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 23
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Reid, John S., Judge Court of Common Pleas.
Tate, W. A. H., Justice of the Peace.
Tate, J. F., County Treasurer.
Thistlewait, saddler and harness-maker.
Thomas, S. B., furniture.
Taylor, W. W., physician and surgeon.
Trusler, Nelson, attorney at law.
Trusler, Gilbert, attorney at law.
Vance, Elisha, attorney at law.
Vance, Samuel W., physician and surgeon.
Victor, J., grocer.
Wallace, R. J., carriage-maker.
White, T. J., editor Connersville Telegraph.
Wilson & Co., grocery, bakery and confectionery.
Wilson, J. S., blacksmith.
Wood, John, blacksmith.
Youse, J. F. & Co., stoves and tinware.
Zollar, Ignatus, jeweler.
STREETS.
In May, 1866, the names of the streets of Con- nersville were changed in accordance with the fol- lowing:
Main, to Eastern Avenue; Monroe, to Contral Avo- nue; Tanner, to Western Avenue; Short, to First; Bal- timore and Boundary, to Second; High, to Third; Madison, to Fourth; Harrison, to Fifth; Head, to Sixth; Maple, to Seventh, and Mill to Eighth.
THE CITY HALL.
In June, 1848, the Commissioners of the county granted privilege to the Trustees of the town to erect
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
on the west part of the public square a public build- ing three stories high, to be occupied-the first story for a town hall and engine house; the second and third stories by any moral or philanthropic association of the city or county that are now or may be here- after recognized by the laws of the State, provided that it be with the consent of the President and Trustees of the town.
The building was erected by the citizens, the Society of Sons of Temperance; and the Masonic orders each paying one-third of the cost. Sherman Scofield undertook the erection of the building for $4,800. Each of the three parties was to finish their respective portions. The first floor belonged to the town, the second to the Sons of Temperance, and the third to the Masonic orders.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH BUILDING (FORMERLY OPERA HOUSE).
In 1870 the second and third floors of the large business building then belonging to E. J. Claypool, located on the west side of Central Avenue between Court and Fifth Streets, was remodeled and con- verted into a neat and tasty opera house, at a cost of $8,000, and was so used until 1872, when the prop- erty was sold to the church and has since been used for religious purposes. The building as an opera house was opened on the night of October 7, 1870, with a humorous lecture delivered by the " Fat Con- tributor " (A. M. Griswold), of Cincinnati.
THE ANDRE OPERA HOUSE.
This substantial building is located on the corner of Fifth and Market Streets and bears the name of its enterprising builder. The structure covers ground 48x80 feet and is two stories high; on the second floor is a neat opera room with a stage 21x46 feet and a seating capacity of 600 people. It is fully equipped with beautiful and numerous sets of scenery for plays of all kinds. The cost of the building com- plete was $20,000. It was built in 1876.
GRAVE-YARDS AND CEMETERY.
As old as the village itself was the first place of burial located on the river bank opposite Third Street and extending above and below. This place of burial was not used much after 1828, the encroach- ments of the river making it necessary to remove the graves and abandon the grounds. The water now passes through what was once the city of the dead.
The second grave-yard was laid out on Western Avenue, now the site of the Methodist Episcopal Par- sonage, and was used until the growth of the town was such as to demand another change, when the first tract of land where is now situated the beautiful
cemetery of the city was obtained. This is located in the northwestern outskirts of the city, comprising about fourteen acres of land beautifully laid out and dotted over with choice evergreens, shade trees and many elegant and costly monuments of marble and granite.
Lucretius says of the earth:
Omni parens eadem rerum est Commune sepulchrum.
The parent of all, she is also the common sepulchre.
Let our burial places, therefore, be beautified with the "greenery of nature," and let the adornments of art be added to please the senses and soothe the feelings of the living.
October 8, 1851, ten acres of the cemetery were pur- chased by the corporation of Silas Pumphrey, Sr., and laid out into lots the following December-it being the north part of the present grounds. The greater number of the bodies interred in the other yards were removed to the cemetery. The latter has been under the care and management of the town and city authorities from the beginning. R. C. Bratten, the present Superintendent, has held the position for twenty years past.
CONNERSVILLE A CITY.
In the spring of 1868 steps were taken looking to the change of the town to a city. A petition signed by 301 citizens was presented to the town authorities, the population then being estimated at 2,500.
