History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 15

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648

USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 15

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An early singing master was I. W. Bonham, who taught a term of thirteen evenings for one dollar per scholar in 1838, the pupils finding their own tallow candles.

David D. Dubois had the first reaper in the township-the reliable McCormick.

The churches, schools and lodges have been treated in separate chap- ters, so need not here be further mentioned.

Fairfield has had its share of fires and consequent loss of property. Commencing in 1859, the block from where Miller & Tyner's store is now located to the Odd Fellows' hall was destroyed by fire. This fire swept away the old hotel, Doctor Babb's drug store, Wash Adams' tailor shop, a shoe shop, harness shop and furniture store.

In December, 1877, the residence of Mrs. Mahala Cheney fell before the furious flames. Three years later the residence of J. H. Whitney barely escaped destruction by the burning of a wash-house near by. Coming down to the autumn of 1897, on Saturday afternoon, October 30, the cry of "fire" was heard in the village, and an hour later five families were homeless. Twelve thousand dollars' worth of property was destroyed. Among the losses were those sustained at the Cushman home, the Mary P. Cory place, the Logan house, and the Tyner and Loper places. Loper & Sons' carriage factory was on fire twice, but finally was saved by heroic efforts.

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Fairfield was once a rival for county-seat honors in Franklin-Union counties. Before the division of the counties, Hon. Mr. McCarthy was elected as representative to the Legislature, and during his term of office the mat- ter of creating a new county came up and, finding that the bill was to pass, making what is now known as Franklin county, he, though elected by the votes of the upper portion of the county, saw more money for him- self in aiding Brookville to secure the county seat. He had friends pur- chase a large amount of lands in and near Brookville, and thus what had been planned from the early date, namely, to make Fairfield the seat of justice, fell through and Brookville was awarded the honors, so state the citizens of Fairfield. Before the division of the county, Fairfield was nearer the center of the territory than was Brookville.

When Fairfield was laid out, the proprietors donated a public square in the center of the plat, and this is still used for such, minus the coveted court house which it was intended should at no distant day be erected thereon. Some good hitching posts and a town pump are all that now mark the "square" as being public property.

The business and social interests of Fairfield in the spring of 1915 were in the hands of the following citizens: General dealers, Amzy Ban- ning, George Jinks; drugs, Dr. John M. Linegar; meats, J. B. Luker ; phy- sicians, Drs. John L. Linegar, A. L. Preston ; barber, D. N. Hanna ; board- ing house, C. R. Dare and wife; milk collection station, the French Cream Company, which runs two wagons: blacksmith shops, H. O. Ward, John Snider; steam saw-mill, George Personette.

The lodges of Fairfield are the Masonic, Oddfellows, Red Men and Knights of Pythias, with their ladies' auxiliary societies. See Lodge chapter for detailed account of these societies.

The only church of the village is the Methodist Episcopal. See Church chapter.

The school building is a fine two-story frame structure.

RAY TOWNSHIP.

Ray township is the southeastern subdivision of Franklin county. It is north of Ripley county, west of Butler township, south of Salt Creek town- ship and east of Decatur county. It comprises a fraction more than forty sections of land and is made up from a part of four congressional townships. Six whole and two fractional sections in township II north, range 12 east ;

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six whole sections of township II north, range II east; nine sections and five fractional sections in township 10 north, range 12 east ; and eleven whole sections and five fractional sections in township 10 north, range II east. It has a triangular point extending to the southwest, containing about six sec- tions of land.

The first mention of Ray township in the commissioners' records is found in Record G, page 102, and it appears that on that date, January 8, 1828, Ray township came into existence. It is not stated that it was created on that date, but since no mention is found concerning it previous to that time, it may be taken as conclusive evidence that the above date marks the beginning of its independent career as a township. At that time it was "ordered that the sixth township be bounded as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of township II, range 12 east; thence west to the western boundary of the county; then south to the southwest corner of Franklin county ; thence in a northeasterly direction on the Grouseland purchase line to where the south boundary of said county intersects said line; thence east on said line to where a line drawn due north will strike the southeast corner of township II, in range 12 east; thence north to the place of beginning, to be called Ray township."

