USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 73
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ELECTRIC LIGHT AND WATER WORKS.
The city is lighted by electricity, has an excellent water works system, and a well-organized fire department, mention of which will be found elsewhere in this work. The Electric Light Company was organized in 1893.
CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS.
Alexandria has seven Christian churches, or societies :. The Methodist, Christian, Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopal, United Presbyterian and Catholic. The Methodist society is the old- est in the city and township, having been organized at an early day. The society originally belonged to the Pendleton circuit and built the first church in Alexandria in 1845. The church is in a prosperous condition, having a large member- ship and practically out of debt.
The Christian church was organized in 1852, although evangelical work had been done in the township as far back as 1889 and 1840 by Elders Daniel Franklin, Drury Holt, William Trowbridge, B. Blount and others. Prominent among the membership of this church at the time of its organ- ization were Jacob Cassell, John McMahan, James Ellis, Joseph Fenimore, Elizabeth Fitch and Martha Cassell. The society erected a meeting-house at Alexandria in 1853, in which services were held until 1863, when it was abandoned, being considered insecure. The membership divided at this time, a part going to what is known as the Lilly Creek church and a part to the Vinson church. The church was organized at Alexandria, however, in November, 1875, by Elder Will- iam McKensey, since which time it has steadily increased its membership.
The Presbyterian society was organized at a compara- tively recent date. The membership is small but zealous and the result is that the society has one of the cosiest little churches in the county.
The Baptist church was organized at Alexandria Decem- ber 23, 1895, and at present has no permanent home, the meet- ings being held in the Red Men's hall on Harrison street. The members are active and arrangements have been perfected that will insure them a place of worship.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
There has been an organized Baptist society in Monroe township since June, 1842, when a small number of that faith assembled at the house of Moses Maynard for the purpose of organizing a church. In 1844 the society built a log meet- ing-house on Section 82, in the south-east part of the town- ship. This house was removed in 1872, and on its site was erected a neat little frame building. This society is known as the Little Killbuck Old School Baptist Church. The first pastor was the Rev. William A. Thompson, one of the pioneer Baptist ministers of the State.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church was organized December, 1895, by Rev. Francis C. Woodard. The membership is few in numbers, but active, and the society is growing.
The United Presbyterians organized their church at Alexandria on May 4, 1898, and on the 1st of July, 1893, Rev. A. K. Straw took pastoral charge of the congregation. The work of the society is well organized and the outlook hope- ful.
The Catholics have a growing congregation, but as yet have no permanent place of worship. Services are held by Father Beagle, of Elwood, twice a month.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The city of Alexandria has four public school buildings for the accomodation of the 670 children of legal school age within its limits, that number being the enumeration for the present year. Of that number sixteen are colored, eleven males and five females. This year a corps of twenty-one teachers was employed, at the head of whom, as superintend- ent, is Vinton R. Busby, one of the most efficient educators in the State. The present school trustees are Thomas H. Jones, S. Free and H. C. Binkly.
Two of the four school buildings, the "Tomlinson " and " Clark," are deserving of special mention. These two structures when completed and furnished cost the citizens of Alexandria $40,000. They are of handsome design, very at- tractive and a credit to the city.
There are thirteen school buildings in the township ex- clusive of the towns, and a like number of teachers. The school enumeration this year for the township alone shows that there are 852 males and 807 females, making a total of 659 persons entitled to school privileges.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
There are five secret benevolent orders at Alexandria, viz : The F. and A. M. ; I. O. O. F. ; K. of P. ; I. O. R. M. and K. O. T. M. These societies were instituted in the above order, the Masons being the first to organize a lodge. Alex- andria Lodge No. 225, F. and A. M., was organized May 25, 1858, and the following officers installed : R. H. Hannah, W. M .; John Coburn, S. W .; T. J. Pickard, J. W .; D. M. Scott, Treas. ; A. G. Tomlinson, Sec .; G. Bohrer, S. D. ; Jos- eph Pugh, J. D. ; J. M. Zedeker, Tyler.
