USA > Indiana > Henry County > History of Henry County, Indiana > Part 40
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INDUSTRIAL.
Aside from the usual minor industries usually carried on in small places, New Castle had no manufactures until within recent years. The railroad shops of the New Castle & Richmond Rail- road were established in the town in 1854. This was the first in- dustry of importance, and unfortunately the shops were removed before the town received much benefit from them. The first grist- mill in the town was built about 1855 by Daniel Mowrer and Hiram Bundy. This establishment was quite an extensive one. It stood north of the Union depot on the east side of the railroad. The mill, however, was not a paying property, and after passing through several changes of ownership, it became known as Strick- land's mill. It was destroyed by fire in 1874. A good mill, on Main street, erected by Shirk, Johnson & Fisher, was finished in 1871, and is still in operation.
The New Castle Flouring Mills, of which Rhine, Miller & C . are the proprietors, were built by John Rhine in 1881. These mills are provided with the latest improved machinery and have a capacity of 100 barrels per day.
J. M. Gough & Co., carriage manufacturers, etc., have one of the most extensive industries of the kind in the town. This firm was established in 1868.
L. A. Jennings came to New Castle in 1867 and in 1868 started a saw-mill, planing-mill and lumber yard. He has since added to his business the manufacture and sale of furniture, and a hardware store. Under wise management his business has grown to vast proportions. In 1883 he erected a large factory for the manufact- ure of furniture. This manufactory is the largest building in the county and is a model establishment of its kind. It is 40 x 100 feet, four stories high, with a basement, and is well and substan- tially constructed of brick. When run at its full capacity 150 hands can be employed.
After sundry meetings and much discussion of the project of
Joshua HB Mellett sen
441
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
building a foundry and machine shop in New Castle, at a meeting held Feb. 3, 1871, definite action was taken, by accepting the proposition of George Keiser, of Anderson. Mr. Keiser agreed to build the works, and have them ready for operation in the spring of 1871, provided the citizens would donate $3,000 and land worth $300. The required amount was soon raised by subscrip- tion, and the works were started in March. Mr. Keiser failed before the end of the year, and in 1872 the shops were sold by his assignee to Barber & Harris. They were subsequently managed by Martin L. Powell and others, and finally ceased to operate, involving almost total loss to the investors.
Shroyer & Co., dry-goods merchants of New Castle, established a flax factory in 1871 for the manufacturing of flax straw into lint.
In 1882 Waldron & Maxim erected a factory near the I., B. & W. depot, at a cost of $4,500, and engaged in the manufacture of shovel handles, which business they are still carrying on quite extensively.
The New Castle Building, Loan and Savings Association was organized Aug. 4, 1882. A Board of Directors was chosen, as follows: W. W. Cotteral, President; E. T. Mendenhall, P. J. Conley, W. H. Busser, George H. Cain, W. E. Livezey, J. T. J. Hazelrigg, S. M. King, W. H. Elliott. The following officers were elected Aug. 14, 1883: W. H. Elliott, President; Thad. Coffin, Vice-President; J. W. Foutz, Secretary; R. B. Carson, Treasurer; Appraisement Committee: R. B. Carson, George T. Melle, W. E. Livezey, D. A. Tawney.
A business college was started in New Castle by Herrold & Isaacs in 1881. It was afterward conducted by T. M. Herrold and I. W. Pearson. In 1883 the proprietors removed to another location.
The New Castle Foundry and Pump Company was organized April 28, 1883. The organization is a stock company, having the following Directors: G. W. Burke, President; J. S. Hedges, Treasurer; W. W. Cotteral, Secretary; Hugh Mullen and E. H. Bundy. The works are located in the northwest part of the town on the I., B. & W. Railroad. A general foundry and repairing business is carried on; also the manufacture of the Anti-Freezing Force and Lifting Pump-an invention which is fast coming into general use.
PORK PACKING.
A business which has already grown to magnificent proportions, and brought millions of dollars to the pockets of Henry County
442
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
farmers, was started in 1873, by Smith, Shaffer & Co., the firm being composed of the following members: James M. Smith, Jacob Clapper, Henry Shaffer, and John R. Millikan. The operations of this firm, though not extensive, were successful.
