USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 2
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Gas Well
166
Lodges
155, 707
Mercantile Interests
702
Platted
702
Turnpike Companies 116
Educational Interests I82
Elections, First Township 65
Election of 1876
375
Election of 1886
381
Election of 1912 388
Election of 1914 385
Enlistment Statistics 306
Enlistments in Hancock County 259
Enumeration of School Children 230
Epidemics
173
Episcopal Church 545
Estabrook, Alma Martin
432
Evangelical Lutheran Church
735
F
Fairs
137
Farm Land Valuation
28
Farm Reports for 1840
132
Farmers' Institutes
167
Farmers Insurance Association
160
Farmers Mutual Benefit Asso.,
160, 384
Farms, Size of
38
Federation of Country Clubs
176
First Settlers
102
First Tax Levy
68
Flax
133, 136
Flowing Wells
36
Forest Growth
40
Forests. Clearing Away the
103
Formation of Townships
62
Fortville-
Additions 798
Bands
804
Banks
Boy Scouts
814
Business Interests 800
Churches
807
Clubs
814
Fire Protection 801 1
Gas Wells
1
166
Improvements
800
E
Incorporation
I
799
Library
801
Lodges
155, 811
Mail Delivery
815
Miscellaneous
804
Newspapers
179, 804
Schools
229. 253, 802
Survey
798
Turnpike Companies
116
Fraternal Order of Eagles
678
Free and Accepted Masons, 553, 671,
725. 777. 793. 811
Free School Question
196
Free-silver Movement
385
Friends Societies, 502, 505. 546, 593.
692. 711, 730, 736, 762
Frosts, Killing
38
1
813
Light Service
1
I
I
HISTORICAL INDEX.
G
Gas and Oil Companies 165
Gem 781
Geography of County 33
Geology 35
German Baptist Church 790
German Evan. Zion's Church 774
German M. E. Church
772
German Settlement
752
Glacial Influences
34
Glascock, Will H. 430
Gooding, David S. 70, 71, 80, 81, 82, 83, 159. 177, 291, 297, 298, 301, 329, 335, 353, 366, 370, 376, 440, 455,
461, 622
Gooding Tavern 651
Grand Jury, First GO 68
Grange, the 154
Grant Memorial Services 322
Gravel
35
Gravel Road Bonds
118
Green Township-
Abandoned Valley 34
Barnard Sorghum Factory 701
Barnard Family Orchestra 705
Churches 708
County Officers
704
Creation of
64
Description of
700
Industries
701
Justices of the Peace 704
Land Entries 700
Lincoln Fund 248
Military Record 306
Miscellaneous
703
Natural Features
700
Organization of
700
Physicians 704
149
Sale of School Lands 183
Schools 229, 252, 703
700
Lilly Plant
587
Taxpayers, Heavy
705
Township Libraries
195
Trustees
704
Vote in 1860
338
Greenhack Movement 374
Greenfield-
Additions 595
Bands 557, 653
Banks
638
Boy Scouts
650
Brick Paving 609
Buildings in 1865 605
Building and Loan Association 642
Business Interests, 1845-8 601
Business Interests, 1870 608
Business Interests, 1880
036
Business Interests, 1916 646
Business Men's Association
630
Carnegie Library
624
Cemeteries
634
Charity Organization
630
Chautauquas 650
Churches 589, 679
City Building 611
Clubs
588, 659
Colored Folk
632
Commercial Clubs 629
Council, City
609
Council, Town
602
Early Licenses
122
Factories
627
Fire Department 1
611
Fires
630
First Buildings I
1
599
First Streets
602
1
1
1
1
1 Frosts 38
Gas Wells 166
Gooding Tavern 651
Hog Ordinance 604
Horse Show
650
In 1833
600
In 1850 134
609
Incorporation as a Town
602
Liberty Bell
627
Library
624
Licenses, Early
122
Lights, Public
610
Liquor Regulating Ordinance 412
Literary Societies
659
Local Option Election
411
Lodges
671
Masonic Hall, Old
652
I 1
1
1
1
1
Railroad Aid
Settlement
Incorporation as a City
