History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 24

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 24

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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Mills and factories have not flourished in Fishers to any great extent. In 1912, a canning factory and grain elevator were built and are still in opera- tion. A saw mill was erected some years ago but was removed to Fortville in 1910 by Mr. Deakyne.

In 1874 Rev. D. D. Powell organized the first class of the Methodist Episcopal church in Fishers. There were fourteen original members and the first meetings were held in the school house. In 1875 the Methodists pur- chased the ground floor of the building in which it held meetings for years. "This building was erected as a union church and the Masonic order purchased the upper story, in which lodge meetings were held. Reverend Powell re- mained in charge three years. His immediate successors were Reverends Beall. I. J. Rhoades, R. B. Powell and Carpenter Curry. In 1873 a Sunday school was organized which had an average attendance of forty scholars. The new church was built in the early eighties and the pastors included Rev- erends Graham, Hunt, South, Dewitt, Kirk, Allbright, Bruner and Perry, . who is still in charge.

SCHOOLS AND COMMERCE.

One of the first merchants of Fishers was Wiley Dickson, who had a grocery and dry goods store here. He sold this store to Goodwin Flannagan, who later sold it to Jacob Demoret. The town then began to thrive rapidly and Mr. Demoret realized that his store was a very good investment. Owing to his shiftless disposition, however, Mr. Demoret had to sell his store after a few years to Henry Fisher. After a few months the store again changed hands and R. J. Craig became the possessor, but disliking the place he sold it to Anthony Snyder. Mr. Snyder kept the store awhile and then removed to another town. He sold it to Allen Harrison, who closed out the grocery and dry goods departments and opened a drug store. Then Mr. Harrison sold this and Arthur West opened a pool room and restaurant in the building. It passed from his hands to that of V. Trittipo, the present owner. Another store was that of S. W. Trittipo. His son. A. W. Trittipo, succeeded him and is the present owner. A few years afterward the Lefforge brothers started a store in Fishers, but they soon sold it to Eller & Beaver. This store handled groceries and meats. The store was later sold to T. List, who owned it about two years and then sold it to its present owner, Mr. Guilkey.

Noah Manship owned a store here which he sold to H. Eller, who in turn sold it to R. Harold, the present owner. This is now a hardware store. A

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new building that has recently been built is the store of Castetter brothers. A pool room recently has been established by William Hodgin.

The present school building at Fishers was built in the year 1907. There was an old school building at the present site of the new one. When the old one was torn down the records seem to have been lost. However, two reg- isters were found for the years 1900 and 1905. E. J. Lewellen was superin- tendent in the first year while W. M. Stafford held the office in the latter year. Mr. Hershman, Mr. Randall and Mr. Craig were some of the superintendents of the new building.

The Fishers National bank opened for business July 12, 1912, as officers : President, S. P. Scherer; first vice-president, J. P. Heath; second vice-presi- dent, J. B. Manship; directors, V. G. Black, J. E. Guilky, W. P. Clinton, R. E. Washington and T. A. Beaver.

The resident physicians of Fishers are J. P. Heath, A. W. T. Lyle and G. White. Among the doctors of an earlier day were A. Smith and C. T. Burkett.

STRAWTOWN AND WOODVILLE.

Strawtown is situated on the south bank of White river in White River township, seven miles northeast of Noblesville. Woodville, no longer in existence, was situated on the bank of the river south of the bridge now span- ning the river at that point. Woodville was laid out by Jesse M. Wood, July 23, 1829. The first taverns were kept by Wood, Carey, Wallace and Cole, all in Woodville. Bicknell Cole started the first general store in this village in 1836. The first license to sell liquor in the county was granted to James Hughy at his home in Woodville in January, 1831.

Strawtown was laid out by Bicknell Cole and William Conner just west of and adjoining Woodville. Gradually Woodville lost its identity and was merged with that of the younger town till the whole became known, as at the present time, as Strawtown. Among the first settlers in Strawtown and vicinity besides those already mentioned, we find the names of Zenas Beck- with, Henry Foland, Lambert and Jerry Heath, A. Johnson, Jacob Hyer, John Shintaffer and Caleb Harrison. The latter belonged to a notable family. Besides being a soldier in the War of 1812, he was in the battle of Tippe- canoe, assisted in firing the first alarm guns on that memorable occasion and had a bullet shot through the top of his hat. He was a relative of Colonel Harrison of the Thirty-ninth Indiana Regiment of 1861. He died at Straw- town in 1833, leaving three or four sons, all now deceased. Some of his grandchildren are yet living in Hamilton county.

