USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 75
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Many persons were anxious to see the new fire machine at work, and several ventured the opinion that they would prove no protection. Dr. Budd Reid, being more anxious than others, started a cry of fire on October 21, and called out all the mem- bers of the company. He was not in sight when they arrived, and was anxious to have them believe that some one else had called them out by this false alarm.
The department had thirty-two runs during the first year of its existence, and some of their achievements during that time are worthy of note. James Kingsberry was the first paid man, and commenced duty as driver of the chemical engine.
On the night of March 31, 1894, a terrible gas explosion took place which will ever remain in the minds of the resi- dents of Alexandria as one of the most appalling accidents in the history of the city. About 11 o'clock P. M. the barber shop of Harrell & Pyle, and the express office on the corner of
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Canal street, in the rear of Whiteside's clothing store, was blown to atoms by a terrible explosion of natural gas, the debris from which immediately caught fire.
Seven men were in the shop at the time and four human beings were burned to death, Oren Ball, Jesse D. Harrell, Charles Hoover and Harry Boyer. They were all young men of good standing, and were excellent citizens. William Pyle was rescued from the ruins, but sustained severe injuries. Hi- ram Hurd was pinioned in the building by heavy timbers and the flames were rapidly burning around him. Several attempts were made to rescue him but were unsuccessful. Finally Fred Miller, John A. Graham and Arthur Noble, braving death, rushed into the flames and by superhuman efforts rescued him from his fiery prison. His shoes were burned from his feet, his clothing was on fire and some of the flesh on his lower limbs was burned. All of his rescuers were more or less burned. James C. Graham was rescued without any serious injury.
The fire department responded promptly and did noble work. The chemical engines were put into action and the efforts of the men were directed to saving the stock of mer- chandise. The flames were confined to the building and to the upper part of the Whiteside's block adjoining.
Several other fires of minor importance also occurred at different times.
On April 6, 1894, the Fred Miller Co.'s cold storage house and barns were destroyed, including three valuable horses. On May 28, the Indianapolis Brewing Company's cold storage house became fuel for the fiery element. On June 4, the Terre Haute Brewing Co.'s office and cold storage building was to- tally consumed. All three of the last named fires occurred in rapid succession and confirmed the belief in the minds of the people that they were of incendiary origin.
At this writing the fire department of Alexandria con- sists of two hose wagons, one hook and ladder wagon, one two-horse chemical engine and twelve enrolled firemen, con- sisting of a chief, three paid men, and eight volunteers paid for each run made, as follows: John E. Sherman, chief ; William Wooten, driver; Frank Morgan, hydrant coupler : and the following minute men : John H. Frank, John Staggs, James Kingsberry, Charles Wertz, George Atchison Booth and William Maynard.
It was supposed that the gas explosion referred to atove 55
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Was caused by the sudden tise in the pressure in the gas matms and that some burning jets were blown out in the Buffding, and that others were left lighted, and when the rodil beckfile thoroughly filled with gas it came In contact with the lighted jets and thus caused the disaster. Parties in the barber shop first felt a tremor in the building which was instantly follow. ed by the disastrous effects of the explosion.
The remains of the dead, after being taken from the wreck, were removed to the undertaking establishment of J. P. Condo & Son, where they were cared for and pideed in proper burial caskets.
Mayor John E. Sherman issued a proclamation convening the citizens of Alexandria in the Opera House, where meno- fial services were held. The Opera House and stage wete BF6- fusely decorated with flowers and evergreens. After ine derv. ices were over, the body of Oren E. Ball was taken to Lewie- Ville, Indiana, for interment. The remaitis of Jesse Harren were taken to North Manchester, Indiana. The other boates were laid to rest in the cemetery at Alexandria.
The outcome of this disaster was much litigation, suits having been filed against the gas company in the Clictilt Court of Madison county for damages. The company, How- ever, took a change of venue and the cases were taken to Tip- ton county, where they were tried, resulting in a judgment for damages, which was appealed to the Supreme Court, Where they are still pending.
Many people from Anderson and other places in proxiti- ity thereto visited the scene of the disaster, and viewed the ruins and the bodies of those who perished from the explolion.
A CHURCH DEDICATION.
