USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 73
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They had no instructor except the pastor for a short time. They were all laborers on the farms and gave only their spare time to practice. The band never succeeded in playing a very high grade of music, yet during the summer of 1896 they played a number of the marches of John Philip Sousa. who was then the march king of the world. . After that year the band declined and the boys finally quit entirely. Later a new band was organized which played for two or three years.
ALBRIGIIT GERMAN CHURCH.
A new frame church was erected on the east side of the county line, just below Julietta, in 1866, and became known as the Albright German church.
Services were conducted in German until about 1800, after which they were conducted in the English language on certain Sundays of each month. The German membership began moving away, others died, and after about 1895 services ceased to be held. Since that time the church has been sold and moved away. Among those who were faithful for many years should be mentioned Elinore Custer, Fred Schmoe, Mrs. Weber, of Julietta, and the Fink family.
PHILADELPHI.1.
Philadelphia, the first town in Sugar Creek township, was platted on April 11, 1838, by Charles Atherton, the original plat consisting of eighteen lots. The record fails to show by whom the survey was made, but in all deads of conveyance the lots are described as being in Charles Atherton's original survey.
Two additions have been made to the town since then. Pearson's addi- tion, known as Second addition, was laid out on June 7, 1839, by Ovid Pear- son, and contains forty-two lots and six outlots. A third addition, known as Clark's addition, was laid out on April 2. 1864, and consists of nineteen lots.
For many years after the town was laid out Charles AAtherton was the general merchant and postmaster. During the latter fifties a man named
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Berry also operated a grocery, in which he sold liquor. The ladies of the town and vicinity took exception to this part of his business and conspired together to rid the town of the evil. Berry received an intimation of what was about to happen, locked up his store and left town. The ladies, however, made an entrance, some say through a window, and others say they battered the door down. However, that may have been, the liquor was found and poured upon the floor. Soon thereafter the owner left for other parts.
Later merchants were Allen McCane. Joseph Marshall, G. W. Willett, Samuel McConnaha, J. B. String, J. B. Conover, Oscar Meek & Brother, John Garner and H. F. Wilson. The present merchants are Raymond Wil- son and Mr. Swarms. Elzy Grigsby also sells groceries from a room in the rear of the barber shop.
The carly physicians of the town have been mentioned elsewhere, but the list of later ones includes Drs. Eubank. King and Bell.
During the latter seventies and eighties a great deal of business was transacted at Philadelphia. It was an important little railroad town. There was a saw-mill, grist-mill and a grain elevator, and the Stutsmans and Ben- jamin Elliott had a blacksmith shop. The first brick school house in the township was also erected at Philadelphia in 1873.
Very few improvements have been made in the town during the past fifty years and the older citizens tell us that it remains very much as it was from their earliest recollection. The postoffice was removed when the Greenfield rural routes were started in 1902.
PHILADELPHIA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.
The first meetings of the people which resulted in the organization of this church were held about 1835. The people who attended at that time were Charles Atherton, Sr., and family. William Brown and family, Mrs. Willett. Jonathan Hornaday and family. Thomas J. Smith and family, Joseph Gray and family, and likely others.
In the very carly history of the church meetings were held in an old log school house that stood on the north side of the National road, near the east end of town, and, later, in a frame school house built by James Boyce and Joseph Marshall. on the north side of the National road about the middle of town. Services were also held in the large reception room of Willett's tavern, on the south side of the National road, and at the old Pennsylvania station and freight depot, which burned down about 1878 or 1879.
Among the early ministers were Mr. Edmondson. J. B. Burch. Abra- ham Kuntz, Rev. Havens, William Anderson and Rev. Colelazier. The latter
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was the minister about the time the present church house was built. The Rev. Abraham Kuntz, and his wife, who was a sweet singer, held a very success- ful revival in the old school house in the winter of 1854-5. The present house was built in 1856 and was dedicated by Bishop Ames. . At that time it stood about twenty rods south of where it now stands. Ten years ago the building was moved to its present site, and since that time has been remodeled. A Sunday school has been conducted in connection with the church ever since about 1850.
