History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 25

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

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In the way of religion the Methodist church came in the early days. In 1837 the Methodists began holding meetings. An organization was formed and attached to the Noblesville circuit. The first meetings, as was always customary in pioneer days, were held in private houses. Later, when a school house was erected, religious services were conducted there. The Methodists built their first church in 1852. The Christian church was not organized as early as the Methodist church, but in one way the later organization out- stepped the Methodists, as theirs was the first and only church building in the town for several years. It was a log house .. In 1844 the Wesleyan Metho- dists organized a class in the old school house at Boxley under the leadership of Eben Teter. Later a protracted meeting was held, the new organization

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being granted the use of the Christian church. Two years later, 1846, Mr. Teter donated a lot for a new building, upon which a church was erected.

The schools in the township prior to 1852 were maintained by private subscription and were conducted in various places over the township. The first building erected under the new regime was at Boxley in the year 1854 and the education of the young has grown and flourished from that time to the present.

EAGLETOWN.

Eagletown is in Washington township, ten miles west of Noblesville, on the Noblesville and Lebanon road. It was laid out on land owned by Ephraim Stout and Jesse Walter, by the latter in March, 1848. Contrary to the usual method of naming a town it was not called after either of its founders, but was named Eagletown. Cyrus Bowman and F. Wells were the first mer- chants and Barker & White were the pioneer drug men. Nathan Pike opened the first blacksmith shop. In later years the only store in town was conducted by W. C. Vance.

In 1865 N. White and Samuel and Joseph Cloud built the Eagletown flour mill. They operated the mill about four years and then sold it to Imri Hunt, who, in turn, sold it to Henry Deer. Later George Hamilton bought the property and in 1874 he removed the machinery to Fishers, where a custom mill was erected. In '1877 Henry Couch erected a saw mill in Eagle- town.

The first religious organization in Eagletown was known as the Union Christian Band and was organized at the Number Eleven school house, near Eagletown, in 1859. This band held its meetings in the school house for about a year. In 1860 a church building was erected and named "Union Blue." This organization flourished for a few years, then many of its members dying or moving away, there was scarcely enough of the original "Band" to hold a meeting. As it was impossible to hold services regularly the or- ganization donated its building to the United Brethren congregation, which removed the building to Eagletown and thereafter union meetings were con- ducted in the church at stated periods. The United Brethren organized their denomination in 1850. Their first house of worship was a log cabin, but later they accepted the Christian Band's house, as related above. The early ministers were Reverends Hamilton, Winsett and Sherrill.

In 1841 or 1842 the Friends organized a meeting near Eagletown in a log cabin, which stood on Ephraim Stout's land. When this meeting was organized it was composed of about fifteen members, who continued to hold

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their services in this log cabin for about two years. Then a house of wor- ship was erected. This meeting was composed of members who withdrew from the Westfield meeting on account of the division about slavery. The Eagletown congregation was intensely anti-slavery band of Friends. A com- fortable church was built in Eagletown in 1855, where meetings were held every alternate month. The membership numbered more than a hundred at one time.

AROMA.

At the time when Aroma was being settled the people lived in log cabins with dirt for a floor. Later they would take logs and split them into slabs and used these for a floor. This was called a puncheon floor. Their doors were made in the same way as their floors. The doors were so large that they could hitch a horse to a log and pull it into the house for the fire place. They used greased paper for windows. In the end of these log cabins were large fire places and huge sections of logs which were used for seats. The chimneys were made of brick and mud. Before the people began a general settlement here there were many wild animals.

Th people of that time spent most of their time hunting and clearing the forests. They built their log cabins in the thick forests. At night they could hear the barking and growling of the wolves. Among those who made early settlement at Aroma were William Leeman, John Harvey, William Allen, B. B. Johnson, Walter Jack, Lexional Beeson, . James Whitehead, Jacob Likens, Samuel Templeton, Jaiah Williams, George Carpenter, Henry Williams and Charles Harvey.

The first school house at Aroma was a frame structure, in which logs were used for seats. Slates were used to write on instead of paper. Now the town has a large brick building, with two large rooms and two small halls, with from forty to sixty desks to each room.

