USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical sketches and reminiscences of Madison county, Indiana : a detailed history of the early events of the pioneer settlement of the county, and many of the happenings of recent years, as well as a complete history of each township, to which is added numerous incidents of a pleasant nature, in the way of reminiscences, and laughable occurrences > Part 33
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TOWN OF FRANKTON.
This interesting town is situated on the P., C., C. & St. L. Railroad, in the southeast part of the township, and was laid out March 3, 1853, by `Alfred Makepeace and Francis Sigler. The first house erected in the place was built in 1848 by John Hardy, and a stock of general merchandise was placed in it by Alfred Makepeace. This store at one time was in charge of the Hon. Eli B. Goodykoontz, of Anderson. The building is still standing. Mr. Makepeace purchased his goods in Cincinnati and hauled them to Frankton in wagons.
The growth of the town was slow until 1887, when the discovery of natural gas caused it to assume an air of thrift and importance, such as are seldom witnessed outside of the Indi- ana gas field or rich western mining districts. It now has an estimated population of 2000 people. The town was incor- porated in 1871, and the first Board of Trustees were: Dr. S. W. Edwins, William Cochran and Dr. R. Harvey. The present Trustees are : Solomon Smelser, Richard Lewellyn and William Johns.
The first postmaster in the township was probably Will- iam Taylor, who lived about one mile east of Frankton and kept the office at his house. The office was established in 1837 or 1838 and the mail was conveyed on horseback from Indianapolis via Strawtown, Perkinsville and on to Alexan-
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dria. The present postmaster is William T. Wright. The first church organized in the township was in the summer of 1836 at the house of Reuben Kelly about one mile east of Frankton. A number of devoted Methodists, among whom were William Taylor, Joseph Miller, John Chamness, Jacob Speck, Amos Goff and their wives, gathered at the house of Mr. Kelly and the society was organized. This society for many years belonged to the Anderson circuit and its meetings were held during that time at the houses of the membership. Among the early ministers who preached to the congregation were Revs. Hezekiah Smith, J. F. Stiles, I. N. Ellsberry and J. C. Bradshaw:
The next religious society organized 'in the township was the Frankton Christian church. This church was organized in 1839 by Daniel Franklin at the house of Elijah Ring. The first membership included among others, Daniel Franklin. Joseph Franklin, Henry Plummer. Elisha Lawson, Edmund Johnson and their wives. Services were held at the homes of the members. In 1854 a majority of the congregation united with the Elwood church and assisted in building a house of worship at that place, but in 1859 they returned and the Frankton church was reorganized. In 1867 a place of wor- ship was erected by the congregation, since which time the membership has had a permanent home. Among those who have ministered to the spiritual wants of the church at times are Elders Daniel Franklin, Benjamin Franklin, his son, Joseph Franklin, Henry Blount, Cornelius Quick, and Graf- ton Nailor, the latter being the present pastor.
. Besides the Methodist and Christian Churches, the United Brethren and Adventists each have an organized society at Frankton and a permanent place of worship. The new church edifice erected this year by the United Brethren is one of the handsomest places of worship in the county.
FRANKTON SCHOOLS.
Much pride is taken in the public schools of Frankton by the citizens of the place. and the result is that a liberal policy is pursued by the School Board in providing educational accommodations and facilities for pupils. The enrollment this year was 432 pupils, for whose benefit a corps of teachers is employed. H. H. Belden is Principal of the schools. The present School Trustees are W. H. H. Quick, J. H. Daugherty and Joseph Quinn.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
FRANKTON INDUSTRIES.
The following are the factories thus far located in this thriving little city: Clyde Window Glass Co., two factories ; Frankton Window Glass Factory, Wetherald Rolling-Mill, Hoosier Fence Co., Frankton Brick. Works, Dwiggins Fence Co., Quick City Novelty Works, Bradrick & Lineburg Fence Factory, Frankton Lumber Manufacturing Co., Frankton Flouring Mills, Orr & Campbell Saw-mill. These factories employ a large number of hands, and are in active operation.
The Clyde Window Glass Factory was the first located at Frankton after the discovery of natural gas. It was located through the instrumentality of Joseph M. Watkins, October 22, 1889. He owned certain lands at Frankton, which he platted as Watkins' 1st, 2d, 3d and Fairview additions. He was one of the leading promoters of the "boom " that subse- quently transformed Frankton from a village to a thriving,. bustling town. Mr. Watkins is now Deputy County Treas- urer. He is the son of. Francis Watkins, one of the early pioneers of Richland Township, but for many years past a. resident of the city of Anderson.
