USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Bloomington > Historic treasures: true tales of deeds with interesting data in the life of Bloomington, Indiana University and Monroe County--written in simple language and about real people, with other important things and illustrations > Part 17
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have been set in motion, so that 1922 should see the beginning of the era of our greatest and most golden pros- perity."
Farm, Industry and Trade.
Prosperity among our farmers, manufacturers and merchants is di- rectly affected by the unsettled con- dition of finance and politics in Eu- rope, J. A. House, president of the trust company division of Guardian Saving and Trust Company of Cleve- land, Ohio, believes.
"This must be remedied," he added. "It is apparent, also, that strikes for higher wages are certainly not in keeping with the present order of things. Labor must bear its fair share in future deflatoin."
Mr. House emphasized the need of the rehabilitation of the railroads and said the Congress should pass equitable tax laws to encourage the flow of capital through channels which would mean investment.
John S. Puslicher, vice-president
of the American Bankers' Associa- tion, said the trend was toward easier money rates and he saw nothing to indicate this would not continue.
Strength of the Banks.
"The strongest factor in the pres- ent situation is the growing strength of the banks," he said.
"It is our belief," said R. S. Hecht, president of the state bank division , of the American Bankers' Associa- tion, "that we will not again have real prosperity in this country until some kind of economiu restoration has been accomplished in Europe and a stable basis for international trade worked out."-The Indianapolis News.
HISTORIC OLD ELM TREES
In an attempt to locate the monarch of all American elms, the American Genetic Association discovered a few years ago what is now thought to be the largest speciman of ulmus ameri- cana in existence. The trunk of this giant measures thirty-three feet in circumference. A remarkable record for one small seed! It reached these colossal proportions in the soil of West Virginia.
According to tree experts an elm almost equally large has since been found at Rathbone, Ohio. It measures thirty-two feet in girth and has a spread of 165 feet. It has five limbs as large as ordinary trees branching out from the main trunk. The age of this majestic specimen is estimated at from 500 to 700 years. A record quite as remarkable is accredited to "The Great Elm" of Wethersfield, Conn. This tree reached the enor- mous dimensions of twenty-eight feet in girth and 100 feet in height at the estimated age of 250 years.
The Monarch Elm of Boston, blown down in 1876, was only twenty-two feet in circumference and seventy- two in height. While the Washington Elm at Cambridge, perhaps the best known of all American trees, can boast only a mere fourteen feet of girth and forty-one in height.
THE WIDOW'S SOLILOQUY
We read the following article in an old, old copy of the "Indiana Gazette," Vol. 1, No. 27, published in Blooming- ton, Ind., Saturday, April 25, 1835, which we forthwith pass on:
"What," said she, "because I have been married once, shall I refuse to marry again ?
"Shall I not take a second hus- band, because I have lost the first? "That would be a reflection upon a married life. Nay, it would be a sort of slandering, as it were, on my first husband-good man. And, I'll never say that for him, though he's dead and gone.
"I loved him so well, and enjoyed his dear society so much, that I can never be satisfied till I get another- and the sooner I get the second, the more I shall show my affection for the first.
"The world may say what it pleases, but I am sure that the best evidence that any person can give, whether man or woman, that they loved their first partner dearly, is to take a sec- ond as soon as possible after the first is dead."
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Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
FIRST STORE ESTABLISHED IN BLOOMINGTON IN 1818 WAS LITTLE LIKE MODERN BUSINESS
Tavern Opened in 1819-Howe, Owens, Batterton and Stuart Establish Early Commerce With Local Trade-Austin Seward Began Wagon Manufacture in 1821 and Did First Blacksmithing in Present City-Colonel Compbell Started Leather Tannery.
Incoming students of Indiana Uni- versity, as well as Bloomington resi- dents of the present time may be in- terested to know just who were the first men to open "business houses" in what is now the City of Blooming- ton, Ind.
The thriving business houses situ- ated within the city today, with all the up-to-the-minute details to be found in modern business concerns may be compared with those rude log structures which contained the first stores, away back in 1818.
First Store Opened, 1818.
The first store to be opened in the county seat of Monroe county, Indi- ana, was that opened in Bloomington in 1818, by William Hardin, who sold whiskey principally, and carried a stock of notions worth about $150. This man, (Hardin), also kept tavern at the same time.
The following year, 1819, George Whisenand started a tavern with a bar in connection, and he, too, sold liquors.
