History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions, Part 69

Author: Richman, George J
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Federal publishing co., inc.
Number of Pages: 1272

USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 69

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Following are the names of the stockholders : T. F. Smith, W. H. H. Rock, John McGraw. R. C. Niles, Jacob Brown, Jacob Orr, 11. P. Lantz, Thomas Springstead, Edward Earle, C. M. Rock, H. J. Bogart, John F. Girty, S. H. Brown, Hiram Griffith, Martin Fort, Daniel Bohn, John A. Craft. H. M. Morris, H. F. Miller, J. II. Allison. I. M. Jones, W. W. Thornburgh, John S. Orr, Henry Frederick, Thompson, Henry Kinder, William Thomas, William Johnson, J. O. Lane, A. J. Lemay, Philip Stinger, John R. Hill, William Oldham, R. B. Weese, S. F. Williams, Isaac N. Bartlow, Jack- son Galloway, Burd Lacy, Samuel Grass, John Addison, Joseph Higgins, Harvey B. Smith, W. S. Byrkit, D. C. Hasting, Meredith Walker, A. V. B. (46)

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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.

Sample, Charles White, Frank Smith. Joseph Hill, James Wilson, Kitturah Fort, Daniel Grass, William Myers, John Taylor, Enoch Pierson, Thomas J Owens, Samuel Hill. A. J. Foley. W. B. Cox, George W. Landis. J. Lewis Coskins, William White, Zenos Bundy. Henry Burk, Robert H. Ross, Joseph B. Liddall, Z. W. Coffin, W. N. White. Henry Loudenback, Nathan C. Hill, George M. White, Harvey Galloway, Asenath H. Nicho, J. C. Stewart, Lafe Griffith, P. J. Bohn, Henry Carroll. Joseph Stultz, James Forts, Joseph Hos- kins, Andrew Jackson, Jeremiah Goddard. J. H. Miller. James O .. Powers, M. M. Thomas, Temple Stewart, William B. Tweedy, Anthony Smith, J. M. Clark, John M. Tygart, J. H. Kiser. A. M. Hoskins, William Wilkins, Rafe Orston, S. M. Wales, George I. Girty, Jehu Stewart and Robert Brown.

Pursuant to the purpose for which the company had been organized, it proceeded to erect the first brick school house which stood on the site of the present school, north of the National road and east of Charlottesville. After the completion of this building the Charlottesville Educational Associa- tion leased it to the town of Charlottesville for school purposes. The terms of the contract may be best seen from the contract itself, which was dated May 31, 1872, and of which the following are the essential parts :

"The trustees, directors, etc., have this day rented. leased and let unto the town of Charlottesville, for the term of twenty-five years from this date, for public school purposes, so much of the building and real estate herein- after named as may be necessary for the public free schools of said town; and when said building shall have been finished as is hereinafter provided for. said town shall have possession for school purposes as aforesaid, of a suf. ficient portion of said building and ground whenever said town shall require the same for a public free school, and at the expiration of such term or sessions of such free public school aforesaid all of said property shall be delivered unto the possession of said trustees or directors, their successors, etc., of the said Charlottesville Educational Association, and shall remain in their possession and subject to their use and control, and be subject to be let or occupied by such trustees, directors, etc., until the same shall again be required for public free schools of said town as aforesaid. All of said property shall be delivered unto the possession of said trustees, directors, etc., at the end of said twenty- five years and all right or interest of said town under this lease shall forever cease and expire. And when during this lease said town shall not need any part of said property for the actual occupation of public free schools of said town, all of said property shall be subject to the absolute use and control of said trustees and directors of said association. And at any time during the continuance of this lease if the whole of said property shall not be necessary

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for the use of such public free school, such remaining portion shall be subject to the use, occupation and control of said trustees and directors. And the trustees and directors of said association agree to complete said building ready for occupancy, or so much thereof as may be necessary for the use of such public free school, as soon as sufficient money is paid by the trustees of said town, but are not bound to complete any more than may be so necessary, and they agree to complete and provide with furniture for such school such parts as may be so necessary for such school, and have such part ready for occul- pancy as soon as the same shall be required by said town for such public free school provided sufficient money shall have been paid to do the same, and the trustees and directors of said association agree to keep said portion of said building in repair but are not bound to repair in cases of any unnecessary waste or damage, nor destruction by fire or the act of God, committed during the occupancy by said town.

