History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, Part 100

Author: Sulgrove, Berry R. (Berry Robinson), 1828-1890
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 942

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Elections .- The Democratic party has ever held the ascendency in the township, and at present its majority is in the neighborhood of eighty. On the first Saturday in October, 1826, the first election was held in the township. A justice of the peace and a supervisor were elected. The polls were opened at the cabin of John Johnson, on Fall Creek, a short distance southeast of where the "correction line"

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crosses the creek. Thirteen votes were cast, and Peter Castater was elected justice of the peace, and Samuel Morrow was elected supervisor. The fol- lowing persons voted, viz. :

Elisha Reddick. Peter Castater.

Joshua Reddick.

Samuel Morrow.

William Reddick.

Robert Warren.

Thomas North. John Johnson.

Samuel North. John Negley.

Daniel Ballenger.

John McConnel.

James Ballenger.

At the second election, which was held at the same place in 1826, there were present nearly forty voters Subsequently elections were held at Joseph John- son's blacksmith-shop, near where No. 5 school- house now stands; at Fount Kimberlain's residence for several years (it was held there in 1840); at Baker's school-house for several years (it was held there in 1842 and 1843); at Andrew Bolander's blacksmith-shop and at his residence, situate on the east forty-acre tract of land now owned by William K. Sproul (the election was there in 1849); and at Spring Valley school-house No. 8, and was held there until three voting precincts were established. The election was then held at the residence of Henry Cronk, one mile east of Castleton, at Spring Valley school-house No. 8, and at William Hoss' residence, at the cross roads near the David Hoss farm, south- west of Oakland, until the township was divided into three precincts for election purposes and polls established at school-houses Nos. 3, 6, and 9, which are the present voting places, as follows : Precinct No. 1, at Oakland; Precinct No. 2, at Vertland ; Precinct No. 3, at Lawrence.

Railroads .- Two railway lines pass through the township. The Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railroad enters it, from the southwest, at a point about three miles south of the northwest corner, passing through the township in a northeasterly direction a distance of three and one-half miles, and leaving it at a point one and three-quarter miles east of the northwest corner. The road was completed through the township in the winter of 1851. Castleton is the only station on the road in the township.

The railway now known as the Bee Line was completed through the township in the winter of 1850. It enters the township two miles east of the southwest corner, and passes across the southeast corner, a distance of eight and one-half miles, and leaves it at a point four and one-quarter miles north of the southeast corner. The towns of Lawrence and Oakland enjoy the facilities offered by this railroad.

Minnewan Springs .- These springs, situate upon the farm of Hezekiah Smart, one and one- half miles northeast of the town of Lawrence, are worthy of notice. These springs are situated in the midst of a grove. They came into public notice about the year 1860, and were supposed to contain valuable mineral properties. Great excitement pre- vailed and much comment was indulged in upon the first announcement of the wonderful curative power of these springs, but they have long since passed from public notice. These springs, three in number, " rise perpendicular through blue clay to the surface, one hundred and eighty feet above the water, in White River, at Indianapolis." Abraham Vines, the owner of the premises at the time of the discovery, sold them, on Aug. 27, 1863, to the Minnewan Springs Company, composed of speculators in Indian- apolis. The company erected a bath-house, fitted up the springs, and otherwise improved the property so as to fully test the efficacy of the waters. Thomas D. Worrall was the manager. For several years thereafter the place became a favorite resort for people from the city. The investment proved an unprofitable one, as the springs, by careful chemical analysis, were found to contain but little if any medicinal virtues; hence, on the 22d day of April, 1871, the company-J. L. Hunt, James Maulsley, and Ruth Maulsley-sold the premises to Hezekialı Smart, the present owner.

Post-Offices and Villages .- The following-named post-offices are located in Lawrence township, viz. : Castleton, Lawrence, and Oaklandon. At. and from each of these offices the mail arrives and departs twice daily. Mail matter intended for Germantown is sent to Oaklandon, and that bound for Vertland goes to Castleton.