In the year 1873 the Methodist Episcopal Church Society at Alexandria commenced to erect a very commodious and handsome building, in which that congregation worships. On the 6th of June, 1875, the edifice was formally dedicated. In the erection of the building the Trustees had incurred codsla- erable indebtedness, which it was necessary to discharge bë- fore the dedicatory services could be carried out, as it is one of the rules of the church organization that no services of this kind can take place in any church building that is not free from debt. But raising a large sum of money by voluntary subscription did not seem practicable. The services of the Rev. T. M. Campbell, of Greencastle, Indiana, were procured
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
for the occasion: At the appointed Hout the church bell fang and the house slowly filled up. At 11 8'clock, when the preacher arose to begin his sermon, the seats were not all full. It looked very discouraging to the congregation, but Mr. ChiliBbeli Was a veteran in the work, and he gave the congre- gation to understand that he had come to Alexandria to dedicate the church; and, like a man Of religion and business, he proposed to do it. After Making a splendid appeal to the members present and to the outsiders who had come to wit- ness the ceremonies, he Begin the fight for money. Names came in very slowly at first; buit a glance over the congrega- tion revealed the fact that more than one Hundred and fifty men were present. When the small sums were Fedched, the subscriptions poured in quite freely, while those who gave large amounts were slow and deliberate in reaching Into their pockets for the cash. However, before the exercises closed, the debt had been subscribed and the money, either in good notes or in cash, placed in the hands of the THistees for the purpose of wiping it out.
Among those who gave large amounts were ; N. E. Tom- linson, Anthony Bersche and Dr. E. H. Menefee, who each gave $200. Those who contributed $100 were : D. M. Scott, James Hughes, Mrs: James Hughes, G. W. Painter, Elias Fink, Uriah Bell, William Carver, Dr. J. W. Perry, S. B. Henshaw, Nathan O'Bryant, Paschal Johnson, Margaret Wil- son, R. A. Menefee, A. J. Lee, Mark Tomlinson, Peter Schwinn and John J. Johnson. The following contributors each gave $50: Joel McMahan, W. E. Heritage, T. J. Mc- Mahan, F. S. Ellison, John J. Pickard, A. M. Painter, W. K. Bailey, J. C. Daniels, John Bell, Tom Shepard, P. Painter, Evan Schwinn, E. H. Perry, D. K. Carver and Mrs. Mary Schwinn. Many others gave smaller sums, but the list is too long and would weary the patience of the reader to give them in detail. The building was erected under the supervision of Samuel D. Van Pelt, of Anderson, who prepared the plans and put in execution its construction. It is a plain gothic structure of brick, cornice of galvanized iron, the entrance being a brown glass front of fine finish. Its seating capacity is 500. The Sunday upon which this church was dedicated will always be remembered in Alexandria as a most eventful day. While this church is no doubt too small for the present congregation, it admirably served the purpose at the time for which it was erected, and is a monument to the good people
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of that city and to the liberality of the men and women who made up the community.
'DEATH OF MARK TOMLINSON:
Mark Tomlinson, son of N. E. Tomlinson, of Alexandria, was one of the shrewdest and best equipped young business men of the county, and had a large circle of friends who were very much distressed at his early taking off. In addition to. being an energetic business man, he was quite a politician and. was extremely popular with the young element in politics. At one time he filled the honorable position of Trustee of Monroe township, being elected over his Democratic , oppo -; nent when the township was two hundred Democratic.
In the succeeding political campaign in 1878, Mr. Tom- linson was placed in nomination for the office of County Treasurer on the Republican ticket, having for his opponent Daniel F. Mustard, who was a candidate for a second term in that office. Mr. Tomlinson made a very creditable race, re- ducing the majority of his popular competitor to a considera- ble extent.
In 1881 Mr. Tomlinson for a short time resided in Ander- son and was the partner of Thomas J. McMahan and Rufus H., Williams in the boot and shoe business, in which he continued for a time, but on account of failing health retired from the' firm and returned to 'Alexandria, where he lived until death. came to his relief on the 18th of November, 1881.
No young man ever died in Madison county whose death was more, universally regretted. He was a brother of Mrs. Jesse. Forkner, of Anderson, and of Mrs. L. J. Hernly, of Alexandria.
ALEXANDRIA'S FIRST FIRE . FROM NATURAL GAS!