Necessity Lodge No. 222, I. O. O. F., was instituted Nov. 21, 1860, with ten charter members. The first officers of the lodge were : C. Free, N. G .; John Heagy, V. G .; R. H. Cree, Sec. ; S. B. Harriman, Treas. This is the only lodge of any order in the county that owns a cemetery. The beauti- ful burial ground in the south-east part of the city was pur- chased and laid out as a place of sepulture by Necessity Lodge.
The I. O. R. M., K. of P. and Knights of the Maccabees are all in a flourishing condition and constantly increasing their membership.
THE PRESS.
The city has four newspapers proper mention of which is made elsewhere in these pages.
PROMINENT CITIZENS.
The following are the names of those who have served the county in an official capacity from this township :
William Wilson, Commissioner, from 1844 to 1885 ; Fred- rick Black, Representative, from 1867 to 1869; Dr. Joseph Pugh, Treasurer, from 1867 to 1871; J. F. Mock, Representa- tive, from 1869 to 1870; D. K. Carver, Sheriff, from 1870 to 1872; Robert H. Hannah, Clerk, from 1874 to 1878; T. J. McMahan, Sheriff, from 1876 to 1880; R. H. Cree, State Senator, from Madison and Delaware counties, from 1875 to 1877 ; Morton H. Downey, Surveyor, from 1894 to 1896 and re-elected and is the present incumbent of that office.
ORESTES.
A few years ago Orestes was a mere hamlet ; now, owing to the discovery of natural gas, it is an incorporated town with an estimated population of 450. The town is situated on the L. E. & W. railroad, two miles west of Alexandria, and possesses certain advantages which give it a degree of
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
prominence as a business point. It has two large factories, the Powell Tile works and the United Window Glass factory, the latter being one of the largest establishments of its kind in the country.
The school enumeration for the present year shows that there are 211 persons of legal school age within the corporate limits. Two school buildings are required for the accommo- dation of pupils and three teachers are employed.
Orestes is surrounded by a fertile farming country ; its people are enterprising and thrifty, and taken altogether the town is fairly prosperous. It was incorporated in 1894.
OSCEOLA.
This village is situated in the north-west corner of the township and was laid out in 1855. It derives its name from the celebrated Seminole chief and at one time promised to be- come a place of considerable importance. A post-office was established here and E. M. Trowbridge, the first merchant in the place, was appointed postmaster. The office has long since been abolished. A large steam saw-mill was once operated here and a great deal of lumber was manufactured, but with the disappearance of the more valuable timber the industry ceased to be profitable and the mill was removed. The first physician here was Dr. Eppard, who was succeeded by Dr. Cyrenus Free. The first blacksmith was David Perry, and the first shoemaker Absolom Webb. A school-house ample for the needs of the community is located here.
ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS, REMINISCENCES AND SKETCHES- THROWN FROM A BUGGY AND KILLED.
Jacob Schwinn was, in his lifetime, one of the most in- fluential farmers of Monroe township, in which he had a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was well known throughout the county, being prominent, not only as a busi- ness man, but also as a politician. He took an active part in the political campaigns of his party, being a stanch Repub- lican.
On the 21st day of November, 1874, Mr. Schwinn, at an early hour in the morning, arose and started for Anderson, in a buggy, to which he had one horse hitched, and was leading another behind. His son, Evan, rode with him for nearly a mile, until he came to the cross-road leading to Osceola, where he was engaged in teaching school. After parting with his
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
son, Mr. Schwinn drove south about eighty rods to a small bridge, which he passed over safely, but just after crossing, his horses became frightened at some obstacle on the road side and began to run. They had gone about thirty rods when the buggy was upset and the occupant thrown out, striking his head against the fence with such force as to cause his immedi- ate death. Mr. Thomas Bell was within 100 yards of the ac- cident, and Mr. Hankins but a short distance away. They both hurried to the place, but before reaching Mr. Schwinn, he had breathed his last.
A few minutes after leaving the buggy, Evan Schwinn, the son, heard a noise in the direction of the bridge, and fear- ing there was something wrong, hurried back, finding his father in the embrace of death. The body was examined by Drs. J. W. Perry and Cyrenus Free, who found that his inju- ries were caused by a shock to the spinal column and the breaking of internal blood vessels.