J. R. Millikan and B. F. Shaffer soon sold out their interests, and the remainder of the company continued business under the firm name of J. M. Smith & Co. In 1874 the firm secured grounds on the outskirts of the town, and erected a packing estab- lishment at a cost of about $12,000. In 1876 this firm made an assignment; assets, $33,000; liabilities, $88,300. This failure was a serious misfortune to many. In the fall of 1876 Baldwin, Roberts & Co., of Boston, bought the property at assignee's sale. This firm have since carried on the business on a large and suc- cessful scale. They enlarged and renovated the establishment, making it the largest of the kind in Indiana, outside of Indian- apolis. Its appliances and machinery are perfect, and when the establishment is run at its full capacity more than a thousand hogs per day can be disposed of.
BANKS.
The First National Bank of New Castle was organized in Feb- ruary, 1864, with a capital stock of $100,000. This was the first national bank established in Henry County. Martin L. Bundy was its first President, and Daniel Murphey the first Cashier. Hon. Jehu T. Elliott served several years as President. William Murphey, S. T. Powell, Clement Murphey, C. C. Powell, and others have served upon the Board of Directors. The bank has been judiciously managed and steadily prosperous. To-day it ranks among the soundest financial institutions of Eastern Indi- ana. The present officers are William Murphey, President; R. M. Nixon, Cashier. Directors-William Murphey, W. F. Boor, Waterman Clift, Robert H. Cooper, Robert M. Nixon, George B. Morris, and M. A. Pickering.
The Bundy National Bank went into operation Nov. 9, 1874, with a capital stock of $50,000. The officers were: M. L. Bundy, President; L. E. Bundy, Cashier; Directors, M. L. Bundy, J. S. Elliott, T. B. Redding, A. R. A. Thompson, N. E. Black. The Bundy National Bank was the successor of a private bank started a short time previous by M. L. Bundy. It went out of operation in 1881.
The Citizens' State Bank was organized July 1, 1873, with a cash capital of $130,000. The first officers were: John R. Millikan,
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
President; George Hazzard, Vice-President; and W. C. Murphey, Cashier. The bank has been conducting a steady and prosperous business from the first. The present officers are: John R. Millikan, President; D. W. Kinsey, Cashier; Benj. Shirk, Vice-President; T. B. Millikan, Assistant Cashier. The capital and surplus now amounts to $140,000.
HOTELS.
If we may judge by the number of hotels, the " traveling public " (if there was any) could find abundant accommodation in New Castle while yet the town was in its infancy. On the commis- sioners' records the names of the following persons who were granted tavern licenses appear in the years mentioned: Chas. Jamison and Anthony Boggs, 1824; Samuel Stinson, 1824; Jere- miah Meek, 1825; William Meek and John Smith (one license), 1825; Charles Jamison, 1825; Matthew William and Jacob Thorn- burgh (one license), 1825; Brazil Meek, 1826; Anthony Boggs, 1826; Jacob Thornburgh, 1827; Thomas Ginn and Charles Jamison (one license), 1827. Ginn also got a mercantile license for the same date.
In 1824 and 1825 the price of a tavern license for one year was $4. Probably the cheapness of the article accounts for the num- her of licenses taken-four in one year in a village having per- haps 100 inhabitants! But in 1826 the commissioners raised the price to $5 and only two licenses were granted.
Charles Jamison died in 1835. He had numerous successors in the hotel business, but no hotel had very ample accommodations until within later years.
The Exchange Hotel on Main street, south of the court-house, was kept by J. Chappel in 1840.
The "New Castle Hall Hotel," corner of Main street and Broad- way, was kept for some years by Samuel Hazzard. His card appears in the Courier in 1842.
In 1848 Anthony Livezey announces that he has "just finished a new and commodious house of entertainment in the south part of New Castle, on the Cambridge Road."