In the spring of 1887, Alexandria, in keeping with other towns in Madison county that have been fortunate enough to. strike natural gas, piped her streets with mains so as to per- mit the fluid to be turned into the homes of the consumers. Everything went on swimmingly and without accident until the 19th of November, 1887, when the residence of A. M. Painter, which had been finished but a short time, was burned. to the ground at about 9 o'clock at night. The fire was dis- covered in a closet on the second floor, having been ignited from a flue running in proximity thereto.
Mr. Painter early in the evening had lighted the gas in.
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a stove in the bedroom on the 'first floor. A little later he went to the room and found the stove red hot. He then turned the gas down, but at 6 o'clock returned and the stove was again at a red heat, and the building was soon on fire.
It was claimed by Mr. Painter that the gas company was in fault from the fact that they were carrying an immense pressure on their main's, the pipes being too small, and inade- quate to carry the proper volume for domestic use without excessive pressure. . ..
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A brisk wind was prevailing on the night of the fire, and no efforts at all could save the building, which was destroyed with its contents, entailing a loss to Mr. Painter of $1,200 with no insurance.
Mr. Painter made a demand upon the Alexandria Gas Company to be reimbursed for his loss, with which request the gas company refused to comply. Mr. Painter thereupon brought suit in the Madison Circuit Court, which entailed much expense and litigation upon both parties, but finally resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff.
This was the first suit brought in Madison county to test the question of the liability of gas companies for fires, and was hotly contested on both sides, the best of legal talent being employed in the case:
Robert H. Hannah, S. E. Young and other leading busi- ness men of Alexandria were members of the gas company and spared no pains or expense to defeat the plaintiff, and have the company saved from having a judgment rendered against it, but all to no purpose as the court finally held that they were liable for damages under the circumstances, and in con; formity with the evidence given.
ALEXANDRIA LAND AND GAS COMPANY.
Although Alexandria was the first town in Madison county to discover natural gas, it for several years thereafter was at a standstill, with but little done toward inviting indus- tries to settle within her borders, the people being seemingly satisfied to sit around their gas fires and crack jokes with each other, oblivious to what might happen by the introduction of business enterprises and factories. It was twelve miles away from the county seat, and being but a small village, it labored under disadvantages.
On the 21st of January, 1891, Alexandria forged to the front by a master stroke in organizing the Alexandria Land
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and Gas Company with a capital stock of $250,000, and at once the battle for a great future began.
The organization of this company was heralded through- out the United States in all the leading dailies of the large cities with the inducements offered to capitalists and manu . facturers to locate in the place. A hearty welcome was extended to all such as might come, and na 2 large bonus was offered to those who could be indused to bring their plants thither.
The directors and incorporators of the company were Hon. Charles T. Doxey, Hon. J. W. Lovett, James L. Kilgore, Freeman E. Lyon, Wesley C. House, George Nichol, Frank Pierce, DeFrees Critten and J. N. Huston, the latter being ex- Treasurer of the United States. The object of the company, as stated in their articles of incorporation, was as follows : The object of this company shall be to buy, hold and sell real estate in and about the town of Alexandria with the view of developing the territory, building and locating factories, and also to acquire gas and oil territory in said locality, and also to dispose of the products of natural gas arising from the operation of said company.
Under this organization Alexandria almost instantly leaped to the front as one of the great gas towns of Indiana. Many large industries were located, prominent among which were the DePauw Glass Works, the Kelly Axe Works, the Alexandria Brick Works, and several others of a similar nature. The town at once shook off its village appearance and assumed the proportions of a hustling, busy city. Old shacks of wooden buildings were torn down and moved away from the principal streets, and in their stead were erected large and substantial business blocks. The Alexandria Na- tional Bank was incorporated, and capital began to pour into the new city like water into the ocean, and in less than two years from the time of the organization of this company, Alexandria grew from a hamlet of 500 to a city containing a population of 5,000 souls, and at this writing it enjoys the dis- tinction of being the third largest city in Madison county.
The Commercial Bank, of Alexandria, was in existence before this time, and is one of Madison county's solid finan- cial institutions.
DISCOVERY OF OIL.
On Tuesday, April 20, 1897, the first oil well in Madison county was developed on the farm of Nimrod Carver, situated
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one and a half miles northeast of the city of Alexandria. The development of this well caused great excitement among oil men and capitalists, who flocked to Alexandria for the purpose of leasing lands and investing in real estate. The well was drilled by the Northern Ohio Oil Company, who held a lease on Mr. Carver's land. This well has a capacity of 800 barrels per day.
