USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 15
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Clay 25 feet
Quicksand and gravel 15 feet
Hard, fine and blue clay
40 feet
Sand and gravel 30 feet
Blue and gray clay 70 feet
Coarse gravel 20 feet
Fine sand 5 feet
Drift deposits, timbers, and petrified stone 10 feet
Hard limestone 65 feet
Slate 17 feet
Limestone 68 feet
Slate and shale 100 feet
Trenton rock was reached at a depth of nine hundred and eighty feet. This well was located north of Fifth street and west of State street. a short distance northwest of where Dr. W. A. Justice now lives.
Before gas was found in the first well a second company was organized and subscriptions were taken for a second well. With the success of the first well drilling began in all parts of the county and a number of gas companies were organized in rural communities for the purpose of drilling wells for private use. Other companies were organized for the purpose of piping the gas to Greenfield and surrounding cities and selling it to consumers. Below
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GENERAL DEVELOPMENT.
is given a list of the companies that were organized and the dates of their incorporation :
Greenfield Gas and Oil Company
1886
Citizens' Gas Company. 1887
New Palestine Natural Gas Company 1887
Charlottesville Natural Gas Company . 1888
Fortville Natural Gas and Oil Company. 1888
McCordsville Natural Gas and Oil Company 1888
Central Gas Company 1889
Maxwell Natural Gas Company 1889
Madison and Hancock Natural Gas and Oil Company, 1889
People's Gas Company 1889
Rock's Natural Gas and Oil Company 1889
Wilkinson Natural Gas Company
1889
National Gas Company
1890
Independent Natural Gas and Oil Company 1890
Mundon Gas Company.
1890
Mohawk Natural Gas Company 1890
Pigeon Roost Natural Gas and Oil Company 1800
People's Gas Company of Rushville 1890
Westland Natural Gas Company
1890
Western Grove Natural Gas Company 1891
Sugar Creek Gas Company . 1891
Pleasant Hill Natural Gas Company 1891
Davis Gas Company.
McCordsville Natural Gas Company 1892
Cushman Natural Gas Company. 1892
Citizens' Natural Gas, Oil and Water Company 1892
Fortville Mutual Natural Gas and Oil Company 1892
Dry Branch Natural Gas Company 1892
Mutual Gas Company. 1892
Nameless Creek Natural Gas Company 1893
California Natural Gas Company 1893 Hanna & Masters 1893
Vernon Natural Gas and Oil Company 1895
Shady Grove Natural Gas and Oil Company 1897
White Haven Natural Gas and Oil Company 1899 American Oil and Gas Company 1900
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
Shiloh Natural Gas Company .. 1901
Maxwell Citizens' Gas and Oil Company . 1902
Citizens' Gas Company of Wilkinson. . 1903 Prairie Branch Natural Gas Company 1903
Fortville Oil and Gas Company . 1904 Jackson Township Natural Gas and Oil Company . 1904
Brandywine Gas Company. .1913
Wells were also drilled by other corporations, including the Southern Indiana Gas Company and the Consumers' Gas Trust Company. Some of the above companies put down but one well for private use, while others drilled a number of wells. In 1890, three years after the drilling of the first well, the tax duplicate showed the following wells in the county, with their general location : Westland, one: Charlottesville. one: Warrington, one ; Wilkinson, one; Willow Branch, one; Maxwell, one; Swamp Creek, one; Milner's Corner, one; Eden, one; Shelbyville Pipe Line, ten; Barrett's Cor- ner, one; Mingle's Corner. one: Fortville, three; McCordsville, one : Green- field Gas Company, four: Kirkville, one; Martindale Syndicate, two; Nail Works. Greenfield. one: People's Gas Company, Greenfield, three. Total, thirty-six.
New wells continued to be drilled in the county during the following years, while the flow of gas in the older wells ceased. It would be difficult. if not impossible, at this time even to estimate the number of wells that have been drilled for gas since 1887. There is hardly a section, however, that has not had one or more wells drilled upon it, except in Sugar Creek and Buck Creek townships. Gas was found in such small quantities in these townships that it was unprofitable.