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John Shintaffer's cabin stood on the first hill from the north of Straw- town near the brick house afterward erected by Dr. Grubbs. It was at this place Shintaffer had his trading post in the early days. Chief among his stock was whiskey and his post was largely patronized by the Indians. Be- cause of the presence of the demon rum here was enacted the historic battle between the white men and the Indians resulting in the murder of Fisher, an innocent white man, and two or three Indians. Shintaffer, the guilty man, gathered a few of his effects into a canoe and departed for parts unknown. He never was heard of afterward. A full account of this battle is given elsewhere in this history.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Strawtown is mentioned by early historians as being an important Dela- ware town from the fact that it was located on one of the principal routes from the White River towns to the ancient capital of the Miami nation. Subse- quently occupying a position on the leading route from the older settlements in Wayne county across the state to the Indian towns on the Wabash and Lower Tippecanoe, it early acquired prominence among travelers as a convenient stopping place and the primitive highway became known as the "Strawtown Route."

Various reasons are assigned for the name Strawtown. An early in- habitant attributes the derivation of the name to an old Indian chief of the name of Strawbridge, the head of the Indian band living in the old village. In Chamberlain's Indiana Gasettecr (1850), we find a description of the vil- lage. Professor Cox, another authority, says, "Strawtown, so named after an Indian chief."

It frequently has been stated that Strawtown was one of the rival points in the canvass for the state capital. Quoting Professor Cox again : "Straw- town was, in an early day, a noted trading post, directly on the route from the Ohio to the Indian towns on the Wabash river. It was also one of the sites mentioned as a suitable location for the capital of the state." While there seems to be no direct account that Strawtown missed being the capital by one vote except as a sort of tradition handed down from one generation to another, yet it is difficult to set aside a belief so general as purely legendary, for it evidently has some foundation in fact.

If the early citizens of Strawtown expected the state capital at that place, they met then their first great defeat. Again, in the selection of the county seat, if Strawtown hoped for the honor she again was doomed to disappoint-

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ment for the report of the board of county commissioners said expressly that they examined all sites offered "with the exception of Strawtown, which we thought not necessary, it being at so great a distance from the center of the county."

Doctor Palmer was the first physician in Strawtown or Woodville, as he was there before Strawtown was laid out. J. K. Leaming kept a store at his farm below Strawtown even before Bicknell Cole started his general store in the village. Other merchants were Conner & Cole, Conner & Stephenson, and Cole & Ross. A great deal of business and trade was carried on here in the early days, especially with the travelers. When this ceased to be an ob- jective point for travelers, trade fell off and the town finally settled down into a quiet country village with its country store, blacksmith shop and dis- trict school. At the present time it does not even boast a postoffice. Since the rural mail routes came into operation, it is but a "rural route." South- east of Strawtown there was an addition to the town called "Neck of the Woods." It never was regularly laid out, but a few cabins were built there and for many years it was known as "the annex."

EARLY LAWLESSNESS.

Among the attractions at Strawtown in the early days was a race track near Jacob Hyer's distillery where whisky could be had at any and all times.

One feature which worked greatly against the healthy growth of the town was the lawlessness of a majority of the early inhabitants. An early citizen is reported to have said, "We had our groceries, which were little more than low drinking saloons, and some good men were ruined by their evil sur- roundings. We had bad citizens, and there was a lack of enterprise: other towns outgrew us, and, by the time we had relieved ourselves of the lawless element and our good men had taken control, we awoke to the fact that the business which formerly came to Strawtown had been diverted to other points, and our loss was beyond retrieve." The establishment of the "groceries" (properly spelled "groggeries") gave the town and vicinity a most unenviable reputation for evil and bad conditions. Not a single church building was erected in Strawtown until after the Civil War. Most of the influences were on the wrong side. There were some good men and women in the com- munity, but they were in the minority. Mr. Shirts gives this incident to show the moral standing of the community: "One of the evidences of the state of society as late as 1849, was shown in the murder of a man by the name of Davis by John Murphy. Davis and Murphy had a quarrel which

