USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 24
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Anderson and in its vicinity. A few years later Jacob Stover. Ephraim Hughel, John Renshaw, David Harris. Philip Shinkle. Benjamin Sumpter and Benjamin Ridgway settled in the township.
THE CITY OF ANDERSON.
The site upon which Anderson is situated was originally entered by William Conner, who subsequently sold it to John Berry. Sometime during the year 1823, Mr. Berry surveyed and laid out the original plat of the town and afterward. as stated elsewhere in this work, donated a considerable portion of it to the county in consideration of " .Andersontown " be- ing made the seat of justice, which at that time was at Pendle- ton. The permanent seat of justice was located at the town of Anderson, and public buildings were erected as we have seen, but it was not until 1828 that the business of the county was transacted here. From that year until 1837 the town im- proved slowly, the population at that time not exceeding 2(0) people. But from the summer of 1837 the same spirit of en- terprise that had manifested itself throughout the State on ac- count of the internal improvements that were being projected. aroused the people of .Anderson to a realization of the possi- bilities of the place, and nothing was left undone by them that would promote its welfare. The construction of the Central canal-a branch of the Wabash & Erie canal-an ac- count of which is given elsewhere in these pages, not only increased the population of Anderson greatly, but gave busi- ness an impulse and quickened the energies of the people to a greater extent than had ever been experienced before. In fact, the town at this time enjoyed its first " boom." Steps were taken to organize a town government in order that the general prosperity might be better conserved and the pe ice and quiet of the community better maintained. The proposi- tion to incorporate the town met with considerable opposition but at the session of the Legislature of 1838-39 an act was passed for incorporating the "town of Andersontown. in Madison county. containing 350 inhabitants." The County Commissioners at their January session, 1830, made the fol- lowing order in regard to the matter : "Ordered, that an election be held at the court house in said town, by the citi- zens of said town, on Monday, the 21st of January, instant, for the purpose of electing trustees and appointing officers to govern the town. and upon the citizens complying with this
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
order, the said town is hereby and thereafter to be considered an incorporated town."
This order was complied with and a town government was established and maintained until some time after work on the canal had been abandoned. When that enterprise was dropped by the State, the population diminished and business generally suffered in consequence. Following the collapse of the canal " boom" the town corporation as an organization lost its vitality in sympathy with the general decadence of en- terprise, and finally became inoperative.
As time passed on it became more apparent to the leading citizens of the town that there should be some modification of the name as the " Town of Andersontown" was redundant and did not sound well. Accordingly Robert N. Williams and James Hazlett, two of the most prominent citizens of the town and county, the former Auditor and the latter Clerk of the county at the time, petitioned the legislature of 1844-5 for a change of the name. The petition asked that the name of " Andersontown " be changed to Anderson, which was granted, and from that time on the name of " Andersontown " does not appear of record although the old-timers for years afterwards seemed to prefer the name to that of Anderson.
ANDERSON'S FIRST CONFLAGRATION.
Shortly after midnight on the 12th of November, 1851, Anderson was visited by its first disastrous fire. At that time nearly all the workshops, offices and stores in the town were situated around the public square. They were few in number, but fully adequate to the necessities of the times. The south side of the square contained more business rooms than any of the others, perhaps. Situated on that side and on the southeast corner was the frame fan-mill shop of Thomas L. Sherman and Adam Wolf; just by its side stood a little frame cottage, formerly the residence of Alfred Makepeace, but unoccupied at the time; the next building was a three- story frame, in the lower room of which was a clothing store owned by Joseph Fulton ; one of the upper rooms was occupied by Seth Smith and William R. O'Neil as a law office, another by James Kindle, as a shoe shop ; Adam Reed. a I atter occupied the next building, where he manufactured ha t's and dealt extensively in peltries, which in that day con- sti uted no small portion of the exports from the township an cl county. By the side of Reed's place of business was a 18
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
frame building occupied by Dr. Townsend Ryan, with a stock of general merchandise. The next building was the Myers " tavern," a two-story log house owned and occupied by " Uncle Billy " and " Aunt Julia " Myers of happy memory. This hostelry stood about where the L. M. Cox building is now situated, and just south of it, facing on what is now Meridian street, was a large barn or livery stable run in con- nection with the tavern. These were the only buildings on that side of the square and they were entirely consumed.