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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.

The township has five villages, viz. : Germantown, Lawrence, Oakland, Vertland, and Castleton.

Germantown, situated in the northeastern part of the township, on Fall Creek, is the oldest, and was laid out by John Beaver, Solomon Beaver, and George Beaver, on March 1, 1834. A part of the town was in Hamilton County and a part in Marion County. It contains a saw- and grist-mill combined, and one country dry-goods store. Anthony Snyder is the merchant, William Sala is the miller, and Harvey Smith the physician. The population is about thirty.

Lawrence was laid out Feb. 27, 1849, by James White, in the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 13, township 16 north, range 4 east, being south of the Pendleton road. Mr. White platted the town as Lanesville, and it was sometimes called Jamestown, after Mr. White. North Lanesville was laid out by James White, Dec. 27, 1850. Reuben Hunter laid out an addi- tion June 14, 1852, and on Nov. 5, 1856, Samuel Records made an addition and subsequently four more additions. William M. Voorhes laid out an ad- dition north of the railroad, and Robinson & Co. laid out an addition, just west of North Lanesville, containing three hundred and sixty-eight lots and four blocks. The latter addition was made during the great real estate boom, and never benefited the town. A post-office was established at the cross- roads south of the present town in 1847 or 1848, and James R. Beard was the first postmaster. The name of the office was Lawrence. Upon petition, the county commissioners about the year 1866 changed the name of the village from Lanesville to Lawrence, so as to correspond with the name of the post-office. This action was taken to obviate the difficultics con- tinually experienced in mail matters. Mail intended for Lawrence would be taken to Lanesville, in Har- rison County, and the Lanesville mail would con- stantly be sent to Lawrence, thus continually creating a source of annoyance and confusion. The first mer- chant in old Lanesville was Elijah Knight.

The town of Lawrence is situated nine miles from Indianapolis, in a direction north of east, on the Bee-Line Railroad. The streets are well graded and graveled ; the buildings are in good condition,

and the village is a lively little place, and the prettiest in the township. No village of the size in Marion County ontranks it in enterprising business men. The Western Union Telegraph Company have an office there, and it has telephonic connection with all important towns in Indiana. It has a graded school, a Methodist and Baptist Church, an Odd-Fellows' lodge, and a lodge of Knights of Honor; two physi- cians (Dr. Samuel Records and Smith H. Mapes, M.D.); two general dry-goods stores, conducted by M. E. Freeman and H. M. Newhouse & Co., both doing a thriving business. William Hubbard has the oldest drug-store, is a man of the strictest integrity, and has an extensive trade. Mapes & White carry a large stock of goods, and although the firm is new, it is an enterprising one. Peters Brothers have a knife- manufactory. M. C. Dawson manufactures drain-tile, and does a business not surpassed by any firm in that line in the county. The population of the village is about one hundred and fifty. M. E. Freeman is the pqstmaster.

The village of Oakland is situated thirteen miles from Indianapolis, on the Bee-Line Railroad. It was laid ont June 18, 1849, by John Emery. The name Oakland was suggested by Dr. Moore. The streets have never been improved and many of the houses are in a dilapidated condition, and the village presents the appearance of age and decay. Subse- quent to 1849 John Mock, Andrew F. Cory, John . W. Combs, and Enoch Hanna laid out additions. The first merchants were the firmn of John W. & William Combs; the first practicing physician was James W. Hervey. The town has a population of about two hundred, and has a telephonic connection and a Western Union Telegraph office. The railroad company recently completed a commodious depot, which adds greatly to the comfort of the traveling public. The present merchants are David G. Hanna and Naaman C. Plummer, both of whom are dealers in general merchandise. Andrew F. Cory and Jeff. K. Heltman are the physicians, and Naaman C. Plummer is the postmaster. The name of the post- office is Oaklandon. The town has three churches, -a Methodist, a Christian, and a Universalist. The last two named have a large membership and are well

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attended. The first named, however, is in a precari- ous condition. The village contains a graded school, and the Masons, Odd-Fellows, and Grangers have lodges located there.