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did not at that time result in a fight. Murphy was a clerk in a store in the town. Davis afterwards came into the store. A quarrel ensued and Davis was stabbed by Murphy with a knife, causing his death. Murphy was in- dicted by the grand jury for murder in the first degree. He was tried on this charge at the October term of the Hamilton circuit court. The jury failed to agree. It was reported that all of the jurors favored conviction. The jury was discharged. Murphy asked for a change of venue from the county, which was granted. The case lingered for a long time in another county and was either dismissed or tried, resulting in an acquittal. Murphy was prose- cuted by G. H. Voss and defended by Stone and Garver at the first trial."

But in spite of the unpleasant facts in much of her history, nevertheless Strawtown has many things of which she may well boast. Almost every foot of ground is historic soil, for here were enacted many stirring events in those early days. Here were made some of the earliest settlements of the county. Here, too, was the home of the Indians, and before them, so long that not even the oldest Indians had any idea as to the identity of the earlier occupants of these lands, lived the ancient Mound Builders. One of the most notable mounds or fortifications is to be found in the vicinity of Strawtown and is elsewhere described minutely. In 1880 the following names were among the business men : Coy & Ross; postoffice and general merchandise; Samuel Sperry, groceries ; I. D. Fenley and A. Knapp, blacksmiths ; Dr. J. S. Brown and Dr. T. J. Smith, physicians.

. At present this town, with a state-wide reputation for what it was in the past is now a quiet country hamlet distinguished only by its former greatness. Present merchants are Roy Foust, general store; Otto Stage, hardware; Roll Moore, blacksmith. Lee Groves was the last postmaster.

THE FORT AND MOUND.

The work of the Mound Builders found in Hamilton county is not as extensive or varied in character as in other counties in our state, but neverthe- less the Strawtown Mound is very interesting to the residents of Hamilton county and in some ways is distinctive and different from mounds in general. The Strawtown Mound is situated on the Roy Castor farm in White River township in the southeast part of the northwest quarter of section 3. town- ship 19 north, range 5 east, near the center of the section. In 1875 the state geologist, Professor E. T. Cox, made a visit to the mounds and gave the fol- lowing description of his trip: "Through the kindness of General Moss and William M. Locke, I obtained the skull and ornaments for the state collection.

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I was taken by General Moss and Mr. Locke to Strawtown, seven miles from Noblesville, to see some prehistoric earth works. They are now in a cultivated field owned by J. R. Parker. The corn and weeds were so thick it was im- possible to make an accurate or even satisfactory examination of the works. The main work is a circle about three hundred feet in diameter, thrown up in the center, but apparently level and surrounded by a ditch that Mr. Parker says was about six feet deep when he first saw it. Fifty yards to the south of the large circle is a lesser circle about fifty feet in diameter and now almost obliterated. The site of these works is on the second bottom of White river about a quarter of a mile from the bank and thirty feet above the overflow. Be- tween the earth inclosures and the river there is a mound which commands an extensive view up and down White river. The large inclosure is one of the very few in the Mississippi valley that has the ditch on the outside, and it therefore is worthy of more careful study."

Later, accurate measurements were made of the mound. It was found that the principle inclosure is situated about seven hundred feet west of the river on an elevated point of land extending in a northwesterly direction into the bend of White river. This elevated point of land overlooks a strip of low bottom land varying in width from four hundred feet on the east to three thousand feet on the west, with a similar view north and south. The prin- cipal mound is a circle with a diameter measuring two hundred eighty feet from side to side. From this point the outer slope to the middle of the ditch surrounding it is about twenty feet, the ditch originally having been about thirty feet wide and nine feet deep, the earth and gravel therefrom forming the mound in the center. Inside the inclosure the middle area was originally, no doubt, of equal elevation with the surface outside. There is very little doubt that the purpose of this mound was for defense, the ditch outside being de- signed to resist assault. From time to time various specimens of bones, pot- tery, flint, arrow heads, etc., have been found, though no thorough and sys- tematic search has ever been made of the contents of the mound. In the spring of 1914 some men were plowing over that part of the field included in the ancient mound and they unearthed about two bushel baskets full of human bones. At various times in the past such discoveries had been made but this ·was the first disclosure of this sort for several years. The ditch surrounding the fort is becoming less and less distinct as the years go by, and, though it still can be plainly seen, in the course of a few more years the hand of Father Time probably will completely obliterate it.