At an election held June 16, 1869, at which 300 of the voters out of 365 expressed themselves in favor of a city charter, the city charter was procured and adopted, the city ordered divided into three wards, and July 5 appointed as a day for the election of city officers. The election resulted in the choice of Will- iam H. Beck, Mayor; C. D. Smith, Marshal; Henry F. Kane, Clerk; John Uhl. Treasurer; A. H. Wood, Assessor; Council for the First Ward, Train Cald. well and F. Martin; for the Second Ward, John R. McCabe and Lee Thalheimer; Third Ward, E. F. Claypool and John S. Wilson. The Mayors have since been John P. Kerr, elected in spring of 1871; W. C. Forrey, 1872; Gilbert Trusler, 1876; W. C. Forrey, 1877; Charles Roehl, 1880; Charles Murray, 1884.
GROWTH AND PROGRESS.
Important eras in the city's history may be said to have commenced first with the completion of the canal in 1845; second, with the completion of the railroads in the decade between 1860 and 1870; and the establishment of the several large furniture factories in the fore part of the succeeding decade.
The census of 1830 gave Connersville a population of 500; the estimated population in 1846 was 1,000; and since 1850, as given by the United State census,
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
at each decade it has been as follows: 1850, 1,396; 1860, 2,119; 1870, 2,496; 1880, 3,228.
The postoffice was established in Connersville in 1818.
The printing press was introduced into the village in 1823.
The canal was completed to the town in 1845.
The electro-magnetic telegraph line from Hamil- ton to Indianapolis via Connersville was built in 1851.
The railroads came to the place in the decade between 1860 and 1870.
The streets of the town were first lighted by coal- oil lamps in the fall of 1866.
The same year a Board of Health was appointed, and the names of the streets changed.
The city was first lighted by gas in 1875.
The total number of buildings erected in Conners- ville in 1868 was fifty-two, costing $150,500.
Among them was the residence of B. F. Claypool, $35,000 (brick); the brick business house of William H. Beck, $13,000; the brick business block of W. and J. Huston, $25,000; the brick business house of Alexander Morrow, $4,250; the brick grist-mill of H. L. Wetherald & Son, $13,000; the two-story frame machine shop and agricultural implement manufac- tory of Marks & Simpson, $2,500; and seven dwelling- houses by J. B. McFarland, $12,500.
WATER WORKS.
In September, 1869, the Council of Connersville contracted with the Holly Manufacturing Company of Lockport, N. Y., for the erection of water works for the city, which was intended to furnish a more effi- cient and reliable fire protection, rather than with a view of a revenue therefrom for water supplied for domestic purposes. The works were completed in January, 1870, at a cost of $47,000, and are situated about one mile from the center of the city, built on ground bought of Wanee and Martin for $500.
The machinery of the Water Works is propelled by water power from the Connersville Hydraulic (formerly Whitewater Valley) Canal. The power is so regulated that a pressure of from twenty to twenty- five pounds is always kept upon the mains, which is sufficient for all purposes except in case of fire; and in case of an alarm of fire the power is immediately increased to give a pressure of from seventy-five to one hundred pounds.
The works have remained the property of the city, and the annual cost of running them is $750.
CONNERSVILLE GAS-LIGHT MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
This company was organized in 1875, with a capi- tal stock of $30,000, officered by C. B. Newlands, President, and J. N. Huston, Secretary and Treasurer.
Ground at the south end of the city was purchased of the Indiana Furniture Company, and the present brick quarters erected. The works were completed, and the city of Connersville appeared for the first time in gas light on Christmas night, 1875.
The company has since increased its stock to $50,000. The present officers are Levin McIntosh, President, A. M. Sinks, Secretary, and J. N. Huston, Treasurer.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Until some time in the decade between 1830 and 1840 the villagers protected property from fire as best they could without the aid of a fire engine, the old bucket line system being then in vogue. Toward the latter part of the decade the first fire engine of the village was purchased of a Mr. Wadley, of Oxford, Ohio, and was called "Pluto." The "Pluto" is a small engine and consists of a rude device for throw- ing water placed iu a box or bed, the whole being mounted on four small wheels. The water was thrown into the box by a line of men with buckets extending from the nearest supply. From the box the water was pumped by hand brakes and thrown upon the fire.
