USA > Indiana > Henry County > Henry County; past and present: a brief history of the county from 1821 to 1871 > Part 7
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Of the business men of the place we would name :
Dry Goods-Ezra Spencer and Reagan & Dillee. Clothing-Thornberry & Newby. Drugs-Joel Wright and T. S. Williams.
Groceries-Willard Loring.
Hardware-Kern & West. Cabinet Maker-Thomas II. Mills ..
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HENRY COUNTY: PAST AND PRESENT.
Harness-A. & N. Weeks.
Pump -- Wilson & Knight and R. Koontz.
Dentistry-Wilson & MeGutlin.
Wagons-Camplin & Macy.
Blacksmiths-H. M. Jay and Spencer & Martin.
Boots and Shoes-Stephen Deitch, Thomas Mowrer, and Bowen Burk.
Grist Mills-Risk & Elliott and Bowman & Taylor.
Physicians-Newby & Grose and R. H. Homer.
Hotel-Allen Kirk.
Churches-The Methodists and the Orthodox and Hicksite branches of Friends have each a church-building in the village, while the Spiritualist> have here a comfortable place of wor- ship, known as Progress Hall.
The principal school-building in the place is a creditable two-story frame.
The population of Greensboro is about 360, and the valua- tion of the real and personal property within the corporation limits, which does not include the whole town, is given at $73,970.
HILLSBORO,
One of the old towns of Henry county, is situated near the Little Blue River, in the southeast corner of Prairie town- ship, and about three miles northeast of New Castle. It was laid out in 1830, by Thomas Maston and Samuel Rinchart. It has eighteen dwellings and a population of about one hundred. It has two small stores, a smith shop, a steam saw mill, &e., &c. Near it are located the extensive woolen mills of Ice, Dunn & Co. The place is at present without a post office, as such an establishment, after two or three trials, was not found suffi- ciently lucrative to indnee a postmaster to longer discharge thie duties incident to it. "Dan Webster" was the name of the office formerly established there.
BLOUNTSVILLE,
Named after its founder, Andrew Blount, was begun in July, 1832. It is located on the east bank of Stony Creek, near the northeast corner of the county, and about fourteen miles northi-
75
HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES.
east of the county seat. Among the early settlers in the imme- diate neighborhood were John Hodgins, a Mr. Scofield, and Jona- than Bedwell.
The population of Blountsville is about 180, and there are 41 dwellings in the village.
The Methodists and New Light denominations have each good church buildings, while a good two-story brick school lionse speaks well for the place.
The business interests of the place are chiefly represented as follows :
Dry Goods-Jesse Carey and Eli Warner.
Drugs and Groceries-William Luther.
Family Groceries-William Bird.
Physicians-Jont. Ross, L. 1. Hendricks, and B. F. Adams. Furniture-J. N. Stanly and J. D. Brenington.
There is also a good flouring mill, a saw mill, smith shop, a hotel, kept by Mark Walradt, carpenters. boot and shoe shop, &c., &c. Several new turnpikes center here, which will have a tendency to greatly enhance the pleasure as well as profit ot living and doing business in the place.
NEW LISBON.
Formerly called Jamestown (or "Jimtown"), was located in 1833, by James Tomkinson and Wm. Crane. It is situated on the New Castle and Dublin Pike and Fort Wayne, Muncie and Cincinnati Railroad, about eight miles southeast of New Castle and four and one-half northwest of Dublin. It is a village of about forty dwellings, and near two hundred inhabitants, and, we believe, has never aspired to become an incorporated city.
Among the business men may be mentioned, in the way of-
Dry Goods-Shawhan & Son.
Groceries-Henry Hart and Jacob Wiseman.
Physicians-Messrs. Kepler and Cain.
Tile Factory-Jonathan Ratliff and Samuel Ward.
Blacksmith-Patrick Johnson.
Shoemaker-Cornelius Warner.