Vertland is situated eleven and a half miles north- northeast of Indianapolis, on the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railroad. It was laid out by Milford H. Vert, March 14, 1851, and given the name of Belle- fontaine. It was so called until June 13, 1853, when, upon petition of Milford H. Vert and seven other citizens of Bellefontaine, all voters of said town, the Board of County Commissioners ordered "that the name of said town be, and it is hereby changed to, Vertland ; which name it shall hereafter bear." Originally the town contained thirty-three lots, but many of them have been thrown back into farming. land, and no business of any kind has been carried on there for many years. The first merchants of the town were Hilary and Eaton Thomas. The Castle- ton Methodist Episcopal Church and the parsonage of the Castleton Circuit are located there. No. 3 school-house is also located there and a graded school taught. James I. Rooker is the only physician in the place. The population of the town is about twenty- five

Eleven miles from Indianapolis, on the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railroad, is situated the lively little town known as Castleton. It was laid out Feb. 25, 1852, by Thomas P. Gentry, aud contained nine lots. On April 29, 1875, David Macy laid out an addition east of the railroad, containing sixteen lots. Lewis Drounberger was the first merchant. The present merchants are Peter L. Negley, Solomon Kleffer, and Wadsworth & Son, all of whom deal ex- tensively in general merchandise. Peter L. Negley is the postmaster, and A. W. T. Lyle and Hilary Sil- vey are the physicians. The town has telephonie connection. The present population is about fifty, having improved considerably during the past eight years, prior to which time no ground could be ob- tained upon which buildings could be erected and the village enlarged. It is situated in the midst of a fine farming. region.

Societies and Associations .- There are five active secret and benevolent societies in the town- ship ; one dormant and one defunct grange P. of H .; one fair association ; and a horse company, as fol- lows :

Oakland Lodge, No. 140, F. and A. M., was in- stituted under a dispensation dated Dec. 8, 1852, in Oakland, Ind. The following were the charter members: B. G. Jay, W. M .; John W. Combs, S. W .; Nelson Bradley, J. W .; James A. Harrison, Treas. ; James Hinds, Sec .; Elias V. Kelly, S. D .; Elias H. MeCord, J. D .; Enoch D. Hanna, Tiler ; James W. Hervey, Jacob Beatty, Clark Wait, and Nehemiah Brooks.

The lodge was chartered by the M. W. Grand Lodge May 25, 1853. The following officers were elected under charter : Barzilled G. Jay, W. M .; John W. Combs, S. W .; Nelson Bradley, J. W.

The following persons have served as Worshipful Masters of the lodge the number of years noted, viz. : B. G. Jay, 1} years ; Nelson Bradley, 1 year ; John W. Combs, 2 years; James W. Hervey, 2 years ; Thomas P. Hervey, 3 years ; Harvey Colwell, 4 years ; Joseph L. Harley, 1 year ; Andrew F. Cory, 7} years ; Naaman C. Plummer, 1 year; Charles J. Negley, 2 years; George W. Bolander, 1 year ; George W. Stanley, 5 years.

The following named have served as secretary the number of years noted, viz. : James Hinds, 2 years ; B. G. Jay, 1 year; I. N. Craig, 3 years; Jacob McCord, 5 years ; A. F. Cory, 3 years ; Martin V. McConnaha, 2 years; John W. Combs, 11 years ; Jonathan Conkle, 1 year; George W. Stanley, 2 years.

The lodge held its meetings in the attic under the roof of Enoch D. Hanna's store building until 1857. About that time the trustees of the lodge and the township trustee jointly erected the building now used as a lodge hall, and occupied by the primary department of district school No. 6. The lodge has fifty members in good standing, and meets on the Wednesday evening of or preceding the full moon of each month.

