USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Indiana : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 17
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Balance on land. $6,314 24
Expenses ..
1,973 23
Joint funds on hand. 1,311 01
Capital Alock,
$25,000 00
Real estate and improvements
600 00
J'aial $25,400 00
II. Kenyon, Secretary.
DIREITONY, -J. G. Clark, J. Il. Kenyon, H. G. Kenyon.
NOBLESVILLE AND STONEY CREEK-(SECOND SECTION). - REPORT FOR THE SEAD ENDING JULY 1, 1879.
Amount of cash in the trensury. $ 51 97
Received at the gates for the year.
381 72
On land.
$136 69
Paid gate. keepers ..
208 00
On hand in cash.
228 69
263 60
Repairs contracted.
$181 35
l'aid on ManiC.
70 77
Balance outstanding.
STEO 68
Outstanding cash orders not paid.
175 25
Value of toll-houses
150 00
''apital stock ...
8,800 00
7. W. Paulsir, President ; S. P. Jones, Secretary.
DIRETORA .- 1 .. J. Shoemaker, Z. W. Paulsir, S. P. Ionce.
NOBLESVILLE AND GREENFIELD,-REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENPINO JULY 16, 1879.
('apital stock $5,200 00
Receipts during the yenr. 174 00
Valne uf toll-honsey (2) 400 00
Balance on hand, cash
164 00
Expenses paid ont ..
574 00
Balance on hand, in Treasury. 66 00
M. Wagner, President ; Aaron Landlig, Secretary ; J. II. Wheeler, Treasurer.
CICERO AND NOBLESVILLE .- REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING JULY 1, 1879.
Length of rond, five and three-quarter miles,
l'ost of road .. .$1,200 00
Value of toll houses.
000 00
Receipts from gates per year. 848 83
Due the county from delinquent inx. 1,500 00
Total $1,168 83
782 39
Balance on hand. 86 44
CH68 83
Ell Shumack, Secretary.
Dikternas .- 11. A. Cottingham, W. A. Wainwright.
ADAMS TOWNSHIP COMPANY .- REPORT FOR THE YEAR FNNING JULY 1, 1879. Cash on hand. $721 72
Received from tolia ..
1,081 00
Total.
$1,806 72
Total expenditure for the year.
1,104 03
Balance nn lnnit, 701 60
''apital Block .. 6,349 00
Value of tall houecs .. 460 00
Value of gravel in pit. 100 00
Value of tools
10 00
Total
$0,009 00
George Teler, I'resident ; O. C. Lindley, Secretary : John Boatman, Treneurer.
FORTVILLE & NOBLESVILLE TURNPIKE .- RECOAT FOR THE THAR ENDING JULY 10, 1879.
Cash on hand.
$ 250 22 '
Credita.
210 00
Toll house value ... 200 00
Linbilities ..
15 00
Capital stock.
4,700 00
Gross receipts for the year.
G84 44
Amount paid out on repairs 609 82
On account of liabilities.
60 90
I'aid ofbeers.
37 00
Paid gate keepers.
J. 7. Patterson, President : S. A. I'atterson, Secretary ; T. Vanzant, Treasurer. DIREITOAS. - J. Z. Patterson, S. A. F'attereon, T. Vanzant, Samuel Arnell.
TIPTON AND HAMILTON COUNTY LINE .- REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDINO JULY 1, 1879.
Capital stock
$20,500 00
Receiverl in engli and vouchers 734 56
Balance on hand, cash ..... 128 96
I'nid out during the year .. 817 90
Leaving balance on hand ... 47 G1
Outstanding acconnis. 834 1G
250 00
Liabilities
350 00)
John T. Hunter, President : J. C. Stewart, Secretary. DIRECTORS,-L. B. Shannon, 11. De Vancy.
BRIDGES.
As a part of the valuable road system of Hamilton County, bridges are a necessity, and hence the county, in view of the situation, took early steps to- ward furnishing the requisite pecuniary assistance to make the system com- plete. Below will be found o synopsis of the action had by the county in con- summating the desired object :
At the March session, 1862, William 11. Pickerell and others, having pre- sented a petition signed by forty interested citizens of the county, with a guaranteed subscription attached, to that effert, the board granted the request for the removal of the Strawtowa bridge to the crossing of the La Fayette State road, west of Strawtown. Aod at a special session held on the 12th of .Func, of the same year, the board ordered that a bridge be built over Fall Creek, en the Greenfield and Noblesville State road, and appropriated 8550 for the pur- pose, appointing John Burk to superintend the work. Subsequently, at a special session on the 17th of July following, the contract for building the same wos let to Reedy, Gigger & Co., for the sum of $535 ; the bridge to bo 120 feet long.
