USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana: containing a history of the townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies, etc., etc. > Part 21
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
The Third Battery was mustered out of the service at Indianapolis August 21, 1865.
Following the command of J. M. Cockefair, Thomas J. Ginn and Richard Burns commanded the battery respectively.
In addition to the above-named companies the county was represented in various other organizations, among which were the Eighty-fourth Regiment, in which it had officers and men (Nelson Trusler was com- missioned its Colonel September 5, 1862, and resigned October 17, 1863); Twenty third Battery Light Artil- lery: Third Cavalry (Forty-fifth); Sixth Cavalry Bat- talion (Seventy-first); Thirty-fifth, Fourth Regiment (Hancock's Corps), One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and Seventh Cavalry Indiana Volunteers. Christian Beck of Connersville, was commissioned Major of the regiment September 23, 1863; March 1, 1864, was commissioned Lieutenant- Colonel of the Ninth Cavalry, and resigned October 28, 1864. Dr. Joshna Chitwood served as Assistant Surgeon and Surgeon of the Seventh Cavalry Indiana Volunteers in 1863-64.
One Hundred and Fourth Regiment Minute Men. -Company K of the One Hundred and Fourth Reg- iment Minuto Men was from Fayette County. The regiment was organized at Greensburg with James Gavin as Colonel. July 10, 1863, and contained an aggregate of 719 rank and file. From Greensburg it moved to Sunman's Station; from thence it proceeded to Lawrenceburg and thence marched toward Harri- son, Ohio. After Morgan's escape into Ohio, the regiment returned to Greensburg, and was mustered ont July 18, 1863.
One Hundred and Ninth Regiment 100-Days Volunteers .- Company F of the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment 100-Days Volunteers was from Fayette County. The regiment was organized and mustered into service at Indianapolis on the Sth of June, 1864, with George Humphrey as Colonel, and soon after proceeded to Tennessee. This, with the other rogiments of 100-days men, on arriving at Nashville was assigned to duty at different places along the lines of the Nashville & Chattanooga, Tennessee & Alabama, and Memphis & Charleston Railroads, and until the latter part of August, 1864, were kept constantly engaged in guarding these lines of communication, used by Gon. Sherman for the transportation of supplies to his army then advanc- ing on Atlanta. The regiment served beyond the period of 100 days, and returned to Indianapolis, where it was finally discharged from the service.
Fayette County sustained an honorable part, and elaims the full share of the glory on the records of the regiments in which its men fought in the war of Rebellion.
LADIES' AID SOCIETIES, DONATIONS, ETC.
Throughout the war, the mothers, wives and sis. ters at home were ever earnest in their ministrations to the soldiers, supplying those delicacies and com- forts needed in the field. The soldiers' families, too, wore cared for, as may be judged from the great relief fund expended.
The Ladies' Aid Society of Connersville was organized at the court house January 13, 1862, and the following named officers wore elected: Mrs. James C. McIntosh, President; Miss Callie Youse, Vice-Pres- ident; Mrs. A. B. Gates, Treasurer; Miss Fannie Newkirk, Secretary.
At various periods during the war the farmers throughout the county donated liberally in the way of wood. By reference to the files of the press it is noticed that up to October 22, 1863, 250 cords had been donated. June 20 seventeen loads were brought to town by the citizens of Waterloo Township, the contributors being Capt. J. S. Hamilton, Joseph Cole, Amos G. Smith, William Henry, Harrison MePharin, W. J. Orr, William Green, Matthew Job, John Roys- don, T. L. Hamilton, J. Burris, S. Dusenberry, S. L. Hurst. James Morris and Daniel Burris. Those in the Lockhart neighborhood subscribed 40 loads; those in the Shrader neighborhood brought in 17 loads; Harrison Township, 51; Connersville Town- ship, 52. In December, 1864, upward of 100 loads were donated by the farmers in general.
CLOSING SCENES.
