USA > Indiana > Bartholomew County > History of Bartholomew County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc. : Together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 54
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Necybern .- When Bartholomew County was about ten years old, and her original dense forests had given way to some extent to
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productive fields, several villages sprang into existence when there were no especial advantages or demands for them beyond those of furnishing a postoffice and a small trading house to the farmers. Newbern was one of these. It was laid out by Aaron Davis and Aaron P. Taylor into sixty-eight lots on July 14, 1832. is situated in the west half of the southeast quarte. Section 9, Town 9, Range 7 east, and was named for Newbern, N. C., to which town of his native State old Mr. Davis was always devoted. The only addition to the town was that made by Samuel Dillman, January 7, 1850, of seven lots. Aaron Davis was a pious and 1. nored clergyman from his youth to oll age, and died about eight years ago, leaving a large family, and a great circle of friends. Ransom Davis started the first store, and carried a small stock of general merchandise. He was succeeded by M. M. Hook, afterward the venerable judge. Activity and enterprise were not characteristics of the early merchants here. There were never more than two stores at a time. Before and during the Civil War period, Daniel McClintic was in business here, and probably kept the largest and best assorted stock of goods ever offered for sale in the town. Subsequently the principal merchants were Thomas McCallie and Anderson Jones. At pres- ent J. L. Jones, general store, William Scott, drugs, and S. Davis, poultry dealer, represent the business interests of the place.
More than fifty years ago Aaron P. Taylor and Aaron Farmer built a mill here, a little water power corn-cracker, which passed into the possession of J. K. Lawrence, and then of Christian Mdee, who sold it to Ezra Robinson, a progressive and enterprising man, who re-built, re-modeled, and introduced the use of steam in it. From Robinson the mill went to R. Dunlap, then to J. H. Braden, and from him to James Shea, who, while engaged at his work, was caught in the machinery and drawn to his death, being horribly mangled. William II. Shea, after this sad accident, took posses- sion of the property and managed it until about four years ago, when it was destroyed by fire.
Judge M. M. Hook, Esq., Ransom Davis and Capt. Samuel Beck, father of Dr. John C. Beck, of Cincinnati, and of Dr. W. H. Beck, of Hartsville, were prominently identified with the town from
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its early days. Dr. Martin M. Shepherd, whose widow and two daughters still reside at Newbern, came to the village about 18.46. This family were refined and intelligent, and did much to inspire others to intellectual development and culture. Dr. W. M. Mer- rick was also prominent for a period.
St. Louis Crossing, situated on the Cambridge City branch of the J., M. & I. Railroad, in the east half of the southwest quarter of Section to, Township 10, Range 6 east. This town was laid out January 30, 1864, into twenty-three lots, with streets forty feet wide, by Isaac White, who added twent. lots to the original plat, May 19, following. The first merchants were two Germans who came from Madison, built a small house and opened a store, but did not remain in business long enough to identify themselves with the town's history. They disposed of their interests to William Zeigner, who continued in business only a short time, when he died. Then Nading & Bardwell started a general store and built a mill, which was destroyed by fire subsequently while owned by White & Cox. Bardwell sold his interest in the store to Nading, who con- ducted the business until a few years ago, when he was succeeded by J. A. Newton & Bro., now the only merchants, except H Scha- fer, grocer. A turnpike was early built from this place to Hope to provide an outlet for the grain of that productive country, a great deal of which was shipped from here, especially before the build- ing of the C., H. & G. Railroad through Hope. John Nading is the proprietor of the only grain elevator, which was built about four years ago. J. A. Newton is postmaster. There are about 150 inhabitants.
St. Louis .- This is one of the villages founded in early days by sanguine men, whose hopes were not destined to be realized. In the northeast quarter of Section 18, and southeast quarter of Section 7, Town 10, Range 7 east, it was laid out July 13, 1836, by Lewis Reed and Abraham Zeigler. There were thirty-eight lots; a public square 60x60 feet, and the streets were sixty feet wide. There was a struggle for the postoffice between this town and Hope, then Goshen, which resulted in favor of the latter place, and fixed the doom of St. Louis, the office here being discontinued. The first and only important merchant was John Dronberger, who
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commenced at least thirty-five years ago, and continued five or six years doing a large business among the farmers, but at last failed. John Calvin had a small tannery her, 'ate in the 30's, which pass- ing through the hands of Burket 1 Daglon, soon went down. The village now has no commercial importen .. It is the seat of a pioneer Methodist Church, elsewhere more fully mentioned, which gives it more than usual interest.