Oakland Lodge, No. 534, I. O. O. F., was insti- tuted by John W. McQuiddy, special deputy, ou

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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.

June 1, 1876, with six charter and six initiatory members. The following were the first officers : F. Fellows, N. G .; G. W. Bolander, V. G .; George W. Karer, Rec. Sec .; G. W. Teal, Treas.

The society meets every Thursday evening, and has about thirty-six members. The following officers were elected in June, 1883: Thomas Shafer, N. G .; Noel Bolander, V. G .; William F. Combs, Sec .; Stephen P. Riley, Treas.

Castleton Lodge, No. 518, I. O. O. F., was insti- tuted by dispensation at Castleton, Dec. 21, 1875, by J. W. McQuiddy, P. G. Rep., special deputy. In the summer of 1881 it was consolidated with Broad Ripple Lodge, No. 548. The event was cele- brated on Saturday, June 11, 1881, by a picnic in the beautiful grove adjoining Broad Ripple.

Lawrence Lodge, No. 375, I. O. O. F. On the 28th day of June, 1871, W. H. De Wolf, Grand Master of the R. W. Grand Lodge of the I. O. O. F., granted a dispensation for a lodge at Lawrence, Ind., to be known as Lawrence Lodge, No. 375, I. O. O. F., on the petition of the following-named persons, who became charter members: W. M. Babcock, John Bills, William Morrison, Isaac Bills, and Sylvester Gaskins, formerly of McCordsville Lodge, No. 338.

The lodge was instituted by Grand Secretary E. H. Barry, as special deputy, on July 15, 1871. After the lodge was duly instituted the following persons were initiated : Jolin McCormick, Thomas Spong, John Newhouse, Richard Johnson, Henry Bell, John Delzell, Smith H. Mapes, George Springer, Henry C. Allen, John Shafer, and O. N. Wilming- ton. No other signer of the petition for the lodge was present, except George W. Hunter, E. T. Wells, and Abel Wheeler, and they could not be admitted ou card, not having complied with the law. The first officers elected were William M. Babcock, N. G .; S. H. Mapes, V. G .; O. N. Wilmington, Sec. ; Henry Bell, Treas.

The lodge has a membership of forty-three, and meets in Voorhis' Hall, in Lawrence, every Saturday evening. The following officers were elected in June, 1883: M. C. Dawson, N. G .; W. F. Landis, V. G .; W. H. Cruchfield, Sec. ; Ezra Hamilton, Treas.

Lawrence Lodge, No. 358, Knights of Honor, was

instituted in Newhouse's Hall on Sept. 30, 1876, by George Hardin, of New Augusta, Deputy Grand Dictator, with the following charter members, viz. : John Meldrum, Joseph W. Church, Joseph Meldrum, William S. Newhouse, William H. Wheeler, Thomas B. Speece, Millard F. Church, George Newhouse, Christian Lout, James W. Jenkins, and A. J. New- house. There were other petitioners, but they did not become members. The first trustees were A. J. Newhouse, George Newhouse, and Christ. F. Lout. The first officers were Christ. F. Lout, D .; Millard F. Church, V. D .; John Meldrum, A. D .; George Newhouse, Treas. ; Thomas B. Speece, Rep. ; J. W. Church, Fin. Rep .; Joseph Meldrum, G. ; James W. Jenkins, Guard. ; William S. Newhouse, Sent.

The lodge meets every Wednesday evening, in Voorhis' Hall, in Lawrence, and has thirty-five con- tributing members. Thomas M. Elliott, M. Black, and Paul Klepfer are the trustees, and the following officers were elected at the last election, to serve one year, viz. : J. J. Marshall, D .; John Tharp, V. D. ; H. B. Fisher, A. D .; William White, Treas. ; Thomas M. Elliott, Rep .; M. F. Church, Fin. Rep .; John Meldrum, G .; James W. Jenkins, Guard. ; B. F. Marshall, Sent.