It was named in honor of James B. Ray, governor of Indiana at the time, a former resident of Franklin county. Subsequently, with the creation of Salt Creek (May 8, 1844) and Metamora and Butler (September 5, 1849), Ray township was reduced to its present size. The May following the or- ganizing of this township by the commissioners, an election was ordered held at the house of Thomas Cooskey.

There are many hills and valleys in the township. The soil is a clay, with here and there small deposits of loam, with some gravel scattered here and there. Big Salt creek crosses the western part of the township in the northeasterly direction. Harvey's branch unites with Big Salt creek north of the township line. Laughery creek rises in the center of the township and courses southward into Ripley county. Smaller streams tributary to those al- ready mentioned, include Clear fork, Bull fork and Davidson's branch.

Through the thrift and labor of the German people, this township has been developed and stands high among the sister townships. The population in 1890 was 2,224; in 1900 it stood 2,788, while the 1910 United States census gives its population as 2,017, including Oldenburg.

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SETTLEMENT.

On account of not properly weighing the value of the soil and timber in this part of Franklin county, it was not settled quite as early as other parts. But when the great German immigration set in, wending its way from the Ohio river points to the west, it was carefully examined by a sturdy class of agriculturists, who saw in the hills and valleys of the southwestern part of the county a good spot in which they might build homes for them- selves, organize schools and churches after their own liking. Today it is populated almost solely by these home-loving, school and church-loving and money-making people. Thrift is seen in the scores of good farms, excellent farm houses and barns, now being enjoyed by the second and third genera- tions since the township was first settled.

The record shows the first land entry there was made December 17, 1814, by B. Fitzpatrick, who made a permanent settlement and at once com- menced improving his land, which was located in section 30, township II, range 12. The same year came John Hawkins, who, however, did not re- main long nor make substantial improvements. The first settler of whom much is known was William George on the east half of the southwest quarter of section 4, township 10, range 12, the same being included in the present town site of Oldenburg. This Mr. George, with a brother, came to the township in 1817. The following year came in Nicholas Longworth from Cincinnati, Ohio, and he entered many tracts of land here and there through- out the township. Records show that home-seekers flocked hither in great numbers from 1836 to 1838 and on, until all lands were entered. With scarcely an exception, these settlers were German-speaking people, many direct from the Fatherland. The major part were of the Catholic religious faith, with now and then a colony of Protestants, who were of the Lutheran faith, and both sects early established churches of their choice in the com- munity in which they entered lands. The Catholics settled in and near the section now known as Oldenburg and Enochsburg, while the Protestants located near present Huntersville. It should be added, before leaving the matter of pioneer settlement, that there were not a great number of immi- grants to this township until about 1836. Among the vanguard of these thrifty settlers were two prominent characters, John H. Plaspohl and John 'H. Ronnebaum. These men possessed considerable means and saw a chance to make vastly more by enduring the hardships and privations of frontier life a few years. They resided in the city of Cincinnati, and entered large

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tracts of land in Ray township, inducing many of their friends and country- men to accompany them. It was by this colony that Oldenburg was finally platted by authority of the Catholic people, and it has ever been populated by the membership of this church, and here a great church and school society have sprung up and its work is known far and near.

While it is impossible to trace the comings and goings of all these what might properly be termed "early settlers," it may be stated that in addition to those already named as having entered lands, there was Edward Waechter, · a former member of the board of county commissioners for Franklin county. He was a wheelwright by trade and emigrated from Germany in 1838. He remained two years in Cincinnati, settling in Ray township in 1840. His earliest residence was the log cabin erected by the William George, above mentioned.

The first tavern keeper in the township was Joseph Huegle, who hung to the sport of the winds his tavern sign in Oldenburg.

The first shoemaker was Bernard Hinnekamp. Conrad Huermann was the pioneer blacksmith, who wielded the first sledge within the village.

Among the first to engage in the sale of merchandise was John Henry Fisse, who became independently wealthy and was well known up and down the White Water valley.

The history of the Catholic church and Sisters school, now so promin- ent a factor in this county and state, is given in the chapter on Churches, hence need not be mentioned in this connection.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF RAY TOWNSHIP.

The following towns and villages have been platted in this township : Enochburg, in 1836, now has a population of fifty; Oldenburg, platted in 1837, has a population of about one thousand; Huntersville was laid out in . 1841 and now has a population of two hundred, being considered as a suburb of Batesville, as it adjoins that town, over the Ripley county line.

