USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
From 1862-5 Joseph Franklin had charge of the public school. there being but one in Anderson. In 1868 Mr. Frank- lin erected a frame building on the west side of Delaware street between Eleventh and Twelfth streets, where he con- ducted a graded school successfully for several years. He was assisted by Miss Genevieve Robinson, who had charge of the primary department. From 1868 to 1871, the schools were superintended successfully by Charles Hewett, T. C. Davis, H. M. Rust and W. R. Myers. From 1871 to 1873 there were no superintendents. In 1873 the schools were reorganized sind J. N. Study was appointed superintendent. It was dur- ing this year that the Anderson High School was organized. "The enumeration at that time was 1,033, and the school en xollment 640. Five years later the enumeration was 1,203 and The enrollment 902. The trustees at this time were, James Battreall, W. R. Myers and Dr. C. S. Burr. The first class Was graduated in 1876 and consisted of four young ladies. "The commencement exercises were held in the old Union Hall = At the south-east corner of Main and Eighth streets. Mr. Study resigned the superintendency in 1877, since which time R. I. Hamilton, A. J. Dipboye and J. S. Carr respectively, Have been appointed to the position. Prof. Carr is the pres- ent efficient superintendent. He is assisted by Mrs. Sarah Carney Campbell.
In 1874 but twelve teachers were required in the public Schools and there were only thirty-one pupils enrolled in the I High School. This year (1896) the total enrollment of the Public schools is 8,088 of which 264 attend the High School. "IThe number of teachers required is fifty-eight, and next ear sixty-five will be employed, so rapidly has the school 21
322
. HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
population increased. This year the sum of $3,250 was paid to the teachers every school month. Besides the buildings already mentioned, three others have been erected since 1890, namely, the Hazelwood building in 1891; the Central avenue building in 1892; the " Columbia " in 1898. Another handsome edifice is now being erected on Columbia avenue, which, when completed, will make seven model buildings. The estimated cost of these buildings is placed at $178,000. It can be safely affirmed that no city of equal size in the State has better school accommodations, or better schools for that matter, than Anderson. Nothing has been spared to place the schools upon a high plane of excellence, and the success that has attended the efforts of the officers and teachers in this direction is not only a matter of gratification to the friends of education, but merits the highest praise. The Board of Trustees at present is composed of Messrs. S. M. Keltner, C. W. Prather and George Quick, the latter gentleman succeeding Mr. W. T. Durbin, who was promi- nently connected with the Board for several years and took an active part in providing adequate school accommodations for the youth of the city.
TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.
The number of persons in Anderson township entitled to the privileges of the schools outside the city is, at this time, 990. The township owns fifteen buildings, all of which are brick, and employed eighteen teachers the past year. The enrollment in the township schools is steadily increasing, and next year twenty-one teachers will be employed. The schools, both in the city and township, have been well managed, and to the credit of all concerned, are in a flourishing condition.
PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.
The first parochial school in Anderson was taught by Mrs. Maggie Ryans, ncc Mohan, in 1858. The school was taught in the small Catholic church that stood where the present church is located. Mrs. Ryan was succeeded by John Finley, who taught until 1866, when he left Anderson to join in the Fenian invasion of Canada. Mrs. Patrick Skehan, nee Collins, and Maurice Ferriter afterwards had charge of the school. The at- tendance at this school has gradually increased until the en- rollment now numbers 200 pupils. The church recently va- cated at the south-cast corner of Fletcher and Eleventh streets
323
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
has been converted into a school building and is used exclu- sively for that purpose. The school is in charge of six Sisters of the Holy Cross. Only the primary branches are taught.
ANDERSON LIBRARY.