The pressure of the first wells, as reported by the state geologist, ran from two hundred and fifty pounds to three hundred and twenty-five pounds. During the following years the pressure was reported by the state geologist. as follows: 1893. 250 pounds ; 1895. 210 pounds : 1896. 185 pounds; 1897, 150 to 200 pounds, depending upon condition and age of wells.
For several years after this there was a general decrease in the pressure of the wells from eighteen to twenty pounds annually. The pressure now is very low and pumping stations have been installed to force the gas into Greenfield and into the surrounding cities within the gas belt. It is used for cooking and in special heaters during the cool weather of the spring and fall. The pressure is no longer sufficient to furnish heat during the cold winter months.
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GENERAL DEVELOPMENT.
When gas was first discovered there was a general feeling that the sup- ply would never be exhausted. The pressure was strong enough to blow the top off of a stove and it was used extravagantly and wastefully. It has been humorously remarked that when the house became too warm doors and win- dows were thrown open instead of turning off the gas. Hence the people of this day are lacking in the fuel that might still have been abundant had it not been used so wastefully. The discovery of gas, of course, had a great influence on the people of the county. Greenfield, especially, entered upon a great boom. Glass factories, stove foundries, nail factories, and other concerns came to the city and stayed for a period of years while the gas pressure remained strong. Wilkinson and Shirley, too, profited in a similar manner by the discovery of gas.
FARMERS' INSTITUTES.
The county fairs were helpful in setting before the people the best of all products that the county produced. The fairs, however, exhibited only results, throwing little light on scientific methods that produced these results. It was the realization of just this need, the need of more accurate and scien- tific knowledge among the great mass of farmers, that gave rise to farmers' institutes.
The first meeting of the farmers' institute of Hancock county was held at the Masonic hall at Greenfield on January 20-21, 1890. Marion Steele acted as president of the meeting. Following is the program of the two days :
MONDAY.
Management of Horses and Other Stock on the Farm ....... D. L. Thomas Mistakes in Wheat Culture. Professor Latta, of Purdue Dairy Farming C. L. Hall Growth of Sweet Corn, Peas, etc .. for Canning Factory
McConnell, of Indianapolis
Mrs. V. P. Binford Poultry
TUESDAY.
Potato Culture Marion Steele
Sheep Husbandry . Col. S. I. Gray
Culture of Sugar Cane. Christopher Fields
Mistakes in Agriculture and Horticulture Sylvester Jolinson
Drainage . Professor Latta
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
The meeting of the agricultural people of the county gave them an opportunity of expressing themselves upon a number of matters of interest to them, and before adjournment they adopted the following series of resolutions :
"Resolved, that we recognize the necessity and value of organization among farmers, and heartily advise all farmers that attend, to increase the intelligence, improve the methods, and heighten the success of agricultural classes.
"2. That we favor a permanent association for institute work in this county and believe that the continuance of the Hancock County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, broadening its scope so far as may be necessary for this purpose, would be the most feasible plan of organization.
"3. That we endorse the act of the last general assembly in making an appropriation for farmers' institutes, and favor a further appropriation to continue the work.
"4. That we favor a revision of our present dog law that will give better encouragement to sheep husbandry.
"5. That we favor a reduction of salaries of public officers to corre- spond with present conditions, and recommend the passage of laws that will effect such a reduction and convert all fees into the public treasury.
"6. That we are opposed to trusts and combines to control prices re- gardless of the laws of supply and demand and respectfully urge legislation looking to their suppression and control by law.
"7. That we recommend the publication of these resolutions in our county papers and request the secretary to send copies of the same to our representatives in the state Legislature.
"8. That we extend our thanks to the chairman and local manage- ment and to the speakers and musicians who have donated their time and efforts in behalf of the institute, and to the railroad companies for reducing rates to this meeting.
"WILL B. WALKER, "B. F. STINGER, "J. F. COFFIN, "Committee."
Since the meeting of 1890 sessions of the institute have been held each year just before or immediately after holidays. Upon at least two occasions summer sessions have also been held. The programs given from year to vear have included every phase of farm life. Grains, stock. cattle. sheep. hogs, fruits, in fact everything that pertains to farm life, has been discussed by experts or by people who have given thought to such subjects. The insti-
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GENERAL DEVELOPMENT.
tutes from year to year have also given the farmers an opportunity to make their wishes known, touching upon any question that might be before the public. As will be observed from the resolutions, etc., inserted herein. our people have expressed themselves upon current questions and a review of these expressions ought to be a source of pride to the county.