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Mail Delivery 651
Mills
627
Ministerial Association 699
Miscellaneous
624
Name Chosen
68
Natural Gas
163
Newspapers
176
1
Normal School
221
Nurseries
587
Officials, City
609
Orchestras
1
653
Precipitation
Public Improvements
603
Publishing Houses 643
Railroads
147
Schools 229, 253. 613
Selection as County Seat 67, 59S
Street Fair 649
Survey
595
Tabernacle Meetings 099
Taverns
128
Taxpayers, Heavy 647
Telephones
637
Temperature
37
Traction Line 63S
Turnpike Companies 116
Village
599
Waterworks
612
Women's Clubs
661
Greenfield Academy
191
H
Hancock County Medical Society 472
Hancock Politicians 38℃
Hancock Seminary 190
Harris, Lee O., 177, 207, 219, 241, 271,
273, 318, 321, 424, 436, 617
Harrison Township 63
Hay 39
Haymakers Association 679, 813
High School Text-books 213
High Schools, Township 210, 231
Highways
107
Hogs
39, 136
Holiness Association
738
Jones Township
64
Home Guards
288
Horse-thief Detective Companies
163
Horse Shows
650
Horses
39, 136
Hough, Clarence A. 435
Hough, William A. 435
Hough, William R., 180, 205, 214, 297,
302, 322, 397, 440, 455, 461, 622
I
Indian Treaties
56
Indiana Agricultural College 223
Indiana Normal School
225
Improved Order of Red Men, 553, 570,
677, 778, 812
Improvement of Land
103
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 545,
553, 675, 708, 726, 779, 795, 811
Interurban Lines
147
Irish Settlement
797
J
Jackson Township-
Churches 729
County Officers 718
Description of 714
Drainage
714
Early Industries 715
Justices of the Peace 718
Land Entries
714
Lincoln Fund
249
Military Record
306
Mills
715
Miscellaneous 717
Old Families 718
714
Organization
Railroads
729
Sale of School Lands 183
Schools 203, 229, 253, 716
Taxpayers, Heavy 718
Township Libraries 195
Trustees
717
Turnpike Companies 117
Vote in 1860
338
Jail History
92
Judges of the Court
69
Justices of the Peace, 65, 497, 517.
531, 556, 582, 704, 718, 751, 787
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Kinder Postoffice
523
Knights of Pythias. 545, 586, 676, 777. 796, 812
Knights of the Maccabees
675
Knights Templar
674
L
Land, Clearing of
103
Land Entries, 491, 526, 557, 700, 714, 741, 783
Land, Original Title to
50
"Last Day" in Early Schools 237
Law Library
454
Lawyers of Hancock County
438
729
Lewisburg, Village of
454
Library, Law
122
License Fees, Early
71
Lincoln Fund
247
Literature 424
Local Option Election
410
Location of County
50
Lodges
553
Loyal Order of Moose
678
Mc
McCordsville-
Additions 792
Band
793
Cemeteries
796
Churches
793
Culture Club
797
Early Business Interests
792
Gas Well 166
Lodges 155, 793
Normal School 221
Platted
792
Temperance
797
Turnpike Companies
110
M
Maccabees, Knights of the 678
Market Prices, 1845 125
Marsh, Ephraim, 77, 90, 377, 380, 400,
442. 455, 456, 462, 623. 638
Marshes
40
Masonic Order, 553, 671, 725, 777, 793, 811
Maxwell-
Additions
585
Churches
592
CInbs
580
Band
587
1
Business Interests 580 1 1
Gas Well
I
1
1
166
1
586
Lodges
580
School
1
Survey
585
Meadow Soil
16
Medical History
1
465, 498
Medical Society
472
Meek, Oscar F.
73
Memorial Day
316
Methodist Episcopal Churches, 500,
534, 542, 548, 553, 571, 589, 590, 592,
679, 695, 707, 708, 709, 730, 736, 761,
770, 7ST. 792, 793, 807
Methodist Protestant Church, 521, 590, 691
Mexican War
253
Miami Clay Loam 42
255
Military Annals
Mills, 120, 121, 134, 491, 514, 527, 557,
578. 627, 715, 742, 784
Milner's Corner
Mitchell, John F., Jr.