About this time, or perhaps soon afterward, Joshua O. Howe, Alexan- der Owens and Henry Batterton estab- lished separate stores which were much more pretentious than that of Hardin, which scarcely rated the name of store. These men really kept gro- ceries (as liquor, in the early times was classed as "wet groceries") and saloons, or the name were unknown.
These three men did not begin their business at the same time, but some time between 1819 and 1822, the exact date not being obtainable at this time, but these dates come from re- liable sources.
Seward Began Blacksmithing.
In the month of September, 1821, Austin Seward began manufacturing wagons, and did general blacksmith- ing, as did Benjamin Neal during about the same period.
Colonel Joseph Campbell started a tannery west of Bloomington. Day, Lucas & Campbell also had an interest in the local tanneries of about this date.
POPULATION OF BLOOMINGTON IN 1830 HAD GROWN TO 700-GREAT IMPROVEMENT SHOWN -WILLIAM LOWE WAS POSTMASTER
Town Shows Signs of Prosperity and Much New Business Enters-Indiana College Great Factor in Village Growth to 1,000 Inhabitants in 1835-Center of Culture and Religious Conferences- Two Newspapers and College Paper -- Old Market House Was Created.
After reading the life of our pio- neer city fathers in the first ten or twelve years of the struggling county seat town of Monroe county, Bloom- ington residents of the present day may be glad to obtain an added glimpse into the early life of the old settlers; therefore, we will now peep again into the past and find some of the interesting deed's of our pioneers during the decade beginning with the year 1830.
Population of 700 in 1830.
In 1830, the population of Bloom- ington was probably not less than 700; the citizens had incorporated the vil- lage a number of years before, and the Indiana College was a great factor in the town's thriving life in that early period.
Besides this, there were numerous factories of leather, liquor, domestic and farming implements, flour, tailor goods, oil and numerous stores, shops, offices, mechanics, artisans, trades- men, along with the educators and professional men; also, speculators
were locating permanently in the com- munity with the coming of each month.
In fact, the pioneer village of Bloomington was considered a pros- perous place during the early years of this decade.
New Business Comes.
Merchants during the period from 1830 to 1840, as we have been able to learn from different sources, include the following:
Alexander & John Owen, Joshua O. Howe, Evans & Barnes, Parks & Hes- ter, Henry Baterton, Patterson Officer, Notley Baker, George H. Johnson, John Borland, Labertew & King, Wil- liam S. Bright, Nichols & Roach, John Bennett, Hardesty & Graham, J. & J. W. Carter, John M. Sluss, B. R. Byers, John Campbell, Rogers, Blakeley & Co., F. T. Butler, John M. Berry, Asher Labertew, Sluss & Hall, Til- ford & Glass, John S. Barnes, John Fee, William Alexander, Moore & Swarengin, and Handerty & Robert- son.
By 1835 the village had gained a
population of 1,000, and the merchants increased their stocks as the village graduated into a town.
Bloomington, as a town, had three, or perhaps four, churches (mentioned elsewhere), attended by comparative- ly large congregations and served by ministers of ability.
Indeed, Bloomington became the center of the conference of most de- nominations in religious circles at that time, and the Presiding Elder or the preachers of circuits resided in the town. Consequently, it was here that the religious interests of all this por- tion of Indiana found their controlling heads.
Center of Culture.
The old County Seminary (female college) had been built in 1835, and had so changed that females alone were admitted. Before this reorgan- ization the school had been a "prep" school for both boys and girls, answer- ing about the relative purpose as our present-day high schools, for youth in entering the University. In the Indi- ana College (State University) boys only were admitted.
Students attending both institutions at this time numbered about 200 and the presence of such facilities for edu- cation exerted an influence which gave to Bloomington a literary atmosphere and social caste such as was not pos- sessed by any other town in the State of Indiana in those days.
There were two newspapers, each having a fair circulation for that early time, and besides these, Marcus I. Deal issued a semi-monthly periodical in the interest of Indiana College.
Sewards were doing a big business in all kinds of iron work; D. Batter- ton manufactured ironware and stove furniture; Philip Murphy & Co., made hats and caps, procuring the wool they used in these articles from the sur- rounding territory; Noilsy Baker was the only barber in Bloomington at this time; S. P. Seall was proprietor of the Globe Inn; J. Mccullough was tanner and currier.
William Lowe Postmaster.
William Lowe was postmaster of Bloomington in this early period, and the representative attorney-at-law of the town were, Watts, Dunning, Gor- man, Denny, J. B. Lowe, J. A. Wright and a number of other lawyers whom we can not get trace of as practicing, excent through unreliable hearsay.
