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 22
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" Mill farm about eighty acres cleared land under good fence. The mills and distillery are in fine oper- ation, and the tavern stand occupied by Capt. Sam- ple, and the store room by Messrs. Hankins & Mount. * * The whole property is now under rent at $600 per annum, cash. *",
This notice was to be sent to the Ohio State Jour- nal at Columbus, Ohio, and to the Commentator at Frankfort, Ky., for publication.
March 1, 1830, the following notice was issued under the title of " Regimental Orders:"
Captains commanding companies in the Eleventh Reg- iment of the Indiana Militia, are hereby ordered to attend the following musters with their subaltern officers, First Sar- geants and musicians, at the following times and places, to wit: Drill muster, at the town of Connersville, on the 26th and 27th of May next; battalion muster at the house of N. MeClure on the 28th day of May next, at the house of Amos G. Pumphrey on the 29th of May next, and regimental muster at Connersville, on the 2d day of October next, armed and equipped as the law directs, at 9 o'clock on each day.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Court of Assessment in Connersville on the first Monday of November, and Court of Appeals on the first Monday of next, at the house of Archibald Reid.
WILLIAM CALDWELL, Colonel, Commanding Eleventh Regiment, I. M.
Having thus far given in a general way a glance of the village up to 1830, we will return to the begin- ning of the decade, when it may be said Connersville began to grow, and consider briefly the status of things then with the figuring characters.
Then resided here such men as Joshua Harlan, Arthur Dixon, Newton Claypool, John Sample, Jona- than McCarty, James M. Ray, Oliver H. Smith, Will- iam W. Wick, Jonathan John, Samuel C. Sample, George Frybarger, A. B. Conwell, and some later, Marks Crume, Martin M. Ray, Samuel W. Parker, Caleb B. Smith and Daniel Hankins-future Legis- lators and Senators, a Judge, members of Congress, a United States Senator, a Cabinet officer, a Govern- or and business men of great capacity. In the hands of such men it is no wonder that the village became progressive and interesting. An anecdote will 'serve to illustrate the peculiar talents of the taverns heretofore referred to. An old Englishman, by the name of John Knipe, was asked by a traveler who kept the best hotel. " We'el, hif thee wants good grub, go to Samples; hif thee wants thy 'oss we'll cared, go to Claypool's; and hif thee wants gude whisky, thee will better stop at 'Arlans."
It is only our purpose here to refer briefly to a few of the early business men of the village, who figured conspicuously and largely in the greater bus- iness interests of Connersville, and whose advent into her business circles marked an era in her history, leaving men of other vocations for consideration in other parts of this volume.
Of the men in question, Newton Claypool was a native of Virginia, where born in 1795, though at an early day with his father removed to Ohio, and in 1817 settled in Connersville. In 1818 he returned temporarily to Ohio, and was married to Mary Kerns, of Ross County. Rather than one of the early bus- iness men of Connersville, Mr. Claypool was a tavern keeper until in 1836, when he purchased and re- moved to the farm just north of the city limits, upon which his son, Austin B. Claypool, now resides. He was elected to the Legislature, first in 1825, and to the Senate first in 1828, and subsequently served a number of years in each branch.
The late Hon. Oliver H. Smith thus alludes to him in this connection: "He was one of the most efficient men of the Legislature for many years. His greatest forte was in his practical knowledge applied to the subject by his strong common sense. For many years he was closely identified with the banking bus- iness of this community." Another writer thus
alludes to him: " Luck was not one of Newton Clay- pool's words. It was not in his lexicon. He did but little on faith either-had his own philosophy, both of church and State. He fought all of his ene- mies with the same weapon. He was a consistent enemy of the Democratic party, through a life longer than is usually allotted to a man. It can be said of him that he was eminently successful as a financier, in earlier life as an economist and producer, as well as in after life as a banker. In this latter capacity his reputation was brilliant and enviable throughout the State." He died at Indianapolis, Ind., May 14, 1866.
