USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 30
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
THE VELOCIPEDE, ANDERSON'S FIRST WHEEL.
The great fad of the present time is to have a " wheel "- a bicycle, a tricycle, or some other kind of a wheel to ride on. It no doubt seems easier than walking, although the premises are open to doubt.
The wheels of the present day are altogether different from those of twenty-five years ago. The first wheel that made its appearance in Anderson was in 1868. It was brought here by R. N. Mccullough, commonly called " Little Neal." He was a nephew of the late Neal C. Mccullough, of this city, and a son of. Thomas Mccullough, of Oxford, Ohio.
He was employed by his uncle in the capacity of sales- man in the hardware store in the room, at the corner of Main and Eighth streets. He and Lew Markle were both salesmen in the same store. They were a good pair and well adapted to business. The wheel craze had at that time just broken out zall over the country. They were then called "Velocipedes." They were rude affairs compared with those of to-day. They were constructed more like one of the " safetys " than any Other pattern now in use. They were very clumsy in their rmake-up. The wheels were both of a size, coupled together with a rude bowed-stick, the hubs and spokes being as large zas those of a present day buggy, with an iron or steel tire. It generally took some one to hold the machine while the rider mounted. After it was in motion and going at full speed, God only knew when or where the rider would dismount. He was often picked up in the fence corner along the road, n ll battered and banged up. There were some good riders In ere in those days, and great feats of speed were accom- P lished.
When Neal Mccullough brought his velocipede to town it was the wonder of all the populace. To learn to manage it was the next thing. Accordingly Union Hall, directly "> ver the hardware store. was selected as the place to " break it - All of the sports in town were on hand. Neal was to I >> ake the first attempt, of course. as it was his first machine. I.I e was assisted in mounting the thing : his equilibrium given h i m and turned loose. Some one gave it a start ; Neal ap- P I jed his feet to the treadles, and in less than no time, he was "" grew hawing" in all directions, the track of a snake being no comparison to the route he was taking over the hall, and the longer he went the faster he went. His senses began to quake ;
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
his head became light, and he yelled for some one to stop it. " Take me off ! Let me loose !" But no one could get to him until he was picked up in the corner under the stage where he and his wheel fell when he collapsed. He was a sorry- looking sight when picked up, all mashed, bruised and bumped.
After dragging him out and applying arnica in copious quantities to his wounded places he retired from the ring. Sam Towell, Lee Trees and other sports, tried their hands without accomplishing much toward riding the " animal." Jeff Sausser was a quiet spectator to the " monkey shines " of the riders, but too cute to be enticed into trying it himself. After many trials the wild velocipede was at last subdued and be- came a favorite on the streets of Anderson.
The velocipede fever, like all other kindred sports, be- came a thing of the past, and was forgotten until the present craze broke out.
During the velocipede fever, a party of riders made an overland trip from Knightstown to Anderson, causing great excitement by their wheeling into town unannounced and unknown. There were no ladies in the party. The ladies did not know how to ride a wheel in those days.
SANDY CARR FASTENED TO A LAMP-POST.
In 1868 the city council passed an ordinance similiar to the one now in force, requiring all city prisoners incarcerated in the bastile for drunks and other minor offenses to be worked on the streets when they had no means of paying their fines. The city marshal was then ex-officio street commissioner. He had charge of all street works as well as the " hoe gang." Cornelius Daugherty was then city marshal. He was an efficient officer and did his duty fearless of the consequences. Public clamor or public sentiment cut no figure with him in the plain dis- charge of his public duties. There lived here at that time an Irishman by the name Sandy Carr, who is yet living some- where in Hamilton county in this State. He was engaged in the retail liquor trade in Anderson for many years.
Sandy was arrested for' violating the city ordinance for selling without a license, tried, convicted and fined by the mayor. In default of the payment thereof he was committed to jail, where he was confined for several days, neither paying or replevying his fine and costs. The marshal under the or- dinance then in force took him out to work on the public streets. Sandy was very obstinate. He absolutely refused to
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
work a lick, but would stand like a statue from morning until noon and from noon until night on the curb stone with his shovel in his hand, but would not move a muscle in the way of labor.
