USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 8
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In 1894 an effort was made to extend the road to Muncie from Anderson, but after the right of way had been secured and a large portion of the road graded, work was abandoned for want of funds and has not been resumed up to the present time. The road has six and one-half miles of main track and a mile of side-track in the county.
So far as the benefits derived from the road by the locali- ties through which it passes in Madison county are concerned, they have fallen greatly below the public's expectation. The road thus far has been a disappointment and from the present outlook the hopes entertained for it by those most interested, will never be realized, aithough those who are controlling its
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
affairs confidently assert that it will yet become one of the most important roads in the State.
LAKE ERIE AND WESTERN RAILROAD.
This road runs through Pipe Creek and Monroe town- ships. It was constructed in 1875-6, and was known origi- nally as the Lafayette, Muncie & Bloomington road. It has fifteen and one-half miles of main track in the county and is one of the most important lines of the system to which it belongs.
THE ANDERSON BELT RAILROAD.
This is a private corporation and was constructed in 1892 under the auspices of a number of manufacturers and others interested in providing better shipping facilities for the nu- merous manufacturing establishments at Anderson. The pur- pose of the company was to build a road that would girdle the city. but up to the present time only about three miles of track have been laid. The road begins at a point south-east of the intersection of the Big Four and Pan Handle lines and runs round the city, its present terminus being west of the city near the Cathedral glass works. The president of the company is Mr. C. P. Garvey, who is also president of the American Wire Nail Co., at Anderson ; W. T. Durbin is treasurer, and W. L. Finch, secretary.
It will be seen from the foregoing that Madison county is amply provided with shipping facilities. There are but four townships in the county the territory of which is not touched or traversed by a line of railroad. These roads have con- tributed their share in the wonderful development of the county. They have demonstrated to manufacturers and busi- ness men generally, seeking a location, that Madison county is not isolated from the world.
CHAPTER XIV.
TURNPIKES OR FREE GRAVEL ROADS IN MADISON COUNTY.
There are but few, if any, counties in Indiana that are provided with more or better public highways than Madison county. During the early history of the county but little at- tention was paid to this branch of public improvements for the reason, probably, that the sparse population rendered it im- possible. With the increase in population, however, and there- fore increased travel, more attention was given to the roads of the county. The legislature enacted laws encouraging as well as requiring the improvement of all public highways in the State. Turnpike laws were passed and companies were organized under them for the purpose of constructing roads that would enable the traveling public generally to go from point to point throughout the State with greater facility and comfort.
Up to 1858 all the roads in Madison county were what were commonly designated as " dirt roads, " and farmers ex- perienced great difficulty and inconvenience during certain seasons of the year in hauling their surplus produce to market. The roads very often, in the spring and winter, were almost, if not wholly, impassable and their improvement was, there- fore, not only urged, but demanded, by the farming in- terest.
The first person to interest himself in better roads for the county, under the turnpike laws, was Dr. John Hunt. He early saw the importance of a good road from .Anderson to Alexandria, and in 1858 was instrumental in organizing a com- pany and constructing what was known for nearly a half cen- tury as the Anderson and Alexandria pike. The road was built to within two miles of Alexandria, when, for some cause or other, the work was stopped and never resumed by the com- pany.
The first board of directors of this pike was composed of Frederick Black, W. A. Hunt, George Nichol and Curran Beall. The first officers were William Crim, president ; Neal C. Mccullough, treasurer, and Joseph Fulton, secretary.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
The officers of the company were never changed until the death of Mr. Mccullough, which occurred in February, 1888, when his son C. K. Mccullough was elected treasurer.
Not long after the completion of this pike another com- pany was organized in Fall Creek township for the purpose of constructing a road from Pendleton east to Markleville, in Adams township, and thence to the Henry county line. This road was known as the Pendleton and New Castle pike. Al- though the work of building it was begun in 1857, it was not completed until 1867. The entire length of the line was nine miles, and the cost of its construction $1,500 per mile. This road while operated as a pike was conceded to be one of the best in the county. The first officers of the company were Neal Hardy, president, L. W. Thomas, treasurer, and J. T. Wall, secretary.
