USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 10
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At that time John Ingle was president of the Evansville & Terre Haute road. Looking on the Straight Line road as a rival, he flooded the iron markets of England with damaging statements of Mr. Carpenter and his road. When the latter arrived in England he found that he could not turn a wheel and he returned home a defeated and disappointed man. The work was all stopped and the roadbed was abandoned for more than twenty-five years. There was a large amount of land subscribed and deeded to the com- pany to help build the road. Many people had done much more than they
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should have done; some of them even lost their own farms. There was no attempt to revive the work until 1882, when an adventurer by the name of Hervey, with nothing but a silk hat and a box of cigars, came along and found the old roadbed. He hunted up some of the bondholders, and, with fair promises, got control of the property. He put a mortgage on it, bought the iron, finished the grading and bridging, and completed the road from Evans- ville to Worthington, Indiana. Since that time a branch from Worthington to Terre Haute has been built. The road now has running schedule from Worthington to Indianapolis over the Indianapolis & Vincennes railroad. The principal stations in Gibson county are Oakland City and Sommerville. This railroad now belongs to the Frisco system.
BIG FOUR RAILBOAD.
Within the last three years there has been a branch line built from the Vincennes & Cairo Big Four railroad that crosses the Wabash river about ten miles south of Mt. Carmel, thence through Wabash and Montgomery township, Gibson county, and on to Evansville. The road has about eight miles of track in this county. There is a new town located on the line, near what is known as Skeleton Bluff, four miles west of Owensville, named John- son.
EVANSVILLE & PRINCETON TRACTION.
The Evansville & Princeton Traction Line is the first of the kind be- tween the two cities. It was finished January I. 1903. Ed. J. Baldwin, of Princeton, was the prime mover in the promotion. and the late Joseph Heston was president at the time of its completion. The road has since been ex- tended north to Patoka. After running a time, the line was bought by the Murdock-Marshall-Durbin company or syndicate. It is now owned by the Evansville Public Utilities Company.
THE SOUTHERN RAILROAD SHOPS.
The Southern railroad shops now existing in the city of Princeton are unquestionably the greatest factor in the commercial development and civic growth of the city. After the fire of 1893 there was question of the town ever building up, but the shops saved the day, and Princeton started upon the upward path.
In the early months of the year 1890 talk was first heard in regard to
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the shops. The plan was first made public in the Clarion of November 13, 1890, when it was announced that the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Con- solidated Railroad Company, having then a mileage of over three hundred miles, intended to begin somewhere the building of general main machine and repair shops on a large scale, the building to take place in 1891. Several towns and cities became active bidders for these shops, and for some time the question of location was in doubt. There is no doubt that in the eyes of the railroad officials, including D. J. Mackey, the president and manager of what later became the Chicago & Eastern Illinois and the Southern, Princeton was the favored city. The shops then existed at Huntingburg.
President Mackey forwarded a letter to Harry Kurtz, a citizen of Prince- ton and railroad promoter, stating that the shops would be built in Princeton for a donation of forty acres of land and right of way for the extension, and two per cent. of aid, which would produce sixty-six thousand dollars.
The proposition submitted by Mr. Mackey to Mr. Kurtz reads as follows :
"Upon condition that the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Consolidated Railroad Company shall construct, equip, maintain, occupy and use to the full capacity of its road as its general main machine and repair shops, round house, car shops, paint shops, blacksmith shop and office of and general divi- sion point at or within three thousand yards of the court house in the city of Princeton, in the county of Gibson, in the state of Indiana :
"First. The round house shall be constructed with thirty stalls, a capac- ity to accommodate at least thirty engines at a time.
"Second. The machine and boiler shops shall be at least two hundred and fifty in length and seventy-five feet in width.
"Third. The car shops shall be at least eighty feet by one hundred and sixty feet.
"Fourth. The paint shops shall be at least one hundred and eighty feet by forty feet.
"Fifth. The blacksmith shop shall be seventy-five feet by one hundred feet.
