USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 32
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The cotton factory of William Jerauld and George Bucklin was built in 1824, near the corner of what is now Prince and Walnut streets. It was operated for about five years when it was destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt.
James Leslie had a distillery about one mile east of the court house, from 1818 to 1823, where he manufactured whiskey and a good article of peach brandy, as is stated by those who are competent to judge.
In 1826 Robert Milburn, Nathaniel Foster and James Finney erected the first steam grist- and saw-mill on the lot now the corner of Hart and Water streets. A year or two later Titus Jessup bought into the firm and added a wool-carding machine, which continued until 1852. A distilling
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equipment had also been added in 1829 by Robert Milburn and Samuel Hall, so that this institution was prepared to meet the wants of the community. however varied they might be. In later years the various side lines men- tioned were eliminated and the mill was devoted entirely to the furnishing of flour and meal to their customers and, this being the only steam mill in the country for miles around, it enjoyed a good patronage. Two water mills, one at Patoka, or Columbia as it was called then, and the other at Wheeling (Kirk's), had been supplying the needs of the people in the way of lumber and corn meal for some time prior to this and continued to do so until the later fifties. The mill at Patoka is still doing business at the old stand, hav- ing a modern equipment, using both steam and water power, but Kirk's mill went into decline as Patoka river became less dependable as a source of water power.
A wool carding and cotton spinning factory was built in 1828 by Titus Jessup and James Howard, on the ground where the west school building now stands. This building was destroyed by fire about 1830. It was after- ward rebuilt by popular subscription, but for some reason was not used for the original purpose. Several years later a company composed of Robert Skinner, John J. Dimick, James Maxam, William Kurtz and some other citizens occupied the building as a furniture factory, and developed an ex- tensive business in this line. Furniture of all kinds was manufactured here and shipped to dealers in all the towns in this part of the state, including Evansville. This was before Evansville, now one of the largest furniture manufacturing cities in the state, had a single factory of this kind. In 1860 Robert Skinner's interest in this company was purchased by other members of the firm and his connection with the business ceased, and the firm became known as the Dimick, Maxam & Co. One windy night, in the early part of 1861, one of the most spectacular fires that Princeton had ever witnessed was the burning of this old factory building. And that was the finish of that industry at that place.
In 1857 William Jessup bought the old Evans wool carding factory on Broadway, where, with new machinery and equipment, he manufactured all kinds of woolen goods, yarns, etc. This was a very important industry in Princeton for several years, but this building was destroyed by fire, August 16, 1883, and was not rebuilt. And this was the last of the woolen industry for Princeton.
Another of the early industries of Princeton that have passed away is the pork packing and shipping business. Joseph Devin and Alexander Devin,
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two of Princeton's leading merchants, had large packing houses and did an extensive business for many years. The pork was loaded in flatboats and sent down the river to New Orleans.
THE GREAT FIRE OF 1893.
That a great fire would some time occur in the city of Princeton was often predicted before the disastrous day of July 12, 1893. Prevention and care had been urged, but it remained to the flames themselves to teach the needed lesson.
At two-thirty o'clock on the afternoon of the above mentioned date fire was first seen in the roof of the building occupied by the millinery store of Mrs. E. D. Walker. By the time the alarm was turned in the whole roof was ablaze, and the flames were threatening the row of frame buildings ad- joining. The wind was from the southwest, which favored the rapid spread of the fire. A hand engine was brought into play, but the small stream helped little against the mass of flame. Dr. Kidd's brick corner caught next, and it was then realized by the people that the fire was beyond their control, and so every effort was turned to the keeping of the fire within the block. The Gibson house caught, then Mrs. Ohler's place, then the Smith & Lucas build- ing, and within an hour every structure in the block west of the square was afire. The flames then leaped across State street and caught in the frame building of Agar brothers. It was not long before every building in this block was afire, and the destruction still spreading. Across Hart street the ·fire traveled, catching the Charles Brownlee building, and Mrs. Baker's frame adjoining, Mr. Shannon's residence, and Jerauld's warehouse. The Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian churches in this block both burned to the ground. Henry Soller's house on North Main street caught fire from the flying cinders, also T. R. Paxton's barn.