The second and last fire engine introduced into the village was that of the "Ocean," which was con- tracted for June 7, 1848, between the Board of Trust- ees of Connersville and D. L. Farnham & Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio. The "Ocean" is what was known as "Farnam's Patent Horizontal Fire Engine," having a row-boat movement, working horizontally without levers. It is a large two-stream suction engine and is worked by men occupying a sitting posture as oarsmen in a boat. The cost of it was $1,200. These two engines are still the property of the city authori- ties, though not in general use since 1870. On the purchase of the "Pluto" and the "Ocean" volunteer companies were organized and kept up during the use of the engines.
On the adoption of a city government in 1869 steps were soon taken looking to a better system of protecting property from fire. Jannary 3, 1870, an ordinance to this ond was established providing for a Fire Department consisting of sixty able-bodied male citizens, to be divided into four divisions of fifteen members each-three divisions of hose and one divis- ion of hooks and ladders, each to be located in a suitable place in the city, etc., etc. In accordance therewith the present Fire Department was organized January 19, 1870. It consists of forty-eight men divided into four sections, a division of twelve men each-one hook and ladder division, and the others, hose divisions located as follows: one hose division on Seventh Street just west of the canal; another on Eastern Avenue, south of the railroad, and the
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
remaining hose division, and the hook and ladder division at the City Hall building. There is located at each of the hose divisions one hose-reel, and at the hook and ladder division one wagon with the necessary equipments. The department has about 1800 feet of serviceable hose on the reels and about 100 feet of ladders with the general accompaniments. By an ordinance established in 1875 each member of the department was to receive annually $10, which was increased by another ordi- nance established in 1881, to $12.50. The number composing the department was reduced in 1881 to forty-eight. Application for membership is made through the City Council. The whole department is under the supervision and management of an officer styled the Chief of Fire Department, whose salary is $50 per year. Since the completion of the water works this system has been in successful operation.
BANKS.
The first banking house established in Conners- ville was the Bank of Connersville, started in 1852 by John D. Park and B. F. Sanford, of Cincinnati, with a capital of $200,000. The place of business was first in the rear part of Mr. Frybarger's store (southwest corner Central Avenue and Fifth Street). Soon after the institution was opened the proprietors erected the substantial three-story brick building, with stone front, located on Central Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Streets, in which is now carried on the business of the Citizen's Bank, and in it did their banking business during the career of the bank which lasted but a few years. Its Presidents were George Frybarger and A. B. Conwell, the latter succeeding Mr. Frybarger at his death in 1853.
Probably one year after the organization of the Bank of Connersville was started the Fayette County Bank, which was opened in the corner room of what is now designated as the Huston House, southeast corner Central Avenue and Fourth Street. Among the stockholders were' Meredith Helm, Newton Clay- pool, Henry Simpson, L. D. Allen, Henry Goodland- er, Minor Meeker and Josiah Mullikin. Mr. Helm was the first President and Louis D. Allen the first Cashier of the bank. In a year or two Louis D. Allen was succeeded as Cashier by E. F. Claypool.
The latter part of the year 1856 the Fayette County Bank was merged into the Connersville branch of the Bank of the State of Indiana, which was opened in the Claypool Building on the west side of Central Avenue between Court and Fifth Streets, to which the Fayette County Bank had been removed. The latter institution had been known as one of the most reliable and safest in the State. The branch of the State Bank was opened in Jannary,
1857, and on the 6th of that month John Caldwell, Henry Simpson, Sherman Scofield, Amos R. Edwards, Newton Claypool, Thomas J. Crisler and W. W. Frybarger were elected Directors. Newton Claypool was chosen President, E. F. Claypool Cashier and Will- iam H. Wherrett Teller. Some years afterward the President was succeeded by his son, B. F. Claypool. In 1857 it was said that the stock-holders resident in the county owned real estate in the county valued at $340,000.
The Connersville branch of the State Bank was reorganized as the First National Bank of Conners- ville in February, 1865, with capital stock to the amount of $100,000, under the Presidency of B. F. Claypool, E. F. Claypool becoming Cashier. The first Board of Directors consisted of J. M. Wilson, H. D. Carlisle, P. H. and F. M. Roots and the Pres- ident and Cashier. In 1873 P. H. Roots was chosen President and Charles Mount Cashier. In 1879 Mr. Roots died and was succeeded by his brother, F. M. Roots. Messrs. Roots and Mount still retain those positions. F. T. Roots is the Vice-Presi - dent. From 1873 until his death in October, 1883, G. W. Uhl was the Assistant Cashier. The business of the bank isconducted in a two-story brick building which stands on the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Fifth Street.