The fire originated in the fan-mill shop, and was sup- posed to have been the work of an incendiary. The flames spread so rapidly that with the meagre facilities for fighting them were soon communicated with the other buildings along the " row." The entire population of the town gathered at the scene of the fire, and rendered all the assistance possible in removing the contents of the buildings on that side of the square. Considerable property was destroyed besides the buildings, and as there were no insurance companies in those days doing business in Anderson, the loss was total. Besides the property destroyed this fire was the cause of three deaths, as it is claimed that Seth Smith, William R. O'Neil and James Kindle, each of whom died shortly afterward, and within a few weeks of each other, in attempting to save their property inhaled the flames or hot air to such an extent that they could not survive its effects. Mr. Smith was a gentle- man of fine scholastic attainments, and the father of Thomas E. Smith, the well known commission merchant of Anderson. Mr. O'Neil was also a man of ability and a fine lawyer. Mr. Kindle was a kindly hearted gentleman, whose untimely demise was mourned, not only by a numerous relationship, but by a large circle of friends.
ANDERSON'S SECOND BOOM.
With the completion of the Indianapolis & Bellefontaine railroad to Anderson, business was again revived, new enter- prises were started, and the town began to grow rapidly. The necessity for a town government once more began to manifest itself, and on the evening of the 25th of April, 1853, a public meeting was held at the court house for the purpose of taking steps to that end. The late Samuel Myers pre- sided at the meeting, and P. H. Lemon officiated as secretary. John Davis explained the object of the meeting and stated the advantages of a corporate government. Dr. Townsend Ryan
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
offered a resolution in favor of incorporation, which was adopted, and on motion of M. S. Robinson a committee, con- sisting of John Davis, Townsend Ryan and Col. Ninevah Berry, was appointed to fix the boundaries of the corporation. Armstrong Taylor was also appointed to take a census of the town.
Following this meeting a petition was presented to the County Commissioners, asking that an election be held " to de- termine whether Anderson should be incorporated as a town under the laws of the State of Indiana, or not." The petition was granted, and the records show that an election was held on the 28th of June, 1823, at which thirty-six votes were cast in favor of, and one against incorporation. James W. Sans- berry, Burket Eads and S. B. Mattox acted as inspectors of the election. This corporation, or town government, lasted until 1865, when citizens of the town began to agitate the question of a city government. After the matter had been thoroughly canvassed, and very generally received with favor, an election was held on the 28th of August, 1865, within the limits prescribed for the new corporation for the purpose of determining the question. There were 217 votes cast at this election, 207 of which were in favor of a city government, and 10 against the proposition. After conforming to the neces- sary formalities of the law with reference to the organization of cities, the city government of Anderson was organized by the selection of the following officers : Mayor, R. N. Will- iams; clerk, C. D. Thompson ; treasurer, Joseph Fulton ; mar- shal, M. N. Harriman ; city prosecutor, E. V. Long ; council- men - first ward, John D. Mershon and Stephen. Noland ; second ward, E. B. Goodykoontz and George Nichol; third ward, Wineburn R. Pierse and Benjamin Sebrel.
Notwithstanding the fact that party lines were drawn very closely in Madison county at that time, politics cut no figure in the election of Anderson's first city officers. R. N. Williams was elected to the office of Mayor without opposi- tion , he being one of the oldest and best known citizens of the city, and besides amply qualified for the office. It is noted here that these officers were the first and last elected in the city of Anderson without reference to political predilections.
CITY OFFICIALS OF ANDERSON, PAST AND PRESENT.
Mayors, Robert N. Williams, 1865-66; J. C. Jones, 1866-68; Wesley Dunham, 1868-70; C. S. Martindale,
1
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
1870-72; William Roach, 1872-74; William L. Brown, 1874-76; Byron H. Dyson, 1876-78; James Hazlett, 1878-80; Wesley Dunham, 1880-84; J. F. McClure, 1884-92; J. H. Terhune, 1892-95; M. L. Dunlap, 1895. Mr. Dunlap is the present Mayor.
Clerks, C. D. Thompson, A. D. Williams (appointed March 19, 1866, vice Thompson resigned) ; B. B. Campbell, from 1866-8; John L. Forkner, from 1868-71 : A. C. Davis, from 1871-2; C. A. Henderson, from 1872-4; J. M. Jackson. from 1874-6: F. N. Pence, from 1876-8; James Mohan, from 1878-80; J. HI. McMillen, from 1880-2; William Boland, from 1882-4; Edmund Johnson, from 1884-6; John Baker, from 1886-8; Philip Briggs, from 1888-90; Frank Epply, from 1890-5. Mr. Epply was re-elected in 1895 and is the present incumbent.
Treasurers, Joseph Fulton, from 1865-8; E. R. Char- man, from 1868-70; Isaac C. Sharp, from 1870-2; Armstrong Taylor, from 1872-84; A. J. Hunt, from 1884-90; William Fulton, from 1890-4; Charles Kemmery, from 1894. Mr. Kemmery is the present incumbent.