C. QUICK & CO.'S BANK.
This institution was established in the year 1876 by Cor- nelius Quick, a leading citizen of Frankton and gentleman of wealth. His son, George Quick, now interested in the Ander- son Banking Company, was a partner in the bank and took an active interest in its affairs until he retired to accept his present position. The business of the bank is conducted upon conservative principles, and is one of the safest and soundest financial repositories in the county.
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES.
Frankton has three fraternal and benevolent orders, the Masonic. Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. . Frankton Lodge, I. O. O. F., was instituted January 31, 1872. The first officers were W. L. Philpott, N. G. ; J. II. Wagoner, V. G .; R. R. Cramner, Secretary : C. C. Mays, Treasurer.
CITY OF ELWOOD.
Elwood is the second city in size and importance in the county. It is situated in the north-west part of the township on the P., C., C. & St. L. Railway, and near the Tipton county line. It was originally called Quincy, but on account of
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
another village, or postoffice, of that name in Owen county which caused no little confusion in delivering mail, the name was changed through the efforts of Captain F. M. Hunter and others, to that of Elwood on the 21st of July, 1869, Captain Hunter being at that time, and for fifteen years thereafter, postmaster.
The town was laid out March 1, 1853, by James Ander- son, Mark Simmons and J. B. Frazer, and soon after a post- office was established. The office was called Duck Creek, and William Barton was appointed postmaster. Mr. Barton opened the first store (in 1852), also the first bank (in 1870), and built the first grain elevator. The office of postmaster has been held by the following gentlemen in the order named : William Barton, J. M. Dehority, W. F. Morris, P. B. Smith, F. M. Hunter, James M. Parsons. James M. Overshiner and Franz Harbit, the latter being the present incumbent.
The Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad was com- pleted to Elwood in 1857, and Andrew J. Griffith was appointed depot agent. It is related that Mr. Griffith was com- pelled very often to walk out from the "station " to the train on a log for the mail, the land in that immediate vicinity being covered with water at that day nearly the whole year round. No man at that time could have predicted the future possibilities of the place ; no man dreamed that it had beneath it that which, in a day, would cause it to mount to prominence later on as a busy mart. a proud manufacturing city. The growth of the town was like that of other Indiana towns until the discovery of natural gas -- " nothing to boast of," although it was always a good business point. In 1872 it was incorporated, and the following officers were elected : Huston Clendenen, G. W. Hupp and John Ross, Trustees; George Ross, Treasurer ; J. H. Hunter, Clerk ; and J. M. Parsons, Marshal.
The following concerning Elwood is taken from a brief sketch in Harden's history of Madison county, published in 1874 :
" A large amount of lumber and heading and stave ma- terial is shipped from this place. It contains a Methodist Episcopal and Christian church, a brick schoolhouse, a rail- road depot, a good hotel, a livery stable, a tanyard, a flouring mill and several neat and tasteful private residences. The business firms are Burriss & Quick, J. M. DeHority & Son, H. C. Calloway, R. Free and A. Chamness & Dwiggins. The
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druggists are F. M. Hunter, J. F. Mock & Hunter and Way- mire. The harnessmakers, T. Samuels & Bro. Shoemakers, James Parsons, William Hopenrath and John Buchanan. Wagonmakers, J. M. Overshiner & Co. Blacksmiths, George Barns & Son and James Hannab. Lumber dealer, Augustus Kramer. Sawyers, Cochran & Sons. Miller, J. T. Adair. Postmaster, F. M. Hunter. Railroad agent, Perry A. Taylor. Elwood contains a population of four hundred."
This picture presents Elwood as it was twenty-two years ago. It would require a volume now to give the details of its progress and history since that time. It is the marvel of the Indiana gas belt, and the pride not only of its citizens, but of the people of the entire county. It arose "as if from the stroke of the enchanter's wand," and yet there is not, perhaps, in the country a city of equal size whose improvements are more substantial, or whose various enterprises are operated ' upon a sounder basis. Immediately following the drilling of the first gas well the town began improving ; manufactory after manufactory was located by its enterprising citizens : capital was invited to safe and profitable investment ; the old landmarks disappeared and its busy population prospered.
INCORPORATED AS A CITY.