The writer distinctly recollects a steam saw mill as being
76
HENRY COUNTY; PAST AND PRESENT.
among the wonders of " Jimtown," about the year 1837. This was cotemporaneous, or nearly so (if not the identical mill), with one owned by Daniel Reynolds and A. L. Pleas, and located, for a short time, about one-half mile north of Hope- well Meeting House. This was none of your improved institu- tions, in which the saw dust was amply sufficient for fuel. It had two huge boilers, and required about five cords of the best wood per day to keep up steam, while the accumulation of saw dust around the mill in a few months bid fair to render ap- proach to it impossible. These were undoubtedly the first attempts at utilizing the powers of steam in this county, and from the best information coming down to us, the effort was not a brilliant success financially.
For many years New Lisbon had the appearance of being finished ; but good turnpikes and the inspiring influence of the Junction Railroad have rejuvenated it, and it now enjoys con- siderable trade, and a number of new buildings are noticeable ..
WHEELAND.
A village of this name seems to have been projected in 1533, as is attested on our records over the signature of Caleb Williams, Surveyor; but since neither township, range, nor section is given, by which to fix its "local habitation," we con -. clude that it never snecessfully passed the paper stage.
SHARINGTON,
Another paper village, was platted February 23, 1836, by Benja- min Franklin, Abraham Showalter and James Personett; and, although the location is not given, it is probable that it was "laid out" near the road now leading from Cadiz to Middletown, and about two and a half miles cast of Mechanicsburg.
LURAY.
Luray was laid out in 1836, by Lot Hazleton, and is located in the northern end of Prairie township, on the New Castle & Muncie Turnpike, ten miles due north of New Castle. There. is a fine flouring mill in the vicinity. A church, school house, one physician, smith shop, &e., are in the village. The population numbered GG, according to the late census. The completion of the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad, which runs
77
HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES.
within one and one-half miles of the place, as is usual in such cases, has a depressing effect upon the village.
WOODVILLE.
This village, located on the line between Greensboro and Harrison townships, about five miles northwest of the town of Greensboro, was founded May, 1836, James Atkinson, proprie- tor. The population of the place is quite limited. The country around is leavel but quite fertile.
Alfred Jackson and Leonard Fowler preside over the dry goods trade of the place, and Dr. Wilson C. Olden is the Æseu- lapius of the region.
CADIZ,
Founded September 11, 1836, David Pickering, proprietor, is located seven miles north of west from New Castle, and is the principal village in Harrison township.
It has a population of about three hundred, and is a place of considerable business. Among its principal business men we mention :
Dry Goods-B. W. Pickering ; Hess & Cooper; Me Cormack & Bonslog.
Drugs-Nelson & Meek ; Bond & Alshouse.
Physicians-L. W. Hess and L. N. Benediet.
Hotels-D. Rees and Captain Collins.
Attorney-Jacob Meek.
Besides which there are carpenters, cabinet-makers, two black-smith shops, a tile factory, boot and shoe shops, a grist mill, saw mill, a good school house, and the Friends, Methodists, and Christian congregations have each a church, and the Spir- itualists a hall in which occasional services are held. A hack · line, carrying a daily mail, has been established for several years between this place and New Castle.
At the time Cadiz was founded there was no house within seven miles on the west, and the population of the township was but little in excess of one hundred.
ROGERSVILLE,
Situated in the west part of Stony Creek township, and abont ten miles northeast of New Castle, was laid out by James O.
)
i
HENRY COUNTY: PAST AND PRESENT.
Roger- and John R. Colburn, in January, 1837. The popula- tion is about seventy, and the business of the place is represented principally by one dry goods establishment, kept by J. W. Lake, a grocery store and harness shop, by JJabish Luellen, a shoe store, by W. T. Wilkinson, and a smith shop, by Luellen & Fegley. Dr. Kerr is the physician. A division of Sons of Temperance was kept up here until quite recently, and several years after the institution had been suspended in every other part of the county.
ELIZABETH CITY,
Founded in September, 1838, by Robert Morris Overman, is lo- vated on the Knightstown and Warrington Pike, in the north- West corner of Wayne township. There is a fine body of farm- ing land around it. Wilkinson & Brother are dealers in dry goods and groceries, two smith shops, run by N. MeDougal and Elisha Burris. There are two wagon shops, a carpenter shop, one saw mill, an M. E. church, a school house, and twenty-two families in the place.