The church belonged to the Greenfield circuit until the Greenfield church was made a station, in, 1879. At that time the Philadelphia circuit was formed, including Philadelphia, Eden, Curry's Chapel and Sugar Creek, under the pastorate of Harvey Sutherland. Among the ministers of the church, and the dates of their appointment, are Harvey Sutherland, 1878; William Anderson, 1879: Hosea Woolpert, 1881: A. C. Gruber, 1884: Will- iam Peck. 1885: D. 11. Guild, 1888; E. W. Reinhart, 1890; John Heim, 1891: William Ramsey, 1893: 11. 11. Compton. 1895: S. F. Harter, 1896: M. C. Pittenger. 1899: Albert Luring, 1900: L. P. Pfeiffer, 1901: F. M. Waggoner. 1904: H. Hardingham, 1905: - Barton. 1906: M. M. Reynolds, 1906: C. A. Hile. 1907: F. Greenstreet, 1909: Paul Truitt. 1900 ; E. H. Taylor, 1911 : Leroy Huddleston, 1912: J. B. O'Connor, 1915.
PHILADELPHIA CHURCH CEMETERY.
This cemetery, long known as the Hawkins cemetery, was surveyed in May. 1871, and presented by Joseph Hawkins to the trustees of the Phila- delphia Methodist Episcopal church. The price of the lots were fixed at six dollars, the proceeds to be used in caring for and ornamenting the ground. The trustees of the church were to fence the ground, keep it enclosed, and keep up the cemetery. The deed was delivered by Mr. Hawkins to the trus- tees of the church at a meeting attended by a number of the members. Ser- eral people present made short talks, and W. S. Fries, the surveyor, gave a discourse upon "The Sacredness of the Grave."
Additions have been made to the cemetery since that time. It was maintained by the church until 1008. In the fall of that year it was incor- porated under the laws of the state of Indiana and has since been in the hands of the lot owners.
FRIENDS CHURCH AT PHILADELPHILA.
The Friends church at Philadelphia was organized as a result of a great camp meeting held at Dye's lake in the fall of 1886, by Eli Scott and a party
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from Indianapolis. The camp-mecting was held in the open air until the nights became too cool, when a large tent was erected. There was much enthusiasm and before the meeting closed the following families, with others. had banded themselves together for the purpose of organizing a church : Clarence L. Black and wife. Emma Jane Gilson, John Short and wife, Mrs. Jennie Colestock, several members of the Fields family, James Shelton and wife, Henry Hawk and wife, Armenns McKelvey and wife, John McKelvey and wife, Oliver Smith and wife. During the spring and summer of 1887 a church was constructed on the north side of the National road at the west end of Philadelphia. For several years Revs. Eli Scott, Hunt, Mrs. Carter. and others preached to the congregation. Some of the members moved away. others withdrew to other churches, and after a few years services ceased to be held in the church. The house stood vacant for a number of years and was sold a few years ago to Mrs. Flora Stant, of Philadelphia.
During the winter of 1897-8. Rev. Mower, a United Brethren pastor. conducted a revival for several months in this house in an effort to organize a United Brethren church at Philadelphia. The effort. however, was not successful.
SPRING LAKE PARK.
Spring Lake park is located about one-half mile southwest of the town of Philadelphia. The gully now occupied by the lake originally contained a number of springs and in 1884-5 William Dye conceived the idea of putting a dam across the west end of it to make an artificial lake. It was surrounded by woods, and on the south lay eight or ten acres or more of timber, an excellent picnic ground. The dam was constructed and the place, then known as Dye's Grove, was opened to Sunday schools, lodges, and other organiza- tions for picnics. A passenger steamer, which was able to carry about thirty persons, was built on the lake in 1886. It was a small steamboat. but it attracted a great deal of attention in the vicinity for a summer or two, The employees of the "Pan-Handle" Railroad Company held their annual picnic there in 1886. A camp meeting was also held in 1886. the result of which was the organization of the congregation of Friends at Philadelphia. It has been used as a picnic ground more or less ever since that time. Boats, as well as facilities for bathing, have always been maintained.
During the latter eighties one of the great sham battles of the county was fought there. In the course of time the place became known as Spring Lake park. In 1901, after the Indianapolis & Greenfield traction line had been built, a summer theater was opened and was maintained for two summers.
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Often, however, the singers and actors had the entire building to themselves and after the second season the theater was not reopened. A baseball park was maintained, which drew large crowds on Sundays during 1903. The park has changed hands several times ; E. E. Matthews owned it for several years. when it was bought by a company of persons who platted the entire tract for residence purposes in the spring of 1912.
PHILADELPHIA CORNET BAND.