Among the teachers who have taught here are: Floyd Zimmerman, James Broils, Kate Potter, George Blacklage, Arch Mathews, Squire Math- ews, David Illys, A. E. Martz, Michael Shields, Simon Lacy, Tyner Weaver, John Teeters, Charles Conway, Alvin Johnson, Arch Roberts, Edward Mor- gan, Charles Carter, Edward Foster, May Williams, Emma Moore, Clara Simpson. Susan Tescher, Dora Morris, Leota Bray, Cannie Hendricks, Grace Thayer, Roy Copple. Bertha Caylor, Nellie Ryan, Matilda Flora, Cleve Mc. Carty and Mabel Carpenter.

Among the trustees have been David Zimmerman, Simeon Basey, Loren Hankley. Fred Tescher, George Carpenter and Roy Foust.

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William P. Haworth, of Illinois, came to the spot where Aroma now stands at an early date and built a small store. The people kept demanding a name for his "town." So he sent in the name Aroma, since which time the town has gone by this name. Later certain scoffers dubbed it with the name of Toadlope, because, they said, one could hear the frogs along the creek croaking "Toadlope, toadlope, toadlope !"

William Leeman, John Harvey and George Carpenter built the first public road through Aroma. It was made about 1838. They collected a number of men and cleared the right of way for the proposed road. The men brought several teams of oxen and plowed the highway, finally getting it in a passable condition. Now it is known as a very fine pike. This road runs east and west.

The different store keepers that have kept store at Aroma are Mr. Griff, William P. Haworth, Henry Williams, William Harvey, Ross Cooper, Ben- jamin Rummel, Joseph Babbitt, Charles Harvey, Newton Edinson, Charles Worley and Lee Dubois.

The postmasters have been Joseph Babbitt and Newton Edinson, who kept the office in their store. The first mail carrier were Mahlon Essic and Dunn. Mahlon Essic carried mail from Arcadia to Aroma on horse back. Later he purchased a wagon and two horses and he hauled passengers and mail each way.

The first church built in Aroma was under the direction of the Meth- odists. It was erected in 1878. The ministers who have preached here are : Reverends Bogue, Harriot, Turner, Fish, Gross, Crone, Green, Barrit, Nor- ris, Kerr, Bailor and Fisher.

NEW BRITTON.

New Britton is situated four miles south of Noblesville, on the Lake Erie & Western railroad. It was laid out by William Brandon March 8, 1851. The original plat contained eight lots and was situated on the south- west quarter of the northwest quarter of section 30. Additions were made to the original plat by Sidney Cropper in 1872, and by W. H. Cyrus in 1874.

The pioneer merchant was a man named Brozier. A blacksmith shop was opened soon after Brozier opened a general merchandise store. Doctor Cyrus was the first physician in New Britton. Samuel Trittipo succeeded Mr. Brozier in business, adding grain buying to the original business. The post- office was in the general store and was kept by Brozier and Trittipo in turn. In 1862 Sydney Cropper bought land adjoining the town on the west. He

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became justice of the peace and opened a blacksmith and repair shop, in which he did quite a flourishing business.

New Britton remained what it was in the beginning, a country village, for many years. But now, for several years, it has been no town at all. It is the center of a good farming community, however, and as such is good to have in our midst. It takes its place in history from the fact that two of the five commissioners appointed to locate the capital of the state voted to locate the same upon what was called the Conner Bluff, on the east bank of White river ,only one mile west of where New Britton stood. The school house is . one mile east of where the town stood. The Methodist church was organized in 1852 in the school house above named. The Methodist church declined after some years. Then, in 1868, it was reorganized and since that time meetings have been held by this denomination.

DEMING.

The village of Deming is situated on the southwest corner of Jackson township. The town was laid out in 1837 by Elihu Pickett, Solomon Pheanis and Lewis Jessup. The first name given the prospective town was Farming- ton, but it was discovered there was already a postoffice in Indiana by that name, so the name Deming was selected instead. The first store was operated by Elihu Pickett and the second by Joseph Hadley. B. F. Holliday was the first blacksmith and Allen Meek the second. Milton Stanley operated a tan yard in the early days.