"Sixth. The office building shall be at least eighty feet by thirty-five feet, or if buildings are shaped different from the above described they must be built and occupied as great in extent in aggregate in area and number as these described aforesaid. Each and all of said shops shall be constructed of brick or brick and stone; the construction of said shops shall be begun on or before the first day of June, 1891, and completed and equipped and occu- pied and be used to the full capacity of the road on or before December.
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1894, and for ninety-nine years and perpetually thereafter. Should the said railroad company or their successors and assigns fail at any time after January, 1894, to use said shops to the full capacity of their road for any consecutive period of one year, then in that event the amount so voted and donated by said township (Patoka) shall revert to the tax payers of said township and be paid over by said railroad company, their successors or as- signs, to the treasurer of Gibson county, Indiana, for the benefit or use of the tax payers of said Patoka township, and the buildings shall revert to the parties or company who donated the ground upon which they are erected.
"Should the aforesaid buildings be destroyed by fire, lightning or any other cause, they shall be rebuilt immediately and as fast as possible by said railroad company, and when rebuilt shall be equipped, used and occupied to the full capacity of, and by said railroad company, as before provided.
"It is further agreed while this donation shall be collected according to law, that no part of the same shall be paid over to the railroad company until all of the aforesaid shops are built, equipped, occupied and used to the full capacity of the said railroad, as the general machine and repair shops of said railroad company, and a certified copy of the acceptance and ratification of this contract by the directors and the majority of the stock holders of the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Consolidated Railroad Company is tendered to the auditor of Gibson county, Indiana, for filing as a part of the record of the board of county commissioners of Gibson county, Indiana."
This proposition was published in the Princeton Clarion and the voters of Patoka township given a chance to form their opinions as to the matter.
On Saturday, November 22, 1890, transportation was provided for three persons from each school district in Patoka township to Washington, Daviess county, Indiana, to examine for themselves the Baltimore & Ohio shops there, and to go among the citizens and farmers of that vicinity for the purpose of learning whether the voting of a sixty-six thousand dollar tax, payable in four installments, April, 1892, November, 1892, April, 1893, and November, 1893, was advisable or not. The farmers of each school district appointed the men to go. Four hundred boarded the special train that day and went to. Washington. The dissenters were in the minority when the train returned, and these were mostly ones who had partaken too freely of the "old red eye."
The board of county commissioners ordered an election to be held in Patoka township on Tuesday, January 13, 1891, hy legal voters, to determine the question of appropriating the desired money in aiding the railroad
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in changing the line of its road and also in the way of making improvements and adding division and repair shops. At this election there were nine hun- dred and fifty-nine votes in favor of the tax, and four hundred and ten not in favor, making the majority in favor of the shops five hundred and forty-nine. The four hundred and ten voters opposed just about represented the number in the township against the improvements. These men held opposition meet- ings where orators were imported for the purpose of stirring up the people to their side, but the efforts proved futile. The majority of the people saw the benefit of the shops.
The appropriation was made and the shops built. Meanwhile a land company known as the Princeton Land Company was formed to buy a large tract of ground and donate from this tract the forty acres needed by the rail- road company, and to plat the remainder into town lots and sell them, thereby making profit on the investment. Thomas R. Paxton was president of this company, John H. Miller was secretary, and Harry Kurtz was the promoter.
At this date, 1914, the shops are still growing, and have come to be one of the greatest industries in the county of Gibson. From three hundred to five hundred men find employment here, and the monthly pay roll amounts to over thirty-five thousand dollars. The shops are located in the southern part of the city, and transportation is provided by automobile from the downtown district. The shops are equipped with the newest and best machinery, and the slogan of the place is "efficiency and dispatch." The most modern safety appliances are used to prevent accidents, but when these do occur, as they are bound to do, immediate attention is given to the victim. The round house has a capacity of eighteen engines, that is, comfortable working capacity.
In closing this short exposition of the Southern shops it is only fitting to pay a small tribute to the man who was responsible, perhaps more than any other, in securing this improvement for the city of Princeton. This was Henry (Harry) Kurtz. He gave up a lucrative position, also his own money, so that he might aid the cause of a better Princeton. He labored hard, he sacrificed, and all without pay. Nothing more could higher perpetuate the memory of this patriot. The Southern shops are in fact a monument to Harry Kurtz.
