USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 17
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On the 5th day of August, 1853, the editor announces that 680 acres of swamp lands in Madison county were sold at the court house door at from $1.25 to $2.00 per acre. The worst of this same land, at this writing, would be worth at least $50 per acre.
On the 9th day of September, 1853, a stabbing affray was noticed in the paper as follows :
" A man by the name of Jackson Snyder was stabbed, in the north part of the county, last Thursday, by a man by the name of Stephen Fennemore."
The man Snyder, spoken of, is not known to the writers, but Mr. Fennemore was the late Stephen Fennemore, of Mon- roe township, well known to every old settler in Madison county.
In the issue of September 9, 1853. George R. Diven, father of Hon. W. S. Diven, ex-judge of the Madison Supe- rior court, announces to the public that he has opened a new store in the building formerly occupied by T. and D. Ryan, and solicits the patronage of all the people of Madison county, assuring them that they can find the cheapest goods at his store of any place in the county.
The store building alluded to in the foregoing annource- ment, was located at the corner where the Star dry goods store is now to be found, at the corner of Eighth and Me- ridian streets, and was erected by T. and D. Ryan. The T. Ryan referred to was the father of the Hon. Henry C. Ryan, at this time judge of the Superior court.
On the 23d of September, 1858, Thomas N. Stilwell an- nounces to the readers of the Anderson Gazette, that he has become local editor of that paper. The editor, Mr. J. Fen- wick Henry, also speaks of Mr. Stilwell's journalistic venture as follows.
" It will be seen that our young friend, Thomas N. Stil- well, has taken charge of the local columns of the Gazette. Mr. Stilwell is a ready writer, and we have no doubt that he will please our readers by keeping them well posted in the affairs in the town of Anderson."
Mr. Stilwell served as local editor of the Gazette for a considerable period of time, and made a good local journal of it. Hle subsequently became prominent in social, political and
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financial circles as will be seen by the many allusions made to him in different parts of this volume.
In the issue of September 23d, 1853, the announcement is made that P. T. Barnum's Grand Colossal Museum and Menagerie will visit Anderson on the 18th day of October.
" Among the many attractions that he presents is no less a personage than General Tom Thumb. He also announces that Mr. Nellis, a man without arms, will execute extraor- dinary feats of loading and firing a pistol with his toes, cutting profile likenesses, shooting at a mark with a bow and arrow. and playing upon an accordeon. He also presents Mr. Pierce with a den of living wild animals. He also announces that there will be a fine military band to accompany the show, and that a grand parade will take place in the principal streets of the town at ten o'clock a. m."
This was Mr. Barnum's first appearance in Anderson, and he traveled with the show in person, as will be recollected by many old-timers yet living who were present upon that occasion. This was also the first appearance of Tom Thumb in the western country. At that time, Mr. Barnum's, like all other traveling exhibitions, went overland from town to town.
On the 20th of June, 1854, the Anderson Gazette an- nounces that the wire of the direct line of telegraph from An- derson to Cleveland, being built, has just been stretched to this place, and makes the prediction that it will be but a short time before the system will be in working order. This was undoubtedly the first telegraphic communication between An- derson and the outside world, and is the first notice in any publication that we have come across in our search for mate- rial for this book.
In the issue of April 21st, 1854, we find an account of the proceedings of the organization of the Madison County Agri- cultural Society, as follows : " Pursuant to previous notice the citizens of Madison county in favor of the organization of ain agricultural society, convened at the court house in Ander- Son on Saturday, April 8th, 1854. On motion. Colonel Thomas Bell was elected chairman and J. R. Holston was Cclected secretary. Samuel B. Mattox was chosen assistant Secretary. The president then arose and politely thanked the Convention for the favor they had conferred upon him, and Stated in a few brief words the object of the meeting. When the president had sat down, there was a call from the several 13
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townships for contributions, which was responded to as fol- lows : Fall Creek township, $13.50; Greene, $6.00; Ander- son, $14.00; Jackson, $6.25; Richland. $13.25; Lafayette, $2.00; Monroe, $17.00; Adams, $8.00; Union, $25.00, and Van Buren, $3.50, making a total of $108.50."
