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 45
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Summitville proper was laid out in 1867, by Aaron MI. Williams. Henry Roby was the first merchant in the town. and opened business in November. 1867, and did quite a thriv - ing trade, and was succeeded by Aquilla Moore & Son.
Samuel Fenimore was an early settler and lived about two miles north of Summitville, being one of a number of large land owners and thrifty citizensof that locality. Prior to the lay- ing out of Summitville as a town, and before a settlement was made there, there was an old staging station kept near that place by Aquilla Moore, where the stage that ran from Ander- son to Marion made a change of horses and stopped for feed and dinner. William Pitt-ford, Richard and AA. J. Hunt, the Anderson liverymen. were among the prominent stage drivers of that day. The first stage coach that passed over the line was driven by the late Colonel O. H. P. Carey from Marion to Anderson. Hle owned the stage line for a number of years, and operated it until he volunteered his services in the army during the late war. The last one was driven by Walker Win- slow in 1876.
When Aquilla Moore first settled in these parts, there was no mail route between Summitville and Anderson or Alexan- dria, the mail came there via Strawtown, being carried on
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horseback over roads blazed out through dense forests. Daniel Dwiggins was the first mail boy to deliver mail in this section, and Elijah Williams was the next ; both are long since deceased.
One of the first physicians in these surroundings was Dr. S. B. Harriman, who died in Richmond, Indiana, a few years since. He was succeeded by C. V. Garrett, John Wright, W. V. McMahan, M. L. Cranfill, S. T. Brunt and T. J. Clark. The first doctor in Summittville, after it became a town, was Dr. Cyrus Graul, who established himself here in 1867.
William Wellington and John S. Moore started the first grist mill in the township in 1854. It was a small corn cracker with a saw mill in connection with it. They did a very thriv- ing business for a number of years. Farmers came for quite a distance from the surrounding country to have their sawing done, and have their grists ground.
The first flouring mill was built in Summitville by Col- umbus Moore in the year IS6S. It was of an improved pat- tern and for many years enjoyed an extensive business.
The first ministers of the gospel in this locality were William Brunt, a brother of the late Thomas Brunt and Peter Casteel. The old timers are not able to agree as to which of the two was the first.
In the year 1868, Columbus Moore wasappointed the first postmaster in Summitville, receiving his commission from Andrew Johnson, President of the United States. George Moore. the father of Aquilla Moore, was one of the first Board of Trustees of Van Buren township, and died at the residence of his son about eighteen years ago.
At the time he wasan incumbent in this office, each town- ship had a Board consisting of three Trustees.
At an early day Aquilla Moore and his neighbors hauled wheat raised upon their farms to Hamilton, Ohio, the nearest market, and sold it for thirty-seven cents per bushel.
The first railroad agent in Summitville was J. P. Smith. who came to this place on the completion of the C. W. & M. railroad in 1876. The first grain warehouse was built by James H. Woolen about the time of the building of the railroad. Harrison and Reuben Allen were also early settlers in the immediate vicinity of Summitville, having moved here from North Carolina in the early '40s.
The only newspaper published in this place is the Summit- ville Have by George P. Louiso, which was established in 1890. It is independent in politics and enjoys a large circulation in
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the town and surrounding country. In 158% the Summitville Times was published here by J. A. Wertz, lately connected with the Anderson Bulletin and other Anderson publications. The first paper published here was by a young man of the name of Pinkerton, in 1885.
Summitville from the time of its first location as a village grew very slowly and made but little progress until the time of the perfecting of the C. W. & M. Railway, when it took on an air of prosperity for a short time, and remained stationary until the discovery of natural gas. when it at once entered upon another season of rapid growth, and it is at this writing one of the liveliest and most enterprising towns in Madison county, having many industries, fine school buildings, brick paved streets and handsome residences, and many fine brick business blocks erected on its main thoroughfares.
It was incorporated as a town on the 31st of December. 1881. The first Board of Trustees was elected on the first Monday in May, 1882, and took the oath of office before Miles F. Wood. # Justice of the Peace. on the Brd day of the same month. The first Trustees were Moses Stone, George W. Fear and Joseph A. Allen. The Board organized by electing Mr. Stone. President ; Frank Hernley was the first Clerk. and W. H. Williams, the first Treasurer, and I. M .. Williams, the first Marshal of the town.