435
Mitchell, Minnie Belle
434
Mitchell-Mannix Contest
381
Modern Woodmen
553, 678, 779, 813
Mohawk-
Addition
569
Bank
570
Business Interests 569
Churches
575
Location 585 I
1 Lodge 570 1
569
School
580
498
Mound Builders
102
Mt. Comfort
570, 573
Muck Soil
47
Mules
39, 136
Nashville
540
National Road
109
Natural Features of County
33
1
1
1
1
1
Leamon's Corner
135
Licenses, Early
155, 166, 702
Platted
Mooresville
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Natural Gas 163
New Palestine
Additions 764
Bands
779
Bank
767
Platted
760
Cemetery
776
Churches
770
Physicians 465, 49S, 568
Pocahontas, Degree of 678, 778
Political Contests 386
Political History 329
Political Parties, Relative Strength 387
96
Incorporation
765
Portland, Village of
135
Industries
767
Lighting System 769
Lodges 155, 777
Mail Service 768
Officials, First 766
Platted
764
Newspapers
179
Taverns
129
Temperance
769
Turnpike Companies 117
Water System
767
Newspapers
176, 804
Normal Institute, County
217
Oats
39, 136
O'Donnell, Rev. Charles L.
431
Odd Fellows, 545, 553. 675, 708, 726,
729, 811
Offutt, Charles G., 69, 82, 90, 378, 400,
407, 441, 455, 456, 462
Old Settlers' Meetings 140
One-term Sentiment 390
Oratorical Contests
243
Organization of the County
58
P
Parent-Teachers Association
251
Patriotic Sentiment of County 291
Patrons of Husbandry
154
People's Party
384
People's Party County Chairmen
392
Petersburg
493
Petit Jury, First
6S
Philadelphia-
Additions
760
Band
764
Cemetery 762
Churches 761
Early Business Interests 761
Lodges
155
Turnpike Companies 117
Clubs 780
Early Merchants 765
Explosion of Acetylene Plant 770
Fire Department
770
Harvest Picnic
780
Poor, Care of the 6S.
Poultry
39
Precipitation, Average
37
Pre-historic People 102
Press, the 176
Prices in 1845
127
Primitive Baptist Churches
505, 693
Probate Court 61.
70
Progressive Party 388
Prohibition County Chairmen 391
Prohibition Party
383
Prosecutors, County
80
Pythian Sisters
545, 676, 778, 796, 812
R
Railroad Taxes
148
Railroads
147
Reconstruction Period 359
Recorder, County
78
Red Men, Improved Order of, 553, 570,
677, 778, 812
Registration of Physicians, 1885.
480
Relief, Civil War
309
Reminiscences
142, 143, 144
Representatives
81
Republican County Chairmen 39I
Revenues, County, Early
132
Ribbon Societies
404
Riley, James Whitcomb
427
Riley, Reuben A., 80, 81, 177, 205, 274,
291, 298. 299, 301, 318, 376, 402, 440,
454, 461, 616, 622
Road Superintendent
73,
S1
Road Viewers
107
Roads
107
Progressive County Chairmen 392
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Robbery of County Treasury
75
Royal and Select Masters 795
Royal Arch Masons 673, 708, 795
S
School Commissioners 183
School Consolidation 231
School Customs, Early 232
School Districts
184
School Enumeration
230
School Examiners 71, 205, 454
School Exhibits
244
School Fund
55, 182, 187
School Houses
203
School System, Improvement in 204
Scott, Leroy
432
Seminary, County 188
Senators, State 83
Settlers. First in County 102
Seventh-day Adventist Churches, 593,
695, 810
Sham Battles 321
Sheep
39, 136
Sheriff, County 78
Shirley-
Beginning 550
Business Interests 551
Churches 553
Clubs
555
Development 552 1 1 1
Incorporation 1
551
Lodges
1 553
Newspapers
179
Public Utilities 552
Survey
550
Sioux Loam 45
Society for the Prevention of Tubercu- losis 175
Soils, Origin of
40
Soil, Suggestions as to Its Improve- ment 48
Soil Types 12
Soldiers' Aid Work by Women 291
Soldiers' Families, Care for 304
Soldiers from Hancock County 259
Sons of Temperance
395
Southern Sympathy 310
Spanish-American War 321
Spelling Schools
240
Spring Lake Park 763
State Senators $3
Statistics for 1840 132
Stenographers
452
Storms
172
Streams
33
Stringtown
729, 737
Sugar Creek Township-
Band
760
Beginning of 742
Changes in Area 63
Churches
755
County Officers 752
Creation of 1 1 1 62 1
Description of 1
741
Į Drainage 741
Fence Viewers GS
German Churches 755
German Settlements 752
Gravel Road Bonds 120
Industries 744
Justices of the Peace 751
Kunz, Rev. J. G. 755
Land Entries
741
Lincoln Fund
249
Local Option Election
411
Military Record
306
Mills
742
Miscellaneous 751
Overseers of Poor
Railroads
752
Sale of School Lands 183
Schools 229. 243, 253, 745
Spring Lake Park 763
Taxpayers, Heavy 781
Township Libraries 195
Trustees
751
Turnpike Companies
117
Union Hall 746
Vote in 1860 338
Sunday School Association 139
Sunday School Statistics 140
Surface of County 33
Survey, Original, of Hancock County 54
Survey, Original of Indiana 54
Surveyor, County 78
Swamps
40
Swine
39, 136
1
I
I
HISTORICAL INDEX.