In 1879 a joint stock library association was organized by the public-spirited citizens of the city under the act of 1852 as modified by the act of 1873. Shares were issued at $5 each and a considerable sum of money was raised. Books were purchased and many donations of various kinds of literary works were made by friends of the cause, and for a while the library prospered. But in the course of time interest in the library began to decline and it was finally closed to visitors. In the winter of 1888 the noted temperance lecturer, Francis Murphy, came to Anderson and held a series of meetings, and at the last meeting of the series, which was held in the Doxey opera house, he inaugurated a movement that resulted in the re-establishment of the old library upon a permanent basis. A new association was formed and the books belonging to the old library were transferred to the new organization. Suitable rooms were rented on the north side of the public square, many new and valuable books were bought and M. Milburn, Esq., was appointed librarian. In 1891 the library board effected an arrangement with the city whereby the latter assumed con- trol of the library and proceeded to levy a tax for its support. The library now has between four and five thousand volumes and is largely patronized. The rooms are situated in the Newsom block on North Meridian street and furnished in such a manner as to present an inviting appearance. Miss Anna B. Myers is librarian.
ANDERSON NORMAL UNIVERSITY.
This institution was founded by W. M. Croan and form- ally opened on the evening of August 29, 1896. The univer- sity occupies the second and third stories of the Opera House block, situated at the north-east corner of Main and Eleventh streets, and on the above occasion was visited by hundreds of Anderson's best citizens, who were no less gratified than sur- prised that an institution of its character and magnitude had risen in their midst almost unobserved. No appeal for finan- cial assistance was made to the general public to establish this institution, and whatever prominence it may attain will be largely, if not wholly, due to the indefatigable efforts of its founder. The faculty is composed as follows :
324
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
President, Wm. M. Croan ; Higher Mathematics and As- tronomy, George H. Colbert ; Pedagogy, J. C. Black ; Lan- guage, J. P. Mullin ; Literature, Lottie N. Mullin ; Principal Commercial Department, J. Goodwin Perkins; Geography and Mathematics, E. E. Copple; Chemistry and Pharmacy, W. C. Rousch ; Penmanship, Ellsworth L. McCain ; Mu- sical Director, Chas. Nelson ; Elocution and Delsarte, Laura Quick ; Voice Culture, Grace S. Langell; Conductor Band and Orchestra, Jas. F. Wysong; Shorthand and Type- writing, Louis J. Weichman ; Military Science, Kenneth M. Burr; Law, John E. Wiley ; Fine Art and Drawing, Mar- garet Beachley.
SOME OLD VILLAGES-VICTORIA.
Only the old-timers and those who are familiar with the early records of the county, are aware of the fact that the site of Anderson is not the only one that was ever platted for a town in Anderson township. In 1838, while the construc- tion of the Indiana Central canal was in progress, John Renshaw platted a town site across White river, where the Anderson cemetery is now situated. A log cabin was erected and the " town" was called Victoria. But work on the canal was abandoned and the hopes that had been indulged in by Mr. Renshaw with reference to his town perished with the collapse of that great public enterprise. He subsequently disposed of the land where the town was located, and Vic- toria was forgotten.
ROCKPORT.
This was another canal town that was located in Ander- son township. It was laid out in July, 1839, by J. W. Alley and was situated two and a half miles west of Anderson on part of the land now owned by J. W. Sausbery, Sr., and used by him as a stone quarry, the quarry having been de- veloped many years after the town site had been platted. Rockport was on the south bank of the canal, and near the Strawtown road, or what is now known as the west extension of Eighth street. Rockport boasted of several houses at one time, but they have long since disappeared.
OMAHA.
At the crossing of the Big Four railroad and the county road, running west from the Mccullough farm, near the
325
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY. INDIANA.
residence of Alexander Bell, in the south part of Anderson township, was once the village of Omaha.
Eli Gustin operated a saw mill and George Darrow, late of Denver, Colorado, but at this writing at Montpelier, Indi- ana, was a merchant and kept a store there. . It was a thriv- ing little place, and served as a trading point for the neighbor- hood.
There is nothing now left to tell where this town was situated, except a vacant piece of ground and a pile of ashes, and the decaying sawdust where the mill once stood.
CHAPTER XLII.
THE ANDERSON STREET RAILWAY COMPANY.