Waynesville. - A village called Augusta grew up about om mile south of the present site of Waynesville in early days, but it was not platted. The only general merchandise store was that of James Thompson. Joseph Jackson opened a drug store: John St ler a grog shop; a blacksmith, a shoemaker and others opened such shops as are usually found in a country town. When the railroad was built, Thompson moved his stock to Waynesville, and Augusta was practically abandoned. Waynesville is in Sections 19 and 20, Township 9, of Range 6 east, and was laid out October 9, 1851, by James G. Thompson, into seventy lots, with streets thirty- three and sixty feet wide. The principal business transacted has been done in the Thompson store house, though it has many times changed hands, being at present owned by Smith Goshorn. The town is on the J., M. & I. Railroad, and has a postoffice. In I858, a lodge of the F. & A. M. was established and continued to work here till about 1862, when it was moved to Jonesville, and is more fully mentioned in the history of this town. There have been one or two small flour mills here, but none are now operated. The surrounding territory is rich and productive.
Waymansville was laid out in the northwest quarter of Section 12, Township 7, of Range 4 east, by Charles L. Wayman, No- vember 244, 1849, into thirty-two lots, with streets sixty and eighty feet wide. William Tobroke built a saw and grist mill here in IS52, which was destroyed by fire in 1885. On the site of the old mill a new building was erected which contains the new roller pro- cess machinery for making fifty barrels of flour per day. Mr. To- broke is at present sole proprietor, though at various times he has had partners associated with him. At present, John W. Behrman and Louis Von Stroke conduct a general store: Henry Aldenhagen, an agricultural implement house; William Trimpe, furniture and un-
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dertaker's establishment; William Behrman, shoe store; John Berg- doll, drug store. There are also two blacksmith shops and a carpenter shop. In ISS2, a G. A. R. Post was organized, with twenty-three charter members, Herman Von Stroke being the first Commander. The town has about roo inhabitants, mostly frugal, industrious Germans.
Walesboro, situated in . e east half of the southeast quarter of Section 12. Township 8, of Range 5 cast. This town was laid out by John P. Wales, June 26, 1851, into thirty-four lots, with streets thirty-two and one-half, fifty and sixty feet wide, to which were added, November 24, 1851, by the same proprietor, thirty-four lots. The Wales family was quite large and had settled in this neighborhood in very early days, but soon after establishing this town they went west, most of them settling in Iowa. For many years the principal store of the place was kept by William Dough- erty, and is now owned by Charles Stone. The town is on the J., M. & I. R. R., about four miles from Columbus, and from it large quantities of stave and hoop poles are annually shipped. It has a postoffice, a blacksmith shop and such other convenience's as are required of a small town by a limited farming district. About twenty or twenty-five families are residents of the place, and it is surrounded by fertile lands.
Moore's Vineyard is a village of about fifty inhabitants, in Ohio Township, not laid out in lots, where J. C. and J. H. Taylor own and operate a grist and saw mill, and Isaac Wantland conducts a general store. William Cox is the postmaster. Burris Moore started the place by building a mill about 1850, and was its first postmaster. The first merchant was M. J. Patterson.
Bethany, in the southeast quarter of Section 344, Township 9, of Range 4 east, was laid out May 22, 1849, by Jesse Spriggs, into forty-eight lots with streets sixty-six feet wide. Its mercantile interests have never been very extensive. John Mason kept the first store; generally there have been two or three stores: now John Hawkins and James Howard are the only merchants. There are no lodges of secret orders here. The I. O. G. T. once estab- lished a lodge which flourished for a time, but is now extinct. In and near it are three churches, the Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, and Christian, elsewhere mentioned more particularly.