Meanwhile a hurried call had been sent to Evansville for assistance, and at four o'clock a section of the Evansville fire department arrived via railroad, the train having made the run of thirty miles in twenty-seven min- utes. The newcomers succeeded in checking the fire at the Air-line railroad tracks, but the damage had been done. Four blocks had been consumed, and a fourth of the business houses of the city.
To one standing on Dr. Kidd's corner, where the Kidd hotel now stands, there was nothing but remnants of blackened and crumbling brick walls and blasted shade trees as far as the eye could reach. From Dr. Kidd's house, in which was the Farmers Bank, Sam Kidd's brick office adjoining, all the row
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of buildings facing on Broadway to the old wigwam building were burned. Crossing the street to the block between Hart and West streets, the fire made a clean sweep except the brick office of H. A. Yeager and L. C. Embree. The block contained the dry goods houses of W. D. Downey & Company, and Dimick, Lewis & Company ; the groceries of W. C. Daly, C. E. Mossman and Awenius & Downey; the furniture and china stores of Smith & Lucas, and the hardware store of Mulford & Cox. Across State street the next block lying immediately north was a complete wreck. Snapp & Tichenor's carriage shop, Mrs. Turner's buildings, Agar brothers, Baber's hotel, Ward buildings and the Methodist church were all in ashes. At Emmerson street there was a break in the fire, and Dr. West's and Devin's residences were saved. In the block between Main and Hart, north of the court house, many structures were destroyed.
The estimated loss incurred in the fire was five hundred thousand dollars, with insurance covering only half the amount.
Another fire, causing a loss of ten thousand dollars, occurred in April, 1897, when dry goods stores, groceries and a meat market were consumed.
MUNICIPAL. HISTORY OF THE CITY.
Princeton is a city of the fifth class-below ten thousand five hundred population. It was in March, 1818, when five trustees were elected, William Harrington, John Neely, David Hart, Samuel Bolcourt and John Brownlee. It run on then until 1884, when it was incorporated as a city, when the fol- lowing officers were elected: Mayor, John W. Ewing; clerk, George A. Spitzer; treasurer, William L. Evans: city attorney, Thomas R. Paxton ; councilmen, Henry Soller, W. L. Smith, Reuben Emmerson, W. E. Kendle, J. J. Hartin, H. L. Wallace. The assessor was William G. Wright; marshal, James W. Lewis; street commissioner, Fred Bahne.
The list of men who have served as mayors since the organization of the city follows: John W. Ewing, 1884-6; Levin W. Gudgel, 1886-8: James B. Gamble, 1888-1890; Henry Soller, 1890-2; James B. Gamble, 1892-4; Henry P. Chambers, 1894-8; Charles W. White, 1898-02; Arthur P. Twineham, 1902-1906; Robert A. Cushman, 1906-10; David A. Davison, 1910-14.
The present city officers of Princeton are: Dorris R. Head, mayor; Earl Miller, clerk; Milton Cushman, treasurer; T. J. Mullen, McDonald Wat- son, Daniel Davis, C. F. Rumer, Frank N. Harris and G. W. Strickland, councilmen.
The Princeton Water and Lighting Company was granted a franchise
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on November 9, 1891, and is a private corporation. They supply 139 fire hydrants, charging city for same $5,462.50 per year.
The Princeton Light and Power Company is a private corporation and was granted a franchise in 1893. They have 89 arc lights, 30 incandescents, and draw $6,000 a year from the city.
One combination wagon and eight men constitute the fire department of Princeton.
There are three and one-quarter miles of paving in the city. Three years ago the two principal streets were paved by the city, all work before being at the expense of property owners.
BANKING IN PRINCETON. .
The first banking institution in the county was at Princeton, and the concern was known as the Princeton Banking Company, organized in 1869, with $35,000 capital stock. It was a private bank, and continued as such until 1872, when its name was changed to Gibson County National Bank, and as such was conducted until November, 1874, when it failed. The officers were Caleb Trippet, president, and R. M. J. Miller, cashier.
The People's National Bank, of Princeton, was organized August. 1874 by William P. Welborn, William L. Evans, Oscar M. Welborn, William W. Blair and James Montgomery, who were first directors. The original capital stock was $50,000, which has been increased to $100,000. It has a present surplus of $60,000, with undivided profits of $20,000. In October, 1913, there was on deposit in this bank $450,000. The first officers in this well- known banking house were: William L. Evans, president : William L. Dor- sey, cashier. At this date the officers are: Thomas R. Paxton, president ; Oscar M. Welborn, vice-president; Stuart T. Fisher, cashier; Clarence M. Lawrence, assistant cashier; Alfred M. Johnson, assistant cashier.