At the time Mr. Allen was succeeded as Cashier of the Fayette County Bank by E. F. Claypool, he withdrew from the institution and in September, 1854, opened a savings bank in the building now occupied by Dr. Vance as a residence, on Fourth Street between Eastern and Central Avenues, which had been erected as a canal office. Elisha Vance was chosen President of this bank, which was short-lived, lasting a year or so only.
For some years after the cessation of the Bank ef Connersville, in the same building was carried on a kind of a banking business by James Mount and William Merrill, under the title of the Farmers' Bank.
In October, 1870, was organized by James and William Huston, Sylvester Scofield, Chauncey Lyman, William H. Wherrett, Warner H. Broaddus and James C. McIntosh, the Citizens' Bank, which was opened in the fine banking-house erected by the pro- jectors of the Bank of Connersville, which building had become their property. In 1874 the two Hustons purchased the interest of Messrs. Wherrett and Scofield, and subsequently (after the death of William Huston) James, his son, bought out the remaining stock-holders, and the institution has since remained in his possession and under his management. Since the spring of 1876 Mr. Huston has been assisted in the business of the bank by Levin McIntosh.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
The bank has a capital stock of $50,000, with a surplus of $25,000. It is one of the most reliable banking houses in eastern Indiana.
INDUSTRIES.
The leading industries of the village and of the later town have been referred to in a preceding chap- ter, and it will be our purpose to here treat of the more important manufactories beginning with the completion of the canal, which marked an era in the history of the town. The water privileges and hydraulic power afforded thereby being of such a standard as to invite and claim attention, though tard- ily seized to any considerable extent, they have been the means of developing the slow and quiet village and town of a quarter of a century ago into the bust- ling manufacturing center of to-day, with its several immense furniture factories, its wonderful rotary blower foundry, its several extensive grist-mills, its stocking factory, with the clusters of minor mills and factories dotting over its surface, and giving employ- ment to hundreds of men, women and children.
In 1846 or thereabouts was built a large flouring mill on the site of the present Connersville Hydraulic Mills, located on the Hydraulic between Sixth and Seventh Streets, and known as the H. L. Wetherald & Son Mill, by H. C. Moore and W. P. Lawrence, engineers on the canal. In 1867 the mill was pur- chased by H. L. Wetherald & Son, and the following year was destroyed by fire, but again rebuilt at once. The main mill building is constructed of brick, and in size is 45x64 feet, and two and half stories high with basement. In 1883 the mill was equipped with the roller process system, having twelve sets of roll- ers and a capacity for making 150 barrels of flour per day. The firm is P. B. Wood & E. K. Wether- ald.
Not far from the date of the building of the mill above described H. L. Wetherald erected a saw-mill just east of the present site of the grist-mill of Keller & Uhl (on the river near Root's foundry), and some later was erected by Messrs. Wetherald & Hughes the present large three and a half story frame mill building of Keller & Uhl. This passed through various hands, and in 1868 the firm of Schlosser & Co. was succeeded by Keller, Uhl & Co., and some six years ago the firm was changed to its present title. The mill has been operated with five run of stone, and having a capacity of eighty barrels of flour per day. It is now (June, 1884,) undergoing a renova- tion whereby the stones are to be replaced by sixteen double sets of improved rollers of the Stephens pat- ent, which will change the capacity of the mill from 80 to 150 barrels of flour per day. The main build- ing of the mill is 40x60 feet.
From 1847 to 1875 a very important industry of Connersville was the old Connersville Woolen Mill, which was located near the Connersville Hydraulic Mills, and was established in 1847 by A. & P. H. Roots. In 1852 A. Roots, the senior partner, retired and was succeeded by P. H. & F. M. Roots, who ran the business until 1871, when the name of the firm changed to P. H. Roots & Co. In March, 1875, P. H. withdrew all of his interests as a partner, making his son, Charles P., principal owner and business manager, and the title of the firm became Roots & Co. The goods from the factory, cassimeres, jeans, flannels, blankets, robes, hosiery, waterproofs, worsted bagging, etc., etc., had a market in all parts of the United States. The factory employed on an average forty people the year round. For twenty-eight years it is said that an average of 150,000 pounds of wool per year was used at the institution, and the prod- ucts of the loom during that period brought into Connersville $4,500,000. The factory was destroyed by fire on the morning of June 13, 1875.