George Frybarger came to Connersville from the city of Dayton, Ohio, in the year 1821, and opened a dry goods store. "Like most of the early settlers he was fearless and self-reliant, and entered upon the duties of his calling with decided'purposes of useful- ness and accumulation. His industry" and energy gave him success, and for many years he ranked among the foremost merchants and traders of the Whitewater Valley. It has been said that, perhaps, there was never a man in Connersville who knew the business as well as Frybarger, noue at least who did so much business as he. There can be no doubt but the ruling trait and the carefully guarded ambition of George Frybarger was honesty. Even to the minut- est details of ever raging trade throughout a long life of successful mercantile pursuits he adhered in theory and in practice to his passion-honesty. The charity of Mr. Frybarger was in business, that is, he was charitable to those that deserved it. He loaned to the unfortunate honest; he gave, too, and encour- aged with his advice and credit and means, stimulat- ing them to all the demands of success. He had an unbounded credit at home and abroad. He always kept safely stored in his vaults coin to put against his credit. He is said to have been the first man in the West in a crisis, well remembered in the commer- cial world, to promptly pay his Eastern debts with coin stored for the purpose of adversity." From an inscription on his tombstone it appears that he was born in 1797 and died in 1853.
A. B. Conwell was born in Delaware in 1796, and at the age of fifteen was apprenticed as a tanner, at which he served five years. In 1817 he, with a brother, walked from Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh, where they separated, A. B. going to Kentucky, and in 1821 he located in Connersville, and began his successful career on an acre of ground which he pur- chased of John Conner, upon which he put in opera- tion a tannery, which business he subsequently aban- doned and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was for years engaged in the milling business, and erected and carried on one of the most extensive flouring.
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IIISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
mills in this section of the State. The large mill building on North Eastern Avenue is a monument to his enterprise. For a number of years pork-packing claimed his attention, which business he carried on on a large scale. He is the last of the four Romans of whom we speak in this connection, who still lives as a connecting link between the past and present. A man of wonderful natural intellect and judgment, he has ever been known for his wise forecast as well as for his quiet success in all his business and spec- ulations.
Daniel Hankins settled in Connersville in 1827, six years later than Frybarger and Conwell, yet he figured in the latter part of the decade of which we write. Col. Hankins, as he was called, was a native of the State of New Jersey, born in 1795 and died in 1860. He commenced as a dry goods merchant in the village and continued so throughout an active busi- ness life. He was possessed of great activity and energy. A writer has given as his great powers, "untiring industry, coupled with worthy ambition; a restless eager spirit, he was a fretful business man. Dull times only conquered him." He engaged exten- sively in speculation, pork and grain receiving his attention in large investments. His influence is said to have been great because his trade was great. In 1830 he, with Marks Crume, represented the county in the Legislature. His name and power and enterprise will not soon perish. In speaking of his death the editor of the Times said: "He accumulated a vast property. Had a farm of 1,400 acres north of Con- nersville, which he superintended while his attention was largely engrossed with the extensive mercantile trade and speculations in pork and flour. Perhaps no man of one county has ever managed as much busi- ness, and managed it all as correctly and successfully as has Col. Hankins." It has also been stated in print that "he was to Connersville what A. T. Stewart was to New York-a merchant prince. But few men possessed a finer sense of honor, and none surpassed him in mercantile integrity."
INDEPENDENCE DAY, 1831.
The 4th of July, 1831, was observed by the citi- zens of the village and county by a celebration at a grove about one-half mile below Connersville.
The day was ushered in by the firing of cannon. A procession was formed in front of the court house, led by the military, and marched to the grove, where some 3,000 persons had assembled. The Marshals of the day were Col. Caldwell and N. McClure, and the officers in charge of the exercises were John Hub- bell, President; Allen Crisler, Vice-President; Rev. William Miller, Chaplain; S. W. Parker, Orator; James Ross, reader; prayer was offered by the Chap-
lain, which was followed by the reading of the Dec- laration of Independence; next came a volley from the artillery; then music, which was followed by an oration; music and firing of the artillery followed, which closed the exercises of the morning. An excel- lent dinner was served at the grove by Newton Clay- pool, where some fourteen toasts were drank. The day was fine, though a shower fell just as the exercises were closing. In the evening a ball was held at the Claypool tavern.
THE STATUS OF CONNERSVILLE IN 1833.
In the "Indiana Gazetteer" of 1833 the village of Connersville is given a population of 500 inhabitants. It comprised seven mercantile stores, one drug store, four taverns, had four physicians, four lawyers and two printing offices, besides mechanics of all kinds.