Indian Creek Grange, No. 828, P. of H., was chartered Dec. 27, 1873, and instituted the same day, by Abner J. Pope, with the following charter members, viz. : Charles J. Negley, M .; Lewis Hossan Jans, O .; Stephen P. Riley, L .; Andrew M. Huff, S .; John J. Snyder, A. S .; Pressly Silvey, Chap .; Joseph N. Day, Treas .; Solomon Klepfer, Sec .; A. J. Springer, G. K .; Caroline Negley, C .; Nancy Smith, P .; Lizzic Riley, F .; Margaret Snyder, A. S. Also Taylor Corey, John J. Sharp, John W. Kimberlain, and George W. Applegate.

The grange was in a flourishing condition at one time, with a membership of one hundred and eighty- four. The number of contributing members June, 1883, was about thirty.

Lawrence Grange was organized in No. 7 school- house, Germantown Grange was instituted at Ger- mantown, and Castleton Grange was instituted at Castleton, during the great grange movement of

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LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP.

1874. These granges all flourished for a while, but in a short time they ceased to exist. Germantown Grange and Lawrence Grange were consolidated with Indian Creek Grange, No. 828. Castleton Grange became defunct after a short life. The present offi- cers of Indian Creek Grange are Stephen P. Riley, M .; Simon Klepfer, Treas. ; Charles J. Negley, Sec. The grange meets in the hall of the grange building in Oakland, on the first and third Saturday evenings of each month.

Highland Grange, No. 1182, P. of H., was organ- ized Dec. 7, 1883, by J. J. W. Billingley, deputy. There were thirty petitioners and charter members, and the grange began its existence with seventy members. The first officers were Samuel Cory, M. ; Israel Pressly, O .; L. Y. Newhouse, L .; Joseph E. Boswell, S .; Henry A. Newhouse, A. S .; John Mowry, Chapl .; Benjamin Tyner, Treas .; William B. Flick, Sec .; Robert W. Cory, G. K .; Hanna Pressly, C .; E. J. Newhonse, P .; Nancy Miller, F. ; Laura Cory, A: S. Samuel Cory served as Master until the grange became dormant. The grange ceased to work in the year 1881, because of the non- attendance of the members, numbering at the time only twenty-one. The grange can resume the work at any time, and probably will be resuscitated some time in the future.

The Lawrence Guards, of Indiana Legion, were enrolled and mustered during the late Rebellion, and held in readiness for several years for active service in the event they should be needed. At one time there were one hundred and six members of the com- pany. They were fully equipped, and provided with Austrian rifles. The company drilled every Satur- day, and often engaged in battalion drill. The com- pany was in camp three days at Acton, this county. O. W. Voorhis was the captain, James H. Thomas first lieutenant, and Robert Johnson second lien- tenant.

The Lawrence Township Horse Company was first organized in the fall of 1845, in the Third Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, on Fall Creek. The .object of the organization was '"the detection and appre- hension of horse-thieves and other felons." The following persons became members at the organiza-

tion, viz. : Smith Bates, Madison Webb, Elisha Reddick, Joshua Reddick, and Moses McClaren. The first officers were elected at a subsequent meet- ing, when Madison Webb was made president and Allen Vanlaningham was selected as captain. After the adoption of the new State Constitution, in 1852, the company was reorganized in conformity to the new State laws enacted. The second charter expired in the year 1862, and on the 26th day of July of that year the company was reorganized. The fourth charter was obtained upon the expiration of the third, but for some reason the articles of incorporation were not properly filed and recorded, hence, as soon as the error was discovered, the company again reor- ganized. On the last Saturday in February, in the year 1879, the company was last chartered for a term of ten years under an act of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, approved Dee. 21, 1865, and the Board of County Commissioners at their Febru- ary term, 1879, granted thirty-two members of said company " all the power of constables." The follow- ing officers were elected for one year on Oct. 27, 1883, viz. : Hezekiah Smart, president ; Oliver W. Voorhis, secretary ; Jonah F. Lemon, treasurer ; William Apple, captain ; Solomon Klepfer, 1st lien- tenant ; George F. Merryman, 2d lieutenant ; George W. Bolander, 3d lientenant; J. H. Herrin, door- keeper.