The principal hotel of New Castle is a large three-story brick building situated in the central portion of the town. It is now known as the Bundy House and is conducted by Bundy & Sons- Josiah Bundy, Proprietor, and Frank Bundy, Manager. The building was commenced in 1856 by Jeremiah Page and George Goodwin. Before it was completed it was transferred to Wesley
444
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Goodwin, and by him to E. B. Martindale. Finally John Taylor became the owner, and in October, 1857, opened it to the public under the name of the Taylor House, by which designation it was known until recently. In 1869 Taylor sold out to T. B. French who managed the hotel until 1870. He then sold to Oliver H. Welborn, of Knightstown, who leased the house to Cunningham a year later. In October, 1871, George Hazzard bought the prop- erty, and in 1872 sold out to Colonel John S. Hoover.
POSTOFFICE.
A postoffice was established at New Castle soon after the town was laid out. Rene Julian, County Clerk, was Postmaster in 1823. Isaac Bedsaul, the merchant and County Treasurer, was the next Postmaster, and held the office until 1839. His successors have been: Samuel Hazzard, 1839-'45; B. W. Scott, 1846-'49; James Calvert, 1849; Samuel Hazzard, 1850-'53; Jacob Mowrer, 1853-'61; Samuel S. Cannady, Thomas S. Haley, Jacob Mowrer, W. H. Elliott, Thad. Coffin, Cornelius M. Moore, Thad. Coffin and L. S. Denius. By courtesy of Mr. Thad. Coffin, ex-Postmaster, we are enabled to give the following summary of postoffice business for four years:
VALUE OF STAMPS SOLD.
DENOMINATION.
YEAR 1880.
YEAR 1881.
YEAR 1882.
YEAR 1883.
One cent.
$ 180.70 $ 173.80 $ 314.05 $
265.00
Two cent
28.50
25.46
50.10
526.74
Three cent.
1,857.45
2,087.70
2,404.89
1,971.45
Five cent ..
21.50
23.75
28.05
22.75
Six cent.
51.20
55.70
76.00
67.70
Postal cards
449.00
515.00
603.75
598.75
Due stamps
18.41
19.01
26.36
29.87
N. and P. stamps
95.93
140.99
126.34
184.00
Stamped envelopes.
244.60
575.67
457.99
573.32
Stamped wrappers
30.07
14.28
73.64
Total ..
$3,017.14 $3,683.02
$4,178.51
$4,369.14
Box rent.
$ 307.46
$ 388.71
$ 417.96
$ 419.10
Total receipts.
$3,314.60 $4,071.73
$4,596.47
$4,788.24
No. of registered letters sent
305
296
530
548
39.78
51.66
64.62
55.92
Ten cent ..
Summary of four years' business: Registered letters dispatched, 1,679; registered letters delivered, 2,014. Money orders issued,
445
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
6,159, amount, $53,643.82; money orders paid, 2,731, amount, $33,409.57. Total receipts for four years, $16,602.84.
IMPROVEMENT IN BUILDINGS.
In 1841, states one who first visited the town then, New Castle consisted of from eighty to one hundred buildings, chiefly small frame structures. Broad street was the chief street and the busi- ness thoroughfare. There were but two brick buildings in the town-John Powell's, on Broad street, and Samuel Hazzard's, a one-story brick house, situated about where Cummins's bakery now is.
Improvements progressed slowly for many years. The three- story brick building on the southeast corner of Main and Broad streets, known to everybody in the county as the Murphey build- ing, was the first substantial business building in the town, and in its day was a veritable wonder. It was built by Colonel Miles Murphey in 1848. The next important building was the Taylor House, now the Bundy House. Thenceforth, until after the war, although there were gradual improvements, there was nothing so important as to require special mention.
That part of the town known as Christian Ridge has been built chiefly since 1850. To enumerate the various additions made to the town would require a more lengthy chapter than our space allows. Suffice it to say that New Castle has grown gradually but steadily, thus securing a substantial and permanent prosperity.
Pennsylvania avenue and other streets on "Christian Ridge," which are now in good condition and ornamented with fine build- ings and comfortable homes, are included in Powell's addition. The avenue was laid out through an old cow pasture in 1868, by Martin L. Powell. Since that time he has laid out and sold a large number of fine lots, at advantageous rates, thereby adding much to the prosperity of the town.