The marshal tried persuasion and every other means but actual violence to get him to work, but to no purpose. Finally becoming aggravated at his obstinacy, he took Sandy by the arm and marched him to the Doxey House corner and chained him to a lamp post, where he left him sitting all day in the broiling hot sun. Sandy's wife brought him his dinner and stood over him with an umbrella, protecting him from the sweltering heat of the sun during the afternoon. The circumstance brought forth much indignation from the people in "Free America." To see one of her citizens a prisoner for a trivial crime, chained to a post in the public thoroughfare of the city, was more than they could bear. The Irish peo- ple were especially wrought up. Many threats of violence were made. They looked upon it as an act of barbarism. The best element of the Irish citizens, however, kept cool heads, thereby avoiding what might have been serious trouble. The pressure finally became so strong that the marsha! was forced to turn Sandy loose. Carr claimed that the city could not lawfully compel him to perform labor on the streets to liquidate his fine. He had made up his mind to die chained to the post rather than work, and he would undoubtedly have done so. The feeling against the marshal was very strong for years thereafter. Many of the old Irish people treasure it up to this day. Their blood boils when they talk about it. There are serious doubts whether the city ordinance could be enforced in case of refusal to perform labor of this kind if it were stubbornly contested, but unfortunately the poor crea- tures have neither friends nor money to fight it, so they have to submit. The working of tramps on the streets is probably as well as keeping them in jail at public expense. They do not care for being in jail, but they do hate to work.
THE BURNING OF WALDEN'S WARE HOUSE.
E. J. Walden was one time one of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of Anderson and was for many years engaged in buying and selling grain and lumber, having a grain elevator situated on South Main street near the Big Four railroad station.
On the 27th of January, 1875, the warehouse was discov-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
ered to be on fire. The alarm was sounded at about a quarter past 10 o'clock at night by John Mershon. Before help could . be obtained the building and contents were destroyed, with the exception of the office. The office desk and books were saved, but the flames had made such progress that it was impossible to check them, and the building with its contents, consisting of 2,000 bushels of wheat, 2,000 bushels of corn and a quantity of oats, and the fixtures, scales, elevators and steam engine were destroyed.
The building had but lately been purchased by Mr. Walden and it is thought that the fire was the act of an incendiary, as there had been no fire in the engine that day nor had any been left in the stoves at night by the employes.
The loss was quite a heavy one to Mr. Walden, as he was not fully insured.
A HANDSOME RESIDENCE DESTROYED.
The beautiful and substantial residence of the Hon. Howell D. Thompson, formerly located on the spot where his present home now stands, was destroyed on the 24th of April, 1879. The residence was built in 1862 by George Nichol who resided in it for several years and then sold it to Mr. Thompson who in the year 1877 enlarged and remodeled it making it one of the most beautiful dwellings in Anderson.
On the afternoon of the day above mentioned the build- ing caught fire and was almost totally destroyed. At that time the only means of fighting fire in Anderson was with a small hand engine which the City Council had purchased but a short time prior, and there being no cisterns or reservoirs from which to draw the water, it seemed almost a useless task to undertake to contend with this conflagration. The fire " laddies " who were in those days composed of volunteers, were on the scene as soon as they could get there from the dif- ferent quarters of the town, and after placing their hose in the cistern of the house belonging to the family, did their best to save the building, but without success. The house was insured in the Etna Fire Insurance Company for $4,500. Mr. Thompson immediately erected another mansion, a handsome brick, which now occupies the place of the one that was destroyed.
BURNING OF A FLAX MILL IN 1876.
About the year 1870 the firm of Shillitto & Company from some eastern State, came to Anderson and started a flax
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
mill, locating on the ground where the thriving suburb of Avondale is situated, on a part of the John Hickey farm. Their business was to buy flax straw of the farmers through- out the country, and manufacture it into jute, for bagging and other purposes for which the article is used. They did a very successful business for several years, until Friday night, the 7th of July, 1876, when the mill caught fire from sparks from a smoke stack, which ignited a pile of refuse lying near the outside of the building and the factory was in a short time destroyed. The alarm was given, and the people in that locality rendered such assistance as was in their power, to save the property. The building being filled with combustible matter, was soon wiped out, leaving nothing but the iron work, machinery and boiler standing to tell where it had once been located. The mill at the time of the disaster was leased by N. H. Cammack & Sons, of Cambridge City, Indiana. They had on hand a stock of manufactured goods amounting to $2,500, with no insurance. The machinery in a short time after the fire, was bought by L. M. Cox, and moved to a point on the Fishersburg road, near Green's Branch. It was operated for several years by him, until about the year 1886, when it was again destroyed by fire, since which time this business has not been revived in Madison county.