The next pike built in the county was known as the Pen- dleton and Eden turnpike. It was constructed in 1862 and was eight miles long. About this time a number of turnpike companies were organized resulting in the building of the fol- lowing pikes; Pendleton and Fishersburg pike : Lick Creek pike, running south from a point three miles cast of l'endle- ton to the Hancock county line ; Madison and Hancock pike ; Anderson and Perkinsville pike; Anderson and New Colum- bus (short line) pike ; Pendleton and Fall Creek pike; An- derson and Fishersburg pike ; Anderson and Columbus (east line) pike : Anderson and Lafayette pike : Killbuck pike ; Pendleton and Noblesville pike ; Anderson and Hamilton pike. This was the last toll-road built in the county, having been constructed in 1872.
These roads were all well managed and some of them paid fair dividends on the capital invested. Taken as a whole. the pikes of Madison county were as good as the best in the State, and it is apparent now that unless better care is taken of them in the future than has been bestowed upon them since they were purchased by the county, the people made a mis- take in voting to buy them. The law authorizing the pur- chase of toll roads was passed by the legislature in 1886, and before the year 1889 had expired Madison county's splendid system of pikes was no more. Elections had been held, and, as the people voted to buy them, the Board of Commissioners acted accordingly. The pikes were bought of the various companies owning them, and the county now has about four hundred miles of free gravel road.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
The benefits resulting from good roads are not more ap- parent anywhere than in Madison county. There is not a township in the county that is not provided with good gravel roads, and not a section of land but is easily accessible. Along these roads may be seen mile after mile of cultivated land, unequaled for fertility, save in a few portions of the state, and homes that compare in beauty and comfort with the more pretentious residences of cities. The log-cabins have disap- peared, along with the men who built them. The deep, dark woods are gone, and what were once the " unbroken soli- tudes " now respond with abundance to the toil of the thrifty husbandman. Truly, " how grandly are the old things pass- ing away."
IRON BRIDGES.
The first bridge built in Madison county was constructed across White river at a point just east of H. H. Conrad's car- riage factory on North Main street, Anderson. The bridge was built, entirely of heavy hewed timber, in the year 1844, by order of the Board of County Commissioners. Henry and Hugh Rogers, carpenters, residing at Pendleton, were awarded the contract. The timbers for this bridge were furnished by John De Witt, who at that time owned a portion of what is known as the Myers farm, east of the city. It was a very clumsy structure, but answered the purpose for which it was built until the winter of 1847, when it was swept away by an un- precedented rise of the river.
It is said, by a few old-timers still living in Anderson, that the freshet of that year was the greatest that was ever known before or since in the county. The river and its trib- utaries were swollen to vast proportions, overflowing their banks, all the low-lands along their borders, and at several points to a great distance back over the level country.
The next bridge of any importance was constructed across Fall creek at Pendleton. This was also a wooden structure but in the course of time, like all the rest of the bridges across the larger streams of the county, gave place to . one made of iron. The county now has thirty-seven iron bridges, seven of the largest of which are constructed across White river. The bridges are the best that are manufactured, and were erected at a cost of many thousands of dollars.
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CHAPTER XV.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS-GENERAL HISTORY OF THEIR PROG- RESS IN THE COUNTY-THE FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE, ETC., ETC.
While Madison county has kept fully up with the spirit of the age in the development of her natural resources, it is a source of pride to every citizen in the county that her educa- tional interests have not languished in the general progress that has been made.
To the genius and ability of Milton B. Hopkins, who was elected superintendent of public instruction in 1872, the peo- ple of Indiana are indebted more, perhaps, than to any other man, living or dead, for its splendid school system. Hle systematized the school laws and introduced modern methods, not only in the organization of schools, but in teaching, and today, through his far seeing judgment and devotion to the educational interests of the State, the public school system of Indiana is second to none in the Union.