There are few towns in Indiana, or indeed in any part of the country, of the size of New Castle, with so many substantial and beautiful buildings as this town now has. Broad street, from Main eastward to the next corner, is lined with brick blocks such as would be an ornament to a city of 50,000 inhabitants. The year 1869 (in which the court-house was completed) marks the be- ginning of improved architecture in the town. Since that date more good buildings for business purposes have been erected than in all the years before. There have also been built many neat,
446
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
tasty and costly residences. The Shroyer building, northwest corner'of Main and Broad streets, was the first improvement of the new era. This is a large three-story brick edifice, erected in 1869. With the exception of the Murphey building, all the best part of Broadway has been built up since. In many cases fire prepared the way for new buildings, as will be seen elsewhere.
A handsome block on West Broadway was erected by N. E. Black in 1869, to replace his store destroyed by fire. Mr. Black began business in 1861, as a clerk for Joshua Holland. In 1863 he and L. L. Burr bought out Holland, but afterward resold to him the store. Mr. Black next engaged in the clothing business, which he continued until 1879, when he retired from business. Dick Goodwin & Co. now occupy the Black stand.
The year 1872 was marked for the large number of fine build- ings erected in the town. During this year was undertaken William Peed's livery stable, of brick; the Cummins building, two stories, brick, 173 x 60 feet; Nixon's block, adjoining Cum- mins's, two stories, 132 feet long-all on Broadway; a two-story brick block, by Dr. Boor; a brick block, 22 x 100 feet, two stories and basement, by M. L. Powell; L. L. Burr's building, and L. A. Jennings's residence.
The three-story Jennings block, on Broadway, the finest busi- ness house in town, was erected by L. A. Jennings, in 1877-'81. In 1883 the large furniture manufactory situated opposite the Union depot was erected by Mr. Jennings. This gentleman is deserving of honorable mention for the part he has taken in add- ing to the architectural as well as to the industrial improvement of New Castle, in which work he has taken the lead of all the others.
The completion of a through line of railroad to Louisville in 1881, and of the Indiana, Bloomington & Western extension, from Indianapolis to Springfield, Ohio, in 1882, has given such an impetus to the growth and business prosperity of New Castle that these events seem to mark an epoch of advancement unprecedented in the history of the town.
In this connection a few estimates made by the New Castle Courier are interesting: Aug. 26, 1881, that paper enumerates sixty-two buildings completed, being completed or improved, the total cost of the same amounting to $84,000-all the growth of one year. The next year was still more eventful. The I., B. & W. Railroad was completed, new streets were laid out, others graded and improved, sewers laid, and substantial evidences of
1
447
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
prosperity appeared on every hand. The number of improve- ments for the year ending with December, 1882, was 126; cost of individual improvements, $124,545; street improvements, $13,746.78; general expenditures by the town, $2,000; total, $140,291.78. Total number of improvements for 1883, 82; total value of improvements, $107,950.
Among the improvements of 1883 were Jennings' furniture manufactory, cost $30,000; Bouslog & Ice's saw-mill, between the Ft. W., C. & L., and the C., St. L. & P. railroads, $1,000; From & Bond's bent-wood factory, $600; New Castle Foundry and Pump Company, buildings and machinery, $5,000.
FIRES AND BANK ROBBERY.
Monday, April 15, 1867, a block of frame buildings two and three stories in height, situated on Broad street, was destroyed by fire. The building was owned by Brown, Burton & Nicholson, and was occupied by several stores and offices. The losses amounted to nearly $6,000. On the 28th of April, in the same year, a large wooden building on East Broad street, owned by Dr. Boor, and occupied by Byer & Chambers as a grocery, was burned. There was no clue to the origin of these fires, although they were supposed to have been incendiary. Incendiary fires, robberies and petty crimes were very prevalent during the years immediately succeeding the war, and New Castle had her full share of them.
On the night of Oct. 29, 1869, burglars attempted to rob the First National Bank in New Castle. T. L. Campbell, a clerk in a store, slept near the bank, and was awakened by hearing them at work. He dressed hastily, went to the bank, and discovered two burglars inside. Summoning help, he returned, accompanied by about a dozen men. One of the robbers was wounded, but escaped; the other was captured. In assisting in the capture, Mr. Camp- bell was shot through the arm; James Mowrer was shot at twice, and J. A. Chambers received wounds. The safe was ruined, but the robbers secured only about $30, not being able to penetrate the "burglar box." The captured robber succeeded in effecting his escape from the county jail only a few days after he was taken.