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CLARKSVILLE.

Clarksville was laid out in September of the year 1849 by Abraham Nicholson. It was named after the founder, Nicholsonville, which later was changed to its present name, Clarksville. This town is situated five and one-half miles southeast of Noblesville, on the Noblesville and Pendleton road. Mr. Nicholson, the founder of the early town, was the first merchant and the first postmaster. His store was the only one at that point for several years. Besides his other interests, he also operated a tannery. Mr. Commons opened the first blacksmith shop in the town. The successors of Abraham Nicholson in the mercantile business were Conners & Massey, Henry P. Crull and Henry Heiny. William Nicholson succeeded his father in the tannery business. Later on Garrett Wall purchased the tannery. At an early date Benjamin Heiny built a saw mill and operated it successfully. Henry Heiny was the first justice of the peace and Dr. P. P. Whitesell was one of the pioneer physicians.

In 1867, by a vote of its citizens, the village became an incorporated town. Dr. P. P. Whitesell, D. D. Caylor and J. R. Leonard were elected school trustees, and also served as councilmen for that year. In 1868 Arm- strong Bealtain, Harrison Nicholson and J. R. Leonard were elected council- men; Edward Heiny, marshal, and Edward Randall, clerk. These were the first officers of the town. After serving for two years they were succeeded by others. In 1880 there were several stores in town, Joseph Beckwith, drugs and groceries ; W. A. Alcon, groceries; John Kepler, wagon maker; McCarty & Shawcross, blacksmiths, and Dr. P. P. Whitesell being among those now recalled as having been in business.

For many years Clarksville was quite an important little town, but with the advent of railroads it lost its early prestige. Clarksville was not situated so that any railroad came near its limits and its early importance gradually waned. It is still a pleasant residence village, but the only business interest now are its country store operated by Samuel Crull and its blacksmith shop, owned by Ross Layton.

About thirty years ago Clarksville gave up its identity as an incorporated town and has since that time been under county supervision.

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

The huckster wagon makes its daily rounds of the country and village and the churches and schools compose the religious, educational and social

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centers. With the advent of rural mail delivery, Clarksville gave up its post- office and became a rural route of Noblesville.

The early schools of Clarksville were taught about three-quarters of a mile west of the town and were kept up by the subscription methods until 1854. Free public schools under the new law then were inaugurated and ever since that time Clarksville has had excellent graded schools. The present school is about one-fourth of a mile east of the village and has two rooms, a primary room and a grammar-grade room.

The first school house in Clarksville was erected in 1867. This school originally was conducted as a graded school and so continued for a few terms. Later the school declined and was conducted as a district school. At present the school is under the township trustee, but is graded, as are all the schools in the county.

The Methodist congregation has no church within the limits of Clarks- ville, but those living in and near the town belong to Bethel church, one and one-half miles west of town.

Members of the German Baptist church living in or near Clarksville worshipped at the church one and three-fourths miles west of town.

The Christian church is the only denomination having a church house within the limits of Clarksville. This congregation was organized in 1860 by Rev. Thomas Burnan. The organization met at school houses until its church was built, two years later. The immediate successors of the first pastor in- cluded Reverends Hodson. Exline, Butterfield, Dale, White and others. The church always has been in a flourishing condition and its members are loyal and true to their religious faith.

OMEGA.