"And in consideration of the above of the agreement made by said lessors said school trustees of said town, for said town, agree to put a good plain plank fence around said school lot and said school trustees agree to pay said lessors the sum of $2,000 in further consideration of this lease, and the said school trustees and town shall devote all available means now on hands in the payment of said $2,000, and said town shall levy and collect money as fast as possible for said town to do to pay the sum of $1,500, and the re- mainder of said $2,000, to-wit : $500 shall be paid in full within twenty-four years from this date, but if after said $1,500 shall have been paid, the said trustees and directors of said association shall need said money remaining for repairs the said town, on demand of the trustees and directors of said associa- tion, etc., shall pay the sum of $50 annually, until the same shall be paid, commencing with the day of such demand, but in any event said whole sum shall be paid within twenty-four years as aforesaid. Formally closed, dated May 31, 1872, and signed, sealed and acknowledged by T. F. Smith, H. M. Morris, Anthony Smith, Enoch Pierson, William Oldham, John Addison. John A. Craft, as trustees on the part of said association, and by John McGraw and Isaac N. Bartlow, school trustees for the town of Charlottesville."

This rather unusual procedure did not prove to be wholly satisfactory to everybody concerned. The mention thereof made in the local papers shows that it later became more or less of a local political issue in the township. It seems too, that the town of Charlottesville did not comply with the terms of the contract, or at least "did not devote all available means now on hands in the payment of said $2,000." Possibly the town did not "levy and collect money as fast as possible for said town to do to pay the sum of $1.500." At

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any rate the Charlottesville Educational Association brought a suit in the Hancock circuit court and recovered a judgment against the town of Char- lottesville for the sum of $600, in June. 1873. (Cause No. 533 in the Han- cock circuit court.)

The above judgment remained unpaid. other debts accumulated, por- tions of the town were disannexed, and on August 24, 1880. Charles M. But- ler, prosecuting attorney for the eighteenth judicial circuit of Indiana, of which the Hancock circuit court formed a part, filed a bill of information in said court in which he alleged, charged and averred "that the said corporation. the town of Charlottesville, have forfeited their charter in the manner and way following, that is to say: That said corporation, the town of Charlottes- ville, since its organization has failed and refused to keep the streets in repair and has failed and refused to take steps to promote the interests of the citi- zens. That said corporation has allowed judgments to remain unpaid against it for more than a year. That there is now and has been for more than three years last past a judgment of the Hancock circuit court, of Hancock county. Indiana, in favor of the Charlottesville Educational Association and against said corporation of the town of Charlottesville, amounting in the sum of about $700 remaining unpaid, and the said prosecuting attorney would further in- form the court that said corporation is insolvent and unable to pay all of its bona fide indebtedness, and that said corporation has exceeded her authority in this: That she has narrowed the corporate limits of said town, thereby relieving numerous persons from contributing their proportionate share of taxes into the corporate fund, thereby increasing the taxes on the property of the residue of the citizens of said town, and releasing and relieving Daniel Grass and Edward Barrett from any corporation taxes, all of which is con- trary to the form of the statute in such cases. Wherefore. the said Charles M. Butler demands that the charter of said corporation be forfeited and that a receiver be appointed to discharge her indebtedness, etc."

And the court after having this information under consideration, and "after having heard evidence adduced and being sufficiently advised in the premises, finds that all matters and facts set forth are true. It is further or- dered, adjudged and decreed by the court that all the rights and franchises of said defendant, the town of Charlottesville. be forever forfeited and lost to her and her agents of every kind or character, and the court now here appoints P. Jacob Bohn a receiver, who shall give bond to the satisfaction of the clerk of this court, who shall reduce the assets of said defendant to possession and pay the debts of said corporation under the same rules prescribed for the government of administrators." ( State vs. town of Charlottesville. Cause No. 3333 in the Hancock circuit court.)

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Mr. Bohn refused to qualify as receiver and James M. Barrett finally qualified. Under the order of the court he made a tax levy or two and raised funds to pay the town's indebtedness. The charter was forfeited on October 19. 1880, and Charlottesville never reincorporated as a town.