There was a fire, supposed to have been incendiary, on Satur- day, May 15, 1869, which destroyed $4,000 worth of property. It broke out in the loft of Charles Colburn's livery stable on North Main street and was rapidly spread by the wind. The heaviest
448
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
losers by this fire were Charles Colburn and Johnson & Fisher, about $1,000 each. The buildings were mainly old and not valuable.
On the night of Saturday, Oct. 8, 1871, the same date on which the great conflagration in Chicago began, about $6,000 worth of property was destroyed by fire in New Castle. The losses, par- tially covered by insurance, were estimated by the Courier as fol- lows: William Peed, livery stable, $2,500; Dr. Ferris's buildings, $2,000; Johnson & Fisher, wagon shop, $1,000; Edward Johnson, $400. As yet the town had no fire department.
June 5, 1872, the building known as Burr's Corner was de- stroyed by fire, supposed to have been incendiary. It was occu- pied by Burr & Co., dry-goods merchants; Hoover & Ridgway, grocers, and J. M. Mowrer's harness shop.
On Wednesday, Sept. 28, 1881, nearly $12,000 worth of property was destroyed by a fire which broke out in Hernly's livery stable at eleven o'clock P. M. The heaviest losers were M. & J. Hipes, livery stable, $6,000; James Harvey, horse, $1,000; M. D. Harvey, billiard tables, liquors, etc., $1,000.
In spite of the great destruction of property by fire during re- cent years, the citizens of New Castle, enterprising though they be in all things else, are still living in the year of grace 1884 without the protection of a well-organized fire department, and with no fire engine. So far as we can learn the first fire company in the town was not organized until March, 1878. This was New Castle Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, officered as follows: President, Geo. W. Burke; Vice-President, John Thornburgh ; Secretary, L. A. Williams; Treasurer, Lon. Rodgers; Captain, A. W. Coffin; First Lieutenant, Charles Hatch; Second Lieutenant, John Thornburgh; First Sergeant, Mat. Grose; Second Sergeant, W. J. Stilley; Third Sergeant, Will Gary; Fourth Sergeant, Will- iam Albright; Axmen, Wesley Goodwin, B. F. Moore, David Fisher and Charles Jeffries.
BUSINESS OF 1884.
Among the principal mercantile and industrial establishments of New Castle in the year 1884 are the following:
Bakeries: James Cummins, Ed. Mann, W: P. Sedam. Boots & Shoes: T. C. Jordan, R. B. Carson, J. P. Bundy & Co., J. C. Mc- Bride, Murphey Bros., J. W. Firestine, Ephraim Clark. Cloth- ing: J. C. Mc Bride, Dick Goodwin & Co., Max Weil, T. R.
449
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Vaughan & Co., J. C. Hudelson, Jr., & Co. Carriage manufact- urers: J. M. Gough, Lon Rogers, -Higby. Dentists: I. W. El- lis, Jas. J. Hamilton, Wm. Peper, W. F. Shelly. Druggists: Nixon & Son, Smith & Shirk, W. M. Pence, J. M. Mowrer, Chas. Needham. Dry goods: Ed. Kahn, Campbell Bros. & Co., O. Rentzsch, Murphey Bros. Furniture Dealers: L. A. Jennings, New Castle Furniture Company, Nathan Livezey. Farm ma- chinery dealers: W. W. Modlin, Wm. Newhouse & Co., Ice & Winnings, R. B. Smith. Grocers: Murphey Bros., Samuel Arnold. A. R. Wayman, G. H. Barr, James Cummins, Fairfield & Moore, W. P. Sedam, John N. Watkins. Grain merchants: Thomas B. Loer, Geo. W. Goodwin, Shirk, Johnson & Fisher. Hotels: Bundy House, Junction House. Hardware: J. C. Livezey & Co., L. A. Jennings, S. P. Jennings. Harness and saddlery : John M.