The only business in Huntersville is the general merchandise store of Richard Schroeder, who also runs a saloon. The only church building there is the Evangelical Lutheran. (See Church chapter.)

St. Bernard was the name of a town platted in 1869 by Bernard Kamps, who purchased a quarter section of land in section 4 of this township, about two and a half miles to the west of Oldenburg. It was a speculative, schem- ing plan upon the part of its proprietor to realize a lot of money by selling town lots. It was advertised extensively, excursions run from Cincinnati,

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and on a certain day the lots were sold at public auction. A goodly number were disposed of, but all who invested lost what they put in, as the land upon which the town had been platted was covered by a first mortgage for pur- chase price, and when the payments were not met the first mortgage owner came in and foreclosed, taking all upon the grounds, even to fences that had been built by innocent purchasers. The history of the village was all made from 1869 to 1875. There was a steam saw-mill, a two-story frame build- ing with a store situated in the first story, and a blacksmith shop, and this was about all the improvements that were made. "It leaked out," said an old pioneer who was posted, "that the land was mortgaged and as soon as people at the public sale found this out, they were not anxious to buy lots." The place is, and has been for a number of decades, in the midst of a plowed field.

Hamburg, platted in 1864, has a population of about eighty. This place is on the line between Salt Creek and Ray townships, and was platted by Wesley Marlin, the Marlin family being among the pioneer settlers. St. Ann's Catholic school and a day school were located at this point.

The following have served as postmasters at Hamburg since the estab- lishment of the office, in July, 1867. The dates given and list of postmasters were furnished by the postoffice department at Washington especially for this work. Dates indicate time when appointed : John Huber, July 11, 1867; Vincent Welling, August 23, 1867; Joseph Clementz, July 1, 1873; Henry Seibel, February 23, 1877; William Dwenger, November 28, 1882: William B. Dwenger, April 5, 1888; Daniel Seibel, April 15, 1889; William Dwenger, Jr., December 30, 1890; F. C. Noble, April 12, 1893; Conrad Hittle, March 30, 1894; Francis Dwenger, January 9, 1901 ; Conrad Hittle, December 17, 1901; William Huser, March 9, 1903; Anthony Zielgler, December 29, 1904; Frank Bedel, January 12, 1912.

Having located the plats of the township it now remains to give a clear understanding as to what the development has been from the first to the present date.

It should be said of Enochburg, the oldest platting in the township, that it is on the extreme western side of the township and county. Also that it is partly built in Decatur county. It was laid out by Enoch Abrahams and Woodson Clark, March 12, 1836, and named in honor of one of its proprietors. Here St. John the Evangelist church is located. The part of the village within Ray township has a few stores and shops for the accommodation of the surrounding settlement.

The next larger town to the seat of justice in Franklin county is Olden- burg, a beautifully situated place, where all nature seems to have lavished

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her elements broadcast to make it an ideal location for the purpose which the pioneers put it to-the seat of a great religious and school center for the Catholics. It is on the banks of Harvey's creek, a tributary of Salt creek, and but three and a half miles north from Batesville, on the Big Four railway system. A solid rock turnpike connects Oldenburg with Batesville, and hacks carry passengers to and from the two points. The town of Olden- burg was platted by settlers already named, John H. Ronnebaum and John H. Plaspohl, in July, 1837. It had a population of 673 in 1880, and at the last federal census it was given as 956. It is within a prosperous farming section, with peace, contentment and much wealth, as a result of many years of frugality on the part of the thrifty, painstaking German element there found as sole owners of the land. Looking back to the records of more than a third of a century ago, one finds located there numerous fac- tories (this was in a time when such industries were more common in small towns than today), and among these may be recalled the St. Joseph woolen mills, that in 1882 employed about forty hands, producing an excellent quality of woolen goods. This factory was built in 1860, just before the opening of the Civil War, by J. H. Sellmeyer, who, in 1872, sold to B. H. Flodder & Company, who continued until the death of Mr. Flodder, in May, 1880, after which it was operated by Val Duttonhoefer & Company, who put in better, more up-to-date machinery. It continued a few years longer, but, with hundreds of other small town factories, had to quit the field, as such industries were being centralized in larger trade centers and controlled by larger concerns.