T
"Tailholt" 525
Tavern Licenses 71
Taverns
125
Tax Levies, Early
68, 129
Teachers' Associations
213
Teachers, Early, Remuneration of 200
Teachers, 1915-16
251
Teachers' Unions
247
Temperance
893, 455
Temperature, Average 37
Text Books, Early School
199
Three-mile Roads
118
Tile
104
Toll Roads 116
Toll Roads Purchased by County 117
Topography of County
33
Township Commencements
243
Township Farmers' Institutes
172
Township Government Prior to 1859.
183
Township High Schools.
210, 231
Township Libraries
194
Township Teachers' Institutes 229
Townships, Creation of
62
Treasurer, County
77
Treaties with Indians
56
Trnant Officer
249
Trustees for School Sections
65
Tuberculosis, Society for the Preven-
tion of
176
Turnpike Companies
115
U
Union County Chairmen
391
Union Township 64
United Brethren Churches, 520, 536,
540, 542, 571, 575, 694, 712, 790
Universalist Church
794
V
Vawters, the 434
Vernon Township-
Business Interests 784
Churches
789
County Officers
787
Creation of
64
Description 783
Gravel Road Bonds 119
Irish Settlement 797
Justices of the Peace
Land Entries
783
Lincoln Fund 249
Local Option Election 411
Military Record 306
Mills
784
Miscellaneous 786
Natural Features 783
Organization
783
Railroads
147, 149, 789
Roads
789
Sale of School Lands 183
Schools
229, 243, 252, 253, 785
Taxpayers, Heavy
Township Libraries 195
Trustees
786
Vote in 1860
338
Veterans of the Civil War
25S
Virginia Land
52
Vocational Work
250
Vote in 1860
338
Vote in 1861
346
Vote in 1863
357
Vote in 1864
359
Vote in 1865
361
Vote in 1866
365
Vote in 1867
367
W
Wabash Loam
44
Walker, J. Ward
616
Walpole, Thomas D., 81, 83, 177, 329,
334, 439, 449, 455, 460
Walpole, Village of
135
Warrington-
Additions 535
Churches 536
Early Business Interests
535
Flax
133
Gas Well 166
Lodges 155, 536
Physicians 539
Platted
535
Postoffice
535
Race Track
530
I
HISTORICAL INDEX.
War-time Phrases 315
War-time Politics 335
Water Supply
35
Weather Reports
37
Oficials, First
544
Wells 35
West Point Graduates 326
Westland
166, 494, 500
Wheat
39, 136
Wilkinson-
Additions 543
Band
550
Banks 544
Churches
545
Clubs
549
Gas Well
166
Incorporation 543
Lodges
545
Newspapers
1
179
Platted 543
Storm 544
Willow Branch 166, 541, 542
"Witness Trees" 55
Wolf Bounty 60
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 407
Woodbury 791
Worth Township
65
1
Y
Young People's Reading Circle
195
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
A.
Adkins, Zachary T.
972
Albea, R. A. 1052
Albea, William H. 842
Alford, Samuel
1090
Allen, Joseph L., M. D.
953
1
Andis, John R.
968
Archer, Charles M.
937
B.
Baity, David H.
1072
Ballinger, Daniel M.
1010
Banker, Francis G.
1128
Bardonner, John P.
1147
Barnard, Elwood
944
Barnard, William C.