PETERSBRUGH,
Located in the northeastern part of Liberty township, was founded in -, but soon got its growth, reaching only about half a dozen houses.
CHICAGO,
Founded in -, is located on the New Castle and Hagerstown pike, abont one and one-half miles southeast of Millville and half a mile from the railroad, which seems to have ruined its business prospects. At one time it numbered ten or twelve houses, one or two stores, and two hotels.
SPICELAND.
This flourishing, and, in many respects, remarkable, village existed in name and contained a few houses more than a third of a century ago, although it was first regularly platted and lot- sold by Driver Boon and others, in 1847.
A postoffice was established in 1838, Thomas Cook, Post- master. The first goods were sold here by Solomon Sweet, in 1840. A Friends' meeting and school were established, in 1828 or 1520, the meetings at first being held in a log baru,
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HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES.
The
after which a log house was erected for the purpose. £ mereantile and manufacturing interests of the village are now considerable. There are engaged in the sale of
Dry Goods-Evans & Johnson; Newby & Bogue ; J. E. & C. W. Bogue.
Groceries-Holloway & Stanley.
Drugs and Groceries-Woollen & Unthank, and J. & L. Redding.
Blacksmithing-James Sears; Thomas Lawrence.
Wagons and Carriages-E. & C. Ratliff.
Physicians-Cochran & Stewart; T. S. Basye. Besides
these, there is an extensive saw and planing mill, owned by W. W. Wilson, a pump factory, by Charles Dickinson, a hotel, by Ann E. Pleas, several shoe and carpenter shops, &c.
The establishments and trades above mentioned are, per- haps, as well patronized here as in other villages, but in educational matters. Spiceland far excels most places of its size in the county. The academy building will accommo- date comfortably about 250 pupils, and it is the opinion of Spicelanders generally that, in range of studies, advancement, and general excellence, the school is not surpassed in the county.
There is a Library Association, with a capital of $2,700, halt paid in, and near six hundred volumes on its shelves, Wm. Dawson, Librarian.
A Lecture Association has been in successful operation for three seasons just past, employing several first class leeturers.
The village was incorporated about one year ago, and had, in July last, a population of 371, with property assessed at $135,780.
SULPHUR SPRINGS,
The village of Jefferson township, is situated on the Chicago and Great Eastern Railroad, abont seven miles northwest of New Castle. It was recorded January 1, 1853, by Wm. S. Yost, and now contains about two hundred and fifty inhabitants. The place contains one Methodist church, a school house, one hotel, a good grist mill, one saw mill, a tile factory, one wagon and two smith shops. Dry goods are kept by Whitworth &
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HENRY COUNTY; PAST AND PRESENT.
MeCorkle and Asbury Showalter; drugs by Yost & Brother, and a grocery by H. Swank. The physicians are Henry Mine- singer and Mr. Reasoner.
The property, real and personal, foots up $51,910.
MT. SUMMIT,
Or Summit, as it is generally called, was recorded in April, 1855, by Jesse, Ire proprietor. It derives its name from the sup- position that it occupies one of the highest points in the county. It is located in the western part of Prairie township, on the Fort Wayne, Muncie and Cincinnati Railroad, and, although scarcely entitled to be called a village for the first dozen years wof its existence, since the completion of the railroad through -the place, it has made fair progress. The business is represent- sedl, in part, thus :
Dry goods -- John Okee, and Beavers & Brothers.
Cabinet Maker-Wesley Dunbar.
Wagon Makers -- S. S. Canaday & Son.
Boots and Shoes -- James Courtney.
Besides these, there are two smith shops, two carpenter shops, one saw mill, a school house, &e. The place contains about 120 inhabitants.
MILLVILLE.
This village, situated on the Great Eastern Railroad, near The center of Liberty township, and about seven miles from the county seat, was founded in 1855, by JJohn Harshbarger. Its Iisiness is represented, in the way of dry goods, by Granville, Forkner & Co. and S. D. Wisehart; drugs and groceries by Howren & Schoolfield. The physicians are James Stafford and Mr. Schoolfield. There is also a smith shop, a wagon shop, and a good steam saw mill, from which the place derives its unpreten- tions name. The population of the place numbers about one Imindred and fifty.