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Kansas,- This village, non of no coninercial importance, was laid out February 15, 1855, in the south half of Section 1, Town- ship 10, of Range feast, by William A. Ergenbright, into thirty -one lots with streets fifty-three links wide. Albertus Ergenbright estab- lished a store there but did not continue long in business. In 1837. Eu- mund Mooney located a tannery about two miles southwest of where Kansas now is, and the business was conducted there by the origi- nal owner and his sons, until 1863. The village is surrounded by surpassingly fertile lands, and is connected by turnpike with Edin- burg. Janett Deming, E. Wheatley, Collin McKinney, the Ergen- brights, Tannehills, and Drybreads, have been the leading people in the neighborhood of the town.
Burnsville .- This village was laid out in the northwest quarter of Section 3, Town S, Range 7 east, on October 1, IS45, by Brice Burns, into seventeen lots with streets forty feet wide. George W. Melntosh was the first, and for some time the only, merchant in the place. He was succeeded by Joseph Stevens. Wesley White es- tablished a general merchandise store soon after Stevens went into business, and for a while the town supported the two stores. Other merchants were: James Remy, Reuben Leach and John C. Cunningham. At present the only store is that of Jeffer on Huff- man. Soon after the town was laid out a saw mill was built by H. Ruby. At this time Frank Emmons owns and operates a saw hill, which is the only enterprise of the kind. There are about 200 inhabitants.
Petersville, located in the northwest quarter of Section 13 and northeast quarter of Section 1.4, in Township 9, of Range 6 east, was laid out November 6, 1874, by Peter S. Blessing, into fifteen lots with streets forty feet wide, to which ten lots were addedl No- vember 6, 1878, by Peter T. Blessing, Mary M. Glick, Caroline Blessing and Saralı Aspy. l'eter Blessing kept the first and only store in the place for some time; and for him the town was named. At present general stores are conducted by George Glick and James Henson. There is a postoffice, a blacksmith shop and other like conveniences for its supporting farming community. There are about 100 inhabitants. The chief thoroughfare is Blessing Avenue; hence the founder's name entire is perpetuated.
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Mt. Healthy, in the southwest quarter of Section 36, Town S, of Range .4. was laid out by William Howbert, April 14, 1851. into eighteen lots, with streets eighty-eight feet wide. The first store was probably kept by Isaac Wantland. John Igel is the present postmaster and only merchant in the place, which is without commercial import- ance. The site of the village is elevated far above the surrounding country. The locality is exceptionally healthful, and free from mias- matic vapors. The town was established when the chills and fever were still disturbing the whole people. Hence the name. It now has about fifty inhabitants.
In early days at several points in the county efforts to establish villa es were made. The idea prevailed that by converti ; corn fields into town lots and disposing of them in small quantities, a more handsome price could be realized than was otherwise possible. In some cases the lots were found to be unsalable, were vacated, and again became familiar with the plow. Nowy Lebanon in Haw Creek Township, near the Decatur County line, in Section 24, Town 10, Range 7 east, was laid out September 25, 1829, into fifty lots, with streets sixty-six feet wide, and a public square containing two acres. Camden was founded by George Craig, May 14, 1832, with thirty-six lots and a public square. New Warsaw', in the northeast quarter of Section 10, Town 10, of Range 6 cast, was established by Obadiah Sims, April 28, 1835, with sixty lots, and streets forty feet wide; and Mt. Sidney by Henry Smock, May 2, I835, with thirty-seven lots and a public park 14Sx396 feet. Fol- lowing this period there was a lull in town building until the rail- road had traversed the county. January 25, 1850, John W. Sand- ifer laid out Taylorsburg, in Section 22, Township 9, Range 4, in Harrison Township, near the Brown County line; February 22, IE:I, Jolin C. Hager lad out Hagersville in the southeast quarter of Section 16, Township 10, Range 6 east, into ninety-six lots and a public park 300 feet square; August 6, 1851, in the northwest quarter of Section 29, Township S, Range 6 cast. W. C. Jones, es- tablished Bannersville; and February 14, 1855, in the northeast quarter of Section 5, Township 9, Range 6 east, Henry Lambert and Joseph Paffenbarger founded Farmers Town. All of these were subsequently vacated.
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