Among the proceedings of the September session, 1863, the board granted the petition of George 1,. Haworth and others for a bridge over Cicero Creek, at the crossing of the Noblesville and La Fayette State road ; and at tho June session, 1801, upon petition filed, the board ordered that a survey and plans be submitted for a bridge over Stoney Creek, on the Noblesville nad Pendle- too road. Elijah Cottiogham was directed to mako such survey and plans, with an estimate of the cost of the same. In pursuance of the purpose above indi- dicated, nt a special session of the board, held on the 20th of September, 1866, the contract for this bridge was let to Messrs. Williams, Durfee, Stoops & Gig- ger, for the sum of 8325.31. The board also, at a special session on the 20th of September, let the contract to the same parties for a bridge over Cicero Creek, on the Strowtown rond west of Cicero, for the sum of $200. At a special session in 1865, J. Durfee was awarded the contract for building two new spans of the Noblesville bridge over White River for $500 cach, and $150 for additional repairs. The board also, nt a special session on Joly 27, 1867, awarded to Hill & Davis the contract to put piers and abutmonts for a bridgo over White River at Strawtown.
Afterward, at a special session, on October 5, 1867, the board accepted the proposition of J. Durfee to repair the bridge over White River at Noblesville, for the sum of $300. At the special session held on the 17th of the same month, the work was received, and the proposed sum allowed.
Mcssrs, Durfeo & Co. having before been awarded the contract to buildl tho two stone abutmenta aod ono stono pior for tho contemplated bridge over White River at Strawtown, gave bond to prosecute the same to completion. At a special session in January, 1868, the work was accepted, and the contractors were allowed the aum of 8100 therefor. In December, 1867, the board appropriated 8150 toward building a bridge over l'rairio Creek, on the line of road between ITamilton and Tipton Countics.
Disbursementa.
Total
Value of real estate ...
06 00
56
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
At their special session on the 13th of April, 1868, the board awarded to Josiah Durfee & Co. the contract for building the abutments, piers and bridge netoes White River at Noblesville ; also, the superstructure of the bridge across White River at Strawtown ; the Noblesville work at the following rates : l'ier and abutments for $11.50 per cubic yard, and superstructure at the rate of $23.75 per foot-to be a " Howe truss ; " and 823.50 per foot for the " Burr " bridge, lined measure. At the same rates also bid on the Straw- town bridge, the contract was awarded to the same parties for the construction of the following other bridges, the board reserving the right to choose plans and specifications submitted and filed in the Auditor's office :
The Noblesville bridge to be 300 feet long ; two spans, cach F50 feet; the bridge to be 18 feet wide in the clear, and 16 feet high-a " truss " bridge. The Strawtown bridge to be 262 feet long; two spans, one 162 fect, one 102 feet; Iti feet wide and 16 feet high-a " truss" bridge also. On the 29th of June. following, the board accepted the mason work on the Strawtown bridge from the contractors, Josiah Durfre & Co., as completed ; and on the 28th of July, the board also accepted the superstructure of the same bridge, as completed in accordance with the contract. In like manner the board, at their special session on the 9th of November, of the same year, accepted the bridge over White River, at Noblesville.
Again, at the special session on the 20th of July, 1869, the board awarded the contract For building the Eller & Heady bridge over White River, on the north line of Section 3, in Delaware Township, to Josiah Durfee & Co., for the sum of 811,802, which sum, with 8186.25 for extras, npon final settlement at the December session, 1869, the board paid, and accepted the work. In addition to the work of constructing this bridge as prescribed by the contract, the board, at the September session, 1870, allowed Messrs, Josiah Durfee & Co. $769.72 for making the embankment approaches thereto.
The board also, at a special session on the 17th of October, 1870, let a further contract to J. Durfee & Co., for the building of a bridge over White River, at Potter's ford, at the price of 813,000; the bridge to be a " Ilowe truss," 2.Iti feet long, with stone abutments and one stone pier. The bridge, having been completed according to contract, was accepted by the board at a special session held on the 11th of April, 1871, and $316.66 for extras allowed.
