tull; William Cox; Alfred Reeves, and Isaac Ballenger.
Attorney-Robert N. Broadbent.
There is an excellent grist and saw mill (water-power), owned by Murphey & Son, and a steam saw mill, run by Gil- lespie, Goble & Hubbard.
Ogden has, besides, plasterers, masons, painters, carpenters, ete., one church-the Christians-and a good two-story brick school-house, recently erected. Ogden las a population of about three hundred.
LEWISVILLE.
The plat of Lewisville was recorded December 25, 1829, by Lewis C. Freeman and James B. Harris, proprietors. It is lo- cated in the southern part of Franklin township, on Flat Rock Creek, where the Henry County Turnpike and Central Railroad cross that stream, and, being in the midst of an excellent body of land of large scope, has been for many years a place of con- siderable business. When the town was laid out, two lots were reserved for the use of the town. Lewisville has a population of about 416. Its business interests are chiefly represented as follows :
Dry Goods, Notions, and Groceries-W. S. T. Morton; Jas. T. Watson ; Robert Bartlett.
Groceries, Notions, Queensware, Stationery, &c .- Benjamin S. Parker.
Hardware-Farm Implements, Stoves, &c .- T. W. Hall. Stoves and Tin and Hollow Ware-Samuel Eaton.
Druggists-C. A. Humphrey and Wm. H. Kerr.
Blacksmiths-J. & W. Wilson and John C. Rickerd. Flouring Mill-J. E. Loveland.
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HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES.
Physicians-Wm. M. Bartlett and Wm. Vannuys. Notary Public and Conveyancer-B. S. Parker. Attorney-J. C. Howe.
Besides these, there are two boot and shoemakers, two tail -- ors, two painters, and one saddle and harness maker, carpenters, - masons, plasterers, milliners, watch makers, photographers, &e ...
The town has a large two-story briek school house and a graded school, which has been quite successfully conducted by W. C. Hall and James M. Smith. The Methodists have a frame . church building, while the Presbyterians have one in course of erection. The real and personal property of Lewisville is rated? for purposes of taxation at $147,660.
GREENSBORO.
This town was platted in February, 1830, by John Wicker -- sham, proprietor. It is situated on the east bank of Duck Creek, about one mile from its junction with Blue River, and nearly seven miles north by east from Knightstown. Being in the midst of a tract of fertile farming lands, it has ever enjoyed a considerable local traffic, though its growth in wealth and im -- portance has not been so rapid as that of some other villages in the county. Greensboro has a number of excellent turnpikes radiating from it; but it is as a station on the " underground" railroad " that it has won a national reputation. As the home- of a number of determined and veteran abolition agitators, it. had a reputation, fifteen or twenty years ago, second to no placc- of its size in the whole country. In those early days a large building, known as " Liberty Hall,"' was often filled with en- thusiastic audiences, who listened to such apostles of freedom as Arnold Buffum, Abby Kelly, Fred. Douglas, G. W. Julian, and others of note.
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