868
Barrett, Benton L. 1011
Barrett, John E. 938
Binford, Benjamin S., D. D. S. 913
Binford, John H.
1131
Binford, Nathan C.
Binford, Paul F.
862
Black, John P., M. D.
903
Boone, Morris C.
892
Botsford, George 955
Braddock, Freeman 845
Brandenburg, Elwood O. 964
Brandenburgh, Scott
1129
Bratten, George W.
1107
Breier, Henry 971
Breier, William A. 963
Brooks, Mrs. Margaret 1. 822
Bruner, Charles K., M. D.
848
Brunson, Jefferson C.
1050
Buesking. Albert
99S
Burkhart, John 1070
Burns, James
1000
Bussell, James Jl.
885
C.
Cahill, Isaac W.
902
Carlton, John H.
Catt, Benjamin ]'. 1095
Cauldwell. Clinton
847
Coffield, William M.
920
Coffin, Obed J.
1121
Collingwood, Charles L., M. D.
1009
Collingwood, Daniel M.
1112
Collyer, Philander
829
Condo, George E. S99
Cones, Van B.
1
969
1
1
Cook, Jesse P.
1065
Cook, Lorenzo D. S81
Cooper, Allen F. 909
Cooper, Berry Willis,
. D.
1140
Cooper, George H.
$17
Cooper, William T.
1109
Crouch, Larkin W.
1055
Curry, Cassius M.
850
Cushman, John F.
901
D.
Davis, Eugene E.
1136
Davis, Meredith
930
Deerberg, Christian F. H.
996
Denney, Jacob.
933
Dieter, Berlin W. M. 894
E.
Early. Vincent L.
893
Ellingwood, James B., M. D.
1080
Enoch, Thomas M.
981
F.
Faut, Benjamin G. 1110
Felt, Judge Edward W.
1085
Fink, Christian
839
Fink, Edward
1046
Fletcher, Harry L.
1113
Frank, Johnston H.
1127
Frank, Matthew L.
1106
Franklin, Ira O.
999
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
G.
L.
Garriott, William I. 915
Geisel, Albert H. 1042
Geisel, William J. 1149
Gibbs. Charles M., M. D.
840
Giroud, Aime W.
932
Glascock, Thomas E.
827
Gundrum, Conrad E.
1022
H.
Hanna, Frank L. 929
Hanna, Gilbert 1012
Hardin, Fred V.
1061
Harmening, Frederick H. 1083
Haskett, Clarence
1025
Hawk, David F.
1027
Heller, Oscar, M. D.
824
Hendren, William J.
1012
Herrlich, Charles L. J. 1032
Hinchman, John I
905
Hittle, John H.
876
Hittle, Marshall N. 1066
Hope, Thomas
923
Houck, Abraham
$98
Hough, William A.
855
Hough, Hon. William R.
1104
Huber, Henry T. 896
Huber, John
1044
Hughes, William A.
1152
Hunt, Nathan
S53
Huntington, Edwin C. 993
Hurley, Robert
950
J.
Jackson, Levi A. 973
Johnson, John F. 1100
Johnson, William P. 920
Jones, William A. 1059
Justice, William A., M. D.
864
K.
Keller, William H. 1138
Kirkhoff, John F. 1036
Kirlin, Thomas B. 1018
Klieman, Chris A. 1153
Knoop, John W.
1020
Knoop, Louis 1135 T
Landwehr, Frederick C. 977
Langenberger, August 945
Laningham, W. C. Van 1039
Lantz, Henry M.
Lantz, Louis G.
1002
Larimore, James M., M. D. S30
Leamon, William T.
S60
Leary, James
936
Leary, Thomas B.
912
Leary, Willis
1068
Logan, Ralph G.
9SS
Lowe, Tyner E., M. D.
1143
Mc.
McCole, Walter W.
SS2
McCord, C. E., M. D. 1049
McCray, John F.
SS3
McGaughey, Carl W., M. D.
917
M.
Mace, Elmer E., M. D.
1030
Manche, John
$33
Mason, Judge Robert L. S19
Masterson, Fred A.
S95
Mearling, Henry.
1024
Merlau, George H. 1145
Merlau, Henry 992
Merlau, Louis H. 974
Merlan, William A. $55
Moore, M. M.
