History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 18

Author: John F. Haines
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051

USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 18

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Hamilton county soit. A third incident, happily of a more peaceful nature, was the establishment of the first toll gate in the county. At that time a par- tially opened road led from Anderson to William Conner's cabin, passing near Strawtown, being the early Indian trail by which the first settlers came to Horseshoe Prairie, Hamilton county. This road crossed a creek two or three miles above Strawtown. This was a very difficult ford and horses and cattle often stuck fast in the mud, causing ofttimes serious delay and inconvenience to travelers. A hunter settled on land near this point and built a cabin, a short time later constructing a bridge across the creek at this difficult ford and thereafter demanding toll from all travelers passing that way. The travelers usually paid the small fee without question as the bridge was quite an accom- modation to them.

The settlers in this neighborhood were all great hunters and supplied their families with meat from the woods and streams here. about, the skins of the animals being converted into clothing and shoes for the settlers. Any surplus furs or meats were sold to traders.

EARLY COMMERCE.

Jerry K. Leaming opened the first general store in this neighborhood. He probably was the first general merchant in the county. This store was located on Leaming's farm a few miles below Strawtown. Becknell Cole opened the second store in the township at Strawtown. Shintaffer and Jacob Hyer were Indian traders but carried on little or no trade with the settlers. Jerry Leaming is said to have owned the first stove in the county. A stove being quite a novelty in the wilderness in those early days, the neighbors and Indians came from all the country round about to see the wonderful heating apparatus. One cold day a big fire was built in the stove and an Indian happening in, viewed with wonder a red hot stove. Not fully realizing the meaning of this, he thought to investigate for himself and very unwisely placed an inquisitive fore finger on the very reddest spot on the glowing stove. A howl of pain immediately followed the native's discomfiture and he ever after was a sadder and wiser Indian.

James Hughy opened the first grocery store. He not only sold groceries but alcoholic drinks, which to some people seemed as essential as groceries. William Wallace kept the first tavern and Robert Hoddy the first blacksmith shop. Some of the old taverns, long one-and-one-half story buildings with low porches across the entire fronts are still standing at Strawtown, an inter-

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esting monument to the early times when Strawtown was a flourishing vil- lage with bright prospects before her.

The death of Mrs. Esther Freel in 1820 was the first visitation of the grim reaper in a white household in the township. The subsequent marriage of her surviving husband, Benoni Freel, to the widow of Benjamin Fisher in December, 1821, was the first nuptial ceremony celebrated in the township. There being no civil government in the county at this time the bridal party re- paired to the nearest point where a marriage license was obtainable, Indian- apolis, and there the couple was married.

Henry Statterly, born in 1820, son of Henry and Mary Statterly, was the first white child born in the township., He removed to the state of Iowa in early manhood.

PIONEER SCHOOLS.

The first school was opened in a cabin on the farm of Michael French, opposite Strawtown, in the winter of 1822. This school was conducted by Amos Palmer who the following winter conducted another school in the same locality. The second school was situated on the farm of William Dyer and the first school held there was presided over by James Steel, who has been described as a man of fine educational attainments. The building in which the Steel school was conducted was the first cabin erected especially for school purposes in White River township and was thus occupied in the years 1826, 1827 and 1828. It was later destroyed by fire. These schools were all sub- scription schools, the teacher receiving from one dollar and twenty-five cents to one dollar and seventy-five cents per pupil, and "boarding around," more often than not having his residence with the parents of his pupils. In later days the money known as the "congressional fund" was used to maintain schools and while that fund lasted the tuition was free, but it was sufficient only for one month of school, hence the remainder had to be made by sub- scription to meet the expense. Upon the enactment of the school law of 1852, a new era in education was begun in White River township. At present there are nine district schools in the township. At Walnut Grove is situated a modern township high school and graded school. The first manual training shop outside of a large city was established in this school under Myron Burton as principal. He also organized the first school orchestra of which he was a prominent member. Township fairs are now an annual occurrence at this school at which are exhibited not only all kinds of school work, but stock, farm and store products. At the fair held at Walnut Grove in October, 1914, two thousand people were present.