A committee was appointed by the chair to draft and re- port a constitution and by-laws regulating and governing the society. The following were the members of the committee : John Huston, Andrew Shanklin, Peter Fesler, Frederick Bron- nenberg, Dr. II. Wyman, Aleck Mcclintock, A. Nelson, A. Hinchman, T. J. Clark, Joseph Sigler, E. Ellis, J. J. Zediker, J. W. Perry and C. Waymire.
These gentlemen reported a constitution and by-laws, which were adopted. The following resolution was intro- duced :
" Resolved. That any person can become a member of this society when formed by contributing and paying over to the proper authorized agent the sum of one dollar."
It was ordered that the president of the convention pub- lish in the Anderson Gazette the minutes of the meeting, which were signed by Thomas Bell, president, and J. R. Hol- ston, secretary.
On the 26th of August. 1854, the following notice was inserted in the Gazette in reference to the fair association :
"Proposals for donations will be received at the drug store of Jones & McAllister, in Anderson, for preparing and fitting up the grounds suitably to hold the agricultural fair. Donations will be accepted for use of the grounds in cash. The township or town which proffers and secures in the aggre- gate the largest donation, consideration being had to eligibil- ity of situation, convenience of the public, &c., will receive the award of the fair ground for three successive years. The in- dividual or individuals whose proposals shall be accepted will be required to lease the grounds for three successive years to the Madison Agricultural Society, to be used for holding fairs and for no other purpose."
It seems that in the rivalry of the different townships for the location of the fair grounds that Anderson took the lead, as the fair was located in Anderson township and occupied the spacious grounds where the Hon. James W. Sansberry now resides, at the west end of Tenth street, and on the 14th and 15th days of September, 1854, the first fair was held upon
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these grounds, and they remained as the place of the annual meetings for several years.
After the excitement of the fair was over, Joshua R. Hols- ton, secretary of the association, published on the 19th of Oc- tober, 1854, a list of the premiums awarded, from which we make the following extract :
"To J. E. Pendleton, best stallion, $3.00; J. M. Nelson, best four-year-old gelding, $2.50: A. Banks, best five-year- old mare, $2.50; John Mowery, best sucking colt, $1.50; An- non James, best jack. $3.00; R. Van Winkle, best dairy cow, $3.00; Isaac Pittsford, best fine wool buck, $3.00; Randolph Free, best bureau, $3.00; Jacob Beicholz, best fowling piece, $1.00: Jacob Slusher, best violin, $1.00; William Foster, best saddle and bridle, $2.00: Cyrus P. Pence, best tanned calf- skin, $1.00; Mrs. W. G. Atherton. best quilt, $1.00); Mrs. I. N. Terwilliger, best chair tidy, 75 cents ; Mrs. Emma Haz- lett, best patch quilt, 50 cents ; Mrs. M. J. Jackson. best rab- bit and mouse, 75 cents ; Mrs. J. W. Thornton, best bread, $1.00."
In the issue of April 21, 1854, the editor of the Gazette shows his teeth in a wonderful degree by " spanking " John Davis, late Judge of the Madison Circuit Court, for having made some allusion uncomplimentary to the editor in a speech in a lawsuit in the court house. The editor says :
" We have the speech of lawyer John Davis while de- fending the notorious James W. Mendenhall. It was taken in shorthand by a friend who was in attendance during the trial, and sets out Mr. Davis in his true colors, and will show the depth to which a man will resort when he is doing the dirty work of another. Copies of it will be furnished for gra- tuitous distribution. While speaking on this subject. will state that Mr. Davis' course towards us was caused by a pri- vate pique on account of differences in political opinions. When a man will suffer his political prejudice to control his better feelings towards a fellow man he has, indeed, fallen."
In the next issue of the paper, some friend under the nom de plume of " Fair Play," advises the editor that his time could be better employed than to pay any attention to what John Davis might say about him in a law suit.
Perhaps the old-timers and especially the older members of the Madison county bar, will remember what the Menden- hall case was about, and the circumstances surrounding it.
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So far as the newspapers of that day are concerned, they are silent upon the question.