During the summer of 1886 the brick school that had been constructed by the Charlottesville Educational Association was blown down and it became necessary to construct another buikling. The Educational Association was insolvent. James L. Foley, trustee of Jackson township, therefore filed his petition for the appropriation of real estate for school purposes during the summer of 1886. He alleged in his petition that it was "necessary for the purpose of erecting a public school house thereon to purchase the real estate owned by the Charlottesville Educational Association, being the school lot in Earle's Second Addition to the town of Charlottesville ; that the directors of the Educational Association own the lot in fee simple; that they have failed to use it for educational purposes and that said association is wholly insolvent." He therefore asked the court for the appointment of appraisers to appraise and assess the value of said real estate and to make such further orders in the premises by the appointment of a commissioner or otherwise to divest the title of said real estate from said Charlottesville Educational Association and to vest the same in Jackson school township: to forever quiet the title to said real estate in said Jackson school town as against said association.

James F. McClarnon. Lucian B. Thomas and John HI. Lane were ap- pointed appraisers on June 8, 1886. Upon the filing of their report the town- ship paid to the clerk of the circuit court the sum of $250 and the court ordered the title quieted and vested in Jackson township as prayed. ( Foley vs. Char- lottesville Educational Association. Cause No. 5269 in the Hancock circuit court. )

The second brick building and the one that stood until just a few years ago was then erected by James 1 .. Foley, in the fall of 1886. This school house was condemned by the state board of health in the spring of 1911. William T. Orr. township trustee, then employed George W. Gordon to draw the plans and specifications for the present building. . It was erected during the sum- mer and fall of 1911 at a cost of approximately $30,000. At present it stands as the newest and probably the most modern township high school building in the county.

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.

Sardis Lodge No. 253. Free and Accepted Masons, at Charlottesville. was organized on January 25, 1860, with the following charter members :

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John A. Craft, Richard Probasco. Joseph Loudenback. J. M. Chandler. Dr. A. B. Bundy, Ellison Williams, Thomas N. Bidgood, George W. Sample, John Shipman. John Thompson, Jr., William W. Thornburgh. Albert White. Joseph J. Butler, Joseph R. Hunt, Samuel B. Hill, Edward Butler, Temple Stewart, Andrew Pauley, Ambrose Miller, Thomas Conklin, S. A. Hall, C. E. Allison, William Cook, Joshua Moore and John Kiser. The first meeting place of the lodge was on the second floor of the building on the north side of Main street above the store then owned by John A. Craft. John A. Craft was the first worshipful master, Samuel B. Hall the first senior warden, and C. E. Allison the first junior warden.

A charter was granted to the lodge by the grand lodge on May 29. 1860. The organization was maintained until 1878 when the building and all of the effects of the lodge, except the records, were destroyed by fire. There was no other room that could be used for lodge purposes and the members, feeling that they were unable to build, surrendered their charter on Novem- ber 20, 1878. Among those who acted as worshipful master in the lodge were John A. Craft, A. V. B. Sample, Jesse Leaky and I. B. Smitlı.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOW'S.

Charlottesville Lodge No. 277, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was granted a charter on May 22, 1867. The lodge was organized with eight charter members: A. H. Miller, Thompson B. Burch, R. B. White, P. John- son, John Johnson, William S. Hill, Drury Holt and George S. Chandler. It has a present membership of one hundred and seventeen. The lodge meets every Saturday night in its own building, which consists of a two-story frame house forty by sixty feet, with two business rooms on the first floor and the lodge room on the second floor. The property of the lodge is worth about $4,000. It has a degree staff under the management of Charles W. Ramsay, which has achieved a high degree of excellence in the presentation of lodge work. It has given the work in many halls, including those at Carthage, Ar- lington. Knightstown, Dunreith, Lewisville. Cambridge City, Greenfield. Eden, Fortville, McCordsville, Wilkinson and Shirley.

DAUGHTERS OF REBEKAH.

Blonda Lodge No. 318. Daughters of Rebekah. was instituted on Jan- uary 28, 1890, with eleven charter members. .At present the lodge has one hundred and ten members.

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CHARLOTTESVILLE BRASS BAND.

The first brass band was organized at Charlottesville about 1869 or 1870. by W. L. Niles. The members of the band were W. L. Niles, leader; Isaac J. Hatfield, C. M. Niles and Homer Hackleman. cornetists; James Danner and Charles Owens, altos; William Scott, tenor ; Alvin Johnson, baritone : Jere Hilligoss, tuba ; Foster Miller, bass drum; Charles Leamon, snare drum.