931
Moran, James
$91
Morrow, Orville L.
1051
N.
New, Gen. Albert L.
S43
0
Offutt, Samuel
919
Olvey, Levi D. 1088
Ortel, Christian F. W. 982
Ortel, Henry
1069
Osbon, Joseph 943
Ostermeier, Charles A. 979
Ostermeier, Charles
$66
Ostermeyer, Henry
1118
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
P.
Parish, Pleasant F. 966
Pauley, Charles E. I139
Pauley, Charles T. 889
Pilkenton, Abram C. 873
Pope, Charles L.
875
Prescher, Charles
1124
R.
Rabe, Anton H. 1057
Record, David O. 1096
Richhart, Eli A. 1008
Richman, Lewis F.
984
Rock, Carl S.
863
Roesener, Charles H.
1074
Rosener, Anton F.
983
S.
Sample, Judge Earl 1016
Schildmeier, Mrs. Lena 960
Schramm, Otto 1108
Schwier, William 947
Scott, James P.
927
Scott, William A. 1054
Scudder, Tilghman H. 854
Shelby, John F. 948
Shull, Azzel J. 1006
Siders, George R. 890
Sisson, Ernest R., M. D.
1144
Slaughter, Samuel B. 1005
Slocum, Stewart, M. D.
1056
Smith, Augustus E. 976
Smith, John E.
SS6
Snider, William W. 932
Smith, John M. 900
Snodgrass, Velasco R.
1003
922
Spilker, Anton W.
1076
Spilker, William G. 1077
Strickland, Ben 1117
Strickland, Clarence R., M. D. 1078
Strickland, Hon. Harry G. 957
Stuart, Gus E. 1064
Swain. Earl F. $1S
Thayer, Hollis B. 825
Thomas, Orlen F. 1125
Thomas, W. F. 1073
Thomas, William S. 962
Tindall, Charles L. 1103
Titus, Charles, M. D. 1091
Trentleman, W. H. 1038
Tucker, Thomas M.
939
Turk, John A.
908
U.
Umbenhower, Harry W.
872
V.
Van Duyn, Arthur C. 911
Van Dnyn, James A. 1060
Van Laningham, W. C. 1039
Vaughn, Charles E.
836
Vetters, Charles
870
W.
Walker, Jonas P. 837
Walker, Wood L. 1133
Wallace, Samuel E. 1047
Warrum, Daniel J.
1007
Warrum, Mack
1101
Warrum, William H. 1082
Welborn, Walter H. 1123
Welling, Frank O. 990
Wiggins, John F.
987
Willett, Matthew T.
1034
Williamson, Robert
924
Wilson, Claude P .. D. V. S. 1120
Wilson, Edwin P. 871
Wilson, George S. 1093
Wilson, Horace E.
1040
Wilson, Robert F. 1095
Wilson, Robert G. 941
934
Wilson, William M.
Winslow, Gilderoy C. f
907
Wood, John C. 1097
Wood, William A. 1114
Wright, Quincy A.
1053
Spencer, Newton R.
Spier, Henry T. 1015
CHAPTER I.
GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY, NATURAL RESOURCES AND SOIL SURVEY.
The natural resources of Hancock county, which have been conducive toward making it a garden spot of the world and a most delightful place in which to live, are its fertile soil, its level surface, its abundant rainfall and its temperate climate.
SURFACE.
Almost the entire surface of the county is level or gently rolling. Its streams are without falls or rapids and their currents are generally sluggish. Near the streams the surface is generally hilly. Especially is this true in the northwest corner of the county, along the tributaries of Fall creek, along the lower part of Sugar creek, and in the southeast corner, along Blue river. The highest bluffs along the streams, however, are not to exceed from forty to sixty feet above the beds of the streams. Those along the smaller streams rarely exceed ten feet. In the west central part of the county are large areas with practically level surfaces.
DRAINAGE.
The natural drainage of the county is, in general, to the south and south- west. Practically all of the water of the county is carried away by Blue river and its tributaries. Blue river crosses the southeastern corner of the county. Brandywine creek drains a considerable area in the east central and southern parts, joining Blue river in Shelby county, twelve or thirteen miles south of the county line. Nameless creek is also a large tributary of Blue river. It has its origin in the northeastern part of Jackson township and flows south- westwardly and thence in a southerly direction through the central part of Blue River township. Six Mile creek is another tributary of Blue river. which drains the extreme eastern part of Blue River and Jackson townships.