It should be said that this bank was originally known as the People's Bank, organized April 3, 1873, under the banking laws of Indiana, with $50,000 capital, with the same officers above named, but August 5, 1874, it became a national bank. receiving its charter for twenty years, and was ex- tended another term to August. 1914. The present bank building was erected in 1892, at a cost of $15,000, including fixtures, but it is carried on the books at $10,000, though really worth more than that amount.
The American National Bank was organized in 1906, with a capital of $100,000, same as it carries today. Its present surplus is $5.000; present (22)
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amount on deposit, $235,000. In 1910 this bank consolidated with the Citi- zens Bank, which had been running a number of years prior to that date. The first officers of the American National Bank were: Joseph McCarty, president ; Joseph Carithers, vice-president ; John W. Yochum, cashier; Har- vey Milburn, assistant cashier. The officers in 1913 were: Joseph Carithers, president ; James H. Warnock, vice-president; John W. Yochum, cashier; Harvey Milburn, assistant cashier. This institution does an extensive gen- eral banking business, under the national banking laws, and its officers and directors have the confidence of the entire community. Their bank building is valued at $15,000, and is modern throughout.
In 1889 the Farmers' State Bank, No. 40, was organized, with W. D. Downey, Dr. S. H. Shoptaugh, Joseph Heston, Jasper N. Davidson, R. N. Parrett, Arthur P. Twinehamn, principal stockholders and directors. The capital stock of the organization was $50,000, and the officers were W. D. Downey, president ; R. N. Parrett, vice-president ; Samuel Hargrove, cashier. July 1, 1909, this organization was changed to a national bank, under the name of the Farmers' National Bank, of Princeton, charter No. 9,463, and the capital stock was increased to $100,000, the same as at present. The present surplus is $19,994.80; amount of deposits, 1914, is $340,086. The present officers are: Samuel Heston, president; Will Blair and Jasper N. Davidson, vice-presidents ; Frank Harris, cashier; R. N. Chappel and Walter P. Anthony, assistant cashiers.
This banking concern owns its own building, which stands on the corner of Broadway and Hart streets. It was erected in 1893-94, at a cost of $30,000. The first bank building burned in the big fire of 1893, the same being located in Kidd block. After the fire the bank moved to the rear of Wade's jewelry store, then located on the south side of the Square; this was all accomplished with but the loss of one day after the fire. They remained there until their present fine quarters were finished.
The Citizens Trust and Savings Bank, of Princeton, is the only institu- tion of its kind in Gibson county. It was organized January 24, 1904, and its first officers were as follows: W. L. West, president; R. C. McGinnis, secretary and treasurer; Alexander Emmerson, assistant secretary and treas- urer. The first capital stock was $50,000, same as at present; the present surplus is $8,200 ; present deposits, $168.733.38. The building occupied by this bank was erected in 1904, and all the appointments are up-to-date and first-class. No other similar institution was ever chartered in Gibson county. Its present-1913 --- officers are: George W. Shopbell, president; Forman E. Knowles, vice-president; Andrew E. Lewis, secretary and treasurer.
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OLD MILL AND DAM ON PATOKA RIVER, NEAR PATOKA.
CHAPTER XXIII.
PATOKA TOWNSHIP.
The life of the early pioneer, now that the softening caress of time has been placed there, has been set in scenes of romance and dramatic interest. The tales of privations, of battles, of sacrifices in the struggle to build a home, are becoming a bit of folklore, and have become traditional epics, to us the same as the Saga to the Norseman, the tales of Siegfried to the Ger- man, or even as our own Anglo-Saxon fathers. The American pioneer, wherever he traveled, met primal conditions, and with primitive implements he coped with them. The magnificent forest dwindled before his axe and was superseded by golden rows of grain. Heroic in combat, as he was gentle in his home, the settler is monumental. Simple, religious, family-lov- ing and sturdy, the present generation thus holds him in memory and ennobles him.
