USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 10
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
place. Major Henry was a brother of Hon. Charles L. Henry, of Anderson, who at this time represents the capital district of the State in Congress. The G. A. R. Post at Pendleton was named in honor of Major Henry.
ANDERSON AS A RENDEZVOUS FOR TROOPS.
While a great majority of the volunteers of Indiana were organized into regiments at Indianapolis, a number of regi- ments were organized at other points in the State. It was con- sidered advisable, for various reasons, to establish a camp at Anderson, and in the summer of 1861 certain companies, raised in the northern part of the State, were ordered hither. A camp was established on the hill northeast of the bridge which now spans White river where north Madison avenue terminates, and the Thirty-fourth Indiana regiment was or- ganized there on the 16th of September. The camp was called " Camp Stilwell " in honor of Thomas N. Stilwell, who was Quartermaster of the regiment until March, 1862, when he resigned.
A majority of the companies of this regiment had a full quota of men and when it left camp on the 16th of October. 1861, for the front it was as large a regiment as ever left the State.
Madison county furnished two companies for this regi- ment and 280 men in all during its time of service. The late Colonel Ryan, of Anderson, commanded the regiment at one time. The Thirty-fourth participated in the last battle of the war, which was fought at Palmetto Ranche, Texas, on the 13th of May, 1865, and was one of the last regiments mustered out of the service.
PATRIOTIC EFFORTS OF MADISON COUNTY CITIZENS.
While the soldiers of Madison county were at the front fighting for the preservation of the government the people at home did not forget them. Sanitary and other supplies .were sent to the camp and hospital without stint. Whenever the people at home were appealed to for assistance for the soldiers they always responded promptly.
Of the official action taken by the county through it- Board of Commissioners during the war, the following is a summary :
The first official action taken by the county officials was in connection with Camp Stilwell. At the September term,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
1861, of the Board of Commissioners it was " Ordered that $200 be appropriated for the purchase of lumber to fit up a camp for the accommodation of a regiment being organized at An- derson." And at the same term $300 was appropriated for the assistance of soldiers' wives and children, the Trustee of each township being instructed to render assistance wherever needed. At the August term, 1862, it was ordered that an allowance of $1 each week be made to each soldier's wife or widowed mother and 50 cents to each child under ten years of age, the Trustees being directed to make the disbursements.
At the following September term a tax levy of 10 cents on each $100 valuation of the taxable property in the county was made in order to provide a fund for the relief of soldiers' families. These orders continued in force until the close of the war.
The Board held a special session in November, 1868, at which it was ordered " that each volunteer credited to Madi- son county be paid $50 bounty when he produces the cer- tificate of the mustering officer to the county Auditor, and $50 at the expiration of his term of service." A tax levy of 25 cents on each $100 valuation of property was made to raise the money necessary to carry out the order.
The record of the Commissioners' court for the June term, 1864, shows that the county treasurer had received $10,812.97 taxes for military purposes and had paid out for the same, $10.700.
The call of the l'resident for 300,000 men in 1864 rendered it necessary, in order to fill the quota of Madison county, to issue bonds to the amount of $200,000. The Commissioners ordered a bounty of $400 to be paid to each volunteer or drafted man and the county's quota under the call was soon filled.
The amount of money paid by the county for boun- ties to soldiers was $344,898 and for aid to the families of soldiers, $10,042, making a total of $354,940. The amount of money contributed by individual citizens of the county for sanitary supplies and other necessaries cannot, of course, be ascertained, but would doubtless bring the grand total up to an amount as large again as that paid out of the county treasury.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
THE MADISON COUNTY MEDICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIE- TIES.
Aside from the religious and benevolent societies the Mad- ison County Medical Society is the oldest organization in the county.
This society was organized at Anderson on the 15th of November, 1862, by the adoption of a constitution and by- laws and the election of the following officers : President, W. A. Hunt ; vice-president, B. F. Spann ; secretary, E. II. Menefee ; treasurer, B. W. Bair ; censors, N. L. Wickersham, P. Patterson, J. F. Brandon. The first or charter members of the society were: William Suman, D. M. Carter, W. HI. Ebert, J. A. Williams, P. Patterson. T. Ryan. J. A. Ivoy, Joseph Stephenson, C. N. Brannen, Henry Wyman, Joseph Pugh, Sr., William Cook, Braxton Baker, S. B. Harriman, W. S. Morgan, J. G. Mitchell, Valentine Dunham. G. W. Perry, G. F. Chittenden, J. Harter and the officers above mentioned.
