USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 11
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HENDRICKS COUNTY REPUBLICAN.
Mr. Bowen and J. O. Parker had established the paper known as the Hendricks County Republican on the 13th day of October, 1881. This paper is now, after an existence of over thirty-three years, the leading paper of Danville. On February 10, 1883, Mr. Bowen sold his interest in the office to William N. Crabb and the paper was published by Crabb and Parker, with Mr. Parker as editor and manager until the month of April, 1883. After Mr. Bowen's departure Samuel F. Wishard was local editor for one year. In March, 1884, Mr. Bowen returned to the paper, with which he was connected as local editor until April, 1885. In this month Crabb and Parker sold to Moffett and Riddle, who continued the publication to good ad- vantage. John C. Ochiltree was the next proprietor, followed in the year 1890 by Julian D. Hogate, who, in 1914, is still successfully publishing the Republican. It is the leading newspaper in the county, having a circulation of about eighteen hundred. It is a six-column quarto, issued Thursday of each week. The paper is neat in appearance and is strictly a news sheet. The Republican plant turns out a quantity of high class job printing in con- nection with the issue of the paper.
OTHER DANVILLE PAPERS.
Two newspapers were at one time moved to Danville from the town of Plainfield. Both papers bore the name Progress. The first was in 1877 by John N. Vestal, who suspended after six months, and the second occasion was in May, 1883. when George V. Mechler made a like venture. He, too, found the venture unsuccessful.
The Democratic party has been represented editorially in Danville.
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The first newspaper of that political faith bore the sanguinary title of The Butcher Knife. It was founded in 1856 by George Gregg. Four years completed the life of this sheet and it died amidst the strong Union sentiment at the opening of the Civil war.
The Danville Indianian was established in 1870 by a group of men from Greensburg. Soon after it became the property of a stock company and afterward, for a time, it was in charge of Doctor Haggart, who was followed by two brothers named Ray. In 1872 the office was purchased by C. N. Walls, who remained in control until the fall of 1875, when the office and material were sold and transported into Illinois.
In February of the year 1878 E. D. King established the Democrat and remained as its editor and publisher until August, 1879. building up a strong and influential paper. At the latter date mentioned he sold the office to M. A. Barnett, who, in turn, closed out the office in October, 1881, to James O. Parker of the Republican. Just prior to this, E. D. King returned from a year's trip in Colorado and founded, on September 15, 1880, the
HENDRICKS COUNTY GAZETTE,
which is now the leading Democratic paper of the county. The paper was started during a presidential campaign and found a fertile field in which to grow. It at once assumed an important position and today (1914) it still holds that reputation. At one time its editor was indicted for libel under the Grubbs law, but so obviously unfair was the action of the partisan grand jury that Mr. King was never brought to trial, the judge of the court quash- ing the indictment and throwing the case out. In August, 1882, E. D. King retired from the managerial helm of the Gasette and from then until August I, 1884, it passed through the hands of several proprietors. At that date it came into possession of William A. King and John W. Cravens. Cravens disposed of his interest in a few months and Mr. King became sole proprietor. He holds this position today, after thirty years of valiant service for the Democratic party. Just at present he holds the office of postmaster of Dan- ville, in connection with his editorial duties. The paper is a weekly, published on Thursday, being a six-column quarto and with eleven hundred subscribers. The paper has been uniformly successful throughout the many years of its existence. High class job printing is also made a specialty at the Gazette plant.
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PLAINFIELD PAPERS.
There have been almost as many papers started in the town of Plain -- field as there have been in Danville. The first one was called Once A Week, being founded by John A. Deem in 1862. After a short run this was sus -- pended. John N. Vestal afterward attempted to make the paper a success- under the name of the Citizen. After publishing it for some time, he sold it to Charles S. McNichols, who issued a paper for a period under the name of the- Tribune.
PLAINFIELD PROGRESS. .
On January 1, 1879, George V. Mechler established the Plainfield Progress, which he ran successfully for several years. Mechler was a Demo -- crat of the first water and the community was Republican, so he compromised and published his paper as an independent sheet. In this venture he was suc- cessful and, thinking to gain more prestige at the county seat, he removed to Danville in May, 1883. At this place he was soon obliged to suspend publication. Immediately after his removal Horace G. Douglass and J. A. Fullen began the issue of a paper under the old name of the Plainfield Prog- ress. These men issued their first number on May 31, 1883. Fullen with- drew after a time and moved west. Douglass retained control, however, until May 12, 1884, when he obtained an appointment at the Reform School and sold the office to A. T. Harrison. The Progress was at this time a five- column quarto. This paper was published until September 5, 1904, at which time it was succeeded by the
FRIDAY CALLER,
established by P. W. Raidabaugh. From May, 1910, until June, 1912, C. C. Cumberwrite had control of the paper. At the latter date Fred E. Warner became the editor and proprietor and is still in this position. The paper has a general circulation, is six column, eight page in style, and is Republican.