On Saturday, April 20, of the above year, was pub- lished in the Indiana Sentinel, edited by C. B. Smith and M. R. Hull, under the title "Our Town" the following:
"This place is truly in a flourishing condition. The citizens are quite as industrious as any others in the great West; and complete marks of their per- severing habits are displayed on every street. New houses are in successive building; and the hum and buzz of business is made to resound in the distant valley, and to the approaching traveler bespeaks the industry of mechanics. Our merchants are receiving daily thousands of dollars worth of goods. The spring sales progress with much vigor, which makes the active salesman skip the counter with a business- like spirit. Our physicians (poor fellows) have but little to do; they droop their heads beneath the influ- ence of general health. Our streets present a lively picture of enterprise and industry. While other presses are falling out with their subscribers, and placing their names on the "black list," the Sentinel still holds an undiminished patronage, and its con- ductors continue, daily, to place good names on their white list. All this prosperity we owe, in a great measure, to the farmers of Indiana-' the staff of life.' But a few years of such prosperity, and Connersville will become the most flourishing village in the West- ern country."
THE SUCCEEDING DECADE.
During the following ten years the village kopt on in the even tenor of its way, making no particular stir in the way of industries, yet increasing gradually in numbers and business and quietly laying the foun- dation upon which was to be built a city that occupies a prominent place in the sisterhood of eastern Indi- ana cities.
The event of the decade was the passage of the great Internal Improvement Bill for the State of In-
Respectfully O de
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
diana, at the head of which stood the Whitewater Valley Canal Bill, which was to mark an era in the history of all villages and towns along its proposed path. The date of the passage of this bill was Jan- uary 16, 1836, the news of which was received at Connersville on Monday, the 18th inst., and as soon as twilight came on, the village, with scarcely the ex- ception of a building, was in a brilliant blaze of il- lumination. The court house was lighted up from the basement into the steeple.
About sundown the cannon of the village was hauled out to the canal line and six guns fired-one in honor of the Governor, one to the Senator and one to each of the Representatives of the county in the General Assembly and ono to the Whitewater Valley Canal.
In the evening a meeting was held at the court house which was addressed by Hon. O. H. Smith and Samuel W. Parker. A number of toasts were drank, after which the whole assembly repaired to the river bank east of the village, which was yet brilliantly lighted up with a number of bon-fires and under the illumination of the buildings. About 9 o'clock an accident occurred by the premature explosion of a piece of artillery, by which four young men were ter- ribly maimed and wounded. Alexander Saxon had one arm torn off and the other so badly wounded that both were immediately amputated above the elbow. His eyes were completely blown out of his head and his death resulted the next morning. Joseph Clark had his right arm blown off, and Abiather Williams and William Worster were severely burnt.
The canal was completed to Connersville in June, 1845, and the first boat to reach the village was the " Patriot," commanded by Capt. Gayle Ford, which arrived in the fall of that year.
The imports and exports on the canal for the week ending November 20, 1845 (from the village) were as follows:
Exports.
Imports.
Wheat, number of bushels.
1,506
Cider, barrels.
13
Industries (pounds)
6,010
8,993
Merchandise (pounds). ..
8,189
Salt and castings (pounds).
150
Lumber (feet)
700
An effort for the incorporation of the village seems to have been made in 1834, but it must have proven a failure, as the act of the Legislature incor- porating Connersville was approved February 15, 1841, by which act Joshua McIntosh, Aquila Hattan, George Frybarger, Robert Swift and John Noble were appointed Trustees of the "town of Connersville."
REMINISCENCES.
Over the signature of "Rambler," in the county press of 1870 appeared the following reminiscences
of the village, which will undoubtedly be of interest to some, and serve to keep up the chain of the early history of Connersville:
" While standing in the rear of the school build- ing, taking a view of the landscape there presented, the past comes in view to the memory, and many in- cidonts of schoolboy days comes fresh to my mind that occurred forty years ago, and changes are visible at every turn.