HAZELTON RAILROAD WRECK.
One of the worst wrecks in the history of southern Indiana occurred on the Evansville & Terre Haute road, now the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, at three o'clock, Wednesday morning, March 10, 1897. Fast train No. 5, south bound, was wrecked at the high embankment forming the southern approach
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to the White river bridge about two miles north of the town of Hazelton. Back water from White river had flooded that portion of the country up to within a few feet of the track and the water depth measured about twenty feet. The high embankment was consequently weakened and gave way under the weight of the heavy train. When the train approached the fatal bridge it was running at a speed of twenty-five miles an hour. The engineer obeyed orders and slowed his engine as he drew near the bridge, but was still running at a good rate of speed when the embankment was reached one hun- dred and fifty yards from the bridge proper. Then came the catastrophe, sudden and appalling, and unavoidable as much as tragic.
Without warning the track gave in and literally slid out from under the engine. The water rushed through the opened levee, and the aperture was widened rapidly by the force. The engine turned over into the ditch ten feet east of the track, landing broadside in five feet of water. The baggage car followed and plunged headfirst into the washout. The smoker came next and was telescoped by the baggage car: the top being cut off down to the level of the windows. The ladies' coach and sleeper remained on the track and none of the occupants were injured in the least.
The death roll was numbered from the occupants of the submerged coach and baggage car. This ill-fated coach broke loose from the couplings and floated down stream, where it finally sank. Only one or two bodies were ever recovered from this car, and the number of men therein is now but a matter of conjecture. A large number, possibly a dozen, lives were lost, it is certain, among them being Conductor George A. Sears, whose arm was seen protrud- ing from one of the windows as the coach sank. Not until April 29th, more than six weeks after the wreck, did one body come to light, and that was a traveling man from Fort Wayne named W. H. Lange. Professional divers worked on the wreck for days and days, but to no avail. The toll is the secret of the quicksand and water, forever hidden to the knowledge of man.
CHAPTER VIII.
AGRICULTURE IN GIBSON COUNTY.
Ever since the dawn of creation agriculture has claimed the attention of the major portion of the human race, either directly or indirectly. In fact, the race could exist but a brief time were it not for that which the soil brings forth and this must largely be produced by the untiring labors of the diligent, faithful husbandman. Some sections of the state of Indiana, as well as many other states, have other resources upon which to subsist, financially, but the great wealth comes from the soil and harvesting of crops. There are many excellent farming counties in this commonwealth, but few, if indeed any, can produce better crops than does Gibson county, one year with another.
The quality of soil and general adaptibility of the land for the produc- tion of crops in any given community is best seen by glancing at the state reports that show the annual returns, from an impartial, unbiased stand- point. Such reports show that in 1900 Gibson county had 2,973 farms, and ten years later it had 2,882 farms. The number of native white farmers in 1910 was 2,687; foreign-born farmers, 103; negroes and other races, ninety- two farmers.
The number of farms in the county in 1910 from three to nine acres, was 107; from ten to nineteen acres, 157; from twenty to fifty acres, 655; from fifty to one hundred acres, 841; from one hundred and seventy-five to two hundred and sixty acres, 240; from two hundred and sixty to five hun- dred acres, 96; from five hundred to one thousand, 9.
Of the approximate 311,000 acres in the county, there were 273,000 acres in farms ; improved lands in farms, 244,000 acres ; woodlands in farms, 25,300 acres; other unimproved lands in farms of the county, 3,202 acres. The average number of acres per farm was ninety-four. The total valuation of all farm property in 1910 was $21,484,996, an increase of seventy-two per cent. in the last decade. Of this amount over two million dollars was in domestic animals. The values were classed as follows: Land, 75 per cent. ; buildings, 12 per cent .; improvements, 2 per cent. ; domestic animals, IO per cent. The average value of lands in Gibson county was shown in the 1910 reports to be $59.59 per acre.
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PRINCIPAL CROPS.