In the issue of April 21, 1854, appears an advertisement announcing that on the 9th of May, 1854, Franconi's colos- sal hippodrome from the city of New York, will give an exhi- bition in Anderson. Among the other attractions advertised was a scene on the turf with six horses, and a parade one mile long, headed by six lady jockeys in costume. A grand chariot race with four horses abreast, flying at full speed. presenting a sight of terrific splendor and animation never before wit- nessed.
In the issue of June 80, 1854, an account is given of the burning of a house in Lafayette township, as follows :
"On Monday night the 19th instant, an outhouse con- taining a quantity of lumber belonging to James Closser, of Lafayette township, was burned to the ground. On Wednes- day night following, Mr. Closser found his stable, which contained a valuable horse, to be on fire. In rushing to the rescue of the animal he saw two men who were apparently watching his door. Suspicion was immediately excited and his family were alarmed. Mr. Closser succeeded in getting his horse out, though somewhat injured from the effects of the fire. He now supposed the incendiaries were trying to draw his attention to the burning of the stable, and that in his absence they would be able to enter his house and rob his chest. A guard was set at night for the purpose of watching his buildings, with instructions to challenge everyone, but to fire upon no innocent persons, so that there might be no possi- bility of injuring any one. On the following Friday night the guards discovered a man coming towards the house, when fire was opened upon him, but without result. The person was recognized as being a well known character in Lafayette township, and was placed under arrest and taken before 'Squire Rulon, but sufficient evidence could not be obtained against him for the purpose of convicting him."
In the issue of July 7, 1854, the announcement of I. N. Terwilliger and J. M. Hayes, advertising their school at the seminary building, appears as follows :
"The undersigned respectfully inform the inhabitants of Anderson and the vicinity, that they will open a school in the seminary building in Anderson, on Monday, July 31. Terms per session of twelve weeks, spelling and first reader, $2.00; reading, writing, arithmetic, geography and English
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grammar, $3.00; higher English branches, algebra, philoso- phy, chemistry, geology and anatomy, $4.00; Latin and Greek languages and higher mathematics, $5.00. The gov- ernment of this school will be based upon the principles of humanity and kindness, and yet a sufficient amount of firmness will be used to insure a prompt compliance with the rules of the school. A liberal share of patronage is solicited."
I. N. Terwilliger, who held this school in the seminary building, was the best educator in his day in this part of the country. Many of the older men, lawyers and doctors who have been prominent in Madison county, received their educa . tion from him, among whom we may mention the Hon. Will- iam R. Myers, late Secretary of State of Indiana ; John W. Pence, cashier of the Citizens' Bank of Anderson ; Daniel F. Mustard, Albert C. Davis, and many others whose names do not now occur to us. The old seminary in which this school was taught occupied the ground 'on which the First Ward school building has been erected by the Anderson School Board.
In the issue of July 17, there is an account of the cere- monies of the Fourth of July of that year :
"The cadets participated in the commemorative ceremo- nies of our national birthday, had at the Garrison school house, four miles north of Anderson. Patriotic addresses were made and the day passed pleasantly with young and old, who enjoyed the occasion. In the afternoon the Anderson Guards paraded under the command of Captain G. W. Bowen, in full uniform and elicited much admiration. The First Lieu- tenant of the Guards. R. V. Atherton, and Second Lieuten- ant A. I. Makepeace, participated in the drill A large num- ber of our citizens partook of the supper in the evening, which was served by the Messrs. Thornton, the proceeds of which are to be appropriated to the purchase of a bell for the use of the M. E. Church. In the evening most of the young people engaged in the pleasure of a dance in the Makepeace block. Nothing occurred during the day or evening to mar the general happiness of the day, except the accidental upset- ting of a wagon, by which two or three boys were injured."
It seems that the supper given at Thornton's place for the purpose of raising funds to buy a bell for the church was a financial success, from the fact that on the 21st of July, the editor announces the purchase of a bell, as follows: " Our ears were greeted for the first time in Anderson on Sunday
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morning with the full clear tones of the new bell as they rang out on the distance from the M. E. Church, summoning with its almost hallowed tones the congregation around the altar of prayer."