The practicing physicians' in the town during this decade seems to have been Doctors McCorckle, Hamill and Foster.
John McCullough's tannery was an extensive establishment for this early day; T. J. Ryan manufactured saddles. A man named. Day was the town's painter. The master tailors of Bloom- ington during this period were, Abra- ham Funk, W. J. Flurrv, A. Lahertew, S. T. Hardesty and H. Hardesty. These men formed what we might term the first merchants' association, as thev got together and adopted a set sched- ule of prices for their work in cutting and making clothing. Most of their business came in making up the home- spun cloth which their customers furn- ished for clothing.
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Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
CONDITION FOUND IN 1921 AT CENTER OF POP- ULATION-RENTALS NOT IN DEMAND
Amusing Facts Concerning Inhabitants Around Whitehall, 1920 Center of
Population of United States-Taken From Article Published in The Indi- anapolis Star, With Prefix Addition.
While historic and cultured Bloom- ington folk are priding themselves on the fact that Bloomington is the center of culture and learning, nowhere in the world is a return to normalcy more evident than at the center of popula- tion of the United States.
It will be a long time before the peo- ple of the little village of Whitehall, Owen county, Indiana, will quit talking about that great day when they held a celebration and dedicated to their lit- tle village a ten-foot wooden monu- ment, set up in the main road, bearing the proud inscription "Center of Popu- lation, U. S. A .- 1920."
Pride Changed to Disgust.
But, as of old, "pride goeth before a great fall."
The first excitement and flush of pride of these simple Hoosier folk was suddenly changed to lament and much disgust. Prof. W. A. Cogshall, Indi- ana University astronomer, took a trip to Owen county, and after a few nights of "star gazin'," as the natives called it, determined from astronomical cal- culations that an old beech tree in a hillside briar patch on Russell Robin- son's farm, two and one-half miles west of the village of Whitehall, and eleven miles west of Bloomington, and of Indiana University and the old cen- ter of population in 1910, was the new hub of the nation's human life for the decade of 1920.
No Interest in Fame.
The old familiar "House For Rent" sign, so long absent in the nation's metropolitian centers, is hanging out in Whitehall, and at Ben Ranard's blacksmith shop, says the correspond- ent to the Indianapolis Star, and the Hoosier villagers are whittling on goods boxes and speculating on wheth- er or not the earth is round, just as they did before the war.
Natives have had slight interest in their sudden leap into national lime- light, and Oliver Rainard, who lived within 200 yards of the old beech tree that marks the actual center of popu- lation of the United States, has moved out. Ranard served notice that the center of population is a poor place for a rent profiteer by moving two miles down the road, where he gets a house, barn, garden and pasture free.
And, now, within 200 yards of the center of population, the five-room bungalow which he formerly occupied, stands wanting a renter, at $5 a month. Garden, orchard, pasture, heavily lad- en walnut trees, a big persimmon patch, paw-paws, squirrels within gun- shot, fish in Little Raccoon creek near- by; only two miles from where a · white lightnin' still was raided recent- ly by government agents; and with a church house only a quarter-mile away
-all for $5 a month, but not a renter in sight.
It is easy to see that the housing situation is not a problem at the center of population.
Free Information Bureau ..
Ben Ranard has been urged to es- tablish a cold drink stand in connec- tion with his blacksmith shop, near- est business establishment to the popu- lation beech, where Ben serves as a
free information bureau for seekers after center of population information.
Many well-minded and sympathetic travelers have pointed out that a cold pop stand would be the hub of busi- ness for the country, stratigically lo- cated for national trade from all di- rections, but Ben insists that the 1920 census can bring no good to the people of Owen county, Indiana, until they take the center of population away from that "consarned" old beech tree, and put it back in Whitehall, where it "would be convenient, and where it ought to have been left in the first place."
During the decade of 1910 to 1920, the center of population for the United States was located in Monroe county, Indiana, and the city of Bloomington received much advertising through the publicity that was given the fact.
FAMILIES ARE GROWING SMALLER, REPORTS OF 1921 CENSUS SHOW
Decrease during the last decade in the average number of persons in a family and to a dwelling in the United States is indicated by comparative sta- tistics made public in October, 1921, by the census bureau. The 1920 census showed, a statement said, that the na- tional population was grouped into 24,351,676 families, living in 20,697,- 204 dwellings, making an average of 4.3 persons to a family and 5.1 persons to a dwelling.