In 1865 the Methodists built a church, though for some years previous they had met for worship in the school house. The first mill was erected in 1865, but when the town was laid out a "corn cracker" mill was running one- half mile east, which met the early demands of the residents in and around Deming.

MATTSVILLE.

Mattsville is a small village on the south bank of Cool creek, eight miles southwest of Noblesville, in Delaware township. There was at one time a postoffice at Mattsville, but since the rural delivery system was inau- gurated it is a rural route from Carmel. The nearest church and school are east of the village. The church is White Chapel. Mattsville, since it was laid out, always has been a country village and it probably will never be any more pretentious than it is at present.

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EKIN.

Ekin is a small village situated four miles west of Atlanta, on the line between Tipton and Hamilton counties. It is the center of a good farming community and is a prosperous little village, with its blacksmith shop, physi- cian, school and church.

JOLIETVILLE.

Jolietville is a small village in the western part of Washington town- ship. The early business men were: Lewis Bowers, dry goods and grocer- ies; A. J. Garnett and O. N. Herron, drug stores. Jolietville today is much as it has been from the beginning. It probably always will be a simple rural village with its country store, school and church.

HOME PLACE.

During the summer of 1914 a new town was laid out in Hamilton county called Home Place. It is on the traction car line south of Carmel. As yet there is only one house in Home Place, but it is understood many of the lots are sold and other homes will be erected. There is never to be a saloon within its limits and no house erected there is to cost less than $1,300.

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CHAPTER XVI.

TRANSPORTATION.

HIGHWAYS, RAILROADS, ELECTRIC LINES, CANALS.

The first roads in Hamilton county were the Indian trails, narrow, wind- ing paths through the forests, beaten by many feet traveling in single file, not differing greatly from paths made by animals. If the systems of Indian trails could be drawn on a map, as they once crossed and criss-crossed, it would make a surprising network of paths. But at the present date we know only of the trails which later became the common roads of travel for the set- tlers, traders and trappers who came to the county. One of the earliest was the trail by which the first settlers came to Horseshoe Prairie from Conners- ville to Newcastle, Anderson, thence to the mouth of Stony creek, thence down White river, to William Conner's post. Emigrants going from other points to Lafayette and points north came over the same trail but continuing their way to Strawtown, thence across the county, passing near the present site of Sheridan, and on to their destination. From 1818, for several years, this was the main thoroughfare through Hamilton county. Later, as various settlements were established, neighborhood roads were cut by the settlers for their own convenience. They took the easiest route, avoiding marshes and mud holes, in consequence of which many of these neighborhood roads had to be changed later, as they very often passed through a settler's land, but their readjustment all came about in due time.

THE BLAZED TRAILS.

After the New Purchase, including Hamilton county, was purchased from the Indians in 1818, many state roads were proposed and surveyed into new lands. These were called state roads and were distinguished from the neighborhod roads by the different manner of blazing on the trees along the route-three marks on the tree indicating the former and one mark the latter. Oftentimes, in the early days, the only indication of a road of any kind was the blazed trail. In our county many of the surveyed state roads remained

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such till the settlers turned out and cleared the roads, which even then didn't become "good roads" for many years. Through the swampy low lands and river bottoms the roads of our county were ballasted with corduroy up to the last forty or fifty years. The following is a description by one who traveled over these roads: "A corduroy road is made of unhewn boles or trees laid side by side on the earth. A slip is nailed across each end to keep them in their places; and the wheels, whether of carriage or wagons, fall from bole to bole with the regularity of the thumps and stops with which the wheels of a watch play into and arrest each other. Sometimes the hollow between pros- trate trunks of trees is partially filled up with earth; and then, of course, the jolts are less severe."

In the early days of our history roads were usually classified as township, county, and state roads. Cartways, for neighborhood convenience, were es- pecially local in character and hence were but eighteen feet wide. Township roads, being of greater consequence, were from twenty-four to thirty feet in width, while county roads of still more general use, were from thirty-three to forty feet wide. All the county roads were marked and cut under the direc- tion of the county board, while the state roads, as indicated by the name, were under state or national authority. Some of the main routes of travel were surveyed as early as 1827-28. -

OLD STATE ROADS.