Mowrer. Jewelry: C. P. Murphey, H. T. Coffin, W. G. Hillock. Livery stables: Chas. Bundy, Hernly & Gough, Chas. Colburn. Lumber and saw-mills: L. A. Jennings, Bouslog & Co. Mills (flouring): Shirk, Johnson & Fisher, Rhine, Miller & Co. Milli- nery : Mrs. G. W. Bunch, Mrs. Lee Harvey, Mrs. Kate Zimmerman. Music stores: R. B. Rudy, King & Co. Physicians: John Rea, S. Ferris, Wm. F. & W. A. Boor, T. W. Gronendyke, G. W. Burke, E. T. Mendenhall, J. H. Millikan, allopathic; C. & W. Hubbard, eclectic; J. F. Thompson, homeopathic; John Needham, Physio-Medical. Stoves and tinware: John O. Shriner. Tailors: James Armstrong, R. D. Goodwin, M. A. Heirich.
The several mills mentioned, Jennings's furniture factory, the works of the Foundry & Pump Company, and Waldron & Maxim's handle factory are the principal manufactories.
For further details regarding the business interests and business men of New Castle, past and present, the reader is referred to the biographical chapters.
POPULATION.
The population of New Castle in 1830 is estimated at 125. In 1840 Henry Township had 1,318 inhabitants, of whom probably 400 lived in the town. In 1850 the population of the town was 666; in 1860 (estimated), 1,100; in 1870, 1,556; in 1880, 2,229; in 1884 (estimated), 3,300.
At the time the last census of New Castle was taken, June 1, 1880, the population was 2,299. The places of birth of the per- sons living in New Castle at that time are as follows: Bavaria
450
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
1, Prussia 5, Hesse Darmstadt 2, Wurtemburg 5, Switzerland 3, Mecklenburg 1, Kur Hessen 2, Denmark 1, Saxony 1, Baden 2, Spain 1, France 2, Wales 1, England 6, Ireland 50, Jamaica 1, Tennessee 11, Illinois 20, Iowa 11, Michigan 8, South Carolina 1, Missouri 6, Massachusetts 6, Maine 3, Minnesota 3, Georgia 19, Utah 4, Mississippi 1, Delaware 3, West Virginia 17, New York 29, New Jersey 17, Maryland 11, Kentucky 47, Pennsylvania 131, Virginia 39, North Carolina 56, Ohio 248, Connecticut 1, Vermont 1, Kansas 4, Indiana 1,514.
CHURCHES.
Methodist Episcopal .- The New Castle Methodist Episcopal church, the oldest religious organization in the town, was formed in 1827. Rev. James Havens, who traveled a circuit embracing about six counties, was the first who preached in the place. In December, 1827, he met the Methodists of New Castle and vicinity at a private house and organized a congregation. The original members were as follows: Revel Colburn, Margaret Colburn, John R. Colburn, Elizabeth Colburn, Hugh Carroll, Keturah Car- roll, Hugh Carroll, Jr., Sarah Carroll, Mary F. Colburn, Frances A. Colburn, Allen Macklin, Arcsey Macklin, Conrad Slagle, Sarah Slagle, Jane Webster, James Rozzell, Susan Rozzell. John R. Colburn was appointed class-leader. The first church building was a small frame structure, erected on the lot on which the present church edifice now stands. It was built by W. P. Harman in 1831. The present brick church was erected in 1856-'58. The church property is valued at $12,000 to $15,000. The congregation is large and flourishing.
Presbyterian .- The New Castle Presbyterian church was organ- ized on the 13th of January, 1844, by Rev. Robert Irwin, Rev. George S. Rea and Elder Templin. The following persons were admitted to membership, by certificate: Jane Swan, David C. Hazzard, Elizabeth M. Hazzard, Eli S. Messick, Sarah A. Messick, Hiram A. Bundy and Prudence Aiken. Eli S. Messick and Hiram A. Bundy were elected Ruling Elders. A house of worship was begun soon afterward, and on the 21st of November, 1845, it was dedicated by the pastor, assisted by Rev. John Dale, of Knights- town. Among those who have officiated as pastors of this church have been Revs. Geo.S. Rea, A. R. Naylor, Henry Thomas, R.M. Overstreet, Armstrong, Haney, Stewart, Shockley, R. F. Drake, J. M. Lawbach, Alex. Telford, D. A. Tawney; Rev. C. F. Beach,
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