NORTH SALEM NEWSPAPERS.
J. J. and H. E. Hennon came from Roachdale, Putnam county, in July, 1884, and until March, 1885, published the North Salem Reporter. This. was a six-column quarto, independent in politics. In the month last men -- tioned, however, Messrs. Hennon returned to Roachdale.
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In 1892 the North Salem Herald was established as an independent newspaper. It is still in operation, a weekly six-column quarto, and is edited by John H. Wetz, who took charge January 1, 191.4. Previous to this date Samuel Sherman Waters held the office of editor. The paper has a circula- tion of five hundred.
THE CLAYTON WEEKLY PRESS.
The Clayton Weekly Press was established on January 6, 1914, suc- ceeding the Clayton Enterprise. The Enterprise had been established by a Mr. McDaniel, and was later owned successively by Harrison F. Weesner, then by H. E. and Paul Hathaway. The Clayton Weekly Press is an inde- pendent Democratic paper, with a circulation of six hundred. The paper is an eight-page quarto, patent insides. Cal Sinninger is the editor and owner of the paper.
BROWNSBURG RECORD.
In the year 1881 A. S. Clements established a paper in Brownsburg known as The Modern Era. It then changed to the name Brownsburg Courier, and later to the present title. It is a very prosperous paper in 1914, with a circulation of approximately one thousand. It is a six-column quarto, independent in politics, and is issued weekly by U. S. Watson, the editor and publisher. Previous to Mr. Watson's management Charles A. Sedgwick, Walter Burns, Carey Gaston, John R. Sheehan, G. A. Johnson and Charles A. Hughes presided over the destinies of the paper. Mr. Watson assumed control on June 10, 1912.
RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.
There have been quite a number of religious publications issued in Hendricks county within the past years, most of them devoted to the Friends denomination. There was the Friends Bible School Teacher, with twenty- five hundred circulation, a quarterly magazine of sixty-four pages for Sun- day school superintendents and teachers; the Friends Advanced Quarterly, thirty-two pages, with a circulation of seventeen thousand, for the main body of the Sunday schools; the Friends Intermediate Quarterly for younger classes in the Sunday school, thirty-two pages and seven thousand circula- tion; the Friends Lesson Sheet, weekly, two pages, forty-five hundred circu-
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lation, for general study in Bible schools; the Youth's Friend, eight pages, illustrated weekly for young people, seventeen hundred circulation; Child's Lesson Leaf, for the primary department of the Sunday school, four-page weekly, thirty-two hundred circulation. The Africa Record, eight pages, missionary information, published quarterly, and with fifty-five hundred circulation.
These publications were all edited and published by P. W. Raidabaugh and were moved to Plainfield from Chicago in 1901, and were transferred to the American Friends Bible School Board, located at Fairmount, Indi- ana, on January 1, 1914.
THE PITTSBORO SUN.
The Pittsboro Sun was established in January, 1893, by Frank C. Har- rell. It was bought by E. C. Weaver during its first year of life. He placed it on a firm basis. On December 25, 1898, Samuel James became the owner, remaining in charge until June, 1911, when he sold to Evart Watson, a young man who made good in the twenty months that he conducted the paper. In February, 1913, the Sun again changed hands, Gregory Walden, of Howell, Michigan, becoming its publisher.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
The medical profession in Hendricks county had its beginning before the organization of the county, for of all the professions in which man is en- gaged that of medicine is the first demanded. True it is that great progress has been made in the science since its introduction into Hendricks county, but nevertheless, the early patient probably had as much confidence in the methods of the pioneer physician as the present-day patient has in the most advanced methods. Trust and dread did occasionally go hand in hand in administra- tion of the first doctor's treatment. There was the lancet, to take from the patient all the blood he could spare and still live, hoping thereby to destroy the tenement of the demon disease and force him to seek some other abode. Another indispensable remedy was, "the Spanish-fly blister," which was applied on the same theory, indiscriminately upon adult and child. Calomel and blue-pills were common remedies for most diseases determined by the doctor's diagnosis, and a sure remedy when the doctor's diagnosis left un- certainty in his mind. To work out of the human system the calomel and blue-pills, after they had done their savage work, gamboge, castor-oil and senna, one or all of them, were freely administered. The accepted theory of the profession at that early day was if the patient survived the first course, it was soon repeated until the patient, in the opinion of the doctor, was only . suffering from the remedies. The surgeon in those early days of frontier life ranked with the skilled carpenter and blacksmith. In fact, the former made the doctor's splints and other appliances of wood, and the latter made his operative cutlery, forceps and other implements of steel.