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The Ironwood Seminary building was built upon lands owned by Corne- lius Leeman, but afterwards was sold to Mr. Harvey. This building was erected by Jabez Brown with money raised by subscription and within its walls a school of unusual excellence for that early day was conducted, the same being patronized by the people residing in the northern part of the township. Jabez Brown, the originator of the building. was the first teacher.

EARLY MILLS AND NAVIGATION.

The first mill in the township was built by William Foster in 1821 and began operations in 1822. It was a short distance below Strawtown on what was later known as the Conden farm. It was operated as a saw mill with a corn cracker attached. On what is now known as the Shephard farm was built the first grist mill which was owned for about two years by Isaac Stephens, who then sold it to Daniel Kemp, whose family was among the earliest settlers in the township. To this mill was later added a saw mill, a carding machine and a still house. Navigation on White river ended at this point about two miles above Strawtown.

The first brick house in the township was erected by Zenas Beckwith in 1827, the brick for this building being manufactured on his farm. This house is still in a good state of preservation. One remarkable feature of the historic structure is a brick bake-oven built into the kitchen. A barn built in 1824 on the same farm stood for many years. This farm was entered in 1822 by Mr. Beckwith and has been in the family continuously to the present time.

PIONEER CHURCHES.

The first religious services were held in private houses as was the case in other nearby settlements. William Allman and James Freel, local preachers of the Methodist church. held services alternately in their own homes. About 1827 a class was organized at the house of Jonathan Carey where meetings were held for several years. A special house of worship was never erected and some years later the primitive congregation united with the Perkinsville church.

ADDITIONAL SETTLEMENTS.

For many years the settlements extended only along the streams, prin- cipally on White river, but about 1836 John Newby, Sr., settled four miles north of Strawtown. William James was at that time living one- half mile south of Newby's place but moved away within ten

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days following Newby's arrival. Other settlers near Newby included William Edwards, James and Jesse Justice, James Carey, William Wyant, Peter Carey, Ebenezer Holloway and others. Ebenezer Holloway owned the only grind stone in the neighborhood. A man named Birch, who lived on the Carey farm owned a yoke of oxen with which he hauled the logs used in the construction of the Newby home. These men constituted the first settlement north of White river. They united for mutual help and benefit in log rolling and cabin building. They cut the first road connecting their re- spective cabins. Kemp who owned the mill and still house on White river secured a road from his mill to Logansport. This road ran through the east- ern part of the settlement. The settlers did their milling at Kemp's and whatever trading they did was done at Strawtown. The first school building erected in this neighborhood was on the Carey land and Colburn Birch was the first teacher. Later a school house was built on Newby's land with Mr. Daugherty as teacher. The first church services were held at Mr. Carey's house, Elder Carvens and possibly Mr. Carey being the preachers. This meet- ing was held by the Methodist denomination. The second religious services held were at the home of Rev. Blount near the north line of the county in the interests of the Christian denomination. In 1863 this settler organization erected a church edifice and called it Bethany Christian church. The society of Friends organized at the village of Aroma in 1837 with eleven families enrolled. The Roman Catholic congregation was organized about 1840 by Father Backlen. Meetings were held at private homes until 1863, when John Buscher donated a lot at Aroma and a church was erected at an expense of eleven hundred dollars. The members donated their labor in the erection of this building. This church continued for some years to be the meeting place of the Catholics, but was later abandoned and at the present time the only Catholic church in the county is at Cicero. A cabin was built on the land of Henry Ault for the United Brethren church in which services were held for a number of years, but the congregation became scattered and the services finally were discontinued.

The towns of White River are about the same in extent that they have been since they were first laid out. Strawtown is the largest and while it has played its part well in our township and county history, it is today what it has been for years, with its church, school, store and blacksmith shop. About its old buildings, however, cluster many recollections of times past which endear it to the residents of Hamilton county. Aroma and Omega are two small villages, one in section eight in the northeast part of the township, the other in section ten, in the north central position.

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CHAPTER XIV.