THE FISHER SNATH AND CRADLE FACTORY BURNED.
The extensive snath and cradle manufacturing establish- ment of Thomas C. Fisher for many years occupied the site where the Bulletin building now stands, being placed there by Messrs. Wagoner & Fisher for the especial use of this factory. Here they carried on a very extensive business until the 19th of February, 1888, when the entire plant was de- stroyed by fire. The disaster took place on Sunday night, when but a few people were upon the streets, and the build- ing was enveloped in flames before aid could be rendered. The alarm was not sounded until several minutes after the fire had been discovered, and the flames had spread with such rapidity that it was soon beyond control. The fire originated in the engine room, which was near the center of the build- ing, and spread in both directions. The factory was filled with dry material and manufactured goods, there being 25,000 snaths and several thousand grain cradles on hand at the time, all of which were destroyed. Three streams of water were turned on, but the location of the fire was such
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
that effective work could not be done. The small buildings surrounding the sides of the walls prevented the firemen from getting readily to work. Luck and Providence seemed to. be against the fire-boys, as they had scarcely got the hose attached when it bursted, causing much trouble and delay. They im- mediately replaced the bursted section, but they had hardly done so when it gave way in another part. This occasioned a great deal of delay, and, in the meantime, the flames had steadily devoured the building. All that could be done now was to make an effort to save the surrounding property, which they did in an efficient manner.
The loss to Mr. Fisher was a serious one. Aside from the damage to the building and machinery, he incurred a great loss from the destruction of a vast amount of manufactured goods and raw material which he had on hand. His manu- factured products were just ready to be shipped to his custom- ers, and it being late in the season he could not possibly re- manufacture them to meet the wants of his trade in time, and thus many of the orders were cancelled. The building and contents were partially insured.
Mr. B. Brasket, agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Co., had his office and warerooms in the building. He was a loser to the extent of several hundred dollars in machines and other property.
Mr. Fisher immediately rebuilt the house and converted it into business rooms, but abandoned it as a manufacturing establishment.
BURNING OF THE DOXEY OPERA HOUSE.
On the 14th of November, 1884, the magnificent opera house erected by the Hon. Charles T. Doxey on North Me- ridian street was destroyed by fire, entailing a loss to its owner of $80,000, with no insurance.
The fire is supposed to have originated in the rear end of a livery stable owned by Jesse W. Hurst, situated immediately south and adjoining the theater building. The first alarm of fire was sounded about 1 o'clock at night. In a few moments thereafter the building was a mass of flames. The heat be- came so intense that it was impossible to stand within fifty feet of the burning edifice. The iron fronts of buildings on the opposite side of the street were heated almost to a red heat. When it was discovered, had there been a fire depart- ment in Anderson, the upper part of the building might pos-
.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
sibly have been saved, but as there was no organization of that kind the people stood around helplessly and saw the mag- nificent building go up in smoke and flames. A message was sent to the Indianapolis department for help, and a train was started from the Union Depot with one steamer on board. The run to Brightwood was made in two minutes, but when the train reached that station an order was sent countermand- ing the former one and the engine returned to the city, the fire having gone so far that help of that kind would be of no use.
On the night of the fire the Laura E. Dainty Theatrical Troupe had just finished a performance in the theatre. The members of the company did brave work in their efforts to save the building and other property from destruction. The only thing saved of any value were the draperies around the boxes and a few other articles, which were afterwards utilized when the house was rebuilt.
Among the losers were George Woerner, merchant tailor, who had his shop in the same building, and Fenton C. Rogers who conducted a music store, and also Mrs. Ella Malone, who had a millinery establishment on the second floor. Mr. Hurst, the liveryman, was a loser to a small extent. The building which he occupied belonged to Bazil Neely.