A brass band was organized at Philadelphia in 1874, and incorporated under the laws of the state. Its articles of incorporation may be found in the miscellaneous record in the county recorder's office in the court house at Greenfield. The names of the members of the band, as shown by these articles of incorporation, were Marion Philpott, William Dye, Jr., Sam Mar- tin, William Eddins, Charles Gilson, Henry C. Stutsman. John Stutsman, J. A. Stutsman, J. M. Stutsman, Charles Stutsman and Armenus McKelvey.
This band, with a changing membership, continued to discourse strains of music to the little town until in the eighties. It had a very handsome. old- fashioned band wagon, high at each end and low in the middle.
NEW PALESTINE.
New Palestine was laid out, October 1, 1838, by Jonathan Evans. six months after the town of Philadelphia had been laid out. It first consisted of fifteen blocks and thirty-six lots. Since that time a number of additions have been made to the town, as follows :
North West Addition, laid out by Conrad Gundrum on February 18, 1854, and consists of twenty-three lots.
Waltke's Addition, laid out AAugust 7, 1867. and consists of twenty-five lots.
Kirkhoff's Addition, laid out by Anthony Kirkhoff. October 9, 1873, and consists of six lots.
Kirkhoff's West Addition, laid out by Anthony Kirkhoff on January 2, 1875, and consists of ten lots.
Anderson's Addition, laid out by II. P. . Anderson, April 10, 1872, and consists of thirty-nine lots.
Hobbs' Sub-Division of parts of Anderson's and Kirkhoff's West Addi- tion, made by Pliny F. Hobbs, May 25, 1865, and as subdivided consists of five lots.
Coyner's Survey, laid out by Susan M. Coyner, December 21, 1886: em- braces a re-subdivision of lots 7, 8 and 9, of H. P. . Anderson's Addition.
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Correction of Kirkhoff & . Inderson's Addition, by order of town trustees, May 2, 1873, because of imperfect description of said plats.
Anderson's Second Addition, laid out by Hayden P. Anderson, March 13. 1895, consists of three lots.
Anderson's Third Addition, laid out by Hayden P. Anderson, Novem- ber 9, 1903 ; consists of eleven lots.
Claffey's Addition, laid out by Amelia E. Claffey, June 13, 1905 ; con- sists of twelve lots.
Jonathan Evans was the first merchant and the postmaster at the town. Evans's place of business was located on the southeast corner of Main and Bitner streets, where the drug store and bank are now situated. Among the other very early merchants were Amos Dickerson, who lived on the north side of Main street, on the west side of the first alley west of Bitner street, Andrew McGahey, Robert King, S. S. Johnson and Joseph Cones. These were followed in business by Shockley, Brown, Schildmeier, Shreiber, Rupkey and others.
About the time of the war, or a little earlier, a frame business room was erected at the northeast corner of Main and Bitner streets. This room was occupied at different times by Freeman & Westlake, Kassebaum, Freeman. Eaton & Gates; Eaton & Son, Waltz & Richman, Richman & Son, Richman & Kitley, Peffley & Kitley, Peffley, Geisel Brothers. Kassebaum is said to have made a fortune in this building about the time of the war and following. WV. T. Eaton & Son were in business there for many years during the seven- ties and eighties and up into the nineties.
Another frame business room was erected about 1860 where the three- story brick building known as the Vansickle building now stands, on the north side of Main street about the middle of town. It was built by H. P. Ander- son and later occupied by Vansickle & Helms. Vansickle & Westlake. Van- sickle & Nichols, Nichols & Nichols, Waltz & Richman. Short & Ashcraft, Geisel & Kitley, and Albert Geisel.
During the nineties Henry Nichols erected a little room on the south side of Main street just a few lots west of the street leading to the school house. Later his present brick building was erected, which he occupied for a number of years and which has since been occupied by others.
INCORPORATION OF TOWN.
The petition asking for the incorporation of the town of New Palestine was dated May 22, 1871, and was presented to the board of county com- missioners at their June session, in 1871. The petition was signed by the
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following named persons : E. J. Richardson. John Gundrum, Sanford Furry. H. A. Schreiber, Jesse Matlock. Jacob Buchel. M. M. Hook, Albert Free- man, John W. Kingery, Reason Hawkins, M. M. Alexander. Pliny Hobbs, Amos Eversson, Henry H. Eaton. John Mausner, John P. Armstrong, J. .1. Schreiber. J. C. White. S. H. Bennett, Jefferson Ulrey, Eli Stout, Calvin Bennett. Robert D. Stirling. Samuel S. Davis, Thomas J. Beeler, Edward Hudson, G. Stineback, Samuel C. Willis, G. H. Robinson, D. J. Elliott, Ben- jamin H. Rice. James Larober. George Kingery, Wesley Eaton, Hiram Murman, W. Il. Foster and B. F. True. The petition also showed that the town had a population of two hundred and seventy-nine people, with seventy voters.