NOBLESVILLE.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The city of Noblesville is the county seat of Hamilton county. It is situated on the east bank of White river on the west half of the southwest quarter of section 31. township 19 north, range 5 east. There were twenty-six squares in the original plat, not including fractional lots, the lots being sixty- six by one hundred thirty-two feet and the alleys sixteen and one-half feet.

About 1821 a lawyer from the East of the name of Josiah F. Polk came to the settlement near Horseshoe prairie. He and William Conner who quickly became friends, concluded that the future county seat would be located at or near the present site of Noblesville. Relying upon this conclusion they entered all the land necessary for such location, in order that they might be in a situation to offer inducements by way of donations for public buildings and similar improvements. The events of the next few years proved the accuracy of their foresight.

The town was laid out by William Conner and Josiah F. Polk in January. 1823. As Mr. Polk was then an unmarried man, but with prospects of soon becoming a Benedict, he then being betrothed to Miss Lavina Noble of Indi- anapolis, he asked the privilege of naming the new town. This favor was granted and accordingly he named the town Noblesville in honor of his lady love.

The first house built in Noblesville was for this same Mr. Polk, the struc- ture being erected by William Bush. In the first garden attached to this house or log cabin, the owner caused vegetables to be sown so as to spell the name of Miss Noble. This is said to have so angered the young lady in question that she refused to marry Mr. Polk, but the name of the town still stood the same.

A CONFLICT OF OPINION.

Authorities differ as to the naming of Noblesville. The above is the version of Mr. Shirts and other early historians. Others, however, claim

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the town was named after Senator James Noble. Perhaps both in a measure are correct for Mr. Polk gave the town its name before it was chosen as the county seat. When the town site was chosen as the county seat and it then was discovered that the young lady had "gone back on" Mr. Polk, perhaps people in general as well as later historians considered Senator Noble a more fitting sponsor for the new town. The following incident is told concerning Noblesville at this early date. William Ritchie and his wife were traveling through this part of the country one day when they saw a lonely log cabin in a small clearing. Mrs. Ritchie exclaimed, "What a nice log house here in the woods!" to which Mr. Ritchie replied sarcastically, "This is Noblesville."

In March, 1824, a majority of the commissioners appointed to select a site for the county seat of Hamilton county, to-wit : Martin M. Ray, Benjamin J. Blythe and John Sample after examining all the available sites as well as · inducements offered by other settlements except Strawtown, located the county seat at Noblesville, since which time Noblesville has remained as such. As an inducement Conner and Polk donated one-half of the lots owned by them for public improvements and public buildings, throwing in the public square and the fractional lots along White river for good measure.

EARLY ADDITIONS.

Subsequent additions were made to the original plat as necessity de- manded. The first addition was made by William A. Emmons in May 19, 1838, comprising four squares between Division street on the north and Vine street on the south. Other early additions were made by F. W. Emmons, Jacob Good, John D. Cottingham, Griffin Shaw and others.

A post office was established in Noblesville in 1823, with John D. Stephen- son as postmaster. The establishment of the post office was the first business done in town, and the duties of the office were so little pressing that the post- master could perform not only these but the further duties of the clerk of the court at the same time. Postmaster Stephenson was married to Miss Lavina Ross about 1824 and settled in Noblesville. To this union was born Malvina, the first female child born in Noblesville.

Among the early settlers of Noblesville were, Dr. John Finch, the first physician in the county, who died a few years later. F. B. Cogswell owned and operated the first tan yard, described elsewhere. Dr. H. W. Clark was another early physician. His cabin was erected on the north side of the square. In 1827 George .Shirts opened the first tavern in town, situated on

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the lots south of the old site of the Wainwright Hotel, on Eighth street. Up to a few years ago part of this building was still standing.

NOBLESVILLE'S FIRST SCHOOL.

The first school was conducted by R. L. Hannaman in a cabin on the corner of Maple avenue and Eighth street. A man by the name of Thomp- son, presided over the second school in the same place. Later a cabin on the corner of Tenth and Clinton streets was utilized for school purposes and a Mr. Simpson taught the youth of Noblesville in this building for several years. Next the school was moved to Sixth street and from there to a brick building on Logan street about two squares from the court house. T. J. Kane and P. C. Lawyer succeeded Simpson as teacher of the younger generation of Nobles- ville.