In 1897. when the compulsory education law was before the general assembly. the farmers' institute at Greenfield adopted resolutions asking the Legislature to enact such a law.
At their meeting on January 16-17, 1900, when the rural free delivery question was before the people they expressed themselves in favor of this measure. At the same meeting they encouraged the organization of town- ship institutes and expressed themselves in favor of better roads. All of these matters were embodied in the following resolutions :
"Resolved, that the farmers of Hancock county. in institute assembled. do hereby express themselves in favor of the establishment of rural mail routes in Hancock county whenever and wherever practicable and we con- sider the establishment of such mail routes practicable at this time.
"Resolved, that we will organize township institutes as aids to the county institute, to which we may look forward with pleasure.
"Resolved, that we will make better roads so that it will be a pleasure to travel on them in attending these institutes, and that we respectfully request the citizens of Greenfield to take as much interest in them as they do in any day of any political campaign, and that they hang out the old flag of our country and let it wave during the entire session."
The attendance at this institute, as reported at the time, was as follows: First forenoon. 225: first afternoon, 350: evening. 340: second forenoon, 375: second afternoon. 450.
The encouragement given by the county institute to the organization of township institutes was not without results. In 1901 a township institute was held at Fortville. and in 1902 at Wilkinson. Since then they have been conducted in other townships also.
Although the farmers had previously expressed themselves in favor of better roads, a more definite resolution was adopted in 1903. suggesting a method of procuring better roads. The sentiment of the farmers upon the liquor traffic found expression in their resolutions. At this institute it was decided to combine the sessions of the ladies and gentlemen. Since this time the ladies and gentlemen have prepared the programs of the institute jointly and joint sessions have been heldl. The following resolutions were adopted at the institute of 1903 :
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
"Resolved, that we favor a law that will permit the citizens of each road district to elect their own road supervisors, and we also favor a law that will require the citizens to work the roads where the supervisor orders.
"Resolved. that the supreme court of the United States having declared that a greater amount of crime and misery is traceable to the use of ardent spirits than to any other cause, we hereby declare our hostility to the liquor traffic and favor its abolition in order that the expense of government may be curtailed and taxes thereby decreased, that the earning power of both cap- ital and labor may be enhanced and that the purity of the home and the sobriety of the people be preserved.
"Resolved, that, owing to the inconveniences of holding separate sessions composed of ladies and gentlemen, we recommend that future sessions of the institute be held jointly, and we also recommend that lady directors be appointed to assist in preparing a program."
On July 11, 1905, a summer session of the institute was held at the court house in Greenfield, and in 1906 another summer session was held at the Goble fruit farm. Quite a large number of the farmers attended these sessions, especially the session at the Goble fruit farm, which was given very largely to the study of horticulture.
Following the passage of the Nicholson bill in 1908, the farmers of the county took occasion to commend the Legislature for its action on this bill. They also pledged themselves to the support of a measure which would make liquor packages in interstate commerce subject to the laws of the state into which they were being sent. These resolutions were as follow :
"Resolved, that we commend the General Assembly of the state of Indi- ana for its action in supporting the preliminary steps in the great movement of temperance by passing the Nicholson law, the Moore law, and the Search and Seizure law, and as farmers of this section of Indiana, we stand ever ready to advance morality, common decency. and the protection of our homes and families from the arch enemy. alcohol : be it
"Resolved, that this institute stands pledged to the support of the Little- field-Carmack interstate commerce bill. providing for the submission of inter- state liquor packages to the laws of the state to which they have been consigned."
The session of the farmers' institute in 1909 was held while the Legisla- ture had under consideration the repeal of the county local option law. Our people were opposed to the repcal of this law and so expressed themselves in the following resolutions :
"Resolved, that for the preservation of the sacredness of the home in
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GENERAL DEVELOPMENT.