In the issue of September 15, 1854, Hardy Scott, a gentleman of color, who at that time resided in Anderson, gave notice of his wife having left his bed and board, and warning people against harboring her on his account, as fol- lows : " Whereas my wife, Mary Ann, has left my bed and board, without any just cause or provocation, I caution all persons against dealing with her, or trading with her on my account, and I will pay no debts of her contracting after this date .- HARDY SCOTT."
In the issue of September 14, 1854, appeared a set of resolutions in which certain members of the M. E. Church severely censure another portion of the congregation for in- jecting politics into their religion, their language being forci- ble as well as elegant. The preamble and resolutions are as follows : " Whereas, at a camp-meeting lately held at Mt. Zion, in Richland township, a preamble and series of resolu- tions were passed by those present, signed by Rev. John H. Hull, presiding elder of the M. E. Church, and attested by Joshua R. Holston, as secretary of the Quarterly Conference that passed said resolutions, and also, whereas, we, a portion of the members of the M. E. Church, believe that the action and grounds taken and embodied in said resolutions are contrary to the pure principles taught in the Bible, and contrary to the doctrines taught in the discipline of the church; and we believe that all interference and intermeddling in politics in an official and church capacity, on the part of preachers of the gospel or of the church, or any portion of its members, are contrary to the peaceable principles of Christianity, and calcu- lated to have a tendency to alienate the feelings and affections toward each other : therefore, we, the undersigned, as mem- bers of said church, believe it our right, and we do hereby solemnly enter our protest, against the proceedings held by the elder and minister of our church, and those of our brethren who then and there participated in the adoption of said reso- lutions, in which it was declared, ' that we have the privilege to think and act, politically, as American freeman.'" These resolutions were signed by Thomas G. Clark, William Jones, S. B. Mattox, William Guthrie, class leader, James Stancliffe,
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John H. Fuller, James Maynard, George Mustard and Joseph Stanley.
On November the 2nd, 1854, we find the announcement of A. L. and A. I. Makepeace as landlords of a new hostlery in Anderson, as follows : " A. I .. & A. I. Makepeace have recently fitted up the Makepeace House for the reception of guests. House and furniture new. The latter selected from approved modern samples. Table well supplied. Hack run- ning to and from the depot. Stables convenient. Grooms obliging and faithful, and the supervision by the proprietors always guaranteed."
The A. I. Makepeace referred to here is Captain Make- peace, who is yet living in Anderson, and who is engaged in the hardware business as a member of the firm of Nichol. Makepeace & Company.
We also find in the same issue the advertisement of W. G. Atherton & Sons, who had just opened a new warehouse. as follows :
"W. G. Atherton & Sons have their warehouse in readi - dess for the reception of all kinds of produce, such as wheat, rye, corn, oats, flaxseed and potatoes, for which they will pay the highest market price. All who want money, bring on your produce. as we have the . ready ' on hand."
W. G. Atherton has many years since gone to his long home. R. V. Atherton, one of his sons, died in Anderson quite recently, leaving but one representative of that firm now in existence, Mortimer Atherton, who is yet living, and operatinga planing mill on North Meridian street in Anderson.
We also find in the same paper the advertisement of S. I). Irish & Sons, of Pendleton, as follows :
" The undersigned having. in addition to their country cards, purchased a full set of manufacturing machinery of the best workmanship and of the latest style. they wish to inform their friends and the public generally. that they are now pre- pared to manufacture all kinds of woolen goods on shares, or by the yard, at the usual prices. We also card and spin for customers anything they wish to have woven. Persons wish- ing to have their wool manufactured may rest assured that they will receive satisfaction. Factory at the old stand, Falls of Fall Creek, near Pendleton, Indiana."
The old carding mill referred to was for many years one of the leading industries of Madison county, and received patronage not only from this, but from the adjoining counties.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
It was a large frame structure that stood just below the falls of Fall Creek.
On November the 9th, 1854, the editor of the paper an- nounces an accident as having occurred on the Bellefontaine Railway, as follows : "The passenger train on its way from Indianapolis to this place last Wednesday had its periodical transition from the track into the ditch in the vicinity of Oak- land. Three or four persons were injured, the most serious of whom was the fireman, who has since died. As was usual in this case nobody was to blame."