The board of commissioners fixed the fourth Saturday of June, 18;1. and the depot at New Palestine as the time and place for the voters to meet to determine whether the town should be incorporated. The election was held as ordered. The report thereof made to the board of county com- missioners showed that a majority of the votes had been cast in favor of the incorporation, whereupon the board ordered and declared the town incor- porated under the name and style of New Palestine.
The first election of town officers was held on March 29, 1872, at which the following men were elected: Samuel Hook, clerk; Benjamin F. Rice, treasurer: Hiram Murnan, marshal: John S. Vansickle, assessor : trustees. Henry Gates, eastern district : Henry .\. Schreiber, southern district: Ma- thias M. Hook, western district.
For many years the town had great difficulty with its name. The postoffice was known as Sugar Creek. The railroad and express stations as Palestine, and the name of the town itself was New Palestine. Because of a town named Palestine, in Kosciusko county. Indiana, people were often having their mail and other matters missent, that were directed to Palestine. .A great deal of mail, of course, was addressed to Palestine instead of Sugar Creek, by people who simply knew the name of the town. Through the efforts of E. F. Faut and Congressman Bynum, the name of the postoffice was changed from Sugar Creek to New Palestine, on January 16. 1889. The name of the railroad station and express office was also changed to New Palestine.
The citizens of New Palestine have always taken an active interest in the administration of their local affairs. Tickets for town offices have usually been nominated along party lines, yet frequently citizens' tickets, etc .. have been nominated. In 1874 two tickets were placed in the field, one. the "Law and Order" ticket. the other. the "Common Sense" ticket. As is usual
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in politics, the "Common Sense" peope were defeated. Since that time "Citizens' " tickets have frequently been nominated, but the political ticket has usually been successful.
BLACKSMITHIS AND OTHER MECHANICS.
The names of E. 11. Faut, Charles Faut, Conrad Geisel and Gus Smith are among the early blacksmiths of the town. The Faut shop was operated until the death of Charles Faut, about three years ago. Conrad Geisel's shop was closed about ten years ago. Gus Smith, whose shop stood on the west side of Bitner street, just across from the okl school house, was bought out by John Huber and William Trentleman, in 1882. They were young men at the time and conducted the shop under the name of "Our Boys" until 1887. At that time Mr. Huber took over the shop and Mr. Tremleman began work for the Faut Brothers. In 1899 he again opened his own shop, which he has maintained to the present.
Charles F. Richman has been a carpenter and contractor at New Pales- tine for over a half century. Some of the best dwellings in the vicinity, including also churches and schools, stand as monuments to his workman- ship. Perry & Pliney F. Hobbs also contracted for a number of years dur- ing the eighties and later. At present Chris Rosenbaumer is the principal contractor. Eli Stout has for many years been a house painter, while Charles Ballard has painted the buggies and carriages.
WATER SYSTEM.
A gas well was drilled in the creek bottom just below the hill in 1901. or possibly a year earlier. It was a failure, but an artesian well remained. In March, 1902, Max Herrlich installed a "ram," by means of which the water has been forced into the tank elevated on a derrick about fifty feet high on the hill just northeast of town. He then piped the town, to all parts of which gravity forces the water. It is used for all purposes. The school has used this water since 1902.
NEW PALESTINE BANK.
On August 10, 1892, the first bank at New Palestine opened its doors for business in the rear of the brick building standing on the northeast corner of Main and Bitner streets. This bank was promoted by Luther Erganbright and James Pritchard, though Mr. Erganbright took charge. It opened on rather slender capital, but grew into a prosperous institution. In the spring of 1893 it was reorganized under the state law with a capital of twenty-five
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thousand dollars. It also moved from its old location to the Vansickle block on the north side of Main street, about the center of the town. This organ- ization was composed of William T. Eaton, president ; Luther Erganbright. cashier : Miss Cora Shaeffer, John Manche and Henry Fralich.
The bank continued to do business until July, 1895, when Mr. Ergan- bright withdrew. It shortly afterward surrendered its charter and quit the banking business.