It was through his instrumentality that the office of coun- ty school superintendent was established, and while there are many good friends of the cause of education who do not look upon the office with favor, it will be generally conceded that much of the progress and improvement in the schools of Indi- ana are due to the efficient labors of the county superintendents.
Up to the year 1830 there was but little need of school houses in the country, for the reason that the sparse popula- tion would neither justify their erection nor the employment of teachers. It was some time during the above year that the first school house in Madison county was erected. It was situated two miles south of Pendleton on what was then, and for many years afterward, known as the " Griffith Davis farm." It was constructed in the primitive style of the country and times : of unhewen logs, clap-board roof, punch- eon floor, large fire-place in one end, stick and mud-mortar chimney. heavy door hung on wooden hinges and punch- eons for seats. The windows were of oiled paper which
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
rendered it difficult for the pupils to see, particularly on days when the sun refused to shed his friendly light. ' There were no desks, black-boards, or any of the improved school apparatus of today.
The boys and girls of 1830-of the log-cabin era in Madi- son county-acquired what little education they possessed under very trying circumstances. They encountered difficul- ties that would appear insuperable to the boys and girls of to- day. The curriculum consisted of the three R's, " readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic," and a slight knowledge of these branches was all they were enabled to acquire. They were compelled to assist in clearing the farm and perform other labors incident to the settlement of a new country, and conse- quently could devote but a few weeks during the winter months to the study of books.
We have tried to secure the name of the pedagogue who taught the first school at the Griffith Davis school house from oblivion, but our efforts have been in vain. It was a subscrip- tion school, and even the names of the necessarily few pupils who attended cannot be ascertained. There was no public school system in those days, and no school enumeration was taken. The early teachers in the county, as is too often the case at the present time, taught school as a makeshift and not from any desire or ambition to excel in the profession of teach- ing. A great majority of them were sadly deficient in scho- lastic attainments, having enjoyed but few educational privi- leges themselves, but they taught to the best of their ability. and many of the representative business and professional men of the county in later years laid the foundation of their educa- tion under their tutorage. The compensation they received for their services as teachers was in keeping with the condi- tion of the communities in which they taught-poor indeed. A salary of $10 a " term " among the pioneer teachers was considered quite munificent, and many of them did not receive even so large an amount as that for their services. With the stream of immigration constantly pouring into the State and county, however, interest in educational matters was stimu- lated, and the Legislature passed laws for the elevation of the schools and the encouragement of professional teachers. One of the provisions of the school law required the county com- missioners to appoint a county school examiner, whose duties were similar to those of the present county school superintend- ent, though not by any means so onerous. The examination
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
of applicants for teachers' license was generally oral and pri- vate, and the teacher was paid according to the grade of his license. The applicant who had taught school, all things else being equal, received a certificate or license for a longer period of time than the person who had no experience in school man- agement. The standard of scholarship among a majority of the teachers was not so high as it is to-day, but, notwithstand- ing, there were some very excellent teachers, who not only possessed a thorough knowledge of the branches they were required to teach, but were conscientious and painstaking withal in their efforts to advance their pupils. Considering their facilities and surroundings they were quite as successful, to say the least, as many of the professional teachers of the present day.
SCHOOL EXAMINERS AND SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.
With the establishment of the free school system in Indi- ana came the appointment of county school examiners, as has been stated. The first examiner appointed in Madison county was the late Oliver P'. Stone, one of the early professional teachers of the county. Mr. Stone was a native of New York and came to Madison county in 1846, locating at Ander- son. He held the office for a number of years, when he was succeeded by the Hon. Howell D. Thompson, in 1871, who served acceptably for three years. It was during Mr. Thomp- son's incumbancy that the present system of teachers' exam- inations was introduced by the State. Board of Education. Before the term for which Mr. Thompson was elected by the Board of Commissioners had expired, the school law was changed by the legislature in many respects, among which changes was the present law requiring the township trustees to elect examiners, or. as designated by the new law. County School Superintendents.