Mr. Schwinn was born in Bendenkirschen, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt, September 21,1816, and immigrated to this country when twenty-one years of age. He landed in Baltimore, where he remained a short time working at the tailor's trade. From here he went to Pittsburg, Penn., and remained a short period and thence to Indianapolis. He final- ly settled in Yorktown, Delaware county, where he formed the acquaintance of N. E. Tomlinson and became very warmly attached to him. In the year 1842 Mr. Tomlinson moved to Alexandria and engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Schwinn soon followed him and worked at his trade, when he gave it up for the more congenial occupation of farming. In the same year Mr. Schwinn, being prominent in the counsels of the Whig party, was placed in nomination for the office of Representative for Madison county. He made a bold and creditable fight in his canvass, but owing to the overwhelming Democratic majority was defeated at the polls. In 1866 he took a leading and active part in organizing the first Masonic lodge at Alexandria, of which he continued to be a leading member until the time of his death. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and took a prom- inent part in the affairs of that organization. Being industri- ous and economical he had amassed quite a little fortune and left his family in easy circumstances. His remains were in- terred at the Deadman cemetery, two miles north of Alexan- dria, the ceremony being conducted by the Masonic order.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
The funeral was one of the largest that ever occurred in Mad- ison county. The older citizens of this county will pleasantly remember the subject of this sketch, and will long mourn his death.
SUICIDE OF JOSEPH CROSS.
Joseph Cross was a bachelor, who for many years lived alone about two and a half miles southeast of Alexandria. He was found dead in his bed on Sunday, the 17th of August, 1884. He had been missing since the previous Thursday even- ing, and the evidence adduced at the Coroner's inquest tended to show that about that time he took arsenic with suicidal in- tent. A quantity of the drug on a teaspoon was found on the table near the bed on which he was lying. When the body was discovered it was in an advanced state of decomposition, so much so that it was almost impossible to make a post mor- tem examination. He was an inoffensive citizen, though somewhat dissipated. Despondency was the cause of the act. He was possessed of considerable property, being the owner of the farm upon which he resided. His remains were taken in charge by a brother and other relatives and interred in the Alexandria cemetery.
He was a brother of Lafe Cross, a once prominent Ander- son druggist, and also of Worth Cross, a painter, who still resides in or near Alexandria, and Absolom Cross, a promi- nent farmer of Monroe township.
SAD DEATH OF WINFRED WALKER.
On the 15th of July, 1879, Winfred Walker, one of the most influential farmers of Monroe township, left his home to go to Alexandria, four miles distant, for the purpose of get- ting a hay rake which he had purchased. He hitched his horse to the rake without " hold-back straps " and started tor home. On the road the horse became frightened at some object and started to run, and Mr. Walker was killed. No one was pres- ent to witness the occurrence, and how he came to his death is simply a matter of conjecture. It is supposed the rake ran upon the horse's heels and scared him, which started him to run. He was found in a dying condition near the farm of James Wilson, about two and a half miles east of Alexandria. He was unable to speak and unconscious, and lived but a few minutes after he was found. His body was mangled in a frightful manner and had every appearance of a great struggle in his vain attempt to extricate himself from the " tines " of
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the rake while the horse was wild with fright and running at the top of his speed.
The scene at Mr. Walker's residence as his lifeless body was carried home is easier to imagine than describe. The Walker family had been peculiarly unfortunate. One of the daughters, before this accident, had lost her arm in a cane mill.
Mr. Walker enjoyed the respect of the community in which he lived and was a practical agriculturist. He was a man of about fifty-three years of age, of very strict integrity, and one who prided himself always upon making his word good, and for his promptness in discharging any financial obli- gation.
Marshal Walker, son of Winfred Walker, is still living in Monroe township. One of his daughters married a son of the Hon. Robert H. Cree, ex-Senator from the counties of Madi- son and Delaware.
LOST HIS FOOT.
Albert Chaplain, residing a short distance north of Alex- andria, on the farm of his father, John Chaplain, met with a serious accident on the 25th of July, 1879, by which he had his left foot taken off. He, with his father and brother were mowing grass in the meadow near the family residence. The machine was stopped and Albert was engaged in removing a piece of stump that was in the way. He came behind the mower and put his left foot over the sickle bar when some bumble-bees in the grass frightened the team. His foot was caught in the sickle and he was dragged fifteen or twenty feet. His foot was found to be cut almost off. Dr. J. W. Hunt, who was then a resident of Alexandria was summoned and in company with Drs. Sullivan, Runyan and Sharp the foot was amputated. He also suffered other injuries, having one of his fingers badly cut. He was only about fourteen years of age when this accident took place.