An order was made by the board, at their March session, 1871, appro- priating "$1,000 to oid in the construction of a bridge over White River, on the county line between Hatoilton and Madison Counties, the same being ordered built by the Commissioners of Madison County ;" the money to he paid May 1, 1875. The bridge was a "truss," with stone nhatments and piers. At the same session they appropriated 8550 to aid in the construction of a bridge over Ciecro Creek, on the line between Hamilton and Tipton Counties. The proposed bridge was to be 100 feet long and have stone abutments, and rost $1,100, cach county paying one-half. At the special session in October, 1874, the board appropriated $125 to assist in constructing a bridge over Eagle Creek, at Eagletown. Again, at a special session on the 16th of January, 1877, the board, on petition, appropriated $1,000 to build a bridgo across
ยท
C'ero Creek, on the line of the Noblesville and Eagletown gravel road. From
which, in the aggregate, it will be seen that Hamilton County has acted a con- spicuous part in consummating the excellent "road system," now in practical operation within her borders.
CHAPTER XH. RAILROADS.
Porn d. Indianapolis ; Anderson, Lebanon &. St. Lamis ; Peru, Indianapolis ". Chicago ; Changes of Nomes-Something of their History-Their Routes, Etc.
THE first railroad built in the State of Indiana, was the Madison & Indianapolis, connecting the Ohio Hiver with the State Capital, in 1812. When that road had bren in operation a short time, a considerable interest began to be manifested in other parts of the State, regarding the utilization of the railroad system os a means of rapid transportation of farm products, goods and merchandise, if not less costly than by canal. It was a question, at first, whether the higher rates charged for freights by railroads were not an expen- vive luxury, when compared with the rates charged for transporta ion by canal, It did not seem to occur to the masses, that, while canal freights were compar- atively low, the time required to make the transit and meet the demands of the distant markets was so much greater than by railroads-so much so, indeed, that the advantages of ready sales and advanced prices were frequently lost to
the shipper ; whereas, the rapidity of railroad transit would have enabled him to be in readiness and prepared for good markets and high prices. The experience of many years was required to remove erroneous impressions.
As soon as the publie mind was settled as to the true status of this feature of commercial economy, further legislation was had, tending to affeet the inter- est of producers within the aren occupied by Hamilton County. In 1846, a charter was granted to the Peru & Indianapolis Railrood Company, authoriz- ing the construction of a road connecting the two points named. Among the must active of the friends of this enterprise, was W. J. Holman, to whose un- tiring perseverance, more than to any other one man, is the country indebted for this valuable thoroughfare. Speaking of the early history of this road, Mr. John A. Graham, in Kingman's Historical Atlas of Miami County, says. " W. J. Holman, of this county, was the projector of this road ; he was the first to propose the undertaking, and to him is due the credit of such commence- ment as insured its completion. He made the preliminary survey and esti- mates, and, by figures which are proverbial for their veracity-as is George and his little hatchet story-proved that it's construction was entirely within the resources of the people living along its line.
" Absurd and visionary as the project seemed to many, and ridiculed, as he was, for advocating such a wild scheme, he never wavered in his convictions or wearied in the task he had undertaken. The first meeting in the subject way held in Peru, in 1847, at which a few enthusiastic railroad men subscribed about five hundred dollars in stock ; Gen T. A. Morris, of Indianapolis, was employed to run the line and make estimates preliminary to commencing." Other meetings were held along the line; individuals subscribed to the stock, and, shortly after, all the counties between this and Marion subscribed, as enunties. The work was commenced at the south end, and the road was made, after wonderful ditheulties and the utter exhaustion of financial re- sources, up to Noblesville, as a flat-bar road. About this time they got some mortgages on it, and got it into court, and the wreckers came along and took the thing in, and left the Hoosier railroad builders to mature at their leisure, what they knew about railroading, and what they were going to do about it. They got more mortgrges on it, until it was completed to l'eru, in 1851, and finally sold out at such figures as to make it a first-class paying investment."
Incidental to the action had by counties along the line, appertaining to a development of the real interest felt by the people in the proposed enterprise, Hamilton County, through her Commissioners, at their June session, 1818, " ordered that the sum of 30 cents on each $100, be levied for railroad pur- poses ; also, 50 cents on each poll, for railroad purposes ; also 11 cents on cach acre of land, for railroad purposes"-all, ostensibly for the benefit of the Peru & Indianapolis road, as shown by the subsequent action of the board at their September session in the same year, when Elijah Cuttingham way authorized to vote the proxy of the board at the annual election of officers for the Peru & Indianapolis road, held at Dayton, Ohio, as the representative of fint hundred shares of stock hell by the county in that road, the levy ordered as above being made to create a fund for the payment of such stock. In fur- therance of' this oljeet on behalf of the county, the board at the same
" (hderrd, * * "That the Auditor of this county be anthorized and required to issue to the President and Directors of the Pern & Indian- npolis Railroad Company, in payment of the county subscription to the capital stock of said company, at such time as the President and Engineer of said read may require, county orders in the denomination of two, three and live dollars cach, in the proportion of one-third cach, any amount not to exceed $2,100. And the said Auditor is hereby directed and required to take a receipt for the amount so issued and delivered, and that ho report the same to the next session of the board."