On the 27th of April, 1891, an election was held for the purpose of determining the sentiment of the people with ref- erence to incorporating the town as a city. The result of this election was 377 for and 146against the proposition. Soon after the city was divided into four wards, and the following officers were elected : W. A. Dellority, Mayor ; O. A. Arm- field, Clerk ; T. L. DeHority, Treasurer ; F. M. Ilunter, Jr., Marshal; Councilmen, First Ward, G. W. Bryer and Jacob Kraus; Second Ward, Martin E. Goode and Hugh Lyst, Third Ward, Daniel Heck and S. II. Cochran : Fourth Ward, John Frith and W. B. Willets. Since the first city election the following gentlemen have been elected members of the Common Council : Francis Harbit, W. L. Austil, Joseph Boyer, Theo. Harwick, C. C. Kestner, T. O. Armfield, M. L. Shores, James Howard, A. L. Starkey, F. M. Headley, R: II. Mount, A. B. Williams.
The present city officers are : W. A. Finch, Mayor ; W. A. Hupp, clerk : T. L. DeHority, Treasurer ; James Parsons, Marshal: Geo. W. Alford, City Judge.
The police department of the city is in charge of a chief
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
and five patrolmen appointed by a Board of Police Commis- sioners. The city also has a fire department and system of water-works, which afford ample protection against fire.
WILLIAM A. DEHORITY.
The subject of this sketch was born October 24, 1868, in the town of Elwood. His parents were John W. and Jane De- Hority, both of whom were born in Madison county. The father died August 28, 1891 ; the mother is still living at the old homestead at Elwood.
Mr. DeHority's boyhood was passed in the usual occupa- tions which engaged the attention of the young in country vil- lages. In 1885 he entered Earlham College at Richmond, Indiana, where he remained until 1887. In 1887-8 he took a
WILLIAM A. DEHORITY.
commercial course at Louisville, Kentucky, where he acquired a knowledge of practical business methods, which, together with unlimited energy and good sound judgment, have con- tributed very largely to his success in the various enterprises to which he has given his attention. Owing to many advan- tageous circumstances he was chosen as the Democratic candi- date for Mayor of Elwood after its incorporation as a city in 1891, and on the 9th of June of that year was triumphantly
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elected, being the first Mayor of that city and the youngest at the time in the State. During his administration the Elwood electric light plant was put in operation, his little son, John W. DeHority, having the honor of pulling the throttle that set the machinery in motion for the first time. This interesting event took place at 2 o'clock p. m., August 1, 1891. The electric street railway and water works system were also begun and completed during his term of office-improvements. which it now affords him great pleasure as a citizen to know that he assisted in promoting. At the time of his election Elwood had a population of 2,500; it is now a city of 11,000 population.
Mr. DeHority was married June 27, 1888, to Miss Fran- ces C. Metts, daughter of Rev. M. S. Metts, who was at the time pastor of the M. E. church at Elwood. The fruits of this union have been four children, three boys and one girl- John W., Ruth M .. J. Loomis and Walter C. F., all of whom are living.
Mr. DeHority is actively engaged in various business enterprises and enjoys the confidence and respect of all who know him. Ile is nothing if not practical and comes as nearly observing the Golden Rule as any man in Madison county.
THE SCHOOLS.
The school facilities and accommodations of Elwood com- pare favorably with those of any city in the State of equal population. The progress made in this respect is commensur- ate with the advancement made by the city in its material interests. In 1876 the city had but one school building, which was known as the " Elwood Graded School," the faculty being J. T. Jennings, Principal ; John Gronendyke, C. M. Greenlee and Joseph Howard, teachers in the grammar, inter- mediate and primary departments, respectively. The city to-day has four large school buildings of modern design and a corps of thirty-three teachers. The number of children of school age this year was 2,764. Every facility for acquiring a common school education is afforded pupils by an active and liberal Board of Trustees. Thomas F. Fitzgibbon, a gentle- man well qualified for the position, is school Superintendent.
MANUFACTORIES AND BANKING INTERESTS.
The principal cause of Elwood's remarkable growth and prosperity in the past ten years will be found in the following 56
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
list of her manufacturing industries, all of which have been located since the discovery of natural gas: Pittsburg Plate Glass Works, George A. Macbeth Glass Factory, W. R. McCloy Glass Factory, Elwood Furniture Company, Elwood Furniture and Planing Mill Company, Elwood Boiler and Engine Works, Elwood Crystal Ice Manufacturing Company. Superior Radiator Company. Elwood Window Glass Com- pany. Nivisen & Weiskolp Bottle Works, Phil Hamm Boiler Works, Akron Steam Forge Works, Elwood Brick Company, Starkey Brick Company, George Heffner Planing Mill Com- pany, American Tin Plate Works, Elwood Box Factory, Elwood Iron Works, Excelsior Works.