Joseph Franklin was the first superintendent elected under the new law. At that time-1878-partisan feeling ran high and Mr. Franklin, being a Republican, it was not deemed advisable by the local Democratic leaders that he should be elected, a majority of the trustees being Democratic. Mr. Franklin was, and is, an elder in the Christian church, and it so happened that several of the trustees entertained very strong predilections for that church as well as great personal regard for the elder, and when the votes of the fourteen township trustees were counted, it was discovered that he was elected
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
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by one majority. Mr. Franklin made an excellent superin- tendent and was succeeded by R. I. Hamilton. Since Mr. Hamilton's time the following gentlemen, in the order named, have held the office : W. M. Croan, Dale J. Crittenberger, Willis S. Ellis, Vinton R. Busby, and Manson U. Johnson, the last named being the present incumbent.
INTERESTING STATISTICAL MATTERS.
It is to be regretted that the first school enumeration taken in the county cannot be given in this work, but the re- port, along with many others, has been lost, or misplaced, and it is impossible to do so. It would be interesting to note the wonderful growth of the population of the county as indicated by the report compared with the report made by the present superintendent in February of this year. The school enumer- ation for 1869 shows that there were 8,028 persons of lawful school age in the county. In 1876 the enumeration showed a total school population of 9,122. The reports of the early ex- aminers were not so complete in details as those made by the superintendents of late years. For instance, the last report made by the present superintendent shows that the total enu- meration of pupils eligible to instruction in the public schools is 17,806, or an increase of 8,784 over the enumeration of twenty years ago. Of this number, less than 11,000 attended the public schools in 1895-6. The number of teachers re- quired in the public schools in the county at the present time, is 294 and their salaries aggregate the sum of $125,000. Out of 200 applicants for graduation in the township schools, sev- enty-nine were granted diplomas. During the year 1895, $50,800 were expended on new buildings and improvements.
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Excepting that portion of the report with reference to the attendance of pupils in the public schools, the showing is a grand one, and the friends of the public school system can find in it much for congratulation. The schools of the county will receive further mention in the various township histories.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE NEWSPAPERS OF MADISON COUNTY FROM THE EARLY '30s TO THE PRESENT TIME-TRIALS OF THE " ROORAL PRESS."
No branch of human endeavor. perhaps, has kept more fully up with the times in Madison county than " the art preservative." The vicissitudes of the country press became proverbial long ago and no county in Indiana, with one pos- sible exception, can boast of more " dear departed " newspa- per enterprises in the past, or enterprising newspapers at the present time than the good county of Madison.
The early history of the press in this county is. from causes, shrouded somewhat in uncertainty and doubt, especially that portion of it relating to dates and names. The recollec- tion of the " oldest inhabitant," which is uncertain about a great many things that happened in the county during the pioneer period, appears to be greatly at fault when it comes to remembering anything of particular importance concerning the early newspapers. It is reasonably certain that the first paper published in the county was the Federal Union which made its appearance at Anderson in the year 1534. T. J. Langdon was the publisher and Charles D. Henderson assisted him in the editorial work. This paper did not sur- vive the rocks and shoals of journalism but a short time. The next paper was the Western Telegraph. Charles D. Hender- son. editor, reporter and * general manager." This paper made its appearance soon after the demise of the Federal I'nion and was probably the same paper excepting the name. It appears that Mr. Henderson did not have to depend entirely upon his subscribers for success, as the commissioners' record for the March term. 1835, shows that allowances were made by the board to Mr. Henderson for legal notices published in the Telegraph. The legal printing at that time was not what is vulgarly termed a " snap " by the present race of editors and newspaper proprietors. There was no delinquent tax-list requiring a page or two of a 7-column folio paper for several
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
publications annually ; no legal blanks by the thousands or other papers without limit to be printed in those days, and the publisher's " pickings " from this source were consequently meagre. The Telegraph buffetted the " slings and arrows of outrageous fortune " until 1838 or 1839 probably, when, like the Federal U'nion, it gave up the ghost.