ASHLAND,
Or Mullin's Station, situated on the Great Eastern Railroad, in Liberty township, about three miles from New Castle, was begun in 1856. Its present population is about sixty.
Dealer in Dry Goods-Wesley Snodgrass.
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HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES.
Grain Dealer-Charles Wilson. Steam Saw Mill-Netts & Brother.
The above, together with a smith shop, constitute the most noticeable business features of the place.
CIRCLEVILLE,
On the dividing line between Blue River and Stony Creek townships, founded a score or more of years ago, has passed the zenith of its glory, and now, as a village, scareely exists, save in memory. We believe Mark E. Reeves, a retired Richmond merehant, still owns a number of corner lots in the place.
MECHANICSBURGH
Was recorded by Peter Keesling and others, September 22, 1858, and is located in the southwestern part of Fall Creek township, and about four miles west of south from Middletown. At the last eensus is contained 133 inhabitants and some twenty-one dwellings. N. R. Elliott and Thomas Goodwin represent the dry goods interests of the place ; Ezra Buff kin the drug trade ; Isaae and M. Woods do the blacksmithing, and Keesling & Elliott's saw mill men attend to the lumber interests of the village. The town is located in the midst of a very fertile tract of country, and, with three or four good pikes radiating from it as a center (although never destined to become a great eity), a prosperous growth for years to come may confidently be ex- pected.
HONEY CREEK,
Located on the Chicago and Great Eastern Railroad, in Fall Creek township, three miles southeast of Middletown, was founded in 186 . Adam Evans and a Mr. Connell are engaged in the goods trade, which, with a blacksmith shop and a steam saw mill, constitutes the principal business features of the place.
DUNREITH.
This is one of the youngest of Henry county villages, and is located in the southeast part of Spieeland township. The first lots were sold by J. W. Griffin, in the year 1865, and was soon followed by additions from Caleb Johnson and Thomas Evans. A station was located here on the completion of the Central
HENRY COUNTY; PAST AND PRESENT.
Railroad, called Cofflu's Station, after the proprietor, Emery Dunreith Coffin. and a depot, one or two business houses, and three or four dwellings were erected. Those interested, in 1865, decided on a change of name, but ont of respect to Mr. Coffin's memory called the incipient village Dunreith, after his middle name, and the station and post office were re-named accordingly. The place is fortunately situated as a point for the shipment of a vast amount of produce. It is one of the liveliest villages of the county, and contained iso inhabitants in October last. Lots have generally sokl here so as to realize from $400 to $1,000 per acre. The following are mentioned as among the enterprising business men of the place :-
Dry Goods-J. T. Crum & Co. and Stubs & Brown.
Hardware-Mr. Dixon.
Drugs and Groceries-Hndelson & English and Gause & Porch.
Dealer in Produce. Lime. Lath, Shingles, etc., etc .- Flem. Rateliff.
Physician -- Messrs. Butler, Holloway, and Win. B. Cox. Tile Factory-Albertson Brothers.
There is also a hotel and livery stable, kept by Mr. Young, two smith shops, a carriage shop, and an excellent steam saw mill, run by Smith, Moricle & Simmons.
A daily hack line plies between this point and Greensboro, via Spiceland, and twice per day between Dunreith and Spice- land. The town was incorporated last fall. It has a large two- story frame school house, and the Christians and Friends have each a flourishing congregation and good buildings.
STRAUGHN'S STATION,
Yet in its infancy, was laid out by Merriman Stranghn, in 1868. It is located in the south part of Dudley township, on the Cen- tral Railroad and Henry County Turnpike (the old National Rond), and about half way between Dublin and Lewisville. It has sixty inhabitants, two stores, a post office, an express office, a smith shop, a wagon shop, a school house, and a church, which cost about $2,500. Merriman Stranghn the "oldest in- habitant," came to the vicinity in the autumn of 1822, when all
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HENRY COUNTY VILLAGES.
around was a " howling wilderness ;" when it was the fashion to build railways with the rails across the track.