In addition to these industries the city has an electric street railway system that is operated in connection with the Elwood electric light plant; also a telephone system, at the head of which is James M. Overshiner.
BANKING INSTITUTIONS.
The city has two banks, the Citizens' Exchange Bank and the First National Bank, the former having been organ- ized in 1881 by B. T. and H. C. Calloway, and the latter in January, 1892. The National had been doing business, how- ever, as a private institution, known as the Farmers' Bank, until it was reorganized. The officers of this bank are J. II. DeHority, President; Nathan J. Leisure, Vice-President ; J. A. DeHority, Cashier. The building in which this bank con- ducted its business was burned in 1892, and another was built on the north-west corner of Anderson and Main streets, where it is now located. Both banks have ample capital and enjoy the fullest confidence, not only of the business men of El- wood, but of the public generally.
AN IMMENSE ESTABLISHMENT.
It would require much more space than is permissible in this work to give the names of the merchants and citizens do- ing business here at the present time, even if it were proper to do so. A history of this character, however, would be sub- ject to just criticism if it failed to give some mention of the mammoth retail establishment of J. L. Leeson & Sons. This store occupies a three-story block, situated at the south-east corner of Anderson and South A streets, and is the largest establishment of its kind in the county. It is a department store and employs at certain times and during certain seasons
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
as many as eighty clerks, to wait upon the customers who throng the different departments. An immense business is done annually, greater, perhaps, than in any store of its kind in Central or Eastern Indiana, excepting the State capital. It is a credit to the city of Elwood and the county, and stands as a monument to the excellent business methods and manage- ment of its founder, Mr. J. L. Leeson.
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS.
The first fraternal order organized at Elwood was Quincy Lodge, No. 230, F. and A. M. The lodge was instituted May 25, 1858, the following officers being elected : A. J. Griffith, W. M. ; J. M. DeHority, S. W. ; D. Barton, J. W. The lodge has a large membership and is in a prosperous con- dition.
1. O. O. F.
Quincy Lodge, No. 200, I. O. O. F., was instituted on the 30th of July, 1858, with twelve charter members. The first officers of the lodge were : Culpepper Lee, N. G .; John B. Frazier, V. G. : B. T. Calloway, R. S. : Mark Simmons, Treasurer; L. J. Kidwell, Permanent Secretary.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS-DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT ELWOOD.
On the morning of September 18, 1872, a destructive fire occurred at Elwood, whereby the large flouring and saw-mills owned and operated by John T. Adair took fire between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning and were entirely consumed. The proprietor had run the mill until about 2 o'clock A. M. and, after shutting down, had gone to his home. Ile had scarcely reached his house and become comfortably seated before a cry of fire was heard, and looking out, saw that his mill was en- veloped in flames. The alarm was given to the people of the neighborhood, and soon they ran from all directions with buck- ets and such other appliances as were then at hand to enable them to subdue the fire, but in less than an hour the whole structure was destroyed, together with the contents, consist - ing of a large amount of wheat, valued at from twelve to fif- teen thousand dollars, and a large quantity of lumber, the value of which was estimated at $8,000, makinga total loss of very nearly $20,000, none of which was insured.
The loss fell very heavily on Mr. Adair, who had his entire fortune wrapped up in these enterprises. Ile was an energetic, thorough-going business man, and possessed the
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
confidence and esteem of the community, who deeply sympa- thized with him. Efforts were at once made by the people of Elwood and the surrounding country to render him assistance to rebuild his mill, which he subsequently did, although on not so large a scale as the first one.
Mr. Adair was at this time a popular Democratic politi- cian in Madison county, and one time made a contest for the nomination for County Treasurer, and came within one vote of reaching the goal of his ambition.
The losses sustained by Mr. Adair had the effect to a cer- tain extent of destroying his usefulness as a business man, as he never fully recovered from it, and he died about the year 1885 near the scene of the conflagration.
THE KILLING OF MILTON HALFIN.
On New Year's eve of the year 1875, the town of Elwood was thrown into great excitement over the report that a young man had been killed on the railroad near that village. Many of the citizens ran to the place of the disaster, where they found the lifeless form of a young man of the name of Milton Halfin lying on the railroad track, who had accidentally met his death by a pistol shot in the hands of Philip Hosier, a. comrade.
