USA > Indiana > Posey County > History and directory of Posey County [Indiana] : containing an account of the early settlement and organization of the county : also a complete list of the tax-payers, their post-office addresses and places of residence, together with a business directory of Mt. Vernon and New Harmony also biographical sketches of prominent citizens of the county > Part 8
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streets. The lot was deeded to the Trustees, Wm. Hendricks, James Moore and Elijah Gooding, by Aaron Baker. Elijah Gooding deliv- ered the first sermon and occupied the pulpit as the first pastor of the church. It is now occupied by the Jews as a Synagogue. With the increase of population the congregations of the various denominations augmented, and, in order to accommodate them, it was found neces- sary to secure more room. . The Methodists were the next to withdraw their "patronage" from the "little old brick," and in the year 1840 erected a building of their own on the North side of Fourth, between Walnut and Mulberry streets. They continued to increase quite rapidly and for that reason found it again necessary to build. They accordingly purchased a lot on the West side of Walnut, between Fourth and Fifth streets, and in the year 1853, erected the building which is occupied by them at the present time. In the year following the sale of their first church was effected and the property passed into the hands of the German Methodists, who still use it as a place of worship.
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The Presbyterian denomination, in 1851, constructed a small frame on the West side of Store, between Fourth and Fifth streets, whose pastor was the Rev. Mr. Tiffany. Services were held in this building until the year 1872, when a new and elegant brick structure, costing $10,000, was erected on the South side of Sixth, between Main and Walnut streets, the Rev. John Gourley, a Canadian minis- ter, being the first pastor.
The Roman Catholic Church founded the fifth religious denomina- tion at Mt. Vernon. In the earlier periods of the city's history, the Catholic residents were supplied by mission priests, and the services were conducted at the residences of the members of that denomina- tion. In 1856 the Rev. Roman Weinzoeflin organized St. Matthews Church, with twelve families and seventy-five members. The Church was erected on the East side of Walnut, between Fourth and Fifth streets. It was a small brick, and it was also used for school purposes until 1867, when a large frame on the same lot was constructed, at a cost of $2,500, in which to educate the youth. In the year 1879 it was found imperative to enlarge the accommodations for the congrega- tion, and in that year on the same premises a handsome edifice, cost- ing $10,000, was built, and Father J. J. Schoentrup was placed in charge as rector. In 1881, there were connected with the Church eighty-five families and 500 members. The new building is built of brick, in Gothic style, and has a capacity of 600. Its interior is very tastily and neatly arranged, and much credit is due the denomination for the energy and enterprise they have shown in its construction.
The Lutherans built a small frame on the East side of Mulberry, between Fifth and Sixth streets, in 1856, and is used by them at this time.
SCHOOLS.
The first school house in the County, a small log building, with puncheon floor, was built at McFaddin's Bluff (now Mt. Vernon) in the year 1814, on the Southeast corner of the Public Square. The first one to teach the "young ideas how to shoot" was Mr. Thomas Heady. The only pupils of this adventurous pedagogue living are Wm. Hendricks and Genl. A. P. Hovey. The second building used for educational purposes was also a small log house of rude construc- tion. It was removed from Springfield in 1825 and located on the lots now occupied by Daniel Rosenbaum's new residence. Its shingles, doors and logs were fastened together by wooden pins, hinges and nails being considered too costly to be used. "Reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic" were the principal studies. Wm. Hooker had the honor of being the first to occupy the building as teacher. The increase of
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population demanded, in a few years, a more imposing structure, and the small brick on the N. E. corner of Main and Sixth streets, in 1828, was built. It was in this small building where Gen. Hovey, Judge W. P. Edson and other prominent citizens received the first rudiments of education, and where in later years both the gentlemen named "wielded the birch" as instructors. John Weathers was the first to teach in this "temple of learning." The next building erected for school purposes was the "Seminary," which stands near the L. & N. Railway depot, Samuel Annable being the first teacher.