Through the efforts of William T. Eaton, the present New Palestine private bank was organized and opened its doors for business on September 20, 1897. The bank at that time was owned by William T. Eaton, presi- dent ; Henry Fralich, cashier; Edward Fink, John Il. Binford and Anton F. G. Richman. After several years of successful management Mr. Eaton retired on account of ill health and disposed of his holdings to the remaining stockholders. After Mr. Eaton's retirement Edward Fink was elected presi- dent, Ilenry Fralich, cashier, and Miss Maggie Fralich was employed as assistant cashier and bookkeeper. After the death of Anton F. G. Rich- man. in 1908, his son. Charles, took his father's holdings and became a member of the firm. In the spring of 1911 Miss Maggie Fralich severed her connection with the bank. Before her retirement Edward Fink had familiar- ized himself with banking business and upon her resignation took an active part in the administration of the bank's affairs. In the spring of 1912 John H. Binford died and his son, Paul, who was appointed administrator, rep- resented his father in the bank. In August, 1912. Charles P. Weiser, of Indianapolis, was employed as bookkeeper and later was made assistant cashier. In September, 1912, Henry Fralich's retirement as officer and stock- holder in the bank necessitated a complete reorganization thereof, which resulted in the selection of the following stockholders: Charles J. Richman, Benjamin G. Faut, Edward Fink and Paul F. Binford. The present officers are Charles J. Richman, president : Benjamin F. Faut, vice-president : Edward Fink, cashier, and Charles P. Weiser, assistant cashier.
NEW PALESTINE MAIL.
For a number of years previous to the Civil War, New Palestine had only two mails per week-one from the west, on Tuesday, and one from the east, on Friday. The mail was carried on horseback. During the winter months there were sometimes no deliveries for weeks because of bridges being out between Indianapolis and Rushville. "Bridges out" was a valid excuse for the star route carrier. He drew his salary whether the mail was deliv- ered or not. if he had a legal excuse for not carrying it. Sometimes the
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patrons made up a donation and hired the postmaster at Philadelphia to go to Indianapolis and get the Sugar Creek postoffice mail. During the Civil War the people, of course, were anxious to get the news. Frequently a num- ber of them clubbed together and had the Indianapolis Journal sent out on the "Pan-Handle" railroad and thrown off at Gem. (It will be remembered that the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railway was not completed until 1869.) All those in the club had to take turn to go after the morning paper. By this method the people of the vicinity were kept informed as to the events of the war. After the war and until 1869 a star route from Philadelphia to New Palestine was established and Thomas O'Riley had the contract for carrying the mail. He brought the mail three times per week. After the railroad was completed, of course, mails. were delivered daily at New Palestine.
Two rural routes have been established from New Palestine, route I, in July, 1902, and route 2, in September. 1905.
TEMPERANCE CAMPAIGNS.
A fuller history of the temperance movements is given elsewhere. One of the exciting events in the life of New Palestine was the explosion that blew up the saloon, on October 16, 1881. Of a similar nature was the blowing up of the pool room on May 21, 1882. In 1899 a very bitter temperance campaign was led principally by Rev. John S. Ward, of the Methodist church, and Dr. O. C. Nier.
TOWN LIGHTS.
Two efforts were made at New Palestine to drill for gas, following its discovery in 1887, but the quantity produced by each well was so small that it proved unprofitable. Gas was piped from the vicinity of Fountaintown, however, and during the latter eighties the citizens of New Palestine used it for cooking and heating purposes and the streets of the town were lighted by gas flambeaux. The gas pressure became low in two or three years and was found insufficient for practical purposes at New Palestine. \bout 1900. or a year or two later, an acetylene light plant was installed in the town hall that stood on the northeast corner of the school ground. From this plant the streets were lighted until the explosion, which occurred in the fall of 1906. During the following year another plant was installed on the hill just south of the railroad and north of the extreme east end of town. and the town was again lighted until the summer of 1915, when the Indianapolis & Cincinnati Traction Company installed electric light. Since then the town has been lighted with electricity.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The New Palestine fire department was organized in April, 1893. with Max Ilerrlich as chief. The company consisted of twenty-four men. A hand engine was purchased, which was used until the burning of the town hall, in 1900. Large cisterns were constructed in the streets and distributed in various parts of town. After the burning of the town hall, in 1906. in which the equipment of the fire department was destroyed, a new gasohne engine was purchased, which is still in use.
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