EARLY INDUSTRIES.

Among the early blacksmiths of Noblesville we find the names of Joseph Willason, William Finch, Israel Finch and John Pontius. To be a black- smith in those days required skill as well as brawn and muscle. From an iron rod a blacksmith of that time forged and turned all the horseshoes and horse- shoe nails used in his shop. He pounded iron into shape and manufactured from it all necessary articles incident to his business from bolts and taps to log chains.

The early shoe makers included the names of George Shirts, Jabaz Ross, Joseph Messick, Nathan Messick, Ebenezer Ridgeway, James Messick, Jr., and L. N. Granger. As with the other early artisans the shoemakers made their own pegs and wax. Mr. Shirts from "first hand information," his father being the first shoemaker, tells how the pegs were made. "A stick of sugar tree was taken from the wood pile and sawed into blocks the length of the pegs to be used. These were split into pieces the width of a peg. They were dried by the fire, then taken in bunches and held in the left hand. With the right hand the point of a shoe knife was inserted in a lap-board, the handle remaining in the hand. The material held in the left hand was then placed on the board immediately under the knife blade. The knife was worked with the right hand splitting the material into pegs. They also manufactured the wax used in such trade."

Among the first tailors were Mr. Cottingham, Stinson Massey, Jesse Sparks, Emery Powell, A. J. Passwater and William Granger.

Early physicians included John Finch, Jr., H. W. Clark, Amos Palmer,

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T. T. Butler, Perry, Shaw, Westerfield, Hull and Haines. Among the first merchants were William Conner, J. D. Stephenson, F. B. Cogswell, R. J. Conner, Moses Massey, J. K. Leaming, R. L. Hannaman, J. Lutz, Joshua Cottingham, A. P. Cassler, Ross, Cole, McDonald and others. A Mr. Guy and Charles Swain were the first harness makers. J. M. Mallery operated a turning lathe, manufactured all the chairs, tables and other furniture used at that time. In connection with his furniture establishment he did the under- taking of the town and vicinity. Ross & Martin also made furniture. The Wainwright's have the distinction of running the first tinware, stove and agri- cultural implement business, their first location being on the corner of Conner and Eighth streets, on the west side of Eighth street. Nearly seventy years ago Wesley Hare established a wagon and buggy manufactory, in a small log cabin. He began the business at the bottom in a small way and worked up. There was no machinery in those days to help him. All his work was done by hand, the broad axe, mallet, chisel, augers and such tools were the imple- ments of his trade. It was hard, up hill work but he persevered and his busi- ness prospered. Larger quarters becoming necessary, he removed his shop to a frame building at the corner of Conner and Tenth streets, after which his business increased more rapidly than before. Some time in the fifties the firm changed to Hare & Heylman, and continued under this firm name for many years when the partnership was dissolved. Wesley Hare continued in one line of business longer than any man in Noblesville, remaining, up to the time of his death about ten years ago, the senior member of the firm.

EARLY BUILDING ACTIVITIES.

Between the years 1830 and 1840 a number of cabins were erected in various parts of town by persons wishing to make their homes in Noblesville and were occupied as residences. Situated on the public square, elsewhere described in this volume, was the frame court house. The jail occupied the northwest corner and in 1832 a brick building known as the recorder's office was erected on the southwest corner. Business rooms also were built at vari- ous points around the public square. About 1835 B. F. Cogswell sold his tan yard, heretofore described, to Pleasant Williams. He then built a building, part business room and part residence, on the north side of the square. Mr. Williams removed the log cabin which had been the first tan yard, and built a frame residence in its stead. The first brick residence, a one-story building, was erected by Albert B. Cole about 1835. It is situated on the corner of Eighth and Maple avenue and was used as a residence for many years.