The state reports for 1910 show the following: Acres of corn, 71,000; bushels, 2,746,756. Oats, 4,370 acres; bushels, 88,200. Wheat, 55,880 acres; bushels, 1,020,000. Rye, 408 acres; bushels, 4.728. Barley, 12 acres ; bushels, 236. Clover seed, 358 bushels. Potatoes, 699 acres; bushels, 70,149. Tobacco, 15 acres ; pounds, 14,160. Hay and forage, 25,716 acres ; tons, 33,003. Timothy, 8,268 acres; tons, 10,143. Clover, 5,872 acres; tons, 7,360.
The total value of the domestic animals in the county in 1910 was placed at 2,020,583. Of this amount there was of cattle, $350,000; of horses, $987,000; of mules, $360,000; asses and burros, $8,000; swine, $256,000; sheep, $58,000. Of poultry there was in value, $87,103; of bees, $2,643.
AGRICULTURE THIRTY YEARS AGO.
The following appeared in a former history of Gibson county, and re- flects the conditions and opinions on the soil and crops at that date: "This county contains within its limits some of the best and most productive soil within the state. Agricultural pursuits are, in fact, the leading employments of the people and the rich returns that they bring to those engaged in them promise to attract strangers and reward all who devote their labor to them. Gibson county is located within the wheat belt. The leading staple products are: Wheat, Indian corn, oats, potatoes, hay, tobacco and sorghum. The productions are so varied as to warrant the assertion that no year or season can occur in which the true husbandman will be completely disappointed in his hopes. Another branch of industry is stock raising. In this county may be found a few farmers engaged in breeding blooded sheep, cattle, horses, swine and poultry. This is an industry that ought to receive more attention from the farmers generally. Almost every desirable fruit, every useful grain, every nutritive grass, is found here growing to perfection. Industry may grow rich with the proper use of its resources and domestic comfort, and even luxury may find ample opportunities to gratify every reasonable desire."
Since the above was recorded this county has advanced wonderfully in the farming and stock-raising industry. Better crops, more yield per acre and better stock has come to obtain in every township in the entire county. Land has rapidly advanced in price, yet not so high that renting is out of date because of small profits, but on the other hand many of the renters are
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making good money for the work they are annually doing on other men's lands.
GIBSON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
By Roy P. King.
In the history and development of Gibson county, there is no movement or organization so closely interwoven into the affairs of the county as the Gibson County Horticultural and Agricultural Association and no historical sketch of the county would be complete unless it included a review of the sixty-two years of energetic co-operation of the county's leading citizens to- ward advancing the interests of the farmer, the merchant, the mechanic and the artisan and instilling in them the desire to excel in every line of produc- tion and trade.
To give a complete review of the activities of the Gibson County Fair Association it is necessary to go back several years before the formation of the society to record a number of events which were responsible for its formation and which laid the groundwork for the association, which flourished until today it ranks above any of its kind in the state.
To one man, long since forgotten except by a few older residents of the county, belongs great credit. This man was Dr. George B. Graff, who in 1843 came to Princeton from Maryland, a man whose mind dwelt upon the future with an infinite faith in the great Middle Western states and whose philanthropy aided in its growth and development. As evidence of his philanthropic spirit, it is shown that, at considerable expense, Doctor Graff imported to Gibson county a quantity of what was then known as "White" or "Tapahannock" wheat, the species which is grown throughout southern Indiana today. The wheat was given to the farmers of the county for seed- ing purposes and proved a success beyond all expectation.
From stories of the generosities of Doctor Graff which have been handed down he was at all times deeply interested in the growth and welfare of Gib- son county and when in 1852 he projected the idea of holding a county fair, he secured the support of the leading citizens of Princeton and the surround- ing country, including Dr. John McMaster, John Hargrove, A. Lewis, WV. Kurtz, Dr. Joseph I. Neeley, Dr. W. W. Blair and others, whose names are closely linked with the history of the later organized fair association.
The idea of holding a fair was financed by the men named above and it was held in the court house yard at Princeton, November 1I, 1852. Such live stock as was exhibited was tied to the fence surrounding the court yard
UP-TO-DATE SCENE ON TICHENOR FARM. NEAR PRINCETON.