Omega is a small place in White River township, twelve miles north and - four miles east of Noblesville. It usually is called Dog Town. This latter name originated with Finley Smock, a mail carrier of the earlier days, who is reported to have declared that he never saw so many dogs as there were in the settlement and he thought it ought to be called Dog Town. Since then Omega has been known by that name. Omega has three stores, two hardware stores and a grocery. The hardware store is in the east end of town and is owned by Jesse Quear. It formerly was a grocery and drug store combined. but in 1892 Mr. Quear discontinued this line and opened a hardware store. The important feature of the grocery store is the numerous owners it has had. It first was owned in partnership by Jacob Millegan, Willis Carpenter, John Carroll, Franklin Newby and O. C. Lower. They moved it across the

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road and rebuilt it. The next owners were L. L. Hankley and Lemuel Dar- row. Mr. Darrow soon sold his share to Frank Hobbs and the new firm of Hankley & Hobbs soon sold it to G. B. Moore. Next it was sold to A. G. Worley, who owns it at the present time. The other hardware store always has been combined with the grocery. In the east part of Omega is the black- smith shop. It has had the following owners: James Quear, Dayton Paff, Joseph Paff and Berlin Rogers, the latter now owning the shop. In the north end of the town is the poultry house owned by Charles Caca. The saw mill in the west end of town is owned by Grant Caca. Omega has one church. It started with about sixty members, but now has about five hundred en- rolled. It was rebuilt in 1909.

The first school house was a one-roomed building located in the north part of town. A brick school house later was built in the east part of town. In 1902 this building was destroyed by fire and while the new school house was being erected school was held in the church. The present school building also is of brick and much finer than the one it succeeded. It has the name of being the finest and best district school house in the township. The teachers who have taught in the primary room since the new school house was built are as follows: Cannie Hendricks, one year; Vune Carson, three years; Mrs. E. B. Foster, three years: Golda Burton, two years; Hazel Holloway, one year, and Eva Leeman, three years. Iva Brown is the present primary- grade teacher. The intermediate teachers since the new school house was built are as follows: Howard Roberts, one year; Edward Quear, three years : Cleve McCarty, three years; E. B. Foster, three years; Joseph Thayer, one year ; Edward Quear, two years, and Myrl Knapp, one year. Mr. Knapp is teaching at the present time.

The postoffice at Omega was presided over by the store keepers for four years. It was discontinued upon the establishment of the rural free delivery system. Finley Smock is the present carrier, the mail being sent out from Atlanta. .

It is about seventy years since any Indians have been seen in Omega. About that time two Indians walked through Omega and said they were on their way from Strawtown to Peru, where there was an Indian settlement at that time.

BOXLEY.

Boxleytown, as it was formerly called, but now shortened to Boxley, is one of the oldest settlements in the county. It was laid out in 1836 by

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Addison and Thomas P. Boxley and is the first town site in Adams town- ship. In the Indiana Gasetteer of 1850 this item is given concerning Boxley : "Boxleytown, a small village in the northwest part of Hamilton county, on the road from Strawtown to Kirklin, with a population of one hundred twenty-five. The town was first called Aberdine, but later changed to its present name in honor of George Boxley."

The land forming the town site formerly belonged to Addison Boxley and the site was formed by dividing some of his land into lots and selling the same. The founders of the town, Addison and Thomas Boxley, were also the first store keepers. Dr. Thomas P. Boxley was the first postmaster, in which capacity he served for many years. One year after the founding of the town it became a Democratic community. The first township election was held, and Reuben Tansey was elected justice of the peace. The first white child born in the township, Vinton Spencer, was born in the year 1830 within a few miles of Boxley. Also the first marriage in the township oc- curred at this place in 1833, the contracting parties being Stephen Blevens and Elsie Mckinsey.

In the early days Boxley played a very important part in the history of the county. It was on the road from Strawtown to Wabash, and as roads were scarce in those days all the travel between those points passed that way. Addison Boxley also kept a tavern, the first in the township. His house was very well patronized by emigrants passing over the route.

No mill was built in or near Boxley for a number of years. In 1861 Robert Drake erected a saw mill and later to this was added a grist mill. Among the business men besides those already named are enrolled the names of Smith & Rodeman, George Palmer, J. R. Ogle and Steffy Brothers. The physicians include J. M. Richardson, T. J. McMurty and J. C. Newby.

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History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 24

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

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