It would seem, from the inference to be derived from the above bit of sarcasm, that it was no unusual thing for a train running on the old Bellefontaine Railway to land in the ditch, and the editor insinuates that the railway company in- variably justified itself in such actions. It is well remembered that the rolling stock that passed over that thoroughfare at that early day was known to be easily upset when coming in contact with an obstruction.
On January 11th, 1855, on the editorial page, we'find the following : "Attention, all! ! Mr. Stravern, the distinguished daguerreotypist, will remain in town one week longer. All those not having proved the gentleman's rare skill by having their pictures taken, should be on hand if they would receive the most finished specimens ever offered in these parts. Step into his rooms and view those family groups, represent- ing father and mother, brother and sister, grouped around the family fireside. We admire such a picture much more than we can express. Mr. Stravern takes all kinds of money in payment. Recollect that he took the first medal at the World's Fair at New York, and also at several other State Fairs."
In those days the taking of pictures was in its infancy, and a town the size of Anderson was not able to support a picture gallery. The men, therefore, who took pictures, strolled from place to place throughout the country and took the pictures of the people as they passed through. They generally travelled overland on a car fitted up for their business, which they could readily move from one town to another.
REMINISCENCES FROM THE ANDERSON STANDARD.
In the issue of February 6. 1857, on the editorial page, we find the following announcement :
" Mr. David Henry, who for many years has been known
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
as an auctioneer and horse doctor, in Anderson, was arrested upon the charge of passing counterfeit money, by Constable Mustard. The Doctor, in the course of the preparations for his trial, demanded a subporna for Horace B. Makepeace, who was engaged in teaching school about one mile west of Ander- son. The subporna was issued and handed to Constable Mus- tard. Mr. Henry remarked that he would walk along with him down to the school house. The Doctor walked along quietly until within sight of the school house when he very politely informed the constable that he felt too great an inter- est in the case to accompany him back to the town, and then drew from his pocket a pair of pistols, and advised the constable not to attempt to induce him to change his intentions, and immediately began to make use of ' leg-bail.' The constable contented himself with calling after him for a while, then returned to town without him."
Mr. Henry made good his escape from the officer. and for many years did not show himself in this community until about the year 1893, when he again visited the scenes of earlier days and remained in Anderson about a year, being prominent around the livery stables of the city ; but he has again branched out into this wide, wide world, and his where- abouts at this time are unknown to the writer. Mr. Henry was a man of prepossessing appearance, and of much general information.
It seems from the issue of the Standard of February 13. 1857, that the Hon. Richard Lake had been a short time pre- viously elected to the high and honorable position of Judge of the Common Pleas Court, composed of several counties of which Madison and Hancock formed a part. Ile per- formed his duties so acceptably to the people, and to the bar, that he was the subject of many complimentary notices, the Hancock Democrat having come out in very complimentary terms in his behalf, noting his splendid qualifications, and the dispatch with which he transacted the public business. It also appears that the business of the district was not so large as in later days from the fact that the editor announces that the judge will not entirely retire from his law practice, but will wait upon the wants of his clients, when not upon the bench. The editor says :
" Some may suppose that Judge Lake is disqualified from practicing law since his election to the office of judge of the Common Pleas Court. We wish to say that his position dis-
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ables him no further than the court over which he is called to preside. Mr. Lake will continue to practice in the courts of this county except that of his own."
A great change in court affairs has taken place since the above was written. It now takes two judges for our county, instead of one judge for four counties.
In the Standard of August 1, 1857, we find the an- nouncement that Jacob Beachler has engaged in the manu- facture of breech-loading guns, as follows :
" Mr. Jacob Beachler has obtained the right of this county, and has commenced the manufacture of Newton's patent breech-loading gun. This is one of the most complete specimens of the kind that we have ever examined. It is loaded at the breech with cartridges, and can be fired with safety thirty-two times in a minute. It is extremely simple in its construction, and stands unequalled as a breech-loader."
Mr. Beachler is one of the oldest gunsmiths living in this part of the country. After following his trade in Anderson for a number of years, he removed to his farm west of Ander- son, where he resided until within two years prior to this writing, when he returned to the city, and is now a resident of Hazlewood addition, living in case and comfort.
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