The efficiency and rapid advancement of our admirable system of free public schools are largely owing to the energy and administrative ability of A. J. Snoke, Esq., the first Superintendent, through whom their organization was effected in 1870. The schools are under the supervision of a Board of Trustees, composed of Elijah M. Spencer, John Pfeffer and Wm. C. Fuhrer, the former gentleman being President, while the latter holds the position of Secretary and Treasurer of the board at the present time. The total number of pupils enrolled in December, 1881, was 814, and the present Superintendent is W. I. Davis. The high school building was constructed at a cost of $17,000 in 1868, by Edward Brown, a carpenter, and Thomas Allen, a brick mason, contractors, and in the year following the Central and Western school buildings were erected by Edward Brown, contractor, at a cost of $5,500 each. Besides these there is a colored school taught in the "Seminary" building. The schools of Mt. Vernon at this time com- pare favorably with those of other cities. The teachers are efficient and are advancing the interests of education to a flattering degree. The schools are divided into primary, intermediate, grammar and high school departments, with a term of three years in each, from which a number of pupils have graduated with highest honors. The present teachers employed are : G. H. Welker, principal of the high school; J. B. Tate, of the grammar department ; Miss Mary Jones, of the sixth grade, grammar department; Miss Fannie Hinch, third grade interme- diate; Miss Eunice Sullivan, Second primary ; Miss Ida Edson, first primary; Rev. S. Hecht, teacher of German; Silas G. Howard, fifth primary; Miss R. J. Proteus, fourth primary; Thomas McArthur, third primary, and Miss Melissa Musselman, Second primary.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The city was without a regularly organized fire department until October 28, 1880. Atthat time an engine, costing $1,400, and supplied with several hundred feet of hose, was purchased by the Board of Common Council, and a company was created, with the following officers : John P. Paul, Chief; Eugene A. Wilson, First Assistant ;
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Andrew J. Ashworth, Jr., Second Assistant; John C. Leffel, Secretary ; Sylvester E. Harp, Treasurer, and Alonzo Hendricks, hose director. Several years previous to the incorporation of Mt. Vernon as a city, a hook and ladder company was organized, but its existence was of short duration.
FIRES.
Very few fires occurred in the town previous to the years 1872-3. In the winter of those years the most destructive fire in its history at that time visited the place, when four brick stores on and near the corner of Main and Water streets were consumed. Soon afterwards, on the 26th of February, 1873, the large flouring mill and distillery owned by Munchhoff & Wolflin, was destroyed by the awful ele- ment. On the 2d of May, 1874, the flouring mill of John R. Evert- son was destroyed also.
On October 19, 1880, was when the greatest conflagration the town ever experienced occurred. All the buildings fronting on Main, from Second to Third streets, excepting the one on the corner of Second street, were swept away, entailing a loss of $150,000, on which there was an insurance of $100,000. The buildings have all been replaced by substantial and elegant two-story brick edifices. The owners of the property destroyed, were Fuhrer, Boyce & Co., M. Harlam, Mrs. John Burtis, George Henrich, Mt. Vernon Banking Co., Elwood Smith, Henry Moll, John D. Hinch, E. W. Rosenkrans and Charles F. Leonard.
RAILROADS.
MT. VERNON & GRAYVILLE AND C. & S. I.