Soon after the discovery of nature's great fuel at Ander- son it became apparent that the population would greatly increase and that the city, in order to keep pace with other enterprising and progressive towns, would have to be supplied with a street railway system. Several individuals, as well as companies, had taken a survey of the field and discussed the matter both with private citizens and the city officials, but nothing tangible resulted until August 19, 1887, when the City Council granted a charter to Seldon R. and D. C. Williams, of Lebanon, Tenn., through the efforts of D. C. Chipman, their associates, successors and assigns for twelve years, authorizing the construction and . maintenance of a street railway in Anderson. Some time after the granting of the charter the work of constructing the track was begun. Meridian street was selected as the thoroughfare through which the railway should be constructed, the terminal points being the Big Four and Pan-Handle depots. The passenger depot of the Pan-Handle was at that time located on North Main street in the building now used as a freight house. Certain inducements, however, were offered the Messrs. Williams to change the proposed route of the road in order to accommodate the patrons of the leading hotels, and this was accordingly done. The track of the railway, as originally laid, extended from the Big Four depot north on Meridian street to Tenth, east on Tenth to Main, north on Main to Ninth, west on Ninth to Meridian, north on Meridian to Fifth, east on Fifth to the Pan-Handle depot. The point of transfer then as now was on Ninth street between Meridian and Main streets.
The road was completed on the morning of the 6th of September, 1888, and that evening street cars were run for the first time in Anderson. This was an occasion for much congratulation and rejoicing among the people, who turned out en masse to witness the novel spectacle -street cars
327
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
running through the streets of Anderson! The rolling stock of the company consisted of two cars with a seating capacity of about twenty people each. A span of diminutive mules sup- plied the motive power. On the evening the road was opened for traffic the city officials together with a number of promi- nent citizens and the Riverside Park Band (the only musical organization of its kind in the city at that time) were invited to take the first ride over the road. The band occupied the first car, and as the wheels began to turn in response to the efforts of the horses (for this occasion only) it struck up an inspiring air, the small boy shouted and the people gener- ally who thronged the sidewalks along Meridian street joined in congratulation over the fact that Anderson was the first and only city in the gas belt provided with a street railway. The driver of the first car was Robert E. Burke, at this time a resident of Iowa. His uncle, Newton T. Burke, furnished the teams for the " excursion."
Branches were subsequently constructed from the main line to the north-west part of the city, Hazelwood addition and the Crossing, but owing to inefficient service were not very largely patronized ; in fact. the " rapid transit " furnished by the " mule system," as it was called, was regarded as being some- what of the nature of a joke. It is related that one of the car drivers, who also acted in the capacity of conductor, was so exceedingly polite and humane that instead of employing his whip when the mules manifested a disposition to stop and take a nap while making a "run," he would urge them on with such expressions as, " I wish you would go on. Now, please do go 'long," etc.
In 1892 the Anderson Electric Street Railway Company was organized, and on the 30th of May of that year the city Council voted the company a right of way to the streets of Anderson for a period of thirty years. The Anderson Street Railway Company had, in the meantime, disposed of its fran- Chise, rolling stock and other property to the electric com- Dany. Following the action of the council granting a thirty- Near franchise, the new company re-constructed the road. The old iron rails, of which the tracks were constructed, were taken up and heavier iron was put down ; the system was en- larged by the extension of the old lines ; a large electric power house was erected ; new cars were purchased, as well as a Complete equipment of such electrical machinery and appli- ances as were necessary for a first-class street railway.
328
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
.As the time approached for making a trial trip over the road with the electric cars great interest was manifested by the people, a majority of whom, perhaps, had never seen a car run by electricity. This interesting and important event occurred at 2 o'clock p. m., on March 12, 1892, and from that time on Anderson has boasted of a street railway system as good as the best in the country. In this, as in many other important matters, Anderson was the first city in the Indiana gas field to introduce electric cars. It is a fact worthy of mention that the Anderson Electric Street Railway Co. is composed exclusively of local capitalists. It is also proper to state that Philip Matter, of Marion, Ind., who is largely in- terested in Anderson real estate, and the Hon. C. L. Henry were the original promoters of the electric street railway sys- tem, and that they introduced electric cars and run them over the tracks of the old company before the city council granted them a franchise for the use of the streets. Mr. Mat- ter subsequently disposed of his interest in the road to Mr. Henry, L. M. Cox, and others.
CHAPTER XLIII.
- ANDERSON FIRE DEPARTMENT .- WATER WORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM.