By an act of the Legislature February 10, 1831, the sum of four hundred dollars, obtained from the fund known as the "three per cent. fund," was appropriated to each county in the state for the maintenance and improve- ment of state roads within their respective limits. According to the pro- visions of this act it was ordered that the "four hundred dollars be appro- priated in the county of Hamilton; one hundred and fifty dollars on the Lafayette state road, under the direction of the commissioners heretofore appointed thereon; one hundred and fifty dollars on the Crawfordsville state road, to be appropriated under the direction of the commissioners heretofore appointed thereon ; and one hundred dollars on the Winchester state road, and Winburn Davis, commissioner, to appropriate the same."

The following are the principal state roads in Hamilton county : Straw- town and Lafayette state road, located in 1830; Peru state road, 1830; state road from Cumberland to Noblesville, located in 1839. In the same year a state road was opened from Boone county by way of Boxley to the Peru . state road. The Indianapolis and Fort Wayne state road was improved and

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extended also in 1839 and Westfield and Strawtown were also connected to the Peru state road the same year, the Winchester and Indianapolis state road being located in 1824. In 1843 a road was authorized from Noblesville to Wabash. The Noblesville and Pendleton road also was an early state road. Mr. Z. Warren gives us the following account of the first roads through Carmel: "Somewhere about 1835 the state road, now Main street, was hacked out from Indianapolis to Kokomo, and the county road, now our Main Cross street, a little later. The bushes were cut and some trees most in the way. Big logs were in some places left to be gone around. A little north of L. J. Small's drug store was a large log lying across the road and they put first chunk on it, burning enough away for one on horseback or afoot to pass through, but a wagon had to go around it."

THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY.

The Lincoln Highway is to pass through Hamilton county on the range line passing through Westfield from Indianapolis to South Bend. The fol- lowing is an account of a meeting of the directors, published by the Nobles- ville Ledger in October, 1914: "At a meeting of the directors of the Central . Indiana Lincoln Highway, Tuesday, October 27, 1914, was designated 'Good Roads Day' along the entire length of the route from Indianapolis to South Bend. It will be the duty of the Lincoln Highway organization in each county to get its forces organized and induce the farmers along the route to turn out that day in force and assist in repairing the road.

"The meeting was held in the business men's club room at the Y. M. C. A. Representatives were present from all the counties along the route- Marion, Tipton, Hamilton, Howard, Miami, Fulton, Marshall and St. Joseph. Hugh McCaffrey, of Peru, was elected permanent chairman of the organiza- tion. Eight vice-chairmen-one for each of the counties interested-were chosen. J. Frank Lindsey was made secretary and J. A. Kautz, treasurer.

"Action was taken making H. P. Loveland, of Peru, chairman of the Legislative committee, which contains sixteen members and is charged with the work of instructing the next General Assembly to pass an act creating a State Highway Commission. The committee has been instructed to get into touch with the tentative committee appointed by Governor Ralston, which is now serving.

"A motion was passed, instructing O. C. Smith and T. C. McReynolds · to obtain from Fred Davenport, a Kokomo contractor, the specifications for the permanent construction of the Lincoln Highway, and also the specifica-

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tions for the repair work that is to be done on the road pending the installation of the permanent work.

"The meeting was a busy one throughout. . It revealed that the men who are back of the Lincoln Highway projected in this section are in earnest. They believe the range line, through Westfield, has a cinch on the Indianapo- lis-South Bend branch, but they intend to make it an absolute certainty by putting the road in such fine condition that it will be out of the question for a State Highway Commission to consider any other route."

PASSING OF THE TOLL GATES.