FATAL ENDING OF AN OLD FEUD.
Gilman is a small station on the L. E. & W. R. R., eight miles east of Alexandria. On Monday evening, the 28th of March, 1881, Coroner Michael Ryan, of Anderson, received the following dispatch :
" A man shot and killed at Gilman this evening. JOHN W. HUNT."
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
The John W. Hunt who signed the dispatch was Dr. J. W. Hunt, now of Anderson, who at that time resided at Alexandria. Coroner Ryan took the 9:12 train north on the C. W. &-M. R. R. to investigate the matter and to hold an inquest over the body of the deceased. The news began to spread, and it was evident that a terrible tragedy had occurred. Rumors of all kinds were afloat, but as to the real facts, they were greatly exaggerated. Among the residents of the vil- lage was one Ira Miller: a single man of twenty-three years of age, who kept a small store in the place. Seth Mckinney also lived there and was a cousin of Miller. Mckinney had no particular occupation, but worked in the saw-mill in the village for a while; and was then engaged in the patent right and lightning rod business. A misunderstanding arose between Mckinney and Miller, the direct cause of which seems to have been uncertain, as several accounts of the same were given, none of which seemed to agree. It is said, however, that at one time during the summer previous to the shooting, McKin- ney made a drawing for a gate which he intended to have patented. A portion of his territory was traded to a gentle- man near Muncie by some one representing himself as a part- ner of Mckinney. The man who traded for the territory was looking about with a view to manufacturing the gate. When Mckinney learned of this transaction he went to him, showed him his plates and drawings, explained that the person who had traded off the gate did so without authority. The out- come of the affair was that Mckinney received a fine young horse in compromise of the unauthorized purchase of the ter- ritory, to quiet the matter.
Ira Miller learned of this transaction, and believing the gentleman who had purchased the right of the gate had been swindled, so stated to parties in Muncie. This reached the ears of the purchaser, who went to see Miller and Mckinney at Gilman. Some trouble arose between Mckinney and the purchaser, Miller being the instigator, by the statements he had made to the parties in Muncie. Thus these two men were dragged into a trouble which resulted in making them deadly enemies.
Another theory was that the difficulty really arose over a woman Mckinney had been living with by the name of Reeder, who came from Tipton county. Her character, it is said, was not of the best. It is said that Mckinney lived with this woman as his wife. When Coroner Ryan arrived at the
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
scene of the tragedy he found the body of Mckinney in the house where he lived with this woman. Mckinney and Miller had quarreled several times and mutual threats had been made. On the evening of the shooting the quarrel had been renewed and Miller charged Mckinney with stealing $700 where he had hid it at one time when they were on a spree together. On the evening of the shooting they were in front of Miller's store, as the 5 o'clock train on the L. E. & W. railroad was coming in. Mckinney told Miller that he had a notion to take a pitch-fork handle, standing by, and mash his mouth for the way in which he had abused him. Miller answered, " Damn you, I told you if you ever crossed my path I would kill you !" He raised his revolver and shook it at him several times. A farmer standing by took hold of Miller's arm and requested him not to shoot. When the farmer had released his hold and was on the way to the train Miller shot Mckinney, who walked about thirty feet, when he fell over dead.
According to the testimony of witnesses, no revolver was. found on Mckinney's person. Miller went to his stable, sad- dled a horse and went north at full gallop. The horse re- turned to Gilman the next morning.
Mckinney had relatives in Tipton : at one time he had. also lived in Michigan. Sheriff Randall Biddle, of Madison county, had received a letter from the Sheriff of Clinton county, Michigan, where he was wanted for grand larceny. He came from Ohio to Muncie and from there to Gilman. It is claimed that he had a wife and children living in Ohio. He did not enjoy a good reputation and the fact that he was living with a woman to whom he was never married, would seem to confirm the belief that he was not of good character.