ANDERSON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Prior to the year 1869, Anderson was without any organ- ized fire department. About the year 1870, Hon. Charles T. Doxey and Mr. John P. Barnes who were members of the city council advocated the purchasing of a fire engine. Their efforts resulted in obtaining a Silsby engine at a cost of seven thousand dollars. At that time there were no public wells or cisterns within the city limits by means of which the engine could be tested, and it was therefore taken to the river bank in the rear of where Pierse's saw mill now stands. It was here fired up, and at once it displayed its ability to cope with fire in magnificent shape.
A laughable occurrence took place in which Mr. Barnes was the object of a good deal of merry-making. Two horses were hitched to. the engine, and Mr. Barnes assumed the chief- tancy by mounting upon the seat by the side of the driver. The horses were sent at full gallop down North Main street, and when in front of the present residence of Charles T. Doxey. the front wheel struck a stone in the street. and Mr. Barnes was thrown into the front yard. The horses were going at such speed that no attempt was made to stop them until they reached their destination at the river, and Mr. Barnes came a few minutes later on at a dead run to again assume his command of the embryo fire department.
After this test had been made it dawned upon the citizens and taxpayers that a large outlay of money would be necessary to supply the city with cisterns, horses, and other paraphernalia for putting the steamer in use. In consequence of this state of affairs an injunction was applied for in the Circuit Court, and the City Council was restrained from purchasing or paying for the engine out of the city funds. The machine was run into a building owned by Wagner & Fisher on West Eight street,
330
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
which is now occupied by the Daily Bulletin. Here it re- mained locked up under the order of the Court until a final decision was made in the matter. The case was finally taken to the Henry County Circuit Court, and tried at Newcastle on a change of venue when the Court decided against the purchase of the engine, and thus ended Anderson's first attempt to es- tablish a fire department.
The next adventure in this line was in the year 1876 when the Hon. James Hazlett was mayor, and H. II. Conrad a lead- ing member of the City Council, who both favored the organ- ization of a fire department. After much agitation, a com- mittee consisting of all the members of the council and the mayor was appointed for the purpose of purchasing a fire en- gine. This committee purchased at a cost of six hundred dol- lars a small hand engine which did service for quite a while in connection with a hook and ladder apparatus.
The first fire to occur after the purchase of the hand engine was at the residence of the Hon. Howell D. Thompson on North Meridian street. When the engine had been hauled to the place of the fire, it was discovered that there was no cistern handy, and the hose was, therefore, attached to a well, and in this condition it was unable to cope with the flames and the residence was almost totally destroyed.
The City Council erected a shed on the first alley east of the public square on East Eighth street where the fire apparatus was kept under the protection of William Black at a cost of twenty-five dollars per year.
The little hand engine later on redeemed itself to a certain extent by at one time saving the east side of the public square where a fire broke out in the cellar-way under the Gruenewald block.
During the construction of the Anderson water works in 1886, the organization of a volunteer fire department was again agitated by a number of persons petitioning the City Council to that effect. Fifty-seven names were secured. A meeting was called and a committee was appointed, promi- nent among whom were C. K. Mccullough and Mr. Bart Proud. After a thorough canvass of the city, another meet- ing was called on the 13th day of August, 1886, in the mayor's office at the corner of Main and Eighth streets at which time the following named gentlemen enrolled themselves as volun- teers : Amos Coburn, C. K. Mccullough, Bart Proud, S. A. Towell, Jesse Talmage, John Ewing, Charles Alford, Charles
331
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Perrett, James Hartley, Frank Myers, Charles Hubbard, Thomas J. Nichol, Samuel Taylor, Frank Craven, Peter Miller, Val Roll, "Snub " Shawan, Dr. Bin Reid, David Cook, Charles Kline, Eugene Groves, Frank Van Pelt, John Spence, John Phipps, Samuel Bass, Charles Bacon, Philip Hollingsworth, Ira Keeley, Marion Gustin, Caleb Shinkle, Perry Falkner, William Carmody, Benjamin Roadcap, Eras- tus DeHaven, H. H. Conrad, Lorenzo Moore, Wallace Black, Arthur Branson, John F. McClure, Michael Moriarity, Henry Burke, James Randall, James Bradley, Gabriel Hodge, Wmn. Talmage, Albert Battreall, John Snyder, John Teepe, Frank Thompson, John Kenton, John Shinn, Frank Ethel, Joseph Rasin, Patrick O'Meara, Seth Cook, Ed. Wilcox, and Albert Clay.