The society flourished for a number of years, but a grad- ual decadence of interest began about 1866, and at a meeting held in April, 1867, it was mutually agreed among the mem- bership to discontinue the meetings of the association indefi- nitely. No further meetings were held until August, 1875. when Dr. W. A. Hunt published a call for a meeting of the society at the office of Dr. C. S. Burr at Anderson. The ob- . ject of this meeting was for the purpose of uniting the medical societies of Alexandria. Pendleton. Anderson and the medical profession generally throughout the county into one associa- tion and make it an auxiliary to the State Medical Society. This was done, and the following officers of the association were selected : J. W. Perry, president ; William A. Hunt, vice-president ; J. Stewart, secretary ; C. S. Burr, treasurer ; W. H. Lewis, B. F. Spann, J. T. Sullivan, censors. In 1875 there were twenty-five members of the society, nearly every town in the county being represented. At the present time
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the membership numbers thirty-nine, as follows : I .. E. Alex- ander, Pendleton; George F. Chittenden, Anderson ; E. W. Chittenden, Anderson ; S. W. Edwins, Elwood ; J. M. Fisher, Lapel; W. M. Garretson, Perkinsville : J. H. Harter, Ander- son ; W. P. Harter, Anderson ; J. W. Hunt, Anderson ; M. V. Hunt, Anderson ; HI. E. Jones, Anderson ; J. Stewart, Anderson ; William Suman, Anderson ; I. N. Van Matre, Florida ; N. L. Wickersham, Anderson; Charles F. Williams, Summitville; W. J. Fairfield, Anderson; J. B. Fattic, Ander- son ; F. J. Hodges, Anderson; W. W. Kneale, Anderson ; L. O. Armfield, Elwood ; P. L .. Fritz, Alexandria ; J. J. Gib- son, Alexandria ; J. E. Ilall, Alexandria ; W: N. Heath, An- derson ; F. P. Nosse, Alexandria : B. H. Perce, Anderson ; A. E. Otto, Alexandria ; G. V. Newcomer, Elwood: L. M. Strauss, Alexandria; D). Sigler, Elwood ; (). W. Brownback, Pendleton ; J. M. Fittler, Alexandria ; I. Miles, Anderson ; Madge Patton, Alexandria : Etta Charles, Summitville; C. N. Branch, Anderson; A. W. Tobias, Elwood; John W. Cook, Pendleton.
The present officers of the society are : John W. Cook, president ; F. J. Hodges, vice-president ; Ed. W. Chittenden, secretary, and Joseph E. Hall, treasurer. The society meets regularly on the first Tuesday of the following months : Jan- uary, April, July and October. The meetings are held alter- nately at Anderson, Elwood, Alexandria and Pendleton. The society belongs to the Delaware District Society, which is composed of the medical societies of Delaware, Madison, Blackford, Grant, Randolph and Henry counties.
MADISON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Early in December, 1884, Dr. William A. Hunt invited a number of gentlemen of well-known taste for archeological matters to meet at his office in Anderson for the purpose of organizing a county historical society. The meeting was held and an organization effected with the following persons as of- ficers : Dr. William A. Hunt, president; Stephen Metcalf, 1st vice-president ; Samuel Hardin, 2d vice-president ; Frank .A. Walker, secretary, and Fleming T. Luse, treasurer.
On the 20th of December, 1884, articles of association were filed in the Recorder's office. one of which sets forth that ". The object of this society shall be to discover, procure and preserve, whatever may relate to general history ; especially to the archaeological. natural, civil, literary and ecclesiastical
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
history of the State of Indiana, and more particularly of the county of Madison in said State."
The names of those signed to the articles are : W. A. Hunt, Stephen Metcalf. Samuel Hardin. F. T. Luse. F. . 1. Walker. Charles B. Gerard. B. F. Spann, W. R. Pierse, William Roach. B. HI. Campbell, Dale J. Crittenberger. Dory Biddle, R. I. Hamilton, O. S. Kelso. M. A. Chipman, M. A. Bosworth.