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and an effort was made toward a display of farm products of all kinds. No admission was charged and the premiums were made up from money given by the merchants and others of Princeton. The premiums amounted to thirty dollars. In addition to the cash premiums, silver cups were awarded as prizes and this feature was continued long after the fair association was organized. The officers of this preliminary organization were: John Har- grove, president; Andrew Lewis, secretary, and William Kurtz, treasurer.
The first fair was so well attended and was such a success that it was repeated the following year, on October 4th. During the following two years, for some reason, no fair was held, but in 1856 the movement was re- vived with added success. The premiums paid in 1856 amounted to two hundred and twenty-five dollars, with four hundred and ten entries in all classes. Like the former two fairs, this was also held in the court house yard.
The unquestionable success of the fair in 1856 led to the organization of the Gibson County Horticultural and Agricultural Association. It was evident to everyone that the movement was one which would increase in favor and on September 19, 1856, articles of incorporation were filed, signed by the following: Judge Elisha E. Embree, Dr. W. W. Blair, Silas M. Holcomb, Sr., A. B. Lockhart, Alexander Devin, John McMaster, George Kendle, Dr. Joseph I. Neeley, Thomas L. Smith, George W. Polk, Dustin Mills, B. F. Meade, D. T. Linegar, Thomas McMullen, T. B. McCormick, S. M. Barton, Robert Boswell, James, P. O. Lownsdale, Horace Page, Francis Wade, John McWilliams, A. G. Boswell, George Byers, James T. Embree, B. B. Estes, Joseph Devin, A. Poland, Hallock & Parmenter, N. B. Maxam, Andrew Lewis, Hamilton Polk, Samuel Hall, R. B. Hallock. Samuel T. Davis, John Lagow.
It is interesting to note that of the list of original signers of the articles of incorporation, Dr. W. W. Blair, of Princeton, is the only one living at the present time (1914).
Though Dr. George B. Graff took an active interest in the permanent organization of the association, his name does not appear in the list of in- corporators. However he was the first corresponding secretary of the asso- ciation. Doctor Graff did not remain in Princeton to see his idea blossom, as that same year, or early in 1857, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he died in 1895.
The articles of incorporation stated that non-dividend-paying shares of stock should be issued and at the beginning of the organization two hundred
(8)
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and thirty-three of these shares were sold. In later years considerable other stock was issued, but always with the original idea that they should not be- come a commercial asset.
At the first meeting of the directors the following officers were elected to serve one year: Judge Elisha Embree, president; A. Harrison, vice- president; G. B. Graff, corresponding secretary; W. W. Blair, recording secretary ; A. B. Lockhart, treasurer.
The board of directors consisted of twelve members, but the names of the members of the first board are unknown, the early records of the associa- tion having been destroyed by fire.
At the first meeting, the directors were given authority to purchase not to exceed ten acres of land for permanent grounds in a suitable location, near the town of Princeton, and in accordance with that order eight acres were purchased from Judge Elisha Embree, which was the nucleus of the present beautiful grounds of the association. The original tract of land lies near the present main entrance to the grounds and extends westward.
The fair of 1857 proved the success of the venture. Over seven hun- dred entries were made that year and the proceeds of the fair were over seven hundred dollars. Admission to the grounds was charged for the first time.
There is no record of the fair of 1858, but in 1859 the receipts were more than one thousand five hundred dollars and the premium list was a trifle over eight hundred and fifty dollars. A fair was held in 1858, but the records were destroyed.
By this time the fair had grown to such proportions that it was necessary to purchase more land and on January 4, 1860, this was done, six more acres adjoining the original tract being acquired from Judge Embree. This addi- tional land permitted the grading of a show ring, one-third of a mile in cir- cumference.
For many years following the organization of the association racing was not a feature of the fair and this ring was used for show purposes only. Eventually racing became popular and the track was utilized for this purpose, not, however, without considerable opposition on the part of many stock- holders who were opposed to it from principle.
Other additions were made to the grounds from time to time as the fair grew in proportion In 1870 six acres were added, in 1880 three acres, 1882 three acres, 1887 six acres and in 1892 nineteen acres. The addition of 1892 was the last addition, but beside those mentioned prior to 1892 there were other smaller lots purchased, making the grounds contain at the present time a fraction over sixty acres.
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