Indiana, for the sake of sterling manhood of the fathers, and in defense of the never-dying love of the devoted mother, and for the preservation of our sons and daughters, that we are opposed to any institution or business that degrades the home or human race; therefore we demand that the county local option law be permitted to remain on the statute books until it is given a trial."
On September 1, 1909, a farmers' excursion went to Purdue. Many of the farmers of the county took advantage of this opportunity to see what the great agricultural college of the state was really doing.
At the meeting in February, 1910, a series of resolutions was adopted in which the farmers expressed themselves on a variety of topics :
"Resolved, by the farmers of Hancock county in institute assembled :
"First, that we are proud of our calling and propose to do all in our power to place it upon a still higher plane of usefulness and influence in the years that shall pass away.
"Second, we point with pride to the rapid improvement of the farmer and his family, intellectually, socially, and morally in the past few years. much of which is due to the just and fair remuneration he has received for his daily toil.
"Third, that being citizens and taxpayers, we have a right to a vital inter- est in all matters of government that affect either the material or moral wel- fare of the whole population of the country.
"Fourth, that as husbands and fathers who love our families and our homes as we love our lives, we are steadfastly and forever opposed to any custom, law, institution, or business whose tendency and effect is to debase and degrade the children of men, and as the abolition of the saloons in Han- cock county has removed from our midst one of the greatest evil influences that lead men astray, we are unalterably opposed to the repeal of the county local option law and demand its rigid and impartial enforcement.
"Fifth, whereas there is an increasing tendency for the creation of new offices and commissions, and of office seekers, after elected, to want salaries increased :
"Resolved, that we do not favor the increase of offices and commissions and are opposed to the increase of salaries until good men refuse to fill and accept offices at the present salaries.
"Sixth, as our further influence as agriculturists depends upon the kind of farms we have and the kind of men and women who farm them, be it
"Resolved, that as farmers we use our best efforts in the care, con- venience and beautifying of our country homes, and the care and influence in the educational and moral training of our children by encouraging our rural schools and churches.
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
"That as courts and juries are very expensive, we urge the settling of differences and disputes by arbitration.
"That we realize the great good our state university at Purdue is doing toward education, which better prepares the younger generation to meet the future needs of our country." etc.
In 1910, township farmers' institutes were held at Shirley. Eden. Fort- ville. New Palestine and Charlottesville. The most of these township insti- tutes have been maintained since that time. In 1913 a "Purdue Short Course" was given at Fortville. In 1914 arrangements were made for bringing a similar train from Purdue to Greenfield with exhibits of grains, live stock, etc., and leeturers who discussed the exhibits as well as other topics. In January, 1915, a resolution was adopted in favor of the appointment of a county agent as provided for by the act of 1915.
One cannot follow the history of the Hancock county farmers' institutes during the past twenty-five years without feeling that the agricultural people of this county have given expression to ideals that were pure and lofty. In every endeavor they have been progressive : in all the resolutions adopted there is not a single reactionary note. Every position that has been taken on ques- tions presented makes for purer homes and better living in the county.
The following are the men who have acted as president of the farmers' institute and the dates of their election as far as it has been possible to make the list complete. . A number of the men served two or more years : Marion Steele. 1890: J. F. Coffin. 1892: D. H. Goble. 1896: Alonzo Tyner, 1898 : George Walker, 1900: Vard Finnell, 1902: Vard Finnell. 1903: E. C. Mar- tindale. 1904: E. C. Martindale, 1905: George Walker, 1906: Joshua H. Bar- rett. 1907: Richard Hagans. 1909: Thad Snow. George Walker. 1910; John H. Souder, 1911 : Walter K. Boyd. 1913: Ward Parnell. 1914.
Since 1911 Isaac H. Day has been elected president of the board com- posed of the presidents of the township institutes. All funds appropriated by law for the use of the farmers' institutes have been drawn in his name.
STORMS, CYCLONES, ETC.
Hancock county cannot be said to lie within a storm region, yet on sev- eral occasions within the last forty years a few destructive cyclones have passed over the county. On June 5. 1880. such a storm passed over Sugar Creek and Brandywine townships. On July 1. 1880. another cyclone passed over Jackson and Brown townships, carrying away fences and doing much damage to the erops. On May 12. 1886. a destructive cyclone passed over Wilkinson.