In 1910 the average number of per- sons to a family was 4.5 and to a dwelling 5.2. The average in both cases was still higher in 1880-5 per- sons to a family and 5.6 persons to a dwelling-and has declined steadily since.
The census bureau applies the term "family" to a group of persons, wheth- er related by blood or not, living to- gether in one household. One person living alone is counted as a family, while the occupants of a hotel or in- stitution, regardless of their number, are regarded as of one family. An en- tire apartment house, although the home of many families, constitutes only one dwelling in the census bu- reau's classification.
As shown by the 1920 census, the average size of families was greatest in southern states and smallest in western state. The number of persons to a dwelling was greatest in New England and middle Atlantic states and smallest in western states. Among individual states the average to a family ranged from 3.5 in Nevada to 5 in North Carolina in 1920, and a dwelling from 3.7 in Nevada, to 7.8 in New York.
The 1920 census shows the popula- tion of the United States, exclusive of outlying possessions, to be 105,- 683,108.
The increase in population during the last decade was 13,710,842, or 14.9 per cent.
New York, Chicago and Philadelphia maintained their positions as the three largest cities in the United States.
New York's population, according to
the 1920 census, is 5,620,048; Chicago, 2,701,705, and Philadelphia, 1,823,158. Detroit leads the 500,000 to 1,000,000 cities with a population of 993,739.
Nine cities have more than 500,000 and less than 1,000,000 population.
Cleveland ranks next to Detroit, with 796,836; St. Louis has 772,897; Boston, 748,060; Baltimore, 733,826; Pittsburg, 588,193; Los Angeles, 576,- 073; Buffalo, 506,775, and San Fran- cisco, 503,400.
Milwaukee leads the twelve cities with a population of more than 225,000 and less than 500,000. Milwaukee's population is 457,157; Washington's 437,751; Newark, N. J., 414,216; Cin- cinnati, 401,247; New Orleans, 387,219; Minneapolis, 380,582; Kansas City, Mo., 324,410; Seattle, 315,652; Indianapolis, 314,194; Jersey City, 297,864; Roches- ter, 295,750; Portland, Ore., 258,288; Denver, 256,369.
The 1920 census shows that 64,680,- 405 people in the United States live in incorporated cities and towns, and 41,002,703 in the rural districts. This is an increase of 14,000,000 for the cities and about 130,000 in the rural districts of the country.
Of the larger cities in the country, Detroit showed the largest percentage of increase in population. Her popu- lation in 1910 was 465,766, and in 1920 it was 993,739.
The 1920 census indicates that the population of the country was aug- mented through excess of immigration over emigration by about 4,100,000.
The city of Bloomington showed a population of 13,500 in the 1920 census.
A red sunrise, with clouds lowering later in the morning, is considered to be a forerunner of rain.
An evening rainbow is regarded as an indication of fair weather; a morning rainbow is a sign of rain.
High visibility (usually clearness of the atmosphere), unusual brightness or twinkling of the stars are regarded as indications of rain.
73
Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
HARD TIMES FACED EARLY SETTLERS IN BLOOM- INGTON AND MONEY WAS SO SCARCE COINS WERE CUT IN PIECES
Merchants Were Forced to Barter, But All Got Along Some Way-Some Im-
portant Data Concerning Conditions in the Twenties-List of Business Men of Remainder of Decade.
We are fortunate in being able to give a little idea of the financial problems which faced the pioneer set- tlers of Bloomington and Monroe county away back in the early times of the city's history.
All kinds of merchandise at prices which would seem triple to the prices of our time up to the recent world war period of high cost of living which we are still feeling the effects of, may be compared. They are as follows:
· Calicoes and prints were priced at from 25 cents to 50 cents a yard, and other articles similarly high.
Hard Times
One thing which helped to make harder times was the lack of market for the products of the farmers of that, time. Wheat, corn, oats, etc., were worth but 20 to 40 cents a bush- el, and it was quite difficult to dis- pose of any quantity at that price.
Money was scarce-real money- good money. Paper money was in existence and was worth most any price below par. As the value of bills was constantly fluctuating, they were practically mechantable property, as gold and silver were during the war of 1861-64. Silver money was scarce, but gold was much more scarce.
Coins Cut in Price.
The smaller denominations of gold and silver coins were almost unknown in the community, except as they were created and used by mutual consent.
The silver quarters were quartered or cut in half, and these pieces were called 'Sharp Shince," passed current
for 61/4 cents or 121/2 cents, respec- tively.