At this meeting rules, regulations and by-laws governing the department were provided and adopted, and the organiza- tion was accomplished by the election of Amos Coburn as chief; C. K. Mccullough, assistant ; S. A. Towell, secretary ; Bart Proud, captain Hose Company No. 1 ; and Jesse Tal- mage, captain of Hose Company No. 2. John Ewing was elected captain of the Hook and Ladder Company.
The equipment at that time consisted of two hand reels. hook and ladder truck and one thousand feet of hose in addi- tion to the hand-engine. Rooms for the headquarters were secured in the basement of the court house. Regular meet- ings of the department were held on the first Friday evening of each month. Demands were made on the city council for more and better equipment, and soon the fire " laddies " were furnished rubber coats, hats, boots, etc.
The first fire to occur after the organization of this depart- ment took place at the residence of Dr. William A. Hunt on South Jackson street, in December, 1886. The weather was intensely cold, the thermometer marking 17 degrees be- low zero, and there was at that time also a heavy coat of snow upon the ground. When the signal of fire was given, not only the department responded, but nearly the whole pop- ulation was on hand to witness the first fight made by the volunteers, and to see the new water works, which had just been completed, tested.
Many mistakes were made, the most serious of which was in attaching the hose to a hydrant some distance from the fire and the man at the hydrant turning the water on in full force before the hose had been unwound, which caused them to
332
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
burst and a deluge of water was poured out upon the streets, causing the hose to whip around like a monster serpent in the street, throwing the water in every direction and drenching the people on the sidewalks, as well as the members of the de- partment. As soon as the mistake could be remedied an at- tachment was made to another hydrant and the fire was soon under control, and a portion of the Hunt residence and the building owned by Richard Lake, adjoining, were saved. While some were ready to criticize the department, the gen- eral feeling was that the boys did valiant service, and their mistakes were soon forgotten and forgiven.
The citizens took great interest in the fire department and a banquet was given to the members thereof, which gave them great encouragement, and the department started out anew in great spirits. The city council soon realized that the department must be provided with better equipments, and they were accordingly furnished with better hose and other appliances and were allowed two dollars each for every fire they attended. In the spring of 1887 Chief Coburn resigned and Samuel A. Towell was chosen in his place. In 1888 two horses were purchased and Edward Wilcox was placed on regular pay as driver.
In 1889 three additional men, Charles Alford, Charles Perrett and Philip Hollingsworth, were put on pay at forty dollars per month, and the chief's salary was made one hun- dred dollars per annum. The old reels were now converted into a one-horse reel, and two horses were purchased for the department. Prior to this time the liverymen of the city fur- nished the horses to pull the hose wagons.
In the year 1890 the Gamewell fire system was introduced, and the handsome building was erected which the city now occupies at the corner of Eighth and Central avenue. A modern hose wagon was added to the department which had moved into new headquarters at the city building. Two ad- ditional men were added to the force, and the pay of the members was fixed at $45 per month, and the salary of the chief was also advanced.
In 1898, the department was, on motion of John L. Fork- ner, councilman from the Second ward, converted into a full paid department with thirteen members. Station No. 2 was established, and a building erected at the corner of Seven- teenth street and Madison avenue.
No department in Indiana has a better or clearer record
333
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
than that enjoyed by the Anderson force. The only death that has occurred since the organization of the department was that of Samuel Taylor.
" Sam " and "Bob" were the pioneer fire horses, and nobler ones never ran under harness in answer to an alarm. They were scarcely looked upon by the boys as dumb brutes. but as members of the department.
. Bob " took what is known by horsemen as " big head." and, after a long siege of suffering, taken off duty, and cared for until he could eat his food no longer, when he was killed.
"Sam" never missed a run or a meal up to the fall of 1895. when he came in contact with an electric wire which caused his death.
Samuel A. Towell for many years did valiant service as chief of the department, and was universally liked by the organization as well as the citizens at large, and being offered a better salary, he became superintendent of the water works. and Charles Alford was selected in his place.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.