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GENERAL DEVELOPMENT.
On May 27, 1888, another storm passed over the northern part of Sugar Creek township and through Center and Jackson townships. The barn of Chris Reasner, of Sugar Creek, was blown down. The roof of the Ellis school house, east of Greenfield, was taken off and left hanging in the top of a tree near by. Cultivators standing in the fields south of Gem were blown as far as forty feet from where they had been left, and many gas well der- ricks around Greenfield were blown down. Many other buildings in the path of the storm were also seriously damaged.
The most destructive cyclone that has ever passed over the county prob- ably came on June 25. 1902. It will never be forgotten by those who lived within its course. The portion of the county receiving the greatest damage extended from McCordsville eastward and south. All crops, including corn. wheat and oats, within its track, were completely destroyed. Much of the straw was whipped into the ground and covered with dirt by the rain that followed. Much of the corn was broken off level with the ground and the rest of it lay flat. There were few buildings of any kind within its range that were not seriously damaged and by far the greater number were prac- tically destroyed. Orchards and forest trees were broken down, while the rails from fences were carried for long distances through the air. . \ funeral was being held at Cleveland, at which .A. V. B. Sample, former clerk of the Hancock circuit court and a prominent teacher during his earlier life, was killed. This storm worked a great hardship upon tenants, whose crops in many instances were completely destroyed and who had nothing left with which to pay their rent.
EPIDEMICS.
An epidemic of smallpox in Buck Creek township in 1847 is discussed in the chapter on the "Practice of Medicine."
Since that time contagious diseases have frequently appeared in the county. In fact hardly a school year has passed without the appearance of some one or other of such diseases. During the winter of 1881-82. however. smallpox was quite prevalent in the county, as well as in the state.
On February 1. 1882, the county board of health of Hancock county adopted the following rules governing vaccination, which had been adopted by the state board of health on January 1. 1882:
1. After Jannary 1, 1882, 10 person until after they have been success- fully vaccinated shall be admitted into any public or private school or insti- tution of learning within this state, either in the capacity of teacher or pupil. and all persons admitted therein shall present to the principal thereof the
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
certificate of a reputable physician as to the fact of their being successfully vaccinated.
2. It shall be the duty of all unvaccinated persons within this state to be successfully vaccinated within sixty days from January 1, 1882. And all unvaccinated persons coming into this state shall be required to be vaccinated within sixty days after coming into the state.
3. All children born within this state shall be successfully vaccinated within twelve months after birth. All vaccinations shall be with reliable bovine virus.
The county board of health also adopted the following specific rule relating to Hancock county :
"After March 3. 1882. all who attend the schools in any capacity will be required to furnish a certificate of successful vaccination from a reputable physician. School boards and township trustees are required to suspend all pupils after March 3. 1882, who have not complied with the rules of the health boards in reference to vaccination."
These rules created more or less excitement in the county, and at least a few of our citizens gave expression to their feelings through the columns of the local papers. The following is an illustration from Green township :
"Editor Democrat : I wish to say a few words to the doctors of Green- field about vaccination to save them from ruin and destruction; that will be their fate as sure as they attempt to enforce this law. as law they call it. Our forefathers fought for freedom and independence, and why not we? As we do not propose to be ruled by a king. as they would like to be called. especially Dr. Howard, who is the foreman of the ring. There are five hundred men ready now to come forward and show them that the giant pow- der was not exhausted at New Palestine. As this vaccination is just to put in the doctors' pockets a little more money, we want them to know we mean business, sink or swim. As almost half of this county have to work for the pittance of fifty cents a day it is about all they can do to keep starvation from their doors when they have families to support. But still, you have got to pay Mr. Doctor fifty cents a piece for vaccination. And now, Mr. Editor, to make a long story short. we will say the first man that is fined they had better say their prayers for there is always a stopping place. Please print and save trouble."
But not everybody in Green township felt just like the writer, as may be seen from the following paragraph taken from the Eden items :
"We noticed in the last number of the Democrat that there is a prospect of a war to be waged against the M. D.'s of Greenfield if they attempt to
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