The next paper in the order of succession was the Athe- neum, which made its appearance in 1840. The editor and publisher was Dr. Thomas Sims. The paper was highly liter- ary and devoted to the sciences, especially the science of phren- ology. The editor and publisher is said to have been a gen- tleman of rare culture and a gifted writer. His paper was not what the general public wanted or could appreciate in that day and it succumbed for lack of patronage after two years of varied fortune.
Shortly after the Atheneum ceased to be published, Joseph G. Jones established the Whig Eagle and made a vigorous fight for the Whig principles and Henry Clay in the cam- paign of 1844. The paper, however, ceased publication in 1846, and was immediately followed by the Madison County Journal, which also advocated Whig principles. The name of the publisher of this paper was Gardner Goldsmith, but it is thought that the late Judge John Davis was interested in the enterprise, to the extent at least of supplying it with men- tal pabulum each week. The paper had a brief existence.
In 1848 the Howell brothers, John. Q. and William L., moved their printing office to Anderson from Marion, this state, where they had been publishing a paper, and began the publication of a journal called the True Democrat, in the in- terest of the Democratic party, which at that time and for forty-five years afterwards was in the ascendency in the coun- ty. The Howells, according to Peter H. Lemon, who was employed to furnish the " brains " for the Democrat, "were practical printers, but could not edit." The next year, 1849, Dr. Townsend Ryan and Mr. Lemon purchased the paper and changed the name from the Truc to the Weekly Democrat. The paper had its ups and downs as all country newspapers had in that early day, and in' 1850, in the language of Mr. Lemon, " died of a broken heart."
The Anderson Gazette followed the Democrat. Dr. James W. Mendenhall, a young man of fair literary attain- ments, was the editor, and conducted the paper from a neu- tral standpoint so far as politics were concerned. It was sub-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
sequently purchased by J. Fenwick Henry, who converted it into a partisan Democratic organ. He was assisted in the edi- torial work by Col. T. N. Stilwell, who was at that time an ardent Democrat, and as such, a few years later, was elected a member of the lower house of the state legislature. The paper was short lived.
It was about this time that W. II. II. Lewis began the publication of a paper called the Madison County Republican. The paper advocated Whig or Republican principles, and after a brief but gallant struggle went the way of its predecessors. This paper was subsequently known as the Central Indianian and was edited by John Patterson.
In 1855 the Democratic Standard made its appearance with Thomas W. Cook as editor and Ira II. Cook as associate elitor. Thomas Cook was a man of many peculiarities or what would be termed in this day and age, " cranky ways." After conducting the paper through the trials and difficulties of the first year or so of its existence, O. C. Willets came into possession of the plant by purchase or otherwise and con- trolled its destiny for awhile. It was afterward edited and published by F. M. Randall for a number of years. W. E. Cook, assisted by A. S. McCallister, succeeded him in its management.
During the time these latter gentlemen had control of it, a little paper made its appearance, the mission of which was to " show up " the moral obliquities of a certain class of peo- ple who posed as saints, but who were regarded by the pub- lishers as no better than other unrepentant sinners. The paper was called the " Fire- Fly," and whenever it made its appearance, which was always at night, when " good peo- ple " are supposed to be in bed, it was not long before the gossips of the town were enjoying the salacious tid-bits con- tained in its columns. It was spicy to a degree and its con- tents were always relished by everybody that did not receive a " skinning." There was no fixed date upon which it made its appearance and after several publications its sensational career ended, to the great relief, no doubt, of certain citizens who were given to shady ways and immoral practices. It was thought by many that W. E. or " Billy " Cook, whose witty sayings, funny escapades and many genial qualities are still remembered by the older citizens of Anderson, was responsi- ble for its publication. In fact, he never very seriously denied the charge.
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