"The road leading east from town was then on the high ground north of Conwell's Mill, then down by the old saw-mill directly east, crossing the river a short distance below the railroad bridge, and intersecting the present road at the old McCann homestead. * * * * * *
" The first grist-mill in the county was erected by John Conner, below the house named, and about 300 yards east of the present mill (or structure). Conner sold the mill to DeCamp, and ho to Conwell, who ran the same until it was worn out. That old mill was familiar to all the pioneers for many miles around. Going to mill was a task in those days, and often a trip of forty or fifty miles on horseback. Each grist was numbered, and frequently was several days awaiting its turn, while a number of the cus- tomers would be in camp close by. The Saturdays of our boyhood days were spent in ramblings, and as a gnest of Lafe Conwell, our schoolmate at that time, that old mill was examined with boyish curiosity, and its mysteries solved. In after years, when there with grists, we were more interested in seeing the miller manipulate the toll dish. The honesty of the miller is proverbial, but they were sometimes absent-mind- ed, and would repeat the operation of taking toll, and have been known to forget that important pro- ceeding, as I have received, as the product of grist, a range of from twenty eight pounds to forty-six pounds of flour to each bushel of wheat at that same old mill.
" Mr. Conwell had a tanyard not far from the grist-mill, and for a while furnished quite an object of interest to the boys, as well as the ‘children of larger growth' that frequented the place. A pet bear was utilized, and labored faithfully by working a tread-mill, thereby pumping water to fill the vats. These incidents may not interest the youth of the present day, or the stranger who may be taking a view of the surroundings, as all traces of the old grist-mill, the saw-mill, the tan-yard, the bridge across the race and the ford are gone, but there are some persons left in the vicinity with whom the state- ment will call up pleasant memories.
" The incidents of early days, as related by the original pioneers, always created a lively interest, and often a happy delight. I remember of hearing old
144
IIISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Aleck Hamilton tell about a sneaking, thieving In- dian who was regarded as a nuisance, and while out hunting on the hill northwest of town one day he got sight of the fellow and tracked him into a pond in the vicinity of Cal. Burton's. But he never could find any tracks whither the Indian came out, and from the comical expression as he finished his story, we inferred that he helped the Indian to make those tracks, as last seen.
"Col. Frybarger can tell about having witnessed a savage encounter with a wolf by several men and dogs, and the wolf was killed on the street, about opposite Frank Dale's property. That happened about the year 1827 or 1828.
"I have heard Jonathan John, Sr., tell about when he came to this county, discouraged and heart sick, they remained in camp for three weeks without unloading their movables, intending day after day to start back to old Kentucky. Finally they became more reconciled, and settled on the hill northwest of town, and never had cause to regret the choice. The excellent spring at the foot of the hill below the John's house was the inducement to create the famous camping ground in the vicinity, and one of the principal Indian trails leading to the north- west passed by there and in the direction of Harris- burg. The principal trail from Cincinnati and Brookville came up the east fork from Brookville to Fairfield, then up Ellis Creek, through by Everton, and crossed the river at the ford south of town, and on as stated. Those Indian trails were used by the early settlers, and improved for wagon roads until the lands were surveyed and enclosed. The rising gen- eration can form but little idea of the unbroken for- est, especially in the low lands, where it was almost impenetrable, so thick were the timber, bushes and vines. There was an important trail up the valley with a camping ground on the Larkin Sims place, near the excellent spring of water there.
.
"I remember when we boys watched down street for the stage coach coming as evening approached, and listened for the notes of the bngle horn. Some- times we would go down and meet the coach at the ford of the river opposite where Root's foundry now stands, and persuade the driver to let us get up with him to ride into town. He was a good fellow, and how we envied him, and wished we were big enough to drive stage, as he sat so proudly on his seat. The driver prepared for a sensation after he pulled up out of the river and'rested his team, then let them up lively as he came across the commons, turned into the main street about where Jimmie Mount's corner is, then dashed up street and halted at the postoffice, delivered the mail to Major Tate, at the Recorder's office, which served a double" purpose, as it stood on
the southeast corner of the court house yard, and fronted close on the street. (It cost 25 cents post- age on a letter then.) The next point was across to the old tavern, kept by Tom Hamilton, which was burned down about twenty years ago, and is now the Huston Block.
" The stage route passed Cincinnati, then left the main road at the cross roads, over by Swift's and Orr's, and came in by old Sol Claypool's, then across the strip of woods in the river bottom to the ford, as stated. The bridge across the river being built where it now stands, caused the short route by Claypool's to be abandoned. That was about the year 1839 or 1840, being forty years ago. Alas! what changes in many ways during the comparatively short period. There was a woolen factory and a saw-mill on the edge of the river, east side, just across from Andy Turner's residence. The power was supplied by a mill dam and feeder race. The mill burned down, and the floods have removed every vestige in sight of this once important improvement, and pride of the owner, except, perhaps, a few timbers or brush wood that show where the dam was located. The property was owned by Asher Cox, who is yet alive, and lives with his son-in-law near Indianapolis. He can tell many incidents in connection with the old mill, which eventually broke him up financially, and caused him to 'go West and grow up' again. The old man is remarkably lively and full of vim; is rather small of stature, quite grey, and expects to meet some of his old friends at the next Fayette County fair.