The said hoard ordered also, " that the l'eru & Indianapolis Railroad Company be permitted to use the Indianapolis State road. It was expressly providedl, however, that they leave a sufficient amount of said road in good repair for passage, etc."
Again, at the December session, 1848, the board petitioned the Legislature for authority to borrow money at a rate of interest not exceeding 10 per cent, to purchase bonds of the company in unlimited amounts, running from one to fifteen years. Thomas T. Butler was appointed an agent to draft and i-aute bonds in the name of the county, amnunting to $16,000, for railroad purposes, drawing interest at any rate not exceeding 10 per cent-conditioned, however, on the passage of the law for which the board had petitioned tho Legislature. The bonds so contemplated to be issued were to bo offered firat to citizens of Hamilton County, then, if unable to dispose of them, to these parties, to the
57
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
citizens of may other county in the State ; and for the payment of such bonds so issued and placed upon the market, the stock of the county in such railroad wax pledged, nono of said bonds being payable in less than five years, the county reserving the right to draw them in at any time ; interest in no case to be paid in advance. In the mean time, Mr. Butler resigned the trust thus reposed in him, nad John D. Stephenson was appointed in his stead.
The Legislature having legalized and confirmed the proposed action of the board, the county was authorized to borrow money, not exceeding $50,000, the interest not to exceed 10 per centum per annum, For railroad purposes, at the March session, 1819. At the June session following, the ngent appointed to sell bunds, as aforesaid, reported the sale of hond No. 1 at & per cent, for $625, to Joseph Eller ; No. 2, to Hannah Metsker, at the same rate per cent, for 8250, and bonds nombered 3 and 1, Gor $100 each ; to John Sta.ker, bond No. 5, at 10 per cent, for 8300 ; to John Manlove, on luan for fifteen years of 8200, 8100 of which was paid, and the other SHH to be paid when the bond was issued. It was reported also, at the same time, that 81,475, the aggregate of sud bonds, had been paid over to the railroad com- pany. The agent was ako authorized to borrow any sum not exceeding 81,000, 82,00010 payable in eight months, and $2,000 in one year. At the same session the board ordered a further levy of 30 cents on $100, for rail. road purposes.
The following form of' bond was adopted at the December session, 1819, by the County Board, to scenre the loan above proposed for railroad purposes : $100.
HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA. No .--
LOAN FOR STOCK IN PEUT & INDIANAPOLIS RAILROAD,
Know all men by these presents. That there is due-or besser, obe kon- dred dollars, from the Grandy of Hamilton, in the State of berlin, payable in yem - from the first Monday in July, 184't, with interest at the rate of-per roud per annum, payable on the first Monday in July, annually, at the police n' the Treasurer uf said county, in Noblesville, where the principal will also be paid. This bood being issued for a best of the moonund thereof to said events, as authorized by me Act of the General Asseuddy of the State of Indiana, entitled, " An Art to authorize Ilie fournissjoner of Honilton, Miaus nud Tipton Counties, In horton many. Ap- proved January 6, IS(t." And for the redemption and payment of this bond, both principal and interest, as above stipulated, the faith of said fronty of Hamilton, and the stock of the Pero & lohanapoles Railroad Company are arrevorably pledged. Wit-
" Work was begun at the southern end of the road, in 1849, and ja Iwn years afterward twenty-one miles of the road was completed to Noblesville, and the track was laid to Peru in 1854. In 1871, the road was finished from Pern to Michigan City, and the cars were run through for the first time in that year, and the bosiness of the line has shown a gratifying increase siuce that time."
The board, at their June session, in 1852, ordered "that the Auditor issue one order in the sum of $876.66%, for the redemption of the railroad bonds, numbering from 80 to 87, inclusive," pursuant to the conditions of the bonds, reserving to the county the right to redeem the outstanding boads at any time.
At a special session, in November, 1853, the Peru & Indianapolis road asked the repeal of that part of the original order, specifying that "the county shall elect to sorrender to said company such obligations and assome the pay- ment of the interest that shall arerue after such election, and the principal when the same shall become due and payablo om said bonds, the stock to beenthe absolute in favor of the county ; but ontil such electing and assump- tion the counting have the right to hold such as security for the performance of certain stipulations on the part of the railroad company, not entitling tho county to any dividends, but to have a voice in the elections, etc." "Tho railroad company asks to have the same rescinded because of said railroad consolidating with the Marion & Indianapolis Railroad, by order of the Board of Directors, to take effect January 1, 1853.