It has been known for some time by gas well drillers, prominent among whom may be mentioned W. E. Decker & Sons, that oil exists beneath Madison county soil, and that it will succeed natural gas. The Deckers have had much expe- rience as gas and oil well drillers, and predict that it is only a question of time when oil will be found in most, if not all, of the territory known as the Indiana gas field.
JAMES CALLOWAY.
Old Uncle Jimmy Calloway, who used to live in Alexan- dria, was quite a character in his time. He was one of the old-timers, built on the old-time scale. He was an early set- tler in Madison county, knew all of the people within a day's ride of where he lived, and also knew all of their good and bad qualities . If he sized a man up, he was very certain not to be far out of the way when his verdict was rendered. The man who picked Uncle Jimmy up for a fool, or invited a quarrel with him, was just as sure to get left as the sun sets in the west. He was always loaded, and went off easily on the " trigger." He was not profane, but had a genteel way of swearing when he wished to emphasize his meaning. One time, during the agitation of the slavery question, when it was considered a disgrace to be called an " Abolitionist," a man of the name of Runnells tackled him and accused him of slandering him. Runnells said : "Mr. Calloway, I under- stand that you said a nigger is as good as I am."
"No, no. I-I-never said no such thing. I-I-said a nigger is as good as I am, and I am a lam dam sight better ner you are," replied Calloway. He at one time got into a quarrel with William Carver. They had it hot and heavy, up one side and down the other. At last, Uncle Jimmy got very mad. He said : " Why, William, the Carvers are the worst- est people I ever seen. They are worser than my Bill, and he is worser than the devil himself." His argument was of such a character that it was of no use to reply to it.
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CHAPTER LXXV.
PIPE CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Pipe Creek township derives its name from a small but pretty stream that enters the township on the east and leaves it about midway on the south. The name " Pipe " was given to the stream in honor of the noted Indian chief, Captain Pipe, or Hopocan (which signifies in the Delaware tongue, " tobac- co-pipe"). The township is peculiar in shape, having ten inside and outside corners, with an area of forty-three square miles. It is well watered by Big and Little Duck creek, Big Branch, Pipe creek and their tributaries, and when Joseph Schell, the first settler in the township, located in 1830 on what is now section 11, was densely timbered. In 1832 a number of settlers, among whom were Walter and William Etchison, from North Carolina, Reuben Kelly, from Virginia, Peter Job and John Chamness located in the vicinity of the present site of Frankton, and in 1883 Jacob Sigler, from Vir- ginia, and John Beeson, from Wayne county, Ind., located on the ground where Frankton stands. Others followed and the township was organized on the 13th of May, 1888.
By the following order of the Board of Commissioners it will be noticed that Pipe Creek was originally a part of Jack- son township :
" Ordered that there be a new township organized and stricken off from Jackson township as follows, to-wit : Be- ginning on the county line at the south-west corner of Section 9, in Township No. 20, in Range No. 6 east, running thence east on the section line to the south-east corner of Section No. 8, Township 20, Range 7 east, thence north to the county line, thence west to the north-west corner of the county, thence south to the county line to the place of beginning. To be known and designated by the name and style of Pipe Creek township. Itis also ordered that the Sheriff notify citizens of said township, that they on the last Saturday in June next proceed to elect one Justice of the Peace in said township, and that all elections in said township be holden at the house of Walter Etchison until otherwise ordered by the Board."
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
CHANGING OF THE BOUNDARY OF PIPE CREEK TOWNSHIP.
The boundary of Pipe Creek township as originally made and established by the County Board was changed at the May session, 1835, as follows :
"On petition filed it is ordered by the Board that the boundary lines of Pipe Creek township be altered so.as to in- clude the following territory, viz: Commencing at the south- east corner of Section 10, Town 20, north of Range 7 east, run- ning thence north to the county line, thence west with the county line to the north-west corner of Madison county, thence south on the said county line to the south-west corner of Section 8, Town 20 north, Range 6 east, thence east to the place of beginning; and that the said acquired territory and the same is stricken from the township of Richland. It is or- dered that Jesse Harris be appointed Constable ; James French and Jesse Etchison, Supervisors; Jacob Sigler and William Flint, Overseers of the Poor; Robin Erwin and Jeremiah Derry, Fence Viewers of the township of Pipe Creek, and it is also further ordered that an election be held in said town- ship on the first Monday in June next for the purpose of elect- ing an additional Justice of the Peace, and that the Sheriff give notice accordingly."