Marshals, M. N. Harriman, from 1865-7; J. A. Thomp- son, from 1867-8 (appointed vice Harriman resigned) ; Cor- nelius Daugherty, from 1868-70; John Flahaven, from 1870- 2; David T. Thompson, from 1872-8; O. P. Stone, from 1873-4 (vice Thompson resigned) ; Cornelius Daugherty, from 1874-8: Alfred Coburn, from 1878-82; Augustus Heagy, from 1882-3; Amos Coburn, from 1883-4 ( vice Heagy resigned) ; Theodore Zion, from 1884-5; Patrick O'Mara, from 1885-6 (vice Zion resigned) ; Edward Downey, from 1886-8; Warren Copper, from 1888-93. During Mr. Cop- per's second term the office of marshal was legislated out of existence by the legislature and the present police law adopted.
The policing of the city is now in charge of a Board of Commissioners composed of three members appointed by the Governor as follows : George T. Beebe, D. F. Mustard and R. P. Grimes. Mr. Beebe is president of the Board and Charles L. Sherman is secretary. The first secretary was J. L. Crouse.
The Anderson police force is composed of one captain, one sergeant, and six patrolmen. The first captain of the force was George Welker, who resigned in 1895. He was suc- ceeded by Amos Coburn, who is-the present head of the de- partment.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
Anderson is divided into three wards or councilmanic districts, each of which is entitled to two representatives in the city council. The ward boundaries as originally estab- lished have been changed but once since the orgnization of the city government. Up to the discovery of natural gas in 1887, the corporate lines had not been changed, but since that time owing to the rapid growth of the city, several changes have been made. The ward boundaries were changed for the first time in 1893. The following in their order are the names of those who have served in the common council :
First ward, J. D. Mershon, Stephen Noland, P. Kirlin, E. G. Elliott, Patrick Kelley, David C. East, C. D. Thomp- son, Charles T. Doxey, W. A. Hunt, Jonathan Binns, J. W. Pence, L. M. Cox, Henry J. Bronnenberg, J. H. Dolman, J. C. Hedrick, R. J. Walton, H. C. Ryan, Henry Adams, John Agnew, J. F. McClure, F. C. Gedge, Ross Longworth, Stephen Funk, Edward Swann, W. HI. Stanton.
Second ward, E. B. Goodykoontz, George Nichol, H. D. . Thompson, William Crim, C. A. Dresser, W. F. l'ence, W. M. Wagoner, C. S. Burr, Townsend Ryan, Henry II. Conrad, John Lavelle, C. B. Cooper, J. B. Taylor, Dr. Jonas Stewart, H. C. Ryan, J. L. Forkner, C. K. Mccullough, W. W. Wooley, George Matthes.
Third ward. W. R. Pierse, Benj. Sebrell, G. W. Kline, J. Saunders, G. W. Swallow, A. A. Siddall, J. P. Barnes, Michael Ryan ( 10 years). C. D. Thompson, B. G. Ackerman, A . A. Helling, Samuel Kiser, Frank Stone, William Cronin, Louis Biest, Dr. G. F. Chittenden, I. E. May, J. II. McMil- len, C. V. Griffith.
CITY ATTORNEYS OF ANDERSON.
The following are the city attorneys of Anderson in their or« ler :
E. V. Long, P. D. Kemp, J. A. Harrison. J. H. McCon- ne I I, Sansberry & Goodykoontz, Richard Lake. A. S. Mc- Cia Ilister, Richard Benson, David Kilgore, Lewis C. Burk, E. P. Schlater, T. B. Orr, J. F. McClure. Robinson & Lovett, Frank P. Foster.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
ANDERSON TOWNSHIP CONTINUED.
CITY CIVIL ENGINEERS.
From 1865-68 the city had no civil engineer, but in the spring of the latter year, W. G. Ethell was selected by the council for that position and he performed its duties for a period of ten years, or until 1878, when he was succeeded by A. D. Williams, since which the position has been held by the following persons : Henry Rawie, C. S. Slayback, E. M. Culp, Harry Rogers.
CITY SCHOOL BOARD.
The first City School Board was organized in 1866 by electing R. N. Clark president, P. Kirlin, secretary, and N. C. McCollough, treasurer. The subsequent presidents of the Board have been : C. Kirlin, G. W. Kline, D. W. Swank, James Battreall, B. H. Campbell, S. M. Keltner, C. W. Prather. A number of these gentlemen served in this office several terms.
TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES.