The Board of Commissioners reserved a room in the court house for the use of the society, and the work of collecting his- terical relics and curiosities was begun. Much interest was taken in the matter for awhile, and many rare archaeological specimens, interesting relics and curiosities were donated to the society by citizens of the county.
One of the interesting features of the museum was a col. lection of beautiful sea shells, grass mats, bark blankets, and other rare and unique curiosities gathered in the South Sea Islands by Lieut. Whitmuel P. Ray, of the U. S. navy, and presented by him to the society. Lieut. Ray was a native of Madison county, having been born in Anderson, where he passed his boyhood until he was appointed to a cadetship in the navy by Col. T. N. Stilwell, who, at the time, was a rep- resentative in Congress. The appointment of Ray, who was a poor boy without influence, was in marked contrast with the appointments made by congressmen, as a rule, and stamped Col. Stilwell as a friend to the boys who, without riches or friends, were ambitious to cut their names on the world. The writer regrets, as a schoolmate and boyhood companion of Lieut. Ray, to record the fact that, in a fit of despondency at San Francisco, June 9, 1893, he committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor. He was buried with military honors in the cemetery at that city. L'eut. Ray was a courtly gentle- man. of convivial inclinations and generous impulses, and the unnatural manner of his taking off was not only a surprise, but a shock to his friends.
Other contributions were made by Mr. Samuel Hardin and Mr. Fleming T. Luse which augmented the attractions of the society's museum very materially. These gentlemen were particularly active in collecting curiosities and classifying them for the benefit of the public. There was no lack of interest on the part of the citizens of the county. and a great many peo- pie visited the society's room to see the curiosities a . long as the collection was permitted to remain in the court house. In
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the course of time, however, it became necessary to use the room donated to the society by the Board of Commissioners, for county purposes, and this, together with the depredations made on the collection by petty thieves. induced certain mem- bers of the society to consent to its removal to the Anderson High School building in the fall of 1895, where it has since re- mained in charge of the superintendent of the city schools. As stated elsewhere in these pages the Hunt donation of rare geological and archæological specimens constitutes an import- ant and interesting part of the collection.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE SOCIETY OF GRANGERS-MADISON COUNTY FIRE AND LIGHTNING INSURANCE ASSOCIATION.
It is convenient here to mention the "grange movement" that aroused so much interest among the farming community in 1878 This order or society during that year was organ- ized in every township in Madison county for the ostensible purpose of promoting the welfare of farmers and elevating the standard of agriculture. Grange lodges were organized in such numbers and with such large memberships that it looked like the farmers of the county had gone "grange wild." Originally none but farmers or persons closely allied to the farming interest were eligible to membership, and if this rule. or law, of the order had been adhered to more closely the prin- ciples upon which it was founded would have flourished, per. haps, and the results would have been beneficial. But men were received as members who cared nothing for the principles of the order, and it soon developed that its purposes had been subverted and that it was being used as a political machine notwithstanding the protestations of many of the leaders that such was not the case. The political campaign of 1874, how- ever, satisfied the conscientious members of the organization that it was being used to place certain men in office, and imme- diately after the sweeping Democratic victory in the county in the fall of that year, the order collapsed and has not been heard of since. As an industrial organization it was formidable, but when it engaged in politics it met with the fate that has befallen all other secret organizations whose principles have been prostituted to accomplish political ends.
MADISON COUNTY FIRE AND LIGHTNING INSURANCE ASSO- . CIATION.
This company was organized October 31, 1886, at Ander- son. in the interest of farmers. For some time previous to the organization of the association, the farmers throughout the county had been discussing its feasibility, there being a wide-
.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
spread sentiment that the rates of insurance paid by them to foreign insurance companies were exorbitant. This, to- gether with other objections to foreign insurance systems, re- sulted in a call for a meeting of farmers at Anderson, at which preliminary steps were taken, looking to the organiza- tion of a company in the interest of the farming community, and those owning farm property, exclusively. At this meet- ing a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by- laws, and on the above date about one hundred persons, in- cluding both sexes, and from every township in the county, met at Anderson, heard the report of the committee and adopted it without unnecessary delay. Following the adop- tion of the constitution and by-laws, the following officers were elected : President, Elijah Williams, Fall Creek town- ship ; vice-president, Jonathan Jones, Anderson township ; sec- retary and treasurer, Jesse H. HIall, Monroe township. Board of Directors : William P. Davis, Anderson township ; John Franklin, Adams township; A. F. Kaufman, Boone township ; John L. Thomas, Fall Creek township ; A. M. Mc- Intosh, Duck Creek township; Burrell Williamson, Greene township; William T. Wright, Jackson township; John L. Jones, Lafayette township; A. L. Wilson, Monroe township ; Tremelius Beeson, Pipe Creek township ; Samuel E. Hannah, Richland township : Christian Bodenhorn, Stony Creek town- ship ; Thomas S. East, Union township; James Price, Van Buren township.