" Whereupon said hoard declare that, if said railroad (Pero & Indian- . apolis) will execute additional bonds to the county of Hamilton, for the per- formance of payment of the last issue of bonds, 820,000, numbering from 10 to 29, thereby releusing the county forerer from payment of said bonds, they will grant the request."
Afterwurd, at the December session, 1853, the Peru & Indianapolis Rail- rond Company gave bond to the ceenty in the penal sum of $40,000, to secure payment of bonds issued by the county, and delivered to the roilroad company to sell, and assist in the construction of said railrond-said bonds num- bering from 10 to 29, the railroad paying interest on snid bonds when due, etc., and the ageat of the county was ordered, in lieu, to surrender to said
railroad company, the last issue of bonds numbering from 10 to 29, inclo- Rive, each for 81,000-in all $20,000. The bonds membered from 1 to 9, inclusive, provided for at the September session, 1860, were, at the special March session, 1861, ordered to "be paid out of any funds in the treasury not otherwise appropriated."
"This road, now known as the " Indianapolis, Peru & Chicago," cutnes into the county about ninety-live rode east of the northwest corner of Section 1, of Jackson Township, and runs south, through Buena Vista, Area- dia and Cicero, in Jackson Township, Noblesville, in Noblesville Township, and New Britain and Fisher's Station, in Delaware Township, passing into Marion County about fifty-five rods west of the southeast corner of Section 11, in Delaware Township.
THE ANDERSON, LEBANON A ST. LA IS RAILROAD.
This road was projected early in the year 1869, and the townships of this rounty, through which the same was expected to run, began to consider the propriety of granting appropristions for the construction of the road through their territory, in the fall of that year, Jackson Township taking the initiative in asking the board " to order an election to determine whether they are in favor of levying a 2 per cent tax for building the Anderson, Lebanon & St. Tamis Railroad." This step was taken at the June session, 1869, and the petition granted. The board ordered at the same session that an election be so hell on the 24th of July following, by the citizens of that township. At a special session on the 25th of June, the citizens of' Adams Township, having made a like request, the board ordered that an election be held in that township, also on the 24th of July. Subsequently, like requests from other townships of the county were granted, and elections held pursuant to the orders of the board. Of these latter, Washington, Noblesville and Wayne Townships filed petitions at a special session on the 15th of July, 1871, and elections were ordered to be held on the 230 of August following. The result of these elections was a large majority in favor of appropriating equal to 2 per centum on the taxable value of the property in the several townships. Appropriations were made accordingly, at the lone session, 1872; and at the special August ars-ion, 1874, warrants were ordered 'to be issued on the Treasurer, in exchange for the bonds of the said railroad, for the first installment, or 50 per centum of the amount of subsidy voted by the townships respectively, to bo takra in the stock of such road. At the special session, on the 23d of May, IS76, the Auditor was directed to issue his warrant on the Treasurer for the second instalhuent of the subsidy voted by the townships referred to, to be invested in the purchase of the stock-bonds of the road, as contemplated by the voters afuresaid.
Meantime, the entire line of the Anderson, Lebanon & St. Louis Railroad, from Anderson to Montezama, in Parke County, had been located, the last six - teen and a half miles in l'arke Coonty having been located in July, 1871. The entire distaare from Anderson to Montezuma is ninety-five and a half miles, no grade going cast execeding forty feet to the mile, and but one going west. In September, there were but twelve miles yet to grade. The construction of the roadbed progressing rapidly, at a meeting of the Directors held at Indian- apolis, in March, 1875, arrangements were made with an Eastern capitalist to put the iron on the road-the work on the bridges, laying ties, etc., to commence immediately. On the 28th of July following, at a meeting held in Indian- apolis, these officers were present : W. Zion, President ; J. Ensy, Vico-P'resi- dent; E. P'. Schlater, Secretary; D. Kenworthy, Treasurer. Directors, N. F. Dann, W. R. Pierce, Mr. Conrad, T. E. Teter, S. E. Busby. E. Cottingham, Chief Engineer.
In November, 1875, Mr. Zion, the President of the road, closed a contract for the iron. The formal track-laying commenced at Anderson, on the 9th of December, 1875, at half-past 2 o'clock P. M. President Zion drove the first spike, amid deafening cheers from the assembled multitude. Many prominent citizens, from various places on the line of the road, were present, and partici- pated in the demonstrations of the day.
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