The following are the names of those who have served as trustee of Anderson township from 1859 to the present time. Previous to that time the office was not in existence. The first trustee elected was Daniel Gunder. Then followed in their order, Alfred Rulon, E. J. Walden, R. D. Traster, Sam- uel Myers, S. M. Hodson, E. J. Walden, B. B. Campbell, Thomas P. Kelly. Mr Kelly served as trustee for seven years, and was succeeded in 1896 by the present incumbent, Mr. George W. Shreeve.
ANDERSON POSTOFFICE.
The first postoffice was established at Anderson in 1831, and the first postmaster was Robert N. Williams, who being both Auditor and Clerk of the county at that time, kept the office in the Clerk's office. There was but one mail route through the township. This route extended from Indianapolis
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
to Noblesville, and from that place to Perkinsville, thence to Anderson, New Castle and Richmond. Among the first mail carriers was Martin L. Bundy, who is still living and enjoy- ing not only the comforts of a happy home at New Castle, Indiana, but the respect of those who know him everywhere. There were no stage or mail coaches in this part of the State at that time, and the mail was carried on horseback, two trips a week being made by the mail carrier. Mr. Williams was succeeded as postmaster by Col. Ninevah Berry in 1839. Col. Berry is entitled to the credit of introducing the free delivery system in Indiana, as it is said that he carried his office around in his hat, and whenever a letter came for a citizen of the town all that was necessary to get the same was to hunt up the Colonel who would produce the letter from his hat.
Richard Lake was the next postmaster, and for a while kept the postoffice in the building occupied by Adam Reed, on the south side of the square, which was burned in the con- flagration of 1851. With the change of the national adminis- tration, Townsend Sharp succeeded to the office. He in turn was succeeded by George W. Bowen, and he by John H. Davis, who served but a short time, when owing to the sale of a store by Davis to Colonel Berry, the latter became postmaster again. Joseph Fulton followed Colonel Berry, and held the office for a period of eight years, or during the administrations of Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan, with the exception of a few months, during which time a Mr. McCallister had charge. With the election of Mr. Lincoln to the presidency. W. H. II. Lewis, editor of the Madison County Republican, was appointed postmaster and served four years, when H. J. Brown, who was also an editor and formerly proprietor of a paper called The Loyal American, was appointed to the office. Brown went into office in April, 1865, and retired in July, 1878, Stephen Metcalf, editor and proprietor of the Anderson Herald, having been appointed to succeed him. Mr. Metcalf was the first postmaster to intro- duce lock boxes for the benefit of patrons of the office. They were placed in the office December, 1878. Mr. Metcalf re- tired from the office in July, 1885, having served seven years. He was succeeded by John W. Pence, who was appointed by Grover Cleveland. Mr. Pence served a little over three years, when, owing to a long-cherished desire to make an extended visit to Europe and the Holy Land, he retired be- fore his commission expired, and H. J. Daniels was appointed
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
by President Harrison to administer the affairs of the office. The impetus given to business following the discovery of natural gas increased the labors of the office proportionately, and in September, 1890, the free delivery system of letters was established. Postmaster Daniels appointed Charles Stew- art, J. J. Bravy, R. P. Falknor and J. R. Morey letter-carriers for the four districts into which the city was divided.
The population of the city was increasing very rapidly at this time and shortly after these letter carriers were appointed it became necessary to appoint two more, and Theodore Zion and Albert Campbell were appointed. Mr. Daniels: served until April 1st, 1893, when Dale J. Critten- berger, editor of the Anderson Daily and Weekly Democrat, took charge of the office under an appointment made by President Cleveland, he having succeeded Mr. Harrison to the presidency. Mr. Crittenberger was and is a stalwart Democrat who believes in the doctrine that "to the victors belong the spoils." He also believes that a man who holds a political office and is required to give bond for the discharge of its duties should be permitted to surround himself with assistants who not only hold the same political views that he does, but who are personally agreeable. The letter-carriers appointed by Postmaster Daniels, knowing that Mr. Critten- berger held these views and not being in sympathy with him, (excepting Albert Campbell) tendered their resignations soon after he took possession of the office. They were succeeded by the following force of carriers appointed by Postmaster Crittenberger : Clarence Richwine, John I .. Fraley, W. E. Swann, John C. Cory, Charles D. Hunt, Timothy Carey, Edward R. Call, Edward Wells, Albert Campbell and Thomas Campbell, the latter a substitute. Mr. Crittenberger appointed Mr. Walter Isanogle deputy postmaster.
THE POPULATION OF ANDERSON.