The present officers are William Howard, Clerk ; Vin- cent R. Love, Treasurer, and Jeremiah Simons, Marshal. A. F. Kaufman. Eddie E. Thomas and William J. Peale are the present Trustees. The School Board is composed of Rob- ert Mclain, John M. Gordon and George W. Green.
A question was raised as to the legality of the incorpora- tion of the town, and therefore an act was passed by the Leg- islature of 1895, through the influence of Hon. J. M. Hund- ley, legalizing the same.
The following industries are located at Summitville : The Central Glass Company : the Crystal Window Glas, Company ; the Rothschild Glass Company : W. C. Fear & Co., saw, lumber and planing mill ; W. W. Van Winkle, saw mill : and L. R. Webb, flouring mill ; the Summitville Brick Fac- tory; and last, but not least, the Summitville Tile Works, owned solely by Samuel C. Cowgill, being the largest manu- facturer of farm tile in the United States. I was created in 1850, commencing in a small way, but has grown at the pres- ent writing to be of huge dimensions. Mr. Cowgill employs
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on an average about one hundred men all the year around. and has a weekly pay roll of $500. L. R. Whitney is the general book-keeper and business man of the institution, to whom we are under obligations for valuable information, and for having shown us through this establishment. We are also indebted to Mr. George Whitney and J. A. Allen for much information in reference to this place.
Summitville enjoys the distinction of being the home of several secret societies. The Knights of Pythias lodge, No. 361, was organized on the 5th of May, 1892. It has a large membership and is in a flourishing condition. J. D. Arm- strong is the Chancellor Commander. and A. H. Jones, Keeper of Records and Seals.
The Improved Order of Red Men, Lodge 149, Neoskaleta Tribe, has a membership of one hundred, and was organized in the year 1893. James Farmer, Sachem.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Summitville Lodge No. 475, was organized in the year 1875, and has a member- ship of seventy-five. It owns a handsome lodge property. built in the year 1892.
The Methodist Episcopal church. the Presbyterian church, the Baptists and the Wesleyan Methodists. each have congre- gations here and own their own houses of worship.
Sunmitville has two banks, both of which are on a sound financial basis, and enjoy a large patronage in the community and the surrounding country. The Citizens' bank has a cap- ital of $25.000. J. T. Sullivan is president, and A. B. Hard- grave, cashier.
The Summitville bank has a capital of $24.000. William Warner, president ; Maurice Warner, cashier. and O. E. Gor- don, assistant cashier.
The person familiar with the appearance of Summitville twenty-five years ago, and who has waded through its muddy streets during its early existence, could hardly imagine that it would in so short a time become the handsome, thrifty busi- ness center that it now is, and from all indications we predict a great future awaiting it. Many accidents and incidents that have occurred in its early history are detailed elsewhere.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS-KILLED WHILE CUTTING A TREE.
Mr. Jesse Buller, a young man about twenty-three years of age, working in Van Buren township, near Summitville, was instantly killed the 15th of January, !is, while cutting
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trees in the woods. He was in the act of felling a tree, when it lodged against another one near by, and in trying to dis- lodge it a falling limb struck him on the top of the head, crushing his skull, from the effects of which he almost instantly died. Young Buller was working for a Mr. Eli Neal, who was with him at the time, and seeing the falling limb called to him to get out of the way, but it was too late,-the limb struck him before he could make his escape. Mr. Neal ran for assistance, which was near at hand, but the unfortunate man had breathed his last before aid could reach him. Ile was a young man, well liked and respected. His home was in Fairmount, Grant county, a few miles north of Summitville. The Coroner of Madison county held an inquest, and a verdict of accidental killing was rendered.
BURNED TO DEATH.
In the month of February, 1878, a little six-year-old dangh- ter of John J. Said, of Summitville, was terribly burned, from the effects of which she died a short time afterward. She. with her oldest sister, was playing around a fire when her clothing became ignited, and before it could be put out there was scarcely a spot left on her body that was not burned until the flesh peeled off. She lived in great agony for a few days, but died from the effects of her burns. Mr. and Mrs. Said had the sympathy of the entire community in their sad afflic- tion. It is said that the child was a bright little girl, and a general favorite in the community where this terrible accident occurred.