A tannery was established there in about 1842 by the same gentleman that established the woolen mills. It was in the hands of the Sellmeyer family many years and operated under the name of Sellmeyer & Son. An excellent grade of home-tanned leather was here produced by the aid of more than a dozen competent workmen. The leather thus tanned found ready market at home, and many persons still long for those days when leather was honestly made by home tanners, and not rotted by acids now used in the "trust" tannery concerns of the country.

The township officers in 1915 are: Trustee, Frank Flodder ; assessor, John Huser ; advisory board, Henry Haverkos, Joseph Neise, Frank Raver; constable, Peter Pistner ; supervisors, Jacob Etter, Tom E. Bedel, Leo Bauer, Anthony Brandes.

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OLDENBURG.

Oldenburg was incorporated in 1881. The town records have been lost, so that the names of early officers cannot be secured. It is a matter of record, however, that the following have served as presidents of the board of trustees since 1885: C. Bunnemeyer, Bernard Robben, Henry Kleinmeyer, August Ortmann, Bernard Robben, Joseph Suhre, John Lamping, J. H. Haverkos, Ben Moellers, John Ortmann, Daniel Schwegel, J. F. Burdick, Henry Wittenberg, Joseph Haverkos, Jr., Joseph B. Mollaun, Frank E. Mooreman, Henry Baumer, Joseph Freihage.

The town officials in 1915 are: Joseph Friehage, president; Henry Gehring, Theodore Heitlage, Joseph Schmidt, William B. Scheele; clerk, Harry Mollaun ; marshal, Stephen Karg; treasurer, Harry Burdick.

Electricity is produced by a private home company and electric lights illuminate most of the buildings in the town, including the schools and churches.

The business interests of Oldenburg are now summed up as follows : Steam saw-mill and planer, George Holtel, which business was established in the eighties at the place that had just failed as a furniture factory. The flouring mills, owned and operated by Frank B. Moorman, date back in their history to 1853, when a steam saw-mill was set in motion by Fisher & Dick- man, who later added a run of stones and ground flour. This mill was burned in 1884, and the present roller-process mill was erected and oper- ated for ten years by Joseph A. Luesse, who sold it to Mr. Moorman. The mill has a capacity of fifty barrels per day and does a custom exchange busi- ness.

The Catholic church and civic society history appears in separate chap- ters.

The retail dealers and shops of the town are as follows : General dealers, William Hoelker, J. H. Kessing & Son, J. F. Burdick, C. H. Kessing; confectionery, Henry Koepfle; barber, Peter Kellermann; hotel, The Gibson House, by Joseph Merchen, another conducted by J. H. Macke; farm im- plements, John Struewing; livery, Joseph Freihage; furniture. R. M. Blank ; undertaker, B. J. Kessing ; millinery, Mrs. H. Hermann, Loretta Mollaum; jewelry, C. H. Kessing ; harness shop, John Lampking, J. B. Mollaum; shoe repairs, Joseph Kessing, J. H. Haverkos; blacksmiths, Paul Munchel, Her- man Enneking, Clem Fisher; veterinary surgeon, Christ Bischoff ; physician, P. L. Mull; lumber, George Holtel & Company; tailor, J. H. Wittenberg;

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meats. Joseph Kellermann ; stock dealers, N. G. Gloshen, Ed. Kessing; bank, The Farmers & Merchants; postoffice, with George Holtel, Jr., postmaster, receiving three daily mails from Batesville and one from Hamburg. There are six saloons or bar-rooms in the town, Joe Merchen, John Wessler, Peter Kellermann, Frank Heppner, John Heppner, Peter Pistner.

At an early day there was a brewery built there and operated by its owner, B. Roell, until about 1900, when he sold the grounds and buildings to the Catholic Sisters, who removed the buildings and erected others for their own use. What is known as "common beer" was made here and found ready sale among the nearby German settlers.

POSTMASTERS.

The following have served as postmasters at Oldenburg since the estab- lishment of the office, December 9, 1845. The dates given show when ap- pointed or commissioned, the same having been furnished for this work by the postal department at Washington, D. C .: Joseph Hugle, December 9, 1845; J. F. Niedhamer, October 24, 1849; J. F. Fisse, November 28, 1850; J. B. Fisse, March 9, 1864: Joseph Suhre, December 9, 1864; J. H. Sell- meyer, February 19, 1866; Conrad Mohr, February 21, 1881 ; August Hack- man, April 23, 1883; Frank Scheper, May 15, 1885; A. A. Hackman, April 12, 1889; John H. Haverkos, June 24, 1893; A. W. Romweber, June 10, 1897; A. A. Hackman, January 4, 1901 ; Peter Schreiner, January 3, 1907; George Holtel, Jr., February 11, 1913.