Patoka township was organized at the first session of the common pleas court, held at the house of Judge William Harrington, on May 10, 1813, the house being located in the southwest quarter of section II, township 2, range II, a mile and a half southwest of the present court house. Since that time, however, the boundaries of the township have been repeatedly changed. It is now bounded on the north by White river and Washington townships, east by Center and Barton, south by Union, and west by Montgomery. The land is drained by the Patoka river and its tributaries in the north, Snake run and Pigeon creek in the southeast, and Central and Muddy creek in the south. Originally the surface of Patoka township was thickly covered with timber, but this has been nearly all cleared off and the land made into rich and pro- ductive farms. The surface is for the most part undulating, but in the north and east portions, and approaching the stream, the ground becomes very rugged and knobby.
Two miles north of Princeton is Bald hill, which rises to an elevation of one hundred and thirty feet above the town and two hundred and twenty feet above the Wabash river. Mound Builders are probably responsible for the rounded top, as there are other evidences of this prehistoric race in this . part of the state. Considerable bottom land ranges through the western part
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of the township, and Sand ridge passes through the southwestern part. This land is very valuable for agriculture.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
With the opening of the nineteenth century settlements began to be made in Gibson county. John Severns had settled near the south bank of the Patoka river, at Severns' bridge even before the opening of the century. He was undoubtedly the first man to live in Gibson county. In 1798 John Johnson, a native of Virginia, came to this county in 1802, by way of Ken- tucky, accompanied by his family. The old soldier, Capt. William Hargrove, was the next settler of any note. He was a native of North Carolina and emigrated to this section in the year 1803. He was afterward an officer in the battle of Tippecanoe. In 1805 James McClure and his brother-in-law, Isaac Montgomery, came to this county. The person of Gen. Robert M. Evans is one of the most prominent of early Gibson history. He was born in Virginia. He came to the county in 1811, and immediately afterward joined Harrison's army and participated in the campaign against the Indians, including the battles of Tippecanoe and the Thames. He afterward filled many important official positions in this county. His brothers, James, Alex- ander Lyle and Thomas Jefferson, moved here in 1810. James Wheeler, William Latham, William Harrington, Robert Archer, Capt. Henry Hop- kins, Joseph Woods, Daniel Putnam, Rev. Alexander Devin, a Baptist min- ister, John Braselton, Stephen Strickland, John Clements, Eli Strain, Chauncey Pierce, John C. Fisher, William Barker were others among the early settlers, and many of them lived to distinction in the growing com- munity.
Tecumseh's conspiracy created a great amount of excitement in the county during the time of his depredations. In the summer of 1810 the Indian forces were being organized at the Prophet's town, and the settlers were on edge, prepared to fight the hostiles at a moment's notice. Rude forts or stockades were constructed, three of them in Patoka township, Fort Branch, Fort Hopkins, and one at William Harrington's, on the old Mc- Curdy place.
In November, 1811, Joshua Embree came from Kentucky. The Stor- monts and other prominent families arrived in 1812. Mrs. Nancy Stormont, widow of David Stormont, who emigrated from Ireland, and settled in South Carolina before the Revolution, came to this county wtih her mother, Mrs.
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Mary Boyd, and a large family. They located about two and one-half miles northwest of Princeton. James Kirkman came in 1813. Other leading families afterward came, and the township has seen a steady growth ever since.
The first schools were taught about 1810 in small log cabins. Adley Donald, David Buck, Maj. James Smith, Ira Bostwick and John Kell were a few of the earliest teachers.
The city of Princeton is in this township and forms the subject of a special chapter.
CHAPTER XXIV.
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP.
This township was named for the Montgomery family, who were pioneers of the locality and one of the most prominent families of the early days. The real history of the township begins before the organization of the county, when the settlers were just beginning to lead their wagon trains through the trackless wilderness and to find homes. Montgomery town- ship was settled early by these heroic travelers. This township is the largest in the county and one of the largest and best in the state of Indiana. It lies in the southwestern part of the county, bounded on the north by White river township and the Wabash river, east by Patoka township, south by Johnson and Posey counties, and west by Posey county and Wabash township.