GRANT CITY,
One of the youngest of Henry county villages, is handsomely situated and well laid ont, on the Knightstown and Middletown Turnpike, six miles north of Knightstown. It is a lively little place, and was laid out by Jacob Green, Esq., in October, 186S. It has a population of sixty-eight, one Friends' meeting house, and a good school house. The Methodists have recently effected a church organization.
There are two general stores, one drug store and doctor's oflice, one steam saw mill, two smith shops, one cabinet shop, Ke. In the vicinity lives Jolin Manlove, one of the pioneers, eighty-seven years of age, and for about fifty years a resident of the county.
SPRINGPORT
Sprang into existence after the location of the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad, in 1869, and, as a consequence, has not had time to acquire metropolitan dimensions. It is sit- nated in the northwestern part of Prairie township. The pop- ulation numbers near
Dry Goods and Groceries are sold by Rieman & Vance. and by Hiram Allen.
Drugs and Medicines-Charles Hickman.
Physicians-E. 1. Estabrook, and D. Comstock.
There is also a smith shop, a saw mill, &e.
And this brings us to the end of the list of villages, " past and present," for Henry county. Several of these, it will be ob- served, scarcely existed, save in the "florid imaginations " of their sanguine projectors. The notice of the " rise and pro- gress " of many of these has necessarily been short, and in some instances not as full relatively, as the comparative importance of the place would have warranted; but in the haste of prepara- tion it has not always been possible to obtain the desired in- formation just when wanted, especially of the business inter- ests of this or that locality, and in some instances very import-
HENRY COUNTY; PAST AND PRESENT
ant features, such as Casely's flax mill, at Knightstown, &c., were overlooked at the proper time.
The propriety of giving a sort of directory in connection with the sketch of each village has been debatable from the first, since changes were constantly going on; new firms com- ing on to the stage and old ones passing off. Still it is believed the feature is of suffleient interest, in spite of needed emenda- tions, to warrant its retention.
HENRY COUNTY OFFICERS.
- -0-
While it is not presumed that all Henry county officials have been paragons of virtue, it is nevertheless true that the county has more generally been blessed with honorable and capable men for officers than most counties within our knowl- edge. No well founded charges of peeulation or corruption in office seems ever to have been preferred against a Henry county official by any well meaning person, and there is no evidence of a single cent having been lost to the county by any defaulting public servant, nor of their securities ever having suffered from the misconduct of the principal. Most of them have been what were considered by the standard of the times temperate men ; and, although all have not been teetotalers, a regular whisky bloat has scarcely ever been able to command any considerable support in the county, which is far from being the fact in many counties in the State.
With such officials the finances of the county, as will be scen elsewhere, have in the main been judiciously managed, and the burthens laid upon the people lighter than in most counties of the State, and, for many years, a " county order" has been just as good as a cheek on the most flourishing bank, or as so much of the currency of the times paid in hand. These matters are not mentioned for the purpose of fostering county pride, but as a simple record of facts, which a pretty extensive search among
S5
HENRY COUNTY OFFICERS.
the county archives seems to justify.
The following tables give nearly a complete list of the pub- lic servants of Henry county, together with the dates of service. It is proper to mention, however, that, from the changing of the official term, strict accuracy has not always been attainable without more research than was convenient; and it is also well to mention that, as in the case of the Treasurer, the date named of necessity includes the year in which they were inducted into office as well as the outgoing year, a portion of which was of course served.
OUR SENATORS, FROM 1822 TO 1871.
Henry county has been represented in the upper branch of the State General Assembly by fifteen "grave and reverend seigniors," of whom thirteen have been citizens of the county. Amaziah Morgan, of Rush, and Thomas Bell, of Madison, being the "outsiders" who have had the honor of speaking for us. Our legislators have not all been Solons, but the probability is that they have been, morally and intellectually at least, fully up to the average of the times. Below is given a list of such Senators, with dates, and counties composing the districts, &e.
Names.
Years Served.
Counties Constituting District.
James Gregory
1823-24-25
Henry, Rush, Marion, Madison, Shelby, Decatur, Jolinson.