Mr. Said is now a resident of Anderson. and has been employed at different times by the Pennsylvania Glass Com- pany, as watchman.
FIRE AT SUMMITVILLE.
The hardware store of E. B. Vinson, at Summitville, was destroyed by fire on the night of the 28d of August, 1889. It was discovered about eleven o'clock and nothing could be done to check the devouring flames, which soon consumed the build- ing, and also a millinery store belonging to Mary E. Wertz, adjoining. The loss on the hardware store was $3,500. cov- ered by $2,500 insurance; on the millinery store the loss was estimated at $100, with $300 insurance. The residence belong- ing to Mr. Vinson, the proprietor of the hardware store, was also damaged to a considerable extent. The origin of the fire
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was unknown, but was thought to have caught from a gas jet which was left burning in the store.
A DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.
Turry, the three-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Syl- vester Jenny, was burned to death near Summitville on the 28th day of February, 1896, by having her clothing ignited while lighting the fire with some scraps of paper. She ran out of the house to where her father and mother were. but before reaching them she was enveloped in the flames and burned in a most horrible manner. An uncle of the name of Curtis Diltz was attracted to the place by her screams and hastened to her relief and taking the child in his arms carried her to the house, where her parents soon came, but too late to render her any assistance. Her little body was burned to a crisp, the flesh falling from her bones.
A physician was summoned, but no medical aid could relieve her suffering, and she died soon afterward, remaining conscious to the last moment.
The funeral was largely attended, which took place at Epworth church, the services being conducted by the Rev. J. A. Rudy. The body was interred at Mt. Pisgah cemetery.
AN OLD-TIMER KILLED. .
Moses Simonson, an old resident of Madison county. was killed by being run over by a train of cars on the C. W. & M. Railroad near Summitville, while on his way home from Alexandria on the night of May 19th, 1891. He was in an intoxicated condition and had fallen asleep on the track.
Moses Simonson was one of the last of a generation that has passed away. He was one of the early settlers of the county, who in pioneer times made a greater part of the living for the family by hunting and trapping. IIe at one time lived in the neighborhood of Anderson, and there is not an old resident of that city who does not remember of seeing Mose Simonson on the streets with a hunting shirt on and a pack of hounds at his heels.
At a shooting match he was at home, and a good marks- man he was. " It's many a quarter of beef he has won at a shooting bee."
Simonson's besetting sin was his love for liquor, and although he drank to excess he never hanred a living soul.
No better hearted man ever lived. He would suffer him- self, in order to make others happy.
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He at one time owned a good farm in Pipe Creek town- ship. near Dundee, and while not rich was considered in com- fortable circumstances.
The rifle, the shot-pouch and long-eared hound are now things of the past in Madison county. They have given way to the steps of progress, and in a few years there will be none living who can tell of having ever seen them. Tradition alone will tell of the exploits of the noble pioneer.
The powder-horn and the bullet-moulds hanging over the cabin door, as they once did in the humble home of Moses Simonson, is a scene that many men and women, now of mature years, who have been reared in Madison county, have never beheld.
Whatever may have been the faults of Moses Simonson in his days among men, let us cover them with the mantle of char- ity, and remember him, along with the many other hardy men who lived in the wilderness of our county and helped to make its meadows bloom like the sweet fields of Eden.
A STORE BURGLARIZED.
Vinson & Hughes for several years operated a general store at Summitville. On the night of April 27, 1876. they were the victims of burglars. There was a Me Neale & Urban safe in the store, which was cracked and rifled of its contents, consisting of $118 in money and some valuable papers. The robbers also took away with them twenty gallons of whiskey and many articles of merchandise.
The noise of the blowing of the safe aroused Mrs. A. S. Dobson, who was sleeping in an adjoining building, but being timid was afraid to make any stir, so the burglars worked at will without molestation and made good their escape. No one ever knew who the perpetrators of the deed were. They were evidently professionals, as their work was done in a neat and handsome manner.
BARN BURNED.
A large frame barn owned by William F. Hughes. one and one-half miles west of Summitville, was destroyed by fire on Monday, the 9th of August, 1880. together with all the contents, including two horses, wagons, buggies and several tons of hay, two hundred bushels of wheat, two hundred bushels of corn, his farm implements, several sets of harness and other articles of value. The contents were partially cov-
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ered by insurance to the amount of $500, but there was no insurance on the building. It was evidently the act of an incendiary, but who the guilty party was has never been ascertained.