Article 1, of the constitution, declares that "The name of this association shall be The Farmers' Insurance Company of Madison county, State of Indiana."
Article 2, sets forth that, "The object of the association shall be to insure the property of its members against loss or damage by fire or lightning. The property to be insured shall embrace dwelling houses, barns, outbuildings and their con- tents ; farm implements, hay, grain, wood, and other farm products ; live stock, wagons, carriages, harness, household goods, wearing apparel, provisions, musical instruments, libra- ries and all other farm property."
By the terms of the constitution, "No risk greater than two thousand dollars shall be taken by the association until the amount of property insured shall exceed the sum of four hundred thousand dollars. No building shall be insured for more than two-thirds of its value, including all insurance in other companies."
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
All losses are paid by assessment of the members of the association.
The company at the present time is composed of about 1.500) of the leading farmers of the county. From $100,00) insurance, the amount required by the constitution before a loss could be adjusted, the insurance has increased to $2.056,- 904 at the present time. and according to the secretary, Mr. Jolm 1 .. Thomas, is still increasing.
Much interest in the company is taken by the farmers of the county, and its success is a matter of which they can feel justly proud. Trusts and companies loaning money in the county have such confidence in the stability of the association that they prefer loans secured by members holding its policies.
The insurance has been very cheap to the membership, costing on an average but 16 cents on $100. The association has been in existence ten years and has never had a lawsuit which, to say the least, speaks well for its management.
The present officers are Joseph Saunders, president ; B. F. Ilam, vice president ; John L .. Thomas, secretary, and John G. Haas, treasurer. Mr. Thomas has been prominently connected with the management of the company ever since its organization.
CHAPTER XX.
DISCOVERY OF NATURAL GAS IN MADISON COUNTY, TOGETH- ER WITH THE RESULTS THAT FOLLOWED - USED FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES - NUMBER OF WELLS AND THEIR COST - AREAS OF NATURAL GAS FIELDS, ETC.
THE NATURAL GAS ERA.
The story of natural gas is not only interesting, but im- portant-it is wonderful. The whirr and hum of machinery, the blazing furnace and noisy factory, the stately business block and residence, the teeming population within the Indi- ana gas territory, all proclaim the wonders that have been wrought since its discovery. The efforts of the genii of old have been fairly eclipsed ; the fervid fancies of the dreamer pale before the magnificent results that have been achieved since Trenton rock was penetrated, and nature's great fuel liberated from its sealed chambers beneath the soil of Madison county. Such wonderful development of resources and rapid progress in almost every branch of industry has seldom been witnessed in this or any other country, and will, no doubt, never be witnessed again until the earth yields from its mys- terious depths a treasure of equal utility.
The advent of the new era was unexpected. It came sud- denly, and Madison county was its chief beneficiary. It caused the county, which was almost wholly devoted to agri- culture, to advance with dazing rapidity to its present proud position as a leading manufacturing district of the United States. It swept away the old landmarks and infused new life and increased vitality into the drowsy population. Men of energy, enterprise and wealth came and located in the county in order that they might enjoy the benefits of free fuel. Capital by the million was invested, and men bought and sold within the limits of the county as they never did before. Only the old-timers can realize the vast changes that have taken place. Only those who shall live here in the far-off future will know all that has resulted from the discovery of natural gas, as the end is not yet ; gas still endures and each
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIAN.A.
month is adding to our population and the long list of our manufactories.