The following oxtract from the Times of April 13, 1865, will give the reader an idea of the manner in which the news of the surrender of Gen. Lee and his army was received by the people of Connersville:
"Such scenes never have and probably never will occur again in Connersville as were witnessed last Monday. The fall of Richmond was celebrated here in a measure, but then the cup of joy was not yet full. and the surrender of Lee and his army remained to assure our people of the final triumph of the glorious old Army of the Potomac, and to make "assurance doubly sure" that the Rebellion had received its death-blow. Early on Monday morning the glad news of that great event was borne ns on the telegraph wires, and our pon cannot portray the joy with which our citizens received the news that the army which for four years had given the Rebellion all its vitality, was among the things of the past. Demoralized. battered and broken it had been, but our fondest hopes were consummated when the bleeding romnant of the Army of northern Virginia laid down its arms at the feet of that glorious hero, U. S. Grant. Upon the receipt of the news the first notes of rejoicing rang forth from the church bells, which had but the day before
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
called their congregations to peaceful worship; to those chimes were soon added those of the court house boll and all other bells, both large and small, in the town, and tho clamor had reached its climax when guns and anvils joined in the chorus. The stores were closed, every-day avocations were abandoned in- stantly, and soon the whole population of the city were jammed into Monroe Street. Then who can de- scribe the scene that followed and continued until far into the night ? Not a countenance but bore a smile. Shouts upon shouts rent the air amid the shaking of hands and frantic embracos. The people were wild with joy. Col. Nelson Trusler arrived from Indian- apolis in the evening, and in response to the call of his fellow-citizens made a short speech which aptly illustrated the condition of the pooplo. He said he left Indianapolis that morning because everybody was drunk, and he wanted to go to some place where he could find sober folks; they captured and detained him awhile at Cambridge City, but there he found the
citizens drunker than they were at Indianapolis; * ** * * * *
**
Last Sunday was a glorious epoch, and if it were not a day for which all other days woro made, yet it was a day made for generations, and our children will horeafter hold it in grateful remembrance so long as the Nation shall survivo."
The Times of April 10, 1865, referring to the as- sassination of President Abraham Lincoln, ro- marked:
"Ceremonies appropriato of the funeral of the President of the United States were held in all the churches of Connersville that are regularly open for worship, yesterday. The stillness and solemnity of the Sabbath prevailed throughout the town. The business houses were closed the entire day, and upon all were the emblems of mourning. The court house and many private residences were also draped in mourning. Such a scene has never before been witnessed in Connersville."
CHAPTER XVII.
THE CITY OF CONNERSVILLE.
LOCATION AND ORIGIN-THE EARLY VILLAGE-INDEPENDENCE DAY, 1831-THE STATUS OF CONNERSVILLE IN 1833-THE SUCCEEDING DECADE-REMINISCENCES-THE TOWN IN 1858-59-STREETS-THE CITY HALL-THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH BUILDING (FORMERLY OPERA HOUSE)-THE ANDRE OPERA HOUSE-GRAVE- VARDS AND CEMETERY-CONNERSVILLE A CITY-GROWTH AND PROGRESS-WATER WORKS-FIRE DEPART- MENT-BANKS-INDUSTRIES-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES-SOCIETIES.
( JONNERSVILLE is beautifully situated on the west bank of the West Fork of Whitewater River, occupying a natural terrace to the streams and river bottoms. Its western and southwestern limits are fringod by a range of hills, towering, perhaps, 100 feet above the valley, and whose summits are crowned here and there with antique and more mod- ern suburban homos, from which is presented a most pleasing view of the city and surrounding country. The city is located near the center of the county, and is distant by rail 67.2 miles a little south of east from Indianapolis, and 57.1 miles northwest of Cincinnati, Ohio, lying in latitude 39' 36' north, and longitude 7ยบ 54' west.
The city was laid out in March, 1813, for John Connor, though the original proprietor of the land on which the original plat was made, as shown by a transcript of the original entry book, was A. Tharp, who entered the northeast quarter of Section 25, Town 14, Range 12 east, April 4, 1812. The origi- nal plat comprised only sixty-two lots, which were boundod on the west by Monroe Street, on the east
by Water Street, and oxtended from a little beyond Head Street on the north to a little beyond High Street on the south. The place was laid out in Franklin County and the plat there recorded, which it seems from the records was not transcribed on the records of Fayette County until in October, 1841. Attached to the plat is the following descriptive head- ing and certificate:
Part of town of Connersville first laid off by Jehn Cen- ner. Laid out on the west branch of Whitewater, on the north side of the river, on part of the northeast quarter of Section 25, Town 14, Range 12 cast, Second Principal Merid- ian; course of street running up and down the river and north 250 cast, commencing at the lower end of the town, and the other north 650 west, extending from the river, and all of them four poles wide: the alleys are one pole wide. The public grounds contain two blocks or four lots. The lots are five peles front and two poles back, cach containing fifty square perches of ground, and laid down by a seale of ten peles to the inch by me, Enoch McCarty.
March 4, 1813.
INDIANA TERRITORY FRANKLIN COUNTY
On the Ist of October, 1813, personally came before me. Benjamin Smith, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aferesaid, John Conner, and saith on oath that the within
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
plat is a true representation of the within described town of Connersville, and further saith not.