"I remember what a strife it was to locate the site for the bridge across the river. Col. Hankins and others wanted it placed at the end of Third Street, that faces out from the Rushville road. Uncle Abe Conwell offered extra inducements for the pres- ent location. The strife was intense and bitter feel- ing engendered. Silas Woodcock, that good and ven- erable old gentleman we all remember so well, built the bridge, which was a marvel of immensity to us boys, and we wondered how the old man could get the timbers so straight, with his head to one side as caused by affliction."
THE TOWN, 1858-59.
From a business standpoint, Connersville made the following exhibit in 1858-59, as shown by a State compilation published at that time:
Apert, A., wagon-maker.
Applegate, W. P. & A., carriage manufacturers.
Bailey, J. L., dry goods.
Barnard & Hall, carpenters and joiners.
Bateman & Gates, staple and fancy dry goods.
Beck & Bros., merchant tailors.
Brown, J., clothier.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Bunnell, J., livery stable.
Bunnell, W., livery stable. Burk, N. H., dry goods and grocery. Burton, T., merchant tailor. Durham, R., proprietor Bates House. Conwell, A. B. & Sons, proprietors Mills.
Conwell
Clark, J. H., town officer. Campbell, G. W., merchant tailor. Cassady, J., saddler and harness-maker. (Town
officer.)
Cassell Bros., boots and shoes.
Claypool, dry goods, etc.
Claypool, A. J. & Co., dry goods, etc.
Claypool, B. F., attorney at law.
Collins, E., surgeon dentist.
Compton, Lizzie, milliner. Dawson, D. H., County Coroner.
Cooly, cabinet ware-rooms.
Erwin, civil engineer and surveyor.
Edwards, C., County Clerk.
Fearis, G. L., saddler and harness-maker.
Felton & Smith, grocery.
Fryburger, W. W. & C., staple and fancy dry goods.
Gregg, V. H., physician and surgeon.
Green, William H., publisher and editor Conners- ville Times.
Gates, Bateman, dry goods.
Greer, W. H., proprietor Scofield House. Goodlander, H., jeweler. Huston, J. & W., millers.
Hack, Anthony, meat market.
Henry, R. B., clergyman.
Hawkins & Griffis, dry goods and grocery dealers. Hall, D. D., physician and surgeon. Hall, D. H., physician and surgeon.
Johnson, boot and shoe dealer.
Johnson, A. H. & Co., dealers in agricultural im- plements.
Justice, J., drugs, books, stationery, etc.
James, W. W., marble-worker. Kunphlon, Augustus, merchant tailor.
Lewis, Josephine, milliner. Line, A. J., blacksmith. McLain, John, Justice of the Peaco.
Marks, Robert, blacksmith.
Mullikin, J., town officer.
Minor, A. S., saddler and harness-maker.
Morrow & Mason, hat and cap dealers.
McFarlan, J. B., carriage manufacturer. Morehouse & Youse, manufacturers and dealers in carriages, buggies, wagons, etc.
Mullikin, J. & E., manufacturers of agricultural implements.
McIntosh, James C., attorney at law.
McCleary, William, County Sheriff.
Morris, Harry, County Surveyor.
Marshall, Joseph, attorney at law.
Morris, B. F., clergyman. Newkirk, W. & Co., hardware dealers.
Parry, L. D., town officer.
Powell, I., auctioneer.
Pelan, William, clergyman.
Parker, Samuel W., attorney at law.
Pumphrey, B. M., miller.
Payne, Dr., physician and surgeon.
Pumphrey, N. R., propriotor Connersville Hotel.
Pepper, W. J., physician and surgeon.
Rawls & Morrison, drugs.
Roots, P. H. & F. M., manufacturers of woolen goods.
Rhodos, J. K., County Recorder.
Scott, James, proprietor livery stable.
Stewart, William, clergyman.
Shumate, H., dry goods and grocery.
Smith, W. M., town officer.
Smith & Cooper, grocery.
Smith, J. W., paper-hanger and painter.
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