The soil of Montgomery township is about two-thirds up-land and one- third low-land, the richer soil being made of calcaro-alluvial loam, of high productive power. There are four or five small lakes located in the north- western part of the township, emptying into the Wabash river. The prin- cipal streams besides the Wabash, are Indian creek, Black river, Martin's branch, Obion creek and Maumee creek.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The identity of the first white settler in this township is not known for certain. Thomas Montgomery, however, was one of the earliest arrivals here, coming from Kentucky, building a cabin near Black river, and lodging his family therein. In the same year, 1805, Jesse Kimball also came up from Kentucky in search of new fields for his merchandising trade. He later owned a water mill in this township. In 1806 Thomas Sharp, William and Luke Wiley came to within a short distance of Owensville. Mathias and Smith Mounts came about this time, then Jacob Warrick, John Benson, Thomas Waters. George and Thomas Sharp, Robert McGary, John Roberts, John Armstrong of North Carolina, Jesse Emerson, Andrew Gudgel, James Knowles, Elisha Marvel. Samuel Barr, Thomas Sharp, Joshua Nichols, Will- iam Leach and Thomas Stone.
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These pioneers cultivated Indian corn in small patches, relying at first mostly on the game of the surrounding forest. The red man was hostile and they were compelled to be ever on guard. Old Red Banks, of Henderson, Kentucky, was the nearest location of a grist-mill where they could get their corn ground, and their supply of salt came from the saline wells in southern Illinois, to which place a trip was usually made once each year, and they paid two dollars and five cents per bushel for the salt. In 1811, when the Indian trouble appeared at its worst, a stockade was built on Thomas Montgomery's place south of Owensville, and here the families gathered for protection. After the battle of Tippecanoe the soldiers returned and took up their various pursuits. About 1812 other settlers began to pour into the township, among them being Charles Jones, Sr., James Fitzgerald, Roland B. Richards, Alfred Richards, Samuel Blythe, Absalom Boren, William Rutledge and the Simp- sons. The first family of Maucks came in 1821, and Samuel Kirkpatrick in 1821 also.
Montgomery township milling was mostly done by horse mills. Jesse Kimball, James Montgomery, Thomas Johnson and Jacob Mowry were own- ers of some of these early mills. Distilling whiskey was another favorite occupation of the farmer. John Hunter was the first blacksmith; the earliest resident physician was Charles Fullerton, and soon after came Willis Smith. The first school was taught by Joseph Dunlap in 1808. John Wasson, Rob- ert Frazier, Major James Smith, William McCollum and John Simpson were others of the first pedagogues.
OWENSVILLE.
The town of Owensville is situated on the Mt. Vernon branch of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, and is eleven miles southwest of the city of Princeton. The town was originally laid out by Philip Brisco, of Kentucky, and he named it after Thomas Owens of that state. Willis Alsop kept the first store in this town, keeping general goods, including whiskey.
On October 4, 1881, the town was incorporated and the first board of trustees was composed of James Montgomery, Hiram Westfall and James A. Robinson. L. P. Hobgood was the clerk and J. F. Bird the treasurer.
Before it be forever lost from the records of the county, let it be stated here that the beginning and early development of Owensville was about as follows: For a few years prior to the platting of the town, Willis Alsop. who lived in a log house, kept for sale a small stock of goods, such as groceries, whiskey, dry goods, etc., and may well be known as the pioneer
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merchant, though indeed a small business was transacted by him. John McFadden built a log store on Main street, a half block from the square to the north. There he put on sale a fairly good stock of general merchandise. He continued in trade ten years, then moved to Missouri, where he was called from his house and shot. The leading early business was transacted by John C. Warrick, son of Capt. Jacob C. Warrick. He began business as a mer- chant about 1820. He dealt on a large scale, buying much produce and shipped immense quantities of grain and other commodities. His store stood on the southeast corner of the public square. It was a one-story frame building. Warrick amassed a large fortune, as counted those days. He erected a large warehouse on the Wabash river, where his grain and pork was stored during the winter, and when navigation opened up in the spring- time they were loaded on great flat-boats (such as Lincoln used to work on) and floated down the great rivers to the sea. He was also the first post- master and held many large interests in Owensville. In 1838 he finished a steam saw-mill, to which was added a flouring-mill with three run of buhrs. He urged other business men to locate there and was a genuine hustler. At his death, in 1847, he was carrying on the largest business of any one man in Gibson county. He left no heirs.
Between 1845 and 1850 other merchants came in. At one date Owens- ville boasted of her woolen mills in which a large business was conducted.
Coming down to the morning of June 29, 1876, the whole solid tront of store buildings on the east side of the square was swept away by fire, causing a loss of forty thousand dollars. The structures were all frame, save the one above named as being on the corner. Several fine brick build- ings were later erected on lots where part of these buildings stood.
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