BENJAMIN SMITH, Justice of the Peace.
Early additions to the town were made as follows: In 1817 by Joshua Harlan, embracing lots extending above Boundary (now Second) Street, east of Market and south of the alley above Head (now Sixth) Street; in 1818 by Joshua Harlan, embracing lots west of Market Street to Tanner, south of Madison, and to one street farther west north of Madison, extending from Boundary along Market to an alley between Harrison and Head Strects, the northern boundary of these lots consisting of a line from said alley on the south to an alley on the north between Madison and Harrison Streets; in 1819 by Josbua Harlan, embrac- ing lots south of Boundary Street; in 1818 by Dale; in 1819 by Jonathan McCarty; in 1819 by John Conner.
The public square, comprising the ground on which are now located the court house and city hall, bounded by Central Avenue, Market, Court and Fourth Streets, was a part of the Harlan plat of addi- tions to the town.
Mr. Conner, the proprietor of the original plat of the town, some time between the years 1804 and 1808 had established a trading-post at this point with the Indians. Hence the name Connersville.
THE EARLY VILLAGE.
That the growth of the village was slow during the first few years of its existence is evident from the following, the authority for which is the late Dr. Philip Mason:
"I came to the valley of the Whitewater in the spring of 1816, and early in the summer of that year I visited Connersville. A small tract of land had been laid off by John Conner into town lots, which lay along the river bank on Water Street and along Main Street, and a few log-cabins had been erected. The most of the land which comprises the present site of the town was then a dense forest. In travel- ing up the river to the place there was now and then a small opening to be seen, with an inhabited log- cabin on it. Jolin Conner, after whom the town is named, and who owned the land on which it stands, had built a mill just above the town, and not far above the site of the present mill now owned by A. B. Conwell. The town had one small retail store."
Joshua Harlan has been credited with having kept the first store in Connersville. This, of course, is excepting the trading-post of Conner, at which a bartering with the Indians had been carried on for years. The first business house built on the town plat is said to have been a log building which stood on the west side of Main (now Eastern Avenne) Street, on or near the corner of the alley on the site of the
present dwelling-house of the widow of William Bunnell. It was in this house that Mr. Harlan kept the store. He is remembered as keeping a store in that house or vicinity in the summer of 1815, and it is not unlikely that it was the Harlan store, to which reference is made in 1816 by Dr. Mason. Judge Harlan, as he was styled, having served as a Judge under Territorial Government, was a native of Ches- ter County, Penn., born in 1763. In 1793 he settled in Kentucky and there lived until 1810, when he immigrated to Brookville, and in 1813 to the site of Connersville. He has been described as a tall man, fully six feet two inches. He was a man of strong and clear mind. In about 1820 he built a brick house on the northeast corner of what is now Eastern Avenue and Fifth Street-the site of the "Buckley House "-which is, in fact, the old house enlarged and remodeled. In this building Judge Harlan kept one of "ye olden time inns" for a number of years. His death occurred at Connersville, September 15, 1827.
In 1817 the Claypool brothers, Newton and Solo- mon, young unmarried men, came to the village, and perhaps for a time carried on a little bartering trade with the Indians and the few white settlers. Solo- mon soon engaged in farming, and Newton embarked in the tavern business. The late Hon. Oliver H. Smith, in alluding to Mr. Claypool as a landlord, said: "When I arrived at Connersville in May, 1820, I stopped at the hotel of Newton Claypool. He was about my age. I had been licensed to practice in March before, and was looking for a location. My last dollar had escaped from the top of my pocket. Breakfast over, I met Mr. Claypool in the bar room; as we met I remarked, 'Look at me and see whether you will risk me for my board a year.' 'Who are you? Where did you come from? What is your trade and how do you expect to pay for your board ?' ' My name is Smith; I am from Lawrenceburg; I am a young lawyer, and I expect to pay you from my practice.' 'Rather a bad chance, but I will risk you.' Mr. Smith remarked that at the time it was the only hotel in the village. (The board was paid.)
From an inscription on a tombstone in the ceme- tery at Connersville it appears that the Claypools were Virginians; that they immigrated with their father, Abraham Claypool, to the Sciota Valley, Ohio, in 1798, thence in 1808 to Clermont County, in the same State, and thence to Connersville in 1817.
Silas Ford, from Virginia, came to the village in 1817. He was by trade a wheelwright, which he fol- lowed for a time here and subsequently on William's Creek. He also kept for a time a house of entertain- ment.