It will also be seen by this that Richland, though now one of the smallest townships in the county, was at one time one of the largest, containing all the territory of Pipe Creek, Monroe and Lafayette.
An election was held the following June at the house of Walter Etchison, and James Beeson was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace. Shortly after. this Elijah Dwiggins settled in the township and was soon followed by John and Daniel Dwiggins. In April, 1836, Noah Waymire settled on Section 24 and in June of the same year Henry Plummer located on Section 30.
The names of others who settled in the township prior to 1840 are : James and William Montgomery, Jonathan Reeder, James M. Dehority, Caleb Canaday, James Barrow, Benjamin and Hezekiah Denny, John Hardy, Jacob French, Jacob Sig- ler, James Tharp, Edmund Johnson, Starling and Hezekiah Kidwell, John Benifiel, Arthur Legg, Joseph and Jonathan Miller, Frank Dennis and Lindsey Blue. A majority of these early settlers located along the creek from which the township gets its name. These pioneers have long since gone to their reward, but they have numerous descendents living in the
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township and in other portions of the county who take pride in recounting their virtues. The first public highway in the township was the old Indianapolis and Fort Wayne State road, which was cut out but never improved.
The first mill erected in the township was a "corn-cracker." It was built in 1839 or 1840, and was located on the Big Branch on the old J. C. Montgomery farm, north-west of Frankton. It was a rude affair, but ground out a very good quality of corn meal. Previous to this the pioneers were compelled to take their corn to Perkinsville or Anderson to have it ground. About this time a saw mill was built on Pipe creek, three miles north-east of Frankton, by Joseph and Daniel Franklin. This mill is still standing and is owned by David Fesler.
The first schoolhouse in the township was built in 1886 on Jacob Sigler's land, and the first school was taught by Dr. Perry. Joseph Sigler, who was afterwards elected Auditor of the county, was one of the first teachers in the township and taught school for many years. Hezekiah Denny, Tight- man Armfield and John Ring also taught in an early day.
In 1837 the first store in the township was opened by Elijah Dwiggins, about a half mile north-west of where Frank- ton now stands.
The first village in the township was a place called " New Madison." It was situated about a mile and a half north-east of the present site of Frankton, on the south side of Pipe creek, and was laid out by John Chamness, December 3, 1849. Two years later another town called " Monticello " was laid out by James Hilldrup and a Mr. Sanders, about two miles north- west of where Frankton is situated. The town at one time consisted of a store, blacksmith shop, schoolhouse and six or seven houses. James Hilldrup owned the store, and Hezekiah Denny taught the school. Considerable business, considering the sparse population of the vicinity, was done here in the early '50s, but immigrants to the township preferred a differ- ent location, and the village declined. This was likewise the case with New Madison, or " Chamnesstown," as it was some- times called by the old settlers, and that such places eyer existed is now but an old-time memory.
DUNDEE.
This village was originally known as " Mudsock," the name being conferred on account of the marshy condition of the land where it is situated. Back in the early '50s Riley
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Etchison erected a log cabin near the present site of Dundee, where he traded in peltries, giving in exchange, when desired, dry goods and groceries. There were no roads at that time leading to his place of business, only forest paths or traces, as they were called by the back woodsmen. Mr. Etchison's pear- est neighbors were Anderson Brannock and Edmund Johnson, the latter the father of the present Clerk of the county. Ex- Sheriff Albert Ross, who is at present a resident of Anderson, traded coon-skins and other peltries for goods at this place in 1856, and has a vivid recollection of many interesting and amusing incidents that occurred here about that time and later. In the course of time quite a settlement sprang up and a post- office was established here, the place being given the name of Dundee. On the 6th of December, 1883, Mr. Etchison plat- ted the land upon which the village is situated and placed it on file in the Recorder's office. Dundee is four and a half miles east of Elwood, on the L. E. & M. R. R. The population at this time is estimated at 150 people.
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