If the physician in those early days, with his multiplied trials to con- tend with and groping in the darkness, could become enthusiastic in his efforts to carry conviction to others, what might be his exulting joy now, since the light of intervening years of scientific progress and investigation has so changed the theory of disease and remedies. Both medicine and surgery have made greater progress in harmony with scientic truth in the last half century than during all previous history. Medicine, however, with its component sciences and surgery, is not alone in this rapid and wonderful progress, which
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is world wide, but there has been a general awakening in the world of thought during this recent period, discovering and inventing the most wonderful aids to modern life. We can but marvel when we endeavor to tabulate the in- numerable lists. This revolution has placed medicine, as a profession, a long way on the road of science. As nature, with its most intricate vital forces, is the superior physician and first in charge of every case of human disability. the present doctor is now on such friendly terms with nature that he lends rational assistance to his superior and thereby gives most welcome aid to the afflicted.
HENDRICKS COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
On the 29th day of April. 1854, the medical society of Hendricks county was organized at Danville. The doctors signing the constitution were Henry G. Todd, D. J. Depew, J. A. Comingor, David Todd, Risdon C. Moore, Henry H. Moore, Thomas P. Seller, Wilson Lockhart, J. Joel Wright, Le- roy H. Kennedy, Thomas B. Harvey. Henry Cox, B. Bartholomew and W. F. Harvey. Henry G. Todd was elected the first president; Wilson Lock- hart, vice-president ; J. Joel Wright, secretary; Leroy H. Kennedy, corres- ponding secretary ; Henry Cox, treasurer; Thomas B. Harvey, Bradley Bar- tholomew, Henry H. Moore, censors.
The constitution was as follows: "We, the undersigned practitioners of medicine and surgery in the county of Hendricks and vicinity, for the pur- pose of promoting harmony and good fellowship, and of elevating the cause of medical and collateral science, associate ourselves under the following constitution :
"Article I. This association shall be denominated the Hendricks County Medical Society.
"Art. 2. The officers of this society shall consist of a president, vice- president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, treasurer and three censors, all of whom shall be elected by ballot, annually, and each officer shall serve until his successor is duly installed into office.
"Art. 3. Any regular and reputable practitioner of medicine may be- come a member of this society, by signing the constitution, paying into the treasury two dollars, and complying with such other regulations as may be hereafter provided by law.
"Art. 4. Any distinguished literary gentleman may become an honorary member of this society, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting; provided that notice to that effect had been given at any previous meeting of the society.
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"Art. 5. The society shall have power to form a library and a cabinet of specimens, in the various departments of natural science, and pathologi- cal specimens and illustrations, both from the donations of individuals and other societies, and by levying taxes and fines, agreeable to the regulations which may be hereafter provided by law.
"Art. 6. This society may open a correspondence with similar associa- tions in this state and such others as it may from time to time direct.
"Art. 7. This society shall meet at such times and places and engage in such deliberations as may from time to time be agreed upon, and may enact by-laws for its government, not inconsistent with this constitution.
"Art. 8. The society may admit honorary members upon compliance of the applicant with the same forms as are prescribed for the admission of bona fide members, except that no initiatory fee shall be required. He shall not be permitted to vote, nor shall he participate in any of the proceedings. except by express permission of the society.
"Art. 9. One-third of all the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but on all subjects involving the rights, interests or standing of any member, a majority of all the members shall be present.
"Art. 10. This constitution may be amended at any stated meeting of the society, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present ; provided. the amendment has been prosposed, in writing, at a previous meeting."
PROGRESS OF SOCIETY.
The society continued from year to year until the opening of the Civil War, when, most of the members having enlisted, so few were left to hold meetings that they were discontinued until the year 1866, when the times for its regular meetings, specified in its by-laws, were observed, and have been ever since.