Immediately after the fire, a move was set on foot by the citizens of Anderson to organize a stock company, placing Major Doxey at the head and the Opera House was rebuilt, but on not so magnificent a plan as the old one. On the 19th of November, 1885, it was reopened to the public. Miss Hortense Pierse being the star upon the occasion of its dedication.
Major Doxey eventually purchased the stock of all those who so kindly contributed to the rebuilding of the house and was at the time of its second burning its sole owner.
The second conflagration which took place March 30, 1893, was attributed to carelessness in leaving a gas jet burning which was situated near the drapery of the stage and in some manner became ignited, and before assistance could be rendered this handsome building was again destroyed.
After this Major Doxey became discouraged in his attempt to furnish the Anderson people a play-house and gave up the idea. Ile sold the property to Messrs. A. J. Brunt and Louis Loeb who rebuilt it and converted it into a business block.
Prominent among those who kindly assisted Maj. Doxey in rebuilding the Opera House were Lafe J. Burr and II. J.
!
.
-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Bronnenberg, who gave the details of its construction their per- sonal attention. This building was again destroyed Decem. ber 24, 1896, elsewhere noticed.
BURNING OF THE OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Probably the most disastrous fire since the " west side conflagration " in 1875, that has visited Anderson, occurred at 6 o'clock p. m., March 1st, 1893.
In addition to being dangerous the fire was a " mean " one to fight, and gave the department a great deal of trouble. it being a very difficult matter to either get the blaze under control or in any position to fight it.
It originated a few minutes before 6 o'clock in the rear part of the Olympic theatre, which was occupied by the Columbia Rifles as an armory. The entire upper portion of the building was ruined, several business rooms with their stocks, water soaked and smoke stained, and most of the arms and equipments of the Columbia Rifles totally destroyed.
The person who discovered the fire was Mrs. J. O. Hardesty, who had rooms in an adjoining building. Mrs. Hardesty's attention was attracted by the crackling of the fire, and on looking out of her window saw the flames burst- ing from the window in the opposite building, not three feet distant. She started to the street to give an alarm, but in the mean time Mr. A. J. Jones, the hardware man, heard the falling glass, and looking up from his back door, discov- ered the blaze. He sent a still alarm to the fire department.
The department made a run down Eighth street and rounded up in front of the burning building with a hundred feet of hose trailing from the end of the hose wagon. The hose had been attached to the hydrant, on the corner of Eighth and Meridian streets, before the wagon stopped, and a nozzle was quickly put on the other end. The line was taken up the front stairs and down through the auditorium, and in a few seconds the flying sparks and a rising cloud of steam showed that the fire was being checked. As soon as the line was laid the wagon was driven around to the Seventh street hydrant and a second line was taken through the alleys and the fire was again attacked from the rear.
For an hour the department, under the direction of Chief Towell, waged a hard and at times a seemingly hopeless fight, but by 7 o'clock the fury of the flames was exhausted and they were under control. At So'clock the fire was practically
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
extinguished and the taps "out" were sounded by the chief a few minutes later.
It is supposed the blaze originated under the stage of the theater. Private John Hopper left the place about 5:45 o'clock, having first turned all the gas jets down, and, as he thought, left the place perfectly safe. The theory is that a gas jet set fire to the window casing, and from there the fire spread to the stage above. As soon as it reached the scenery, the blaze flashed from the window. The fire, when first seen, was curling around the window of the "company room."
After the fire, the interior of the once pretty theater was as perfect a picture of ruin as can be imagined. The ceiling had fallen in, and the stars peeped between the charred rafters that had upheld the roof. The seats were covered with broken plaster and bits of burnt wood, while here and there about the stage lay the stock of the barrel of a rifle or a blackened and bent sword.
DESTRUCTION OF CONRAD & MATHES' WAGON SHOP.