The loss fell very heavily on Mr. Hughes. He had the sympathy of the entire community. Mr. Hughes was a prom- inent farmer, having held the honorable position of Township Trustee, and being prominent in business circles in that com- munity. He has long since passed away, but a number of his family are still residing in Madison county, one son being engaged in the grocery business in Anderson at this writing.
KILLING OF SOLOMON PARSONS.
On Monday, the 25th of April, 1890, the body of Solo- non Parsons was found on the right-of-way along the C., W. & M. Railway track half a mile north of Summitville, his right leg and side being fearfully bruised, and with a deep cut in his head. Life was extinet when he was discovered. A small boy who happened to be standing near by saw the accident and gave the alarm. Neighbors came and conveyed his remains to his home which was only a short distance from the scene. Dr. Armington, Coroner of the county,, was noti- fed and held an inquest. The facts elicited. were that Par- sons, who was an old iran about eighty-two years of age, bad gone up the railroad in search of a cow and evidently having not heard the approaching train was run down and killed. John Torrence. the engineer in charge of the engine, testified that he knew nothing about the matter until he had reached Anderson, when he was apprised of the accident by telegram. HIe insisted that he saw no one on the track and seemed greatly surprised when informed that his engine bad killed a man at Sammitville. It was a very singular circumstance that he did not discover Mr. Parsons, who was walking before the engine. The Coroner returned a verdict of acci- dental killing without laying any blame on the company.
A YOUNG WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH.
Miss Sallie Mitong. a young woman about nineteen years of age, who was employed as nurse in the family of Mr. George Reeder, about three and a half miles east of Summitville, was burned to death on Friday, February 28, '579. She had been at a social gathering during the evening.and about 10 o'clock.
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on returning home, took a position in front of the fireplace for the purpose of reading.
Becoming drowsy. it issupposed, she fellasleep, and while in that condition her clothing caught fire. Upon awakening. she ran into the yard, and finally extinguished the flames by rolling in the mud and water. No one was present in the house at the time but Mrs. Reeder, who, being sick, was unable to help her. The agonizing cries of the unfortunate girl eventually attracted the neighbors, who kindly cared for her.
While assisting her into the house some of the burned flesh actually dropped from her body. She lived only fifteen hours after the accident, during which time she endured great agony. Her remains were buried at Summitville on the following Sun- day.
DISASTROUS FIRE.
On the 27th of March, 1885, a destructive fire visited the town of Summitville, burning the business room occupied by R. A. Menefee & Co. and Aquilla Moore, together with the office of Dr. Judd Swallow. The fire originated in the east end of Moore's store, at 3 o'clock in the morning, and in a few minutes the flames had reached Dr. Swallow's office, which stood just across the alley, and also Menefee's drug store. The flames spread so rapidly that within an hour from the time the alarm was given the three buildings were in ashes. It was by good management and hard work that further progress of the fire up the street was checked and that further damage was averted. The loss to Mr. Moore was about $4.000. par- tially insured. Menefee's building and stock of drugs, valued at $2,500, were insured for $1,600. It is supposed that the fire was the work of an incendiary, but no elew was ever found that would lead to the conviction of the guilty party. Dr. Swallow has since died. Mr. Menefee and Mr. Moore are yet residents of Summitville, being prominent in business affairs.
KILLING OF SARAH DAWSON BY NANCY SWOPE.
One of the bloodiest tragedies in the history of Madison county occurred on the 21st of July, 1887, in which two women were the actors, one of them being a colored women. Nancy Swope, during an altercation between herself and Sarah Dawson, a colored woman, plunged a butcher knife into the body of Mrs. Dawson, causing almost instant death.