At the annual meeting of the State Medical Society, in 1872, as a basis on which to organize this society under the statute relating to voluntary associations, passed resolutions providing for the incorporation of county medical societies. It was not, however, until the annual meeting of 1875 that the requisite number, twelve counties, reported to the secretary of the state society. The state society, now having adopted the delegate system of rep- resentation from incorporated auxiliary county societies, the Hendricks County Medical Society, at one of its regular meetings, in the year 1875. changed its constitution, as was thought, to comply with the state society. The delegates from the Hendricks county society were admitted at the
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annual state meeting in 1876. However, the constitution of the Hendricks society was defective in regard to its seal. When this fact became known, most of the physicians of the county who were not members of this society organized a new society, and, as a result, at the annual state meeting in 1877 there were two sets of delegates, each claiming to represent the Hendricks County Medical Society. The committee appointed to straighten out the matter took cognizance of the fact that the old society in Hendricks had acted on good faith and the mistakes in the constitution were not voluntary; there- fore they allowed the old society to continue, after that trouble had been remedied and the constitution rewritten.
Before 1890 the physicians who had been enrolled upon the books of the society were T. J. Adams, B. Bartholomew, J. T. Barker, J. H. Brill, J. `A. Comingor, Henry Cox, Amos Carter, D. J. Depew, A. Davidson, T. F. Dryden, M. F. Depew, C. R. Dixon, J. A. Eastman, T. Evans, Thomas E. Ellis, F. C. Ferguson, C. E. Farabee, J. N. Green, Thomas C. Graham, Thomas B. Harvey, W. F. Harvey, W. J. Hoadley, A. Heavenridge, G. H. F. House, G. K. Hurt, L. H. Kennedy, Wilson Lockhart, W. T. Lawson, H. H. Moore, R. C. Moore, B. Mendenhall, J. W. Mansbridge, J. H. Orear, J. A. Osborne, J. H. Oscar, M. G. Parker, J. S. Ragan, Thomas R. Seller, F. W. Smith, H. C. Summers, J. T. Strong, H. G. Todd, David Todd, R. C. Talbott, J. J. Wright, J. F. White, C. A. White.
PRESENT-DAY PHYSICIANS.
In the list of present-day physicians, as compiled by the state society, the following are serving their profession in Hendricks county :
George G. Allred, Joel T. Barker, Thomas R. Barker, Thomas J. Beasley, W. J. Hoadley, F. H. Huron, Wilson T. Lawson, W. M. O'Brien, Mary A. Soper, Charles A. Underwood, Charles A. White, of Danville; A. P. W. Bridges, Amos Carter, Ernest Cooper, John S. Ragan, James C. Stafford, Clarkson B. Thomas, of Plainfield; M. W. Brooks, A. K. Gilbert, R. E. Jones, D. Monroe Reynolds, of Clayton ; James P. Cope, of Bridge- port; A. W. Davidson, John L. Marsh, A. E. Rhein, Thomas G. Smith, of Brownsburg; John S. French, William H. Harrison, E. F. King, Oscar T. Scamahorn, William H. Terrell, of Pittsboro; Alexander Hamilton, of Car- tersburg ; John D. Hendricks, of Lizton; Leora F. Hicks, Benjamin F. Little, Thomas J. O'Brien, of Stilesville; Charles F. Hope, Stephen Hunt, U. S. Wright, of Coatesville; Maria A. Jessup, of Friendswood; Charles A. Mc- Clure, of Belleville; B. M. O'Brien, of New Winchester ; E. R. Royer, Oscar
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H. Wiseheart, of North Salem; H. C. Summers, W. H. White, of Amo; Frederick N. Wright, of Hazelwood.
FIRST PHYSICIANS.
The first doctor in the town of Danville was Doctor Garrett. No data is available as to his practice here. Doctor Collins was an early comer to Eel River township. James H. Heady was one of the first in North Salem. R. C. Moore and L. H. Kennedy were the first practitioners in Belleville. In Stilesville there was Jonathan N. Green; in Clayton, Doctor Lyon and C. T. Lawrence; in New Winchester, William Robbins and T. T. Brazier. T. P. Burk was an early doctor in Lizton. In Pittsboro and Middle town- ship the first physicians were Doctors Witty, Hoadley and Cloud. They were practitioners of the allopathic school.
CHAPTER XX.