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About the years 1840, 1842 and 1843 the frame business rooms on the west side of the square which have recently been torn down and replaced by more modern structures, were erected respectively by William Conner, T. T. Butler, Guy Daubenspeck, and William Wooster. About 1848 Daniel Hare erected a frame business room on the corner of Conner and Ninth streets, in which he carried on his business until his death in 1850. About this time Dr. Shaw built the brick building known for years as the "Old Corner Drug Store." This building was condemned and torn down in the summer of 1914. Across the street on the lot now occupied by the Citizens State Bank, J. L. and W. N. Evans erected a frame business room. The timber and lumber for this building was framed at Augusta, Marion county, and hauled from that point on wagons. Other brick buildings were erected at various places. One which stood where the First National Bank now stands was used as a grocery up to a few years ago. It was built by William Conner and Massey.

NOBLESVILLE'S INCORPORATION.

In accordance with the provisions of an act of the general assembly of Indiana approved January 15, 1851, Noblesville was incorporated and known by the name of the corporation of Noblesville. Also in accordance with sec- tion two of that act an election was held to see in what favor the proposed corporation was held by the citizens and also to elect officers necessary for an incorporated town. The vote for incorporation stood fifty-four to two in favor. The result of the election of officers was as follows: Mayor, David Moss ; councilmen, J. M. Mallery, I. B. Loehr, Jesse Lutz, I. D. Stephenson, William Banchart ; treasurer, John J. Cox ; secretary, J. J. Patterson resigned and F. R. Cole was appointed in his place; marshal, Emery Powell : street commissioner, Joseph A. Messick.

On April 5, 1851, the first meeting of the town council was held, but no business other than perfecting the organization was transacted. J. D. Stephen- son, Jesse Lutz and David Moss were appointed to draft ordinances for the new corporation.

On April 21 following. Douglass Dale was appointed town engineer and on the 8th of May the committee on ordinances reported, their report being accepted. At the meeting of June 26, Jesse Sparks was appointed sexton of the burying ground and Elijah Cottingham was appointed town engineer. It was ordered also that the regular meetings of the council be held on the first Thursday in each month at the office of the mayor, David Moss.

On May 21, 1853. it was resolved, "That the town of Noblesville be

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henceforth incorporated in accordance with an act passed by the legislature of Indiana." On May 28, the board met at the court house and a seal was adopted as follows: "A sheaf of wheat surrounded by the words, 'Seal of the Corporation of Noblesville.' " At the same meeting, as a precaution against fire, it was "Ordered, that each owner of a building shall procure a ladder of sufficient length to reach to the top of the tallest buildings." Richard Miller was appointed fire warden and a number of fire hooks were ordered. James O'Brien was also appointed to revise the by-laws of the corporation. Under this incorporation trustees were chosen instead of councilmen.

A DREAD VISITATION.

In 1850 Noblesville met with quite a misfortune which retarded its pros- perity for some years. The town was visited by an epidemic of cholera, and many succumbed to the dread disease. Mr. Shirts ably gives us this account of the epidemic. "In the year 1850, L. N. Emmons, on his way from Wash- ington city to his home in Noblesville was attacked by the cholera. He died a few days after his arrival. As soon as it became known that Mr. Emmons had been attacked by the cholera fear and consternation overcame many good citizens of the town. Some of them made their way as soon as possible to the country ; others remained away from where they supposed they would likely be infected. Especially did they remain away from the stricken district and from those infected by the disease. There were, however, many noble men and womn who gave aid and comfort to the stricken ones during all their days of sorrow and trouble. Among those who succumbed to the disease, I recall the following: Mrs. Ross, mother of Mrs. Joseph Messick, and her brother ; Daniel Hare, wife and mother : Mr. A. Hare and one of his children; Andrew Passwater, Eliza Garver and two children. The citizens of Noblesville were again attacked by cholera in 1853, but the attack was not so fatal. It was a long time before the people recovered from the shock. Aside from the fear- ful loss of life, the town suffered in the loss of trade. It was a long while before the people of the surrounding country could be induced to visit Nobles- ville."

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History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 18

Author: John F. Haines Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1051

Author: John F. Haines
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051