A petition, signed by one hundred freeholders of the County, was presented to the Board of Commissioners, composed of Wm. Robb, Richard Harris and Stinson Cox, asking that body to order an election for the appropriation of $100,000 to aid the Mt. Vernon & Grayville Railroad in its construction through the County, the amount asked being less than two per centum of the taxables on the duplicates of the County. The election for this subsidy was held and carried on July 27, 1869, when the Commissioners ordered the Treasurer to make a levy of eighty cents on each $100 of the valuation of all property for 1870, and for 1871, sixty cents on the same amount. The full amount of the taxes was collected, and after the company had consol- idated with the Grayville & Mattoon Railroad it became known as the Chicago & Southern Illinois Railway Company, to whom, after com-
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pleting five miles of the road, $20,000 of the tax was paid. Before the second installment of $50,000 was due an injunction was filed by sub-contractors restraining the Commissioners from making any further allowance until their claims had been satisfied. The contractors were unable to proceed further with the work owing to financial embarrass- ment, and the road was immediately placed in the hands of a Receiver, who sold the iron, in 1875, to parties in New Jersey under a fore- closure of mortgage. The iron and one locomotive were taken up and the enterprise was abandoned. Besides the payment of $20,000 by the County'the company received $30,000 in bonds from the city of Mt. Vernon at the same time. The total sum to be paid by the city was $200,000, $50,000 of which was to be paid in private sub- scriptions, secured by bonds issued by Mt. Vernon as collateral, the contractors to receive sixty per cent. on the estimates as the work of construction progressed. The project of building this line had been discussed as early as 1856.
THE LOUISVILLE & NASHVILLE.
This road was organized as the Evansville, Carmi & Paducah and was immediately consolidated with the St. Louis & South Eastern, when it assumed the name of the St. Louis & South Eastern Railway, which received its charter in 1869. The work of construction was rapidly and vigorously pushed forward and by that means the company was enabled to finish its line ready for business by the Summer of 1871. It operates twenty three miles of road in the County, including its side tracks, and is in a very prosperous condition. It is a great source of convenience to the people in the Southern portion of the County, as well as of pecuniary advantage to the County in general. It was continued under the management of its consolidation until 1880, when the present company effected a lease of its privileges, by which its system was greatly improved and by which its power has become largely increased. The road ran its line through Mt. Vernon on condition that a subsidy of $102,000 be paid; a proposition that was readily accepted, and the amount, in bonds, was issued imme- diately after the terms of the contract were complied with.
NEWSPAPERS.
The Mt. Vernon Courier, the first paper published in the town, was established by Thos. F. Prosser in the Spring of 1838, who continued its publication until 1841, when it was discontinued-on account of the election of Mr. Prosser to the position of County Auditor. During the interregnum occurring from 1841 to 1848 the town was without a
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paper. In the latter year Mr. Prosser started the South Western Advocate, which was independent in politics and which was continued until 1862, when its existence ceased. It was edited with rare ability and presented a neat typographical appearance. In that year Chas. L. Prosser, a son of Thos. F., founded the Union, a folio of four pages and Republican in politics. It was discontinued in April, 1869, when the proprietor accepted the position of U. S. Gauger.
Rev. Thomas Abbott, a Universalist preacher, established The Umpire in January, 1860, which advocated the cause of Republicanism zealously until the close of the year, when it was removed to Rockport. In the month of July, 1871, Mr. Abbott again embarked in the news- paper business by establishing the New Republic, which, in December of that year, he sold to S. T. Palmer, who changed its name to the Republican, which remained under his management until July, 1872, when Chas. L. Prosser became its proprietor. It was soon afterward leased to Messrs. John Mason and Virgil Veatch, and in the Summer of 1873, Mr. Prosser again assumed the control, who discontinued its publication in 1877.
Mr. Abbott established The Harbinger, an advocate of the doctrine of Universalism, in August, 1871, when the paper was removed to St. Louis. It was an eight-page, four-column quarto.
The Democrat, founded by a Mr. Huckeby in 1861, soon passed successively into the hands of Wm. Loudon, Van B. Jolley and Chas. Legge. Its existence was limited to a few years.
In November, 1867 Thomas Collins established the Mt. Vernon Democrat, an ultra Democratic publication, which he continued to manage until April 7, 1879, when it was purchased by Albert A. Sparks, who is the present proprietor. It is an eight-page quarto, presents a neat typographical appearance, is a spicy, well conducted journal and is the official paper of the county.
The Wochenblatt, the first and only German paper ever published in the County, was established by John C. Leffel, October 23, 1875, under whose proprietorship it continued until October, 1881, when it suspended.