FARMERS MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY.

The first mutual insurance company organized in Franklin county was the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, which dates its beginning from April 18, 1868. Its membership is confined to Ray township, with head- quarters at Oldenburg. The first officers were as follow: George Giesting, president ; Bernard Fehrmann, treasurer; George B. Holtel, secretary; John Pohlmann, Frederick Brockmann and Bartholomew Oswald, appraisers.

That the company has been prosperous is indicated by the fact that it now has one hundred and eleven thousand dollars worth of policies out- standing. The company employs no agents and the business is in charge of the president and secretary. The present secretary of the company, Frank J. Raver, has proved an efficient official and has handled the affairs of the company in a very satisfactory manner since taking charge of them. The

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present officers are as follow : Anthony Brockman, president ; John G. Oes- terling, treasurer ; Frank J. Raver, secretary ; Anthony W. Waechter, Louis Placke and George Schone, appraisers; Louis G. Schone and Joseph Niese, examining committee.

SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP.

Salt Creek township is on the western line of the county, with Ray township at its south, Posey and Laurel on its north, and Metamora and Butler townships to the east. This subdivision of Franklin county com- prises the territory situated within sixteen sections of township II north, range 12 east, and twelve sections of township II north, range II east, and contains twenty-eight square miles. On May 8, 1844, the commis- sioners-Eliphalet Barber, Enoch Abrahams and Amos D. Martin-estab- lished a new township known as Salt Creek, the township being formed out of Ray. The record reads as follows :

"On petition of numerous citizens of Ray township, praying for di- vision of said township, thereby forming two separate and distinct town- ships, it was ordered by the board that said division line should commence at the eastern extremity of said township of Ray between sections 24 and 25, town II, range 12, and run due west to the western extremity of same township, and furthermore ordered that the new township called Salt Creek should be formed of all that territory lying north of said division line and comprise sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, of township II, range 12, also sections 1, 2, 3, IO, II, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, and 24 of township II of range II and all that remaining territory consisting of sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. 34. 35. 36, township II and range 12, and sections 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, 36, of township II and range 12 ; also sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, II, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 of township 10, range 12, or all that part of the former township of Ray not included in the new formed township of Salt Creek shall be known and designated as the township of Ray."

This is the first township established by the commissioners, which is represented in the records by a map. There are two small maps defining both Salt Creek and Ray townships by sections, townships and ranges.

The surface of the township is rough and broken. The soil is clay, with a mixture of loam. The bottom lands along the streams that course through its territory are the most valuable and productive in character.

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In places the uplands are very desirable for agricultural purposes. Like Ray and other townships, this section of the county was left until the last, the early settlers looking for good timber and larger water courses for a place in which to make homes for themselves. All of the eastern portion of this township lies within the celebrated Twelve-mile Purchase strip, hence did not come into market until a number of years after lands within the Wayne Purchase did.

The first land entered within Salt Creek township was the north- west quarter of section 4, township II, range 12, by William Henderson, under date of October 21, 18II.

The first improvements were effected along the streams. The first clearing in the township was on the bottom lands, near the junction of Little Salt creek with the main stream, not far from where Rev. John Baker, the pioneer preacher, located.

Among the early pioneers were: Alexander Davidson, 1833; William Pruet, 1834; Road Holly (colored), 1831; Thomas McBlum, 1835; John Deckens, 1833; Benjamin Smothers, 1832; Joshua Lawson, 1835; Jacob Olinger, 1832; Hugh Smothers, 1832; Charles Marlin, 1832; Mizel Belangee, 1832; Thomas Cooksey, 1833; James Holsey, 1833; Mathias Davis, 1833; William Bohannon, 1833; John Morford, 1834; Cal- vin Clark, 1835; Henry Davis, 1828; Thomas Malston (colored), 1824; Edmund Adams, 1817.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 15

Author: Reifel, August J Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1648

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648