Another of the largo flouring-mills erected soon after the completion of the canal was the extensive mill of A. B. Conwell on Eastern Avenue, where the building, though vacated, still stands as a monument to his enterprise. The mill most likely had a capacity of manufacturing from 150 to 200 barrels of flour per day. It was carried on in the Conwell name until its cessation in 1866, when its water-power was destroyed by the great freshet of that year.
For a period of probably twenty-five years follow- ing the completion of the canal pork-packing engaged the attention of a number of the citizens of Conners- ville and the county and several oxtensive houses for the carrying on of that industry in its various branches were erected, and hog slaughtering and pork-packing ranked with the leading industries. Among the large fifms in operation at the same time during the period named were A. B. Conwell & Sons, George W. Frybarger. Daniel Hankins, Hol- ton, Simpson & Co., Caldwell, McCollem & Co., and the Fayette County Hog Slaughtering & Pork Pack- ing Association, with their various changes.
Mr. Conwell for a time carried on in the neigh- borhood of his mill and tannery and subsequently on the site of the gas works, and erected the large build- ing still standing on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Fifth Street. Mr. Frybarger built an extensive building on the site of the Andro Opera House and Caldwell Block, and in these several places the different firms operated.
In 1846 there were 6,000 logs packed in the town; in 1856 about 11,000 were slaughtered and packed, the firms being A. B. Conwell & Sons and J. Hol- ton & Co .; the price paid was $6 per hundred.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
In 1858 Conwell & Sons killed for Daniel Hankins, and by all firms there were over 25,000 hogs slaught- ered in the town; in 1862 the firms of Caldwell & Co. slaughtered upward of 13,000 hogs which aver- aged 242 pounds.
In February, 1862, the Fayette County Hog Slaughtering & Pork Packing Association was organ- ized with capital stoek of $18,000. Bezaled Beeson was chosen President and James Heron Secretary of the Association. They purchased the old Frybarger property, where the business of the Association was carried on while they did business and subse- quently by others engaged in the business, which closed with the season of 1873-74, Caldwell & Co. being the last firm engaged in the business, and in 1872-73 they killed 28,000 hogs.
The several large mills and pork-packing houses required thousands of barrels, which in main were manufactured in the town, adding another industry of no small note.
In 1845 Valentine Michael began this branch of trade along the Hydraulic between Fifth and Sixth Streets and carried it on until 1864, when he was succeeded by John Uhl, who did an extensive busi- ness until 1870 and was then succeeded by the pres- ent proprietor of the business, Henry Weitsel. Mr. Weitsel now employs four men. Mr. Uhl while engaged in the business made about 18,000 barrels per year.
In 1865 Florentine Michael, a son of Valentine, began the same business and is yet carrying it on in the southern part of the city. He works seven men and manufactures some 12,000 barrels per year.
Not a great deal was done in the way of carriage manufacturing until about 1850, about which time the firm of Drew & McCracken began the manufac- ture of buggies and carriages on Central Avenue near Sixth Street, but the shops were of short life.
In 1851 William P. & Andrew Applegate began the same branch of business on Central Avenue near Fifth Street and the firm carried on extensively until in 1870, when owing to the death of William P., the shop was sold to Henry & Swikley and they in a short time to J. B. McFarlan. The Applegates worked on an average of from ten to fifteen hands the year through.
About the time the Applegate firm commenced business, a firm under the title of Ware & Veatch opened up a carriage manufactory on Sixth Street near the Hydraulic. The firm lasted several years, when Mr. Veatch (Charles) became the proprietor, and the business stopped prior to 1857.
In 1857 J. B. McFarlan established the extensive carriage and buggy manufactory now doing business under the name of the MeFarlan Carriage Company.
The old Veatch shop fell into his possession, which was his place of beginning. He has since added unto his shops, until they now compose quite a clus- ter of large buildings, situated on either side of Sixth Street just west of Central Avenue, on which is also a portion of the works. The company, com- prising J. B., C. E., J., W. W. and J. E. McFarlan was formed in 1883. They manufacture carriages and buggies, and employ seventy five men the year round, turning out hundreds of vehicles.
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