The Western Star was established by John C. Leffel February 22, 1877, who disposed of an interest soon afterward to S. Jett Williams, who are still the proprietors. It is the only paper in the County whose edition was ever run off by a steam power press. Typographi- cally it is decidedly superior to the average country paper.
The Sun was established by James M. Barter in 1878, under whose management it has been pecuniarily successful, having a large subscrip- tion-list and advertising patronage.
The Posey County Republican, a staunch advocate of Republican
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principles, was established by C. F. Wertz on June 4, 1880. It is a well edited paper and is conducted in a bold and fearless manner.
The Posey Banner, a folio, was established by Thomas Collins January 28, 1881. It is Democratic in politics and is issued weekly.
BENEVOLENT ORDERS, SOCIETIES, ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.
MASONIC.
Mt. Vernon Lodge, No. 163, F. & A. M., was organized March, 29, 1854, by virtue of a dispensation issued by the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons of the State of Indiana, dated March 11, 1854, by the following named persons: Charles Fitch, Thomas New- man, John Barter, Richard Barter and Adam Lichtenberger, of Mt. Vernon; H. C. Cooper and Wm. A. Twigg, of New Harmony, and WV. A. McRae, D. A. Farnsly, T. Poindexter and W. Hubbell, of Ev- ansville. The Lodge continued under dispensation until May 15, 1854, when it was regularly chartered by the Grand Lodge of Indiana, the first meeting having been held May 24, following. The first offi- cers were Charles Fitch, Master; John Barter, S. W., and Thomas Newman, J. W. The Lodge was in a prosperous condition in 1867, when it undertook the erection of a temple suitable to its wants, the hall it occupied on the West side of Main, near Water street, being considered too small and inconvenient. The temple was built at the Northeast corner of Store and Second streets, at a cost of $28,000, which involved the Lodge so deeply, that they found it impossible to liquidate, and the building was finally sold to private parties. The mem- bership from its organization to the present time has been about 330, while there are at present 89 enrolled as members. The Lodge meets regularly every Monday evening, at the Northeast corner of Second and Store streets. The present officers are: S. H. Pearse, W. M .; I. T. Slygh, S. W; George Henrich, J. W ; Alex Crunk, Treasurer ; R. F. Larkin, Secretary ; A. Ed. Harlam, S. D .; T. J. Allen, J. D; D. H. Greathouse and H Kleiner, Stewards; M. Harlam, John Pfeffer, Sen., and A. J. Clark, Trustees, and John Doyle, Tyler.
I. O. O. F.
The first Lodge instituted in the County was at this place, on Febuary 21, 1848, by R. W. Dunbar, D. D. G. M. of District No. 5, with the following charter members: L. H. Floyd, J. L. Cary, Wm. Nightwine, D. S. Martel and John Conyngton, on whom the five degrees of the Order were conferred at that time; and four were initi- ated and received all the degrees the same night. The Lodge became
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defunct and surrendered its charter in May, 1860. It was reorganized March 13, 1867, by Hiram Nelson, Grand Warden, under the same name and number, viz: Mt. Vernon Lodge, No 49. The charter members, under the reorganization, were: John A. Mann, M. S. Blunt, Elijah Evison, John D. Hinch, John Conyngton, Absalom Mackey, W. P. Daniel, H. C. Chase and Robert Whittelsey. The present officers are : L. J. Larkin, N. G .; Phillip Robb, V. G .; A. A. Sparks, Rec. Sec'ty; Wm. Large, Per. Sect'y; Joseph K. Cralley, Treasurer; Chas. Schutz, L. W. Jones and Nicholas Joest, Trustees; Chas. J. Carpenter, R. S. N. G .; Jno. Paul, L. S. N. G .; Michael Rosenbaum, R. S. V. G .; Daniel Truempe, L. S. V. G .; W. Hinch, R. S. S .; Alex Crunk, L. S. S. ; S. Lowenthal, Warden; Isaac Gill, Conductor ; Jno. Doyle, O. S. G; Jacob Rosenbaum, I. S. G., and A. C. Fogas, D. D. G. M. The Lodge is in a prosperous condition and meets regularly every Thursday night at its hall on the N. E. corner of Store and Second streets. The present membership of the Lodge is 89, while the records show that 213 have been initiated and admitted on card since its organization.