It is not the purpose of this chapter to give the history of natural gas, or speculate upon its origin. It is sufficient to say that this great product of nature has been discovered in many countries at various depths beneath the earth's surface. The " Eternal Fires of Baku, " on the shores of the Caspian sea, have been burning for ages on the surface of the earth, while natural gas was discovered in the province of Szechuen, China, at a depth of 1,500 or 1.600 feet in the earth, and utilized by means of bamboo rods or poles, for illuminating and heating purposes many centuries ago. Just when it was first discovered in the United States, and by whom, will prob- ably never be known. Perhaps the first use made of the subtle fluid was at Fredonia, N. Y., in 1821, when a " pocket " was struck and utilized for illuminating purposes. In 1860, while developing the oil fields around Oil City, P'enn., gas was discovered in sufficient quantity to be used under boilers instead of coal. Subsequent "'prospecting" led to the de- velopment of many large wells in Pennsylvania, one of which was at Leechburg when gas was first used (1873). for the manufacture of iron. From this time on to the present it has been used extensively in the vicinity of Pittsburg for manu- facturing and domestic purposes. The gas used in this city was piped from the Washington county fields, where a well was accidentally discovered in February, 1885, which, in natural gas parlance, was denominated " a gusher." The out- put of this well averaged six million feet a day.
In 1884 a gas field was discovered in Ohio, at Findlay, which resulted in a season of prosperity for that place, such as had never been witnessed outside the mining fields of the west.
In 1886 the great Indiana gas field was discovered, and during the following year (1887) natural gas was discovered in Madison county, on the farm of Samuel Cassell, at Alex- andria. Here the first gas well was drilled. The next well was drilled at Anderson, an account of which will be found in the history of Anderson township.
NUMBER OF GAS WELLS, THEIR COST, ETC.
Almost immediately following the drilling of the first two wells, companies were organized, not only by the citizens of the towns throughout the county. but by the farmers for the
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
purpose of drilling for gas. Wells were drilled in every locality and the gas piped to the dwellings of the members composing the company, so that at the present time there are but few homes in the county where the fluid is not used for heating purposes. For five years after the discovery of gas the waste was incredible. Flambeaux were erected in yards, on street corners and at other conspicuous points, and in many places, where the gas was abundant, as in Madison county. left burning day and night. Much of the waste was occasioned by a desire on the part of the people living in the gas belt towns to " advertise " the fact to the world that they had gas to " burn." At Anderson two large arches were erected, one at the Pan Handle and the other at the Big Four depot. These arches were constructed of perforated pipe and spanned the street. The gas was turned on at night and ignited for the benefit of persons who were passing through the city on the cars. This method of advertising was adopted in most of the towns in the Indiana gas field and was continued until the boom subsided somewhat and people began to realize that the gas could not endure forever, when the arches were torn down. Many wells were left burning for weeks before being capped, and the amount of gas wasted in this manner was simply enormous. It will never be known just how much gas was wasted and consumed unnecessarily during the first two years following its discovery in Indiana, but it has been estimated that the waste alone would have furnished sufficient heat for every home and factory now in the gas field for five years. The wells are no longer used for exhibition or advertising pur- poses and the burning of flambeaux is strictly prohibited by law, but, notwithstanding, the waste of gas still continues to a considerable extent in various ways.
. The first gas well drilled in the county cost about $2,000, but the average cost at the present time is $1,200. Competi- tion among gas well drillers for employment has been spirited and has resulted in greatly reducing the cost of such work. The average depth of gas wells in Madison county is 935 feet. The pressure and capacity of wells vary according to their location in the county, it being generally admitted that the pressure is not so strong in the south as it is in the central and northern parts of the county. One of the best wells. however, in the county, was what was known as the Chester- field well, situated six miles east of Anderson, near the Dela- ware county line. The output, or flow of gas from this well,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
amounted to ten million cubic feet daily. It is owned by the Richmond Pipe Line company, which was organized by Major C. T. Doxey, of Anderson, for the purpose of supplying Richmond, Indiana, with gas.
When gas was first discovered in the county it was pre- dicted by many that it could not be exhausted, while others confidently believed that the limit of its duration would not exceed ten years. It is now evident that neither of these pre- dictions or guesses was right. The ten years will have soon passed and while it is conceded that there are indica- tions that the gas will not last always, the decline in the pressure is not of sufficient consequence as to cause alarm. Many wells in fact, that have been constantly in use for years remain practically unaffected while wells that have shown a diminution in pressure on account of the heavy drain made upon them, on being closed for a brief time have recu- perated and furnish as much gas as ever. These facts render it impossible to predict with any degree of certainty how long this yet abundant fuel will endure. That it has endured thus long, considering all the circumstances of its enormous con- sumption, seems incredible.
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