The facts of the unfortunate shooting were about as fol- lows : Arrangements had been made for an oyster supper at the house of Isaac Etchison, who resided about a mile and a half from Elwood. In the evening young Halfin and Philip Hosier went to town to purchase the oysters and other deli- cacies for the evening's entertainment. After providing them- selves with such articles as they required, they started back to the Etchison home, accompanied by Ira Kidwell, James Bird, William Kidwell, and John Kidwell. It being quite dark, they walked down the railroad track in single file, Halfin being in the lead, Bird second, Hosier third. and Ira Kidwell fourth.
They moved along quite rapidly, jesting and talking with each other, when about half a mile from the town, Hosier quietly took a revolver from his pocket and, without warning, fired into the air to scare his companions, as he afterwards said.
In doing so he cocked the pistol to fire the second time, and James Bird, who was frightened by the first report of the pistol, partly turned around to see what was the cause of the shooting, and in doing this threw up his hands and caught Hosier's arm which held the pistol, and jerked it downward.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
In the meantime Halfin, who had partially turned around, at this moment received the contents of the pistol in his left temple. The wounded man fell forward upon his face, and when they attempted to raise him he was found to be dead. Some of the young men of the party hastened back to town for medical aid, and Drs. Armfield and Sigler hastened to the fatal spot, but the unfortunate man had died before they reached his side.
An inquest was held the next day by George M. Ballard, Justice of the Peace at Elwood, and a verdict of accidental shooting was rendered by the jury. Hosier was present at the inquest and gave full details as to the shooting and his connection with the affair ; he did not try in any way to con- ceal the facts of the case. Halfin and Hosier were about the same age, and greatly attached to each other. Both were young men of steady habits and much respected.
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
In the month of August, 1878, on Sunday morning about 10 o'clock, during a shower at Elwood, a bolt of lightning struck a two-story tenement house located in the center of the town. The house was occupied at the time by a widow and another family-ten persons in all. The house was literally demolished. The shingles were torn from the roof and parts of the building were stripped off and carried to quite a dis- tance from the scene of the disaster. In one corner of the house, under the sheathing, a hole about a foot in diameter was left where the lightning had entered, and then, striking the wall, twisted the main posts into splinters. Strange as it may seem, the inmates, who at the time were scattered about in different parts of the house, escaped without injury. Ira Kidwell, Jr., and Isaac Boyden, who were walking along the street about a hundred yards from the place, were knocked senseless by the force of the lightning, but soon recovered. The town was terribly shaken up over the matter, but fortu- nately no fatal injury was done to any one.
KILLED ON A RAILWAY.
On Saturday, the 30th of August, 1878, John Sloan, Will- iam Cox, Edward Spencer, Aaron Spencer and John W. Spen- cer hired a team and spring wagon at the livery stable of Cox & Swindell, at Alexandria, and went to Dundee to a dance that was to be held on that evening. When they arrived at
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
that place they found that the dance had been postponed. The party then proceeded to a saloon and drank quite freely. William Cox and John W. Spencer had gone to look about the team and had driven it partly across the railway and halted on the crossing. They had been gone but a little while when a train came down the track at a rapid rate. The engineer, seeing the men, gave a shrill signal. The party in the saloon rushed out just in time to see the train run over the wagon and kill one of its occupants.
It is supposed that Cox and Spencer had been overcome by liquor and did not hear the whistle until it was too late to make their escape. Spencer was killed instantly, and Cox suffered severely, but afterwards recovered. The front wheel of the wagon was carried a distance of one hundred and fifty feet. One of the horses was killed and the other terribly mangled. An inquest was held by Coroner Rockenfield and a verdict of accidental death in accordance with the facts was rendered. The railroad company was excused from all blame in the matter.
KILLED BY A SWITCH ENGINE.
Charles J. Jeffries, of Elwood, was rim over by a switch engine on the tracks at Indianapolis and killed, August 17, 1884. Both his limbs were cut off, and he lived but a short time. His remains were forwarded to Elwood, where his widowed mother resided. He was a young man, 22 years of age, and unmarried. He had been employed by the Pan Han- dle Railroad Company some time prior to the accident, and had been out of work but a short time, having gone to Indian- apolis with a companion to look for a situation. He was standing on the track unconscious of the approaching locomo- tive, when he was run over, with the above result.
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