POSEY COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
The object in organizing this society was to promote the interests of science and to establish certain rules for the government of the resident physicians of the County. It was organized December 20, 1877, with the following officers : President, Edward Murphy; Vice- President, A. W. Spain; Treasurer, Edwin V. Spencer; Secretary, S. H. Pearse, and, Censors, M. S. Blunt, W. M. Holton and Cyrenus Elliott. The present officers are: President, W. M. Holton; Vice- President, John B. Weever: Treasurer, D. C. Ramsey ; Secretary, S. H. Pearse, and Censors, L. B. Bitz, O. T. Schultz and C. Hicks.
GERMAN AID SOCIETY. (BENEVOLENT.)
The organization of this society occurred on November 7, 1857. The first officers were: John Schiszley, President; Henry Brinkman, Vice-President; William L. Stritter, Secretary, and John Pfeffer, Sr., Treasurer. The present officers are : Xavier Neftzger, President; C. F. Tente, Vice-President; Wm. L. Stritter, Secretary, and Henry Dex- heimer, Treasurer. The election of officers is held semi-annually, and the society meet at their hall on the North-west corner of Main and Third streets on the first Thursday of every month. The society is in a very prosperous condition, having in the treasury $1, 500, notwith- standing they have paid in benefits the sum of $6,000.
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BLACK TOWNSHIP CEMETERY SOCIETY.
The society was organized January 26, 1860, and filed its articles of association with the Secretary of State May 14th, following. The first officers were: John Schiszley, President; Wm. L. Stritter, Secre- tary, and Charles Haas, Treasurer. The Board of Directors was com- posed of the officers named and John Pfeffer, Sr., and Fred. Reichert. The present officers are: Henry Brinkman, President; W. L. Stritter, Secretary, and John Zimmerman, Treasurer. The Board of Directors: Henry Brinkman, John Zimmerman, John Pfeffer, Jacob Bischoff and Charles Krei. The society bought two acres of land of Valentine Shryock, February 22, 1860, and on April 17, 1863, purchased two acres more, two miles North of Mt. Vernon, where they have made many improvements, having built a vault in 1879 in which to deposit bodies, costing $600. The society is very prosperous, notwithstanding numerous outlays of money.
HARUGARI LODGE, NO. 244. (GERMAN BENEVOLENT.)
The charter members of this society were: John Pfeffer, Sr., Eman- uel Wolf, Wm. L. Stritter, John D. Dieterle, Charles Wasem, Phillip Traudt, Gregori Brill, C. F. Tente, Charles Rosenhauer and Adolph Matzdorf. The first officers were: John Pfeffer, Sr., O. B .; Charles Wasem, U. B .; Wm. L. Stritter, Secretary ; C. F. Tente, Treasurer ; Phillip Traudt, Conductor ; Emanuel Wolf, Warden, and A. Matzdorf, R. S. O. B. The pressnt officers are: O. T. Schultz, O. B. ; Charles Rhein, U. B .; Charles Wasem, Secretary; Wm. L. Stritter, Permanent Secretary; Emanuel Wolf, Treasurer ; C. F. Tente, Conductor ; Henry Bertram, Warden ; Louis Wasem, R S. O. B. ; Charles Scmidt, L. S. O. B .; Louis Uhde, R. S. U. B .; Henry Tillman, L. S. U. B. and Conrad Maier, I. S.
The Lodge was instituted October 12, 1871, by Deputy Grand O. B. Henry Sittel, of Jeffersonville and the place of its first meetings were in Bischoff's Hall, S. E. corner Second and Store streets. The place of meeting at present is in the Masonic Hall and the time is every Friday evening. Election of officers occurs semi-annually.