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About a year before this event, Mrs. Swope, accompanied by her little child, had gone to Summitville and had taken employment at a hotel as a domestic. Mrs. Dawson was also employed at the same house in the capacity of washer-woman. These two females did not get along together very amicably. For some time prior to the killing, Mrs. Dawson alleged that Mrs. Swope had circulated slanderous reports against a Miss Cartwright, a daughter of the proprietor of the hotel. On the evening of the tragedy, the colored woman, as was her custom, took the washing she had finished to the hotel, and while there became involved in a quarrel with Mrs. Swope, who was in the kitchen, ironing. Mrs. Dawson had started to leave the place, when Mrs. Swope, who was almost beside herself with rage, hurled an iron which she had in her hand at Mrs. Dawson, but without effect. Then Mrs. Swope, still white with rage, grasped a large butcher knife that lay on the table and started for the colored woman, overtaking her near the door. when she plunged it with deadly effect into the body of her victim. The weapon penetrated the abdomen and caused the death of Mrs. Dawson in a very few minutes. . A boarder at the hotel entered the room just as the fatal thrust was made, and, springing forward, threw Mis. Swope to one side of the room, and then helped the injured woman into an adjoining hall.
Immediately after the commission of the crime, Mrs. Swope left the hotel and went to the residence of 'Squire Fenimore. where she remained until she went to the Ander- son jail. Here she was incarcerated to await the result of the Coroner's investigation and the action of the grand jury. Mrs. Dawson had come from Tennessee to Summitville five years previously. She was a hard working woman, and was generally respected by the people. Her remains were interred in Vinson cemetery after the Coroner's ingaest.
In an interview with Mrs. Swope at the jail by an Ander- son reporter she said in justification of the act that the negress had been circulating stories about her, damaging to her char- acter, and also about Miss Cartwright. She also stated that the woman had come in where she was working and began to abuse her, and finally threatened to do her bodily harm.
An affidavit was filed by Constable. W. R. Blake, of Anderson township, before William Roach. a Justice of the Peace, charging Mrs. Swope with murder. A preliminary examination was held and the prisoner was bound over to the
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Circuit Court to answer any indictment that might be brought against her by the grand jury. Judge Richard Lake acted as her counsel.
She was remanded to jail, where she was detained for a considerable time. In the trial of her case a disagreement by the jury resulted. and she was subsequently acquitted at the March term, 1888. She died near the scene of the tragedy about two years afterwards.
YOUTHFUL DEPRAVITY.
On the 21st of September, 1585, a large barn belonging to Joshua Vinson, a few miles west of Summitville, was destroyed by fire. It was evident from the first that it was of incendiary origin, but no clew to the party committing the deed was obtained until several days afterward, when a lad about twelve years old, who lived with Mr. Vin- son, inadvertently dropped the remark that he " would not have to go to that barn any more." Acting upon the theory that the boy had fired the building, Vinson accused him of it, and he, being pressed. finally admitted his guilt. He was placed under arrest and was lodged in the Madison county jail. He was quite small in statue, and evidently not a bad boy at heart. Upon being questioned upon the subject he fully admitted that he had set fire to the barn, but said in justification of his act that he was mad at Mr. Vinson for making him follow a wheat drill when he had a sore foot and could not walk. Hle further said that Mr. Vinson had sent him to the barn for an oil can and then sent him back again for something else, and then again ; that in all he had made three trips, and that he then concluded to just set fire to the barn.
At the time of this occurrence the young man had been living with the Vinson family for three years : his mother was dead, and his father had remarried and gone to North Caro- lina. The lad was convicted, but was let off with a light sentence. The loss on Vinson's barn was about $1,500, with but small insurance.
FOUND DEAD IN A BUGGY.
Near the town of Summitville, on the 22d day of May, 1595. William Spelling was discovered at the roadside. dead in a buggy by some passer-by. and it was supposed that a murder had been committed. The Coroner was notified and
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an investigation was held, at which it was found that Snelling had been to Summitville on that day and had been drinking heavily, and had started home, and had in some manner fallen forward out of his buggy, lighting upon the horse, which had kicked him in such a manner as to cause his death. No one saw the occurrence and it was only conjecture as to how it happened.
FOUND DEAD IN BED.
On the morning of April 26, 1893, the citizens of Sum- mitville were thrown into a state of excitement by the find- ing of the dead body of James Wood, a cripple, who was in the employ of S. C. Cowgill's tile factory. He had both legs off and was therefore a confirmed cripple, but not wholly inca- pacitated from labor, and had employment in the factory at light work such as he was able to perform. From the use of opiates to kill the pain he often suffered, he became a con- firmed victim of the morphine habit, and it is supposed that the use of this drug caused his death. He lived at Pendleton.
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