Money was so scarce that the mer- chants were forced to barter their goods and were compelled to do a "provision, pork and grain" buiness. Farmers could trade live or dressed hogs for goods, the demand regulat- ing the supply and price. They could trade their grain in the same manner.
This forced the merchants into pork packing and grain shipping, which necessitated the construction of flat-boats for the conveyance of this product of the land to the south- ern markets.
Towns along the larger streams had an advantage over Bloomington in this particular respect, and nearly all the heavy pork and grain ship- ments were made from these points after it was transported overland or in smaller boats down the creeks to these places of embarkation.
This accounts for the fact that ex- tensive business in that direction was not developed in Bloomington.
Merchants in Decade of Twenties.
From about 1823, during the re- mainder of the decade of the twenties, the list of early merchants and busi- ness life included the following:
Alexander & John Owens, Joshua O. Howe, Henry Batterton, A. F. Morrison, John Muir & Co., during the year 1824.
John Borland and G. M. Early were in business in 1826.
Andrew Todd, John Garner, Evans & Barnes were doing business in 1827.
George Henry & Co., Patterson Of- ficer, George Hardesty and possibly a few others were among the mer- chants starting business in Blooming- ton in 1828.
CITY OF BLOOMINGTON IS FORTUNATE AT PRES- ENT TIME WHILE WHOLE COUNTRY IS STRUGGLING WITH HARD TIMES
Study of Conditions in Industrial Life of Nation's Cities, Shown in Verse- Better Stay in the Old Town Where Things Look Good, is Advice of Writer -University and Industries Make Work for Many, While Other Places Slump.
Although the whole country at the present time seems to be having a terrible struggle to meet unemploy- ment problems which our nation is facing, Bloomington, Indiana, is in better fix than most of the larger cities and all the smaller places that we can get information of, in this respect at the date of 1921.
Not alone is Bloomington given an
added boost by the incoming hordes of students attending Indiana Univer- sity, which may be considered a great help in keeping business of the city in a healthy conditon; but, when we consider the wonderful way in which the great industries situated in and near the city are running, we must feel grateful for the way these indus- tries "keep pegging" while industry
all over the country has almost come to a standstill.
It is quite natural for a certain per- centage of people to have a desire to change about in the industrial and business world, but while the condi- tion of finances and industry are as at the present time, discouraging, we consider the following good advice for any one:
What We See and Hear.
Things are dull in San Frascisco, "On the bum" in New Orleans; "Rather Punk" in cultured Boston, Famed for codfish, pork and beans.
"On the hog" in Kansas City: Out in Denver, things are "jarred," And, they're "beefing" in Chicago, That the times are getting hard.
Not much doing in St. Louis- It's the same in Baltimore; Coin don't rattle in Seattle, As it did in days of yore.
Jobs are scarce around Atlanta; .
All through Texas, it is still. And, there's very little stirring In the town of Louisville.
There's a howl from Cincinnati, New York City; Brooklyn, too; In Milwaukee's foamy limits There's but little work to do.
What We Think. In the face of all such rumors, It seems not amiss to say: That, no matter where you're going, You had better stay away
For, when winter gets real cold And things become more tight, Those who stay in Bloomington Keep warm each wintery night.
74
Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
EARLY MANUFACTORIES OF BLOOMINGTON SHOW GREAT CONFIDENCE IN FUTURE OF COUNTY
Good Axes Manufactured for the Back-woodsmen of Monroe by Mr. Seward-
First-Class Tavern Established in 1823; Also First Really Good Store in the Little Town-Old Thacker Mill and Distillery in Operation.
In the period about 1820 to 1822, we find that many of the incoming settlers were changing about, al- though for the most part, people locating close to Bloomington were endeavoring to clear the land for agri- cultural uses.
Blair & Lowe owned an old horse mill. David Tucker owned and also operated one of the cumbersome old mills, where the grain was ground in a crude manner and bolted by hand, the owner of the grain doing the turning. The toll was one-sixth for the grinding.
Small Distillery.
David Thackers mill was used chief- ly to supply a small distillery with ground grain. This distillery was also owned by Thacker, however, not more than a barrel of liquor a day was manufactured. Mr. Thacker later sold the tread-mill to Mr. Legg.
A man named Garner conducted a saw mill just south of town (or at the south edge of what was then the town. This mill had as its motive power cattle or horse driven on a big tread wheel to run the saw.
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