LIEDERKRANZ. (MUSICAL )
This society was organized June 20, 1877, and is the outgrowth of the Casino, organized February 3, 1869, and the Orpheus, organized in 1870. Its objects are the cultivation of music and mutual enjoy-
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ment. Its first officers were : Phillip Traudt, President; C. F. Tente, Secretary ; Chas. Wasem, Treasurer and Jacob Walter, Librarian. The present. officers are: Louis Wasem, President; Chas. Wasem, Treasurer and Phillip Traudt, Secretary. The election of officers occurs annually, and the society meets every Wednesday evening at the N. W. corner of Main and Second streets.
MANUFACTURERS' AID SOCIETY.
The object in organizing this society was to "aid and encourage manufacturers in the city of Mt. Vernon." It was organized on March 30, 1874, and held its meetings at the Southeast corner of Store and Second streets until May 3, 1880, when the society disbanded. The first officers were : Henry Brinkman, President; C. F. Tente, Secre- tary, and Charles Cook Treasurer, with a board of directors composed of nine members.
The town is beautifully situated on a natural esplanade, and is sur- rounded by a fertile and picturesque country. It is and has been for many years past the shipping point and entrepot of an area of territory covering one hundred square miles. Its products are principally ship- ped to Southern ports, though the tide of export has begun to move towards Eastern cities. Thousands of barrels of flour and hominy an- nually leave the place, while tons of hay and corn find their way to the leading markets of the world from Mt. Vernon. Until recently millions of feet of superior Walnut lumber were shipped from this place but continual incursions into the forests by the lumbermen have almost exhausted the supply of that timber. The sidewalks of the town are nearly all laid with brick, while the principal business and residence streets are McAdamized and graveled. There are a number of pleasant private homes and "temples of trade," all doing well.
With the completion of the various lines of railway under course of construction and projected, it is confidently anticipated that Mt. Vernon will witness a development such as has been enjoyed by few of the cities of the State. Her destiny cannot be considered otherwise than bright. Her horoscope foretells a flattering growth and plainly marks out an encouraging course as a manufacturing and commercial city. Before the next decade shall have been chronicled in the book of time the number of her inhabitants, barring the acts of Providence, must reach, if it does not exceed, 7,000.
The sanitary condition is excellent, made so no doubt by the advantages of natural drainage. The elevation is, according to a survey of the U. S. Navigation Engineering Corps, forty feet above that of Evansville, and several feet above that of any other place on the Ohio river below Cincinnati. The place wants a population made
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up of energetic, enterprising, hospitable people and to all such it extends a hearty and cordial welcome. "Whomsoever will, if he be of good report, let him come."
There are in Mt. Vernon at this time three flouring mills, a hominy mill, two saw mills, eight blacksmithing and wagon-making establish- ments, twelve grocery stores, twenty-one saloons, three drug stores, three hardware stores, six dry goods and clothing stores, four barber shops, two banks, four harness and saddlery shops, two gunsmiths, four hotels, two bakeries, one cigar and tobacco shop, six millinery and dress-making establishments, two boot and shoe stores, two book stores, one dentist, eight physicians, ten lawyers, one telegraph office, a telephone exchange, one express office, one cooper shop, one furni- ture store,. one tile factory, five churches, three graded two-story brick school houses, three cabinet-making shops, several carpenters, brick masons, plasterers and brick manufacturers, two restaurants, three billiard halls, two confectioners, four newspapers, several painters, Masonic, Odd Fellows', Harugari, Liederkranz and A. O. U. W. societies, two brass bands, three meat markets, three livery and sale stables, three merchant tailors, one tin shop, five shoe-making shops, one foundry, three grain houses, one wholesale grocery store, two coal yards and one public hall. The census report of 1880 placed the pop- ulation of the place at 3,970, and there is a bright prospect for the completion of two lines of railway, in addition to the one already in operation, which are mentioned elsewhere.
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