Ira Miller, who did the killing, was about twenty years of age, a son of Jacob Miller, an old and highly respected farmer of Harrison township, in Delaware county, who lives just across the line from Madison county. He had a great many friends that came to his and his son's relief in the investiga- tion of this unfortunate affair and it is said that it was due to his father's influence that Ira escaped the consequences of the law. Parties who were well acquainted with both men in the case and the trouble which existed between them, testified that Miller was justified in his actions from the fact that Mc- Kinney had on several occasions threatened to take the life of Miller.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the vicinity of Alexandria, where he is at the present time enjoying the highest esteem of his neighbors and fellow citizens. Mr. Carver is a very quiet man, has never dealt in epithets or offered insult to his fellow men, but he is made of such material that when approached in a menacing way, he will defend himself to the bitter end.
On the 9th of August, 1879, Mr. Carver became engaged in an affray at Alexandria, his native village, in which he was assaulted by a mob, prominent among whom was William Cox, during the course of which it became necessary for Mr. Carver, in defense of his person, to use such force as to cause the death of his assailant.
Mr. Carver was in the act of boarding a C. W. & M. train for Anderson, when he was attacked by three men who commenced beating him in a merciless manner. William Cox and Carver clinched, when some one, believed to be Cox, cried out for help from the others, saying that they should kill Car- ver and at the same time calling him vile names. At this juncture, Carver seeing there was no possible escape, either from being killed or badly hurt, drew a pistol from his pocket and shot twice in rapid succession ; both shots taking effect in the body of William Cox, killing him almost instantly.
When it was known that Cox had been shot his accom- plices immediately retreated ; Carver boarded the train and asked protection from several traveling men on the train, who responded. Conductor Albert Johnson took in the situation at once and pulled out with his train, and thereby avoided further bloodshed as Carver's assailants were in an ugly mood and prepared to do further deeds of violence.
Carver was placed under arrest and in the custody of the Sheriff of Madison county, but several persons from Alexan- dria went upon his bond for his appearance at court. Michael Ryan, the Coroner, was summoned, and held an inquest the day after the shooting. The verdict was, that William Cox came to his death from a pistol shot fired by Alfred C.Carver, in defense of his own life. Mr. Carver had a preliminary ex- amination before Lewis C. Burke, Justice of the Peace, at the Mayor's office, in Anderson, on the following Monday, and after a full and impartial hearing, he was acquitted of any criminal action.
The direct cause of the unhappy event was attributed to a feud that had existed between the parties for some time, growing out of some trivial matter, which kept on growing
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
until it had culminated as before stated. It was contended by some that the fact that Carver had been pushing suits in the Circuit Court, involving the title to a large amount of real estate on which the town of Alexandria is situated, he had incurred the displeasure of a portion of the citizens of that place.
No one knowing the circumstances of the case ever held Mr. Carver responsible for any thing criminal in this transac- tion, as he simply did what every other citizen has a right to do-defend his person against bodily harm.
Mr. Cox was a young man of about 26 years of age. His father, it is said, was killed several years before this affair, in Texas, by also being shot in a row. Since this unfortunate affair, Mr. Carver has lived in Madison county and has been a just and upright citizen, having been elected by his constituency to the high and honorable position of Prose- cuting Attorney for this District, which office he filled with credit. He now resides in Alexandria, is engaged in the prac- tice of his profession and is one of the leaders at the Madison county bar.
POST OFFICE ROBBED.
On the 29th of August, 1891, the post office at Alexan- dria was robbed in a most thorough and complete manner. The robbers entered the building by the rear window and opened the money drawer in Postmaster Tomlinson's desk, he having no safe in the building. About forty dollars in money, some small change and a considerable number of stamps were taken. The burglars then proceeded to a butcher shop close by and plundered that place, receiving but little for their trouble. There was no clue to the robbery. The authorities at Washington were notified and detectives were put to work, but no discovery was made as to who the guilty parties were.
A STRANGE HOMICIDE.
Joseph Frazier and Sylvester Hupp were neighbors liv- ing near Alexandria, and no enmity or bad feeling had ever been known to exist between them. On the 11th of May, 1884, the community was startled by a report that Frazier had in cold blood murdered Hupp.
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