Sugar creek gathers the waters from a broad, irregular belt extending from the northeast corner of the county along the northern side well toward the northwest corner, thence southwestward, crossing the south line near the southwest corner. Little Sugar creek drains the territory between Sugar creek and Brandywine in the southern part of the county. Buck creek, a tributary which joins Sugar creek six miles south of the southern boundary of the county, drains a large part of the western side, while tributaries of Fall creek and White river receive the drainage from the remainder of the western and northwestern parts. The direction of these streams has been determined
33
34
HANCOCK COUNTY, INDI.I.V.L.
by the deposits made by the great glacier that at one time covered the northern part of the continent almost to the Ohio river. The valleys through which the streams began to flow owed their general direction to the slope of the surface of the material left by the continental ice-sheets. Some of the char- acteristies of the valleys are clearly due. however, to the conditions existing as the ice withdrew, which caused the drainage in certain places to be strik- ingly different from that which exists in the same place now. A notable example of this is the presence of relatively large valleys drained by dispro- portionately small, in some cases insignificant, streams.
AN ABANDONED VALLEY.
The best illustration of an abandoned channel of this kind to be found in the county is in the north central part, extending in a general north- south direction about a mile east of the village of Eden. This northern por- tion begins at the county line somewhat east of the center of section 9. town- ship 17 north, range 7 east, as a flat-bottomed valley, one-fourth of a mile wide and from ten to fifteen feet deep, and extends west of south to the eastern part of section 20, east of Eden, where it crosses Sugar creek and con- tinties its southward course to the north part of section 29. From here its direction is southward until it joins the valley of Brandywine creek in the middle of section 16, township 16 north, range 7 east. The total length of the channel within the county is seven and one-half miles. In parts of its course the drainage is by open ditch or small stream, sometimes northward. sometimes southward. In parts there is no surface stream at all. Through- out most of its course the soil in its bottom is black, usually a clay loam to loam' with a considerable amount of organic matter. The hills on either side are usually light-colored clay loam with varying amounts of gravel and boulders. but sometimes stratified sand and gravel. At certain points the hills bound- ing the valley almost disappear, leaving the boundaries of the channel some- what indefinite : this is especially the case on the cast side at about the center of section 29. township 17 north, range 7 east, where two kamelike hills alone mark clearly the limit of the valley. In most places, however, the valley boundaries are definite, being limited by distinct hills.
This channel of seven and one-half miles is evidently only a part of a general north-south system of drainage which prevailed at a certain stage in the withdrawal of the ice-sheet. Southward. the valley of the Brandywine itself seems to be a part of the same glacial channel. The channel as a whole. coming down through Madison county, is accounted for by the work of waters flowing under conditions entirely different from those of the present day.
35
GEOGRAPHY, SOIL SURVEY, ETC.
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY.
Gravel .- In the thirtieth annual report of the Indiana department of geol- ogy. . \. E. Taylor ( 1905) summarizes the location of gravel deposits in sub- stance as follows :
(1) The principal deposits are found along the larger streams and in certain areas of partially assorted drift, principally in the northeastern part of the county.
(2) Areas in which little or no gravel is found include ( a) a strip about four miles wide along the western end of the county, and (b) certain areas in the north central, east central and southern parts.
Since that report was written some new deposits have been opened up. but it is still true that the main deposits are to be found along the larger streams and in sheets of outwash materials associated with moraines. A tew of these deposits are above the level of ground water and so can be easily reached by excavations from which the gravel can be shoveled directly into the wagons which are to haul it away. By far the largest proportion of gravel in the county, however, lies below the water level, sometimes in streams, sometimes in flood plains or terraces, sometimes in the nearly level inter-stream areas. In such cases the gravel is brought to the surface by means of steam power applied, either to an endless chain to which small buck- ets are attached, or to a cable carrying a single large excavating bucket. Data as to the amount of gravel used each year are not available; but the total is large, since, in addition to a very considerable amount used in concrete con- struction, plastering, etc., hundreds of cubic yards are applied every year to the repair of the numerous gravel roads already completed, and in the exten- sion of the work to reduce still further the small percentage not yet improved in this way.
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