In the spring of 1866, the firm of Conrad & Mathes located in Anderson, and started a factory for the manufact- ure of farm wagons, the firm being composed of II. H. Con- rad and George Mathes, both of whom are yet residents of Anderson. Their shops were located on north Main street, on the grounds now occupied by the buildings of II. HI. Con- rad. On the 20th day of June, 1867, their plant was de- stroyed by fire, the conflagration being the work of an incen- diary. The buildings consisted of the wagon shops, black- smith department and paint shops, all of which were devoured " by the flames, together with all the wagons on hand and a large quantity of paints, oils, spokes, hubs and poles. This was the third attempt to destroy this place, the first having occurred on the 3d of June, and again on the 7th of the same month. No cause could be assigned why any one should burn the shops unless it was to keep the firm from occupying the grounds which were so near the city and to the business portion of the town. It was never ascertained who the guilty parties were, although it was stated at the time that a man seated on a black horse was seen to ride rapidly down the railway tracks towards the " junction " about five minutes after the fire was discovered. He was heard to say in a low and excited tone, that it would go this time. The loss was about $1,500 with $1,000 insurance. This factory was after- 23
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
ward destroyed by fire, H. H. Conrad having become the sole proprietor of the establishment.
JOHN FORD'S RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.
When the old Methodist church stood opposite its present site there was a colored gentleman living here by the name of John Ford, who came from the South some time after or dur- ing the war. He followed white-washing, doing chores, and was for a while assistant sexton at the church. He made the fires, swept the house and did such work as came in his line.
He was one of those good-natured fellows, full of talk, and was always " shooting off " to the white people wherever he met them. He was one of the politest men in America. Always tipped his hat if he met you every twenty minutes in the day, with " Mornin', Majah ; mornin', sah."
During a spirited revival that was being carried on many conversions were being made and people were joining in flocks. John got religion among the rest. An experience meeting was being held one Sunday night, and the house was crowded to suffocation. Every one had something to say as to his experience in the religious world. Nearly every one would close his talk by asking an interest in the prayers of the congregation.
John was standing away back by the door, leaning, with his hands behind him. He became too full to stand it any longer-he had to have vent. Brother Burnett had just con- cluded a. fervent prayer, and a soul-stirring hymn had been sung, when John broke in :
"My belubed bredren an' frens, Ise a son ob Ham, a chile ob de dark continent, as it were. Accordin' to de nature of things Ise not permitted to mingle wid de white folks much or hab much to say in dere meetin's, but I am done tole you Ise gwine to say somethin' for de Lord dis ebenin'. I has to say somethin', I can't help it. Ise about to splode. My bredren, altho de Lord has made my hide as black as de pitch on a pine knot, de soul He put widin me is as white as snow. Ise found out dat de longer we libs in dis world de mo' wis- dum cums into de cocanut."
At this point John's feet slipped from under him and down he came like a thousand of brick onto the floor, jarring the house until the old bell in the cupola rang. The house, of course, roared. Even the old deacons and sisters tittered and laughed. John got upon his feet and order was about restored
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
when he got in again with, "Bredren, I ax an inquest on my pra'rs." This started the laughing again, which kept up at intervals until church was out.
From what the writer knew of John Ford, he was as true a Christian as any one, black or white. He was sincere and felt as he said, that though his hide was black his soul within was as white as snow.
SMASHED THE MUSIC BOX.
A long while ago it was a custom in Anderson to have serenading parties. There were several good singers among the inhabitants at that time, who have since settled down to steady business men. Joseph H. Sharp, the hotel man, is one among the number. There was at that time a young Baptist preacher here who was unmarried and liked to associate with the " boys," as they made it quite pleasant for him. There was also an old music teacher here by the name of King, who was a " daisy " and no mistake. He could play a melodeon or organ to the Queen's taste and was always ready for any- thing that was up. One night the party went out hauling a melodeon in a spring wagon. They took in the town, going to the homes of all prominent citizens. It was the custom in those days to set out wine or some palatable beverage to serenading parties, and the party partook freely of the flowing bowl on this occasion. By the time they got around they were comfortably " full." Then they started back to replace the instrument in King's room. King was so glorious that he was past being any help in taking the instrument up- stairs. Sharp was in front going up, the preacher bringing up the rear. They tugged and pulled at it as best they could in their condition until they had the melodeon about half way up the stairway when Sharp made a misstep and down the music box and all came with a mighty crash. It tumbled over the preacher, rolling down to the foot of the stairs, nearly killing the whole party and smashing the melodeon until it was completely ruined, where it was left on the side- walk until morning. The mishap leaked out among the con- gregation and the preacher was soon called to other fields, where it is to be hoped he is doing a good work among the faithful, and serenading parties are not in vogue.
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