Joseph Nelson, a young man from Pennsylvania,
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
and by trade a saddler, settled at Connersville in 1819, and at once opened a saddler shop, the first in the place.
Arthur Dickson had settled here prior to this date, and was engaged in merchandising.
In 1819 Benjamin Berry was having erected for his dwelling-house the building on the northwest corner of Eastern Avenue and Fifth Street, and so soon as completed Austin Bishop opened a store in one end of it. Absalom Burkham built the Heineman corner. Among the early built brick houses of the village which were in process of construction that year and the year following were the hotel building of Joshua Harlan, heretofore designated; the house where Charles Mount resides, by Absalom Burkham; the house on the southwest corner of Central Avenue and Fourth Street; the old United States Hotel building, which stood on Central Avenue opposite the court house; and the house of George Reod, next south to the building described, on the corner opposite " Huston House."
Jonathan John, from Kentucky, settled in 1816 on the site of the McFarlan residence, on the western border of the city. The father of Amos R. Edwards, from Pennsylvania, settled in Connersville in 1817; and in 1819 Douglas Burton and family, coming from Kentucky here, though previously having emigrated from South Carolina.
At this period those engaged in keeping tavern or merchandising were required to make application for a license for the same. In 1819 the County Com- missioners granted a tavern license to Newton Clay- pool and George Reed, and in 1820 to Joshua Harlan and Archibald Reed. The rate charged per annum was $10.
In the spring of 1821 Connersville from a busi- ness standpoint made about the following exhibit: Arthur Dixon kept a dry goods store on Main Street one door south of the Heineman corner. Austin Bishop had a grocery on the opposite corner, where the Mur- phy Bros. are now following the same business. Joshua Harlan was keeping a tavern on the present site of the "Buckley House." John Sample, Sr., had an inn on the Heineman corner. Newton Claypool kept a house of entertainment on the east side of Main Street on the south corner of the alley. Archi- bald Reed a similar house (tavern) in the building now occupied by J. Bailey on the west side of Cen- tral Avenue. Absalom Berkham, another inn-keeper, hold forth in the building where Charles Mount now resides, on the east side of Central Avenue. Silas Ford, the father of Gayle, kept hotel on the site of the present residence of the widow of William Bun- nell, on the west side of Eastern Avenue, on the south corner of the alley. Bartholomew MeCleary was carry-
ing on a store on the southeast corner of Monroe and Harrison Streets. Barnet and Jonas Levi had a jew- elry store on the east side of Monroe Street between Madison and Harrison Streets. A Mr. Bouton carried on a cooper-shop on about the site of the Widow George Scott's residence. Just south of Bailey's store was located the saddle-shop of Joseph Nelson. Where the First National Bank now is was the blacksmith- shop of Martin Remington. One Rankin was the hatter, and carried on the business in a house situated nearly opposite the Claypool tavern. William W. Wick was keeping the old United States Tavern. David Beck was a tailor and held forth on Monroe Street, where yet some of his descendants reside. Jacob Vandegrift carried on a blacksmith-shop.
William Curry was another blacksmith, whose shop was situated on the east side alley on north side of Harrison Street. William Burnett and Julius Whitmer were carpenters, located, the former, where the Presbyterian Church now is. John D. Stewart, who that spring (1821) with family emigrated from Pennsylvania, erected a house for a shoe shop on the corner of Harrison and Monroe Streets (where the Conwell Block now stands). Messrs. Stebbins & Ball carried on a pottery at the south end of the village. Oliver H. Smith and William W. Wick were the resident attorneys, and Dr. Joseph Moffitt the phy- sician. The latter's office was located about where the dry goods store of Theodore Griffis now is. John Conner had in full blast a saw and grist-mill and dis- tillery, and was also interested in other branches of business. A. B. Conwell was just preparing his tan-yard for business. Mr. Rees had a tannery located on Tanner Street, west side, not far from the end of the street. Asher Cox, Edmund I. Kidd and Harvey- Bates had in operation a carding and fulling machine on the west side of the river, at the end of Fourth Street. At this time there was no church building or schoolhouse in the village, yet the circuit preach- ers of the Methodist Episcopal Church visited the place occasionally.