CHURCH HISTORY.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
The first Methodist Episcopal class that was organized in Hendricks county was at the home of Robert Wilson, near the present Shiloh church, in the winter of 1828 and 1829. Soon afterwards classes were established at North Salem, Danville, Stilesville, Wesley Chapel and near Lizton. At the first quarterly meeting for the White Lick circuit, held at Robert Wilson's on October 25, 1828, there were present John Strange, Joseph Tarkington, Peter Monicle, Robert Wilson and Wesley Monicle; Aaron Homan, Gideon Wilson and Elisha Kise were appointed a committee to make an estimate of the amount necessary to build a meeting house near Robert Wilson's. Early the next season plans were made and the house constructed, and it was the first Methodist meeting house in the county. There was not much money available at that time and the sums given by the different classes would seem pitifully small today, but they were given with a generous spirit and un- doubtedly went much farther than they would now.
At the quarterly conference held in Danville, August 4, 1838, it was ordered that P. S. Dickens, Daniel McCreary, Hezekiah Smith, Asa Beck and Elijah M. Crawford be appointed a committee to divide the Danville circuit into two separate circuits ; also at the same time it was ordered that S. B. Caywood, R. C. Russell and H. Rammel be appointed a committee to form an estimate of the probable cost of building a church in Danville. At a subsequent conference William Henton, R. C. Russell, William C. Cline, James Logan and Samuel Brenton were elected trustees for the Danville church, which was erected in 1840 on the same lot upon which is located the present church. This church was occupied for public worship until 1865, when it was converted into a parsonage and the chapel of the Danville Acad- emy was fitted up and used for church purposes.
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THE DANVILLE ACADEMY.
Before this time the church society in the town of Danville had taken the lead in educational matters by organizing and building up the Danville Academy, which was operated under the management of the quarterly con- ference. This enterprise commenced in 1858 and lasted until 1868. Among the prominent educators who, at different times, had charge of this school were Professors Tarr. Lummis, O. H. Smith, J. L. Rippetoe and James Scull. About eighteen thousand dollars were spent by the Methodists of Danville in this undertaking. In the spring of 1878, twenty years after the beginning, the society transferred, for a small sum, all of the school property to the Central Normal College.
In that year the present Methodist church was begun in Danville and finished at a cost of ten thousand dollars. It was dedicated on the 26th of January, 1879. Milton Henton, Moses Keeney, Bloomfield White, B. N. Beale and N. T. Hadley were trustees during the erection of the present church building.
Danville was organized into a station in 1853. Before that among the preachers who had preached in the circuit were J. Tarkington, Joseph White, Asa Beck, Israel Lewis, D. F. Streight, Hezekiah Smith, Frank Richmond. J. B. Demotte. After that came C. S. Burgner, N. L. Brakeman, Samuel Godfrey, Allen Gurney, George Warner, Luther Taylor, D. F. Barnes, T. C. Workman, F. Taylor, Nelson Green, Thomas S. Webb, Francis M. Pavey, Samuel P. Colvin, George W. Bower, James H. Claypool, Joseph C. Reed, R. D. Utter, J. H. Hull.
The first Sunday school organized by the Methodists in Danville was opened in the old brick school house located on lot I, block 23, with Henry Rammel as leader. After this organization had continued for one year it disbanded and then there was a union Sunday school, with John Baker as superintendent. This school met in the old Presbyterian church on lot I, block 15. This continued for one year, when the Methodists withdrew and, as a society, were interested in no school until 1840. At this date they organized again into a Sunday school with John Green as superintendent. The school lived two years. At a political meeting in the old court house on Saturday night, in the latter part of October, 1844, there happened to he in attendance Hezekiah S. McCormick, Milton Henton and William V. Bishop. In a conversation held at that time they resolved that a Methodist Sunday school should be started the next day week. Notice was accordingly given
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and on the set date the school started with a membership of fifty. The Sunday school is still in existence and has an excellent membership.
The Methodist Episcopal church, at Stilesville, has been organized about seventy-five years. Services were held for many years in the old school house and in 1850 the society built a new church which cost them about sixteen hundred dollars. Among the early members were Isaac Smart, William Cline, John Clark, John Richardson, James Borders, Joseph Bishop, Edward Jackson, Elijah McAnich and their wives. Some of the early ministers were James Williams, Joseph Woods, J. F. Woodruff, Silas Gaskin, Bridges, Miles, Woods, W. W. Pewett, William Ginnis, Asa Beck and J. V. R. Mil- ler. The present church at Stilesville is in charge of Rev. Ramsay. A brick church was built in the nineties, costing three thousand dollars. There is a good membership of over a hundred.
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