The company is in a flourishing condition, with a membership of seventy-seven. A large surplus re- mains in the treasury, and no property has been stolen from its members for some time, and every horse stolen since its organization, in 1845, has been recovered. The organization has been instrumental in sending a number of thieves to the State's prison, and it has recovered a large amount of stolen prop- erty. Its regular meetings are held on the last Saturday in the months of January, April, July, and October of each year, at school-house No. 8, known as Spring Valley.

The Lawrence District Fair Association originated in Highland Grange, No. 1182, Samuel Cory, Worthy Master; W. B. Flick, secretary. After discussing the matter, arrangements were made, and the first exhibition, small, but interesting and successful, was

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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.

held at Highland school-house Oct. 1, 1877. There were about three hundred entries, horses, cattle, farm products, women's work, etc. No eash premiums were given, but certificates of excellence only. Mr. Kingsbury, of the Indiana farmers, delivered an ad- dress, " Beautify the Home," and about two hundred persons were in attendance.

In the fall of 1878 a corn show was held, and proved to be a good exhibition, but not very well attended. In 1880 a joint-stock company, named the Lawrence Township Agricultural Association, was formed, with O. W. Voorhis as president, and W. B. Fliek, secretary. The first exhibition was held at Minnewan Springs, the beautiful grounds of Hezekiah Smart. No premiums were paid, and no admission fee charged. The show was good, and the attendance large. The whole exhibition was a sub- stantial success. Dr. R. T. Brown made a good praeti- eal address. The encouragement received now deter- mined the association to procure grounds of their own, improve them, and arrange for annual exhibitions to which people might come for pleasant reunion, to com- pare products and ideas, criticise, and profit by the re- sult. The use of a beautiful grove and lands adjoining Lawrence was generously donated by President Voor- his, which was tastefully improved at an expenditure of fifteen hundred dollars by the association. Owing to the sickness of the superintendent, work was not begun in time, but by working hands night and day, and a cheerful energy upon the part of all concerned, the work took shape for the fair held Sept. 22, 23, and 24, 1881. The entries numbered eight hundred, and the attendance about twenty-five hundred. Re- eeipts did not equal expenditures, but the association, with commendable honor, resolved to pay all premi- ums in full.

The second exhibition, held Sept. 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, 1882, proved to be a grand success, better than any one expected. The attendance on Thurs- day was over four thousand, the number of entries exceeded eighteen hundred, and in quality, beauty, and excellence the exhibition is seldom excelled. In vegetable and farm crops the display was immense and excellent. The show of stock, though not so large, was as good as the best. Again the premiums

were paid in full. The association resolved to carry a debt rather than discount the premiums. The im- provements made this year were good ones, and cost nearly eighteen hundred dollars. It having been ascertained that the State Board of Agriculture would not recognize the association under the pre- vious name, this was changed to the Lawrence Dis- trict Fair Association.

The third exhibition was held Sept. 11 to 15, 1883, inclusive, and was the most successful one ever held, the entries being one-third more than at any previous one, and the attendance one-third greater than upon any former occasion in the history of the association. The association paid nine hun- dred dollars in premiums, and expended thirteen hundred and forty-one dollars in improvements, such as enlarging Agricultural Hall, straightening, widening, and otherwise improving the traek, erect- ing additional stalls, pens, etc. The receipts from all sources amounted to about twelve hundred dollars. Again the receipts fell short of the expenditures, but the premiums were paid in full.

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History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, Part 100

Author: Sulgrove, Berry R. (Berry Robinson), 1828-1890 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 942

Author: Sulgrove, Berry R. (Berry Robinson), 1828-1890
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 942