Parties granted license to vend merchandise or keep tavern in the village from 1821 to 1830, are the following-named:
Thomas Murphy (tavern) 1821; Moses Cox (tavern) 1821; Archibald Reed (tavern) 1824; (Joshua Har- lan, (tavern) 1824; Newton Claypool (tavern) 1824; W. & S. Walton (merchandise); George Frybarger (merchandise) 1824; Abraham W. Harris (retail spiritous liquor) 1824; Andrew Wallace (tavern) 1824; John McIntosh, 1824; John Sample (tavern) 1824; 7Martin M. Ray (tavern) 1824; John Allen, Jr., (tavern) 1824; Joshua McIntosh (merchandise) 1825; A. Clark & Co. (merchandise) 1826; Robert Swift merchandise) 1826; Andrew Wallace (merchandise),
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
1826; Hugh Wooster (merchandise) 1826; Abraham Bays (tavern) 1826; Samuel Walton (merchandise) 1826; Meredith Helm (merchandise) 1826; William Walton (merchandise) 1827; Amzi Clark & Theodore R. Lewis (merchandise) 1828; Daniel Hankins & James Mount (merchandising) 1828; Meredith Helm (merchandise) 1829; Abner Smith (grocery and spirit- ous liquor) 1829; Robert Cox (merchandise) 1829; Amos Conklin (merchandise) 1829; Benjamin Johns (grocery and spirituous liquor) 1829; Charles Shipley (merchandise) 1829; John Picket (merchandise) 1829.
Many of these licenses were renewed from year to year for quite a period.
Among other business interests of the village up to 1830 were the tin, sheet-iron and copper manu- factory of J. Dawson. Messrs. Hull & Fearis were saddlers; John Willey, meat-market; Merrifield & Miller, hatters; later the firm was R. & R. Merrifield. Christian Beck was the gunsmith. H. Goodlander was another of the jewelers. A. Van Vleet for a time carried on weaving, and some time later Hiram Bundy was likewise engaged in the weaving business. An oil-mill was operated by either John Perin or Lyman Carpenter; A. Conklin & W. H. Coombs were carrying on a chair factory. Thomas Rutter was a hatter and one Frisbee a tanner. The Merrifield hat factory was located on Monroe Street, three doors north of the Connersville Hotel; George W. Parks, a blacksmith; George W. Reed was a tailor; Nicholas Baker a shoe-maker. J. Hart carried on a tin-shop. Silas Ford was manufacturing spinning-wheels. Rob- ert Griffis was in the saddlery and harness trade. John McCoy was another dealer in hats, and on the north end of Monroe Street was situated the factory of Isaac Wood, who was engaged in making spinning wheels.
Up until 1830 there was but one newspaper pub- lished in the village, the Fayette Observer. In 1824 was erected a house of worship by the Methodists, the first and only church edifice in the place during the decade closing with 1830. The seminary build- ing was not erected until 1828-29, it being the first regular school building in the village.
John Sample was Postmaster in 1826 and re- qnested "all letters and packages to be sent in the mail to be in the office half an hour before the mails closed." That summer the arrival and departure of the mails from the postoffice in Connersville were: Eastern mail arrives on Thursdays 11 o'clock A. M. and departs west in half an hour. Western mail arrives on Tuesdays 11 o'clock A. M. and departs east at 12 o'clock M. Southern mail arrives on Fri- days at 9 o'clock A. M.fand departs north at 10 o'clock A. M.
As early as 1820 there was a circulating library. in the village, and in November, 1825, was opened to the public the Fayette County Library. One year later it contained 151 select volumes and was soon to be augumented by about 125 volumes. It was under the management of a Board of Trustees, of which Daniel Rench was Secretary. The library was open every Saturday afternoon from 1 to 6 o'clock. The Secretary gave notice in the Observer that "there are volumes in the library to suit the taste and inquir- ies of all. The citizens, we hope, will not be slow in availing themselves of its great advantages, which may be had for 50 cents a year. All citizens over sixteen years may draw books, by giving bond and security for damages, etc. The rules governing drawers are public in the library room."
Over the date of June 17, 1826, in a copy of the Observer, and over the signatures of Kidd & Cox appeared the following advertisement: "Wool Card- ing-The undersigned return their grateful acknowl- edgments for the liberal support they have heretofore received, and now inform the public that their machines are in complete operation, and ready to receive wool, which they will card in the best manner, and on the shortest notice.
" Every exertion will be made to accommodate persons living at a distance. The following articles of produce will be received in payment: wool, sugar, linen, beeswax, flax, wheat, tallow, etc."
In the Observer under date of February, 1830, J. M. Ray, as agent, advertised that " on May 26 would be offered for sale Conner's grist-mill, saw-mill, dis- tillery and mill farm adjoining Connersville, the farm below town, the tavern and store stands oppo- site the court house in said town and some out-lots in the vicinity.
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