Mr. Niles was the only teacher of the band. He had had two years of instruction under Prof. L. W. Eastman, who was the teacher of the first Greenfield bands. About 1871 or 1872 the people of Charlottesville assisted the boys in raising money to purchase a new set of band instruments, and also a band wagon and uniforms. The organization was then maintained. with a few changes, during the seventies. In December, 1883, a reorganiza- tion was effected, and the greater number of the members named above, with a few others, incorporated under the laws of the state. The new band, as shown by the miscellaneous record in the county recorder's office, was com- posed of William L. Niles, E-flat cornet (leader) ; Isaac J. Hatfield, E-flat cornet ; Willie White and Omer Hackleman, B-flat cornets : C. M. Niles and Charles Owens, altos : Frank Craft and Edward Carroll, tenors ; John A. John- son, baritone; Wilbur Carroll, tuba; Foster Miller, bass drum; Charles E. Leamon, snare drum. This band continued to play until in the nineties. Isaac J. Hatfield was its leader during the last few years of its existence.

CITIZENS BANK OF CHARLOTTESVILLE.

The Citizens Bank of Charlottesville opened its doors for business on November 1, 1913, with the following officers and directors: James F. Mc- Clarnon, president ; Luther F. Symons, vice-president ; Clarence Haskett, cash- ier: H. T. White, C. F. Binford, J. M. Addison and H. M. Fort, directors. The capital stock of the bank is $10,000. Following are the stockholders : J. N. Addison, Charles F. Binford, Irvin H. Binford, Ernest H. Bond, Il. M. Fort, Levi Gurley, Ezra Hill, Amos Hill, Allen Hill, Hawley Hall, Robert Hall, Clarence Haskett, Mary Hanna, Roy Lowe, James F. McClarnon, S. H. Murphy, W. L. Niles, W. C. Overman, Mina Overman, Andrew Ormston, Donald J. Peacock, W. E. Ross, H. T. White. F. E. White, Frank Weeks and Zona M. White.

The present officers are James F. McClarnon, president ; Robert Hall, vice-president ; Clarence Haskett, cashier; H. T. White, C. F. Binford, J. N. Addison and H. M. Fort, directors.

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IIANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.

CHARLOTTESVILLE BI'RIAL CLUB.

The Charlottesville Burial Club was organized on January 27. 1912, by W. R. Walker, with Willard Lowe. president ; W. R. Walker, secretary and treasurer, and Joseph N. Addison. George Haman and Guy Oldham, com- mittee. The club was organized with two hundred and twenty-five members. It now has a membership of three hundred and forty. It is maintained by making assessments in advance, the money being placed in bank for payment on the death of a member of the club.

The membership is divided into three classes: Those from two years of age to twelve years of age pay twenty-five cents and receive $50 at death : those aged from twelve years to forty-five years pay fifty cents and receive $100 at death : members from forty-five to sixty years of age pay seventy-five cents and receive $100 at death. Money is paid directly to the members of the family of the deceased, and any undertaker may be employed. No appli- cants are received for membership unless they are in good health.

Eleven deaths have occurred in the club since its organization, including ten adults and one child. No officer receives a salary ; expenses only are paid. The club has made a gain at each assessment and at present has a deposit in bank from which to draw. W. R. Walker has been secretary and treasurer of the club since its organization.

CHARLOTTESVILLE THURSDAY CIRCLE.

In December, 1911, some women of Charlottesville, feeling a desire for a closer social tie and also intellectual development, met together and organized what is known as the Charlottesville Thursday Circle. Its object is to aid in general culture through the programs, to strengthen bonds of friendship, and afford some profitable social life to busy women. Each year the work has been of a solid nature and has been a source of much wholesome pleasure and broader culture. The work for 1916 is to be on "Our Country," devoting some time to Indiana because of the centennial.

The first president was Mary E. Roland. She was followed by Edith J. Hunt and Cora L. Craft. The president for 1916 is Doris Binford. The circle conducted a lecture course in 1912-13 and has done some philanthropic work. It belongs to the Federation of Clubs of the sixth district and also to the Federation of Country Clubs of Hancock county. In January, 1915. it joined with the latter club in celebrating the birthday of Lee O. Harris, at Greenfield. Although organized only a short time the club can already see the real advantage of such an organization in the better development of its members.

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LEAMON'S CORNER.