Amaziah Morgan
1826-27-28
Henry, Rush, Randolph, Allen.
Amaziah Morgan
1829-30
Rush, Henry, Randolph, Allen, Delaware.
Elisha Long.
Henry, Madison, Hancock.
Thomas Bell
1831-32-33-34 1835
Same.
Thomas R. Stanford.
1836-37-38
Same.
Jehu T. Elliott
1839-40-41
Henry constituted the District.
Thomas R. Stanford
1842-43-44
Same.
Eli Murphey
1845-46-47
Same.
George Evans
1848-49-50
Same.
E. T. Hickman.
1851-52-53
Same.
W. W. Williams
1854-55-56
Same.
Isaac Kinley.
1857-58-59 1
Same.
.J. H. Mellett.
1860-61-62-63
Same.
Milton Peden
1864-65
Same.
Thomas Reagan
1866-67
Some.
L. W. Hess.
1868-69-70-71
Henry and Hancock.
HENRY COUNTY; PAST AND PRESENT.
Of'R REPRESENTATIVES, FROM 1822 To 1871.
Below will be found a list, almost complete, of our Repre- sentatives in the lower branch of the General Assembly.
Years Served.
Remarks.
Thomas Hendricks
1823-21
Henry, Rush, Decatur, Shelby.
Thomas R. Stanford
1825-26
Elisha Long
1827-98
Of Henry, for Henry, Madison, and Hamilton.
Elisha Long
W'm. Comer
Elisha Long.
1830
Thomas Bell
Thomas R. stanford
1831-32-33-31
Henry county alone.
David Macy
1835
David Macy.
1836
R. Henderson .
David Macy.
1837
Miles Murphy. . .
Robert M. Cooper.
1838
Jesse Hi. Healy ..
R. M. Cooper
Ralph Berkshire
1839
I. C. Shawhan
T. R. Stanford
1810
Joel Reed
1811
simon summer-
Isaac Parker
.Joel Reed
Robert I. Hudelson
1813
1-ane Parker.
.J. W. Grubbs
18H
John Powell
1×16
samuel Coffin
Jesse W. Baldwin
M. I .. Bundy
1×1%
Butler Hubbard
Russell Jordan
1-aar II. Morris .
Joseph Yount
1851-52
s. W. stewart
1853-1
Luther C. Mellett
1853-36
Milton Peden
N. II. Ballenger
1857-58
.T. H. Mellett
1$59-60
M. I .. Bundy.
1861-62
C. D. Morgan
1863-61
D. W. Chambers.
1865-66-67-68
John R. Millikan
189-70-71
Dr. Chittenden
1-69-10
Thomas Lines .
1570-71
Joint for Henry and Madison. Joint for Henry and Madison.
R. M. Cooper.
Simon Summers
W'm. A. Riffner.
1850
Win. Grosc.
Henry, Hamilton, Hancock, Mad- json, and all the country north to the State line, not attached fo some other county.
87
ILENRY COUNTY OFFICERS.
COMMISSIONERS, FROM 1822 TO 1824.
Allan Shepherd, 1822 to 1823,
Elisha Shortridge, 1822 to 1824, William Shannon, 1823 to 1824.
-
Samuel Goble, 1822 to 1824,
BOARD OF JUSTICES, FROM 1824 TO 1827 .*
Lewis Tacket, 1825 to 1827,
James Johnston, 1824 to 1825,7- William Shannon, 1824 to 1827, Abraham Elliott, 1825 to 1827.0 Moses Robertson, 1825 to 1827, James Gilmore, 1824 to 1826,1 Samuel Batson (or Bedson), '24 to '2", Absalom Louthain, 1826 to 1827, Samuel Lonthain, 1824 to 1827. John Freelin, 1826 to 1827, Robert Thompson, 1824 to 1827, Jesse Daily, 1826 to 1827, Thomas Wadkins, 1824 to 1827, Joseph Craft, 1827, Abraham Heaton, 1824 to 1827, Levi Cropper, 1827, Sampson Smith, 1825 to 1826, Thomas Ellison, 1827. John Harris, 1825 to 1827.
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