From the early beginning of roads, Hamilton county has developed splendid roads connecting all points within her boundaries. In the early days, when a road or a section of it was a private enterprise and kept in repair by individuals, toll gates were established all over the county, where a small sum was exacted before the traveler could pass on. The first toll gate in the county was established in White River township. Across an especially difficult ford, a trapper and hunter built a bridge for the crossing of which he demanded toll. Later many toll gates dotted the roads of the county. Many of the old toll gate houses, built low and with an extending porch like a large arm reaching to the roadway, may still be seen in the county, though most of them are remodeled and disguised so their original purpose is not always apparent. At present good roads and many of them, in all directions and connecting all points, are the pride of the county. In 1914 there were three hundred miles of gravel roads in Hamilton county, as shown by the County Highway Superintendent's report. Until 1914 the county commis- sioners looked after the work on the roads .. Mr. Marvin Jessup is the first highway superintendent. During the year 1914 the sum of fifty-seven thou- sand dollars was spent upon the gravel roads of the county. Mr. Jessup says he has regraveled one hundred twenty-five miles of roads and graded and dragged more miles of highway than was ever known to be done in the county before in one year. Forty years ago there was not a free gravel road in the county ; now practically every point in the county may be reached on excellent gravel roads without any toll being charged for the privilege.

THE FIRST RAILROAD.

The first railroad through the county was known as the Peru and In- dianapolis Railroad. This was also one of the first railroads in the state. In

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1846 a charter was granted authorizing the construction of the road between the two points named. W. J. Holman, of Miami county, is given much of the credit as the originator of the project. The scheme was considered a visionary one and by many was regarded as impossible of fulfillment. Sev- eral people in Hamilton county owned a small amount of stock in the new railroad and it was said each stockholder was given a free ride when the road was completed and that was all that ever was paid in dividends. Some of the objections raised to the construction of the railroad seem very odd now. Many thought the high freight rates would make it impracticable, except for the wealthy class, and that the road would be used only as a luxury. Others said, "It will ruin home industries. All the farmers and home people will go to Indianapolis or elsewhere to trade." Others said, "It will destroy the business of the tavern keepers." But in spite of pessimistic prophecies the construction of the railroad went on, though through many difficulties. In March, 1851, the first train came to Noblesville, the road thus far being a flat bar road. The remainder was not completed until 1854.

A curious little incident is told in connection with the arrival of the first steam cars in the county. Mrs. Rebecca Maker, grandmother of Squire Hugh Maker, was in the midst of "maple sugar making." The boiling kettles of syrup had to be watched very closely to prevent boiling over. Mrs. Maker left the kettle of syrup a short time to attend to other duties when, all at once, she heard a sound so peculiar and alarming she immediately thought her precious maple syrup was boiling over and causing the strange sound. Not being free to look after the sugar-making herself, she dispatched one of her boys post haste to investigate the boiling pots. What was the boy's as- tonishment to find the syrup peacefully simmering with no prospects of boil- ing over. Later it was found the strange sound that so alarmed Mrs. Maker was the screaming of the first steam car whistle ever heard in Hamilton county.

The counties along the proposed route as well as individuals each took stock in the railroad project. The county commissioners of Hamilton county in June, 1848, "ordered that the sum of thirty cents on each one hundred dollars be levied for railroad purposes; also fifty cents on each poll for rail- road purposes; also one and one-fourth cents on each acre of land for railroad purposes," all for the benefit of the Indianapolis and Peru Railroad.

At the September session Elijah Cottingham was authorized to vote the proxy of the board at the meeting for the annual election of officers for the road held at Dayton, Ohio, as the representative of four hundred shares of stock held by the county. The levy above ordered was made to create a

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fund to pay for the stock purchased. The board also ordered that the rail- road company be permitted to use the Indianapolis state road, provided they leave sufficient amount of said road in good repair for passage.

In December, 1848, the board petitioned the Legislature for authority to borrow money at a rate not exceding ten per cent., to purchase bonds of the company in unlimited amounts, running from one to fifteen years. The Legislature granted and confirmed the proposed action of the board, the county being authorized to borrow money not to exceed fifty thousand dollars, the interest not to exceed ten per cent. per annum, for railroad purposes. In June, 1848, it was reported that bonds to the total of one thousand four hun- dred seventy-five dollars had been sold and said amount paid over to the railroad company.

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History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 25

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

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