Leamon's Corner is located on the range line where sections 13. 18. 19 and 24 meet. It has always been a well-known corner in the township. For many years a postoffice, a little store, a blacksmith shop and a saw-mill were maintained there. The postoffice was kept by Cyrus Leamon from a very early day, but was discontinued in the summer of 1881. The blacksmith shop was operated for a number of years by Bud Phillips, son of Thomas Phillips, who had had a blacksmith shop for a number of years in Blue River township. The little store was kept until about the time the postoffice was taken away.

STRINGTOWN.

Stringtown is located in the extreme southwest corner of Jackson town- ship. in section 36. In the early history of the township Rufus Scott main- tained a store there for a number of years. One Danner operated a black- smith shop and William Baxter had a little chair shop. Just across the road to the west, in Center township, at a later date stood Newhall's saw-mill. The railroad maintained a switch there and the accommodation trains stopped to let passengers on and off. At a still later time a machine shop and foundry was built just south of the National road and adjoining the east line of section 35. township 16, range 7. by the Trees. This machine shop is still operated by L. J. Trees and is thoroughly equipped for doing iron work, repairing of engines, machinery, etc. It is one of the well-known corners in the county.

RAILROADS.

Jackson township has two railroads and two interurban lines. The Pittsburgh. Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis follows the township line between Jackson township and Blue River township. A branch of the Big Four and the Indianapolis & Newcastle interurban cross the southwest corner of the township for a distance of a little more than a mile. The Terre Haute. Indianapolis & Eastern traction line follows the National road through the township from east to west.

MISSIONARY UNION BAPTIST CHURCHI.

There were several churches in the early history of the township that are no longer in existence. Among them was the Missionary Union Baptist church. This church was organized on July 19. 1852, at what was known as Pleasant Hill. which stood probably a half-mile east of the range line and one- half mile south of Willow Branch. The first house of worship for the Baptist

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congregation, however, was erected at the southwest corner of section 16, township 16, range 8, or just across the road from where Center school house is now located. This house was erected in 1856 and was used by the con- gregation until 1878. At that time it was torn down and moved to a point one-half mile west of Leamon's Corner. The new church stood at the north- west corner of the northeast quarter of section 24, township 16, range 7.

Among the original members of the church were William Brammer and wife, Samuel E. Wilson and wife, John O. Moore and wife, and James Bram- mer. Among the later members were Benjamin Clift, A. C. Dudding and S. W. Felt, all of whom took an active interest in the work of the church .. Services were conducted by the congregation until at some time in the early nineties, when on account of deaths and removals, the church organization was dissolved and the building sold.

The Baptists also held regular services at the residence of Silas Hunting- ton, in the extreme northwest part of Jackson township for a number of years during the very early history of the township. The New Light Society also had a little log church in the northeast corner of the township, where they worshipped for several years in that very early day.

SIX MILE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.

This church stood about one and one-half miles north of Charlottesville. Its location is still indicated by the cemetery at the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 26, township 16, range 8. A history of the church is included as a part of the history of the Charlottesville Methodist Episcopal church.

CENTER CHURCHI-SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

The church building used by this congregation is still standing at the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 24, township 16, range 7. It was erected in 1879 at a cost of probably $500. The first trustees of the church were Joseph O. Binford, Aaron White and John S. Lewis. Among its pastors were Joseph O. Binford, Micajah M. Bin- ford and Winbern Kearns. Services were discontinued during the nineties. The church was originally organized in 1878 and services were conducted at the Leamon's Corner school house until the above church was constructed. in 1879.

PLEASANT HILL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Pleasant Hill church was organized at the residence of Moses Brad- dock, in 1834. At first it belonged to the Knightstown circuit. Among the

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early ministers who aided in the organization of the church were Benjamin Cooper, Alfred Thomas, F. C. Holliday, John F. Truslow, W. W. Hibben and James Hill. During the ministry of the two latter. in 1837, a class was organ- ized composed of Polly Burris, Margaret Braddock, Nancy Braddock, Bar- bara Braddock, Benjamin Cooper and wife, Alfred Thomas and wife, John M. Thomas and wife, and David Thomas and wife.

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History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions, Part 69

Author: Richman, George J Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Indianapolis, Federal publishing co., inc. Number of Pages: 1272

Author: Richman, George J
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Federal publishing co., inc.
Number of Pages: 1272