The population of Anderson in 1830 was 150 (estimated) ; in 1840, as shown by the census, 350; in 1850 it was 882; in 1860 it was 1,168; in 1870 it was 3,126 : in 1880 it was 4,126; and in 1890 10,741. The estimated population at the present time, including North Anderson and Park Place, is 22,000. This estimate is based on the school enumeration, and is re- garded as conservative. The growth of the city has been next to marvelous, yet none the less substantial in its character,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
and will keep on increasing, doubtless, long after the cause that induced it has ceased to exist.
THE HOTELS OF ANDERSON.
The first hotel, or "tavern," in Anderson was conducted by John Berry, the founder of the town. His " tavern " was situated near the center of the west side of the square, and was constructed of hewed logs. It was a two-story building and afforded accommodations in the way of provender and beds that were the boast of the proprietor. The lawyers who "rode the circuit " in those days stopped at this " tavern " during their stay in Anderson, and enjoyed its generous hos- pitality. Here, after court had adjourned for the day, the judge, lawyers, and frequently the litigants, would assemble and " spin yarns " until " bed time." An amusing incident is here appropriated from Hon. (). HI. Smith's " Early Indiana Trials and Sketches." concerning this tavern and its pro- prietor :
" The thousand and one amusing incidents that occurred on the circuit, with the bar, will never find their way to paper. I may be excused, however, on account of the parties, for res- cuing one of them from the common fate. James Whitcomb, Calvin Fletcher, Harvey Gregg and Hiram Brown, of the In- dianapolis bar, ' put up,' as we say in the West, at the tavern of Captain John Berry, at Andersontown. Whitcomb was a perfect gentleman in his person and dress. He must shave every morning and put on a clean shirt ; but as it was difficult to get washing done on the circuit. he put several clean shirts in his portmanteau and carried a night-shirt to sleep in, always changing as he went to bed. Mr. Fletcher was a great wag, continually annoying Mr. Whitcomb, and sometimes others, with innocent tricks.
Captain Berry prided himself upon his tavern, and would often boast that there might be better houses in New York, so far as the table was concerned, but as to his beds they could not be excelled in the United States ; that he had been to the great Astor House, before he opened, to see how things were done. He had not been at the table a minute before they pre- sented his bill, and an impudent waiter asked him if he would have tea or coffee, and when he told him he would take tea, he asked him what kind of tea ; he said 'store tea, to be sure.' The Captain had traveled the whole length of Broad- way on Sunday, was invited into church while the organs
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
were playing, but excused himself on the ground that he never danced, and if he did, he would not dance on Sunday. A single word against his tavern, his table or his lodging rooms, was taken by the Captain as a great insult, and immediately resented without regard to persons. Fletcher knew the Cap- tain well. They were intimate friends. Taking the Captain to one side Fletcher said, 'Do you know, Capt. Berry, what Mr. Whitcomb is saying about your beds?' 'I do not-what did he say?' 'If you will not mention my name, as you are my particular friend, I will tell you. 'Upon my honor I will never mention your name-what did he say?' 'He said your sheets were so dirty that he had to pull off his shirt every night and put on a dirty shirt to sleep in.' 'I'll watch him to-night.' Bedtime came. Captain Berry was looking through the opening of the door when Mr. Whitcomb took his night shirt out of his portmanteau and began taking off his day shirt. Captain Berry pushed open the door, sprang upon Whitcomb and threw him upon the bed. The noise brought in Mr. Fletcher and the other lawyers, and after explanations and apologies on all sides the matter was settled. But Mr. Whitcomb, years afterwards, as he told me, found out what he suspected at the time, that Mr. Fletcher was at the bottom of the whole matter."
Captain Berry kept " tavern " for a number of years, but finally retired and engaged in other business.
The next " tavern keeper" in Anderson was William, or " Uncle Billy," Myers, as he was affectionately called by those who knew him. His first " tavern" was a two-story log- house, situated on the south side of the square. This building, as we have noted elsewhere, was burned in 1851. The day upon which the " tavern " burned, Mr. Myers purchased a building where the Columbia Hotel now stands, of John W. Thornton and converted it into a public hostelry. He re- mained here for a number of years, subsequently purchasing a two-story brick house on the east side of the square, of Rob- ert Wooster. This house stood where the Kaufman & Davis, or old Gruenewald building, now stands, and was known as the " Myers House." He and his esteemed wife, " Aunt Julia " Myers, remained here until enfeebled by the weight of years, they disposed of their property and retired from busi- ness. In connection with the hotel business, Mr. Myers traded extensively in furs, the foreste in this part of the State at that time abounding in certain species of fur-bearing
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